OneVOICE Podcast

Seasoned psychotherapist Carol Odell joins us to discuss her new memoir “Girl, Groomed: A Therapist's Memoir of Trauma” (She Writes Press, April 22, 2025), an unflinching exploration of her journey to confront and heal from the complex trauma of childhood sexual abuse within the world of Virginia's equestrian show-jumping circuit.  Raw and riveting, “Girl, Groomed” is an evolving story of coming to terms with the impacts of Odell's own history of sexual abuse and violence at the hands of a predatory horse trainer who, for far too much of her young life, held all the reins. Set in the equestrian world of Virginia, this candid memoir details how, starting at ten years old, Carol falls under the spell of Clarentine, the charismatic—and explosively violent—owner of the stables just down the hill from her house. In tandem with that story, Carol examines the multi-faceted consequences of the complex trauma that resulted from the exploitative relationship Clarentine cultivated with her - including the resulting crisis she blindly imposes on her marriage. Chapters toggle back and forth between scenes of her childhood growing up jumping horses on the show circuit and the therapy sessions she later undergoes as an adult. Using her own journey as an example, Carol demonstrates in this insightful memoir how unintegrated trauma limits us and our connection with others—and how the work of uncovering and reintegrating “what we do with what happens to us” can become the very source of our liberation.

Special Returning Guest: Jane Epstein, survivor of sibling sexual abuse and author of the newly released memoir “I Feel Real Guilty”

Guest: Dr. Camden Morgante is a licensed clinical psychologist and author of the new release Recovering from Purity Culture: Dismantle the Myths, Reject Shame-Based Sexuality, and Move Forward in Your Faith. Dr. Morgante draws on both her personal and professional experience with purity culture recovery—using psychological research, practical exercises, and therapy case studies—to help the hurting reject toxic beliefs, understand trauma and its effects, and break free from shame. Learn more at DrCamden.com  

Special Guest Survivor Adrienne shares her story of becoming a victim of relationship violence and her year of recovery 

Special Guest: Dr. Nicole Bedera is a sociologist and cofounder of the antiviolence consulting practice Beyond Compliance (www.beyond-compliance-consulting.com). She has spent more than a decade studying sexual violence and advocating for survivors in media outlets including the New York Times, NPR, and Harper's BAZAAR. She launches her debut book, On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence on October 8th, 2024.

Special Guest: Josephine A. Lauren is an author, artist and anti-incest liberation agent (AILA). They are the founder of Incest AWARE (incestaware.org), which has brought together a beautiful alliance of individuals and organizations seeking to improve methods of incest prevention, intervention, recovery, and justice. 

Special Guest: Halli Faulkner (JD, MAEd, YACDEP), yoga therapist and trauma informed trainer who holds healing spaces and retreats for women who have experienced sexual trauma.

Guest Survivor: Skyler Boschen (skylerboschen.com)

Guest: Stephanie Smith Skipper, former recording Artist on Gotee Records, contestant on NBC's "The Voice", Spiritual Director, and author of her newly released memoir "Thank You For Failing Me".

Guest: Dr. Leonie Mattison is the CEO & President of Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. Pacifica Graduate Institute (pacifica.edu) is an accredited graduate school offering masters and doctoral degree programs in the traditions of depth psychology.  

Guest: Laurel Burns, date rape survivor and author of A Purely Wrong Story: Escaping Sexual Shame, Exposing a Game-Changer, and Editing Your Life Story without Changing the Facts

Special Guest: Essie Baird, artist, actress activist and survivor of rape by a teacher/coach shares her story of fighting for justice and healing

Special Guest: Diane Tarantini is a child safety professional and a body safety educator in West Virginia. She is a friend of the OneVOICE podcast having been with us in the past to discuss her book "A Brave Knight". Now she is back to talk about her just released memoir "Everyone Was Silent". More info or to contact Diane: dianetarantini.com

Guest: Dr. Mary Barnas is a developmental psychologist specializing in social-emotional development with a specific emphasis on family violence. Her work involved running a Supervised Visitation Center where children from unsafe homes due to substance abuse and/or domestic violence visit with their parents in a controlled environment. Her recent research includes developing and evaluating a sexual assault prevention program for college students and assessing self-care strategies for social service employees working in the area of family violence.

Sarah Klein is a widely respected attorney with Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, regarded as one of the nation's leading law firm for sexual abuse cases.  A former competitive gymnast, Klein is the first known victim of former Olympic women's gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. At the 2018 ESPY Awards, Klein accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award on behalf of herself and the hundreds of other survivors who spoke out and testified about Nassar's abuse. She is a fierce advocate for legal, cultural, and political change, actively spearheading the fight to extend the statute of limitations for abuse survivors across all 50 states. She hosts the podcast Bar Fights: Taking on Issues that Matter.

Guest Survivor/Advocate Melanie Barton talks with us about the healing road of learning to love and learning to be loved as a survivor of sexual abuse.

Guest: Jennie Delreeve, a Health Coach in the UK. She helps women with pelvic organ prolapse who have experienced trauma and are feeling broken to heal their bodies and restore inner confidence. More info at www.unshakeableyou.com        

Guest: Debbie Paxton, clinical therapist, talks to us about trauma triggers and how they are the messengers to healing our inner child

Guest: Debbie Paxton, clinical therapist, talks to us about trauma triggers and how they are the messengers to healing our inner child

Guest: Brendan Watkins of Australia found out he was adopted as an eight-year-old. After decades of searching, he discovered that his birth parents were a Catholic priest and a nun. In his new memoir 'Tell No One' he explores the questions, anxieties and reflections arising from this hidden past. This is one man's search for his birth parents, which uncovered an astonishing global scandal at the heart of the Catholic Church and through courageously using his voice, realizing he isn't alone. More info: https://www.brendanwatkins.com.au    

Guest: Liz Kichen, author of new release memoir, "Light in Bandaged Places: Healing in the Wake of Young Betrayal".  After she is seduced into a sexual “romance” by her 8th-grade teacher, it takes years for Liz Kinchen to understand–and even identify–her abuse, and seek healing for the emotional isolation that underpins her adult relationships. This is a stunning story of healing, meditation, and repairing the inner child. Learn more about Liz, her blog and her meditation teaching at lizkinchen.com

Special Guest: Makenzee Mason, former Ohio high school standout in soccer and basketball, now gathering honors on the college basketball court going into her senior season. We are so proud of all she has accomplished in athletics but especially inspired by her story of how she has fought for her healing off the court, and used her voice to seek justice for the sexual abuse committed against her by her high school coach, who was also her athletic director. Don't miss this powerful survivor interview with Mackenzee!    IG: @kenzeekayyy  TikTok: @makenzeemason  FB: makenzee.mason.3

Guest: Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien is the fashion editor at Cosmopolitan, host of the Dressed for Battle podcast, and founder of Adorned in Armor ministry. She was crowned Miss Black New Jersey in 2018 and just released her third book, She Reigns: Conquering Your Triggers, Fears, and Worries with God's Truth. tarahlynnadorned.com IG:@iamtarahlynn

Guest: Sheila Wray Gregoire, author of the just released book She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self & Speaking Up. Sheila is also the author of eleven other books including The Great Sex Rescue, the host of the Bare Marriage podcast, and the founder of To Love Honor and Vacuum. An award-winning writer, Sheila calls the church to more than just pat answers by conducting original research to find out what advice works–and what really doesn't. More info: baremarriage.com

Special Guest: Allie Marie Smith is the Founder and Director of Wonderfully Made (wonderfullymade.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping teen girls and young women know their true value. She is the author of Wonderfully Made: Discover the Identity, Love, and Worth You Were Created For, a podcast host and certified life coach, living in Santa Barbara County where she enjoys surfing and adventuring along the California coast. 

Guest: Sandy Phillips Kirkham, clergy sexual abuse survivor and author of Let Me Prey Upon You: Breaking Free from a Minister's Sexual Abuse. Sandy serves on the board of Council Against Child Abuse. Sandy has spoken before the Ohio Senate, a Maryland court, and appeared on a local television show in Boston. Her story, “Stolen Innocence,” was told in a documentary produced by The Hope of Survivors. Sandy works with survivors conducting victim support conferences. She has participated in The Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) panels moderated by SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), sharing her perspective from the non-Catholic point of view. More info: sandyphillipskirkham.com

Special Guest: Chris McKenna, Founder of Protect Young Eyes (protectyoungeyes.com) is with us, talking about the things related to digital safety, digital trust and offers some great practical tips for parents. Check out the blog he refers to here: https://protectyoungeyes.com/when-your-own-childhood-trauma-causes-overprotective-digital_parenting/ and his IG: @protectyoungeyes  Lastly, there are many ways to contact the Human Trafficking Hotline... 1-888-373-7888 or help@humantraffickinghotline.org  or text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE) or the online chat: www.humantraffickinghotline.org

Special Guest: Shaletha Sanders. Shaletha is a wellness coach, author, philanthropist, the Leading lady of Faith Empowerment Center, former TBN host and the founder of “Youth Empowerment Sessions" which generates leaders and role models within the community, decreasing crime, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy and drug addiction, while fostering character building and boosting self-esteem. 

Kevin Sweeney joins us again with his second book "The Joy of Letting Go: How One Thing Has the Power to Change Everything" (January 2023).  Kevin was the co-founder and lead pastor of Imagine Church—an urban church in Honolulu--for the past decade.  He is the host of The Church Needs Therapy podcast.

Therapist/Educator Mandi Pierson joins Nicole and Mary for a conversation about power of the non-offending parent in the lives of sexual abuse survivors...the good, the bad and the ugly. 

Guest:  Dr. Rachel Croteau, a New Hampshire physician specializing in family medicine and a certified practitioner through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Guest: Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt is the lead pastor of Peace of Christ Church in Round Rock, Texas, co-host of the Nuance Tea Podcast and author of the just released book, "A Brown Girl's Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step Into Your Power"

Our friend, Mandi Pierson (therapist and educator), joins us for a conversation about therapy, how to find a therapist, red flags and green flags, boundaries, how to be a good client and ways to maximize the rewards found through therapy.

Guest: Diane Tarantini, author of The Brave Knight which "articulates incredibly complex child abuse grooming techniques/dynamics (ie. desensitizing physical contact, isolation from familial supports, love for perpetrators, disparity of social power), and somehow does it in an age-appropriate, non-threatening way. A brilliant, compelling, and inspiring resource for kids and those who love them.” -Robert Peters: Senior Attorney at Zero Abuse Project, founder of Shield Task Force, former prosecuting attorney, former US Marine. More info on Diane at dianetarantini.com and her new book at thebraveknight.com

Guest: Jane Epstein is a survivor of and advocate for survivors of Sibling Sexual Abuse at Complicated Courage. Jane is 
Co-Founder of both IncestAWARE.org and 5WAVES.org, an international advocacy group that
 offers information, support, and guidance about SSA. 

Special Guest: Stephen Mills, author of CHOSEN: a memoir of stolen boyhood.   "I was sexually assaulted by a highly respected member of the community. My boyhood experience is all too common. The only unusual part is that I decided to write a book about it." —Stephen Mills   At thirteen years old, Stephen Mills is chosen for special attention by the director of his Jewish summer camp, a charismatic social worker intent on becoming his friend. Stephen, whose father died when he was four, places his trust in this authority figure, who first grooms and then molests him for two years. Stephen tells no one, but the aftershocks rip through his adult life, as intense as his denial: self-loathing, drug abuse, petty crime, and horrific nightmares, all made worse by the discovery that his abuser is moving from camp to camp, state to state, molesting other boys. Only physical and mental collapse bring Stephen to confront the truth of his boyhood and begin the painful process of recovery—as well as a decades-long crusade to stop a serial predator, find justice, and hold to account those who failed the children in their care. The trauma of sexual abuse is shared by one out of every six men, yet very few have broken their silence. Unflinching and compulsively readable, CHOSEN eloquently speaks for those countless others and their families. It is a rare act of consummate courage and generosity—the indelible story of a man who faces his torment and his tormentor and, in the process, is made whole.   More info and resources at stephenmillsauthor.com

Guest bio: Melanie Sachs is a survivor of Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault and other traumatic events. Melanie obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and worked under the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence right after college. She served for 2 Years in National Service as a member of the AmeriCorps Victim Assistance program as a crisis center advocate and as a Shelter Advocate on the night/overnight shift located in the Imminent Danger Shelter. Melanie relocated to in 2015 to Cape Cod, Massachusetts and worked at the local advocacy center for 6 years in two roles (Family Advocate and Forensic Interviewer) helping families navigate all systems and providing support in many capacities for Families who walk through the doors of as the result of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, witness to domestic violence or CSEC (Trafficking) along with conducting Forensic Interviews of Children for Law Enforcement and Child Protection (MDT Partners). Melanie served on the Board of Directors for SHIELD Task Force out of West Virginia for 2 years and in late 2020 Melanie accepted a position to be a part of SHIELD in a different capacity as a Training and Development Consultant and as a presenting member of their Speakers Bureau. Melanie is passionate about walking alongside others on their healing journey and since 2019 has embarked on sharing her experience with Pelvic Pain/Dysfunction on her Instagram @victoryoverpelvicpain and hashtag #victoryoverpelvicpain

Special guest Kevin Sweeney is the author of the forthcoming books, “The Making of a Mystic: My Journey with Mushrooms, My Life as a Pastor, and Why It's Okay For Everyone to Relax,” out on May 31st, and “The Joy of Letting Go” which will be out in January 2023. He is the co-founder and lead pastor of Imagine Church—an urban church in Honolulu that is welcoming of all people, sees imagination as the key to the future, chooses authenticity over performance, substance over hype, and quality over quantity. He is the host of podcast “The Church Needs Therapy.”

In honor of Sexual Abuse Awareness Month, we are releasing a weekly series of interviews with an inspiring survivor as she unpacks with us her journey of finding her voice and stepping into healing.  From the revelation of the abuse as an adult, to the hard decisions she has made and brave steps she has taken in response, to the confrontation, to the boundary setting, to loving herself again, and the current freedom and joy found in redeeming a sisterhood that was previously stolen. 

In honor of Sexual Abuse Awareness Month, we are releasing a weekly series of interviews with an inspiring survivor as she unpacks with us her journey of finding her voice and stepping into healing.  From the revelation of the abuse as an adult, to the hard decisions she has made and brave steps she has taken in response, to the confrontation, to the boundary setting, to loving herself again, and the current freedom and joy found in redeeming a sisterhood that was previously stolen. 

In honor of Sexual Abuse Awareness Month, we are releasing a weekly series of interviews with an inspiring survivor as she unpacks with us her journey of finding her voice and stepping into healing.  From the revelation of the abuse as an adult, to the hard decisions she has made and brave steps she has taken in response, to the confrontation, to the boundary setting, to loving herself again, and the current freedom and joy found in redeeming a sisterhood that was previously stolen. 

Nicole and Mary chat with Mandi Pierson, Director at Porchlight (porchlightcolumbus.com), trainer, trauma therapist and a top facilitator of our UNLEASH virtual support groups for survivors (iamonevoice.org/unleash).

Special Guest J.Nicole Jones, AKA "The Grief Bully", joins us to discuss the grief journey, mental health, navigating loss and how we can fight grief together 

Special guest Jennifer Arnspiger (Somatic Coach) joins us to talk about how highly sensitive, deep-feeling people, especially trauma survivors, can heal their stories, come home to their bodies + excavate genuine self-love. “A deeply sensitive body in physical and emotional pain doesn't heal by being ignored or waited out. It heals by having it's experiences honored.”

Special guest: Amy Nordhues, author of Prayed Upon: Breaking Free from Therapist Abuse, the story of one woman's escape from the abuse of a respected, church-going psychiatrist. His office, which initially feels like a sanctuary, becomes a psychological prison, one from which Amy will have to fight to free herself. Amy provides an inside look at the warped beliefs that early abuse instills, beliefs that make adult victims vulnerable to the grooming of sexual predators. Her story shines a light on the under-reported sexual abuse of adults and ultimately the way victims can gain freedom from the bondage of shame that abuse leaves behind.

Special guest: Timika Chambers, survivor/advocate (timikaschambers.com)

Special Guest: Melanie Conover, LISW, Mindful Consumer Coach and the Director of People & Culture at Sanctuary Night, a sacred space serving vulnerable women in Columbus, Ohio.    Orgs mentioned in podcast: Remake Clean Clothes Campaign Awaj Foundation Labour Behind The Label Fashion Revolution  Good On You --> look up brand ratings  The Good Trade    Ethical Gift Guides: Eco-Conscious + Ethical Holiday Gift Guide – Behere Ethical Holiday Gift Guide: Give Back Gifts & Sustainable Goods — The Honest Consumer Dressember 2021 Gift Guide 15 Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Gifts For Her | 2021 15 Sustainable Gift Ideas Under $50 35 Sustainable & Ethical Gifts for Everyone on Your List  Free & Experience Gifts: 7 DIY Gift Ideas That Don't Cost A Dime 9 Experience Gifts For The Minimalists In Your Life Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thegoodtrade/_created/ https://www.pinterest.com/consciouslifeandstyle/_created/   Contact Melanie: mindfulconsumercoach@melanieconover.com  IG- @melanie_lillich_conover 

Ashley Abercrombie, author of “Love is the Resistance: Learn to Disagree, Resolve the Conflicts You've Been Avoiding, and Create Real Change” joins us to discuss all the things. Masks. Coping. Safe spaces. Enneagram. Starting small. Mercy. Justice. Anger. Jonah. Finding your voice. Healing. Engaging in conflict. Holding offenders accountable. Romans 14. Language matters and love listens. It's all in here. 

Guest author Barbara Clarke (The Red Kitchen) joins us again to discuss healing and writing and how they can go hand in hand.

Guest: Karen Ciccarone, survivor and author of Pearls of Innocence: Shattered and Restored and  Restoration for the Brokenhearted: A Study Guide for Healing from Abuse 

Just as an environmentalist seeks to rewild land by returning it to its natural state, Shannon Evans,¸author of the just-released book "Rewilding Motherhood", invites women to rewild motherhood by reclaiming its essence through an expansive feminine spirituality. Drawing on what Nicole sees as parallels to the healing journey from abuse, this conversation goes deep.