The Peripheral

Today, I speak with Ben Schmidt, a licensed funeral director and content creator. I ask him questions about what happens after you die, how the body is prepared for last rites, and what families should expect during the process. We also delve into the case of Kendrick Johnson—the teen who died under mysterious circumstances in a gym mat—and the condition in which his body was returned to his family. We really get into the weeds, nerding out on the details surrounding embalming and cremation. I even ask Ben about the pros and cons of smoking formaldehyde. Ben shares some fascinating scientific insight into the embalming process, especially in the first 20 minutes. Personally, I love the level of detail, but don't worry—we mix up the topics regularly throughout the episode. Email ben@mortraqr.com IG: @mortraqr @thefuneralcast    Facebook: The Funeral Science Podcast, The Funeralcast   Tik Tok:   @funeral_science   Podcasts (Spotify Links):  The Funeral Science Podcast  The Funeralcast Blog Sights: www.frigidfluid.com www.ravenplume.com 

I met Xavier many years ago at a meetup in California. He's incredibly talented and radiates positivity. Over the years, he's been involved in several music projects as a singer and songwriter, and we hit it off immediately. In today's episode, we discuss a family vacation he took with his father—what should have been a relaxing getaway in a tropical paradise instead turned into a tense ordeal, navigating family conflicts. Adding alcohol to the mix doesn't help.    https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ai61DeA6TloJOZ8TYcqMf?si=Mx9Anxn1RCCbybz3QgE_WQ   https://www.instagram.com/virtualnobodies/  

"Consent is the voluntary, informed, and enthusiastic agreement to engage in an activity, particularly when it comes to personal boundaries or intimate situations. It involves clear communication, mutual respect, and understanding that any party has the right to say "no" at any time, without facing pressure or consequences. Consent is crucial for building trust, ensuring safety, and promoting healthy, respectful interactions in all areas of life." I pulled this definition of consent from ChatGPT because even a robot gets it when the rest of the world seems to struggle.  CONSENT CAN BE WITHDRAWN AT ANYTIME  Today's episode I speak with Kenna about a situation she found herself where she became intimate with a man who did not respect her wishes, care about her as a person and only wanted to take. She shares details about the attack, the actions she took and the emotional toll it left.  As much as I like to mix my topics up, I felt this was needed to piggyback off the last update episode. I have many more topics coming up, from morticians to healthcare.     

On today's episode, I welcome back Lisa, who was featured on episode 21, "Why We Don't Report Rape." A quick recap: she served in the Coast Guard and was attacked in her room while stationed there. She couldn't identify her attacker, nor was she allowed to put a lock on her door for security. It was a very upsetting episode, and when she reached out, I was thrilled to hear from her. I was hoping for good news, but instead, she shares how she was attacked again. From there, she confides in me the treatment that worked for her, and we discover that we have something in common. I was really excited to speak with her and had some unexpected surprises during the conversation.

Happy Halloween! For tonight's creepy episode, I interview Joe Diamond (what a name!) who is a mentalist and magician. He's had a storied career and life growing up in a conservative town while pursuing his dreams of becoming a magician. We talk about his time on Penn and Teller's Fool Us, delve into philosophy, and even do a few magic tricks. https://www.joediamondlive.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joediamondlive/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kql5oar-UIE&t=2s  

  Here's a revised version with grammar and spelling corrections: Here on the peripheral, we talked a lot about drinking and alcoholism. Something we've never discussed is what happens once you stop drinking. What is it like to live a sober lifestyle? How does the rest of the world treat somebody who chooses not to consume alcohol? You might not realize how intertwined drinking is in our culture and society. In everything we do, alcohol is available. In any event or situation, even at church, alcohol will be provided. It's accessible anywhere, and even when there's a global pandemic, liquor stores are considered vital or essential. I stopped drinking several years ago, and at every event I attend or outing I go on, I face peer pressure, shaming, and even ridicule for not drinking. Today, I speak with Rebekah, who recently celebrated her fifth year of sobriety. I decided to have a conversation with her and ask about her experiences after choosing to give up alcohol.   Check out Rebekah's new podcast! https://www.tyfyipod.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hi_itsrebekah/  

I have ADHD. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. I've had it all my life but was only diagnosed a few years ago. I was told I had anxiety and depression for many years which I'm sure my ADHD presented as but ultimately the root cause for my issues had always been ADHD.  ADHD has dozens of traits or symptoms associated with it and with the advent of the smart phones and social media, lot of people are self diagnosing but there are differences between being addicted to your phone and actually having the disorder. To get a better understanding of ADHD I speak with Andrew who is a licensed therapist, Husband, father and "Neurospicy."     https://linktr.ee/neurospicycounseling https://www.instagram.com/neurospicycounseling/

Jackie was a hard-working single mom who was frustrated with the dating scene, but decided to give things another try.  She'll be introduced to the quintessential "nice guy"... things seemed to be going well, until they moved in together.  What Jackie thought were "pink flags" turned out to be something much more sinister.  How well do you really know your significant other? http://www.thegildedrosestudio.com/ Episode Sponsor: Go to HelloFresh.com/peripheral21 and use code peripheral21 for 21 free meals plus free shipping!

Today I speak with two amazing and strong mothers. They both went through pregnancies' where everything that could go wrong, went wrong. We cover the lack of communication and aftercare they both experienced along with topics such as PPD, PPA, PTSD and the death of a child. Visit us online.  Episode Sponsors: Storyworth - Help your family share their story this holiday season with StoryWorth. Go to StoryWorth.com/Peripheral today and save $10 on your first purchase! Wondery Exhibit C - Join the Exhibit C online community at Wonderyexhibitc.com

From the same team that brings you The Peripheral, we want to introduce you to our new show Mystery Inc. If you enjoy talking about shady mysteries, Aliens, murder, legends, and of course the occasional tea - then Mystery Inc is the podcast for you! Together brothers Shane and Josh Waters travel in their Mystery Machine Tesla scouting out some of the world's best mysteries to share them here with you on Mystery Inc - which can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. Find all the places to listen. Visit Mystery Inc online. Follow Mystery Inc on Facebook. Shane also hosts Foul Play: Crime Series, and Josh is also the host of Rotten to the Core.

As most of you know when I started the peripheral I wasn't trying to do another true crime podcast. It was more of an attempt to shine a light on things that affect most of us everyday and even aspects of true crime that get glossed over. That said, on today's episode I speak with James and Sandman who lost a brother and a friend in a tragic and abrupt manner that most of us luckily never have to experience. Doug lived in a nice town, was well liked and also sold  marijuana. He was murdered in his home during a home invasion with a half dozen witnesses yet his murder remains unsolved to this day.

From the same team that brings you Foul Play: Crime Series - introducing our podcast Hometown History. Since 2016, Shane has been traveling to hometowns across America in search of forgotten history. Sure, these places may not be your hometown, but they are someone's and that is what makes them important. Shane travels to these places of forgotten historical significance and shares these stories with you. We all love hearing the unknown stories of the places we visit when planning a trip - like the Redwoods National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, or Sun Studio. But what about Parker's Cross Roads, Tennessee? Or the Island in Michigan where the only American King ruled? But if you also enjoy traveling vicariously then this is also a podcast for you. Find Hometown History wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/hometownhistory

…1 campfire……1 dark forest……31 bone-chilling stories……Will YOU survive the night?This Halloween season, enter the woods for a unique and truly epic podcast experience! Around the campfire Shane Waters will introduce 31 crime podcast hosts, including Justin at The Peripheral. Each host brings a new, nerve-wracking true story to the circle. It's an extra special, two part, five-hour, Halloween event, but before hitting play you might want to ask yourself…can you really handle this much murder and mayhem?So, pull up to the fire and brace yourself for ‘A Nightmare Before Halloween'…but be warned……bad things happen in these woods….Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance:In this Part 2 Episode: - True Crime Island [https://tinyurl.com/y6kk2npj]- Based on a True Story [https://tinyurl.com/37axzn5z]- The Asian Madness Podcast [https://tinyurl.com/yckkxbjn]- Sistas Who Kill [https://linktr.ee/Sistas.Who.Kill.Podcast]- Hometown History [https://link.chtbl.com/hometownhistory]- Coffee and Cases [https://linktr.ee/coffeeandcases]- Military Murder [https://tinyurl.com/yc5fxjyh]- Dystopian Simulation Radio [https://tinyurl.com/khpw786w]- Cults, Crimes & Cabernet [https://linktr.ee/cultscrimesandcabernet]- Morbidology [https://tinyurl.com/mshyvxyt]- Dark Pountine [https://tinyurl.com/ycydanm9] - Hillbilly Horror Stories [https://tinyurl.com/567vxrkz] - True Consequences [https://tinyurl.com/39fpfv3h] - Gone Cold [https://tinyurl.com/ytzxudt8]- Crime Stories with Nancy Grace & Crime Online [https://tinyurl.com/3dxp47wf]- True Crime IRL & True Crime Sleep Stories [https://tinyurl.com/ykzwmnxr]In the last Part 1 Episode:- Foul Play: Crime Series [https://link.chtbl.com/foulplay]- Murder She Told [https://tinyurl.com/55473exk]- Crime Salad [https://tinyurl.com/4pbtdtpc] - Crimelines [https://linktr.ee/crimelines]- Frightful [https://link.chtbl.com/frightful]- Reverie True Crime [https://linktr.ee/paigeelmore]- Rotten to the Core [https://link.chtbl.com/Rotten]- The Trail Went Cold [https://tinyurl.com/2zydj3y]- Once Upon A Crime [https://www.truecrimepodcast.com]- Criminology [https://tinyurl.com/yvuu9u8d]- The Peripheral & Generation Why [https://link.chtbl.com/ThePeripheral]- Live, Laugh, Larceny [https://linktr.ee/Live.Laugh.Larceny.Podcast]- The Hidden Staircase [https://link.chtbl.com/TheHiddenStaircase]- True Crime Cases with Lanie & It's Haunted...What Now? [https://linktr.ee/LanieHobbs]- Obscura: A True Crime Podcast & Disaster [https://link.chtbl.com/obscura]

…1 campfire……1 dark forest……31 bone-chilling stories……Will YOU survive the night?This Halloween season, enter the woods for a unique and truly epic podcast experience! Around the campfire Shane Waters will introduce 31 crime podcast hosts, including Justin at The Peripheral. Each host brings a new, nerve-wracking true story to the circle. It's an extra special, two part, five-hour, Halloween event, but before hitting play you might want to ask yourself…can you really handle this much murder and mayhem?So, pull up to the fire and brace yourself for ‘A Nightmare Before Halloween'…but be warned……bad things happen in these woods….Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance:In this Part 1 Episode: - Foul Play: Crime Series [https://link.chtbl.com/foulplay]- Murder She Told [https://tinyurl.com/55473exk]- Crime Salad [https://tinyurl.com/4pbtdtpc] - Crimelines [https://linktr.ee/crimelines]- Frightful [https://link.chtbl.com/frightful]- Reverie True Crime [https://linktr.ee/paigeelmore]- Rotten to the Core [https://link.chtbl.com/Rotten]- The Trail Went Cold [https://tinyurl.com/2zydj3y]- Once Upon A Crime [https://www.truecrimepodcast.com]- Criminology [https://tinyurl.com/yvuu9u8d]- The Peripheral & Generation Why [https://link.chtbl.com/ThePeripheral]- Live, Laugh, Larceny [https://linktr.ee/Live.Laugh.Larceny.Podcast]- The Hidden Staircase [https://link.chtbl.com/TheHiddenStaircase]- True Crime Cases with Lanie & It's Haunted...What Now? [https://linktr.ee/LanieHobbs]- Obscura: A True Crime Podcast & Disaster [https://link.chtbl.com/obscura]In the next Part 2 Episode: - True Crime Island [https://tinyurl.com/y6kk2npj]- Based on a True Story [https://tinyurl.com/37axzn5z]- The Asian Madness Podcast [https://tinyurl.com/yckkxbjn]- Sistas Who Kill [https://linktr.ee/Sistas.Who.Kill.Podcast]- Hometown History [https://link.chtbl.com/hometownhistory]- Coffee and Cases [https://linktr.ee/coffeeandcases]- Military Murder [https://tinyurl.com/yc5fxjyh]- Dystopian Simulation Radio [https://tinyurl.com/khpw786w]- Cults, Crimes & Cabernet [https://linktr.ee/cultscrimesandcabernet]- Morbidology [https://tinyurl.com/mshyvxyt]- Dark Pountine [https://tinyurl.com/ycydanm9] - Hillbilly Horror Stories [https://tinyurl.com/567vxrkz] - True Consequences [https://tinyurl.com/39fpfv3h] - Gone Cold [https://tinyurl.com/ytzxudt8]- Crime Stories with Nancy Grace & Crime Online [https://tinyurl.com/3dxp47wf]- True Crime IRL & True Crime Sleep Stories [https://tinyurl.com/ykzwmnxr]

From the team behind The Peripheral, we thought you might enjoy our podcast Rotten to the Core hosted by Josh Waters! You can find Rotten to the Core here: https://link.chtbl.com/Rotten

Chris joins us today on the peripheral to talk about his struggle with manic depression and schizoaffective disorder. Chris describes hallucinations and the voices he hears.We discuss his medications and I share some experiences I've had with bad reactions to medications also. Chris really hammers home that there is help out there and even in the darkest of times you can find it.Episode Sponsor: Get your first EveryPlate box for only $1.49 per meal by going to everyplace.com and entering promo code peripheral149 The Peripheral can be found on all podcasting outlets here: https://link.chtbl.com/ThePeripheralAll episodes of The Peripheral can now be found ad-free on Apple Podcasts

On this episode of The Peripheral I speak with Shane and Brent about a troubling situation. Brent was single at the time and trying out the dating world when he was contacted by someone who he thought was a perfect match. Brent will end up being catfished for months.. and then everything gets much worse. Please check out the Foul Play: Crime Series podcast - the season is called Making a Predator to hear a deep dive into this outrageous story. You can find it here: https://link.chtbl.com/foulplay

Welcome to The Peripheral

The nice ones. Being nice and compassionate is what I strive for. If only coming from a place of caring or understanding came from both sides. Sadly us nice ones can be taken advantage of, walked over and even targets for abuse. Abuse comes in many shapes and forms, it's not always physical. If you're listening to this and hear any similarity in your relationship, whether that's controlling, belittling or just someone taking advantage of your living situation or financials.Please know that what you're going through is not right and these are not the traits of a healthy relationship. If you know someone who is in a similar situation, please feel free to forward this episode to them. Maybe it'll help someone understand they're not alone and see abuse for what it is.

On today's episode I'm joined by Sam who has struggled with her eating disorder since she was 10 years old. Having been in and out of treatment facilities and going through seperation with her husband, her disorder spiraled bringing her to the brink of death.  One last drive, one last push, one last attempt along with lots love and support she was able to break the chain.  www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ Hotline 800.931.2237 www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders Feel free to reach out to Sam https://www.instagram.com/livingpeachydeath/ peachydeath@gmail.com

On this week's episode I speak with Ashley, who talks about repeatedly crossing paths with the person she would fall in love with.  What she didn't understand: these paths were actually railroad tracks, and she was about to be hit by a train.  She describes her struggles with finding places to live, with helping others, and how her giving and generous nature made her a target.  Ashley is now a survivor, and is stronger than ever. 

On this episode of The Peripheral I speak with Sara, who lost her brother to heroin.  We talk about what it's like to watch a sibling's life disintegrate in front of you, how hard it can be to relate to what they're going through. If you know someone who is struggling, know that they aren't intentionally trying to hurt you.  Please visit these support groups for family members of addicts. nar-anon.og Al-anon.org  

We all have our idea of the perfect relationship and what we look for in one partner. We follow social constructs that tell us who to love, how to love, and how many we can fall in love with. What if you meet several perfect partners at the same time? My guest Josie disregards the "rules" while making her own when it comes to love and relationships.   

According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, almost 90,000 cases of child sexual abuse are reported each year. Countless incidents go unreported, and 96 percent of these children are abused by someone they know and trust. In this episode, my guests discuss what it's like to be young teens, the older men they were with and the manipulation they went through. First interview with Rosie from Voice of the Victim. She talks about the grooming process and the effects it had on her. My second guest Cara (starts at 23mins) talks about a relationship an 18 year old started with her when she was around 13 years old. My third guest Tiffany (starts at 1 hour 17mins) was targeted by a family friend who hides behind his membership in the Mormon church. Her parents handle the discovery of this abuse in sharply contrasting ways, adding to her fear and shame.   

Trauma suffered during childhood can follow us through life, molding our behaviors and relationships. Today's guest Melissa talks about sexual abuse and the ripple effects that have influenced her life. National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, 95 percent of sexually abused children will be abused by someone they know and trust, and 84 percent of sexual victimization of children under 12 occurs in a residence.

I make an effort to cover topics that happen every day but that people find either too painful or taboo to speak of. Today, I have a returning guest who covers the topic of miscarriage and other issues she encountered during her pregnancy. Various medical staff gave her different answers while she was on an emotional rollercoaster, which ended up affecting every aspect of her life.

Today I speak with Zoey who shares a story about traveling the country to meet friends. One destination turns into a nightmare where she's held captive and assaulted for several days. It's a devastating story about a breach of trust that destroys our illusion of safety. 

Today's episode talks about an invisible demon that affects our daily lives. Gnawing pain, sharp pain and everything in between.  Jael gets sick with swine flu and never fully recovers.  He talks about his frustrations with his day to day activities and is diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  Kate develops ankylosing spondylitis which shatters her career. She discovers a creative outlet that she can do from home.   #fibromyalgia #ankylosing spondylitis #swineflu

My guest Sam, talks about domestic abuse from his girlfriend. They will end up getting married, moving away from friends and family, further isolating themselves into darkness. Sam will end up leaving her in the end and is safe.  Please listen to the whole episode. My guest gives an update at the end.     

I thought it would be fun and informative to answer some questions from the listeners! I tried to answer every question that came in, forgive me if I didn't get to yours. It took a few days of recording so my voice is all over the place. Thank you Misti for getting the ball rolling on this episode.  

We all know someone who suffers from addiction whether we want to admit it or not. Addiction can manifest in many forms from doctors overprescribing drugs to individuals self-medicating or even boredom.  My guest talks about her struggles with mental illness and how drugs and alcohol gave her a temporary relief from the pain, only to cause worse problems down the road. 

Today I'm joined by the Captain from True Crime Garage. The Captain's personality is very mellow and easy going which makes his story so surprising. He talks about one of the worst years of his life where he sought treatment for depression. What happens next is a downward spiral of failures, setbacks and terrible decisions. Nobody is immune to depression and mental illness and sometimes the people who are supposed to help us might make things worse. That said, if you are experiencing depression or issues, please seek help. This episode is not attempting to dissuade anyone from treatment. Everyone's story is different. Prescriptions, when prescribed correctly, should have a predictable intended effect. Yet any drug can have adverse effects on any individual. It's not an easy balance to achieve but we should never stop trying.  www.truecrimegarage.com @truecrimegarage   

Somnambulism or noctambulism, otherwise known as sleepwalking, is a sleeping disorder that has affected us for centuries. There are different triggers that we are just starting to recognize. Science helps us understand how it happens but we're still discovering why. On today's episode, I speak with Bonnie from Wining about Crime and Nikki from Strictly Homicide about their sleepwalking experiences.  Also if you're not listening to the podcast This is Actually Happening you're missing out. It's the closest pod that I've found to The Peripheral.  https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/abnormal-sleep-behaviors/sleepwalking https://art19.com/shows/this-is-actually-happening-podcast

 I like to do scary stories during the month of October As most of you know, I prefer to shed light on real-life issues we face every day. This episode focuses on men who faced physical and sexual assaults. All of their stories are different, but they have one thing in common, they all take place in the woods. Stats on male sexual assaults are wildly under reported. Please listen to the victims.  https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics

Today's episode we explore the darker side of podcasting. Think actors reading mean tweets but we'll go a bit further than that. I've seen that first 1 star review destroy a podcasters confidence. I've seen trolls and harassers bring other podcasters to the brink. I've collected submissions from other podcasters that read some of the worst messages they've received or just the messages they've received today. What you'll hear only scratches the surface of what we endure on a daily basis. This isn't anything out of the ordinary. This is just a Tuesday in a podcasters life.  http://www.insightpod.com/ https://vovpodcast.podbean.com/ https://canadiantruecrime.ca/ http://www.mauramurraydoc.com/podcast/ https://www.oxygen.com/people/maggie-freleng http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/ http://thinkingsidewayspodcast.com/ https://art19.com/shows/generation-why-podcast        

I had the pleasure of meeting Josh during my travels. As most of my conversations with people go, we skipped past the small talk and went straight to the trauma that has impacted his life. Josh contracted HIV after he was raped. He talks a bit about the attack and the repercussions from that night. His resilience and overall demeanor make him a superhero in my mind.   I hope you enjoy hearing Josh's story as much as I enjoyed speaking with him. Check out his other podcasts if you have the chance.   http://www.our-americana.com/oapodcast/ http://www.our-americana.com/karenandellen/

Today's guest talks about her lack of impulse control, harm thoughts, and OCD. She takes us down a path where she was on the brink of causing great harm to her fellow students. This episode will give listeners some insight into the Aurora shooter, Chardon HS shooting, and Parkland. We discuss things that can go right and wrong in the prevention of teens that could lash out towards others. We touch upon SSRIs and exposure therapy and their place in treating mental illness. 

Commonly called postpartum depression but more accurately referred to as postpartum disorder. It's regularly misunderstood as simple depression but runs the gamut from anxiety to psychosis. Mothers who suffer from this are routinely judged and accused of being a bad parent. We are unable to control our hormones and chemicals that balance us every day. Pregnancy causes an extreme shift in a woman's body which creates havoc for her emotions and mental stability. My guests speak about their struggles, the shame they endured and how this topic is definitely on the peripheral. 

We've talked about parents a lot on this podcast. Our first story involves a father who supports his family by not so legal means. After his disappearance, a secret life is revealed. Emma's colorful description of the family's reaction to their father's whereabouts is classic.  The second story takes a darker turn. After Rose's family splits up she moves in with her father.  Every daughter puts all their trust into their father and every father should protect that trust. His voyeuristic actions not only put her in danger but destroy the family. This is a situation that no child ever wants to find themselves.  

Have you ever wondered what happens to guns that are seized by police or who cleans up after a murder?  This is a not a true crime episode, rather what happens in the aftermath. On this episode, my guests talk about their roles in clean up, confiscation and give their views on the industries they work in.    https://www.facebook.com/TheCleaningofJohnDoe/ @JohnDoePodcast  

Part 2 is here! No worries if you haven't listened to part 1 yet. These episodes have similar topics yet fell on opposite ends of the spectrum. My guest, Mary, talks about the abusive upbringing that led her to a path of depression and low self-esteem. This combination drove her to seek validation in any way she could. After going through an endless supply of young men who invite her into their bedrooms, she still does not find a way of fulfilling herself. We do not go into explicit details but there are adult themes and language.  

This will be a two-parter on sexual disorders. I say upfront in the episode that sexual disorders are more mental disorders that can reveal themselves in numerous ways. My first guest has severe anxiety that's prevented him from being intimate with women. My 2nd guest will be featured in part 2 and falls on the other end of the spectrum. It shows two different stories can come from the same coin.  Finally show https://pleasingterrors.com/ some love. He's had a very rough week. 

Happy to be back in the saddle after a long unexpected hiatus. I try to give a quick update and jump right into the story. This week I speak with Igor about his upbringing. He talks about his hard-working family and how he always felt like the black sheep. His father suffered from PTSD from the time he spent on the front lines of the Bosnian war and his mother struggled in the relationship. Igor struggles with his own demons while his family adapts to a new life in a new world.     

Happy Valentine's day. I didn't intend to release an episode on domestic abuse on this day we should be celebrating our partners. My first guest is from Russia but has migrated west to Sweden where her nightmare begins. She also has an interesting introduction that I thought listeners would want to hear about. My second guest Brandon is a fun and energetic guy. When he was a teenager, his mother found herself in with a man who would put the entire family in jeopardy. 

Not exactly a holiday special but a gift to everyone. I speak with two members of the LGBTQ community who talk about some experiences behind the rainbow flags. I hope anyone listening will reflect on their actions and words this holiday season and try to accept and love each other even more. NSFW there are some sexual topics and language covered in this episode. 

On this episode, my guests Erica and Debbie find themselves living in different cults. There are many similarities between how cults function but their impact on each is unique. They recall the shame and difficulty of leaving and how it destroyed families and relationships.  Debbie and her friend Laura are starting a multipart series called "I Got The Hell Out." Keep a lookout for their first episode.   I give an important PSA for fellow podcasters at the beginning. It's something that affects all podcasters and using my podcast as a platform is the efficient way for me to get the word out. 

For my Halloween special I have a collection of scary stories for you! These aren't exactly paranormal but horrifying situations where our lives or others are threatened.  First story - Arrow to the knee Second story -Snake in your bra Third story - Things that stay with you Fourth story - Things change Fifth story - Chivalry is not dead Sixth story - Kansas Mothman Seventh story - Trapped underneath 

This episode is about never giving up. Tragedy takes a toll on all of us and challenges our will. My guest Pamela was born into a rough life, had everything taken from her, yet she persisted. She was a wonderful guest and I hope I've done her story justice.  Pamela's story http://pamelamsadventures.blogspot.com/ Dominica Relief Fund  https://www.youcaring.com/glanvilliaportsmouthstjohndominica-966770

When we lose our grip or have a bad mental health day and need to go somewhere, who takes care of us? On today's episode I speak with Sarah who works in a psychiatric facility and takes care of patients who need a little help - ok, sometimes a lot of help, and Sarah and her staff are there to do the job. She takes us through a typical day and through some of the rougher days. I hope you find this conversation educational and as interesting as I did.   

In this episode I interview Jenna who talks about same sex parenting and in vitro fertilization. Jenna goes into great detail about the process and gives advice on choosing your doctor. The second interview is Lisa who found herself raising a mixed race child on her own. Growing up in rural America, she knows she has some challenges ahead.   In other news, I've hired an editor and will be releasing a bunch of my back logged episodes in quick succession compared to my sporadic releases. 

This week is a Patreon request for odd medical conditions. First I speak with Sara who has Turners syndrome. She explains the levels of Turners and what inspires her everyday.  http://www.turnersyndrome.org/ Then I speak with Eleanor who has been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. She explains her system and busts common myths about DID.  https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Dissociative-Disorders I had to read up on both before interviewing. I found their stories fascinating and inspiring and hope you do too.