Podcasts about Breaking the Silence

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm so honored to have back on the show once again: Cult and cult abuse survivor, overcomer and whistleblower, Vice President of the non-profit Tucson Pops Orchestra, freelance social media photographer, future cosmetology school graduate, Penn State University alum, former Digital Content Creator for KGUN 9, artist, creative, and an incredible hero who has stepped up to break the silence on cult abuse and to educate on how victims can take steps to get out: Caleb Fernandez A little bit about Caleb if you're new here, if you missed his first two episodes, or if you just need a little refresher:Caleb was born into a world already woven with invisible chains. Raised in Southern California amid the sprawling influence of Calvary Chapel, he entered life entangled in what he describes as multi-generational cult dynamics. Church leaders were not distant figures but active presences in his earliest years. As a small child he endured ritualized and psychosexual cult abuse, the machinery of mind control, and experiences he later recognized as labor trafficking disguised as mission trips and service. He speaks of unclean spirits operating within Calvary Chapel and carries the unshakable conviction that the organization functions as a cult whose patterns of control, isolation, financial pressure, gossip framed as prayer chains, and suppression of questions must be named so that others can break free.Even then, something inside Caleb refused to go dark. From his earliest school years, Caleb poured himself into musical theater. On stage he discovered a language louder than fear - performance, music, and collective creation that let him breathe when his environment felt suffocating. That same creative current carried him through high school questions that made adults uncomfortable, through college at Penn State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in advertising and public relations while secretly studying Jewish history and ancient civilizations to understand the faith he had been handed, and onward to New York City. There he mastered production assistance, photography, and art direction. He worked as a digital content creator for KGUN9, modeled, and honed skills in still and moving images, retouching, scripting, editing, event planning, and brand representation. He also lived with epilepsy and later learned he is autistic - realities that had been met in childhood with prayer instead of professional care.The journey toward freedom began in his early twenties and reached its culmination in 2025 when, at 33, he finally escaped the cult. Every step has been an act of radical courage. He is now vice president of the nonprofit Tucson Pops Orchestra, where music becomes medicine and community becomes sanctuary. He continues as a freelance social media photographer and strategic digital creative. Cosmetology school waits on the horizon, another chapter in a life that keeps expanding.Caleb is more than a survivor. He is a living symphony of resilience - a man who gathered the shattered notes of his past and composed a future of purpose, artistry, and fierce advocacy. As a first-time whistleblower he has given voice to the silenced, offering practical, life-saving guidance for anyone still trapped. He reminds every person who has ever felt controlled, gaslit, or broken that the light inside them is stronger than any organization, any abuse, any chain. From unimaginable darkness he has risen not to merely to endure but to sing, to create, to lead, and to show others the way out. Yet the true wonder of Caleb's story is only beginning. The same hands once bound by control now conduct healing. The same spirit once told to stay silent now speaks with a clarity that plants seeds of awakening in hearts still living in fear. Every word of testimony he offers becomes a lantern held high for those still searching for the exit. In him we see the promise that no chain is unbreakable, no darkness final, no voice truly lost. What was once meant to erase him has instead become the very bridge others now walk across toward their own healing. Caleb stands as living testimony that even the longest night can end in a sunrise no one expected - and that one courageous soul is enough to light the way for thousands more.

Content Warning: This episode discusses mental health, depression, and suicide, which may be difficult or uncomfortable for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available.“Pick yourself up by your bootstraps” epitomizes the toughness and grit we associate with agriculture. But what does the public not see about the mental and emotional toll of a job that seemingly never ends? This week, we're having a long-overdue conversation with Laura Del Prete and McKayla Robinette about the unique stressors facing farmers and ranchers, why asking for help can be difficult, and how communities can better support their own.Topics[0:00] Content Warning[0:34] Mental Health in Agriculture[5:26] Building Mental Health Programs for Farmers[10:44] Why Asking for Help Can Be Difficult[15:27] The Stressors Facing Farmers and Ranchers[22:05] Training Communities to Provide Support[29:49] Making Mental Health Resources Sustainable[33:08] Policy, Funding and Long-Term Support[39:03] Finding Mental Health Resources[42:32] Why Asking for Help Is a Sign of StrengthLinksNC Agromedicine InstituteWestern Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance PartnershipNC Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance NetworkFarm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network SouthNeed professional help finding, buying or selling a legacy ranch, contact us: Mirr Ranch Group901 Acoma StreetDenver, CO 80204Phone: (303) 623-4545https://www.MirrRanchGroup.com/

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I'll be sharing topics related to abuse for the next 30 days from, "How to leave an abuser", "The first 72 Hours after leaving", "Leaving a paper trail", "What is abuse" and more. If you need help please reach out to shelter near you. You can find locations through DomesticShelters.org or reach out to National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you're in danger or need help: In the U.S., call 911 or reach out to 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org.Internationally, visit hotpeachpages.net to find help in your country.Remember you are not alone. You deserve peace, and freedom.Stay safe and God bless,Mel

Breaking the Silence: Chester County – Same Song, Different Tune Abuse is like a jazz standard: familiar yet constantly shifting. Each abuser interprets it differently, creating new variations of the same underlying melody of power and control. Today we talk about technological abuse and domestic violence and listen to "Autumn Leaves".

Barrett Gruber sits down with Stella McCormick — survivor, advocate, author, and one of the most compelling voices in the conversation around trauma, healing, and justice — for an episode that is as honest as it is hopeful.Stella's story begins in a family that looked devout from the outside and functioned like a cult from within. She walks through what daily life actually looked like growing up under that level of control, the moment she recognized her environment as abnormal, and the long, non-linear process of understanding childhood abuse for what it was. Her account of religious trauma and family dynamics is told with remarkable clarity and, at times, humor — because as Stella has learned, "keep talking about your trauma, keep talking about your grief" is both a coping mechanism and a healing philosophy.The decision to write and publish her story is its own chapter — what it took to put it on the page, what she hoped it would do for others, and what actually happened when she broke the silence publicly. The impact of sharing her story ripples through the entire conversation, connecting her personal journey to the broader work she now does advocating for sexual assault victims, particularly within the military, where institutional barriers to justice are among the most entrenched in the country.The advocacy segment is detailed and practical — Stella discusses the legal and policy challenges that survivors face, what meaningful criminal justice reform would look like, and where her future work in policy is headed. The humor segment is one of the episode's most unexpected and valuable moments: the role of laughter in surviving and processing trauma is real, and Stella articulates it better than almost anyone.Her closing message to listeners is simple and powerful: "breaking the silence is how we start to heal."Topics Covered:Growing up in a family that functioned like a cultRecognizing and processing childhood abuse and religious traumaFamily dynamics and the outside perception of her upbringingThe decision to write and publish her tell-all bookBreaking silence and the public impact of sharing her storyAdvocacy for sexual assault victims, particularly in the militaryLegal and policy challenges in sexual assault casesUsing humor as a coping tool in trauma recoveryMental health recovery and the healing journeyFuture goals in criminal justice and policy reformMessage to survivors and listenersConnect with Stella McCormick:Search Stella McCormick for book and advocacy informationDeliver Us From Mother: Faith, Fear and the Family Cult That Broke Me | AmazonConnect with Stella McCormickInstagram | Stella McCormickBarrett Gruber | LinktreeThe All About Nothing: Podcast | LinktreeClick here for Episode Show Notes!As always, "The All About Nothing: Podcast" is owned and distributed by BIG Media LLC!Check out our network of fantastic podcasts!Click Here to see available advertising packages!Click Here for information on the "Fair Use Copyright Notice" for this podcast.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a dedicated time to share resources, break the stigma surrounding mental health, and remind people that support, hope, and connection are available.In episode 268 of the Grow Clinton Podcast, we welcome Shawn Hickey, Outreach Coordinator for Speak Out Against Suicide (SOAS). Shawn joins us for an important, compassionate conversation about suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and the role each of us can play when someone in our lives may be struggling.SOAS serves individuals and communities throughout Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois with a mission centered on advocacy, education, and community connection. The organization works to challenge the stigma around mental health and suicide while helping people recognize that no one should have to face difficult moments alone.A Conversation That MattersTalking about suicide can feel uncomfortable, but silence can leave people isolated at the time they most need support. During this episode, Shawn highlights the services and outreach available through SOAS, as well as practical advice for those who are concerned about an individual who may be suicidal.The conversation is a meaningful reminder that:Asking someone directly whether they are thinking about suicide can be an act of care, not harm.Listening without judgment can help a person feel seen, heard, and less alone.Taking warning signs seriously and connecting someone to professional or crisis support can be lifesaving.Education, compassion, and open conversation are essential to prevention. SOAS emphasizes that education helps communities recognize warning signs, build empathy, and encourage early intervention in homes, schools, workplaces, and throughout the broader community.Help Is AvailableIf you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a mental-health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate emergency, call 911.For more information about Speak Out Against Suicide, its mission, community involvement, education, advocacy, and ways to connect, visit https://speakoutiowa.org/.Thank You, SOAS!Grow Clinton sincerely thanks Shawn Hickey for joining us on episode 268 and for sharing such an important message with our listeners. We also thank the entire Speak Out Against Suicide team for its continued support of Grow Clinton and for the compassionate, essential work it does throughout our region.Mental wellness is a community priority, and partnerships like this help ensure that people know they are not alone and that help is available.Grow Clinton is proud to share this message, and we want the SOAS team to know we are here to help whenever needed.Catch all of the Grow Clinton Podcast episodes, available wherever you listen to podcasts.- Apple Music- Spotify- Amazon Music- Buzzsprout- Overcast- YouTubeFor more information about the Grow Clinton Podcast, visit https://www.facebook.com/growclintonpodcast.Have an idea for a show topic or guest? Email podcast@growclinton.com.  Have an idea for a podcast guest? Send us a message!

What happens to a family when mental ill health enters their lives without warning? The focus understandably turns to the person who is unwell. But surrounding them are often parents, partners, siblings and friends trying to make sense of an unfamiliar system while carrying fear, uncertainty and responsibility of their own. In this episode of It's a Mindset, I'm joined by perioperative nurse, carer peer worker, SANE peer ambassador and author Sarah Martin. Sarah and her family became what she describes as “accidental carers” when one of her children experienced a mental health crisis while travelling overseas. What followed changed the course of their lives and eventually inspired Sarah's first book, Dear Psychosis. Her second book, Dear Carer, turns its attention to the people standing beside someone living with complex mental ill health. Sarah shares how little support her family could find for themselves and why stigma, privacy and the desire to protect a loved one caused them to become increasingly silent. We explore the isolation this can create for carers and the difference it makes to feel genuinely seen, heard and understood by someone who is willing to listen. We also discuss the practical knowledge families may need when navigating mental health services and emergencies, from understanding the roles of different clinicians to recognising a loved one's triggers and preparing a toolkit before a crisis occurs. At the heart of our conversation is Sarah's message that carers must be cared for too. She speaks candidly about the years she spent placing her own needs aside, why accepting invitations and seeking psychological support became important parts of her own wellbeing, and how looking after yourself ultimately helps the person who depends on you. I first met Sarah through the Expert Author Community, and her first book, Dear Psychosis, left an enormous impression on me. With my own children entering adulthood, I found her family's experience riveting, moving and confronting. Sarah also showed me what an honest and incredibly compelling book could be, so it was a genuine honour to finally have this conversation with her. Key Episode Takeaways: Families can become carers without warning or preparation. When complex mental ill health enters a family, everyone can be affected, yet support and information are often directed only towards the person who is unwell. Stigma can leave entire families navigating mental ill health in silence. Carers may be reluctant to speak openly because they want to protect their loved one's privacy, but that silence can also deepen their own isolation. Mental ill health deserves the same curiosity and compassion as any other chronic illness. Sarah encourages us to ask respectful questions, learn more and challenge the way mental and physical illnesses are treated differently. Carer self-care is essential, not selfish. Accepting help, maintaining connection and having somewhere safe to talk can support both the carer and the person relying on them. Preparation can make an overwhelming situation more manageable. Understanding possible triggers, knowing what support is available and creating a practical toolkit before a crisis can help families make more informed decisions when pressure is high. Feeling heard and seen can create an extraordinary ripple effect. Sarah's work is grounded in helping people recognise that they are not alone and that even one person's story can make a meaningful difference to someone else. About the Guest: Sarah Martin is a perioperative nurse with more than 40 years of experience, a carer peer worker and a SANE peer ambassador. She is also a mum of three, one of whom lives with bipolar affective disorder. Sarah is the author of Dear Psychosis, which shares her family's experience of complex mental ill health, and Dear Carer, created to provide carers with the information, perspectives and practical guidance Sarah wished her own family had been able to access. Through her writing and advocacy, she is committed to reducing the stigma and silence surrounding mental ill health and helping carers feel less alone. Show Resources: Connect with Sarah Martin on Instagram: @sarahmartin.author Connect with Sarah Martin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088825839661 Connect with Sarah Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-martin123/ Follow Emma Lagerlow on Instagram: @emmalagerlow Discover more about Emma and her work: https://www.emmalagerlow.com/ Mental Health Support: If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14. You can also access information and peer support through SANE. If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you love, please contact an appropriate mental health support service or emergency service in your location. If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram Stories and tag us at @emmalagerlow and @sarahmartin.author. Yours in compassion and connection, Emma. X.

We break the myth that men do not experience domestic violence and dive into the cultural influences that keep men from seeking o r accepting help.

In this deeply personal episode, Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph of Below Deck Down Under, returns to Pop Therapy for a raw conversation about domestic violence, shame and the complicated reality of leaving an abusive relationship.With the Below Deck franchise facing renewed scrutiny following serious legal developments involving Below Deck Mediterranean's Nathan Gallagher, Tzarina explains why sharing her own experience feels especially important - and how breaking her silence might help other women find their voice.Together, we explore why leaving is rarely as simple as walking away, the importance of compassionate support and the courage it takes to speak publicly.A confronting but vital conversation about survival, resilience and breaking the silence.Watch in full on YouTube at @poptherapypodcastYou can follow Chef Tzarina on IG:@cheftzarinaFollow the show on socials:IG: @jana.firestoneTikTok: @janafirestone Website: www.janafirestone.comSupport Services:If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available:1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au for domestic, family and sexual violence support.Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au for crisis support.13YARN: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support on 13 92 76.MensLine Australia: Support for men experiencing or using family violence on 1300 78 99 78.If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

How do you improve communication in Pacific families with the aim of preventing domestic violence?  Carol Kuisma and her daughter Jessica are Tongan women living in Australia. They have developed a set of cards aimed at starting conversations and encouraging healthy, non-violent relationships.  The idea was born out of what they saw in their social services jobs as an obvious need for more Pasifika-aimed domestic violence prevention tools.  The mother and daughter speak to Natasha Meten on Sistas Let's Talk.  Listen on ABC Radio Australia. 

Amelia is joined by Lauren McComas from Salt Performing Arts to discuss the DVCCC's partnership with Salt and their upcoming shows.

Breaking the Silence with Dr. Gregory Williams Different Wounds, Same Healing: Childhood Abuse Survivors Speak Out with Dr. Peter Verdin and Sonny Von Cleveland Dr. Peter Verdin - Gold in the Cracks — A Memoir of Silence, Performance, and Repair Sonny Von Cleveland - Sonny Von Cleveland | Author, Speaker & Advocate | Palm Springs Dr. Gregory Williams welcomes two survivors of childhood sexual abuse, former college baseball player Dr. Peter Verdin and motivational speaker Sonny Von Cleveland, whose very different roads through trauma, prison, and healing led them to become close friends and co-authors of companion memoirs. Football, 9/11, and a Double Booking in Houston Dr. Gregory Williams opens the broadcast live from Houston, ribbing his beloved Texans for blowing an early lead in their season opener and checking on the Dallas Cowboys, who are about to kick off a tough road game against the New York Giants. He turns serious to mark the anniversary of September 11th, thanking veterans, active-duty service members including his own son in the Army, and firefighters and emergency responders, and says the tragedy pulled the country together with a resiliency he believes can never be broken. Williams gives out the call-in number, 888-627-6008, and his personal cell phone for anyone who needs someone to talk to, and notes the show is also streaming live on Facebook. He tells listeners tonight brings a rare double booking, a dynamic duo he promises will be nationally known soon, and explains he is skipping his usual intro segment to bring on Dr. Peter Verdin and Sonny Von Cleveland right away. Two Survivors Connect Through a Shared Network Verdin explains he emailed the show after searching podcasts in the trauma-and-healing space and finding Williams' book, Shattered by the Darkness, dovetailing with his own manuscript, Gold in the Cracks, written while he sat on the floor in pieces. He credits Detective Jeremy Henson, who caught his childhood abuser and has stayed a friend for seventeen years since the trial, with connecting him to Jim Cole, a thirty-year federal investigator who co-hosts a podcast with Sonny Von Cleveland. Verdin and Von Cleveland talked by FaceTime for two hours the first time they spoke, before either knew the other's full story, and later met in person in Nashville, where Von Cleveland wrote the foreword to Gold in the Cracks. Williams reads a line from that foreword aloud, noting how one man wore his pain where the world could see it while the other learned to hide behind a resume, different armor over the same wound. A Little League Coach's Years of Grooming Dr. Peter Verdin describes being chosen at age nine for an all-star Little League team in Northern Virginia, where the coach, John Hamilton, began giving him private hitting lessons, took him to an Orioles game, and embedded himself in the family, even earning a seat at Christmas dinner. Hamilton abused him almost daily from age nine until his fourteenth birthday, and Verdin says he told no one until a phone call from his mother during his freshman year of college prompted him to name what happened; Hamilton was later sentenced to fifty-five years in prison. Verdin went on to start for three and a half years at the University of Georgia and was drafted by the Washington Nationals before burning out. He kept the abuse buried for years while building what looked, from the outside, like a successful life, until being fired from a job and an abrupt breakup left him, four months before this broadcast, at what he calls rock bottom. Abuse, Prison, and Years in Solitary Sonny Von Cleveland says his abuse began at age three inside his own family and eventually involved seven men over nine years; when he disclosed his uncle's abuse at age ten and testified at trial, the uncle received fifteen years in prison, but much of Von Cleveland's family did not believe him and blamed him instead. Already caught up in the juvenile system after a felony break-in at age seven, he describes his mother trafficking him to men for drugs and money, a cycle that sent him to prison at sixteen, where he was raped by two men at knifepoint in his first week and later stabbed one of his attackers with pencils. He would spend eighteen of the next twenty years incarcerated, including five years in solitary confinement, a period he calls an absolute blessing because it forced him to sit with his own demons. A motorcycle wreck years later, after which he says he had to lose everything to gain a new life, became another turning point in his healing. Forgiveness, the Body, and the Real Numbers The two men compare how they manage triggers today. Von Cleveland says he has forgiven every abuser he has ever had, calling forgiveness the ultimate trigger lock that frees him rather than the person who hurt him, alongside meditation and remembering survivors who cannot yet speak for themselves. Verdin takes a different view, describing complex post-traumatic stress disorder as a physical brain injury stored in the nervous system rather than something a person can simply decide to release, and tracing a chronic back injury directly back to the exact age his abuse ended. Both men lean on movement, EMDR therapy, and journaling. When Williams raises the widely cited statistic that one in six men experience childhood sexual abuse, both guests call the number far too low, arguing it only counts men who report, leaving out boys in rural communities, cultural groups where the subject stays taboo, and the more than thirty children Verdin's abuser was found to have victimized beyond the five who came forward. Advice for Men Who Have Never Told Anyone Asked what he would say to a man who has never disclosed his abuse, Verdin urges people to speak before they hit rock bottom, describing how writing his own story forced buried memories to the surface and noting that friends who finally learned his history told him it made him make so much more sense. Von Cleveland adds that no one can help a person whose struggle stays hidden, quoting Viktor Frankl's line that suffering ceases to be suffering once it is given a purpose. Williams closes by pointing listeners to both books: Von Cleveland's Hey, White Boy: Conversations of Redemption, already available in print, on Kindle and as an AI-narrated audiobook, and Verdin's Gold in the Cracks, due out the third week of October and previewable at his website. He invites both men back on the show, thanks them for giving up their evening, and ends the broadcast with the program's long-standing promise that no matter how dark it gets, there is always hope.

There is a voice inside you that isn't just yours — it's the whisper of every ancestor who had to stay quiet to survive.In this episode of Mensimah's Round Table, we're performing an "Ancestral Alchemy": taking the generational silence you inherited and turning it into your Divine Feminine Authority.In this episode, you'll learn:How to recognize the specific places where silence was passed down your family line.A three-step process — Recognition, the Hand-Off, and the Anchoring — for turning inherited pain into personal authority.What Divine Feminine Authority actually means, and how to step into it in daily lifeBonus: a short guided visualization to help you feel the shift.Quote to pull: "You are not climbing to hoard it — you're the one who lets it fall and break open, on purpose, so it can finally reach the people who need it."Reflective question: What is one "silence" you are breaking today?Related listening: Alchemy of Grace series.Stepping into your Divine Feminine Authority means you stop outsourcing your worth to other people's approval and start moving through your relationships, your work, and your own life from a grounded, unshakeable "yes." That shift doesn't just change how you feel inside — it changes how the world meets you.Connect with Mensimah's Round Table: If this episode met you somewhere real, subscribe, leave a comment telling us what silence you are breaking today.With love and gratitude,Dr. Mensimah ShabazzJoin us in empowering one million women worldwide to embrace their strength and grace. Together, let's declare our identities as women of power and inspire one another to shine! ♥️Want to go deeper?I offer 1:1 transformational coaching, sacred space-holding, and intuitive mentorship for women ready to embody their highest path. Schedule a 30-minute consultation: https://www.mensimah.com/harmony-consult or send Email to: agapect@mensimah.com.Contact Links:Website: https://www.mensimah.comInstagram: @mensimahshabazzphdYouTube: @mensimahsroundtableRegister as a Guest on PodMatch- for Round Table Conversations: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/mrtDonations:https://cash.app.com/$agapecthttps://mensimahs-round-table.captiva...https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/MRTPo...

Join SafeSpace as they discuss the realities of domestic violence, the warning signs that often go unnoticed, and the life-changing resources available to survivors. Learn how the upcoming Domestic Violence Summit is bringing our community together to raise awareness, inspire action, and support those in need.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Breaking the Silence with Dr. Gregory Williams Suicide Awareness, Emotional Darkness, and the Courage to Ask for Help with Anthony Gurley Dr. Gregory Williams battles a technical meltdown to welcome author Anthony Gurley, whose memoir Deadly Dilemma traces a childhood abandonment, a lifelong fear of asking for help, and the suicidal thoughts he carried quietly into old age. Technical Difficulties and a Live Broadcast Dr. Gregory Williams opens the program from his home studio in Houston, apologizing upfront for technical problems that have knocked out video and left the broadcast running as audio only. He notes that an unrelated program has mistakenly appeared on the station's Facebook feed and clarifies that he has no connection to its content. Williams tells listeners the show is beginning its seventh year on BBS Radio and Television, reachable by phone at 888-627-6008 or by text, and promises the episode will reach podcast platforms later in the week even if the live stream falters. He stays calm about the glitches, saying live radio simply comes with unpredictable nights, and mentions hopes that the station will soon be available on Roku. He describes the sun setting behind the Texas Medical Center outside his window, using the fading light to introduce the evening's theme of emotional darkness before his guest joins the conversation. Understanding Emotional Darkness Before introducing his guest, Williams spends several minutes describing the varieties of darkness people experience, from a room with the lights turned off to caves like Carlsbad Cavern where no light reaches at all, and finally an emotional darkness that can hide behind a smiling face at work or church. He lists grief, rejection, disappointment, loneliness, trauma, betrayal, fear, anxiety, shame and exhaustion as doorways into that darkness, and offers a rule he asks listeners to write down: a person cannot always keep darkness from entering, but can keep it from becoming where they live. He then walks through the first steps for staying out of emotional darkness, comparing a low-fuel warning light on his dashboard that morning to the internal warning signs of sadness, anger and anxiety, and cautioning that, unlike a car's light, these signals rarely start flashing before real danger arrives, so paying attention early matters. Dont Believe the Darkness, Ask for Help Williams adds two more principles before bringing on his guest: darkness has a voice that insists a person is alone, unloved and a failure, and that voice should never be trusted to make permanent conclusions from a temporary state. He warns that isolation is one of the fastest routes into emotional darkness and urges listeners to say the three words many people, especially men, resist: I need help. Using the image of two people carrying a heavy table instead of one, he argues that burdens do not get lighter alone, only more bearable when shared with a trusted friend, pastor or counselor. He then introduces Anthony Gurley, author of Deadly Dilemma: Suicide, Faith, and the Search for Identity and Purpose, describing him, in the words of his own publicity materials, as an ordinary person rather than a celebrity or athlete, someone whose book grew out of enduring failure, self-esteem struggles and disappointment rather than fame. A Fathers Departure and a Lesson in Silence Gurley explains that the book began as a private project meant only to introduce himself fully to his children and grandchildren, until a friend who edits professionally urged him to publish it for strangers who might recognize themselves in it, imagining a plumber in Dubuque who has never found the courage to face his own story. He recounts coming home from being cut from his school basketball team at age eleven to find his father walking out the door with a suitcase, an image tied to two remembered phrases: being told to stay out of the way because he could not see through muddy water, and being warned, don't ask me for a damn thing. Gurley says he spent his career at a small college for thirty years never once asking for a raise, a promotion or help, a pattern he now traces directly back to that day, and he credits his wife of fifty-four years, whom he proposed to after four months, as something close to providence. Friends, Choices, and Consequences After the commercial break, the conversation turns to a mantra Gurley developed for the college students he mentored for decades: friends, choices, consequences. He tells Williams to choose friends carefully and cultivate a small trusted circle, to make choices wisely while accepting that even wise choices sometimes go wrong, and to embrace consequences graciously since a person controls the first two but not the third. Williams connects this to his own grandfather's warning about running with dogs and catching fleas. Gurley describes founding a mentoring program called Motivation Ministry that paired Christian student athletes and artists with adult mentors after he retired from thirty years in financial aid, and recalls repeatedly pointing students toward Philippians 4:8, urging them to post the verse where they would see it each morning as a quiet influence on daily decisions. He admits he never had many close friends himself, something he now regrets, tracing it back to the same childhood instinct to stay out of the way and avoid being noticed. Suicide Awareness and the Courage to Ask for Help With September marking Suicide Awareness Month, Williams asks Gurley directly about the suicidal thoughts he describes in the book's unsent letter. Gurley says the thought has flitted through his mind throughout adulthood without ever becoming an attempt, and he now believes far more people share that experience than he once imagined. He describes a recurring image from the book, a snow globe admired from outside but never entered, and asks listeners whether there is a similar adventure they have envied but lacked courage to try. He recalls a high school coach telling him, at a ninetieth birthday party two Saturdays earlier, that asking for help is not weakness but strength, a reframing Gurley says he had never considered. Williams closes by naming the book, Deadly Dilemma: Suicide, Faith, and the Search for Identity and Purpose, pointing listeners to Gurley's website for crisis resources, and repeating the program's closing promise that no matter how dark life gets, there is always hope.

For some women, motherhood can be very different to what they expected. Many say that there is an expectation life will be fulfilled with the arrival of a new baby, but for a lot of mothers, the reality is very different. Ella Reed, sociologist at Monash University researches maternal regret. She says social media hasn't helped - and lots of content promotes woman as goddess types who can give and giv

New Horizons:Breaking the Silence: Understanding and Supporting Teenage Boys Carrying Hidden Trauma by Radio Islam

This conversation explores the critical topic of mental health during the perinatal years, focusing on the integration of mental health services in OB-GYN practices, the barriers women face in accessing care, and the common symptoms of perinatal mood disorders. Carrie McCahan, a psychiatric physician assistant, discusses the importance of normalizing conversations around mental health, the impact of parental mental health on families, and the necessity of support systems for new parents. The dialogue emphasizes that it is okay to experience complex emotions during this transformative time and highlights the need for community and understanding.For more information on Dr. Erin Buggy, or Alethia Wood, please visit PCS' website here. For more information on Carrie McCahan, please visit here. You can now find her helping expecting parents at Uptown Psychiatry.

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome Sonya Bowman, executive director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), for a conversation about why mental health and suicide prevention belong alongside physical safety on every construction jobsite. Bowman shares the origins of CIASP and the sobering statistics behind its mission, including the reality that deaths by suicide in the construction industry far outnumber fatal workplace injuries. The conversation explores industry-specific risk factors such as chronic pain, substance misuse, isolation and sleep deprivation, as well as a culture that can make asking for help difficult. Bowman discusses the important role leaders can play in changing that culture and shares practical ways companies can start the conversation, from toolbox talks and crisis resources to simply making it clear that psychological safety matters. She also highlights CIASP resources, volunteer opportunities and the Miles That Matters 5K, offering ways individuals and organizations can help build a construction industry where reaching out for support is seen as a sign of strength.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In the lates episode of Breaking the Silence, we unpack reality dating shows and the unhealthy norms that they perpetuate.

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams Anniversary Special Seven Years of Breaking Silence: A Roadmap from Survival to Hope Summary Seven Years on the Air Dr. Gregory Williams marks the program's seventh anniversary after a scheduled guest is hospitalized and the planned suicide-awareness discussion is postponed. He reflects on entering the eighth year of broadcasting, thanks the BBS Radio TV team and the audience, and describes the show's expansion from audio-only programming to video and broad platform distribution. He also celebrates listeners in Australia and invites callers and viewers to share their favorite episodes. Memorable Guests and a Listening Platform The host recalls conversations with Dr. Bruce Perry, Lisa Jakub, Micah and Diana LeCert, the actor who played Little Ricky, Chief Matt, and other guests. He also names several people he still hopes to interview. These memories reinforce his goal of maintaining a noncritical, believing, and accepting environment where survivors and guests can tell their stories without fear of dismissal. Reading from Shattered by the Darkness Williams reads from Chapter Eight of Shattered by the Darkness, describing the period after he first refused further abuse by his father. Although the physical abuse stopped, he recalls insomnia, isolation, emotional neglect, a continuing desire for paternal affirmation, and the fear that nobody would believe him. He compares the aftermath of sexual abuse to a glass heart shattered by a sledgehammer and explains that recovery began one small piece at a time. Recognize, Find Safety, and Regulate The first three steps in the host's recovery road map are recognizing and naming what happened, determining whether the survivor is currently safe, and regulating the body's response before trying to solve larger problems. Williams discusses identifying triggers, unhealthy behaviors, intimidation, and perceived threats. He recommends breathing, tapping, walking, rest, and the five-four-three-two-one sensory exercise as ways to redirect attention and lower acute anxiety. Reach Out, Process, and Rebuild The next steps are reaching out to trusted people, processing the experience at a manageable pace, and rebuilding what trauma took away. Williams urges survivors to develop a support system, reject self-blame, examine their triggers and losses, and restore routines, confidence, goals, decision-making, and personal control. He distinguishes healthy boundaries, which protect a person, from walls, which keep everyone out. Growing from Survival Toward Hope The final step is growth: moving from merely surviving toward living with strength, purpose, and a renewed sense of personal worth. Williams introduces the SAFE reminder - stop, assess, find support, and engage the next step - while distinguishing stress, anxiety, trauma, and abuse. He closes by emphasizing journaling, Christian faith, service to others, and the message he has repeated throughout the program's history: there is always hope.

For many South Asian families, we talk openly about education, success, and responsibility—but conversations about anxiety, depression, and mental health often remain unspoken. In this episode, we explore the mental health of South Asian youth and the power of youth activism with Sarah Shelke, a UC Berkeley student and founder of Mind4Youth, one of the world's largest youth-led mental health nonprofits. When young people speak up, challenge stigma, and createspace for honest conversations, change becomes possible. 

Welcome to the first guest episode of Navigating Menopause After Cancer.In the last two episodes, I shared why the podcast has entered a new chapter and reflected on the power of stories: how they help us navigate uncertainty, create connection and remind us that we're never alone.Today's conversation is a really beautiful example of exactly that.I'm joined by Michelle and Becky, two incredible women diagnosed with anal cancer back in 2024.I learned on a previous episode on anal cancer (episode 209) that anal cancer is often surrounded by stigma, shame, embarrassment and silence. It's a cancer that simply isn't talked about enough. And treatment for anal cancer can also induce menopause - so we have to talk about it!Yet despite receiving the same diagnosis at almost the same time, Michelle and Becky's experiences were very different.Michelle openly shared her diagnosis but struggled to find someone else living with anal cancer who truly understood what she was going through.Becky found support from others with anal cancer from the very beginning, but didn't feel comfortable telling many of the people around her she had anal cancer, choosing instead to say she had bowel cancer.Together, they share an honest conversation about diagnosis, treatment, menopause, intimacy, identity, stigma and why sharing our true stories matters.One of my favourite parts of this story actually happened away from the recording. After meeting Michelle in person, I introduced her to Ali who had previously shared her own anal cancer story on this podcast... and something rather special has grown from that connection.Episode Highlights:00:00 Intro04:01 Finding support after cancer diagnosis11:19 Dealing with surgical menopause13:22 Post-treatment challenges and loneliness19:17 Rebuilding confidence after cancer22:01 Adjusting to life after stoma surgery23:59 Dealing with radiation side effects28:56 Discussing anal cancer stigma33:01 Connecting with others on TikTok40:06 Cancer treatment challenges and recovery45:06 Returning to fitness after radiotherapy47:49 Finding support during cancerLinks:Find Michelle & Ali's new anal cancer support here: The Brave Behinds https://www.instagram.com/thebravebehinds/?hl=enMacmillan Anal Cancer Support Forum: https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/anal-cancer-forumAli Stripling's episode: Beyond the Pink - Anal Cancer, Menopause & Awareness Day: https://youtu.be/V0_5MedxjKw?si=QB-i9XO1uWhQ1MwfThis podcast episode was supported by an unrestricted grant from Incyte Biosciences. Incyte had no involvement in the development, content, or editorial review of the activities associated with this initiative.Mentioned in this episode:Fundraiser Walk: And walk: https://fundraiseformenopauseandcancer.raiselysite.com/thamesbridgestrekultrachallenge Substack: https://danibinnington.substack.com/

This week's guest is Chief Matt Antkowiak. Chief Matt is the Co-Founder of Team Unconquerable and the Invictus Foundation. U.S. Army veteran, firefighter, career law enforcement leader. He is the author of, "Unconquerable." From Pain to Purpose: Faith, Trauma, Training, and the Courage to Speak Faith at the Center of Recovery The episode begins with Dr. Gregory Williams celebrating nearly seven years on the air and introducing a returning guest he addresses as Chief Matt. Rather than following a prepared interview sheet, Williams chooses objects around his room to spark conversation, beginning with a cross. Matt describes his Christian faith as the central organizing force in his life and explains that he views his recovery from childhood abuse through the lens of Jesus, free will, redemption, and purpose. He says he spent years angry with God but eventually came to believe that his pain could be transformed into a platform for helping others. Turning Pain Into Purpose Matt recounts how disclosing his own abuse has encouraged other survivors to speak. He describes an 18-year-old former martial arts student who told him that hearing Matt share his story gave him the courage to disclose his own sexual abuse publicly. That encounter becomes a vivid example of what Matt calls the transformation of pain into purpose, purpose into platform, and platform into legacy. He credits Williams as a mentor who has encouraged him spiritually and professionally while he develops his own survivor-advocacy work and forthcoming memoir. Breathing, Truth, and Crisis Training Using an oxygen bottle as the next conversational prompt, Williams asks how Matt handles anxiety, physiological stress, and dangerous situations. Matt describes breathing as his first response and says he follows it by asking himself what is actually true in the immediate moment rather than what fear is telling him. Drawing on military, firefighting, law-enforcement, SWAT, and martial arts experience, he argues that people do not “rise to the occasion” in crisis but fall back on their training. He emphasizes repeated preparation, mindset, and the idea that courage requires fear rather than the absence of it. Forgiveness, Justice, and Difficult Encounters The conversation moves into forgiveness and evangelism when Williams asks what Matt would say to a condemned man he once pursued as a police officer. Matt says he would speak to him about Jesus and pray for his soul, and he describes wanting a similar face-to-face encounter with the man who abused him. He says he wants his abuser to see that he is no longer broken and that he also wants to speak to him about Christ. For Matt, forgiveness does not erase justice or minimize harm; instead, he frames it as a way to refuse continued emotional poisoning while still recognizing accountability. Writing Trauma Into Order A Bible and journal become the next prompts, leading to an extended discussion of writing as a tool for trauma recovery. Matt says journaling and writing his book help him bring “order to disorder” by placing painful memories into words that he can revisit and understand. Williams describes giving trauma survivors a writing exercise focused on sensory details such as colors, fabrics, smells, sounds, time of day, and surroundings. Both men say that putting memories into language can uncover details, clarify patterns, and provide a way to process experiences that had remained buried or disconnected for years. Therapy, Communication, and Hope The final portion of the episode centers on counseling, honest communication, and ending the stigma around therapy. Matt says therapy has helped him understand anger, shutdown responses, family relationships, abuse-related guilt, and the difference between responsibility and blame. He describes deliberately seeking a male Christian therapist with experience in PTSD and sexual trauma and encourages other survivors to enter therapy and tell the truth about what they are experiencing. Williams closes by urging listeners to write, talk to someone, lean into faith, and remember that even in the darkest moments there is still hope. SEO Keywords / Key Phrases faith-based trauma healing, child sexual abuse recovery, survivor advocacy, Christian counseling, PTSD therapy, journaling for trauma, forgiveness after abuse, crisis mindset training, trauma survivor testimony, purpose after pain

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, host Jared Sorensen sits down with fourth-generation rancher Annie Mackenzie for an honest conversation about ranching, family legacy, resilience, faith, and mental health.Annie shares her family's journey through loss, hardship, and change, and how the example of her grandparents helped create a lasting legacy of family connection and support. She also opens up about her personal experience with depression and the importance of breaking the silence around mental health—particularly in the ranching and cowboy community.Through her poetry, Annie discovered that vulnerability can create connection and give others permission to share their own stories. Her message is both simple and powerful: the mind can be a cruel liar, and healing begins with recognizing those thoughts for what they are and practicing self-kindness.Key Takeaways:• Family legacy is built through love, example, and resilience.• Vulnerability can break the stigma surrounding mental health.• Sharing our struggles can help others feel less alone.• Faith and perseverance can carry us through uncertain seasons.• Stewardship also means caring for our minds, relationships, and well-being.#ProfitableSteward #AnnieMackenzie #JaredSorensen #Ranching #FamilyLegacy #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Faith #Resilience #CowboyPoetry #Stewardship #RanchLifeJump over to YouTube to catch the video of this and all podcast episodes.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpLUbiwmZtkszQAjdtlO8ZQiJjgrYGr1x

Flanno for a Farmer is on Friday August 14 2026 Flanno for a Farmer is a simple way to stand beside farming families and remind them they're not alone when things get tough. Every 10 days, Australia loses a farmer to suicide. Behind that number are families, communities and generations forever impacted. As many farming families continue recovering from drought, floods, bushfires and other natural disasters while navigating increasing financial pressures, the need for support has never been greater. Farm Angels continue to tackle Australia's Rural Mental Health Crisis, and the Head of Farmer Support at Farm Angels, Jenny Gailey spoke to John Stanley about this year's campaign. To register, donate, buy an official Farm Angels Flanno or find out more, visit flannoforafarmer.com.au ahead of Flanno for a Farmer Day on 14 August. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the WOMENdontDOthat vault, Stephanie Mitton revisits a deeply personal conversation about periods, parenting, and changing the stories girls inherit about their bodies. Growing up, Stephanie and her cousin had a code word for their periods. They called them “friends,” a small example of how early many girls learn to whisper about something completely normal. Years later, as her own daughter approached her first period, Stephanie decided she wanted to do things differently. This episode covers: Why so many of us grew up hiding or whispering about our periods Stephanie's own experiences with painful periods, endometriosis, and hormone-induced migraines How she prepared her daughter for her first period The simple tradition they created to make the milestone feel meaningful Why small rituals can help change the stories we pass on to the next generation Creating more open conversations about women's bodies Giving our daughters, and ourselves, permission to experience womanhood without shame This episode is not about pretending periods are easy. It is about making room for honesty, connection, and a little joy alongside the hard parts. Whether you're raising a daughter, mentoring a young woman, or reflecting on your own experience, this conversation is a reminder that we can change how the next generation experiences these milestones. Sometimes rewriting the story starts with an honest conversation and a piece of chocolate cake. ://www.patreon.com/womendontdothat Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/womendontdothat/ TikTok- http://www.tiktok.com/@womendontdothat Blog- https://www.womendontdothat.com/blog Podcast- https://www.womendontdothat.com/podcast Newsletter- https://www.beaconnorthstrategies.com/contactwww.womendontdothat.com YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/@WOMENdontDOthat How to find Stephanie Mitton: Twitter/X- https://twitter.com/StephanieMitton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemitton/ beaconnorthstrategies.com TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@stephmitton Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/stephaniemitton/ Interested in sponsorship? Contact us at hello@womendontdothat.com Produced by Duke & Castle Our Latest Blog: https://www.womendontdothat.com/post/i-don-t-do-resolutions-i-do-this-perfect-for-busy-women Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams ASL Picture Books and the Power of Accessible Communication Dr. Gregory Williams hosts Breaking the Silence with guest Kathleen Marcath for a heartfelt conversation about American Sign Language, deaf and hard-of-hearing children, inclusive picture books, My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me, ASL classifiers, deaf representation, brain benefits, classroom learning, family communication, and the hope that sign language can become more visible, normal, and accessible for everyone. This week's guest is Kathleen Marcath. She is an award-winning author and Amazon best-seller who is celebrated for her engaging children's book. "My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me" This book teaches children 32 signs in American Sign Language. Guest Spotlight: Kathleen Marcath This episode of Breaking the Silence, hosted by Dr. Gregory Williams and dated August 9, 2026, features guest Kathleen Marcath is the author of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me and related ASL learning resources. Dr. Gregory Williams Opens With Gratitude, Housekeeping, and Hope Dr. Gregory Williams opens from Houston, Texas, welcoming listeners, noting the approaching back-to-school season, and sharing updates about his own writing projects. He mentions the upcoming seventh anniversary of Breaking the Silence, gives call-in and text information, praises the BBS Radio team, and introduces the evening's guest as a subject he has never quite had on the show before. His personal connection is immediate: he recalls having deaf family members, watching relatives communicate through sign language, and wishing he had learned more himself. Kathleen Marcath's Path Into American Sign Language Kathleen explains that her interest in sign language began at a retreat where a group learned to sign the song “Our God Is an Awesome God.” That experience stayed with her, eventually leading her to study sign language at Madonna University. While taking a class that required her to choose and sign a picture book, she looked for children's books that naturally included signing children but could not find what she wanted. Years later, after working in schools and spending time with her grandson, she entered a writing contest and realized her story could become the kind of ASL picture book she had once searched for. Why Representation and Natural ASL Learning Matter The conversation highlights the importance of representing deaf and hard-of-hearing children in books and classrooms. Kathleen says American Sign Language is a full language, even though it is not spoken, and describes how children become excited when they learn it. She shares a classroom story about a child she calls Jonathan, who began to smile and participate more after using sign language activities to tell simple stories. Dr. Williams connects this to his own awe at watching deaf relatives communicate, emphasizing how powerful and overlooked this form of communication can be. My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me and the 32 Signs Kathleen describes My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me as a fun, natural way to introduce ASL. Each page includes at least one sign, and the book teaches 32 signs. To support readers, the back of the book includes QR codes linking to videos with deaf storytellers signing the story and teaching the signs with variations. Dr. Williams praises the book's layout, illustrations, and accessibility, noting that even someone unfamiliar with ASL can begin to understand what is being shown. Kathleen explains that babies can learn sign language from birth and emphasizes that it is not “baby sign language,” but sign language that babies learn. Deaf Illustration, Purple Monster Trucks, and ASL Classifiers Kathleen explains that it was important to her to work with a deaf illustrator, and she found Isaac Ling in Singapore, who created the storyboard and drawings, while Perdi Mira handled the coloring. Dr. Williams praises the book's bright color and asks about the purple monster truck, which Kathleen says emerged after the original red did not feel right. The discussion also explores ASL classifiers, especially the vehicle classifier used for the monster truck. Kathleen explains that after a signer identifies an object, a classifier can represent it throughout the story, making it a powerful storytelling tool. Activity Books, Schools, Seniors, and Untapped ASL Potential Kathleen discusses the companion coloring and activity book, which includes 77 pages of coloring, math, writing, clocks, handshapes, and activities meant to work for younger children as well as first-, second-, and third-grade students. Dr. Williams asks why ASL is not taught more widely in schools, and Kathleen points to deaf history, oralism, signing debates, teacher preparation, and the need for even small daily exposure when deaf children are present. She describes ASL as an untapped resource with unlimited potential, useful not only for children but also for seniors, couples, underwater communication, space, baseball signs, and everyday across-the-room communication. Website Resources, Freebies, and the Call for Broader Awareness Kathleen directs listeners to ASLPictureBooks.com, where people can find her books, blog, favorite-book resources, free charts, coloring pages, and information about classifiers, signer space, and sign selection. Dr. Williams repeatedly frames the book as a valuable gift for children, grandchildren, families, and anyone who wants a gentle introduction to ASL. Kathleen also mentions other authors and books connected with deaf representation, including stories about deaf and deaf-blind children and families learning to communicate. Together, they present ASL as not only practical, but normal, fun, brain-engaging, and deeply human. Closing Encouragement: Hope, Resilience, and Never Giving Up After saying goodbye to Kathleen, Dr. Williams closes with a message for children and families heading into the school year. He reminds listeners that no matter what they are facing, there is always a better day and always hope. Using the image of the sun setting behind him over the Texas Medical Center, he says that no matter how dark things get outside or inside, the sun will rise again tomorrow. He encourages children and adults to hold on, stay resilient, discover the resilience already inside them, and return next week for Chief Matt's appearance.

What if one of the toughest battles a service member faces isn't on the battlefield—but within themselves? In this compelling episode of The MisFitNation Show, host Rich LaMonica sits down with Leah Stiles, retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief, Founder and CEO of SEA WAVES, to discuss the often-overlooked issue of eating disorders within the military community. For more than 20 years, Leah served her country while privately fighting an eating disorder, a struggle hidden behind the expectations of strength, discipline, and resilience. Today, she has transformed that experience into a national mission, leading SEA WAVES to provide education, advocacy, prevention, and resources for active-duty service members, veterans, and military families affected by eating disorders and mental health challenges. Together, Rich and Leah explore the realities of military culture, the stigma surrounding mental health, the importance of vulnerability in leadership, and why asking for help is one of the greatest acts of courage. In This Episode You'll Discover: • Leah Stiles' remarkable journey from Navy Senior Chief to nonprofit founder • Why eating disorders remain one of the military's least discussed mental health challenges • The connection between trauma, military service, perfectionism, and recovery • How leaders can identify warning signs and create supportive environments • The mission and impact of SEA WAVES in the military community • Practical insights into resilience, healing, and breaking the stigma around mental health Whether you're a veteran, active-duty service member, first responder, healthcare professional, leader, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, this conversation offers powerful lessons in courage, resilience, and hope. Learn more about SEA WAVES: https://www.sea-waves.org/ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow The MisFitNation Show, leave a rating and review, and share this conversation to help amplify awareness around mental health and support those who may be struggling in silence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams Unconquerable: One Trusted Adult Can Change Everything Dr. Gregory Williams welcomes Chief Matt Antkowiak for a powerful conversation about child-abuse prevention, grooming awareness, survivor shame, institutional accountability, school safety, and the urgent need for trusted adults who are willing to listen, believe, and act. This week's guest is Chief Matt Antkowiak. Chief Matt is the Co-Founder of Team Unconquerable and the Invictus Foundation. U.S. Army veteran, firefighter, career law enforcement leader. He is the author of, "Unconquerable." Guest Spotlight: Chief Matt Antkowiak Chief Matt Antkowiak is the guest on this episode of Breaking the Silence and is introduced as the author of Unconquerable, as well as a police chief, investigator, U.S. Army veteran, firefighter, and child-protection advocate. Drawing from both professional experience and his own survivor story, Matt speaks with unusual directness about childhood sexual abuse, grooming, law enforcement, school accountability, faith, therapy, and the mission of helping other survivors — especially men — understand that the shame belongs to the abuser, not the abused. Dr. Gregory Williams Opens With Urgency and Purpose Dr. Gregory Williams opens the episode from Houston, explaining that he has just returned from church and vacation Bible school but is setting aside his planned notes to give Chief Matt Antkowiak the full hour. He frames the conversation as immediate and practical, stressing that the issues being discussed are not distant or outdated but could be happening in communities right now. Gregory urges listeners not to “hit the snooze button” emotionally or intellectually, warning that ignoring abuse, grooming, and trafficking can allow harm to continue. He also gives listeners ways to participate live through Facebook, phone, and text. Introducing Unconquerable and Matt's Mission The conversation turns to Matt's forthcoming book, Unconquerable, which Gregory shows on screen and describes as a book expected to make a lasting impact. Matt discusses the legal-review process, planned author copies, a hoped-for launch around September 1st, and a future companion workbook titled around “12 conversations” parents need to have with their children. Gregory reads from the book's back-cover description, identifying Matt as a co-founder of Team Unconquerable and the Invictus Foundation, and as someone dedicated to protecting the vulnerable, exposing darkness, and building protectors. Matt also describes his daily educational posts about grooming, education spaces, trafficking, and child-protection awareness. Survivor Shame, Silence, and the Call to Be Heard Matt explains that Unconquerable is rooted not only in his career but also in his own childhood sexual and physical abuse. He speaks directly to survivors, especially men, saying there is no shame or guilt in having been sexually abused and that the abuser owns that burden. Matt says he carried shame in silence for 40 years, and only later began connecting how much of his life, behavior, law-enforcement mission, and trauma response were tied to what happened to him. He describes moments by a pool that became turning points, including a childhood promise to protect another boy and a later realization after a tornado in Oklahoma City that led him toward law enforcement. Faith, Therapy, Writing, and Healing Through the Story Matt describes how therapy, journaling, and writing helped him begin to understand the connections between abuse, first-responder trauma, sex-crimes investigations, and his faith. He says the title Unconquerable ultimately points to Jesus, not to himself, because he sees Christ as the unconquerable one who helped him survive and heal. He explains that sharing his story has no personal upside in terms of comfort or ease, but that he wrote the book so other men would not feel alone or ashamed. The discussion also touches on emotional vulnerability, crying, therapy, spiritual groaning, and the hope that the book will help readers face trauma with honesty instead of silence. Grooming, Trusted Adults, and Predator Propaganda A central theme of the episode is Matt's explanation of grooming and the importance of “one trusted adult.” He says a trusted adult is not a superhero but someone willing to listen, see, and act. Matt emphasizes that if a child discloses abuse, adults should believe the child because there is no advantage for a child in making that kind of disclosure. He distinguishes surprises from secrets, saying surprises have expiration dates but secrets do not, and warns that predators often build trust first by becoming beloved, dependable, and valued in the community. He calls this “predator propaganda,” explaining that respected roles such as teacher, coach, pastor, police officer, or firefighter can be used to shield abusers from suspicion. Institutional Accountability and School Safety Matt and Gregory then focus heavily on schools, child protection, and institutional responsibility. Matt argues that abuse can happen in districts of every size and says parents must learn what questions to ask, what policies to demand, and what red flags to watch. He recommends asking whether educators are allowed to be one-on-one with students behind closed doors and strongly opposes private one-on-one electronic communication between staff and students through social media, gaming platforms, messaging apps, or even unexpected channels such as Spotify. He also discusses allegations and investigations involving school districts, Title IX, Texas education oversight, the Texas educator inspector general, and his belief that institutions must place children above reputation, convenience, and self-protection. Acting on Intuition and Refusing to Hit Snooze In the closing portion, Gregory and Matt urge parents, educators, churches, and communities to act when something feels wrong. Matt explains that adults should ask children better questions, create safety through belief and nonjudgment, and never dismiss intuition when behavior feels off. He says he would rather investigate gray-area concerns early than wait until abuse occurs, and Gregory closes by reinforcing that hope remains possible no matter how long someone has carried trauma. The episode ends with information about Matt's website and resources, an invitation to continue the interview series in two weeks, and Gregory's reminder that a troubling feeling may be a “divine alarm” calling someone to protect a child.

For too long, outdated diagnostic tools, along with stigma and silence around vaginal health, have left many women feeling confused, dismissed or inadequately treated. Join host Sara Thorpe, Dr. Sharon Hillier, and Dr. Diane Kawa as they break the silence and explore how open conversations and advances such diagnostics can transform care for women.   This podcast is not available for CME/CE/CPD credits. Please visit the Medscape homepage for accredited CME/CE/CPD activities. 

When someone passes by suicide, the casseroles don't come. Neither do the cards or the phone calls. Jayne Madigan's sister lives in a neighborhood with a meal train for every birth and every death. When her 24-year-old son Brandon passed, she got nothing.That silence is its own second loss, and it's what this conversation is about.Jayne has been living inside suicide loss for 33 years. Her uncle Ray, who was also her godfather and the closest thing she had to a father, passed on New Year's Day in 1992. He was 47. Her family was raised Catholic and told not to say how he died. He couldn't be buried in the cemetery with everyone else.Jayne said it anyway. She has never been ashamed of any of them.She thought she'd done her time. Then in 2022 came the call about Brandon, her nephew and godson. Then Brandon's best friend, a year to the day. Then her brother, two years after that.Five years after her uncle passed, Jayne was diagnosed with lupus and told she wouldn't live past 50. She was a young mother of two and disabled for two years. She traces that diagnosis directly to grief her body was carrying because her mouth wasn't allowed to. So she went looking for tools that talk therapy couldn't reach, back when that meant encyclopedias and library trips.She found them. Today she takes no medication at all, and she teaches those tools to survivors around the world.What we cover

As our Best of Fostering Change series continues, we're revisiting an important conversation about a topic that's too often overlooked—but can have a profound impact on girls experiencing foster care.Rob is joined by Yvonne Esipila Patron, Co-Founder and CEO of the PATESI Foundation, a global nonprofit working to end menstrual and postpartum poverty through education, access, and empowerment.This episode also highlights the meaningful partnership between Comfort Cases and the PATESI Foundation. Through this collaboration, every Comfort Cases backpack distributed to girls ages 11 and older includes an emergency menstrual kit, helping ensure that no girl has to face menstruation without the basic products, dignity, and confidence she deserves.Conversation HighlightsWhy menstrual poverty remains an overlooked global issueThe unique challenges girls in foster care face during times of transitionHow the Comfort Cases and PATESI partnership is making a tangible differenceWhy postpartum poverty deserves greater awarenessThe important role men and boys play in breaking stigma and supporting lasting changeLooking AheadThere's much more to come.This fall, we'll return with all-new episodes featuring inspiring guests and meaningful conversations—along with a new name for the podcast, which we'll announce very soon. Same mission. Same commitment to children and families. An exciting new chapter begins this September.Connect with the PATESI FoundationWebsite: https://www.patesifoundation.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/patesifoundationInstagram: @patesifoundation

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams Fault Lines, Family Trauma, and the Courage to Still Stand Dr. Gregory Williams speaks with author Tim Smith about childhood kidnapping, neglect, shame, therapy, memory, identity, and how telling the truth can turn trauma into hope, healing, and personal power. This week's guest is Tim Smith. Tim grew up in the rural South in an environment shaped by addiction, instability and neglect--experiences that would later form the emotional backbone of his writing. His book, "Faultline" was released recently. Guest Spotlight: Tim Smith Tim Smith is the author of Fault Line: Still Standing, a memoir rooted in his childhood experiences of family instability, neglect, trauma, and the long process of naming what happened to him. In this episode, he discusses being taken from his father by his mother at age six, the emotional “fault line” that shaped his life, the role of therapy in recovering memory and meaning, and the hard-won belief that a person's past can shape them without defining them. Opening From Houston With a Message About Trauma and Truth In this episode of Breaking the Silence, Dr. Gregory Williams opens from Houston, Texas, reflecting on birthdays, memories, and how significant moments can bring both good and painful emotions to the surface. Before introducing his guest, he continues a series of practical reflections on healing from abuse and trauma. His first point is to tell yourself the truth: admit what happened, acknowledge that it was not your fault, and stop hiding the reality of the pain. He also reminds listeners that trauma may affect behavior, triggers, and responses, but it is not the whole of a person's identity. Separating Identity From Experience Dr. Williams emphasizes that what happened to someone is not the same as who they are. He tells listeners that abuse, domestic violence, neglect, human trafficking, and other traumatic experiences may shape a person's reactions, but they do not define the person's worth or future. He uses his own life as an example, saying that aspects of how he showers, dresses, and responds to certain situations were shaped by childhood abuse, yet those experiences are not his identity. He frames this as a key part of healing: replacing “what's wrong with me?” with “what happened to me, and what support do I need?” Breaking the Silence Safely Another key lesson Dr. Williams shares is the importance of breaking silence carefully and safely. He encourages survivors to find someone trustworthy before sharing painful truths, whether that person is a spouse, counselor, pastor, teacher, friend, or another safe support. He recommends journaling as a first step, then sharing only a small portion when the time feels right. For Dr. Williams, secrets can become a prison, but safe disclosure can bring relief, healing, and resilience when the listener believes the survivor and does not push them away. Tim Smith and the Fault Line of His Life After apologizing for a scheduling mistake the previous week, Dr. Williams welcomes Tim Smith, author of Fault Line: Still Standing. Tim explains that the story had been inside him for years, but therapy helped him realize that what he had treated as mere facts were actually emotionally loaded experiences. The central “fault line” of his life, he says, was when his mother took him from his father at age six. He had not originally used the word “kidnapping” for the experience until his husband, who has a background in social work, pointed out that being taken against his will and hidden from his father for a year fit that description. Memory, Music, and the Body's Record of Trauma Tim describes how therapy reopened memories he had not revisited for decades, almost like a dam breaking. As he began writing, sensory details returned through images, sounds, smells, songs, and scenes from childhood. He explains that, as a photographer and visual person, the pictures in his mind contain “all of the data”: emotion, sound, smell, and memory. One song, Meat Loaf's “Two Out of Three Ain't Bad,” instantly pulls him back to a specific childhood scene. The conversation shows how trauma is stored not only as narrative memory, but also through the body, the senses, and emotional association. Kidnapping, Silence, and Dissociation Tim recounts the morning his mother took him, describing how she woke him, had him kiss his father goodbye, and led him toward a car driven by his soon-to-be stepfather. He remembers becoming immediately frightened, crying in the back seat, and later being threatened that he would be left on the side of the interstate if he did not stop. Afterward, he lived in trailer parks and became nonverbal at home for about a year, using silence as the only weapon available to him as a small child. He also describes staring out windows and mentally leaving situations he could not control, a pattern of dissociation that continued as a survival tool. Shame, Neglect, and Reclaiming Worth The middle section of the interview explores Tim's childhood neglect, poverty, and shame. He remembers not being fed breakfast, being placed on free breakfast and lunch programs, and being mocked at home for his body and perceived effeminacy. He says that abuse, neglect, and homophobic shaming made him fearful and ashamed for decades. Later in life, even while working in private equity in Beverly Hills, he still had to challenge the internal belief that he was somehow less than everyone else. Through therapy, reflection, and the writing of his memoir, Tim came to see that the darkness of his past was not who he was. Therapy, Meaning, and the Ingredients of Peace Tim and Dr. Williams discuss therapy, trust, medication, shutdown, suicidal despair, and the search for meaning after Tim's mother died, September 11 happened, and he lost his job in quick succession. Tim says writing the book became therapeutic, though it also brought intense PTSD moments and painful memories. When Dr. Williams asks him to imagine cooking up “peace” on a Waffle House grill, Tim names ingredients such as believing in yourself, knowing who you are, stability, routine, love, a safe relationship, dogs, and the feeling of taking a nap on a rainy Sunday afternoon. His definition of peace is simple, embodied, safe, and deeply earned. Taking Back Power and Choosing Hope Near the end, Dr. Williams asks Tim what he would say to listeners who have carried trauma for decades. Tim tells them to be brave, to understand that healing may require burning like a phoenix, and to remember that pain may be part of them but does not control them. He urges people to take back power from the false narratives in their heads, from abusive or neglectful parental voices, and from a past that is not their identity. The episode closes with Dr. Williams recommending Fault Line: Still Standing, sharing Tim's website faultlinememoir.com and Instagram Tim.Smith.writes, and reminding listeners that there is always hope, no matter what happened to them.

Donation link, book link, YouTube video podcast link: https://linktr.ee/podcastandpoetrybookLiana's Links: https://www.lucinetraining.co.uk/

Mental health in agriculture is a conversation that can no longer be ignored. Behind every successful farming operation are people carrying the weight of unpredictable weather, volatile markets, financial pressures, family dynamics, succession planning, and the everyday challenges that come with life on the farm. Yet too often, these struggles remain hidden. In this episode of The Impact Farming Show, Tracy Brunet is joined by Thomas Eisenbarth, farmer, mental health advocate, and founder of Grounded Ag, alongside Colleen Stegenga, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, agricultural mental health therapist, and founder of Embracing Change Counseling Services. Thomas courageously shares his personal mental health journey and why he believes vulnerability can save lives. Colleen offers both clinical expertise and firsthand understanding of agriculture, helping bridge the gap between mental health care and the unique realities of rural communities. Together, they discuss why these conversations matter, how we can better support one another, and introduce their impactful presentation, From the Field to the Feelings, designed specifically for agricultural conferences, organizations, and producer groups. Episode Highlights • Thomas shares his personal mental health journey and why he chose to tell his story • Colleen explains the unique mental health challenges facing farmers and ranchers • Why stigma continues to keep many people in agriculture suffering in silence • Recognizing the warning signs that someone may be struggling • Practical ways family members, friends, and colleagues can offer support • Why combining lived farming experience with clinical expertise creates meaningful conversations • The story behind From the Field to the Feelings • What organizations can expect when they bring this presentation to their conference or event • Who this presentation is designed for and why agricultural communities are embracing it Conversation Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to The Impact Farming Show 01:05 – Meet Thomas Eisenbarth and Colleen Stegenga 1:41 – Colleen's background 5:05 – Thomas shares his background 5:45 – Why Colleen decided to focus on agriculture mental health 9:06 – Thomas shares his personal mental health journey 15:00 – Why stigma continues to exist in farming 27:59 – Recognizing warning signs, starting conversations and having your tribe 29:34 – How Colleen and Thomas teamed up together for mental health presentations 34:37 – The story behind From the Field to the Feelings 48:00 – Final thoughts and words of encouragement Whether you're a farmer, rancher, agribusiness professional, agricultural leader, or someone who simply cares about the people behind our food system, this conversation offers hope, practical advice, and an important reminder that no one has to face life's challenges alone. Thanks for tuning in, Tracy

What if the person staring back at you in the mirror isn't who everyone else sees?In this powerful episode of The Raw Vibe Podcast, author, educator, and advocate Linda Summersea shares her deeply personal journey of living with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), overcoming childhood trauma, and discovering the courage to embrace an authentic life.Drawing from her memoir, The Girl with the Black and Blue Doll, Linda opens up about the emotional isolation, negative self-image, and societal pressures that shaped her life—and the healing that became possible through self-awareness, writing, and resilience.Whether you or someone you love struggles with body image, anxiety, trauma, or self-worth, this conversation offers hope, practical insights, and a reminder that healing is possible.

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams Breaking Shame and Building a Mission of Healing Guests, Diana and Micah LaCerte, Owners of HitchFit and Co-Authors of The Breaker This week's guests are back by popular demand. Micah and Diana will be discussing not only their book: "The Breaker." but the movement that this couple and their message is starting across the country. Do not miss this inspirational program! Don't forget to check out the guest's book, "The Breaker: How Men Can Overcome Shame and Live in True Freedom" Find it at all major book retailers and Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637634889?tag=simonsayscom Check out The Breaker Below: https://thebreakermission.com/ The Hidden Weight Survivors Carry Dr. Gregory Williams opens the program by introducing a new multiweek discussion focused especially on men who have survived childhood sexual abuse, while noting that the principles also apply to women. He describes how survivors may appear successful, strong, disciplined, professionally accomplished, or outwardly composed while privately carrying shame, fear, anger, confusion, nightmares, relationship difficulties, and the belief that something inside them has been permanently damaged. Williams shares that he remained silent about his own abuse for thirty-seven years and explains how fear of disbelief, judgment, and altered relationships can prevent disclosure. He emphasizes that the abuse was not the survivor's fault and does not define identity. He explains that once healing begins, the wound can become a scar that no longer defines the survivor and may instead be used to encourage and empower others facing similar pain. The Breaker Becomes a Platform for Vulnerability Williams welcomes Micah and Diana LaCerte, co-authors of The Breaker, and presents the book as a resource for trauma disclosure, courage, healing, faith, and personal transformation. Micah explains that since the book's release, he and Diana have heard from many people who felt safe enough to reveal deeply personal experiences after encountering their story. He describes the work as both a blessing and a source of heartbreak because every testimony carries pain, yet he believes vulnerability can help others find courage and begin healing. Diana adds that the book has created opportunities to hold difficult stories with compassion while helping people move toward the identity they believe God intended for them rather than remaining defined by trauma. Both describe the work as ministry rather than promotion. Carrying Other People's Stories Without Being Consumed Williams asks how the couple emotionally handles the painful accounts people bring to them. Diana says their relationship with Jesus has become essential because they need the capacity to listen while also surrendering burdens that are not theirs to carry permanently. She describes beginning her mornings in prayer and asking for the words and strength needed to sustain weary people. She says their background in fitness has also helped them understand the importance of physically and emotionally processing difficult experiences rather than allowing those burdens to remain stored within them. Some stories stay with her and bring genuine grief, but she also feels gratitude when survivors or spouses explain that the book gave them courage to disclose abuse, offer support, or enter a healing process. Success Measured by Individual Breakthroughs The guests explain that traditional bestseller rankings were never their primary goal. Diana says they measure success through individual stories of breakthrough, disclosure, and healing, believing that each person reached confirms the book is fulfilling its intended purpose. Micah adds that although they are normally highly competitive and accustomed to pursuing championships, visible accomplishments, and measurable success, they felt led not to treat the book as another contest. Their hope is that The Breaker will remain useful ten, twenty, or thirty years from now and continue helping people long after the initial release period. Williams agrees that trauma-related books often gain influence slowly through trust, testimony, sustained ministry, and repeated personal recommendation. From Shame to a Voice for Other Survivors When Williams asks what “the breaker” means, Micah explains that the most painful and shame-filled part of his life has become the subject he now most wants to discuss. He recalls how difficult it was to disclose the abuse even to close family members and contrasts that with the freedom he now experiences speaking openly. Diana observes that the hesitation and shame that remained even a year earlier are no longer controlling him. Micah says that when he shares his experience, strangers frequently respond with stories involving themselves, a child, a parent, or another loved one. He describes healing as a difficult process requiring courage, time, persistence, and the willingness to keep moving after setbacks. Once survivors reach greater freedom, he believes their lived understanding can become a powerful source of hope for those still trapped in secrecy. Forgiveness as a Process, Not Permission A major part of the conversation focuses on forgiveness. Micah says his most difficult forgiveness was not directed only toward the abuser, but also toward the people who should have protected him and did not. He describes a seven-year healing process in which he addressed major and smaller traumas before becoming capable of authentic forgiveness. Micah recounts a spiritual turning point during a walk, when reflecting on Jesus's words of forgiveness helped him begin releasing the anger he still held toward the abuser and those who failed to protect him. Diana stresses that forgiveness does not mean saying the abuse was acceptable, restoring access to the offender, or abandoning necessary boundaries. Williams agrees from his own experience, explaining that although he worked toward forgiveness, he never allowed his children to be alone with his father. The Breaker Mission and Restoring Men, Families, and Faith Micah describes The Breaker Mission as an evolving ministry that he expects to work alongside other aligned organizations rather than compete with them. Its developing focus includes protecting children, helping men heal, strengthening families, and guiding survivors toward a renewed relationship with Christ, especially when church-related wounds have complicated faith. He says he feels called to be a strong male voice for men who have not yet found their own voice and believes healing fathers can positively affect wives, children, and entire households. He also discusses speaking to young people in a juvenile detention center and observing that none reported having a father consistently present in the home. The closing highlights Soul Fit TV, the couple's upcoming fifteenth anniversary, Williams's hope for future events and collaborations, and his blessing over their marriage, ministry, and expanding impact.

Mental health is one of the most misunderstood topics in the church, and it's time we start having honest conversations.In this deeply personal episode, I share my own journey through postpartum anxiety and panic disorder, the hurtful responses I received from well-meaning Christians, and the hope I found as God faithfully walked with me toward healing. We'll also look at Elijah's burnout, David's honest cries to God, and the Good Samaritan to discover God's heart for those who are hurting.Whether you're battling anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, grief, burnout, intrusive thoughts, postpartum struggles, or simply feeling overwhelmed, this message is for you.You are not a weak Christian because you're struggling.You are not alone.Healing is a journey, and Jesus walks every step with you.If this episode encourages you, please share it with someone who needs hope today. Together, let's break the silence and create a church culture marked by compassion, truth, and healing.–To connect with Lauren or to become a Supporter, visit gravetop.com and follow her @laurenahargrove on Instagram and Facebook

Summer Of Psalms: Psalm 34 "Breaking The Silence" (Josh Morales) by Pastor Harold Guerra

Send us Fan MailFor many people, mental health is difficult to talk about. Too often, the struggles remain hidden behind successful careers, busy lives, and smiling faces.On this episode, Enrique Cerna is joined by two longtime friends and respected journalists—Roberta Romero, executive producer of KING 5 News' Facing Race unit, and Randy Eng, producer, photographer, and editor with the Seattle Channel—for an honest and deeply personal conversation about their mental health journeys.Together, they talk about their experiences with depression, anxiety, grief, and the challenges of asking for help.  They also talk about the importance of therapy, support from family and friends, and why breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness matters now more than ever.This is a conversation about vulnerability, resilience, hope, and the reminder that no one has to face mental health challenges alone.If you or someone you know is struggling, we hope this discussion encourages you to reach out, seek support, and know that help is available.Read: https://southseattleemerald.org/voices/2025/07/22/masked-men-are-detaining-people-when-will-washingtons-leaders-protect-usRead: https://nieman.harvard.edu/mark-trahant-wins-the-2025-i-f-stone-medal-for-journalistic-independence/Read: https://www.24thstreet.org/blog/2025/1/17/letting-goRead:https://www.amazon.com/Harbingers-January-Charlottesville-American-Democracy/dp/1586424017Read: https://www.mapresearch.org/2024-dei-report "Dismantling DEI: A Coordinated Attack on American Values"https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/01/07/these-companies-have-rolled-back-dei-policies-mcdonalds-is-latest-to-abandon-diversity-standards/https://www.chronicle.com/package/the-assault-on-dei  Chronicle of Higher Education https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/supreme/bios/?fa=scbios.display_file&fileID=gonzalezRead: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/chinatown-international-district-activist-matt-chan-dead-at-71/Hear Rick Shenkman on the BBC Radio Program Sideways:https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xdg0Read: https://www.thedailybeast.com/i-stuck-with-nixon-heres-why-science-said-i-did-itRead: https://www.washcog.org/in-the-news/your-right-to-knowRead: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-legislatures-sunshine-committee-has-fallen-into-darkness/Read: https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2024/feb/2...

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams Outcry, Healing, and the Courage to Face What Fear Has Hidden Guest, JoDee Neil, Owner of Neil Now Legal, Prosecutor, Attorney and Author of "Outcry Witness: A Former Prosecutor's Guide to Healing and Justice After Sexual Violence" This week's guest is back by popular demand. JoDee Neil is an acclaimed trail attorney and author of the new book: "Outcry Witness." She owns Neil Now Legal, PLLC. She has served as a prosecutor of sexual abuse cases and specializes in Crimes Against Children cases. Interested in our guest? Visit their Website at: https://www.jodeeneil.com/ Don't forget to check out her book: "Outcry Witness: A Former Prosecutor's Guide to Healing and Justice After Sexual Violence" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1965766196/ Opening From Houston With Gratitude and Hope In this episode of Breaking the Silence, host Dr. Gregory Williams welcomes listeners from his home in Houston, Texas, and reflects on the city, the Texas Medical Center, the approaching Fourth of July weekend, and gratitude for military service members and veterans. He then introduces the evening's guest, JoDee Neil, attorney, author, advocate, and returning guest. The episode centers on trauma, anxiety, disclosure, recovery, workplace harm, and JoDee's book Outcry, Witness. A Practical Game Plan for Anxiety and Triggers Before bringing JoDee into the conversation, Dr. Williams shares a practical ten-step approach for dealing with anxiety when a traumatic trigger appears. He encourages listeners to recognize and name the trigger, breathe slowly, ground themselves through the five senses, challenge fearful thoughts, relax the body, replace fear with truth, take one small action, reduce outside stimulation, practice gratitude, and, for those who believe, turn to God in prayer. He explains that these steps can help move the brain out of panic and into a more rational, grounded state. JoDee Neil on Becoming Unfrozen JoDee responds by describing anxiety and trauma response as a kind of frozen state, where a person may feel unable to move, think clearly, or act. She affirms Dr. Williams' grounding tools and adds that writing can also help people come out of that frozen condition. She speaks candidly about her own past reliance on pills and other numbing methods, explaining that many people try to avoid discomfort rather than face the pain underneath. For JoDee, healing required learning to feel, endure, and move through the truth rather than continually medicating it away. Disclosure, Truth, and the Possibility of Joy The conversation turns to disclosure, which JoDee defines as first admitting the truth to oneself and then saying it aloud to someone else. She explains that healing begins when a person recognizes that present pain may be connected to something that happened long ago, and that a joyful life requires facing that reality. Dr. Williams asks whether she once believed she was worthy of happiness, and JoDee says happiness felt distant and almost imaginary until she began accepting the truth and healing from it. From Courthouse Healing to a Wider Calling JoDee reflects on her career as a trial attorney, particularly her work with sexual abuse cases and crimes against children. She describes how helping others in court once made her feel whole and purposeful, but after writing Outcry, Witness, she no longer feels the same need to keep healing inside courthouses. Instead, she now sees a broader calling to bring her experience, communication skills, and trauma-informed understanding into businesses, schools, boards, leadership groups, and public speaking settings where she can reach more people at once. Workplace Trauma, Retaliation, and Better Leadership A major part of the interview focuses on how JoDee's legal and survivor experience can help organizations. She discusses workplace sexual harassment, retaliation, human resources failures, and the need for better reporting protocols. JoDee says retaliation often causes additional harm and liability, and she argues that organizations should create clearer, safer processes before matters escalate into legal battles. She also discusses de-escalation, communication, chain of command, listening, smiling, reducing tension, and creating healthier workplace cultures that protect both people and organizations. Facing Fear and Choosing Life As the interview closes, JoDee describes her dream of speaking widely, including a future TED Talk, and says she wants people to hear her and decide that life is worth truly living. She encourages listeners who are trapped in despair, addiction, or avoidance to take the first step toward healing, saying that the fear of facing pain is often worse than the act of beginning. Dr. Williams and JoDee also discuss a possible future Houston event connected to their books and nonprofit fundraising. The episode ends with Dr. Williams reminding listeners that both he and JoDee have survived deep pain, that help begins with a first step, and that as long as there is breath, there is hope.

There's a part of the fertility journey that is so often overlooked.Because while so much of this experience is centred around women, the truth is, fertility is never just one person's journey.So today, we're opening up that conversation in a really powerful way. In this episode, I'm joined by Jacky maughan and his story brings a perspective we don't hear nearly enough.After experiencing male factor infertility himself, he shares what it's really like to walk this path as a man… the pressure to stay strong, the quiet sense of responsibility, the emotional impact that often goes unspoken, and the ways it can affect identity, relationships, and self-worth.We talk about why so many men struggle in silence during IVF, what support actually looks like from a male perspective, and how couples can feel more connected through this process.And most importantly, we explore how men can begin to feel more empowered, more involved, and more supported on this journey too.This is such an honest, grounding and deeply needed conversation… whether you're navigating fertility right now, or you want to better understand your partner's experience.By the time you finish listening, you'll find out:Jacky's own personal journey through infertility + IVFWhere men can reach out for support when trying to conceiveHow to support your male partner through this process You can connect with Jacky via his website or InstagramEMBRACE THE JOURNEY IS BACK at the end of this month!This FREE 3-day live training event will show you how to use the practices of Fertility Yoga, Meditation + Breathwork to:Support your fertilityRegulate your menstrual cycleCam your nervous systemEase the anxiety of TTCAnd be in the energy of a group of Thanks for being here on Your Journey to Fertility! When you finish listening, I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from today's episode. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, share it to your Instagram stories and tag me @jen.elementpilatesyoga If you're trying to conceive, I have lots of resources to support you:To grab a copy of my Free Fertility Yoga Guide, click here:To jump inside the Secret Fertility Shift private podcast series, click here:To learn more about In Your Element - The Fertility Yoga Experience click here and start using so many of the practices I speak about for yourself.This program is a guided way to: Sync with your cycle & synchronize your hormonesIncrease success rates through proven, scientific methodsRegulate your nervous system & make every part of this journey feel easier

Why do so many men suffer in silence?In this episode of The Common Knowledge Podcast, Marcus L-Spade Johnson sits down with Johnny Moore III, author of Anchor, for an honest conversation about men's mental health, emotional resilience, faith, purpose, and what it truly means to heal.Together, they discuss:Why men often struggle to ask for helpThe mental health challenges facing Black men and their communitiesBreaking generational cycles of silenceThe importance of strong male mentors and brotherhoodFaith, hope, and finding purpose through life's stormsPractical steps every man can take toward healingThis isn't just another conversation about mental health—it's a conversation about becoming stronger without pretending you're unbreakable.Featured Guest: Johnny Moore IIIAuthor of: Anchor (Available now on Amazon)If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. One conversation could change a life.

Men account for higher rates of nearly all major chronic diseases, but nearly two-thirds admit that they avoid going to the doctor for as long as possible. Physicians warn that once men enter their 40s, routine screenings become essential for spotting problems before preventable conditions turn life-threatening. June is 'Men's Health Month', and the Department of Health and Human Services wants raise awareness on growing concerns over low testosterone and mental health issues in men. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Adm. Brian Christine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), who says men need to be open and honest about their health concerns. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite the political fascism in Israel, the daily abuses and ethnic cleansing on the West Bank, the genocide in Gaza and forever wars on Iran and Lebanon, there are those in Israel – both Jewish and Palestinian – who organise resistance. In fact, Standing Together recently launched a new Jewish-Arab political party.Standing Together describes itself as a force for equal rights, peace and justice. It is worth mentioning here, though, that Israeli human rights organisations like Standing Together, B'Tselem, Yesh Din and Breaking The Silence do not, in any way, represent the majority of Israelis. Not even close. In fact, Israelis opinion polls consistently show that a large majority of Jewish Israelis believe that the war in Gaza is justified, many even calling for a military escalation. Polling also shows widespread support among Israeli Jews for Netanyahu's wars in Iran and Lebanon, as well as for the occupation of the West Bank. Despite this fact, however, Standing Together has actually grown in numbers since the 7th of October. So there are parallel processes at play – one Israeli reality is the fascist one, where the government reinstates the death penalty but only for Palestinians, where settler thugs shoot Palestinian children on the West Bank with impunity, where systematic rape is employed in Israeli prisons. Another reality consists of Jewish Israelis and Palestinian Arabs uniting around the most basic of objectives: End the wars, end the occupation, equal rights for all. The problem is that the fascist reality seems to be taking over. However, that does not mean you stop resisting.To listen to the episode ad-free subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara St. John was sexually assaulted by her aged instructor when she was a teenager at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. After she went public in 2019, Lara was inundated with messages from others who said they had suffered similar abuse in the classical music world. Now she's telling their stories in a new documentary, Dear Lara. She joined Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about this darker side of classical music and the changes she hopes her film can help make.

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams Unconquerable: Chief Matt Antkowiak on Trauma, Resilience, Faith, and Becoming a Protector Guest, Chief Matt Antkowiak, Former Police Chief, Detective, Author and Survivor This week's guest is Chief Matt Antkowiak, Author and Survivor Scoop was conducting an interview with Chief Matt, when something amazing happened. You Will NOT want to miss this life-changing program! A Father's Day Conversation About Resilience and Hope In this Father's Day episode of Breaking the Silence, host Dr. Gregory Williams welcomes Chief Matt Antkowiak for a deeply personal conversation about childhood abuse, trauma, resilience, law enforcement, faith, and the mission to protect vulnerable children. Dr. Williams opens by reflecting on his recent visit to a juvenile detention center, where many young people had experienced abuse, trafficking, foster care, fatherlessness, and serious criminal charges. He uses that experience to introduce the theme of resilience, stressing that children need adults who teach them how to recover, adapt, keep moving forward, learn from failure, and believe that there is always hope. Learning Resilience the Hard Way Chief Antkowiak explains that resilience is not simply something people are born with; it must be taught, modeled, and practiced. He says he did not learn healthy resilience as a child, but later encountered it in the military through drill sergeants who taught him that each step forward is a choice. He describes how, as a young person, he dealt with trauma through hiding, shame, drinking, fighting, and suppressing pain. Looking back, he says he was leaving “breadcrumbs” and wanted someone to notice, ask the right questions, and help stop what was happening, but the adults around him did not respond in the way he needed. Abuse, Silence, and the Need for Protectors Much of the conversation centers on the silence that surrounds childhood abuse and the urgent need to equip parents, teachers, pastors, coaches, and other adults to recognize warning signs. Chief Antkowiak says most abusers are known to the child, often occupying trusted roles within families, schools, churches, sports, or community circles. He argues that society must shift from merely responding after abuse happens to building protectors on the front end. For him, breaking the silence means removing shame from survivors, asking better questions, teaching children what trusted adults look like, and understanding that the shame belongs to the abuser, not the victim. Law Enforcement, Human Trafficking, and Searching for Justice Chief Antkowiak reflects on his long career in law enforcement, including military service and decades as a police officer and chief. He explains that working sex crimes, child abuse, and human trafficking cases gave him a way to pursue justice for others, even while he had not yet publicly spoken about his own abuse. He discusses major investigations, including the Blakemore human-trafficking case, and says that catching offenders did not fully heal him because he was still searching for justice for himself. Over time, he came to understand that his pain had become part of his purpose and that his experience helped him connect with survivors while also understanding the behavior of predators. The Moment the Silence Broke One of the most powerful parts of the interview comes when Chief Antkowiak describes publicly revealing his own abuse during a media interview connected to a school-related abuse investigation. He says an investigative reporter recognized that the case seemed deeply personal, and Antkowiak unexpectedly disclosed that he had been abused as a child. Moments later, he repeated that disclosure in a press conference, realizing only afterward that he had broken a silence he had carried for decades. Rather than stopping, he returned to the work, but the moment forced him to begin processing what he had long buried. Faith, Healing, and Taking Back What Was Stolen Chief Antkowiak also speaks openly about faith, therapy, forgiveness, and his belief that God was present with him even in the darkest moments of his life. He recounts a life-threatening incident as a Dallas police officer in 2000, when he survived being dragged by a car and badly injured, and says his young son's comment that “God went to work with my dad” changed the way he understood God's presence. He connects that experience to his later healing, saying he has come to believe that God did not create the abuse but was with him through it. He also shares how a trafficking survivor once told him about Jesus and reminded him that God loved him, a moment that deeply affected him. Team Unconquerable and the Call to Expose the Darkness The episode closes with Chief Antkowiak describing his developing movement, Team Unconquerable, and his upcoming book, Unconquerable, which he says is planned for a Black Friday release tied to reclaiming the anniversary of one of the hardest moments in his own story. His mission is to expose darkness, speak up, and build protectors who can recognize abuse, support survivors, and prevent harm. Dr. Williams thanks him for the conversation and says he wants to bring him back for another episode. He closes with the show's recurring message: survivors are not alone, healing is possible, the silence can be broken, and there is always hope.

What if the very institutions designed to educate and empower were also places where harm could quietly thriveIn this powerful and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Julie Cruse—writer, inventor, instructional designer, and author of The Burn List: A Memoir of Abuse from Home to Higher Education. Julie has been recognized by Dance Magazine as a “pioneer of computational choreography,” and her work spans over two decades across Ivy League, public, and community colleges. With more than 30 grants and honors, including a National Science Foundation fellowship, her accomplishments are remarkable—but her story is also deeply sobering.Julie courageously shares her journey from an abusive childhood into a prolonged experience of academic exploitation. Across seven universities, she faced grooming, harassment, and retaliation from faculty—experiences that ultimately forced her out of her PhD program and academic career.What Is Academic Abuse?Academic abuse is often hidden in plain sight. It can include:Grooming and manipulation by those in positions of authorityHarassment and coercionRetaliation when boundaries are set or complaints are madeDespite protections like Title IX and Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), these issues persist—making awareness and advocacy more important than ever.Key Takeaways from This Episode✨ Why some students are more vulnerable Julie explains how factors like isolation, power imbalance, and a desire to succeed can make students easier targets.✨ How to protect yourself Practical, empowering advice including:Set clear boundariesAvoid being alone with faculty in private settingsKeep detailed records of interactions (dates, times, events)✨ What to do if harassment occurs There is often a required process and hierarchy of reporting. Understanding the steps ahead of time can help you navigate the system more effectively.✨ Why this conversation matters Silence allows abuse to continue. Open conversations help validate survivors, create accountability, and drive change.A Safe Place to Be HeardJulie has created a survivor-led platform at Academic Abuse where individuals can:Share their stories in a safe, supportive environmentAccess resources for healingResearch documented cases of abuse at specific universitiesIf you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or abuse in higher education, this platform offers both validation and support.Connect with JulieWebsite: Julie Cruse official website https://www.juliecruse.com/Advocacy Platform: Academic Abuse https://www.academicabuse.com/  Final ThoughtsThis episode is a courageous step toward shining light on a difficult but critical issue. By speaking openly about academic abuse, we can better protect students, support survivors, and work toward meaningful change in higher education.If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might benefit.And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Linda's Corner to help spread more hope, healing, and awareness.Listen, Share, and SupportIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who may need hope today.Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating and review, and help us spread more healing and inspiration to the world.Free Resource for HealingIf you're ready to release stress, calm your mind, and begin healing from within, visit:

My good friend Matt Cline is here with me today to talk through the cultural epidemic of pornography. We are diving into the deeper roots behind sexual sin, temptation, and transformation. Matt discusses why behavior modification alone isn't enough, how our view of sex shapes the way we lead and relate to others, and why isolation keeps people stuck. Explore how true freedom comes through renewing the mind, pursuing Christlikeness, and allowing God to transform us from the inside out.    Episode Highlights: Surface-level behavior change isn't enough—you have to deal with the root issue. The way we follow Christ should shape the way we think about sex and intimacy. Hidden sexual sin doesn't stay isolated—it affects every relationship around us. Sexual immorality pulls us toward selfishness instead of self-giving love. God invites you to live in His grace and the freedom He offers. Quotes from this Conversation: Matt: Love, living in love and engaging in sexual immorality cannot happen at the same time.  The purpose for our sexual desire is a training ground for Christlikeness. For dying to self and stewarding our urges. Accountability should not be focused simply on not sinning. Temptation is simply an opportunity for transformation.  I tried to quit the sin for so long without ever learning how to renew my mind. Never learning how to think like Jesus in the sexual area of my life.  The amount of perversion in our faces all the time, lends to us justifying "lesser sins." You can get rid of the behavior but what about the worldview or the view on sex that has been established in you that you have not yet had renewed?   Dr. Kim: Isolation does nothing good for us at all. Isolation when we're dealing with something negative should not be something that we do. We give people hope because not in us and not our ministries, but in this God who created us. I want to know Nancy loves me even with everything out on the table.  Time to Talk About It: Are there areas in my life where I've focused more on behavior management than true heart transformation? How has my worldview around sex, intimacy, or temptation been shaped more by culture than by Christ? When I struggle, do I tend to isolate myself or invite trusted people into honesty, accountability, and healing?   Mentioned in This Episode: Check out what Matt is doing at Restored Ministries If your marriage is struggling with betrayal, check out our course: Marriage Undefiled