Speaking My Truth: Through the Eyes of Survivors Podcast

The other night, I had the honor of appearing on the Through the Eyes of Survivors Podcast with the wonderful Tara from Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence, my second time ever speaking on a podcast, and somehow it felt both terrifying and empowering all at once.

I shared parts of my childhood growing up in a home where I experienced sexual, physical, and emotional abuse by my stepfather. We talked not only about what happened, but about the coping skills I developed to survive - hyper-awareness, people-pleasing, emotional guarding, and how those same survival tools still affect me in adulthood today.

What made this conversation so meaningful was the environment Tara created. She approached everything with gentleness and understanding, and instead of feeling interviewed, I felt heard. There was space to pause, to breathe, and to speak honestly without having to minimize my experience.

We also talked about my book Because of Jane, why I chose to tell this story and how sharing it is part of breaking silence. Every time I speak about it out loud, it becomes a little less heavy and a little more purposeful. My hope is always that someone listening realizes they are not alone in what they went through or how they feel afterward.

This was only my second podcast, but it felt like another step forward, reclaiming my voice one conversation at a time.

If you’d like to listen to the episode, you can watch it here:

The Survival Skills You Learn from Abuse (That No One Talks About)

Thank you to Tara and Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence for giving survivors a place where their stories matter and their voices are believed.