For such a long time, I prefaced many of my blog posts with "trigger warnings." Once I read, "learning is painful. It’s often ugly and traumatic." I believe this to be true and cannot deny that it makes sense to me. Please refrain from listening in the presence of young children.

What you are about to hear is not a sanitized story. To truly understand what happened to me, I must share the parts that are unsettling and raw. This isn't for shock value; it's to honor the truth. I am telling this story for those who need to hear it—for those who may find echoes of their own experiences in the darkness, and for those who need to understand the realities of domestic violence. I will revisit the most challenging moments because they are central to the larger questions: How did this happen? How was he never punished? I may not have all the answers, but I have my memory, and I will share it without flinching.

Before we continue, I need you to know that this episode was recorded in one take. It had to be. My podcast is a homegrown effort, and any tremor you hear in my voice is the echo of this story.

I ask you, if you are able, to walk this path with me. Start with the trailer for This Authentic Life, and then let us bear witness together—for all who have faced the harsh realities of abuse. The story will become harder to hear before it gets easier, but I promise that where it leads is a place of profound hope, with a message that could make all the difference to you or someone you care about.