n this episode of Ashes and Aftermath, Brandon Holder speaks with Nicholas Ruchlewicz, a traumatic brain injury and motorcycle crash survivor who turned personal devastation into powerful advocacy. Nicholas shares the story of the accident that left him with multiple life-threatening injuries, the long road to recovery, and the mental health lessons trauma forced him to confront.

The conversation explores the realities many survivors face but rarely discuss — navigating insurance battles, accessing mental health care, and standing up within a system that often fails trauma victims. Nicholas also reflects on how music, community, and vulnerability played a crucial role in his healing, and why he now uses his voice to advocate for better trauma care and mental health support.

A raw, honest episode about survival, resilience, and rising after impact.

In this episode of Ashes and Aftermath, host Brandon Holder speaks with Shannon Curtis, founder of Angel Goddess Healing and author of No More Monsters Under the Bed. Shannon shares how childhood trauma impacts us as adults and how healing begins through forgiveness, inner-child work, and reclaiming your voice.

They explore overcoming shame tied to addiction and sexual abuse, the power of sharing your story, and how pain can be transformed into purpose. This honest, heart-centered conversation offers practical tools and hope for anyone on a healing journey.

When life shatters, where do you turn? In this episode, Julie Barth shares how she survived profound loss, emotional abuse, and the demands of raising a medically fragile daughter — and how she rebuilt her life with purpose. This conversation is a lifeline for anyone navigating grief, trauma, or the aftermath of a toxic relationship.

Julie’s journey began with the heartbreaking loss of her first husband, Colin, to pancreatic cancer while she was caring for their special-needs daughter. What followed was a long stretch of exhaustion, guilt, and survival mode that left her vulnerable to a relationship filled with emotional manipulation and control. Julie opens up about the red flags she ignored, the isolation she felt, and the physical toll trauma took on her body.

In one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on Ashes & Aftermath, Julie explains how unresolved grief can pull strong women into abusive dynamics, why so many victims blame themselves, and what finally helped her leave for good. She also shares how these experiences led her to create CJB Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women in crisis who fall through the cracks of traditional support systems.

In this episode, Julie and Brandon discuss:

• The hidden weight of caregiving and widowhood
• Why intelligent, strong women miss red flags
• How emotional abuse rewires your thinking
• The physical symptoms that come from living in chaos
• The guilt, self-blame, and silence that keep people trapped
• What healing looked like when she finally broke free
• How CJB Outreach supports women before they hit rock bottom

Julie’s story is a powerful reminder that you are not broken, you are not alone, and you can rebuild a life that feels safe, grounded, and hopeful — no matter what you’ve been through.

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who may need it. Your reviews and ratings help this show reach more people who need these conversations.

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