WBYPod

Season 2 Episode 11: Mindy

"I was literally living the same life, as my mom did with my dad, that I always said I would never do." ~Mindy 

Mindy is someone that I have known for over 20 years (which is crazy).  In her story, you will learn about what's it's like to be the child of an addict. You often fall into roles unknowingly and find yourself a child of neglect.  Sometimes when your parent has an addiction problem, out of the sheer cycle of addiction, you end up being in a relationship and even marriage with what you are comfortable with, another addict. You also hear why she found herself wanting to be so independent as a child, which helped her cope when facing the biggest challenge of her life.   Mindy also shares the impact of what losing her mother was like. 

Mindy's ability to understand so fast the role she played as a child and an adult is admirable.  She wasn't scared to change her co-dependent ways. She was/is brave enough to get help when she needed it in the depth of her crisis.  She is extraordinary because Mindy broke the cycle!

    Mindy is determined, motivated, and brave.  We rarely hear someone be intentional and understand how the cycles and roles of addictions get passed on to the children in the family.  And be healthy and smart enough to stop it! Mindy is a REAL LIFE superhero! 

Mindy's Non-profit: https://www.facebook.com/arttatumzone/ 

Crystal’s Non-Profit: https://rahabs-sisters.org/

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#neglect #addiction #childofanaddict #alanon #parentalloss #addict  #codependency #trauma #therapy #selfhealers #whywerecord #shareyourstory #webelieveyou #wbypod #traumasurvivor #weareinthistogether #traumahealing #traumarecovery #painintopurpose #empowerment #youarenotalone #alltraumamatters #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #podcastlife #metoomovement #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality #wbypodcast #mindyisahero

Season 2, Episode 10: Grace El

"When I woke up I knew something happened because you feel it in your body." ~Grace El

 

Grace contacted me via social media to share her story.   This brave human got on zoom with me and told me her story!

Like Sara, my last guest, She also is a twin!  Her biological father abandoned them when they were young.  She went through an unheard-of amount of betrayal by people that continuously told her they were her friend.  Because she is such an adaptable human being, she found herself bouncing from city to city after being in the military.  Through this experience, she found herself quickly in survival mode again and again.  Grace opens her heart as the story goes on.  She talks about being assaulted by "friends," sleeping on couch after couch until she finally loses herself enough to know she needs help.  Grace shows us her courage as she attempts to lose co-dependency and find a way to live for herself again.  

Grace's story unravels; the more you go into it, the more she reveals.  Grace is kind, determined, funny, and loyal.

Grace El's Non-profit: https://www.embracingmynatural.org/#:~:text=Embracing%20My%20Natural%2C%20Inc.%20is,up%20on%20their%20natural%20hair

Crystal’s Non-Profit: https://rahabs-sisters.org/

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#assault #recovery #mentalillness #mentalbreakdown #violence #complexptsd  #abuse #codependency #violence #trauma #therapy #selfhealers #whywerecord #shareyourstory #webelieveyou #wbypod #traumasurvivor #weareinthistogether #traumahealing #traumarecovery #painintopurpose #empowerment #youarenotalone #alltraumamatters #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #podcastlife #metoomovement #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality #wbypodcast

  

 

Season 2, Episode 9: Sara

"The human soul doesn't want to be fixed or shaped; we want to be witnessed!" ~Sara

Sara is someone who emailed me her story after my first podcast release. I could tell she was eager to share. I could tell that she needed to share. We recorded this year, and her story is heartbreaking. It's longer than our usual recordings, but her life story is amazing. Sara has overcome molestation, multiple assaults (one of which was recent), houselessness (even as a teen), multiple near-death experiences, addictions, and was even jailed as a minor. At one point in her teens, she found herself at an infamous serial killer's farm in Vancouver B.C. (Pickton Farms). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Pickton

Sara explains how the police have never helped her, have never served her, or treated her with any kind of safety in mind. Sara is brave, relentless, kind, and compassionate. Sara has overcome a tremendous amount of trauma and is brave to face it and heal.

Sara's Non-profit: https://secure3.convio.net/surrey/site/Donation2?df_id=1721&1721.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T

Crystal’s Non-Profit: https://rahabs-sisters.org/

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#assault #recovery #substanceabuse #homelessness #violence #complexptsd  #abuse #trauma #violence #trauma #therapy #selfhealers #whywerecord #shareyourstory #webelieveyou #wbypod #traumasurvivor #weareinthistogether #traumahealing #traumarecovery #painintopurpose #empowerment #youarenotalone #alltraumamatters #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #podcastlife #metoomovement #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality #wbypod #wbypodcast

 

Season 2, Episode 8: Jenna

"It's like that conversation about ACAB. People ask, 'What is going to happen when you get assaulted?' I am like, 'Nobody because they never helped anyway.'" -Jenna

     Jenna shares her life with us. After watching her mother fall into addiction problems, she found herself in a caretaker role for her entire family. After running to her dad's house at 16 years old, she finds herself dealing with her step-mom, who also battled an addiction problem.

     She had to make challenging adult decisions at a very young age to keep her head afloat. She found herself having to live with her childhood sweetheart's family to escape the difficulties of her family of origin. She experiences an assault as a minor and shares what it was like to tell the authorities. As she is trying to heal, she discovers that her parents that have been divorced since she was 2, have both developed cancer.
     You will hear how all the unresolved trauma unravels into becoming an adult as she stays with her childhood sweetheart and how that ends up for her. She never had time to process one thing before another thing would hit her. Jenna is so funny. She finds the light in any darkness.

Jenna's Non-profit: https://www.glitsinc.org/

Crystal’s Non-Profit: https://rahabs-sisters.org/

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#assault #recovery #substanceabuse #divorce #comedy #art #abuse #trauma #violence #trauma #therapy #selfhealers #whywerecord #shareyourstory #webelieveyou #wbypod #traumasurvivor #weareinthistogether #traumahealing #traumarecovery #painintopurpose #empowerment #youarenotalone #alltraumamatters #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #podcastlife #metoomovement #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality

 

Season 2, Episode 7: Andy

"It's not a matter of positive thinking. It's about healing my body. It's about getting my control back." - Andy

Andy talks about his childhood and the turmoil a divorce brings on a child, what religion can do to the perceptions of our foundation, and how easy it is to be taken advantage of in the music industry. You will hear how even as an adult, white, heterosexual, cis-gender male, assault can still happen in a seemingly safe place, and how that trauma can lead to a substance abuse problem. Andy is brave, relentless, and extremely kind. He is working on his healing by breaking familial patterns to live a healthier life for himself and get help for his substance abuse. Most of all Andy is an amazing musician. You'll hear one of his most recent songs, and it is absolutely beautiful!

 

Thank you for listening!

Andy's Music Link: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/andy-rumsey/id1044906047

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0SouDFe8ZNLcTK1cJqW4eH

 

Andy's Non-profit: https://naacp.org/

Crystal’s Non-Profit: https://giveguide.org/#!/section:nonprofits,category:civil-human-rights,org:rahabs-sisters

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#assault #recovery #substanceabuse #divorce #musician #art #abuse #trauma #violence #trauma #blm #blacklivesmatter #activism #therapy #selfhealers  #whywerecord #shareyourstory #webelieveyou #wbypod #traumasurvivor #weareinthistogether #traumahealing #traumarecovery #painintopurpose #empowerment #youarenotalone #alltraumamatters #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #podcastlife #metoomovement #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality

Season 2, Episode 6: Mandy

"I am not holding any piece of this horrible secret anymore." ~Mandy

 

Remember Mandy from Season 1? She shared the newly discovered childhood trauma that she had just found out about in Spring 2019. She told us how she discovered it, how it has affected her thus far, and what she was doing to heal.  If you haven't listened to it, you should totally do that now.  This is a follow-up.  We often never get to hear someone's pathway to healing.  Sometimes we don't shake the trees because we don't know what will come with it.  We don't know what's on the other side.  Mandy shares her journey with us, and it's extremely insightful. She tells us what has happened since and talks about her rebirth into the person she is today.   Mandy is a brave, courageous healer and a complete badass!

Thank you for listening!

Mandy’s personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandytigre/?hl=en

Mandy’s Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodymechanicspdx/?hl=en

Mandy’s Business: http://pilatespdx.com/

Mandy’s Non-profit: http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/

Crystal’s Non-Profit: https://rahabs-sisters.org/

Production by Neeraj Srinivasan: https://www.instagram.com/mynipsdontlie/?hl=en
Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#molestation #neglect #childabuse  #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #abuse #childhoodmolestation #trauma #losingaparent #parentaldeath #violence #trauma #childhoodviolence #therapy #selfhealers  #whywerecord #shareyourstory #webelieveyou #wbypod #traumasurvivor #weareinthistogether #traumahealing #traumarecovery #painintopurpose #empowerment #youarenotalone #alltraumamatters #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #podcastlife #metoomovement #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality

Season 2, Episode 5: Julia

"There are certain signs, and predators can see them." - Julia

Recorded over the summer, Julia shares her unique story of being born into a cult, and how that manifested into complex trauma. She bravely shares all the repression she felt, what it felt like to be gaslit by her own family, and how that led her down the road to an addiction and eating disorders. You'll get to hear her talk about her recovery, which is so absolutely beautiful. You'll get to hear about her journey setting healthy boundaries with her family, and speaking her truth. What's so special about Julia is that she is now a healer herself. Since 2015, Julia has been helping women and couples resolve their past traumas and relationship challenges, breaking through their barriers to love and achieve lasting success in their partnerships. Julia also teaches effective communication skills to resolve conflict, and how to show up in vulnerability to create deep intimacy and trust in relationships of all kinds. This includes professional relationships, and Julia helps her clients succeed in business by overcoming their fears of intimacy by teaching them how to be epic communicators.

 

More about Julia: https://www.juliaphoenixeleven.com/

Julia's Non-profit: http://www.encourage-cult-survivors.org/

Crystal’s Non-Profit: Click here to find out how to donate to the Portland Respirator Fund

Production by Neeraj Srinivasan: https://www.instagram.com/mynipsdontlie/?hl=en

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#beabeliever #eatingdisorders #assault #believesurvivors #trauma #helpers #inspiration #alocholism #predators #cults #believeothers #mentalhealth #traumasurvivor #wbypod #wbypodcast #traumahealing #painintopurpose #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality

 

Season 2, Episode 4: Joanne

"People were so desperate to figure out what to do for these children because nobody was talking about it." ~Joanne

 

This episode is totally different from what we have done in the past.  I interviewed Joanne who has spent her entire life (now in her 80's) being a believer!

Joanne spent her entire life studying psychology and helping so many people that have been traumatized and she made a difference in so many people's lives and you get to hear it.

In this episode, you will hear what that was like to be such a renegade way before her time as she helped so many child survivors of sexual abuse in the '60s!  Did you hear me? IN THE '60s! Joanne spent her entire life helping other survivors.  She has opened homes for teen moms, was a nun throughout the '60s (left the convent in 1971), counseled women in New Guinea and helped the first women in their entire country graduate from college, ended up working at Waverly (now Trillium) and developed a program called Superkids (for boys that were abused) in a time where not a soul was talking about sexual abuse at all.  She then realized that many children aren't going to go to a place to talk so she figured out a way to work within a school, where the children are at, and developed the Chrysalis program and worked within Portland Public School System for high school girls!

This program lives on although Joanne retired in 1999.  (https://trilliumfamily.org/programs-and-services/prevention/chrysalis-support-group/)

 

Joanne is a badass, relentless, peaceful, and an inspiration to us all.  If I can someday give a quarter of what Joanne has given, touch even a sliver of the people's lives she has touched, I will be happy.  She is a reminder to us to do the right thing.  #BeLikeJoanne

 

Joanne's Non-profit:  https://rosehaven.org/

Crystal’s Non-Profit: https://rahabs-sisters.org/

Production by Neeraj Srinivasan: https://www.instagram.com/mynipsdontlie/?hl=en

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#beabeliever #belikejoanne #believesurvivors #trauma #helpers #inspiration #joanneisthebest #helpothers #believeothers #mentalhealth #traumasurvivor #wbypod #wbypodcast #traumahealing #painintopurpose #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality

 

 

Season 2, Episode 3: Liz

A lot of it for me, I think, was me trying to disappear. If I made myself smaller, maybe people wouldn't touch me or comment on my body." - Liz

Liz shares her traumatic childhood experiences that led her down the path of a severe eating disorder. She unravels how it happened, what led her to it, and how she is one of the lucky ones that had support and guidance. She explains in great detail how an eating disorder is a lifelong journey, something that needs to be managed every day. She shares another diagnosis that she received as an adult. This story illuminates why it is so important to put an end to toxic masculinity in our society, and how it negatively impacts people at a very young age. This is one women's story on how it has affected her. Liz is kind, nurturing, intelligent, and absolutely brave. Throughout her life, she has been hyper-aware of her privilege and does everything she can to help others be better. She has created much light around her struggles and it's admirable. 

Note:  Crystal's intro was recorded last week.  Please know that the Feds have left the protest in PDX for the most part however the struggle with the Portland Police is still there. 

 

Liz's Non-profit:  https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

Crystal’s Non-Profit: https://www.dontshootpdx.org/

Production by Neeraj Srinivasan: https://www.instagram.com/mynipsdontlie/?hl=en

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#eatingdisorders #trauma #eatingdisorderssupport #eatingdisorder #toxicmasculinity #eatingdisordersurvivor #mentalhealth #traumasurvivor #wbypod #wbypodcast #traumahealing #painintopurpose #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability#growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality

Season 2, Episode 2: Damon

"I saw a lot of those beatings in my neighborhood with police officers that would come and terrorize the black neighborhood. The first time I saw it I had to be around 7 years old."

-Damon

Damon shares his experience as a 69-year-old black man. What it was like to have learning differences as a child with minimal resources, and what it was like to be black growing up. He explains what he has overcome after being bullied by children and a systemically racist society. What it was like witnessing police brutality at a very young age. He continues to not feel safe because of how the world views him. He has been arrested for "walking while black," and describes the first time he had a gun drawn on him and the last time (we hope).  

This is just one person’s story. A person of color. ONE story. Please consider taking action and donating to one of the non-profits listed below.  If you aren't sure how to take action, please email me at info@we-believe-you.com, and I will do what I can to help.

 

Damon's Non-Profit Choice: https://www.naacp.org/

Crystal's Non-Profit Choice: https://rahabs-sisters.org/

Production by Neeraj Srinivasan: https://www.instagram.com/mynipsdontlie/?hl=en

Music by Chris Parkman: https://www.instagram.com/_chrisparkman_/?hl=en

 

Warning: This is a podcast about trauma, so each episode could contain content that activates any triggers you might have. We will do our best to list them below:

#blacklivesmatter #blm #trauma #arrestedfornoreason #victimized #falseaccusations #abuse #systemicracism #racialprofiling #unjustarrest  #racialinjustice #racialinequality #thisistrauma #blm #therapy #selfhealers #whywerecord #shareyourstory #webelieveyou #wbypod #traumasurvivor #raisemelantedvoices #amplifymelanatedvoices #weallbleedthesamecolor #loveisstrongerthanhate             #standforequality #changematters #fightforchange #createchange #colorofchange #saytheirname #weareinthistogether #traumahealing #painintopurpose #notyourfault #buildcommunity #vulnerability #growtogether #safespace #healtogether #webelieveyoupod #webelieveyoupodcast #radicalhospitality