A Conversation with Gabrianna Gratzol

PTSD, CPTSD, and the Cost of Being Alone

This week on The Recovered Republican, I’m joined by licensed therapists Lauren and Ashley Groshek for a grounded, human conversation about trauma — what it is, how it shows up in our bodies, and why so many people are struggling in silence. We talk about PTSD and complex PTSD, the difference between surviving and healing, the rise of the loneliness epidemic, and how our digital world shapes connection in ways we don’t always notice. Lauren and Ashley break down therapy options in plain language, share what they see in their clinical work, and offer hope that healing is possible at any age. If you’ve ever wondered why you feel “stuck,” overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself or others, this episode gives you language, context, and compassion. * Ashley and Lauren do not typically dress alike and them wearing the same shirt was an accident. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Recovered Republican at therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe [https://therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Breakdown: The Student Loan Discharge Petition Explained

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. A discharge petition is one of the only ways House members can force a vote when leadership refuses to act. Now, it’s being used to push student loan legislation onto the floor. This episode breaks down how the petition works, why it’s so rare, and what it means for millions of borrowers watching Congress stall on relief. We explain the 218‑signature hurdle, the political risks, and why this move signals growing pressure inside the House. Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Recovered Republican at therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe [https://therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Grief, Glitter, and Nostra Dad Ass

In this episode, Brianna sits down with her friend Patrick for a conversation that moves from the raw edges of early widowhood to the bright, glitter‑covered stage of burlesque. It’s honest, funny, tender, and full of the kind of truth you only get from someone who has rebuilt a life twice. Patrick opens the episode by sharing how he and Brianna first met through the Hot Young Widows Club — now Club Wid — and what the community looked like before the pandemic reshaped everything. He walks listeners through the moment the group became more than just a message board, and why early grief often hides the worst parts from public view. They dig into the realities of running an online grief community, including the very real need for proof of loss to protect members from scammers. From there, the conversation shifts — beautifully and unexpectedly — into Patrick’s second world: burlesque. Listeners meet Nostra Dad Ass, Patrick’s stage persona, and learn what actually goes into a real burlesque routine. Patrick shares his favorite acts, including a deeply personal tribute to his late wife and the crowd‑favorite number that audiences can’t get enough of. This episode is about community, identity, reinvention, and the strange, sacred ways grief and joy can coexist. It’s one of those conversations that stays with you long after it ends. Follow Nostra Dad Ass on Instagram @nostra_dad_ass Club Wid: ClubWidcom.wordpress.com * 2:06 Meet Patrick * 2:56 How tragedy turned into friendship * 4:18 The Young Hot Widows Club, now Club Wid, before the pandemic * 7:15 Patrick discusses when YHWG/Club wid because more than just a message board. * 8:40- What does early grief look like * 24:40- why the club asks proof for death and relationship. * 34:00- grief to glitter - who is Nostra Dad Ass? * 37:40- what does a real burleque routine consist of * 40:45- Patrick's favorite act to perform * 45:45: The audience favorite Nostra Dad Ass act This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Recovered Republican at therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe [https://therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Democracy, But Make It Work with David Ziemba

Recorded 4/25/2026. In this episode of The Recovered Republican, Brianna sits down with David J. Ziemba — an organizer, legal expert, and longtime force within the Indiana Democratic Party. Together, they dig into Ziemba’s background and the wide‑ranging experience that’s made him a go‑to multitool for campaigns, candidates, and community coalitions across the state. The conversation breaks down the wins and losses from Indiana’s 2026 legislative session, highlighting what moved, what stalled, and what those outcomes mean for Hoosiers. Ziemba also walks through key legal and political cases to watch in the months ahead, along with the important dates that every engaged voter should have on their radar. It’s a grounded, insightful look at how democracy actually works in Indiana — and what it takes to keep pushing it forward. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Recovered Republican at therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe [https://therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Jordan J Herrera - MO 4th District

In this episode of The Recovered Republican, Brianna sits down with Jordan J. Herrera, a Democrat running for Congress in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District. MO‑04 is a district shaped by rural communities, military families, agricultural labor, and years of political neglect — and Jordan is stepping forward with a message centered on service, accountability, and actually showing up for the people who live there. This conversation digs into: * why Jordan decided to run, * what he’s hearing from voters across the district, * how national narratives overlook communities like MO‑04, * and what it takes to build a campaign in a place pundits love to write off. If you’re tired of the idea that some districts “don’t matter” or that democracy is only worth fighting for in easy races, this episode is for you. Jordan brings a grounded, real‑world perspective shaped by lived experience — not culture‑war theatrics — and his story resonates far beyond Missouri. To support the show and get bonus content, behind‑the‑scenes updates, and early episode drops, you can subscribe on Substack. Get full access to The Recovered Republican at therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe [https://therecoveredrepublican.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]