Voices Against Filicide

022: Two Year Angelversary - Hope After Filicide Pt. 2

This episode marks the two-year angelversary of Alec and Lydia Mater. In this deeply personal two-part conversation, Hope shares the unimaginable reality of losing her two children and her estranged husband to filicide, while reflecting on the grief, advocacy, and healing that have followed in the years since. Hope opens up about the darkest moments of her journey and the difficult process of learning how to survive profound loss. She also shares how she transformed tragedy into purpose through public speaking, advocacy work, writing a book, attending events, connecting with other families, and creating Voices Against Filicide. Over the past two years, Hope has made the choice every single day to continue showing up — not only for Alec and Lydia’s legacy, but for families searching for answers, support, awareness, and change. Welcome back to Season Three of Voices Against Filicide. Thank you for listening to this incredibly personal and important episode, and for holding space for Hope as she courageously shares her story, her grief, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward. This is a two-part episode. Be sure to listen to both parts. TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed. Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production Voices Against Filicide is a part of Momcast Production LLC. All content, including but not limited to audio, written materials, and visual assets, are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited. © 2024 Momcast Production LLC. All rights reserved.

021: Two Year Angelversary - Hope After Filicide Pt.1

This episode marks the two-year angelversary of Alec and Lydia Mater. In this deeply personal two-part conversation, Hope shares the unimaginable reality of losing her two children and her estranged husband to filicide, while reflecting on the grief, advocacy, and healing that have followed in the years since. Hope opens up about the darkest moments of her journey and the difficult process of learning how to survive profound loss. She also shares how she transformed tragedy into purpose through public speaking, advocacy work, writing a book, attending events, connecting with other families, and creating Voices Against Filicide. Over the past two years, Hope has made the choice every single day to continue showing up — not only for Alec and Lydia’s legacy, but for families searching for answers, support, awareness, and change. Welcome back to Season Three of Voices Against Filicide. Thank you for listening to this incredibly personal and important episode, and for holding space for Hope as she courageously shares her story, her grief, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward. This is a two-part episode. Be sure to listen to both parts. TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed. Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production Voices Against Filicide is a part of Momcast Production LLC. All content, including but not limited to audio, written materials, and visual assets, are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited. © 2024 Momcast Production LLC. All rights reserved.

020: Silenced No More - A mother's battles against the courts

Melissa is a Michigan mother and activist whose daughter was taken from her through the family court system. In this episode, she shares her story — from her daughter's father refusing to return her child in 2019, to her daughter disclosing sexual abuse at age three, to a system that repeatedly failed to protect them both.She also discusses the Rowan Act, legislation that would require law enforcement to intervene in parental kidnapping cases even without a custody order. Topics Covered: * Parental kidnapping and police inaction * Child sexual abuse disclosure and forensic interviews * Guardian ad litem bias * How the court system silences protective parents Resources:- RAINN: 1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org * Childhelp Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 * National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 TRIGGER WARNING  This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed. Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production

019: Silenced No More - A mother's battle against the family courts

Melissa is a Michigan mother and activist whose daughter was taken from her through the family court system. In this episode, she shares her story — from her daughter's father refusing to return her child in 2019, to her daughter disclosing sexual abuse at age three, to a system that repeatedly failed to protect them both.She also discusses the Rowan Act, legislation that would require law enforcement to intervene in parental kidnapping cases even without a custody order. Topics Covered: * Parental kidnapping and police inaction * Child sexual abuse disclosure and forensic interviews * Guardian ad litem bias * How the court system silences protective parents Resources:- RAINN: 1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org * Childhelp Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 * National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 TRIGGER WARNING  This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed. Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production

There's Still Hope: A Journey of Adversity, Tragedy, and Unshakable Faith

In this special update, Hope shares an important milestone — the release of her memoir, There’s Still Hope: A Journey of Adversity, Tragedy, and Unshakable Faith This deeply personal book tells the story of Hope’s life, her unwavering faith, and the profound love she holds for her children, Alec and Lydia. Through unimaginable loss, Hope has transformed grief into purpose — advocating for child safety, raising awareness about filicide, and giving a voice to families through the Voices Against Filicide podcast. There’s Still Hope is more than a memoir. It is a story about resilience, faith, and the power of turning pain into advocacy. Hope shares the journey that led her to become a national voice for child protection and how Alec and Lydia’s legacy continues to inspire meaningful change. Her hope is that this book reaches others walking through difficult seasons and reminds them that even in the darkest moments — there can still be hope.  Purchase the book: Kindle and paperback versions are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1969338903 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1969338903] Leave a review: Every review helps amplify the message of hope, child safety, and advocacy — allowing Alec and Lydia’s legacy to reach families across the world. Thank you for supporting this mission and standing with the Voices Against Filicide community.  Connect & Learn More Host: Hope Hooton Podcast: Voices Against Filicide Website: hopeinthepain | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree [https://linktr.ee/hopeinthepain]