Breaking the Silence: Childhood, Awareness, and the Reality of Sexual Violence

From Fear to Freedom: A.E. Lee on Surviving Domestic Violence

In this episode of Voices of Strength, we sit down with author A.E. Lee for a deeply personal conversation about surviving domestic violence and the reality of leaving when your safety is on the line. A.E. shares a night that changed everything. The fear, the urgency, and the decisions that had to be made in real time to protect herself and her family. This conversation brings listeners into the lived experience of what danger actually feels like, and how quickly things can escalate. We also talk about what happens after. The impact trauma has on the body, the mind, and family dynamics. The quiet strength it takes to rebuild a sense of safety. The role of community, and the moments that can make the difference between staying stuck and getting out. This episode holds both the weight of survival and the steady, ongoing work of healing. Takeaways • Violence often escalates quickly, and recognizing those shifts can save your life • Moments of danger require fast, instinctive decisions rooted in safety • Community support can be a lifeline when everything feels uncertain • Trauma leaves lasting imprints on the body, mind, and relationships • Having a safety plan creates options when fear takes over • Reaching out for help can open doors to protection and support • Sharing your story can help others recognize their own situation • Healing happens over time, with support, patience, and care • Resilience is built in small, steady steps after survival About A.E. Lee A.E. Lee is an author and survivor whose work is rooted in truth, resilience, and the lived experience of navigating domestic violence. Through storytelling, A.E. brings voice to the realities many people carry in silence, offering both awareness and connection for those walking similar paths. https://authoraelee.com/ [https://authoraelee.com/] Resources & Support 📞 If you are in danger or need immediate support: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788 Free, confidential, available 24/7. Want to share your story on Voices of Strength?Reach out to connect. Learn more: breakthesilenceal.org [breakthesilenceal.org] Join us for a free weekly support cal [https://wayhomewellness.com/womenscircle]l for women navigating emotional overwhelm and relational harm. A space to breathe, be seen, and reconnect with yourself. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review the show. It helps more women find these conversations and reminds survivors they’re not alone.

Loved You, Hated You: Understanding Why We Stay and How We Heal

📞 If you are in danger or need immediate support: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7. In this episode of Voices of Strength, we sit down with Nikki Allen, a singer, songwriter, filmmaker, and author, for a deeply honest conversation about love, abuse, and the complex question so many survivors carry: Why did I stay? Nikki shares the story behind her book, Loved You, Hated You, which is rooted in her own experience of an abusive relationship and the emotional, psychological, and relational layers that made it hard to leave. Rather than focusing on blame or shame, Nikki invites listeners into a more compassionate understanding of how attachment, hope, fear, and love can become deeply intertwined in harmful dynamics. We talk about the role her friends played in helping her see the reality of her relationship, the internal work of rebuilding self-trust after leaving, and how her past continues to shape — but not define — the way she shows up in love today. This episode is about more than survival. It’s about healing, boundaries, and the quiet, brave decision to believe in love again — without abandoning yourself in the process. Takeaways: • Why understanding why you stayed can be a powerful part of healing • The emotional and relational complexity of abusive relationships • How outside perspectives can help break through isolation and self-doubt • The role of self-love in rebuilding after leaving harm • Why boundaries are an act of care, not punishment • How past experiences can inform — not control — future relationships • The importance of giving yourself time to heal while single • Learning to trust yourself again after relational trauma • How hope can exist alongside grief and loss • Choosing belief in love without abandoning your own safety and needs About Nikki: Nikki Allen is a singer, songwriter, filmmaker, and author whose creative work centers on emotional truth, healing, and the human experience of love and loss. Her book, Loved You, Hated You, is a deeply personal reflection on her journey through an abusive relationship and the process of understanding the emotional forces that kept her there. Through storytelling, music, and film, Nikki explores themes of self-trust, growth, and reclaiming one’s voice after trauma. Her work offers both honesty and hope for those navigating their own paths toward healing and healthy connection. Website: https://officialnikkiallen.com/ [https://officialnikkiallen.com/] Loved You, Hated You by Nikki Allen https://officialnikkiallen.com/ [https://officialnikkiallen.com/] Voices of Strength is the official podcast of Break the Silence Alabama, dedicated to amplifying survivor voices, increasing awareness, and supporting efforts to end domestic and sexual violence through education, advocacy, and community conversations. Want to share your story on Voices of Strength? Reach out at: https://www.breakthesilenceal.org/podcast [https://www.breakthesilenceal.org/podcast] Learn more about Break the Silence Alabama: https://breakthesilenceal.org [https://breakthesilenceal.org] Join us for a free weekly support call for women healing from emotional overwhelm and relational harm: https://wayhomewellness.com/womenscircle [https://wayhomewellness.com/womenscircle] ⭐ Rate & Review: If this conversation resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review the show. Your support helps amplify survivor voices and reach those still finding their path to safety and healing.

Self-Defense is a Confidence Booster: The Mission of Defense in Heels

📞 If you are in danger or need immediate support: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7. In this episode of Voices of Strength, we sit down with Patti Stewart, founder and CEO of Defense in Heels, for a powerful conversation about women’s safety, awareness, and self-defense as a form of empowerment. Patti shares how her decades of experience in personal protection, threat management, and self-defense training have shaped her mission to help women feel confident, capable, and prepared in their everyday lives. As an internationally certified self-defense instructor, mother of two, public speaker, and women’s safety advocate, Patti brings both real-world expertise and a relatable, grounded approach to conversations about safety. Together, we explore why self-defense is about far more than physical techniques. It’s about awareness, intuition, confidence, and reclaiming a sense of agency in a world that often teaches women to minimize themselves. Patti breaks down common myths about safety, explains how confidence itself can be protective, and reminds listeners that learning to trust your instincts is a skill that can be strengthened. This episode invites listeners to shift from fear-based thinking into informed, empowered awareness — and to see safety not as restriction, but as freedom. Takeaways: • Why self-defense is about awareness, not living in fear • How confidence and presence can deter potential threats • The importance of trusting intuition and internal warning signals • Common myths about women’s safety and self-defense • How preparedness supports autonomy and independence • Why safety education should feel empowering, not intimidating • Teaching women to take control of their personal safety • Safety is a skill that can be learned and strengthened • Awareness is one of the most powerful forms of self-defense • Confidence changes how you move through the world • Trusting your intuition is not paranoia; it’s wisdom • Empowerment comes from preparation, not fear About Patti Stewart Patti Stewart is the founder and CEO of Defense in Heels, a women’s safety and self-defense education company dedicated to helping women live life on their own terms while taking control of their safety. With over 20 years of experience, Patti is an internationally certified self-defense instructor who has trained thousands of women worldwide. She has also worked as a bodyguard for celebrities, bringing real-world insight into threat management and personal protection. Known for her fun, relatable teaching style, Patti blends humor with practicality to make safety education approachable and empowering. Her work centers on confidence, awareness, and helping women embrace their strength — one woman at a time. Website: http://www.defenseinheels.com/ [http://www.defenseinheels.com/] Book: Defense in Heels (Amazon): https://a.co/d/6esqT9M [https://a.co/d/6esqT9M] Resources mentioned: The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Survival-Signals-Violence/dp/0440226198 [https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Survival-Signals-Violence/dp/0440226198] Voices of Strength is the official podcast of Break the Silence Alabama, dedicated to amplifying survivor voices, increasing awareness, and supporting efforts to end domestic and sexual violence through education, advocacy, and community conversations. Want to share your story on Voices of Strength? Reach out at: https://www.breakthesilenceal.org/podcast [https://www.breakthesilenceal.org/podcast] Learn more about the Alabama Domestic Violence Research Project: https://breakthesilenceal.org [https://breakthesilenceal.org] Join us for a free weekly support call for women healing from emotional overwhelm and relational harm: https://wayhomewellness.com/womenscircle [https://wayhomewellness.com/womenscircle] ⭐ Rate & Review:If this conversation resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review the show. Your support helps amplify survivor voices and reach those still finding their path to safety and healing.

Breaking the Silence: Childhood, Awareness, and the Reality of Sexual Violence

📞 If you are in danger or need immediate support:Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7. In this episode of Voices of Strength, we sit down with Dr. Dawnmarie Risley-Childs, psychiatrist and author of The Offering, for a powerful and necessary conversation about childhood trauma, awareness, and the widespread reality of sexual violence. Dr. Risley-Childs shares how growing up without space to freely express herself shaped her understanding of trauma and healing. Together, we explore why sexual violence is far more common than many people realize, why these experiences are often underreported, and how increasing awareness — not punishment — is a critical step toward meaningful societal change. This conversation invites listeners to look beyond myths, confront uncomfortable truths, and understand how early experiences shape the nervous system, identity, and long-term healing. We also discuss why open, honest conversations are essential if we want to create a safer world for future generations. In this episode, we discuss: * How childhood restrictions around expression impact long-term awareness and healing * Why sexual violence is far more common than most people are taught to believe * The reality that 1 in 6 women experience sexual violation before age 18 — and why this number is likely underreported * The difference between punishment and awareness when addressing harm * How early trauma shapes the body, nervous system, and understanding of safety * Why societal change begins with naming what is actually happening * The role of honest conversations in healing individual and collective trauma Key Takeaways: * Healing begins with awareness, not denial * Sexual violence is not rare — it is widespread and often hidden * Childhood experiences deeply shape how trauma is carried and processed * Change requires open dialogue, education, and accountability * Forgiveness does not mean forgetting or minimizing harm Dr. Dawnmarie Risley-Childs is a psychiatrist and the author of The Offering, a raw and inspiring exploration of childhood trauma, complex PTSD, and the radical act of forgiving without forgetting. Her work centers on truth-telling, awareness, and creating pathways toward healing that honor lived experience. * Website: www.drrisleychilds.com [http://www.drrisleychilds.com] * Instagram: @drrisleychilds * The Offering on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9MERfYk [https://a.co/d/9MERfYk] Voices of Strength is the official podcast of Break the Silence Alabama, dedicated to amplifying survivor voices, increasing awareness, and supporting efforts to end domestic and sexual violence through education, advocacy, and community conversations. Want to share your story on Voices of Strength? Reach out at ⁠⁠https://www.breakthesilenceal.org/podcast⁠ [https://www.breakthesilenceal.org/podcast]⁠ Learn more about the Alabama Domestic Violence Research Project: ⁠⁠breakthesilenceal.org⁠ [https://www.breakthesilenceal.org] Join us for a free weekly support call for women ⁠healing from emotional overwhelm and relational harm: https://wayhomewellness.com/womenscircle [https://wayhomewellness.com/womenscircle] Rate & Review: If Dawnmarie's story moved you, please take a moment to rate and review the show. Your support helps amplify survivor voices and reach those who are still finding their path to safety and healing.

Live Your Life, Not Your Lawsuit: How Rebecca Broke Free

📞 If you are in danger or need immediate support: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7. In this episode of Voices of Strength, Rebecca Stack shares her powerful story of surviving domestic violence and rebuilding her life. She opens up about the complexity of her abusive relationship, the ongoing trauma that followed, and the challenges she faced navigating a legal system that too often fails to protect survivors. Through her journey, Rebecca reminds us of the power of intuition, the importance of boundaries, and the deep work of reclaiming self-worth after abuse. She also shares the lessons she hopes to pass on to her daughter — about respect, safety, and knowing what love should feel like. Rebecca’s courage shows that healing isn’t linear — it’s a process of finding your voice, trusting yourself again, and refusing to let someone else’s harm define your future. Key Takeaways: * We are never alone — there is support and solidarity in our stories. * Red flags are real, and trusting our intuition can save our lives. * The legal system needs change — but survivors are still showing up and fighting for justice. * Healing from trauma takes time, compassion, and strong boundaries. * Self-worth is not lost; it’s something we can reclaim. * Teaching the next generation about healthy love is part of breaking the cycle. * Speaking out turns pain into power — and creates space for others to heal, too. ✨ Rebecca now uses her voice to advocate for other survivors through her writing and blog, showing that we can transform our stories into tools for change. Rebecca's blog site: Voice After Violence [https://voiceafterviolence.com/] Want to share your story on Voices of Strength? Reach out at ⁠https://www.breakthesilenceal.org/podcast [https://www.breakthesilenceal.org/podcast]⁠ Learn more about the Alabama Domestic Violence Research Project: ⁠breakthesilenceal.org [https://www.breakthesilenceal.org]⁠ Rate & Review: If Rebecca’s story moved you, please take a moment to rate and review the show. Your support helps amplify survivor voices and reach those who are still finding their path to safety and healing.