The Survivors Voice

Episode 44, Dani's Story

In this powerful episode, Dani Rapp her journey of navigating deep-seated trauma, from childhood abuse to a six-year relationship defined by grooming and control. Dani reflects on being raised in a strict religious environment where "purity culture" left her ill-equipped to identify abuse or advocate for herself. She opens up about the harrowing cycle of an abusive relationship that began when she was just 18 and her partner was 27. Dani details the emotional toll of infidelity, financial exploitation, and the terrifying escalation of stalking and breaking and entering after she finally found the strength to leave. Through the unwavering support of her family and a renewed connection to her faith, Dani moved from a place of isolation and fear to one of profound healing and purpose. Her story is a testament to the fact that no matter how long the struggle, it is possible to reclaim your light and build a life rooted in respect and genuine love. Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guest: Dani Rapp Dani’s Socials: TikTok: @simplyamourbydani Instagram: @SimplyAmourbyDani Disclaimer The Survivor's Voice Podcast provides a platform for survivors to share their personal stories in their own words. The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Survivor's Voice, its hosts, or production team. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you are struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of sexual abuse, domestic violence, grooming, stalking, suicide attempts, and emotional trauma. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast. What to Expect: · The Impact of Purity Culture: How religious teachings shaped Dani’s early understanding of worth and boundaries. · Cycles of Abuse: Navigating the complexities of sexual abuse within the family and later in a long-term relationship. · The Grooming Process: Recognizing the tactics used to isolate and manipulate a young adult. · The Breaking Point: The terrifying night Dani escaped and the subsequent stalking she endured. · Unexpected Hope: Meeting her now-husband and learning what a healthy, supportive relationship looks like. Key Takeaways: · Trust Your Gut: Instincts are powerful tools for identifying "icky" or wrong situations. · Stay Connected: Isolation is a tool for abusers; keeping in contact with family and friends is vital for safety. · Honesty in Therapy: Healing accelerates when you stop "sugar-coating" your experiences with professionals. · Your Story is a Key: Sharing your journey can help unlock "someone else's prison". Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok If Dani’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength. New episodes on Tuesdays. Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review. Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters. Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia [https://www.youtube.com/@ElderHouseMedia] A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com [https://safeharborforfreedom.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions [https://www.youtube.com/@NorthIdahoPodcastProductions]Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic [https://www.youtube.com/@BowmanCarterMusic] | Spotify: Bowman Carter [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PR5hS3LUiJLucWOGZIlvL]

Episode 43, Bob and Tammy's story

In this moving episode of The Survivor’s Voice, Bob and Tammy Cranston share how their lives were shaped by profound loss—and how those losses eventually led them to one another. Tammy reflects on losing her father to suicide as a young child, navigating divorce while battling melanoma, and later walking alongside her husband through his terminal cancer diagnosis. Bob shares the pain of losing his wife after a long fight with ovarian cancer and the grief that followed after decades of marriage. Their paths crossed in a grief support group, where friendship slowly grew into something neither of them expected: hope. Through faith, healing, and honest conversations about grief, Bob and Tammy discovered that love and purpose can still exist after heartbreak. Today, they use their story to help others navigate grief, encourage open conversations about loss, and remind people that even after life’s hardest chapters, a new one can still begin. Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guests: Bob & Tammy Cranston Tammy Cranston Website [https://tammycranston.com/]Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/tammycranstonauthor] Disclaimer The Survivor’s Voice Podcast provides a platform for survivors to share their personal stories in their own words. The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Survivor’s Voice, its hosts, or production team. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you are struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of suicide, cancer, grief, death of loved ones, and emotional trauma. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast. What to Expect: · Tammy’s childhood trauma after losing her father to suicide · Navigating divorce, illness, and the loss of a spouse · Bob’s journey through his wife’s ovarian cancer diagnosis and passing · Meeting in a grief support group and the unexpected path to love again · Processing guilt, healing, and finding hope after loss · Tammy’s journey to becoming an author and advocate for grief awareness · The importance of discussing death, legacy, and end-of-life planning Key Takeaways: · Grief is not something you “get over,” but something you learn to carry · Love after loss does not replace the people you’ve lost · Sharing your story can bring healing to both you and others · Children benefit from safe ways to talk about grief and loss · Being present for someone in grief can make a lasting difference · Hope can still exist after life’s most painful chapters Books & Resources Mentioned: Website [https://tammycranston.com/] Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tammy+cranston&crid=3204AJJG3AEOR&sprefix=tammy+cransto%2Caps%2C214&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_1_13] Rooted Series by Tammy Cranston · Rooted: A Seedling’s Journey · Rooted: A Young Tree’s Journey · Rooted: A Mature Tree’s Journey · Rooted: An Old Tree’s Journey · Rooted: A Wildlife Tree’s Journey Five Wishes [https://www.fivewishes.org/] – End-of-Life Planning Resource Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok If Bob and Tammy’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength. New episodes on Tuesdays. Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review. Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters. Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia [https://www.youtube.com/@ElderHouseMedia] A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com [https://safeharborforfreedom.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions [https://www.youtube.com/@NorthIdahoPodcastProductions]Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic [https://www.youtube.com/@BowmanCarterMusic] | Spotify: Bowman Carter [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PR5hS3LUiJLucWOGZIlvL]

Episode 42, Desiree’s Story

In this raw and devastating episode of The Survivor’s Voice, Desiree shares her story of surviving extreme domestic violence, lifelong trauma, and a fight for survival that nearly cost her life. From severe childhood abuse to years trapped in a violent relationship, Desiree’s journey is marked by unimaginable pain and extraordinary courage. Desiree opens up about enduring repeated physical assaults, isolation, financial control, and life-threatening injuries while raising two young children, including a nonverbal autistic son with complex medical needs. She recounts the night everything changed, the moment she heard a voice telling her to run, and how leaving saved her life and her children’s lives, proving that even in the darkest moments, escape and healing are possible. Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guest: Desiree Robinson Instagram: @Desireeleann30 TikTok: @Justamomma Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of severe domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, medical trauma, threats of homicide, suicidal behavior, and emotional distress. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast. Disclaimer The Survivor’s Voice Podcast provides a platform for survivors to share their personal stories in their own words. The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Survivor’s Voice, its hosts, or production team. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you are struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. What to Expect: · Growing up with severe childhood abuse and trauma · Entering an abusive relationship and early warning signs · Escalating physical violence and coercive control · Isolation, financial dependence, and fear of leaving · A near-fatal assault and dramatic escape · Surviving homelessness, eviction, and medical recovery · The role of faith, shelters, and community support · Life after leaving and rebuilding with children Key Takeaways: · Abuse often escalates, not improves · Fear can keep survivors trapped longer than danger · Leaving is possible—even when it feels impossible · Resources and shelters exist to help survivors escape · Listening to that inner voice can save your life · Survival can lead to peace, safety, and joy Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok If Desiree’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength. New episodes on Tuesdays. Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review. Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters. Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia [https://www.youtube.com/@ElderHouseMedia] A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com [https://safeharborforfreedom.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions [https://www.youtube.com/@NorthIdahoPodcastProductions]Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic [https://www.youtube.com/@BowmanCarterMusic] | Spotify: Bowman Carter [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PR5hS3LUiJLucWOGZIlvL]

Episode 41, Ashley’s Story

When Your Brain Turns Against You In this raw and eye-opening episode, Ashley returns to share the deeply personal reality of living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)—a severe and often misunderstood condition that disrupts brain chemistry and emotional stability for weeks at a time. She opens up about her driven, high-achieving life and how a series of illnesses in her mid-20s exposed a condition she had unknowingly lived with for years. Ashley explains how PMDD is not a mindset issue or lack of willpower, but a neurological and hormonal condition that alters brain function without consent. She shares the toll it has taken on her mental health, relationships, career, and sense of identity—along with the grief of canceling plans, losing momentum, and rebuilding life month after month. Her story also highlights the medical gaslighting, limited treatment options, and emotional labor many women face while navigating women’s healthcare. Most powerfully, Ashley advocates for awareness, compassion, and community—reminding listeners that naming what you’re experiencing can be the first step toward hope. This episode is for women who feel like strangers to themselves part of the month, partners who feel helpless watching someone they love suffer, and anyone who has ever been told they’re “too much” when in reality, they’re fighting to survive. Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guest: Ashley Puyear IG: @greatfalls97 [https://www.instagram.com/greatfalls97] @fromtheclosetoutstyle [https://www.instagram.com/fromtheclosetoutstyle] Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of suicidal ideation, mental health struggles, medical trauma, hormonal disorders, and emotional distress. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast. Disclaimer The Survivor’s Voice Podcast provides a platform for survivors to share their personal stories in their own words. The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Survivor’s Voice, its hosts, or production team. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you are struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. What to Expect: · What PMDD is and how it differs from PMS, anxiety, or depression · How brain chemistry can change without warning or consent · The emotional fallout of losing consistency, identity, and momentum · Navigating medical gaslighting and limited treatment options · The toll PMDD takes on relationships and partners · Why women are often forced to become experts in their own care · The importance of community, support groups, and shared language Key Takeaways: · PMDD is a neurological and hormonal condition—not a mindset issue · You are not weak for struggling with something invisible · Naming your experience can reduce fear and isolation · Partners and support systems are deeply impacted too · Women’s health needs more research, compassion, and advocacy PMDD Support & Resources Mentioned: · You Can Have a Better Period by Le’Nise Brothers “This book was where I first recognized and understood PMDD in myself and found language for what I was experiencing.” · WhatsApp support groups: Belle Health PMDD Community A peer-led PMDD support community offering moderated chat groups, education, and shared resources for those navigating PMDD. · International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD): https://iapmd.org [https://iapmd.org/]Education, peer support groups, provider directories, and crisis resources. Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok If Ashley’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength. New episodes on Tuesdays. Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review. Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net [booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net] Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters. Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia [https://www.youtube.com/@ElderHouseMedia] A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com [https://safeharborforfreedom.com] Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions [https://www.youtube.com/@NorthIdahoPodcastProductions]Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic [https://www.youtube.com/@BowmanCarterMusic] | Spotify: Bowman Carter [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PR5hS3LUiJLucWOGZIlvL]

Episode 40, A Conversation with a Listener

One Year of Stories In this special one-year anniversary episode of The Survivor’s Voice, the format shifts from a single survivor’s story to a powerful reflection on the impact of storytelling itself. Ashley joins the show, not as a survivor sharing a specific trauma, but as a devoted listener whose life has been shaped by the stories shared on this platform over the past year. Ashley reflects on how hearing survivors speak openly about their experiences has changed the way she sees people, community, and vulnerability. From episodes that challenged her assumptions to stories that helped her slow down and truly listen, this conversation explores what happens when we create space for honesty, curiosity, and compassion. Together, Angie and Ashley look back on the themes that have emerged throughout the year—healing that isn’t linear, trauma that affects entire families and communities, and the quiet strength found in simply being willing to speak. This episode also dives into the ripple effect of storytelling: how one person’s courage can reach someone who may never even listen to the podcast, but hears a piece of a story at just the right time. This episode is for listeners who may not see themselves as “survivors,” but who believe in the power of testimony, shared humanity, and slowing down enough to truly hear one another. Your Host: Angie Sedor Our Guest: Ashley Puyear Trigger Warning This episode contains reflective discussions of trauma, mental health, grief, medical experiences, and difficult life events as referenced through past episodes. While no single trauma is detailed, listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast. Disclaimer The Survivor’s Voice Podcast provides a platform for individuals to share personal experiences and reflections in their own words. The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Survivor’s Voice, its hosts, or production team. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you are struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. What to Expect: · A one-year reflection on the impact of survivor storytelling · How listening to others’ stories reshapes empathy and perspective · Why trauma and healing are not linear experiences · The importance of curiosity over judgment · How shared stories create ripple effects far beyond the podcast · The role of community, vulnerability, and slowing down · Why men’s stories and voices matter in healing spaces Key Takeaways: · You don’t need to share your own trauma to be changed by someone else’s story · Listening well is an act of compassion · Healing often happens in community, not isolation · Vulnerability creates connection, not weakness · Stories have the power to reach people in unseen ways Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok Please help us celebrate one year of telling stories! Share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength. New episodes Tuesdays. Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review. Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters. Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia [https://www.youtube.com/@ElderHouseMedia] A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com [https://safeharborforfreedom.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions [https://www.youtube.com/@NorthIdahoPodcastProductions]Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic [https://www.youtube.com/@BowmanCarterMusic] | Spotify: Bowman Carter [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PR5hS3LUiJLucWOGZIlvL]