Bad Dads: Love, Fear, and Mixed Signals

Love Scam in China, Pregnancy Loss & A Soldier’s Grief

This week in the Trauma Candy Salad bowl: 🟫 Anna Keibler brought Zero Bars and shared the unbelievable true story behind her memoir. What began as a study abroad adventure in China turned into a five-year journey involving isolation, manipulation, coercion, betrayal, and heartbreak. Despite experiencing profound trauma, she found healing through telling her story. 🟩 Alex Hollan brought Sour Patch Kids and shared the devastating loss of her daughter after being told there was no heartbeat. Alongside her grief, she recounts the lack of compassion and support she experienced from medical professionals during one of the most painful moments of her life. 🟫 Old Man Joe brought Rolos and shared Ballad of the Last March, a powerful poem about war, brotherhood, survivor’s guilt, and carrying the memory of a fallen friend long after the battle ends. These stories discuss betrayal, pregnancy loss, grief, trauma, resilience, and the complicated paths people take toward healing. Content Warning This episode contains discussions of: * Pregnancy loss * Abortion coercion * Emotional abuse and manipulation * Mental health struggles * War and combat-related trauma * Death and grief * Survivor’s guilt Listener discretion is advised. Resources If you or someone you know is struggling, resources and support links can be found on our website and in the show notes. Share Your Story Have a trauma story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Submit your story at TraumaCandySalad.com/submit-a-story and it may be featured in a future episode. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @TraumaCandySaladPod Because no matter what you’re going through, there’s always room for a little sweetness. 🍬🥗

Bubble Guts, Goodbye Calls & Teenage Trauma

This week’s Trauma Candy Salad is a brutal mix of horrifying, heartbreaking, and deeply human moments. A college party turns into a public gastrointestinal apocalypse in the middle of class. A daughter shares the grief and rage of losing her mother to Covid during the height of the pandemic without ever getting to say goodbye. And a teenager’s excitement over getting her license ends in a devastating accident involving the family dog. Today’s candy bowl includes Reese’s Eggs, Sweet Tarts, and Butterfingers. ⚠️ Trigger warnings: illness/death, grief, Covid-related loss, animal death, vomiting/body horror, graphic bathroom humor If you’d like to share your own trauma story or be a guest on the show, submit it at TraumaCandySalad.com.

EPISODE 50! Religious Trauma, Deconstruction & Escaping Evangelical Extremism (with Guest “E”)

In this milestone 50th episode of Trauma Candy Salad, Sammi and Ashley sit down with guest “E” to unpack her deeply personal journey through religious trauma and deconstructing from the evangelical faith. E shares what it was like growing up immersed in a belief system rooted in fear, control, and rigid expectations—and the complex, often painful process of questioning everything she was taught. Together, they explore how religious extremism can shape identity, relationships, and mental health long after someone leaves it behind. The conversation also expands into how these belief systems intersect with current political climates, and the real-world impact of extremism on personal freedoms and societal norms. This is one of our longest and most in-depth episodes yet, filled with raw honesty, thoughtful reflection, and moments that will challenge, validate, and resonate—whether you’ve experienced religious trauma yourself or are trying to better understand it. Content Warning: Religious trauma, spiritual abuse, extremism, discussion of political systems and beliefs. If you have a story you’d like us to read on the podcast, submit it here: https://www.traumacandysalad.com/submit-a-story

Workplace Stalker, Road Rage Assault & Toxic Co-Parenting

In this episode of Trauma Candy Salad, we’re diving into stories that explore how quickly “normal” situations can turn unsafe—and what it looks like to survive them. Amber shares what started as a typical teenage job at the mall… until a much older coworker crossed every boundary. What began as “just being friendly” escalated into stalking behavior that left her feeling unsafe at work—until her dad stepped in. Susie Q recounts a terrifying moment of domestic violence that happened while she was behind the wheel—an argument that turned physical in seconds and ended in a crash, injury, and criminal consequences. Wren opens up about life after leaving an abusive marriage, including ongoing co-parenting struggles, court battles, and the emotional toll of protecting her children while navigating manipulation, religious control, and a child caught between two conflicting realities. These stories highlight how abuse can show up in different forms—workplace harassment, intimate partner violence, and post-separation control—and how survival often looks like making impossible decisions in real time. As always, we hold space for the heavy… and still leave room for a little sweetness. 🍬 Today’s candy picks: Swedish Fish, Hershey’s with Almonds, Nerd Clusters ⸻ ⚠️ Trigger Warnings: This episode contains discussions of: * Workplace harassment & stalking * Domestic violence * Physical assault * Child abuse * Emotional & psychological abuse * Religious manipulation * Co-parenting conflict Listener discretion is advised. ⸻ 📌 Resources & Support: If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, you’re not alone. Support is available: * National Domestic Violence Hotline     Call: 1-800-799-7233     Text: START to 88788     Chat: thehotline.org * RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)     Call: 800-656-HOPE     Online chat available at rainn.org * Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline     Call/Text: 1-800-4-A-CHILD     Chat: childhelphotline.org * If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. ⸻ 💌 Want to share your story or be featured on the show? Submit here: https://www.traumacandysalad.com/submit-a-story 📱 Follow us: @TraumaCandySaladPod on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook

When Family Falls Apart in Real Time

In this episode, Sammi is joined by Shauna (and returning guest Jess) for a raw and emotional conversation about what happens when the person you trusted most becomes someone you don’t recognize. Shauna shares how her relationship with her brother—once one of the closest bonds in her life—slowly unraveled, ultimately contributing to the breakdown of her entire family. What started as a shift during after a divorce turned into something much deeper: masks falling, personality changes, and the painful realization that the person she thought she knew wasn’t who they really were. Together, they talk about the grief of losing someone who’s still alive, how family dynamics can completely change after loss, and what it takes to set boundaries—even when it means walking away from family. This episode is about acceptance, self-protection, and the strength it takes to choose peace over proximity.