Beyond the Monsters

Epizode

• 89: Her Husband Murdered Her 15 Year Old Son 01.07.2026 1h 5min

  Dasan "DJ" Jones was just 15 years old when he was murdered inside his own home by the man he had called dad for nearly a decade. His mother, Latrice, shares the devastating story of trying to escape an emotionally abusive marriage marked by stalking, surveillance, coercive control, and repeated failures by the courts to provide protection. In the aftermath of DJ's death, Latrice was left to navigate overwhelming grief while raising her two younger sons and seeking justice for the child she lost. Latrice and Chell explore how coercive control, stalking, and emotional abuse can escalate behind closed doors, the devastating gaps that can exist within the justice system, and the lifelong impact of losing a child to domestic violence. They also talk about grief, healing, and how Latrice is honoring DJ's legacy through the Dasan Jones Foundation while advocating for stronger protections for families facing abuse.The Dasan Jones Foundationhttps://www.instagram.com/dasanjonesfoundation0201?igsh=bTQwdXluYXpob2Znhttps://www.bonfire.com/store/djf-merch/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=store_page_share&utm_campaign=djf-merch&utm_content=default&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3Resources:Crisis Text Line741741Beyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: filicide, family court failure, coercive control, domestic violence (DV) true crimeIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 88: Cast Out of Christian Music for Being Gay & Reclaiming the Song That Started It All with Michael Passons, Ty Herndon & Melissa Greene 24.06.2026 1h

  Former Avalon members Michael Passons and Melissa Greene alongside country music artist Ty Herndon share the story behind their powerful re-recording of Testify to Love and the deeply personal journey that led them back to a song that now carries an entirely new meaning. Michael opens up about being removed from Avalon because he was gay, the years of silence and healing that followed, and what it meant to finally reclaim his voice nearly two decades later alongside longtime friends Melissa and Ty.Together, they discuss the lasting impact rejection from faith communities can have on LGBTQ+ people, the trauma of feeling forced to hide who you are, and the complicated relationship many carry with faith after experiencing exclusion and shame. They also reflect on forgiveness, authenticity, personal growth, and why they believe love, faith, and belonging should never be reserved for only a select few. What began as a beloved Christian music classic has become a message of healing, inclusion, hope, and the freedom to finally live as your authentic self.Listen to Testify To Lovehttps://c44.lnk.to/TestifyToLoveTestify To Love Music Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l7IPvr6b8sMichael’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/michaelpassonshttps://www.tiktok.com/@michaelpassonsmusichttps://www.youtube.com/@michaelpassonsmusicTy’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/tyherndonofficialhttps://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTyHerndonhttps://www.tyherndon.comTy’s book: What Mattered Mosthttps://www.harpercollins.com/pages/tyherndonMelissa’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/melissagreenehttps://linktr.ee/melissagreenehttps://www.melissagreene.nethttps://substack.com/@melissagreeneResources:The LGBT National Hotline888-843-4564The Trevor Projecthttps://www.thetrevorproject.orgBeyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topics: Religious Trauma, LGBTQ, Faith Journey, Christian Music Industry, Self AcceptanceIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 87: Losing Three Children in a Drunk Driving Crash with The Simmons 3 17.06.2026 1h 15min

  Dawn Simmons and her daughter Katie DeRouen share the unimaginable story of losing Dawn's three children, Lindy, Christopher, and Kamryn, in a head-on crash caused by a drunk driver going the wrong way on the interstate just days before Christmas. Dawn survived the collision with life-threatening injuries, while Lindy, Christopher, and Kamryn were killed, forever changing the lives of everyone who loved them. Together, they recount the devastating hours that followed, the trauma of identifying their loved ones, and the reality of navigating grief after losing multiple children in a single night.Dawn and Katie talk about traumatic loss, surviving the unthinkable, grief after child loss, survivor's guilt, faith, healing, and finding purpose through tragedy. They share how their family's heartbreak led to the creation of The Simmons Three, a nonprofit dedicated to educating students about impaired driving, decision-making, and the lasting consequences of a single choice. Their story is one of profound loss, resilience, hope, and honoring the legacy of Lindy, Christopher, and Kamryn by helping save lives.Katie and Dawn’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/katiederouenhttps://www.tiktok.com/@katiederouen1https://bio.site/Katiederouen1The Simmons 3:https://www.simmons3.comhttps://www.instagram.com/simmons3incSupport their mission:https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/ieeapA?vid=1qzgvvBeyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: Child Loss, Drunk Driving, Survivor's Guilt, Grief Journey, Impaired Driving, Traumatic LossIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 86: Fighting for Custody of Her Daughter While Healing From SA 10.06.2026 1h 10min

  Chloe spent years carrying the trauma of a SA she never spoke about, burying the experience for nearly five years before PTSD, flashbacks, and overwhelming anxiety forced her to confront what happened. As she worked through therapy, marriage struggles, and the lasting impact of trauma, she found herself raising her husband’s young niece, Olivia, after the child was removed from her biological parents' care. What began as a temporary arrangement turned into a life-changing bond that would ultimately redefine Chloe’s future.While Chloe was dealing with the breakdown of her marriage, she learned her husband had become involved with another woman who was expecting his child, setting off a series of events that would lead to a high-conflict custody fight over the daughter she had spent years raising. She shares the emotional reality of navigating family court, parental abandonment, PTSD, divorce, childhood trauma, and the fight to protect a child caught in the middle. Chloe opens up about healing after SA, learning to advocate for herself, rebuilding her life, and the journey that eventually led to formally adopting the daughter she refused to leave behind.Resources:Crisis Text Line741741SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline 1-800-656-HOPEBeyond the Monsters’ Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: Sexual Assault, PTSD Recovery, Child Custody, Family Court, Infidelity, Adoption Journey, Custody BattleIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 85: Being Married to a Narcissistic Cheater & Learning Self-Worth 03.06.2026 1h 11min

  JaHana Holloway spent much of her life searching for love while carrying deep wounds from childhood trauma, abandonment, SA, and years of believing her worth depended on what she could give to other people. Those experiences shaped the relationships she chose and eventually led her into a marriage marked by infidelity, manipulation, emotional abuse, gaslighting, and the devastating reality of narcissistic abuse. She shares how growing up without consistent support left her vulnerable to predators, unhealthy relationships, and a lifelong struggle with self-worth.JaHana opens up about discovering her husband's affairs, surviving the chaos that followed, navigating divorce, and confronting the painful patterns that kept repeating throughout her life. She and Chell talk about narcissistic relationships, cheating, trauma bonding, emotional manipulation, childhood wounds, healing the inner child, setting boundaries, and learning that self-worth cannot be found through someone else's validation. After years of silence, JaHana shares her story for the first time and explains how speaking openly became part of reclaiming her voice and rebuilding her life.JaHana’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/vibewithjahanahttps://linktr.ee/jahanahollowayJaHana’s book - Metamorphosis: The Alchemy of Turning Wounds Into Wingshttps://a.co/d/0hUQWSOHResources:Crisis Text Line 741741RAINN24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline 1-800-656-HOPEhttps://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotlineBeyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: Narcissistic Abuse, Narcissistic Relationship, Childhood Trauma, SA, Cheating Spouse, Emotional Abuse, Self Worth HealingIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 84: What Really Happens in Family Court and CSA Cases 27.05.2026 1h 4min

  Attorney JoDee Neil spent years prosecuting crimes against children while carrying the truth about what she had survived herself. After hearing thousands of outcries from survivors throughout her career, she finally shared her own story and began writing Outcry Witness, a book focused on trauma, sexual violence, and the process of becoming “unfrozen” after years of silence. She opens up about working child abuse cases, what she has witnessed inside the criminal and family court systems, and how trauma reshapes the brain, nervous system, and sense of self over time.JoDee and Chell talk about childhood trauma, SA, addiction, EMDR therapy, recovery, dissociation, and the survival patterns many trauma survivors repeat for years without realizing it. They also discuss mandatory reporting, child abuse investigations, grooming, victim blaming, family court failures, workplace sexual violence, and why so many survivors become caretakers and protectors while quietly carrying unresolved trauma themselves. JoDee’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/jodeeneilattorneyhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jodeeneil.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@jodeeneilhttps://www.jodeeneil.comJoDee’s book - Outcry Witness: A Former Prosecutor's Guide to Healing and Justice After Sexual Violencehttps://a.co/d/0eE21UNMResources:RAINN24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline 1-800-656-HOPEhttps://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/Crisis Text Line 741741Beyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: family court system, CSA survivors, childhood trauma, trauma recovery, SA trauma, criminal justice systemIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 83: Growing Up in a Hoarder House with Animal Hoarding 20.05.2026 1h 48min

  Summer grew up in a severe hoarder home (level 5) where rooms became inaccessible, utilities stopped working, and over 30 animals lived in extreme neglect inside the house. Behind the scenes, she was dealing with chronic bullying, isolation, domestic violence, emotional abuse, and the impossible pressure of protecting her family while trying to survive her own childhood. She opens up about what it was really like going to school embarrassed by the conditions she was living in, being removed by CPS, couch surfing as a teenager, and realizing in college that the life she grew up in was never normal.Summer shares the long-term impact of growing up with parents who have hoarding disorder, narcissistic family dynamics, parentification, and severe animal hoarding, along with the complicated grief that comes from loving parents who were unable to provide safety or stability. She talks about the shame children of hoarders carry, the survival behaviors that follow them into adulthood, and the difficult process of learning basic self-care, relationships, and normalcy after years of living in chaos.Summer’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/summerjoy.cptsd_survivorhttps://www.tiktok.com/@summerjoy4https://youtube.com/@summerjoy4https://linktr.ee/summerjoy4Collaborations/Media: summerjoy.officialmgmt@gmail.comResources:International OCD Foundation (Hoarding)https://iocdf.org/hoardingChildren of Hoardershttps://childrenofhoarders.comInstitute for Challenging Disorganizationhttps://challengingdisorganization.orgNAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)https://nami.orgHoarding Cleanup Directoryhttps://hoardingcleanup.comCrisis Text Line 741741Beyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: Hoarding Disorder, Animal Hoarding, Childhood Trauma, Family Dysfunction, Childhood Neglect, Complex PTSD (CPTSD)If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 82: Going to the Execution of Her Mother’s Killer (Ep. 18 Follow-Up) 13.05.2026 1h 6min

  In this follow-up to episode 18, Sarah is joined by her stepdaughter Avery more than 20 years after Avery’s mother was murdered when she was just five months old. After spending most of their lives carrying the weight of the case, they received the call that the execution date had finally been set for the man responsible. Sarah and Avery share what it was like preparing for the execution, traveling to Texas together, and walking into a situation neither of them truly knew how to process until they were living it in real time.Avery opens up about growing up without her mother and later losing her father to suicide in 2023, while Sarah reflects on the years of grief and emotional survival that followed both tragedies. What they expected would bring closure instead forced them to confront layers of trauma, family pain, suicide loss, and the emotional reality of watching a case that shaped their lives finally come to an end. Together, they talk about the complicated emotions surrounding the execution, the unexpected moments that stayed with them afterward, and the difficult process of figuring out who they were once this chapter of their lives was finally over.Sarah’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/skyvisions333Sarah’s Podcast - All The Things Shoals:https://www.instagram.com/allthethings.shoalshttps://www.youtube.com/@allthethingsshoalshttps://open.spotify.com/show/65FFAsKIBmYj3sEocu9eXQ?si=c8973a65da1a49bfResources:Project Unbrokenhttps://projectunbroken.orgCrisis Text Line741741Beyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: true crime, grief, murder case, family trauma, healing after loss, capital punishment If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 81: Her Brothers SAed Her, One Tried to Silence Her with a Lawsuit 06.05.2026 47min

  Darlene Lekowski was sexually abused by two of her older brothers beginning at just 7 years old, carrying the trauma in silence for more than five decades while building a life that looked perfect from the outside. She shares the long-term reality of sibling sexual abuse, PTSD, perfectionism, fear of abandonment, and what happens when trauma is buried instead of healed. After finally confronting one of her brothers, he responded by suing her for defamation, forcing her into a two year legal battle where she was made to relive the abuse publicly in court.Darlene breaks down the family dynamics that kept her silent, the threats and manipulation used against her as a child, and the emotional toll of protecting everyone else while destroying herself in the process. She talks about raising children while carrying hidden trauma, how PTSD showed up throughout her life, and the moment she realized surviving wasn’t the same thing as healing. After winning the lawsuit and being validated by a jury, she began rebuilding her life, writing her book Shattering Silence, and speaking publicly to help other survivors break the shame and secrecy surrounding sibling sexual abuse, trauma, and family betrayal.Darlene’s Links:darlene-lekowski.com https://www.instagram.com/darlenelekowskihttps://www.facebook.com/darlenelekowski“Shattering Silence” book https://a.co/d/003yCIaBResources:RAINN24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline 1-800-656-HOPEhttps://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/Crisis Text Line741741Beyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: sibling sexual trauma and abuse (SSTA), childhood trauma, family abuse, PTSD recovery, sexual abuse awareness, court traumaIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 80: Her Estranged Husband Murdered Their Two Children 29.04.2026 1h 24min

  Hope’s estranged husband murdered their two young children in an act of filicide after being granted unsupervised custody, despite clear warning signs of instability, prior abuse, and escalating mental health concerns. Just before their deaths, he made suicidal and homicidal statements, was hospitalized, and still walked out of court with 50/50 custody. Hope’s story exposes the reality of how quickly systems can fail, how mental health is misunderstood in legal settings, and how lethal risk is often missed until it’s too late.Hope shares what led up to that moment, including years of coercive control, psychological abuse, gaslighting, and physical violence that she kept hidden while trying to survive and protect her children. She breaks down the timeline of events, the court decisions, and the warning signs that were overlooked, while also speaking to the unimaginable reality of losing both of her children and what it means to live after that level of loss.Hope’s Links:Fill out the link to pass The Alec and Lydia Act!https://rallystarter.com/rally/2948/please-pass-the-alec-and-lydia-act-in-the-arizona-senatehttps://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_painhttps://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.painhttps://www.facebook.com/people/Hope-In-The-Painhttps://linktr.ee/hopeinthepain Voices Against Filicide - Hope’s Podcasthttps://tr.ee/4zExkNUIYi Resources:Crisis Text Line741741Beyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: filicide, family court failure, coercive control, domestic violence (DV), custody system failure, true crimeIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 79: Years of Domestic Violence Led to a 10 Year Custody Battle for Her Children 22.04.2026 2h 7min

  Jess Patz was 18 when she entered an abusive relationship that quickly escalated from love bombing into domestic violence, coercive control, and manipulation. The first physical assault happened during her first pregnancy, followed by years of emotional abuse, gaslighting, sexual assault, and financial control that caused her to question her own reality. She breaks down what intimate partner violence actually looks like behind closed doors, including how someone can be conditioned to stay, how abuse escalates over time, and how early warning signs are often missed or dismissed. After leaving, she was pulled into a 10 year custody battle where family court systems failed to recognize patterns of abuse, allowing continued exposure for her children. During that time and years after, her body began to break down with severe health complications, including recurrent pulmonary embolisms, chronic pain, autoimmune disease, and eventually a stroke that forced her to relearn how to walk. Jess shares the reality of post separation abuse, child custody in abusive relationships, and how trauma doesn’t just stay mental, it shows up physically in ways that can change your life. She is now a speaker, advocate, and TEDx presenter using her story to raise awareness about domestic violence and its long term impact.Jess’ Links:https://www.instagram.com/_jesspatzhttps://www.tiktok.com/@_jesspatzhttps://www.jesspatz.comResources:Crisis Text Line741741National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-7233Find local resources: https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/domestic-violence-local-resources/Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Centerhttps://dvsacenter.orgBeyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonstershttps://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: DV, coercive control, family court system, SA, trauma recovery, narcissistic abuse, autoimmune disease, lupus, stroke recovery, chronic illnessIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 78: The Reality of the War in Afghanistan 15.04.2026 1h 36min

  Sean Tobias Ambriz joined the Army at 18 and was deployed to Afghanistan early in his military career, where he was unexpectedly assigned as a combat medic in an active war zone. With accelerated training, he was responsible for treating wounded soldiers during intense firefights, navigating Taliban ambushes, sniper fire, and life-or-death decisions in the mountains.He describes being surrounded during combat, running toward gunfire to reach injured soldiers, and working through mass casualties with limited medical supplies. He also speaks on how experiences like his are often overlooked, as attention is typically focused on special operations forces, despite conventional Army units facing the same level of danger and loss. The trauma of war, loss of fellow soldiers, and repeated exposure to combat carried into multiple deployments, PTSD, and the long-term reality veterans face after surviving combat. Sean’s links:https://www.instagram.com/chief_pinkmisthttps://www.seantobiasambriz.comResources:Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSDhttps://www.ptsd.va.govBeyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonstershttps://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: combat medic, Afghanistan war, military PTSD, war trauma, Army veteranIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 77: She Lost Her Fiancé to an Overdose Just 8 Months After Their Son Was Born 08.04.2026 1h 15min

  Jori lost her fiancé to an overdose after trying to save him from a hidden addiction to pills that began before they met. Kyle came into her life on New Year’s Eve and quickly became someone she saw a future with, outgoing, magnetic, and deeply loved by everyone around him. As their relationship grew, so did the life they were building together, but behind it, he was quietly battling a pill addiction. It quickly turned into the reality of loving someone struggling with substance abuse, relapse, and the cycle of recovery attempts that didn’t last. Jori found herself questioning the signs of addiction in real time, trying to make sense of behavior changes, secrecy, and the emotional weight of being in a relationship affected by addiction.After losing her fiancé to an overdose just eight months after having their son, Jori was left navigating grief, trauma, and the lasting impact of sudden loss. She was now facing life without her partner and the father of her child, a loss that reshaped everything moving forward. She shares what it’s really like to love someone through addiction, the moments that don’t make sense at the time, and the ones that stay with you long after they’re gone. She also opens up about the loss of her best friend in a car accident she witnessed at 10 years old, a moment that stayed with her and shaped how she processes grief, trauma, and emotional attachment.Jori’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/jorikinneyJori’s Podcast - Shattered Silence:https://www.youtube.com/@ShatteredSilencePodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shatteredsilencepodhttps://linktr.ee/shatteredsilencepodResources:Crisis Text Line741741SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)Beyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonstershttps://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topics: addiction, overdose, grief, relationships, mental health, loss, trauma healing, substance abuseIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 76: Drugged at a Work Party Then Abducted and Brutally Raped 01.04.2026 1h 56min

  Tressa was 21 years old when she attended a company party expecting a normal night with coworkers. Within minutes of taking a shot, she began to lose control of her body. She was drugged, taken out of the bar, carried to an apartment, and left alone with a man she had never met. What followed was hours of rape and violent assault that resulted in severe, permanent physical injuries and long-term medical complications that still impact her life today.In the aftermath, Tressa was forced to repeatedly recount what happened to law enforcement, medical staff, and investigators while navigating an invasive forensic exam and a system that questioned her account. She shares the reality of what happens after rape, including the physical trauma, the psychological impact of sexual assault, and the way these cases are handled behind the scenes. More than two decades later, Tressa is now working with state and federal lawmakers to reform the sex offender registry, using her experience to advocate for change and bring awareness to the long-term impact people live with after sexual violence.Resources:RAINN24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline 1-800-656-HOPEhttps://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/Crisis Text Line741741Suicide and Crisis Lifeline988SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)Beyond the Monsters Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonstershttps://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topics: violent crime, date rape drug, sexual assault (SA), true crime, victim advocacyIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 75: Raised by Addiction and a Con Artist Then Held Captive in a Motel for Five Weeks 25.03.2026 1h 3min

  Ember grew up surrounded by manipulation, addiction, and instability that shaped her life long before she had the ability to understand or escape it. With a father in and out of prison for organized crime and a mother struggling with severe alcoholism, she was forced into survival mode early. By her teenage years, she was already raising her younger sister while navigating emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and constant instability. The environment she was raised in shaped how she viewed love, trust, and safety, making her vulnerable to repeated patterns of manipulation in adulthood. As an adult, those patterns escalated into domestic violence, coercive control, and a situation where she was held in a motel for weeks under psychological and physical abuse. She eventually escaped by using the same manipulation tactics she was raised around. Even after getting out, the cycle didn’t immediately end. She continued to encounter people who exploited her trust, including someone she lived with for years who was secretly struggling with addiction and deception. Ember is now in the process of rebuilding her life, setting boundaries, and working in crisis support to help others, while actively breaking the patterns she was conditioned to accept.Ember’s links:https://www.instagram.com/survivorsalchemyResources:Crisis Text Line741741SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)Beyond the Monsters Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonstershttps://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topics: human trafficking, domestic violence, trauma recovery, narcissistic abuse, coercive control, childhood traumaIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 74: From a Rising BMX Career to Homelessness, Addiction, and Prison with Tony Hoffman 18.03.2026 1h 4min

  Tony was once a talented BMX athlete with a promising future before addiction took over his life in his early twenties. What followed was a rapid descent into homelessness, drug addiction, and eventually prison. But prison became the turning point that forced him to confront everything he had been running from and rebuild his life from the inside out.After his release, Tony returned to BMX racing, competing professionally and eventually coaching at the Olympic level. He went on to become a nationally recognized speaker and the founder of multiple addiction treatment centers dedicated to helping people stabilize during the earliest and most dangerous stages of recovery. His work is built on a simple belief: people are not defined by their worst chapter, and with the right tools, accountability, and support, transformation is possible. Tony’s links:https://www.instagram.com/tonymhoffmanwww.tonyhoffmanspeaking.comResources:Crisis Text Line741741SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)Beyond the Monsters Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonstershttps://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topics: addiction recovery, prison transformation, recovery story, substance abuse, personal growthIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 73: One Week in Drug-Induced Psychosis 11.03.2026 1h 6min

  A birthday celebration with friends, music, THC, and psychedelic mushroom tea quickly turned into something terrifying. Within days, Shannon began experiencing drug-induced psychosis. Music felt like it was speaking directly to her, television shows appeared filled with hidden messages, and everyday sights like billboards and street signs started to feel like coded signals guiding her through a test she believed she had to pass. As severe sleep deprivation set in, paranoia intensified and reality blurred. Friends became threats, strangers felt dangerous, and the streets of Orlando became a maze of symbols she believed would determine whether she lived or died. For nearly a week she wandered through this altered reality experiencing psychosis, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts, convinced she was trapped in a world designed to punish or test her. After being hospitalized and treated, Shannon slowly returned to reality. Her story reveals how quickly the mind can fracture under trauma, substances, and lack of sleep, and why conversations about mental health and psychosis recovery matter more than people realize.Shannon’s links:https://www.instagram.com/shannifiedResources:Crisis Text Line741741SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)Beyond the Monsters’ Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topics: Drug-Induced Psychosis, Mental Health Crisis, Psychedelic Experience, Mental Health Recovery, Trauma HealingIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 72: He Took Two Lives in a Drunk Driving Crash at 24 04.03.2026 1h 11min

  At 24 years old, Martin made a decision that would change multiple families forever. After a day of heavy drinking, he got behind the wheel on New Year’s Eve and caused a fatal DUI crash that left two women dead and another man seriously injured. He was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison, day for day. What followed was not a story about excuses. It was a story about accountability, addiction, guilt, shame, and what happens when you are forced to confront the irreversible consequences of drunk driving.While incarcerated, Martin earned his GED, completed a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, and became a certified alcohol and drug counselor. Today he speaks at high schools, colleges, DUI victim impact panels, and law enforcement conferences about alcohol abuse, recovery, reckless choices, and the ripple effect of one night that cannot be undone. This conversation dives into addiction, incarceration, forgiveness, trauma, and the difference between guilt and shame.Martin’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/martinllockettmartinlockett.comMartin’s Books:Prison to Purpose Pipeline: How one sentence led to a life of servicehttps://a.co/d/04fk1tojMy Prison Life: A Blogger's Insights from the Insidehttps://a.co/d/0dl1fAnyResources:Crisis Text Line741741SAMHSA’s National Helpline1-800-662-HELP (4357)Stop High-Risk Impaired Drivinghttps://www.responsibility.org/high-risk-impaired-drivingBeyond the Monsters’ Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 71: She Helps Solve Murder Cases as a Psychic Medium 27.02.2026 1h 16min

  A former tennis pro turned forensic psychic medium, Nichole Duncan, shares how a remote viewing session cracked open an entirely new reality. What began with scientific curiosity about telepathy and intuition led to verified details in missing persons cases, homicide investigations, and human trafficking work. From describing evidence later confirmed by law enforcement to navigating strict ethical boundaries around spiritual consent, she explains how mediumship intersects with criminal cases without replacing investigative process. She breaks down what remote viewing actually is, how intuitive impressions form, and why evidence should be a byproduct of connection rather than the goal.The conversation moves into near-death experiences, life review, intuition, and what may happen in the moments before impact during sudden death. Chell shares her own experience the night her husband died and asks the questions many survivors quietly carry: Can they hear us? Do they suffer? Are we ever alone? From meditation and grounding to telepathic communication and signs from loved ones, this discussion explores grief, spiritual connection, trauma, and the possibility that consciousness continues beyond the body.A special additional conversation released outside our regular Wednesday schedule.Nichole’s links:https://www.nicholeduncanintuitive.comhttps://www.instagram.com/nicholeduncanintuitivehttps://www.tiktok.com/@nicholeduncanintuitiveBeyond the Monsters’ Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: Psychic Medium, Remote Viewing, Near Death Experience, Spiritual Communication, Intuition and Trauma, Consciousness After DeathIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 70: Surviving a Violent Home Invasion 25.02.2026 52min

  Lori was finishing a work project in her mother’s quiet home when a violent home invasion began with men kicking in the front door. Within seconds she was running upstairs toward her firearm, calculating escape routes in real time, and opening fire as armed intruders stormed the hallway. When her gun malfunctioned and one of the intruders returned fire, everything shifted in an instant. One bullet tore through her body, ruptured her intestine, destroyed blood vessels, and ultimately led to a below the knee amputation. She was resuscitated three times, airlifted to a trauma center, and placed on life support for two weeks after a random gang related armed robbery changed everything.A former criminal justice professional with a 20 year career in law enforcement, Lori shares the mindset that shaped her split second decisions, the psychological aftermath of violent crime, survivor’s guilt, PTSD, and the reality of navigating the justice system while learning to walk again with a prosthetic. From elderly parent care and rising crime rates to firearm safety, self defense preparedness, and trauma recovery, this conversation explores what it means to survive a near fatal shooting and rebuild after catastrophic trauma.Lori’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/lorisolvupLori's Vigilant Living - Your High-Five Guidehttps://www.facebook.com/lorisolvupResources Lori mentioned:Dr Bohdi Sanders, author The Stoic Mindset, etc.https://thewisdomwarrior.comAlain Burrese, Enjoy Life Safelyhttps://www.enjoylifesafely.comBeyond the Monsters’ Socials:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonstersDisclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.Topic: armed robbery, attempted murder, violent crime survival, true crime, amputation recoveryIf you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.