What happens when a relationship that begins with promises of love, faith, and commitment slowly becomes a place of manipulation, isolation, and emotional abuse?

In this episode of Break the Silence, I sit down with Liberty Steele, author of Redeemed Years: From Narcissistic Darkness to Light and the voice behind Shine From Your Shadows.

Liberty opens up about her experience in a marriage that gradually became emotionally abusive, the warning signs she initially overlooked, and the challenges of seeking help when the advice she received through her faith community didn't prioritize her safety.

She shares the difficult journey of recognizing what was happening, finding the courage to leave, rebuilding her life, and discovering that healing and healthy love are possible.

We also explore:

• Recognizing manipulation, mirroring, and early warning signs.

• Understanding why forgiveness does not automatically mean reconciliation.

• The importance of recognizing patterns rather than simply listening to promises.

• How emotional abuse can affect our mental and physical well-being.

• Finding supportive communities and resources during recovery.

• Discovering hope, faith, and restoration after abuse.

Liberty also shares an important reminder for anyone who may be questioning their relationship: you deserve to feel safe, valued, and loved.

A powerful reminder from this conversation:

"Your story doesn't have to end where the pain began."

Connect with Liberty:

Website: https://shinefromyourshadows.com

Book: Redeemed Years: From Narcissistic Darkness to Light — available through Amazon and Westbow Press.

If something in Liberty's story resonates with you, remember:

I didn't cause it.
I can't control it.
I can't cure it.

If you know someone who may need to hear this conversation, share this episode.

Break the Silence — One Story at a Time.

💜 NEW EPISODE: Silence Was My First Language — Rich Dunning

What happens when silence becomes your way of surviving childhood, only to become something that nearly destroys you as an adult?

In this deeply moving conversation, Rich Dunning shares his journey through childhood trauma, addiction, anxiety, and some of the darkest moments of his life. He also opens up about sobriety, forgiveness, and discovering that healing can lead to a purpose greater than ourselves.

Through his work with the First Language Foundation, Rich is helping vulnerable children find support and a voice of their own. His story reminds us that our past may shape us, but it doesn't have to define our future.

🎧 Listen now to Silence Was My First Language on Break the Silence.

💜 If you're struggling, you are not alone. Your story matters, your voice matters, and hope is possible.

Break the Silence — One Story at a Time.

Links to Rich:

https://www.richdunningbooks.com/the-first-language-foundation/https://www.facebook.com/richdunningbooks/

https://www.instagram.com/richdunningbooks/?hl=en

https://www.amazon.com/stores/rich-dunning/author/B0H96M454T?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

What happens when the life you were taught to want isn't the life you end up living?

Sara grew up believing marriage was supposed to be forever. She entered her marriage believing she knew what being a wife meant—and soon found herself facing things she never expected.

In this deeply personal conversation, Sara shares her experience with faith, marriage, control, isolation, and the gradual realization that something wasn't right. She also talks about the moments that helped her begin finding her voice again.

This isn't simply a story about what happened to Sara. It's a story about questioning what we've been taught, recognizing what we deserve, and finding a path forward.

Content note: This conversation includes discussions of emotional abuse, sexual coercion, religious pressure, and isolation.

I'm grateful to Sara for trusting me with her story and allowing us to share it.

💻 Learn more about Sara and He Called It Love:
hecalleditlove.com

He Called It Love offers free healing workbooks, guides, and checklists for people rebuilding after difficult and painful experiences. He Called It Love

🎙️ Break the Silence: One Story at a Time

What happens when the pain we've buried for years finally demands to be heard?

In this powerful conversation, Tiffaney Childers shares her journey through unimaginable loss, grief, trauma, silence, and healing.

Tiffaney lost both of her parents to suicide—one year and five days apart. For years, she did what many of us do with overwhelming pain: she survived, she kept moving, and she buried it.

But eventually, that buried pain began showing up in other ways.

Tiffaney opens up about the impact of grief and isolation, turning to alcohol to cope, finding sobriety, rebuilding her life, discovering the importance of community, and learning to take responsibility for her healing without shaming the person she had to become to survive.

She also shares about her years volunteering with the Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team, helping families navigate the unimaginable aftermath of suicide loss.

And throughout our conversation, one message keeps coming back:

You don't have to carry it alone.

For Suicide Prevention Month, this conversation is a reminder that breaking the silence can begin with something as simple as telling someone, “I need you to listen.”

🎙️ Listen to Tiffaney's story on Break the Silence — One Story at a Time.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 for free, confidential support.

Human trafficking doesn't always look the way we think it does.

In this episode of Break the Silence, I sit down with Detective Heidi Chance, a law-enforcement veteran with more than 27 years of experience, including years working undercover and investigating human trafficking.

Heidi and I talk about the realities of human trafficking, including forced sex, forced labor, coercion, fraud, manipulation, and the misconceptions that can prevent people from recognizing exploitation.

We also talk about why awareness matters, how trafficking can happen in ways people don't expect, and why education is such an important part of prevention.

This conversation is about looking beyond the stereotypes and understanding what human trafficking really looks like.

📖 Talk to Them: Navigating Difficult Conversations With Youth in the Digital Age
Heidi's book helps parents and caregivers have important conversations with young people about digital safety, exploitation, and trafficking.

🌐 A Chance for Awareness
Find Heidi's resources, training, awareness materials, and information about her work:
https://www.achanceforawareness.com

📚 Heidi's Book
Talk to Them is available in both English and Spanish.

📅 Upcoming Event
Heidi will also be participating in an upcoming awareness event. Check the event information and Heidi's website for details and registration.

If this conversation teaches you something you didn't know about human trafficking, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Break the Silence — One Story at a Time.

Resources from Detective Heidi Chance

What does forgiveness look like when you've been deeply hurt?

Matt joins Mila for an honest conversation about healing, emotional pain, vulnerability, and the pressure many men feel to simply “be strong” and keep moving.

In this episode, Matt shares his perspective on learning to face what happened rather than carrying it alone — and how forgiveness became part of his healing journey.

Because forgiveness doesn't mean saying what happened was okay.

It means choosing not to let what happened control the rest of your life.

This is a conversation about the male perspective on healing, the courage it takes to be vulnerable, and the possibility of finding freedom on the other side of pain.

You can survive what happened to you. And you can heal from it.

🎙️ Break the Silence — One Story at a Time.

What do you do with the pain you've carried for years?

Jamie spent years trying to figure that out.

Her story includes trauma, alcohol, sobriety, changing relationships, rejection, faith, and learning to understand herself in a different way.

But this isn't a story about everything that happened to Jamie.

It's about what she did with it.

What began as pain became an opportunity to grow, to heal, and eventually to use her experiences to help others.

Jamie reminds us that we don't get to choose everything that happens to us.

But sometimes, we get to choose what we do with the story that remains.

🎙️ What She Did With Her Pain: Jamie's Story

Break the Silence — One Story at a Time.

Finding Your Voice After High-Conflict Divorce | Lisa from Been There Got Out

Leaving an abusive or narcissistic relationship is often only the beginning of the journey.

In this episode of Break the Silence: One Story at a Time, Mila sits down with Lisa from Been There Got Out (follow her here: linktr.ee/beentheregotout)to discuss what happens when the conflict continues after the relationship ends — navigating high-conflict divorce, custody battles, co-parenting challenges, and the emotional impact of trying to rebuild your life.

Lisa shares her personal experience of discovering that the relationship she trusted was not what she believed it to be, and how years of navigating family court led her to helping others facing similar situations.

Together, we talk about:
• Recognizing the different forms abuse can take
• The challenges survivors face after leaving
• Why finding the right support matters
• How strategic communication can reduce conflict and protect your peace
• Finding your voice again after years of feeling unheard

If you are walking through a difficult separation, supporting someone who is, or simply want to better understand these experiences, this conversation is a reminder that healing is possible — and you are not alone.

🎙️ Break the Silence — One Story at a Time