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Survivor Stories

Survivor Stories

By: Jarod Toomey Michael Conley Lindsey Conley
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Survivor Stories is a Podcast about the experiences we often struggle to put into words. Through honest conversations with trauma survivors and the people who love them, we explore the impact of trauma, relationships, healing, and the journey toward understanding ourselves. These are real stories from real people - stories of pain, survival, connection, disconnection, and hope. No judgement. No prentending to have all the answers. Just people sharing what they've lived through, what they're learning, and what they wish others understood. Because sometimes, knowing you're not alone is the first step toward healing.2026 Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Survivor Stories – Episode 6: Sit with Warriors the Conversations are Different

    Survivor Stories – Episode 6: Sit with Warriors the Conversations are Different
    21 Oct 2026
    Survivor Stories — Episode 6: Breaking the Chains: Mike’s Story Podcast: Survivor Stories: Breaking Silence, Changing Stigma Episode: 6 Guest: Mike Guest Co-Hosts: Brad and Dakotah Website: https://internalchainofcommand.com Episode Description What happens when the people who know you best ask you to open up about the things you’ve spent years keeping locked away? In this episode of Survivor Stories, Jarod sits down with Mike, joined by guest co-hosts Brad and Dakotah, for an honest, unfiltered conversation about trauma, family, friendship, and the difficult process of confronting the past. Brad and Dakotah have known Mike for years, but even the closest friendships can have unspoken stories and emotions beneath the surface. Together, they challenge Mike to begin breaking the chains around the box of experiences he has kept closed for so long. Mike shares his memories of his father being shot while serving as a police officer, the lasting impact of that traumatic event, complicated family relationships, and his experiences seeking help through counseling. The conversation also explores his journey into understanding complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), including the protective parts that can shape our reactions, relationships, and behaviors. This episode is about more than recounting what happened. It is about examining how trauma affects us, recognizing the ways we protect ourselves, and learning that opening up does not have to happen all at once. Sometimes, healing begins with one conversation, a few chains loosened, and the willingness to let someone else see what is inside the box. In This Episode The power of friendship: How years of friendship create opportunities for honest conversations and accountability. Family, loss, and complicated relationships: Mike reflects on his biological mother, his stepmother Mary, and the role family has played throughout his life. A traumatic childhood memory: Mike recounts learning that his father had been shot in the line of duty and describes what he remembers from that night. The impact of trauma: How overwhelming experiences can affect memory, emotions, relationships, and reactions. CPTSD and therapy: Mike discusses his experiences with counseling and exploring different approaches to healing. Understanding Internal Family Systems (IFS): A conversation about exiles, protective parts, managers, and firefighters—and how these parts can influence our responses to emotional pain. Accountability and growth: Recognizing harmful reactions while learning to understand the pain and protective instincts behind them. Breaking the chains: Why opening up is a process, not a single event, and why even small steps matter. A Note on This Episode This episode contains candid conversations and humor alongside serious discussions of trauma and mental health. Mike shares personal experiences involving suicide, suicidal behavior, violence, police shootings, death, family estrangement, CPTSD, and emotional distress. Some language is explicit. Please listen in whatever way feels safest for you. Pause, take a break, or step away if you need to. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide in the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911. About Survivor Stories Survivor Stories: Breaking Silence, Changing Stigma creates space for honest conversations about trauma, mental health, grief, healing, and survival. We believe that sharing our experiences can challenge stigma, help others feel less alone, and remind us that we are more than what happened to us. You don't have to open every door at once. Sometimes, the first step is simply being willing to turn the handle. Listen, Read, and Connect Visit our website for more episodes, personal stories, blog posts, and information about the podcast: www.internalchainofcommand.com If this episode resonates with you, consider sharing it with someone who may need the reminder that they are not alone. Thank you for listening to Survivor Stories: Breaking Silence, Changing Stigma. Music and Sound Credits Intro and Outro Music: Strong Character (Powerful Fuzz Action Sport Rock) by Lightstockmusic, via Pixabay. Audio file: https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-strong-character-powerful-fuzz-action-sport-rock-513742/ Used under the Pixabay Content License. Sound Effects: Sounds from https://quicksounds.com Used under the Quicksounds Standard License. Please visit the website for sound-effect resources and licensing information. All music and sound effects are credited to their respective sources.
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    2 hrs and 25 min
  • Survivor Stories – Episode 5: Things I Learned to Carry

    Survivor Stories – Episode 5: Things I Learned to Carry
    11 Oct 2026
    #Generational Cycles: Brittney’s Journey Through Trauma and Healing Podcast: Survivor Stories: Breaking Silence, Changing Stigma Guest: Brittney Hawks Hosts: Jarod, Mike, and Lindsey Episode Description What happens when the experiences that shape us as children continue to affect our relationships, our self-worth, and the way we navigate adulthood? In this episode of Survivor Stories, Brittney Hawks shares her deeply personal journey of childhood trauma, unhealthy family dynamics, addiction within her family, difficult relationships, military service, motherhood, and a life-changing battle with cancer. Brittney opens up about growing up feeling responsible for managing other people's emotions, learning to put everyone else's needs before her own, and carrying anger and pain she didn't fully understand until adulthood. Through therapy, self-reflection, faith, and the support of her husband and family, she began connecting the dots between her childhood experiences and the patterns that followed her into adult relationships. She also shares her experience with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), setting boundaries with family, and recognizing the importance of accountability in healing. One of the most powerful themes of this conversation is her commitment to breaking generational cycles and giving her daughters the stability, emotional safety, and space to express their feelings that she needed growing up. This conversation also explores finding the right therapist, different approaches to trauma treatment, and why healing doesn't have to look the same for everyone. Brittney's story is a reminder that understanding where our patterns come from can help us choose a different path forward. We cannot change what happened to us, but we can work toward changing what gets passed on. You are not alone. Your experiences do not define your worth, and it is never too late to begin healing. In This Episode Growing up in an unstable home and taking on adult responsibilities at a young age. How childhood experiences shaped Brittney's self-worth, independence, and relationships. Recognizing unhealthy relationship patterns and finding the courage to leave. Navigating motherhood, military service, deployment, and serious illness. Receiving a C-PTSD diagnosis and beginning to understand the impact of childhood trauma. Exploring therapy, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Learning to set boundaries, including when family relationships become unhealthy. Understanding accountability and the importance of breaking generational cycles. Finding support, rebuilding trust, and learning to feel safe. Creating a healthier environment for the next generation. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Finding a Therapist – Psychology Today Looking for a therapist can feel overwhelming, especially when you're unsure where to begin. Psychology Today's therapist directory allows you to search for mental health professionals by location, specialty, insurance, and other preferences. Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists Military OneSource – Confidential Counseling and Support Military OneSource provides eligible service members and military families with resources and confidential, short-term counseling for challenges such as stress, relationship difficulties, parenting, and grief. Visit the website to learn more about available services and eligibility. Website: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/confidential-counseling/ A Note About Therapy and Healing As discussed in this episode, finding a qualified mental health professional who understands your experiences and with whom you feel comfortable can make a meaningful difference. Different therapeutic approaches work differently for different people. Trauma-focused work can bring up difficult emotions, so consider working with a qualified professional before attempting intensive trauma-processing exercises on your own. This podcast shares personal experiences and is intended for conversation, education, and encouragement. It is not a substitute for professional mental health care or medical advice. Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of childhood emotional and physical abuse, family addiction and substance use, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, sexual assault within marriage, emotional manipulation, cancer and medical trauma, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). Please listen in whatever way feels safest for you. You can pause, skip sections, or step away whenever you need to. Your well-being comes first. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911. Join the Conversation Have you ever recognized a pattern in your life that you wanted to change? What has helped you take steps toward healing? We invite you to reflect, share your experiences when you're ...
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    2 hrs and 22 min
  • Survivor Stories – Episode 4: Beyond Her Last Goodbye

    Survivor Stories – Episode 4: Beyond Her Last Goodbye
    30 Sep 2026
    Survivor Stories – Episode 4: Finding Hope Beyond Her Last Goodbye Trigger Warning This episode of Survivor Stories contains discussions of suicide, suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, and suicide loss. It also includes personal accounts of childhood abuse, sexual assault and rape, being held hostage, abusive relationships, trauma, PTSD, mental illness, grief, and the loss of a daughter to suicide. Some portions of this conversation include detailed descriptions of traumatic experiences and a past suicide attempt, which may be difficult or triggering for some listeners. Please take care of yourself while listening. You are always free to pause, step away, or skip this episode if the content feels overwhelming. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 in the United States, or contact your local emergency services if there is immediate danger. ________________________________________ Episode Overview In Episode 4 of Survivor Stories: Breaking Silence, Changing Stigma, we sit down with Kat Badger, a suicide attempt survivor, mother, author, and woman who has faced unimaginable trauma and loss. Kat openly shares her journey through childhood abuse, sexual assault, abusive relationships, trauma, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, and her own suicide attempt. She also shares the devastating loss of her daughter, Alyssa, who died by suicide at 26. But this conversation isn't only about trauma and loss. It's about survival. It's about what happens when someone reaches the darkest point of their life and somehow finds a reason to keep going. It's about learning to live with PTSD, processing grief, finding healing, and discovering hope after experiences that can feel impossible to survive. Kat also talks about Alyssa as a person—not simply as someone who struggled with mental illness or died by suicide. Her story reminds us that people are always more than their diagnoses, their struggles, or the way their story ends. ________________________________________ In This Episode • Kat's experience as a suicide attempt survivor • Childhood abuse and traumatic experiences • Surviving abusive relationships • Living with PTSD and panic attacks • Therapy, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems • Kat's experience with suicidal thoughts • Losing her daughter Alyssa to suicide • The grief and questions that follow suicide loss • The importance of talking openly about suicide • Finding hope during the darkest moments • Kat's journey toward healing • Her book, More Than Her Last Goodbye: Loving My Daughter Beyond The Darkness Of Suicide • A message to those struggling with suicidal thoughts, attempt survivors, and families affected by suicide ________________________________________ Connect With Kat 🔵 KAT BADGER ON FACEBOOK: 🔵 https://www.facebook.com/Kat.Badger2019 ________________________________________ Kat's Books More Than Her Last Goodbye: Loving My Daughter Beyond The Darkness Of Suicide Kat shares the story of her daughter Alyssa, her own experiences with trauma and suicide, and the journey of finding hope and healing after unimaginable loss. 🔵 BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON: 🔵 More Than Her Last Goodbye: Loving My Daughter Beyond The Darkness Of Suicide: Badger, Kathryn: 9798254606383: Amazon.com: Books Still Here Kat's poetry book, sharing another part of her journey and experiences. 🔵 BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON: 🔵 Amazon.com: Still Here : Poems On Grief And Love After Loss eBook : Badger, Kathryn: Kindle Store Kat also talks about the process of writing More Than Her Last Goodbye and revisiting some of the most painful memories of her life. ________________________________________ Kat's Message One of the most important messages throughout this conversation is that even when someone cannot see a future for themselves, that does not mean a future doesn't exist. Kat speaks honestly about surviving the moments when she didn't believe she could continue—and what it took to eventually find hope. Her story is a reminder that the darkest chapter doesn't have to be the end of the story. ________________________________________ If You Are Struggling If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or feel that you may be in immediate danger, please reach out for help. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. You do not have to face the moment alone. ________________________________________ About Survivor Stories Survivor Stories: Breaking Silence, Changing Stigma Our goal is to create a space where people can share the stories that are often difficult to talk about—and where those stories can remind someone else that they are not alone. Breaking silence. Changing stigma. Sharing stories.
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    1 hr and 16 min
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