Trauma Candy Salad

In this episode of Trauma Candy Salad, we take our first trip outside the studio to The Glitter Factory to sit down with sisters Britney and Madison for a deeply honest conversation about growing up as parentified glass children.When their baby brother was diagnosed with a very rare childhood cancer, Britney and Madison were still kids themselves—yet suddenly expected to be strong, self-sufficient, and emotionally invisible while helping care for him and their two younger siblings. In this episode, they unpack how parentification, sibling illness, and medical trauma shaped their childhood, their identities, and the way they move through adulthood today.We talk about what it means to be a glass child, how family dynamics change when survival becomes the priority, and why so many siblings of medically complex children grow up feeling unseen. This conversation is tender, validating, and a reminder that trauma doesn’t always come from what happened to you—but from what you were never allowed to need.✨ Recorded on location at The Glitter Factory🍬 Candy included, obviouslyContent note: childhood illness, medical trauma, parentification

This week on Trauma Candy Salad, we sit with Madysen — a mother whose story is almost unbelievable in its depth, grief, and resilience.Outside of becoming part of the 80% of women who miscarry their first baby, Madysen has lived through more loss than most mothers ever will.Madysen walks us through:• Three pregnancy losses• A first baby whose severe ear infections regressed her speech and left her nearly “deaf”• A second daughter rushed into repeated hospitalizations before her first birthday• A diagnosis of hyper-pituitarism, ketotic hypoglycemia, and a life-threatening pituitary aneurysm• Living with the fear her baby might need brain surgery• A miscarriage at 10 weeks that nearly caused her to bleed out• Becoming pregnant with conjoined twins — a 1 in 14.6 million occurrence• Facing Iowa’s restrictive laws after learning both twins’ hearts were failing• The impossible decision no parent ever wants to faceMadysen’s story is one of survival — financially, mentally, physically, and emotionally. It explains why she parents the way she does, why she carries the fears she carries, and how losing four babies and nearly a fifth shapes every part of motherhood.This episode is raw, real, and important.If you’ve been through miscarriage, high-risk pregnancy, medical motherhood, or complicated grief, Madysen’s story will remind you that you are not alone.

In Part 2 of Abbey’s story, we continue through the final years of her marriage — the escalation of physical abuse, the unrelenting emotional and mental manipulation, and the ways her ex-husband used financial control and parental alienation to keep her trapped.Abbey shares the moment she knew she had to leave, the dangerous reality of planning an exit from a violent partner, and the complicated aftermath of reclaiming her life after more than two decades of abuse.This episode dives deeper into the patterns of coercive control, trauma bonding, and the hidden barriers that keep survivors in abusive relationships far longer than the outside world understands. Abbey’s story is painful, powerful, and ultimately a testament to the strength it takes to break free.⸻Trigger WarningThis episode contains discussions of domestic violence, physical abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, financial abuse, and parental alienation. Listener discretion is strongly advised.⸻Resources & SupportIf you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, support is available:National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.)Call: 1-800-799-7233Text: START to 88788www.thehotline.orgLove Is Respect (teens & young adults)www.loveisrespect.orgNational Coalition Against Domestic Violencewww.ncadv.orgRAINN (sexual abuse & assault)www.rainn.orgFor international help:Search “domestic violence hotline” + your country.

For over 20 years, Abbey survived what most people can’t imagine: a marriage defined by physical abuse, emotional trauma, mental manipulation, financial control, and the devastating pain of being cut off from her children.Across this two-part series, Abbey tells the story of how abuse slowly becomes your normal, how isolation becomes a weapon, and what it really takes to leave a partner who has controlled your life since your teens.This episode dives deep into the realities of domestic violence, trauma bonding, coercive control, and the long road to healing on the other side.⸻Trigger WarningThis episode contains discussions of domestic violence, physical abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, financial abuse, and parental alienation. Listener discretion is advised.⸻Resources & SupportIf you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, you are not alone.Here are resources that may help:National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.)Call: 1-800-799-7233Text: START to 88788www.thehotline.orgLove Is Respect (for teens & young adults)www.loveisrespect.orgNational Coalition Against Domestic Violencewww.ncadv.orgRAINN (Sexual Abuse & Assault Support)www.rainn.orgIf you need international resources, you can search:“Domestic violence hotline” + your country.

At 19, Ivy thought she’d found safety in an older man who showed up for her when she was hurting. Instead, she walked straight into the perfect storm of grooming, love bombing, emotional control, and drug-fueled dependence. In this episode, Sammi, Ashley, and Ivy sit down for a raw and vulnerable conversation about: • The love bombing that hooked her in • The 17-year age gap and how it created control • Being introduced to cocaine and Adderall • Gaslighting, manipulation, and the “I’m just trying to help you” trap • The moments that pushed Ivy toward self-harm • The escape, the aftermath, and the reality of healing from someone who said he’d “save” her This is an intense but incredibly important story about grooming, coercion, and reclaiming your life after someone breaks it down piece by piece. Ivy’s honesty is powerful — and her perspective might help someone who doesn’t even realize they’re in a similar situation. 🍬 Candy of the week: Ivy’s favorite treat to get her through the chaos. 🎧 Listen with care. Trigger Warnings: Grooming, emotional abuse, drug use, self-harm, manipulation.

This week’s Trauma Candy Salad is a mix of heartbreak, healing, and a little Gorilla Glue. 🍬 Sammi shares Ginny’s story — a daughter raised by a teen mom who sacrificed everything, only to lose her too soon. Ashley reads a gut-wrenching account from Tomorrow Girl, who escaped an abusive relationship and found her way back to herself. And Kyle rounds it out with Gorilla Glue’s chaotic tale of childhood stupidity and unexpected scars (literally). It’s an episode about survival, resilience, and the strange sweetness that sometimes follows the pain. 💬 If today’s stories resonated with you, we’d love to hear yours. Submit your story or apply to be a guest at TraumaCandySalad.com. 🎧 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for behind-the-scenes clips and darkly funny moments between episodes. 📲 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss a new salad mix. ⸻ ⚠️ Trigger Warnings: This episode contains discussions of: • Grooming and sexual coercion of a minor • Domestic violence and physical abuse • Grief and loss of a parent • Brief mention of injury/blood Please take care while listening. Skip or pause if you need to — your wellbeing comes first. 💛

This week on Trauma Candy Salad, Sammi, Ashley, and Kyle serve up a full three-course meal of chaos — featuring gaslighting boyfriends, fake best friends, and workplace Chads who just won’t quit. 🍬 On the menu: • A “good guy” boyfriend caught on Grindr (and a group chat cleanup that deserves an award) • A best friend who turned out to be a full-blown frenemy • And one woman’s “Roman Empire” — watching three mediocre men get promoted over her If you’ve ever been gaslit, backstabbed, or told to “be happy for the team,” this one’s for you. ✨ Listen, laugh, and heal — one story at a time. ⸻ 💭 Got a story you want us to read on the show? Submit it at TraumaCandySalad.com — and don’t forget to tell us what candy you’re bringing to the bowl! 📱 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @TraumaCandySaladPod for behind-the-scenes chaos, story prompts, and more sugar-coated trauma. ⭐️ If you love the show, hit follow and leave us a review — it helps more survivors find their sweet spot in the madness. 👉 Trigger Warnings: emotional abuse, financial control, addiction, overdose, car accident, pet death, grief, verbal assault.👉 Resources: Find mental health and recovery resources on our website or in the show notes.👉 Share Your Story: Want to be on the show? Submit anonymously at TraumaCandySalad.com.👉 Follow Us: Stay connected on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @TraumaCandySaladPod for new episode drops and story prompts!

This week on Trauma Candy Salad, Sammi, Ashley, and Kyle unpack three powerful listener stories that will hit you right in the gut — and maybe even make you laugh through the tears.🍑 Story 1: A wife discovers the man she married becomes unrecognizable after kids — controlling her finances, her freedom, and nearly breaking her spirit.🍬 Story 2: A son relives the devastating year his mother went from pain pills to heroin — and the rage he feels toward Big Pharma.🍫 Story 3: A woman survives a horrific car crash and the loss of her dog — only to be screamed at by the man who caused it… until a total stranger, Margaret, steps in to save the day.💔 Heavy stories, honest reactions, and just enough sibling banter to remind you there’s always room for a little sweetness.👉 Trigger Warnings: emotional abuse, financial control, addiction, overdose, car accident, pet death, grief, verbal assault.👉 Resources: Find mental health and recovery resources on our website or in the show notes.👉 Share Your Story: Want to be on the show? Submit anonymously at TraumaCandySalad.com.👉 Follow Us: Stay connected on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @TraumaCandySaladPod for new episode drops and story prompts!

We’re finally back with a brand new episode of The Aftertaste! In this bonus episode of Trauma Candy Salad, hosts Sammi, Ashley, and Rachel catch up on two unforgettable listener stories — and things get delightfully off the rails.From emotional story updates to total sibling chaos, this episode has everything: laughter, closure, and way too many tangents. Whether you’re here for the follow-ups or just the unfiltered sibling banter, this Aftertaste will hit the sweet spot.🔹 Topics: story updates, sibling podcast, trauma stories, mental health, healing with humor, catching up, emotional storytelling, podcast follow-up episodes

In today’s episode of Trauma Candy Salad, we’re unpacking three powerful stories of family rejection, abandonment, and the unexpected places love can be found. 🍬 Pink Starbursts: A boy comes out to his mother, only to be met with cruelty and violence. What begins as abuse ends in an unexpected and shocking twist of fate. 🍫 Chocolate Covered Almonds: A child abandoned by their father grapples with the question — “What was so wrong with me?” 🥜 Snickers: Born into addiction and loss, one woman raises her grandmother while wondering what her life could’ve been in a “normal” family. ⚠️ Trigger Warnings: • Physical & emotional abuse • Homophobia • Parental abandonment • Death & medical trauma • Grief and complex family loss If you or someone you love needs support, visit the resources linked in our show notes or at TraumaCandySalad.com. ⸻ 💌 Want to Share Your Story? Submit anonymously or apply to be a guest at TraumaCandySalad.com 📲 Follow & Join the Conversation: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook → @TraumaCandySaladPod 🗳️ Don’t Forget: • Answer the poll on Spotify • Drop your thoughts in the Q&A — we do read them all! • Follow & rate the show to support free storytelling ⸻ “No matter what you’ve survived, there’s always room for a little sweetness.”

This week, things are different. No listener submissions—just us, sitting down with our very first guest, Rachel. If you’ve listened to Trauma Candy Salad, you’ve heard her name before. Ashley and I used to work with Rachel, but we never knew the full story she carried: a lifelong battle with depression that began in childhood and followed her into adulthood.Rachel opens up about navigating life while feeling “other,” surviving the quiet moments no one sees, and what it means to seek help when you don’t even have the words. This isn’t a polished success story. It’s real, raw, and every bit what this show was created for: honest conversations about the trauma we live through, and the candy we cling to along the way.Trigger Warning: Depression, suicidal thoughts.🎧 Listen in for a conversation we’ll never forget—because healing sometimes starts when someone finally says, “This is what it’s like inside my head.”🍬 Want to share your story next? Visit traumacandysalad.com to submit.

Today’s episode of Trauma Candy Salad is a wild ride through the spectrum of “are you kidding me?” moments — from career heartbreaks to shocking betrayals, and one story that’s straight out of a soap opera.💼 First up, “Open To Work” shares her story of pouring her heart into not one but two dream jobs — only to be laid off from both.🧠 Then, an anonymous listener opens up about the gut-wrenching experience of losing her therapist — suddenly and tragically — and how she found the courage to start over.🍫 And finally, “Fuck My Life” brings all the tea and chocolates to the bowl with a story that can only be described as “Real Housewives meets emotional damage” — his mom slept with his boyfriend.It’s equal parts grief, healing, and unhinged laughter — just the way we like it.🎧 Listen now for community, catharsis, and a little sweetness in the chaos.💌 Share your own story: TraumaCandySalad.com/submit-a-story💬 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @TraumaCandySaladPod❤️ If today’s stories hit close to home, take care of yourself — and check the show notes for mental health resources.

Today’s Trauma Candy Salad dives into the complicated, painful, and unforgettable ways fathers shape our lives—for better and for worse. From a dad who gambled away his daughter’s future, to a Navy childhood shattered by unthinkable violence, to the haunting memory of losing a father to suicide, this episode explores the lasting scars left behind. As always, we mix in a little sweetness with the candy bowl, but these stories don’t shy away from the heavy stuff.Trigger Warnings:This episode contains discussions of alcoholism, financial abuse, childhood trauma, domestic violence, murder, and suicide. Listener discretion is strongly advised.✨ Got a story of your own you’d like us to share? Submit it at TraumaCandySalad.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok @TraumaCandySaladPod.

In this episode of Trauma Candy Salad, Sammi, Ashley, and Kyle share stories that highlight what it means to witness trauma and carry its impact into adulthood. • Brennon (🍫 Hershey’s with Almonds) recounts the years he watched his father abuse his mother, the complicated grief of losing her to illness, and the lifelong perspective that experience left behind. • Turtle Girl (🍭 DumDums) takes us back to her 11th birthday, when a poolside celebration turned nearly fatal for her younger brother—and how that day shaped her vigilance as a parent. • Betty Boop (🍬 Candy Corn) remembers the night her home was destroyed by fire, and how her father’s quick action saved her family from tragedy. Together, we unpack the invisible scars left by witnessing violence, accidents, and disasters—and how resilience often takes root in the middle of chaos. If these stories resonate with you, or you feel ready to share your own, visit TraumaCandySalad.com. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and TikTok @TraumaCandySaladPod for community and connection. ⚠️ Trigger Warnings: This episode contains discussions of: • Domestic violence and child witnessing abuse • Parental death • Childhood drowning/near-drowning • House fire and smoke inhalation traumaPlease take care while listening.

This week on Trauma Candy Salad, we’re diving into stories of love that endured, love that vanished, and love that still lingers long after loss. Jim shares his moving story of caring for his wife through Huntington’s disease until her final breath. Helen opens up about the heartbreak of being ghosted by the man she thought she’d marry. And Grandma June tells us about the sudden loss of her husband—and how her grief literally broke her heart.These stories are about the depths of devotion, the sting of abandonment, and the resilience it takes to carry love forward after it shatters.Grab your Milky Way, Haystacks, and Gum Drops—this is one you won’t forget.

This week on Trauma Candy Salad, the stories cut deep. Jumpy shares how her sister dismissed her pain after years of abuse, Gabe opens up about losing his best friend to the same partner who broke him down, and Jamberry reflects on a childhood scarred by betrayal and silence. Together, we unpack what it means to be hurt by the very people we thought would protect us—and how those wounds echo long after.Candy in the bowl: Peach Rings, Sour Patch Kids, and Twix.

In this week’s Trauma Candy Salad, we’re joined by stories that travel across borders and back into childhood bedrooms. Omari shares the bittersweet push and pull of leaving Guinea for freedom in Europe, only to find himself battling loneliness, language barriers, and the ache of being “different.” Halo opens up about the lasting imprint of growing up in a chaotic home, where silence feels like danger instead of peace. And Maya brings us the heartbreak of building a life in the U.S. while separated from her son, working endless hours to give him the future she dreams of—even as she misses the moments that can’t be replaced.These stories remind us how trauma follows us across oceans, generations, and even into the quietest moments of our lives. As always, if today’s episode stirred something in you, we’ve included resources in the show notes. And if you feel ready to share your own story, visit TraumaCandySalad.com—because no matter where you’re from or what you’ve been through, your story belongs here. NOTE: The TCS team is taking a small break for Labor Day next week and will be back the following Monday. We hope you enjoy your holiday and it gives our new listeners time to catch up on old episodes! 

In this week’s episode of Trauma Candy Salad, we sit down together again to share three powerful and very different stories of survival, abandonment, and the quiet hurts that stay with us. • Runner Girl brought Tootsie Rolls and told us about the night she ran barefoot from her abuser, and how the bruises faded long before the fear. • Juniper shared her story with Jolly Ranchers by her side, about facing terminal cancer alone after her husband walked out just seventeen days after her diagnosis. • Sombr came with Blow Pops and opened up about a painfully humiliating moment at school when her period started unexpectedly, and how the laughter that followed still lingers in her mind. Each story reminds us that trauma isn’t one-size-fits-all—whether it’s life-threatening, life-altering, or a moment you can’t shake, it matters. If today’s episode brought something up for you, please take care of yourself and know you’re not alone. ⸻ 📌 Resources: • Domestic Violence Support (U.S.): National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788 • Sexual Assault Support (U.S.): RAINN – Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org • Cancer Support: CancerCare offers free professional support – cancercare.org • Mental Health Support: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Dial 988 (U.S.) for free, 24/7 emotional support • International List of Hotlines: findahelpline.com ⸻ If you’ve got a story of your own—whether it’s big, small, or somewhere in between—we’d love to hear it. Share your story with us at TraumaCandySalad.com. You can also connect with us on Instagram and TikTok @TraumaCandySaladPod for episode updates and community conversations. And remember: whatever you’re carrying, there’s always room for a little sweetness. 🍬

With Kyle away on vacation, Sammi and Ashley welcome back our good friend Jess for a deeply personal and raw episode of Trauma Candy Salad. Today’s stories explore the tangled complexities of identity, survival, and friendship—told through the eyes of three storytellers who have lived them. Grace shares her journey of growing up under the crushing weight of religious shame, learning to see love not as punishment but as grace. Kacie reflects on twelve years in an emotionally neglectful marriage, and the moment she realized staying wasn’t the same thing as loving. And Nurse D opens her heart about losing the rare kind of friendship she thought she’d always have—and the lingering fear of being “too much” for people. These are stories of breaking free, finding truth, and learning to trust yourself again. Trigger Warnings: Religious trauma, internalized homophobia, emotional neglect, marital abandonment, grief, friendship loss, COVID-related stress, childhood instability, parental death, and themes of isolation. Resources & Support: • The Trevor Project – LGBTQ+ Support • RAINN – Sexual Assault Support • National Domestic Violence Hotline | Call/Text 988 in the U.S. • NAMI – Mental Health Resources If any of today’s topics resonate with you, please take care of yourself first. You are not alone, and help is out there. Share Your Story: Your voice matters. If you’d like to share your own experience, visit TraumaCandySalad.com/submit-a-story to submit anonymously or by name. We also hang out on Instagram and TikTok at @TraumaCandySaladPod—come connect with us.

🖤 This week on Trauma Candy Salad, we’re joined by a new guest host, Ivy, while Kyle is off on vacation. Sammi, Ashley, and Ivy bring three deeply personal stories to the table—each one a window into survival, resilience, and the quiet work of rebuilding after trauma. In today’s episode, you’ll hear: • A woman’s harrowing first date that ended in an assault—but also introduced her to the man who would later teach her what safe love feels like. • A young Latina woman’s experience with racism, xenophobia, and the weight of being made to prove her right to exist in the only country she’s ever called home. • A man still grappling with the death of his little sister, years after her passing, and how grief carved silence into every corner of his life. These stories are raw, tender, and powerful—reminders that healing doesn’t happen all at once, and sometimes, the most radical thing we can do is keep showing up. 🧁 This week’s candy bowl includes Snickers, Blow Pops, and Reese’s. ⸻ ⚠️ Trigger Warnings This episode contains discussions of: • Sexual assault and date rape • Racism and xenophobia • Childhood cancer and sibling loss • PTSD, anxiety, and grief • Family trauma and emotional neglect Please listen with care. If any of these topics are sensitive or activating for you, consider skipping sections or returning when you feel safe and grounded. ⸻ 🧰 Resources for Listeners If you or someone you love is struggling, here are some resources that may help: Sexual Assault Support • RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | www.rainn.org • National Sexual Violence Resource Center: www.nsvrc.org Mental Health & Grief • NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) | www.nami.org • The Dougy Center (Grief support for children, teens & families): www.dougy.org • Therapy Matcher (via Open Path Collective): www.openpathcollective.org Racism & Immigration Support • RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services): www.raicestexas.org • United We Dream: www.unitedwedream.org