Beyond the Monsters

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chris spent 23 years in law enforcement, 18 of them in K9, but nothing prepared him for bonding with the dog no one else wanted. Tambo had cycled through handlers, labeled aloof and difficult, until the two recognized something familiar in each other. What followed was an explosive detection career, a devastating cancer diagnosis, emergency surgery costing over $10,000, and a prognosis of just weeks to live. Instead of accepting an expiration date, Chris chose to fight, documenting Tambo’s chemotherapy journey, partnering with Project K9 Hero, and turning a silent working dog into a symbol of resilience for families facing cancer.As Tambo defied hemangiosarcoma and stood before the Philadelphia Eagles stadium filled with fans on Sunday Night Football, something deeper unfolded. A fractured father son relationship began to heal, a new generation witnessed cycles being broken, and a “forgotten” K9 became the bridge between grief, redemption, and legacy. Chris and Tambo’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/k9_tamboProject K9 Hero:https://projectk9hero.orgBeyond 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: police dog, K9 handler, K9 unit, explosive detection dog, terminal diagnosisIf 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.

Paul Hurley shares a life shaped by institutional betrayal, childhood abuse, and a family court system that protected power over truth. After discovering his identity had been legally altered as a child and surviving physical abuse in his own home, Paul later fought a seven-year custody battle when his children were removed from him under false allegations. He uncovers how a police department, CPS worker, psychologist, and judge failed to contact him after his children were sexually abused in their mother’s home, choosing instead to restrict his parental rights while minimizing consequences for the offender.As he battles corruption in Smith County, Texas, Paul simultaneously investigates his father’s murder, infiltrating motorcycle clubs to expose drug trafficking activity involving individuals connected to the sheriff’s office. From wrongful arrest and supervised visitation to courtroom retaliation and systemic coverups, this story exposes the intersection of family court corruption, law enforcement misconduct, and the psychological toll of being labeled dangerous while fighting to protect your children. What happens when the system designed to protect families becomes the weapon used against them?Paul’s Links:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12877863/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkhttps://www.instagram.com/actorpaulhurleyResources:Crisis Text Line741741SAMHSA’s National Helpline1-800-662-HELP (4357)RAINN24/7 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.Topics: Family Court, Court Corruption, Custody Battle, Parental Rights, Institutional Betrayal, Undercover Investigation, True Crime, Organized 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.

Dr. Nae (Nadine Macaluso) speaks from lived experience about what coercive control actually looks like behind wealth, power, and public spectacle. Known to the world as the real-life wife portrayed in The Wolf of Wall Street, she unpacks the psychological mechanics woven throughout the story, explaining how trauma bonding, intimidation, manipulation, and addiction shaped daily life inside the relationship. What many viewers recognized as chaos or entertainment is reframed as part of a sustained pattern driven by fear, intermittent affection, and a profound power imbalance that slowly erodes identity and safety.Now a licensed therapist, Dr. Nae explains why leaving is rarely simple, why survivors stay longer than they ever planned, and why the most dangerous moment is often the decision to go. She breaks down post-separation abuse, power-based retaliation, and the myths that fuel victim blaming, while offering hard-won insight on planning safely, trusting your body when your mind is confused, and rebuilding after years of survival mode.Dr. Nae’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/therealdrnadinehttps://www.tiktok.com/@drnaelmfthttps://www.facebook.com/drnaelmfthttps://www.youtube.com/@TheRealDrNadinehttps://drnae.comRun Like Hell by Nadine Macalusohttps://a.co/d/1lgb7jLResources:National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-7233Text BEGIN to 88788Crisis Text Line741741Beyond 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: coercive control, trauma bond, leaving abuse, post separation abuse, domestic violence (DV), therapistIf 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.

Kitty shares how the family court system used parental alienation claims and court-ordered reunification therapy to forcibly remove children from their protective parent and place them with their abusive parent, exposing a devastating pattern of institutional failure. After marrying a man with sole custody of two young boys, concerning behavioral changes and SA disclosures emerged following court-ordered visitation with their biological mother. Counselors, forensic interviews, and law enforcement became involved, with professionals acknowledging abuse had occurred, yet prosecutors declined to move forward. What followed was years of ignored testimony, sealed records, institutional silence, and a family court system that failed to protect children who spoke up.As the case escalated, the court labeled the protective parents as alienators and ordered placement in a court-mandated reunification camp that forcibly removed the boys from their home and isolated them from their support system. Kitty shares the psychological and physical toll of prolonged legal trauma, coercive control disguised as treatment, judicial overreach, financial devastation, and the long-term impact on children subjected to court-sanctioned separation. This episode exposes systemic family court failures and the path that led Kitty to advocacy and legislative efforts aimed at protecting children from institutional and legal abuse.Kitty’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/georgiaprotectiveparentshttps://www.facebook.com/Georgiaprotectiveparentshttps://x.com/gaprotectvprntsEmail: georgiaprotectiveparents@gmail.comResources: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: family court, coercive control, reunification therapy, reunification camp, institutional failure, systemic 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.

Larissa survived an attempted murder by a former partner who had spent months isolating, controlling, and manipulating her under the guise of protection and faith. She recounts how what appeared stable and safe escalated into coercive control, sexual violence, stalking, and a near-fatal shooting that led to the amputation of several fingers.In the aftermath, Larissa navigates the psychological recovery that follows surviving extreme violence. She speaks to what it takes to escape, what happens after you do, and how healing is built slowly through reclaiming identity and self trust. Larissa's Links:http://www.larissaslovenotes.comhttps://www.instagram.com/ann_ri3Resources:National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-7233Text BEGIN to 88788Crisis Text Line741741Beyond 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: attempted murder, domestic violence (DV), coercive control, survivor story, stalkingIf 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.

Kyleigh shares the continuation of her story, detailing the escalation of domestic violence, coercive control, emotional abuse, and psychological manipulation within her marriage. The pattern includes physical assault, sexual boundary violations, gaslighting, intimidation, and explicit threats tied to military careers and reputation. Alongside the violence, Kyleigh describes repeated infidelity, secret relationships, deleted messages, inappropriate emotional and sexual boundaries with other women, and chronic deception. Betrayal by trusted friends, minimization of harm, blame shifting, and isolation compound the abuse and reinforce forced silence.As the relationship continues, Kyleigh explains how ongoing cheating, emotional neglect, body shaming, and intimidation severely impacted her mental health. Following a catastrophic knee injury, dependence and vulnerability intensified the power imbalance, leading to abandonment, control, and further psychological harm. Even during periods of academic achievement, military advancement, and professional growth, manipulation and instability persisted. Kyleigh’s account highlights trauma bonding, intermittent reinforcement, and the progressive erosion of identity that can occur in abusive relationships marked by both violence and infidelity.Kyleigh’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/kyleighraexohttps://www.tiktok.com/@kyleighraexohttps://www.facebook.com/kyleighrae19Kyleigh’s Outfit:https://www.instagram.com/urbanecollectivellcResources:National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-7233Text BEGIN to 88788Crisis Text Line741741Beyond 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: Domestic violence, Coercive control, Emotional abuse, Infidelity/Cheating, Trauma bondingIf 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.

Kyleigh’s story begins in Eastern Iowa, moving through foster care in early childhood before being adopted at a young age. Inside that adoptive home, she describes years of SA, physical abuse, neglect, and adults who prioritized image over child safety. As a teenager, after a report was finally taken seriously, Kyleigh was removed by authorities and placed back into the system, moving through temporary placements before transitioning into independent living.Adulthood did not bring immediate stability. Kyleigh describes marrying young while trying to escape having no family foundation, only to find herself in a relationship that escalated to domestic violence. The military later became a turning point, first through the National Guard and then active duty service, including Hurricane Harvey response and deployment to Afghanistan. Her story traces how childhood trauma, domestic violence, housing insecurity at different points in life, and military service intersect without a simple cause-and-effect narrative.Kyleigh’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/kyleighraexohttps://www.tiktok.com/@kyleighraexohttps://www.facebook.com/kyleighrae19Kyleigh’s Outfit:https://www.instagram.com/urbanecollectivellcResources:National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-7233Text BEGIN to 88788Crisis Text Line741741RAINN1-800-656-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.Topics: foster care, failed adoption, domestic violence, military service, 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.

What began as a marriage marked by love bombing, manipulation, and emotional volatility escalated into a custody battle rooted in coercive control, deception, and credible allegations of sexual harm. Indee describes years of psychological abuse, isolation, and intimidation, including being physically restrained, gaslit, and threatened into silence. As she attempted to leave, the abuse intensified, evolving into legal retaliation, false narratives, and a calculated effort to maintain power through the family court system. The unraveling of her ex-husband’s lies revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that family members had long concealed, leaving Indee to fight alone to protect her child.This episode exposes how coercive control does not end when a relationship does, but often resurfaces through custody disputes, institutional failures, and court-sanctioned access to children. Indee shares the psychological toll of trauma bonding, suicidal crisis, and complex PTSD, alongside the exhausting reality of self-representation in court while facing a manipulative abuser. Her story underscores the dangers of dismissing survivor testimony, the consequences of silence within families, and the urgent need for trauma-informed custody decisions.Indee’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/simplyindeehttps://www.tiktok.com/@indeefieldsResources:National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-7233Text BEGIN to 88788SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)Crisis Text Line741741Beyond 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: Coercive control, Custody abuse, Narcissistic abuse, Parental alienation, Family 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.

Jessica Buchanan never imagined that a career rooted in service would lead her into one of the most extreme survival situations imaginable. A former schoolteacher turned humanitarian aid worker, she was kidnapped while working in Somalia and held captive for 93 days in the desert. What began as a mission driven by responsibility, purpose, and service became a fight for survival involving armed captors, ransom negotiations, physical illness, psychological terror, and the constant uncertainty of whether she would live to see another day. Her story exposes the hidden risks faced by humanitarian workers, the failures of institutional duty of care, and the devastating consequences of ignoring intuition.What ultimately carried Jessica through captivity was not blind optimism or belief alone, but a disciplined inner survival strategy. Drawing from spirituality, memory, ritual, and mental control, she created structure where none existed and meaning where despair could have taken over. Her rescue by U.S. special operations forces marked the end of captivity but not the end of the trauma. Returning home meant rebuilding identity, navigating PTSD, motherhood after survival, betrayal by systems meant to protect her, and the long process of surviving survival. Jessica’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/jessicacbuchananhttps://linktr.ee/jessbuchananhttps://www.jessbuchanan.comHer Book “Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six”:https://a.co/d/2oFjqwHBeyond 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: Humanitarian worker kidnapping, Surviving captivity and hostage trauma, PTSD after extreme trauma, Intuition and survival psychology, Life after survival 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.

Nick experienced childhood sexual abuse that began when he was around five years old by his first best friend. This was a case of peer-on-peer sexual abuse, a form of childhood sexual assault that is often misunderstood, minimized, or overlooked despite its long-term psychological impact. At that age, he did not have the developmental ability to consent, understand, or stop what was happening, while fear, confusion, and secrecy became his primary survival responses. What occurred was not experimentation, but abuse, shaped by power, confusion, and trust violations that a child cannot navigate.As he grew older, the unresolved effects of childhood sexual abuse surfaced through anger, addiction, and struggles with trust and identity. Living with a lifelong degenerative hearing loss and tinnitus added another layer of isolation and difference during critical developmental years. Healing did not begin until adulthood, when sobriety, therapy, and accountability allowed him to accurately name what happened and confront its impact without allowing it to define him. By speaking openly, he helps illuminate how early sexual trauma and unaddressed disability can shape a life, and how breaking secrecy can be a meaningful step toward reclaiming agency.Nick’s Links:https://linktr.ee/nickmiddaughwww.nickmiddaugh.comCharacter Is Destinynickmiddaugh.substack.comNick’s essay he read an excerpt from:https://open.substack.com/pub/nickmiddaugh/p/005-violation-the-forge-opens?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=webBeyond 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: childhood sexual abuse (CSA), addiction & alcoholism, mental health, degenerative hearing loss & tinnitusIf 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.

John Mabry was 21 years old when a catastrophic car crash during his senior year of college killed a close friend and ultimately led to the amputation of his leg. What followed were years of surgeries, chronic pain, phantom limb pain, and the psychological impact of limb loss that no one prepared him for. On the outside, his life appeared extraordinary, including Hollywood film and television appearances, major network shows, and access to elite spaces like the Playboy Mansion. Beneath that surface, unresolved trauma, grief, and physical pain quietly fueled a growing struggle with addiction and substance use disorder.His unraveling came through relapse, loss, and the moment his own child recognized what he could no longer deny. Recovery required accountability, trauma therapy, and long term sobriety rather than image or success. Today, John speaks openly about addiction recovery, amputation, grief, and rebuilding life after trauma.John’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/johnmabryconnectshttps://www.youtube.com/@johnmabry_speakerhttps://www.johnmabryconnects.comhttps://linktr.ee/johnmabryResources:SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)Celebrate Recoveryhttps://celebraterecovery.comAmputee Coalitionhttps://amputee-coalition.orgBeyond the Monsters’ Socialshttps://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: medical trauma, leg amputation survivor, addiction, car crash, chronic painIf 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.

Scarlet McKenzie shares the moment her attempt to leave a controlling relationship escalated into something far more devastating. After enduring coercive control, surveillance, isolation, and retaliation, her child was taken without a warrant or court order following false allegations. What followed was a fight against a system that ignored due process, dismissed evidence, and repeatedly failed to protect families while prioritizing procedure over truth. Her story exposes how power, control, and retaliation can extend beyond relationships and into institutions meant to protect children. Rather than staying silent, Scarlet turned survival into advocacy. As a mother and child welfare reform advocate, she speaks openly about family court trauma, CPS overreach, generational harm, and the long psychological impact of forced separation. Her experience sheds light on how survivors are often punished for leaving, how children are caught in the middle, and why accountability and reform are urgently needed.Scarlet McKenzie’s Links:https://www.instagram.com/scarletmckenziehttps://www.tiktok.com/@scarlet_mckenziehttps://linktr.ee/professionalbrathttps://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/scarletmckenzie/run-this-backhttps://music.apple.com/us/album/run-this-back/1835128990?i=1835128991Resources:National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-7233Text BEGIN to 88788National Coalition for Child Protection Reform (NCCPR)https://nccpr.orgBeyond 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: Child custody removal, False CPS reports, Domestic violence retaliation, Family court trauma, Coercive controlIf 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.

Jes lost her fifteen-year-old son, Rayce, to a baseball-sized brain tumor that no one knew was there, a loss that unfolded in a matter of hours and changed the course of her life forever. She grew up in a small town in Utah and lost her mother to cancer at thirteen, an early grief that quietly shaped how she learned to survive, adapt, and care for others long before she became a parent. As an adult, Jes built her life around her three children, immersing herself in the demanding world of competitive youth sports, where teams became extended families and weekends revolved around tournaments, travel, and shared routines. That sense of closeness would later become both a lifeline and a source of unimaginable heartbreak.In the hours leading up to Rayce’s death, normal life unraveled: emergency rooms, unanswered questions, organ donation decisions, and the impossible task of telling his younger siblings their brother wasn’t coming home. Jes speaks openly about the shock, anger, and disorientation that followed, and the long road of learning how to survive grief without letting it define her entire identity. Her story is not about finding neat explanations, but about continuing to show up for her children, honoring Rayce’s life, and choosing to keep moving forward even when nothing makes sense.Jes’ Links:https://www.instagram.com/jes.marie18https://linktr.ee/jes.marie18Resources:Bereaved Parents of the USA (BPUSA)https://bereavedparentsusa.orgMISS Foundationhttps://www.missfoundation.orgGriefSharehttps://www.griefshare.orgBeyond 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: child loss, grief, bereaved parent, healing, parenting after 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.

Kristi and Katrina are two mothers bound by the unthinkable loss of their sons during the height of the fentanyl crisis. Their stories trace long, complex journeys through addiction, grief, survival, and the systems that repeatedly failed their children. From early trauma, mental health struggles, and substance use to the devastating reality of fentanyl exposure, their paths reveal how addiction does not begin in isolation and does not end with a single decision. Their experiences challenge the myths around weed, recovery timelines, and personal responsibility while exposing the gaps in treatment, prevention, and support for families.What emerged from their shared loss was purpose. Kristi and Katrina speak openly about parenting through addiction, loving without enabling, surviving unimaginable grief, and choosing to recover out loud. Their voices confront stigma, normalize grief, and demand accountability from systems that prioritize punishment over care. DK805Podcast’s Linkshttps://www.youtube.com/@DK805Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/dk805podcasthttps://dk805podcast.comhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dk805-podcast/id1833586069https://open.spotify.com/show/5yAuLfqgs3CTu4YMHXhdm6?si=4a66d9946b47450aResources:Crisis Text Line741741SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)1-800-662-HELP (4357)Beyond the Monsters Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters*Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The discussions and experiences shared are based on our personal stories and opinions. This is not medical advice, and it should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any concerns or questions regarding your health.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.

Two decades of silence shaped how KJ learned to hide her pain, but speaking her truth became the only way forward. She grew up inside a volatile home where emotional harm, physical fear, and childhood sexual trauma were ignored, minimized, or treated like her fault. As she tried to survive the chaos around her, she carried flashbacks, chronic pain, shame, teen pregnancy stigma, and years of being told she was too sensitive or dramatic, even when she was begging for help. Her story moves from a childhood where no one protected her to the moment she finally found safety, stability, and love outside the home that broke her. Through motherhood, therapy battles, chronic illness, and rebuilding her identity from the ground up, KJ created Mend in Lines as a place for anyone who has been silenced to feel seen. Her episode brings forward family trauma, childhood abuse, teen motherhood, medical invalidation, chronic pain, and the long road from being completely alone to realizing she was worth saving. Kj’s Socialshttps://www.youtube.com/@Kj_Mendinlineshttps://www.instagram.com/kj_mendinlineshttps://www.tiktok.com/@kj_mendinlinesResources:Suicide and Crisis Lifeline988Crisis 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-HOPEhttps://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/NSVRC (National Sexual Violence Resource Center)https://www.nsvrc.orgBeyond the Monsters Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters*Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The discussions and experiences shared are based on our personal stories and opinions. This is not medical advice, and it should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any concerns or questions regarding your health.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.