Betrayal

This is a story of a real-life fairytale gone horribly wrong. It’s a cautionary tale about a marriage so filled with betrayal and deceit, that many people are still recovering from its path of destruction. This is the story of Jenifer Faison. After 20 years apart, Jenifer reconnected with her college sweetheart, Spencer Herron. He was a two-time Teacher of the Year and Jen was convinced she married the perfect husband. On June 1, 2018, that all changed. Jenifer came home to find Spencer holding a search warrant. He had sexually assaulted one of his students. In the days that followed Spencer’s arrest, Jenifer uncovered a dark, secret life her husband had been living during their entire marriage. His actions shook a community, devastated his wife, and sent Spencer Herron to prison. Climbing out of the devastation would be a journey Jen could have never imagined. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenifer Faison, a successful reality television producer, waited for love and was thrilled when she reconnected with her college sweetheart 20 years later. They were older but the spark reignited and after a whirlwind courtship Jen and Spencer married and enjoyed a wonderful relationship. Everyone thought Spencer, a two-time “Teacher of the Year” award winner, was the perfect doting, attentive husband. But on June 1, 2018, when Jen arrived home, her husband holding a search warrant. The police soon arrived and took her husband out in handcuffs. It was the last time she has seen him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Through his social media and texts, Jenifer learns devastating details about her husband’s double life. The arrest was the tip of the iceberg. She was living with and loving a man with addictions, fantasies, and predilections he kept hidden the entire time they were together. She discovers more about Spencer’s crimes and how he justifies his behavior. Eventually Jenifer turns the devastation inward wondering if it’s her shortcomings that caused this. Family and friends rally around her. She realizes to heal and move on she will have to learn everything she can about the man she married.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenifer’s first conversation is with the victim of her ex-husband's most egregious acts. The teenage student that was sexually abused by Spencer Herron who was her teacher at the time. She is now a 21-year-old college student. She speaks about that experience publicly for the first time ever with Jenifer, his ex-wife. It’s a powerful exchange between the two women who never expected to meet one another. The victim’s account draws a roadmap of how a predator operates when a trusted adult targets a young person. Jenifer is devastated at the depravity of Spencer’s behavior. Both women find healing in sharing with each other and the community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 2010 Kell High School graduate explains how Spencer skillfully ingratiated himself with teenagers and normalized inappropriate communication. Then, the sexual assault victim’s civil attorney addresses the case against the school district in Cobb County, Georgia. He walks through how after-school clubs and the failure to follow specific protocols created an environment for a sexual predator to operate at Kell High School.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenifer speaks with Hope, a woman that Spencer had a multiyear long affair with during her marriage to Spencer. Jen finds her anger has now turned into compassion as she learns the circumstances under which Hope became involved with Spencer. The former mistress divulges stunning details about Spencer’s physical aggression and emotional manipulation. Hope reveals the guilt and shame she has carried for years since Spencer’s arrest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the hardest pills to swallow for Jenifer was discovering a friend of hers was involved with her husband. She and her former friend haven’t spoken in years. Anger, shame, and blame created a gulf. In this episode, Jen confronts her former friend to find out how it started and why no one told her about the affair, even when the opportunity presented itself. She walks away with many answers and some questions that will never be answered.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenifer learns more about Betrayal Trauma with her coach and expert Kim Gould MSW. Kim explains the ways Betrayal Trauma impacts its victims and how they search for safety. Jen shares Spencer’s jailhouse letters which place a surprising amount of culpability on the women with whom he had affairs. A found text chain drops a bombshell. Kim Gould, MSW provides her therapeutic coaching services at The Center for Relational Healing in Los Angeles (www.lacrh.com) and Life & Intimacy Coaching practice (kimgouldcoaching.com)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After more than two years of not speaking and four years since seeing one another, Jenifer and Spencer finally speak. Jenifer re-asks him questions hoping time and reflection will provide clarity. Andrea and Jenifer explore how Jen transformed over the time Betrayal was produced and the impact the series has had on some members of the audience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A reoccurring theme throughout the series has centered around grooming. Rachel and the women with whom Spencer had affairs related how he built trust and leveraged vulnerabilities over time. Our audience, through emails to the show, has had conflicting and passionate feelings about what grooming is and who can be groomed. This week, Jenifer and Andrea speak to Jerika Heinze, who is both a survivor and an expert to shed light on what grooming is and the many insidious ways it works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenifer gathers her closest friends together to reflect on how their support provided the cocoon of love she needed to survive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While researching the series, the Betrayal team learned about the prevalence of Educator Sexual Misconduct. Dr. Charol Shakeshaft, an expert and researcher, explains why problems persist and what schools can do about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrea and Jenifer discuss the emotional impact of Spencer's release from prison. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrea and Jennifer speak with Shannon Henry and Brett Carney Brown from the organization SASS Go to discuss the importance of noticing the signs of predatory behavior.  SASS stands for Surviving Assault Standing Strong.  Their mission is to eradicate assault, abuse, and trafficking against women and girls globally through prevention education, self-defense training, and emergent case consulting. Also, we have a sneak peek at Betrayal season two, premiering May 18th More information about SASS can be found on their site: https://www.sassgo.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Betrayal Season 1 was released many of Spencer’s former students reached out to the show. Jennifer and Andrea speak with a two students to understand how the arrest and their interactions with Spencer have affected them. We hear from former student Paul as he grapples with the fact that his former mentor was not the man he thought. Amber recounts a few instances that left her feeling unsettled.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenifer recently had a chance to talk with a woman from Spencer’s past. She offers Jen an interesting perspective on who she thought Spencer was and works through her feelings on who he turned out to be. We also hear a sneak peek from Betrayal Season 2, premiering on May 18th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley Lytton was a typical mom and wife in suburban Utah with three children until she discovered her husband’s horrifying secret. It was a shocking crime that would alter Ashley’s life and jeopardize the safety of her children. This season of Betrayal will focus on one mother’s fight to find justice for her daughter and protection from a predator too close to home. Once we hear her story, we learn the same crime is happening every day in households all over the country. It’s a betrayal of our families, communities and everything we value in society. Season Two lays the issue bare through the family’s story and takes an honest look at a huge problem most people don’t want to even want to acknowledge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet Ashley Lytton, a suburban mother of three in Salt Lake City, Utah, who stumbles upon photos in her husband’s computer that she knows are going to change the course of her life. After a harrowing day of dramatic events, she reports him to the authorities.  If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com  To report a case of child sexual exploitation, call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST  If you or someone you know is worried about their sexual thoughts and feelings towards children, find help at stopitnow.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley is interviewed by her local police department and finds out more about what her husband had been doing while isolating himself from the family. During a police interview, she learns devastating details about his crimes; the worst detail is that they involve her daughter.  If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com To report a case of child sexual exploitation, call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST If you or someone you know is worried about their sexual thoughts and feelings towards children, find help at stopitnow.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chaos ensues once Ashley’s husband is arrested, and the news becomes public. As a mother of three, she is left to pick up the pieces for her family. We learn the range of penalties on the table are not what we expect them to be.  If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com.   To report a case of child sexual exploitation, call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST  If you or someone you know is worried about their sexual thoughts and feelings towards children, find help at stopitnow.org  Where to Find Jessica Baum and her book Anxiously Attached: www.jessicabaumlmhc.com/anxiously-attached See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.