Audio Archives
Description
Let’s Talk About It podcast, Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse, hosted by Patrisha McLean CEO and Founder of the Maine-based, grassroots nonprofit Finding Our Voices. https://findingourvoices.net
Abuse is Worse During the Holidays [December 20]
Guests: Jolene, Jennifer, Tiffany, Gina, Sarah, and Mary
Six survivors talk about how holidays are the scariest and most miserable times of the year.
Topics. The role alcohol plays in abuse, being let down by the court system, child abuse
Losing Your Best Friend to Domestic Violence [December 13]
Guest: Kerry Smith
Kerry talks about the preventable DV murders of mother and daughter Jennie and Lisa Bailey in Bath.
Topics include: Police response to DV, Veteran’s Administration response to DV, systemic changes needed
DV Homicide, Almost and Actual [December 6]
Guests: Michelle, Kerry, Amber
Michelle, a communications executive talks about an early marriage that almost killed her. Kerry and Amber talk about their best friends who were murdered by DV this year.
Topics include: Financial abuse, guns, family impact of abuse
A Young Man Talks About His Abusive Father [November 29]
Guest: Andy
When Andy left home for college, he felt guilty for leaving his mother behind in the home with his father and worries her stress over the decades of abuse will kill her.
Topics include: Cycle of abuse, reversal of mother/child roles, alcoholism
Incarceration and Substance Abuse [November 22]
Guest: Melody
Melody, a Mi’kmaq native, realized when she connected with Finding Our Voices that domestic abuse is at the root of her substance abuse as well as incarceration. She talks here about how she transcended both to become a wellbriety coach and published author.
Topics include: Incarceration, Substance Abuse, Native culture
Mother & Daughter [November 15]
Guests Jackie McLean Strack and Patrisha McLean
The host of this podcast talks with her daughter Jackie about how the abuse impacted their family and their mother/daughter relationship, and what helped them to heal. Jackie is an IT executive and musician who provides the music for the Let’s Talk About It podcast. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ssQkIzbQ4SCOoGlpF6sRA
Issues discussed: Financial abuse, triangulation, narcissistic fathers.
When Your Abuser Is Famous [November 8]
Guest Donna Kaz
The author of Un/Masked: Memoir of a Guerrilla Girl on Tour talks about the dark side of “sensitive” actor William (Body Heat) Hurt who swept her off her feet when she was in her early 20s. https://donnakaz.com
Issues discussed: Fame as power, when everyone looks the other way, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
Domestic Abuse and Child Estrangement [November 1]
Guest: Mary Kamradt
The chief of staff of Finding Our Voices talks about the decades of abuse that led to her ex burning down their house, killing her dog, and separating her from her children and grandchildren.
Issues discussed: Arson, sexual abuse, estrangement from adult children.
Domestic Abuse and Religion [October 25]
Guests: Anonymous and Jennifer.
Two-parter about how religion helped to trap both women in domestic abuse and made it harder to get out. “Anonymous” talks about the Cantor who refused to give her a Get for a divorce, and Jennifer talks about the pious-acting husband who was anything but.
Issues Discussed: Prevented from getting a Ghet, religious community ignoring the abuse, sexual abuse
Domestic Abuse and Fire [October 18]
Guest: Shelly Edwards Jorgensen
Shelley discusses her father’s murder of her mother and the arson to their family home that was his cover-up attempt. Shelley is the author of the memoir Beautiful Ashes https://www.beautifulashesmemoir.com/books.
Issues discussed: Family secrets, arson, growing up in abuse
Sexual and Religious Abuse [October 11]
Guest: Caroline McKuen
Caroline, founder of Presbyterian Advocacy, talks about how her pious husband was anything but and when she confessed his crimes to her pastor his response was “I’ll pray for him.”
Issues discussed: Sexual abuse, religious abuse, isolation
Domestic Abuse Domestic abuse and the military [October 4]
Guests Ashley and Dezarae.
In this two-parter, Ashley talks about how military deployments made him increasingly scarier at home. Dezarae talks about how she was terrorized by her same-sex partner.
Issues discussed: The military and domestic abuse, guns and domestic abuse, and same-sex abuse.