Bretta shares her journey of growing up in a family marked by instability, mental illness, and abuse. Raised by a mother with undiagnosed borderline personality disorder and a father with a history of violence, Bretta’s childhood was filled with uncertainty, emotional neglect, and moments of deep fear. From walking on eggshells at home to being pressured by her father to live with him as a teen, she carried the heavy weight of dysfunctional family dynamics.

Despite the chaos, Bretta found refuge in summers with her grandparents and the stability of boarding school. As an adult, she pursued therapy, built a support system, and learned to set healthy boundaries and skills that helped her navigate her mother’s later struggles with dementia and her father’s attempts at reconciliation before his passing. Through forgiveness, firm boundaries, and faith in her own resilience, Bretta has transformed pain into strength and now shares her story so others know they are not alone.

Her story is candid, emotional, and a reminder that even when family wounds run deep, healing is possible.

Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guest: Bretta Provost YouTube @Brettaprovost74 | Facebook @Bretta.Provost | Instagram @brettaprovost

Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of mental illness, suicide threats, childhood neglect, and family abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Disclaimer The Survivor’s Voice Podcast provides a platform for survivors to share their personal stories in their own words. The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Survivor’s Voice, its hosts, or production team. This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional or call your local crisis hotline for immediate support.

What to Expect: · Growing up with a parent living with borderline personality disorder. · The impact of emotional neglect, instability, and walking on eggshells as a child. · A father’s history of abuse and a strained relationship into adulthood. · Finding stability through grandparents and boarding school. · The challenges of setting boundaries with toxic parents. · Walking through dementia and end-of-life care with her mother. · Choosing forgiveness, healing, and breaking cycles for her own family.

Key Takeaways: · Forgiveness doesn’t excuse abuse. It frees you to move forward. · Boundaries are an act of love for yourself and others. · Therapy and support systems are essential when healing from family trauma. · Sharing your story releases shame and brings connection. · You can break generational cycles and create a new legacy.

Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

If Bretta’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength.

New episodes every Tuesday.

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Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters.

Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com

Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic | Spotify: Bowman Carter

Ellie opens up about a part of her past she has rarely spoken aloud: the betrayal, bullying, and violence she endured at the hands of a high school friend in Bulgaria. What began as a seemingly innocent friendship turned into years of harassment, culminating in a brutal attack that left Ellie scarred emotionally long after the physical pain faded.

After moving to the United States in her early 20s, Ellie built a new life. Becoming a mother, earning her CPA license, and recently starting her own accounting business. But beneath the successes, the trauma of her teenage years lingered until she made the courageous choice to pursue therapy. Through counseling, learning boundaries, and trusting her instincts, Ellie has begun to release fear, reclaim her confidence, and step into new opportunities she once thought impossible.

Her story is raw, brave, and an important reminder that bullying and violence can leave lifelong marks. But healing, growth, and freedom are possible.

Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guest: Ellie Tashkova

Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of bullying, physical assault, and emotional trauma. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.

What to Expect: · Growing up in Bulgaria and moving to the U.S. in her 20s. · Navigating marriage, divorce, and single motherhood. · The devastating impact of a teenage friendship turned abusive. · Years of harassment, bullying, and the night of a violent attack. · Finding courage to enter therapy and break the silence. · Learning boundaries, trusting her gut, and starting fresh with her own business.

Key Takeaways: · Time alone doesn’t heal trauma. Intentional healing does. · Therapy and safe friendships can be life-changing in recovery. · Boundaries are vital for protection and freedom. · Trusting your instincts can protect you from further harm. · Speaking your story releases its power and brings hope.

Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

If Ellie’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review.

Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net

Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters.

Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com

Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic | Spotify: Bowman Carter

Join us today as Jessica shares her incredible journey of survival, faith, and rediscovery. From enduring abuse and neglect in childhood, to navigating betrayal and brokenness in her first marriage, Jessica’s path has been marked by pain but also by resilience. Her years of ministry work in Thailand shaped her perspective on faith, culture, and perseverance. Even as she faced isolation, spiritual abuse, and the heavy responsibility of raising children overseas.

After making the courageous decision to leave an unhealthy marriage, Jessica returned to the U.S., determined to create a better future for herself and her children. Through faith, somatic healing, and learning to challenge fear with truth, Jessica has embraced freedom, found her voice, and stepped into her calling as both a healer and a survivor.

Her story is a powerful reminder that God’s heart is for His daughters, healing is possible, and freedom is worth fighting for.

Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guest: Jessica Atwell

Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of childhood abuse, marital betrayal, spiritual abuse, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.

What to Expect: · Growing up in a home marked by abuse, fear, and survival · Discovering faith in Jesus at 21 and entering full-time ministry · Serving eight years in Thailand while raising children in a foreign culture · Facing betrayal, spiritual neglect, and emotional isolation in marriage · Making the courageous choice to leave an abusive situation · Returning home to begin a new chapter of healing, freedom, and self-discovery

Key Takeaways: · Abuse and neglect are never God’s design—He calls His children to freedom · Healing is possible through truth, vulnerability, and intentional practices · Emotional intelligence and faith help break cycles of fear and people-pleasing · Words have the power to shape our healing and future · God can redeem broken stories into testimonies of strength and hope

Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

If Jessica’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review.

Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net

Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters.

Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com

Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic | Spotify: Bowman Carter

Join us today as Peggy shares her remarkable story of resilience, faith, and transformation. From losing her father at just six years old and navigating the challenges of growing up with an alcoholic mother, Peggy carried wounds of abandonment, grief, and responsibility from a young age. Later, she endured a painful and abusive marriage before finding healing through counseling, faith, and intentional recovery programs.

Today, Peggy speaks openly about the journey from brokenness to wholeness, the power of forgiveness, and the hope that comes from never giving up. Her story is a reminder that healing is possible, new beginnings are real, and it’s never too late to find love and peace.

Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guest: Peggy Paullin-Neal

Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of childhood trauma, alcoholism, suicide attempts, divorce, and abuse. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.

What to Expect: · Growing up in the shadow of her father’s death and her mother’s alcoholism · Carrying adult responsibilities as a child and feeling abandoned · Surviving manipulation and abuse within marriage · Finding faith in Jesus during her teenage years · Healing through counseling, forgiveness practices, and programs like Untying the Knots of the Heart · Discovering that it’s never too late for love, joy, and a new chapter

Key Takeaways: · Healing is a lifelong process and happens in layers · Forgiveness releases the power others hold over you · Faith provides hope and strength when life feels unbearable · Community, vulnerability, and trusted friends are vital for recovery · It’s never too late to experience healthy love and new beginnings

Resources Mentioned: · The Complete Guide to Divorce Recovery by Jim Smoke & Carol Smoke https://a.co/d/g7zZMsf · Untying the Knots of the Heart program https://untyingknots.org/

Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

If Peggy’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to hidden struggles and unseen strength.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review.

Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net

Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters.

Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com

Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic | Spotify: Bowman Carter

Susan’s journey is one of heartbreak, resilience, and redemption. From childhood sexual abuse and the trauma of rape to surviving domestic violence and emotional abuse, Susan has endured hardships that could have easily silenced her. Instead, she chose to rise.

Now approaching 60, Susan reflects on how her past shaped her strength and how faith, therapy, and community helped her heal. She opens up about the dangers of poverty, the impact of trauma left unspoken, and the importance of listening to your instincts, whether as a survivor or as a parent protecting your child.

Today, Susan is not only a successful entrepreneur and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, but also a mentor who speaks boldly against pornography, human trafficking, and the cycles of abuse that plague communities. Her testimony is both a warning and an encouragement: you are not alone, and there is hope beyond the pain.

Your Host: Angie Sedor Our Guest: Susan Schuler

Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.

What to Expect: · Growing up in poverty and recognizing its hidden toll on families · The lasting effects of childhood sexual abuse and rape · Escaping domestic violence and rebuilding life from nothing · The importance of therapy and community support in healing · Finding love, safety, and joy later in life · Why pornography fuels human trafficking and abuse—and why change must happen

Key Takeaways: · Poverty often creates cycles of stress that lead to abuse—but those cycles can be broken · Healing begins with listening to your inner voice and seeking help · A good trauma therapist can be life-changing · Success isn’t material—it’s about love, community, and resilience · Your story can bring hope and healing to others

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com

Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

If Susan’s journey encouraged you, share this episode to remind others that healing, hope, and new beginnings are always possible.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review.

Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net

Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters.

Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia

Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic | Spotify: Bowman Carter

Kantra shares a deeply personal journey of marriage, faith, and transformation as she and her husband navigated his battle with alcohol, the wounds it left on their family, and the healing that followed. With raw honesty, she opens up about her own role in their struggles—including moments of anger, pride, and an emotional affair—and how God used those trials to bring both conviction and redemption.

From domestic violence and court orders to counseling, Celebrate Recovery, and breaking generational curses, Kantra’s testimony reveals the power of humility, accountability, and grace. Her story is not about quick fixes—it’s about the ongoing process of refining, forgiving, and choosing to fight for love when it would be easier to walk away.

Your Host: Angie Sedore Our Guest: Kantra Blue

Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of domestic violence, addiction, and marital infidelity. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.

What to Expect: · Growing up in a faith-influenced Hawaiian-Samoan home · Navigating a marriage impacted by alcohol abuse · The role pride, anger, and unhealed wounds played in their conflicts · Breaking free from generational curses through Christ · Learning to forgive yourself and your spouse · How counseling, accountability, and wise counsel brought lasting change

Key Takeaways: · Healing is a lifelong process that requires humility and truth · Breaking generational cycles begins with personal accountability · Faith can bring restoration even in marriages scarred by betrayal and addiction · Forgiveness is a choice you make daily—for yourself and for others · Surround yourself with people who will speak truth into your life

Resources Mentioned: The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian The Power of a Praying Husband by Stormie Omartian

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com

Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

If Kantra’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to the power of faith, truth, and redemption in breaking harmful cycles.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Please follow our show, leave us a 5-star rating, and a review.

Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net

Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters.

Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia

Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic | Spotify: Bowman Carter

Kathleen returns to The Survivor’s Voice to share a powerful testimony of redemption, faith, and a marriage transformed by God’s mercy. What began as a whirlwind romance quickly descended into a cycle of substance abuse, unmet expectations, and violence. After years of dysfunction and a painful separation, Kathleen was ready to walk away for good—but God had a different plan.

Through divine encounters, faithful prayer, and years of counseling, Kathleen and her husband Rick not only reconciled but rebuilt a relationship rooted in Christ. Nearly three decades after their lowest point, they now serve other couples through biblical mentorship and live out a restored love story that could only be authored by God.

Your Host: Angie Sedor Our Guest: Kathleen Giannette

Trigger Warning This episode includes discussions of domestic violence, alcoholism, drug use, childhood trauma, and religious content. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.

What to Expect: · How a blind date led to a life Kathleen never expected · The early red flags in her marriage—and why she ignored them · A heartbreaking moment that changed everything for their family · Rick’s radical encounter with God after years of addiction · The unexpected church testimony that started it all · Tools and truths that helped them break the “crazy cycle”

Key Takeaways: · God does not waste a heartache · Redemption is possible, even when it seems hopeless · Healing takes participation, not passivity · You cannot out-sin the power of God’s restoration · Respect and love must both be intentional in marriage

Resources Mentioned: · Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs https://a.co/d/ddRigAA

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com

Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

If Kathleen’s story moved you, please share this episode and help us bring awareness to stories of resilience and grace.

New episodes every Tuesday.

YouTube: Please like this video, subscribe to our channel, and leave us a comment. Podcasts: Follow our show and leave a 5-star review.

Do you have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net

Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters.

Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia

Special Thanks to · Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions · Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic | Spotify: Bowman Carter

When a drunk driver crossed the freeway and struck Debbie head-on at 140 mph, it changed her life in an instant. The accident should have killed her, but it didn’t. In this powerful episode, Debbie shares how surviving that crash led to a deep battle with fear, and how faith, hope, and baby steps brought her out of it.

Though she experienced short-term memory loss and intense post-traumatic stress, Debbie refused to let fear win. From panic attacks on bridges to facing her triggers with courage, she recounts the emotional and spiritual journey of healing that followed. Now, at 65, Debbie is helping other women through her ministry, Grandmas to the Rescue, offering practical support and hope to moms who feel like they're drowning.

Her story is a reminder that fear is a liar. And that with faith and support, we can reclaim our lives.

Your Host: Angie Sedor Our Guest: Debbie Loffman

Trigger Warning This episode includes discussion of a fatal car accident, trauma, panic attacks, and fear. Listener discretion is advised. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.

What to Expect: · Debbie’s near-death experience in a head-on freeway collision · The emotional aftermath and the slow spread of fear · How she reclaimed her courage—one bridge, one panic attack at a time · Her practical advice on facing fear and creating new neural pathways · Founding Grandmas to the Rescue to support overwhelmed moms · How her faith, community, and scripture helped her heal

Key Takeaways: · Fear grows if you don’t face it—but it can be broken · You can create new pathways in your brain and overcome trauma · Community and spiritual mentorship can anchor you during healing · Scripture can be a lifeline—find one and cling to it · Give back: you may become someone else’s lifeline one day

Resources Mentioned: Grandmas to the Rescue If you are in Kootenai County and feel overwhelmed as a mom, you can reach Debbie and her team for help. debbieloffman@gmail.com

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor: Safe Harbor Supporting survivors with compassion and care. https://safeharborforfreedom.com

Stay Connected www.thesurvivorsvoice.net @TheSurvivorsVoicePodcast on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

If Debbie’s story inspired you, please share this episode to remind others that fear doesn’t have the final word.

New episodes every Tuesday

Follow, rate 5 stars, and leave a review

Have a story to share? Contact: booking@thesurvivorsvoice.net

Together, we remind survivors everywhere: Your story matters.

Produced & Edited by Krystina Elder | YouTube: @ElderHouseMedia

Special Thanks to Dan Wise | YouTube: @NorthIdahoPodcastProductions Bowman Carter | YouTube: @BowmanCarterMusic | Spotify: Bowman Carter