⚠️ Trigger Warning Topics

• Infidelity / cheating
• Emotional betrayal
• Gaslighting / manipulation
• Sexually transmitted infections (STD mention)
• Substance use (alcohol & drugs)
• Toxic relationships
• Mental health struggles
• Grief and emotional distress
• Family addiction (alcoholism)
• Brief mention of suicidal ideation / dark mental states

What happens when you know something is wrong… but you can’t bring yourself to face it?

In this episode, Tawny sits down with Jacki to unpack a deeply personal story of a long-term relationship built on love, denial, and repeated betrayal. From high school sweethearts to engagement—and ultimately a devastating discovery—Jacki shares what it was like to live in a cycle of knowing and not knowing at the same time.

They dive into the emotional complexity of being cheated on, the survival mechanisms we use to avoid pain, and the heartbreak of realizing not just your partner, but people around you, knew more than you did. 

But this conversation isn’t just about betrayal—it’s about what comes after.

Jacki opens up about the messy, chaotic healing phase (hello early 20s spiral), the unexpected way she met her now-husband, and the powerful lessons she learned about commitment, self-worth, and what real love actually looks like.

This episode is raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful—a reminder that even the most painful endings can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.