After The Quiet

In this episode of After the Quiet, a mother reflects on a Mother’s Day marked by coercive control during a Walk for the Cure honoring her terminally ill Godmother. Through denied choices, isolation from family, and emotional neglect, this story explores the early warning signs that were easy to miss—and why recognizing them matters. New episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this episode of After the Quiet, a mother reflects on her son’s First Communion and how coercive control can surface during family milestones. Through double standards, shifting rules, and emotional labor, this story explores how control quietly reshapes relationships—and why naming it matters. New episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Listen wherever you stream podcasts

In Episode 44 of After The Quiet, I share the story of when my husband blocked me on Facebook and quietly removed photos of me from his profile. He claimed it was because I challenged the political and offensive memes he posted online. But later I realized there was more behind the decision. This episode explores how public humiliation, cruel comments, and digital control can become another layer of emotional abuse—sometimes playing out in plain sight on social media.

In Episode 43 of After The Quiet, a moment in the kitchen leads to a devastating discovery. When a laptop screen lights up unexpectedly, I find emails from dating sites like Plenty of Fish and Ashley Madison—and messages my husband had sent to other women. What follows is denial, heartbreak, and a weekend spent questioning everything I thought I knew about my marriage. This episode explores betrayal, humiliation, and the painful realization that no matter how hard I tried to be the perfect wife, it was never enough.

In Episode 42 of After The Quiet, I share how a New Year’s gym routine quickly turned into a dangerous obsession. As steroid use, long nightly gym sessions, and anger entered our home, I was left managing work, three children, and every bedtime alone—while surviving on almost no sleep. This episode explores how control can appear in unexpected ways, the toll exhaustion takes on a parent, and what life looked like behind closed doors during one of the hardest years of my life.

In Episode 41 of After The Quiet, I reflect on a Thanksgiving that seemed ordinary at the time but feels very different looking back. I simply wanted one family photo in front of my parents’ house—my kids dressed up, my daughter in a handmade knit outfit, a moment to capture while they were still little. But he refused to join us. What remained were photos of the people who showed up: my children, my mom, and my sister. This episode explores how small moments can reveal bigger patterns and why the memories we capture sometimes tell a deeper story than we realize.

Returning to work after maternity leave meant finding childcare for my daughter without the support system I once had nearby. After trying a home daycare that didn’t feel quite right, an unexpected solution appeared—his aunt. In Episode 40 of After The Quiet, I share how switching to family care became one of the best decisions for my daughter, creating a bond that would shape her childhood. This episode reflects on parenting, trust, and the quiet people who step in and change your life when you need it most.

In Episode 39 of After The Quiet, I share the heartbreak of a family trip that never happened. After hosting relatives from the U.S. and excitedly planning a summer visit, everything changed once the plans were finalized. Despite knowing about the arrangements all along, my husband suddenly refused to go—leaving me to cancel on my aunt and cousins and carry the embarrassment alone. This episode explores how control can show up through cancelled plans, isolation from loved ones, and the quiet heartbreak of opportunities taken away.

In Episode 38 of After The Quiet, I reflect on a painful pattern of comparison that slowly chipped away at my confidence. While my sister lovingly cared for my daughter after my maternity leave ended, my husband began telling people he had “married the wrong sister.” What sounded like jokes to others left lasting emotional wounds. This episode explores how constant comparison can become a form of emotional abuse and how even the strongest support systems can’t erase the damage caused by words meant to belittle.

In Episode 37 of After The Quiet, I share the story of how my car—paid for by my parents—was suddenly sold while I was on maternity leave. Promised access to his truck instead, I soon found myself stranded at home with three young children and no reliable transportation. What seemed like a simple financial decision at the time later revealed itself as another form of control. This episode explores financial manipulation, loss of independence, and how small decisions can quietly limit someone’s freedom.