Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence and abuse. Please listen with care. If you or someone you love needs support, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text BEGIN to 88788. In Richland County, Ohio, you can reach the Domestic Violence Shelter 24/7 at 419-774-5840 or visit thedvshelter.com.

How do you begin again after abuse? What does it take to rebuild trust, safety, and self-worth when they’ve been stripped away?

In this powerful episode, we speak with Colleen Rice, executive director of the Domestic Violence Shelter in Richland County, Ohio. With decades of experience, Colleen shares what she’s learned from survivors — why leaving isn’t simple, how trauma reshapes the brain, and what real empowerment looks like.

We also explore how community plays a role, from showing up without judgment, to providing shelter and resources, to modeling what healthy love looks like. Whether you're a survivor, a supporter, or simply someone who wants to understand more deeply, this conversation will stay with you.

If you're new here, this is a place for everyone to laugh, learn, heal and build. Not alone. Not perfectly. But arm in arm, heart to heart. Because we were never meant to do this alone. We are always Better Together. 
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