Beyond the Statistics

Reporting sexual assault is supposed to be a step toward justice. But what happens when the system itself becomes another barrier?

In this episode of Beyond the Statistics, Ingrid is joined by survivor and advocate Danielle Pyle to talk about surviving sexual assault, reporting to law enforcement, navigating a sexual assault forensic exam, and fighting for accountability when the justice system falls short.

Danielle shares what she remembers from the night of her assault in April 2021, including the disorienting effects of a blackout and coming to during the attack. She talks about survival mode, the freeze response, and the self-blame that can follow sexual trauma—even when the body was simply doing what it needed to survive.

She also takes us inside what happened after she reported. Danielle describes going through a forensic exam at a SAFE clinic, repeatedly recounting what happened, and watching potential evidence get brushed aside. Her case became even more complicated when she learned her assailant had audio recorded the encounter and attempted to use Tennessee’s one-party consent recording law in his defense.

After prosecutors declined to pursue charges, another devastating discovery followed: Danielle was notified so late that Tennessee’s civil statute of limitations had already expired, leaving her without the option to pursue a civil case.

Instead of stopping there, Danielle turned her experience into advocacy.

She helped fight for Danielle’s Law, legislation extending Tennessee’s civil statute of limitations for sexual assault from one year to three years, with additional time under certain circumstances. Danielle shares what it took to walk into lawmakers’ offices, confront victim-blaming myths, tell her story repeatedly, and push for a law that could give future survivors more time to seek accountability.

In this conversation:

• Why freezing is a normal trauma response
• Self-blame after sexual assault
• What happens during a sexual assault forensic exam
• The challenges survivors can face when reporting to police
• Consent, recording laws, and gaps in the justice system
• Statutes of limitations and survivor rights
• How Danielle’s Law changed Tennessee law
• Turning lived experience into survivor advocacy and legislative change

This is a conversation about what happens after sexual assault—and what can change when survivors refuse to let systemic failures have the final word.

Subscribe to Beyond the Statistics and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. If you’re willing, leave a review to help more survivors, advocates, and allies find these conversations.

Danielle’s Links: 

https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/guests/danielle-pyle/

https://www.instagram.com/_daniellepyle/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlpyle/

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

Someone can survive domestic violence and still feel unsafe long after the relationship ends.

In this episode of Beyond the Statistics, Ray Floyd shares how abuse changed his everyday life—from living without fear to constantly scanning his surroundings for danger. His memoir, No One Is Listening, tells the story of surviving domestic violence, navigating trauma, and rebuilding life after abuse.

Ray and host Ingrid Dutton discuss the warning signs he recognizes in hindsight, including escalating anger, communication breakdowns, chronic job instability, isolation, and the gradual loss of peace that often accompanies abusive relationships. Together, they explore why abuse isn't always obvious, why anyone can become a victim, and how quickly a relationship can turn dangerous.

The conversation also examines the lasting effects of trauma, including hypervigilance, grief, self-blame, PTSD symptoms, and the challenges survivors face even after leaving an abusive partner. Ray also shares concerns about victim safety, including delayed release notifications, bail decisions, and gaps in the criminal justice system that leave survivors feeling unprotected.

If you're healing from domestic violence, supporting someone who has experienced abuse, or working to better understand trauma recovery, this episode offers practical insight, validation, and hope.

In this episode:

•  Why survivors often feel unsafe after leaving 
•  Hypervigilance and trauma after domestic violence 
•  Red flags that became clear in hindsight 
•  Emotional abuse and coercive control 
•  PTSD, grief, and rebuilding life after abuse 
•  Challenges with victim safety and offender accountability 
•  Finding hope and healing after trauma 

If this episode was meaningful to you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need to hear this conversation.

Ray’s Links: 

https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/guests/ray-floyd/

https://rayfloydbooks.com/

https://a.co/d/01N7nNCc

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

Domestic abuse isn't defined by a single incident—it's defined by a pattern. At the center of that pattern is coercive control.

Coercive control is the ongoing use of fear, intimidation, manipulation, isolation, and domination to strip away another person's freedom and autonomy. It can exist with physical violence, but it doesn't have to. In many abusive relationships, coercive control is the foundation that allows every other form of abuse to take hold.

In this episode of Beyond the Statistics, host Ingrid Dutton is joined by Tracy Curtis—survivor, forensic psychology professional, and founder of Empower Ed—to unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of domestic abuse.

Together, they discuss:

• What coercive control is and why it's at the heart of domestic abuse
• Why abuse is about patterns of behavior, not isolated incidents
• How intimidation and credible threats keep survivors trapped
• Why asking "Why didn't they just leave?" misunderstands abuse
• How trauma bonds form and why separation can feel like withdrawal
• Why documentation is essential when abuse isn't physical
• How survivors are often misunderstood in family court while abusers appear calm and credible
• The lasting effects of coercive control on the brain, body, and nervous system
• Why coercive control can also appear in elder abuse and other caregiving relationships

Whether you're a survivor, supporting someone you love, or work in healthcare, law enforcement, advocacy, social services, or the legal system, this conversation offers the language and understanding needed to recognize abuse that too often goes unseen.

Tracy’s Links: 

https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/guests/tracy-curtis/

https://empowereddv.com/

https://empowereddv.com/

Link to Norma Peterson's episode (discussed in today's episode)

https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/103-how-documenting-abuse-saves-lives-with-norma-peterson/

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

Strangulation is one of the strongest predictors of future homicide in domestic violence, yet it's often misunderstood, minimized, and overlooked because many survivors have little or no visible injury.

In this episode of Beyond the Statistics, Ingrid Dutton is joined by retired South Carolina law enforcement officer and domestic violence expert Brian Bennett, who has trained thousands of officers, investigators, medical professionals, and advocates on identifying and responding to nonfatal strangulation.

Together they discuss:

• Why nonfatal strangulation dramatically increases homicide risk
 • The difference between strangulation and "choking"—and why the language matters
 • Manual, ligature, and positional strangulation explained
 • Hidden symptoms that can appear hours or even days later
 • Memory loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and oxygen deprivation
 • Why survivors often have no visible injuries
 • Stroke, carotid artery injuries, and delayed medical emergencies
 • When to seek emergency care and request a forensic nurse examiner (SANE/FNE)
 • How law enforcement investigates strangulation cases
 • South Carolina's current strangulation laws and why advocates are pushing for stronger protections

Whether you're a survivor, healthcare provider, advocate, first responder, attorney, or someone supporting a loved one, this conversation could help save a life.

If this episode helps you better understand the hidden dangers of nonfatal strangulation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs this information.

Brian’s Links: 

https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/guests/brian-bennett/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579008364852

https://www.youtube.com/@SacredMissionSC

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3854501681461625

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-bennett-b32943303/

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

When this podcast began, it was built around a powerful statistic. But over time, it became clear that statistics can only tell part of the story.

In this special announcement episode, I share why the podcast is evolving and what Beyond the Statistics represents moving forward.

We explore:

•  Why domestic violence is more than a number 
•  How coercive control, legal abuse, stalking, and psychological abuse fit into the larger picture 
•  The overlap between domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking 
•  Why recognizing patterns like grooming, manipulation, isolation, intimidation, and threats can help us better support survivors 
•  What listeners can expect from Beyond the Statistics 

While the name is changing, the mission remains the same: amplifying survivor voices, educating communities, and advocating for meaningful change through honest conversations.

If this podcast has helped you feel seen, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode so more survivors and advocates can find these conversations.

Topics: Domestic violence, coercive control, survivor stories, intimate partner violence, trauma recovery, legal abuse, stalking, sexual assault, human trafficking, abuse awareness, healing, advocacy.

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

When trauma leaves you without words, poetry can become a way back to yourself.

This week on 1 in 3, host Ingrid sits down with licensed clinical mental health counselor Margaret Bryden to explore how poetry therapy helps survivors process traumatic experiences, regulate emotions, and reconnect with their own voice.

Margaret believes you don't have to be a "good writer" to benefit from poetry. In fact, her philosophy of bad poetry encourages people to silence their inner critic and simply begin.

Together, we discuss:

• How poetry therapy supports trauma recovery
• Why metaphor often feels safer than telling the whole story
• Expressive writing as a mental health tool
• Using poetry to process grief, abuse, and difficult emotions
• The role of response poems in therapy
• Why handwriting can deepen emotional healing
• How therapists incorporate poetry into individual and group counseling
• Finding hope through creativity and connection

Margaret also shares excerpts from her upcoming book, How I Understand It: A Bad Poet's Guide to Mental Health and Resilience, releasing September 1, 2026.

Whether you're a survivor, therapist, advocate, or someone searching for new ways to heal, this conversation offers practical insight into one of the gentlest forms of trauma processing.

If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from this conversation. Every share helps more survivors discover they are not alone.

Margaret’s Links:

https://www.1in3podcast.com/guests/margaret-bryden/

https://www.sageinsighttherapy.com/

https://www.sageinsighttherapy.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586527275910

https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretbryden/

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

A man reports sexual assault and is laughed at.

Sadly, that experience is far more common than many people realize.

This week, Ingrid sits down with Liana Lucine, former Metropolitan Police officer, trainer, and author of Men Ignored, for an important conversation about the realities male survivors face when they experience sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and coercive control.

Together they explore why so many men never disclose abuse, how harmful stereotypes prevent survivors from being believed, and why supporting male victims does not diminish support for women. Liana explains the myths that continue to silence men, including the belief that men always want sex, should be able to fight back, or cannot experience trauma in the same way women can.

They also discuss:

• Male sexual assault and domestic violence statistics
 • Why men often delay reporting abuse
 • Trauma responses including freeze, fawn, PTSD, and memory loss
 • How language influences police investigations and public perception
 • Why the first response to disclosure can shape a survivor's recovery
 • How trauma-informed advocacy benefits every survivor

This episode is not about comparing genders. It's about recognizing that abuse affects people of every gender and ensuring every survivor has the opportunity to be heard, believed, and supported.

If you believe every survivor deserves compassion, share this episode to help challenge myths surrounding male victimization.

⭐ Follow 1 in 3 for weekly conversations on domestic violence, sexual assault, coercive control, trauma recovery, legal abuse, prevention, and survivor advocacy.

Liana’s Links:

https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/guests/liana-lucine/

https://www.lucinetraining.co.uk/35831bd0-2108-4574-be1f-afcde2931e80

https://www.instagram.com/lucinetraining/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPc0nlb01fWvQBcQsIOlKYQ

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572329247778#

https://www.linkedin.com/in/liana-lucine-235166a6/

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

Leaving an abusive relationship is rarely the end of the story.

In Part 2 of Luna's powerful survivor story, she shares how the abuse escalated from coercive control to strangulation, weapon threats, and constant intimidation. What began as controlling behavior during a teenage relationship became life-threatening violence that affected every aspect of her life.

Luna opens up about discovering she was pregnant at just 16 years old and facing accusations instead of support. She describes being pressured into a DNA test, having her medical appointments monitored, and how pregnancy became another opportunity for her abuser to tighten control. She also shares the devastating experience of miscarriage following escalating violence and the grief, guilt, and trauma that survivors often carry long afterward.

This episode also explores the difficult reality of seeking safety. Luna discusses healthcare professionals who recognized signs of abuse, interactions with law enforcement, arrests that didn't provide lasting protection, and why protective orders alone cannot guarantee a survivor's safety without meaningful enforcement.

Most importantly, Luna reflects on what finally helped her leave, what happened during the legal process, and how healing has unfolded over the years. She speaks candidly about anxiety, panic attacks, rebuilding trust, and creating a healthy relationship after surviving domestic violence.

In this episode:
• Teen dating violence
• Abuse during pregnancy
• Coercive control
• Strangulation awareness
• Weapon threats and intimidation
• Miscarriage and domestic violence
• Protective orders and survivor safety
• Leaving an abusive relationship
• Trauma recovery and healing
• Hope after abuse

Luna's story is difficult to hear, but it highlights why survivor-centered systems, education, and early intervention matter.

If this episode moved you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need to hear that they are not alone.

Resources: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact your local domestic violence program or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

The most dangerous relationships rarely begin with obvious abuse.

This week on 1 in 3, Ingrid is joined by domestic violence survivor Luna, who shares how a relationship that began when she was just 16 slowly transformed from what seemed like a typical teenage romance into coercive control, isolation, and escalating abuse.

What started with jealousy over a Facebook post became constant accusations, monitoring, and demands to prove her loyalty. Luna describes how "protection" became control, why she began pulling away from friends and family, and how she was gradually pushed toward dependence, leaving school, and believing her only role was to cook, clean, and comply.

In this powerful first installment of a two-part conversation, Luna also shares the frightening reality of escalating violence, including strangulation, emergency medical treatment, and the fear that kept her from telling healthcare providers what had really happened.

If you're looking to better understand teen dating violence, coercive control, domestic violence warning signs, or the hidden progression of abusive relationships, this episode offers an honest survivor perspective that could help someone recognize abuse before it escalates.

In this episode:
• Teen dating violence warning signs
• Early red flags in abusive relationships
• Coercive control and isolation
• Emotional abuse and manipulation
• Why leaving isn't simple
• Strangulation and escalating violence
• A survivor's firsthand experience

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need these resources. Your support helps more survivors find hope, validation, and life-saving information.

Resources: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact your local domestic violence program or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Subscribe now so you don't miss Part 2 of Luna's story.

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe

Strangulation doesn't have to leave visible bruises to cause life-altering injuries—or even death.

In Episode 122 of 1 in 3, Ingrid Dutton sits down with April Flores-Brayton, Director of Community-Based Services at WINGS, Illinois' largest domestic violence agency, to discuss the often-overlooked connection between strangulation, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and intimate partner violence.

April explains how WINGS' hospital-based advocacy program helps survivors access support during one of the few moments they may be separated from the person causing harm. Together, Ingrid and April discuss how healthcare providers can recognize warning signs of abuse, conduct trauma-informed screenings, and connect patients with life-saving resources.

They also explore:

•  Why strangulation is one of the strongest predictors of future homicide 
•  How oxygen deprivation can lead to traumatic brain injury 
•  Common TBI symptoms including memory loss, headaches, insomnia, and emotional dysregulation 
•  Lethality assessments and domestic violence risk factors 
•  Safety planning for survivors experiencing high-risk abuse 
•  Why domestic violence-related brain injuries remain underdiagnosed 
•  The role of hospitals in identifying abuse and supporting survivors 
•  Illinois HB4668 and efforts to strengthen survivor protections 
•  The overlap between domestic violence, sexual coercion, and human trafficking 

Whether you're a survivor, advocate, healthcare professional, law enforcement officer, or someone supporting a loved one experiencing abuse, this conversation provides critical education about hidden injuries that can have lasting consequences.

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from this information.

April’s Links:

https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/guests/april-flores-brayton/

https://wingsprogram.com/

Link to Anthony Pasquini’s Episode: 

https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/105-why-male-voices-matter-in-ending-abuse-with-anthony-pasquini/

This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp.

Connect with Beyond the Statistics:

🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com
💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod

If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community.

Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone.

Music: Tim Crowe