For Mental Health Awareness Month, The Strong Sunflowers welcomes the incredible Dr. Ellie Shattles for one of our most powerful conversations yet.

Ellie is a respected musical director across Austin’s theatre community, but behind the music is a story of extraordinary resilience, healing, and reclaiming her voice.

In this deeply honest episode, Ellie opens up about growing up in high-demand Christianity, navigating marriage, divorce, addiction, anxiety, depression, profound grief, and surviving sexual abuse by an adoptive parent. She also shares the complicated pain of losing her mother, someone who failed to protect her.

And yet… this is not just a story about survival.

It’s a story about healing.
About choosing yourself.
About finding your voice after years of silence.
About learning that your past does not get the final word.

This conversation is raw, courageous, and filled with hope for anyone who has ever felt trapped by shame, trauma, religion, loss, or mental health struggles.

If you’ve ever wondered whether healing is possible after unimaginable pain, this episode is for you. 🌻💛

Content note: This episode includes discussions of sexual abuse, addiction, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and religious trauma. Please listen with care.