A voice possesses the power to either conceal - or reveal - the truth. After decades of silence and shame about what was truly unspeakable childhood abuse, Shana Halligan chose speak out. And what followed was a complete  transformation of her life that led to a music career of authentic self-expression and powerful presence.

As the daughter of Dick Halligan, founder of the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, Shana experienced music on a level most only dream about. From concerts to all-night jam sessions with some of the most renowned talent of the time to being the singing voice for Barbie commercials in the 1970’s, Shana was immersed in music her entire life. And it was music that finally allowed her to reveal the dark secret she had harbored since early childhood – that she is a survivor of sexual abuse. Shana’s earliest memories are of being molested by a stranger in her own bed – an experience that occurred for at least three years. Today, as the founder of the band Bitter:Sweet with a burgeoning music career of her own making, Shana has not only released the shame of what was done to her but also taken center stage in designing the life of her dreams. In this episode, Shana shares what happened to her all those years ago and how she emerged from the shadow of abuse to become both her own savior and a beacon of hope for others. Listen to the end of the episode for a sneak peek at Shana’s latest release, “Other Side.”

Shana’s story was revealed to the world in a Daily Mail article in 2025. You can read it at https://archive.is/20250523100119/https:/www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14740137/Mum-cold-told-Id-raped-aged-six-thought-Id-never-forgive-cruel-words-reveals-SHANA-HALLIGAN-deathbed-extraordinary-happened.html

The full music to the single “Other Side” can be found at https://app.box.com/s/bhfzhlq6c5lolmw71bsj7s5xugnwscnh

 More about Shana at https://www.shanahalligan.com/

In this episode of Genesis The Podcast, host Maria MacMullin delves into the topic of coercive control with expert Kate Amber. Ms. Amber, a survivor, who holds an MS in Psychology of Coercive Control from the University of Salford and is the founder of End Coercive Control USA (ECCUSA), shares her personal experiences with domestic abuse and explains her Quicksand Model of understanding coercive control. Kate Amber discusses how coercive control extends beyond physical violence in relationships to include patterns of manipulation and domination. The conversation covers the evolution of the term, systemic failures in recognizing coercive control, the impact on children, and how societal structures like patriarchy enable such behaviors. Amber also highlights how legislative and cultural shifts can aid in better addressing coercive control. The episode concludes with a discussion on the role of media in perpetuating or challenging coercive control and offers resources for further learning and support. Listeners can receive a discount on education modules related to coercive control offered through ECCUSA. Listen to the full episode for a discount code and where to find links to the trainings.

When Hispanic survivors of intimate partner violence seek help, they face a gauntlet of unique cultural barriers that can make safety seem impossible. From family members who prioritize appearances over protection to faith leaders who frame abuse as a spiritual test, the path to safety is fraught with roadblocks that extend far beyond language differences alone.

Teresa Gallegos, Director of Outreach and Accessibility at the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, brings profound insights to these challenges. Drawing from her experience as a nationally credentialed advocate, immigrant, and sibling survivor, Teresa walks us through powerful scenarios that illustrate how these cultural dynamics play out in real life. She explains why simply translating existing materials into Spanish misses the mark and how her groundbreaking "Juntos le ayudamos" (Together We Will Help Them) campaign took a fundamentally different approach.

Instead of targeting survivors directly, this innovative campaign focused on "comadres" and "compadres" – the trusted allies who serve as crucial lifelines when survivors finally decide to share their stories. Teresa reveals how her team crafted culturally-specific radio spots, billboards, WhatsApp messages, and even old-school tear-off flyers that resonated with Hispanic communities across Kansas. Most powerfully, she shares how seeing these Spanish-language resources gives survivors a profound sense of validation: "You matter enough for someone to do this."

Whether you're a service provider looking to better reach Hispanic communities or someone who might one day be that trusted "comadre" for a survivor, this conversation offers concrete strategies and commitment statements that can make all the difference. Join us to learn how small actions – from exploring your local grocery store's community board to implementing language access policies – can create pathways to safety for Hispanic survivors in your community.

Black women are six times more likely to be murdered by intimate partners than white women. Let that sink in.

Dr. Miltonette Craig pulls back the curtain on this hidden crisis in our powerful conversation about intimate partner violence and media representation. As an assistant professor at Sam Houston State University and research coordinator for the Crime Victims Institute, Dr. Craig brings both academic rigor and genuine compassion to this critical discussion.

The statistics are staggering – approximately 43% of Black women report experiencing intimate partner violence compared to 30% of white women. But statistics only tell part of the story. Dr. Craig expertly unpacks the complex sociocultural factors creating this disparity: economic barriers that trap women in abusive relationships, the "loyalty trap" where Black women hesitate to report abuse for fear of contributing to mass incarceration, and deep-seated mistrust of law enforcement that discourages seeking help.

Perhaps most troubling is how media coverage perpetuates these problems. Through her groundbreaking research, Dr. Craig reveals how news stories about Black female victims often lack context, resources, and the critical analysis needed to understand this epidemic. We discuss a particularly disturbing case where two Black women were murdered by their husbands during conjugal visits at the same prison facility within months of each other – yet media coverage remained superficial and disconnected from the larger pattern of violence.

This episode isn't just about identifying problems – Dr. Craig offers concrete solutions for journalists, newsrooms, and media consumers. From including crisis resources in every domestic violence story to diversifying newsroom staff, these actionable steps could literally save lives.

Whether you work in media, advocacy, or simply care about creating a more just society, this conversation will transform how you understand intimate partner violence and the power of representation. Listen now, and join us in demanding better for Black women and all survivors of domestic violence.

From the moment Dr. Carolyn West speaks, her passion for protecting Black women from intimate partner violence resonates with unmistakable urgency. As a professor of clinical psychology with over three decades dedicated to researching gender-based violence in marginalized communities, she brings profound insights into what she calls a "triple pandemic" that devastated Black women during 2020: COVID-19, domestic violence, and racial terrorism.

The statistics Dr. West shares are sobering: approximately 1,820 Black women murdered in a single year—four to five deaths daily that rarely made headlines. This invisibility isn't accidental. As she explains, "Domestic violence thrives on silence, secrecy, and shame," particularly when systems designed to protect women fail those at society's intersections.

Dr. West's Technical Assistance Guidance Series (TAGS) emerged from this crisis, offering a revolutionary framework for providing culturally responsive care to Black women survivors. Moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches, she advocates for survivor-centered services that consider the full spectrum of a woman's identity and experience. Her "web of trauma" concept brilliantly illustrates how historical trauma, institutional violence, poverty, community dangers, and harmful cultural stereotypes compound the impact of intimate partner abuse.

Particularly illuminating is her discussion of reproductive coercion and non-fatal strangulation—dangerous forms of control that disproportionately affect Black women yet often go unrecognized. For medical professionals and advocates alike, understanding these specific vulnerabilities can mean the difference between life and death, especially during high-risk periods like pregnancy.

What makes Dr. West's approach transformative is her insistence on seeing survivors' strength alongside their trauma. By rejecting both "colorblind" approaches that ignore racial disparities and deficit-focused models that overlook resilience, she offers a pathway to healing that honors the whole person.

Whether you're a service provider seeking to improve your practice or someone concerned about violence in your community, this conversation provides invaluable insights into creating safer spaces for survivors. The TAGS resources, available for free download, represent Dr. West's gift to a field desperately needing her wisdom.

Ready to learn more about culturally responsive approaches to intimate partner violence? Visit drcarolynwest.com or contact Genesis Women's Shelter and Support at 214-946-HELP (4357).

What makes someone capable of killing the person they claim to love? Dr. David Adams has spent over four decades searching for answers by interviewing both survivors and perpetrators of intimate partner violence.

As co-founder of Emerge, the world's first counseling program for men who abuse women, Adams takes us behind the facade of abusive relationships to expose the calculated tactics abusers use to trap their victims. The patterns he's uncovered are chilling: 75% of men who eventually murdered their partners began with first-date sex, and the average courtship before moving in together was just three months. These aren't coincidences but deliberate strategies of control.

Adams walks us through the four phases of abusive relationships—from the deceptive "honeymoon phase" of excessive attention and romance through escalating control, normalized violence, and ultimately deadly threats. Perhaps most disturbing is his revelation that many killers found "comfort" in knowing murder was an option if their partner tried to leave.

Drawing from both professional expertise and personal tragedy (Adams lost his mother to domestic violence at age 17), this conversation offers rare insight into the minds of abusers while providing practical knowledge that could save lives. Whether you work in law enforcement, victim services, or simply want to understand the warning signs of dangerous relationships, this episode provides crucial information about how to recognize entrapment strategies before they turn deadly. 

What happens when the person who claims to love you systematically dismantles your sense of reality? Tiffany Tate, CEO of The Family Place in Dallas and a survivor of narcissistic abuse, bravely shares her story for the first time on this powerful episode.
 
 "When you don't trust the thoughts that are in your head, that is very, very hard to recover from," Tiffany reveals, describing her decade-long journey through a relationship that left her constantly questioning her sanity. Despite her professional background as a licensed clinical social worker, she found herself trapped in the fog of manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional control—proof that narcissistic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of education or awareness.
 
The conversation cuts through the pop culture misuse of "narcissist" to clarify crucial distinctions: narcissist as a label, narcissism as a trait, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder as a clinical diagnosis requiring specific criteria. Tiffany explains how these behaviors escalate into abuse when consistently used to strip away a partner's independence and autonomy, often invisible to outsiders as narcissists masterfully present different faces to different audiences.
 
For those currently navigating relationships with narcissistic partners, Tiffany offers practical strategies that saved her: the "gray rock technique" of minimal emotional response, limiting personal disclosures that could be weaponized, and anchoring through journaling to validate experiences when gaslit. She also discusses available therapeutic interventions and the complex challenges of treating narcissistic offenders, whose lack of empathy and insight make meaningful change difficult.
 
This episode provides not just understanding but actionable resources for survivors, from recommended books and support communities to safety planning strategies. Whether you're questioning your own relationship dynamics or supporting someone who might be experiencing narcissistic abuse, this conversation offers validation, clarity, and pathways toward healing.

When asked whether they'd rather be alone in the woods with a bear or a man, most women choose the bear - a startling reflection of how women perceive safety in modern America. Genesis CEO Jan Langbein joins host Maria MacMullin to explore this phenomenon and discuss the evolution of women's rights and domestic violence services as Genesis approaches its 40th anniversary.

We open season 5 of Genesis The Podcast reflecting upon how far women's rights have come—and how fragile those gains remain. Within the lifetime of Jan Langbein, married women couldn't open bank accounts, take out loans, or travel internationally without a husband's permission. Marital rape wasn't recognized as a crime. Women earned just 59 cents on the dollar compared to men. The right to vote came to all women in America only relatively recently, with barriers like poll taxes deliberately designed to discourage women of color from voting well into the 1960s.

Today, new threats loom on the horizon: proposals for one vote per household (cast by the man), efforts to repeal the 19th Amendment, and laws restricting women's healthcare access and freedom of movement. Drawing parallels to Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," Langbein warns that rights disappear gradually—like being in a "slowly heating bathtub"—if we fail to recognize warning signs and stand together.

Despite decades of progress, Genesis currently must turn away 50 people seeking shelter daily due to lack of capacity. Langbein envisions expanding shelter services and creating a societal paradigm shift from asking "why doesn't she leave?" to "why does he abuse?" She reminds us that communities can never be safe if people aren't safe in their own homes.

Join us for this thought-provoking exploration of women's equity, domestic violence, and the power of unity. Subscribe to Genesis the Podcast and follow us on social media to continue these crucial conversations about creating a safer world for everyone.

What happens when the only community you've ever known becomes your prison? When sacred teachings become weapons of control? Jo Lloyd Johnson takes us on a raw, unflinching journey through the hidden world of religious cults and the long path toward reclaiming personal autonomy.

Growing up in what she eventually recognized as a cult environment, Jo experienced multiple layers of abuse – religious, spiritual, and sexual. Raised within a strict hierarchical structure where men held all power and women were expected to remain silent and submissive, Jo's childhood was shaped by what she calls "the umbrella of authority." Under this system, pastors claimed direct communication with God about their followers' lives, husbands controlled wives, and children had no voice at all.

The damage of purity culture forms a central thread in Jo's story. As she powerfully explains, this toxic ideology taught her that her body was dangerous, that sexuality was shameful, and that women bear responsibility for men's thoughts and actions. For Jo, who experienced sexual assault at age six within the religious commune, these teachings were particularly devastating – leaving her wondering if she was already "tainted" before she could even understand what that meant.

Jo's path to healing began with motherhood, when instinctive protection of her child sparked questions about her indoctrination. The real catalyst came when her husband was offered a position as a pastor – suddenly facing the reality of becoming what she had been "prophesied" to be, Jo realized she wanted something different for herself and her children. This awakening led her to examine her beliefs piece by piece, confront repressed memories, and ultimately forge her own path forward.

Today, Jo channels her experiences into supporting other survivors through Louder Than Silence, an organization providing community and therapy for victims of sexual violence. Her story reminds us that healing isn't about forgetting – it's about transforming anger into constructive action and finding community that celebrates authenticity rather than demanding conformity.

Listen and discover how sometimes, the most spiritual act is finding the courage to question everything you've been taught and create a new story – one where you belong not in a carefully tended garden, but in the wild, beautiful forest of your authentic self.

For decades, the path to healing from domestic violence trauma was long, arduous, and often incomplete. Laura Frombach's powerful journey demonstrates why that happens and how dramatically the path to healing has changed.

Growing up with two alcoholic parents in a violent household, Laura witnessed her mother's startling transformation from a kind person to someone cruel and sadistic. Only decades later did Laura connect this personality shift to likely traumatic brain injury caused by her father's repeated abuse. This revelation came amid Laura's own struggles with alcoholism and recovery, including a devastating relapse after 16 years of sobriety and 20 years of talk therapy.

The game-changer? Discovering that trauma lives not just in our thoughts but in our bodies. "I found out that trauma doesn't just live in your mind, it lives in your nervous system. It buries itself in your muscles, your gut and even your breath," Laura explains. Through body-based healing approaches like EMDR, somatic therapy, and breath work, Laura finally accessed and processed trauma that talk therapy had only helped her name but not feel.

Joy Farrow, a retired deputy sheriff with 28 years of law enforcement experience, adds critical perspective on why this matters beyond individual healing. She explains how understanding trauma biology transforms how we respond to survivors: "For far too long we expected survivors to give clear, linear stories. But trauma scrambles the memory because it's stored in the body, not just the brain." This insight changes everything from how survivors testify to how quickly they can reclaim their lives.

What took Laura 50 years might now be possible in months or years rather than decades. This offers profound hope to anyone who feels healing is out of reach. As Laura says, "As long as you are breathing, healing is never out of reach." Whether you're a survivor, support person, or helping professional, this episode provides vital information about cutting-edge trauma recovery approaches and why the body must be enlisted in the healing process. Listen now to discover how these breakthroughs are changing lives and offering new paths to recovery.