EPISODE 8: BREAKING THE SILENCE 🤍

Some stories are difficult to tell, but silence can carry its own weight.

In this episode of Restored in Grace, I sit down with my Tía for an incredibly vulnerable conversation about sexual assault, trauma, survival, and what it means to begin healing after something that was never yours to carry.

This conversation is about more than what happened. It’s about finding your voice again, giving yourself grace in the healing process, and reminding survivors that they are not alone.

We also reflect on Romans 8:18 and the hope that the pain we experience does not get the final word.

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault/rape, domestic violence, abuse, and trauma. Please listen with care and protect your peace.

RESOURCES

🤍 National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text START to 88788
TheHotline.org

🤍 RAINN — National Sexual Assault Hotline
Call: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Text HOPE to 64673
Online support: RAINN.org/hotline

🤍 Dr. Danielle Barcelo — Family First Counseling
For professional mental-health support and counseling resources.

If this episode speaks to you, please like, comment, share, and send it to someone who may need the reminder that they are not alone.

🎙️ Restored in Grace with Ayana

#RestoredInGrace #BreakingTheSilence #SexualAssaultAwareness #SurvivorStories #HealingJourney

Part 1 was about what happened to me.

Part 2 is about what happened after.

In this episode, I’m looking at my relationship from the outside for the first time and being honest about the things I couldn’t fully see while I was in it. The red flags. The ways I lost parts of myself. The moments I made excuses. And the healing that required me to face some uncomfortable truths about myself, too.

This part of my story isn’t just about surviving—it’s about understanding, rebuilding, and learning who I am again outside of what I went through.

If you’ve ever looked back at a relationship and wondered, “How did I not see it then?” this episode is for you.

🎙️ Part 2 of My Story is available now on Restored in Grace.

#RestoredInGrace #DomesticViolenceAwareness #SurvivorStory #HealingJourney #FaithAndHealing

In Episode 6, “The Ripple Effect,” I sit down with my cousin Angel for an honest conversation about how unhealthy relationships can affect more than just the two people involved. Through our personal experiences, listeners will learn to recognize harmful patterns, understand how relationship dynamics can shape their lives long after a relationship ends, and identify the lessons hidden within difficult experiences.

This episode offers practical insight into reflection, healing, breaking unhealthy cycles, setting healthier boundaries, and making intentional choices about how to move forward.

Episode 5: You Are Not Alone

Going through the aftermath of domestic violence can feel overwhelming, but navigating the legal process can bring an entirely different kind of uncertainty.

In this episode of Restored in Grace, Ayana opens up about what it was really like going through the court process after experiencing domestic violence. She shares what she experienced, the steps she took throughout the process, the resources she sought out, and what she learned along the way.

This episode is about the parts of the process people don’t always talk about—the uncertainty, the questions, the paperwork, the court appearances, the waiting, the advocating, and learning how to navigate a system you may have never encountered before.

If you’re currently going through something similar, I hope this episode reminds you of one thing:

You are not alone.

Resources

Denver DA – Victim Assistance: 720-865-8510
Rose Andom Center: 720-337-4400
Project Safeguard: 720-618-3482
SafeHouse Denver 24/7 Crisis Line: 303-318-9989
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center: 303-295-2002
Center for Trauma & Resilience: 303-504-7799
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Restored in Grace with Ayana
Faith. Freedom. Healing.

Restored in Grace, I sit down with my dad for a deeply personal conversation about faith, fatherhood, family, and what it means to walk beside someone through some of the hardest moments of their life. We talk about his perspective as my father, the things he witnessed throughout my experience with domestic violence, and the role faith has played in my healing and restoration.

This episode is a reminder that restoration doesn’t always happen alone—sometimes God places people beside us to love us, cover us, and remind us who we are when we’ve forgotten. 🤍

Content Note: This episode includes discussions of domestic violence and trauma that may be sensitive or triggering for some listeners.

In this deeply personal episode, I’m sharing my story of domestic violence—from the red flags and control to the moment love turned into survival.

This story isn’t shared for sympathy, but to remind someone listening that you are not alone, healing is possible, and there is life after abuse. 🤍

⚠️ Content Warning: Domestic violence, physical assault, strangulation, and trauma.

Need support?
National Domestic Violence Hotline
📞 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
📱 Text START to 88788

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Episode 2: Healing Starts Here | Featuring Dr. Danielle Barcelo

Healing doesn’t begin the moment you leave—it begins the moment you realize you deserve more.

In this episode of Restored in Grace, I sit down with my cousin, Dr. Danielle Barcelo, PhD, LMFT, to discuss the realities of abuse, trauma, and healing. We talk about why leaving isn’t always easy, how trauma affects the mind and body, the importance of healthy boundaries, and what it truly means to heal.

My prayer is that this conversation reminds you that you are not alone and that healing is possible.

Guest Information

🩵 Dr. Danielle Barcelo, PhD, LMFT

Owner, Family First Counseling

📞 970-587-3846

📧 [email protected]

🌐 familyfirst.llc

Resources

❤️ National Domestic Violence Hotline

📞 800-799-7233

💬 Text START to 88788

🌐 thehotline.org

🌹 Rose Andom Center (Denver)

📞 720-337-4400

🌐 roseandomcenter.org

If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.

🎙️ Follow Restored in Grace for new episodes, and if this conversation encouraged you, please leave a rating, review, and share it with someone who may need it.

Welcome to Restored in Grace. In this first episode, I’m sharing the story behind the podcast and inviting you to join me on a journey of faith, healing, and restoration. 🤍