This wasn’t the episode I planned. My guest had to cancel, and instead of taking the night off, I decided to hit record anyway. This one’s just me.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the ripple effects of growing up with trauma, the patterns I’ve started noticing in myself, and the questions I still don’t have answers to. Things like why I keep ending up in the same situations… why my brain works the way it does… and whether healing is less about finding the answers and more about understanding ourselves.

No script. No guest. Just an honest conversation that I think I needed to have.

Maybe you do too.

SHOW NOTES

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

IN THIS EPISODE: Healing isn’t about pretending the past never happened—it’s about deciding what comes next. In Part 2 of our conversation, Righteous shares how music became more than a creative outlet—it became a way to process pain, rediscover himself, and build a different future. We talk about fatherhood, accountability, mental health, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to choose a life that looks nothing like the one you were given. This conversation is a reminder that while none of us gets to choose the story we’re born into, we all have the power to decide what we do with it.

SHOW NOTES

To hear more about and from Righeous Jolly, visit https://linktr.ee/righteousjolly 

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In This Episode: what happens when two people from different walks of life realize they’ve been carrying many of the same invisible wounds? In Part 1 of my conversation with Righteous, we explore the lasting ripple effects of childhood trauma, the masks we wear to survive, and the ways our past quietly shapes our relationships, identity, and sense of self. Through honest conversation and shared reflection, we uncover the common threads that connect so many of our stories—even when they look completely different on the surface.

If you’ve ever wondered why certain patterns seem impossible to break, or why healing is anything but linear, this conversation is for you.

SHOW NOTES

To hear more about and from Righeous Jolly, visit https://linktr.ee/righteousjolly 

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3E6 The Power Of Connection with Danielle Brody, Part 2 Some conversations have a way of taking on a life of their own... and this is one of them. In Part 2 of my conversation with Danielle Brody, we continue exploring what it means to take ownership of our health, our healing and the stories we tell ourselves about what’s possible. We dive deeper into the role of mindset, community, stress management, and the small daily choices that can create profound changes over time.

SHOW NOTES

Danielle reminds us that healing isn’t always about finding one miracle solution. Often, it’s about building a foundation, one habit, one choice, and one act of self-compassion at a time. Whether you’re living with an autoimmune disease, supporting someone who is, or simply searching for ways to feel stronger and more connected to yourself, this episode is filled with encouragement and practical wisdom.

Because sometimes the most powerful medicine isn’t found in a bottle... it’s found in connection, hope and the willingness to believe that better is possible.   

To reach Danielle -

Health House Fitness

890 N. 2nd Street Pike, Unit 902

Richboro Pa, 18954

267-668-9259    

[email protected]

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3E5 The Power Of Connection with Danielle Brody, Part 1 What if some of the biggest changes in our lives begin with the smallest ones? In Part 1 of my conversation with Danielle Brody, we explore the powerful connection between mind, body, and healing. Danielle shares her journey of living with lupus, the lifestyle changes that helped transform her health, and the lessons she learned about stress, nutrition, movement and self-care along the way.

SHOW NOTES

This conversation is about more than autoimmune disease. It’s about learning to listen to our bodies, questioning what we’ve been told is “normal,” and recognizing that healing often starts with small, intentional choices made consistently over time. Whether you’re navigating chronic illness, feeling stuck, or simply looking for ways to feel better in your own body, this episode offers hope, practical insight and a reminder that change is possible.

This is Part 1 of a conversation that became too important to fit into a single episode.

To reach Danielle -

Health House Fitness  

890 N. 2nd Street Pike, Unit 902,

Richboro Pa, 18954

267-668-9259

[email protected]

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced The podcast. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3E4 Sisters, Part 4 My donor sibling Amy was the the first donor sibling I ever connected with after I got my DNA results back and suddenly this entire hidden world cracked open. Amy and I share a lot of the same emotional wiring, the same sensitivities. But we’re also wildly different. But what means the most to me isn’t just the DNA connection, it’s the relationship we built afterward. Amy has become one of those people I know I can call at any moment and she’ll be there. So today, we’re talking about Amy’s DNA story. What it felt like when she found out. How it changed her identity, her family dynamics, her understanding of herself… and what this strange, beautiful & complicated donor sibling relationship has meant to both of us.

SHOW NOTES

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3E3 No More Late Night Calls My friend Joe Devlin is a super talented country music artist with a family. But alcohol threatened everything. Including his future. When Joe made the decision to change his life, his life changed. These days, he's present and sober; he's a partner, a father and an artist with a clarity of vision he didn't have before. In this episode, Joe will tell the story of his remarkable journey back into the light!

SHOW NOTES

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3E2 Conversations Have A Mind Of Their Own Podcaster Christopher Scott was one of my very first interviews back when I was still finding my voice. Over time, he became some I trusted behind the scenes. In this conversation, we talk about the podcast industry and what being in it does to you. How it changes you and pushes you. And, no matter how much you plan, conversations just seem to go where they were meant to go. As Chris and I have experienced repeatedly, somewhere in those unplanned moments, we end up finding the purpose inside the story. Not the version we thought we were going to tell, but the one that actually matters.

SHOW NOTES

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3E1 Long After The Headlines In season 3, Donna will revisit her past from the perspective of the various ripple effects her past had on her present and future. Hard as it was growing up in a lower tier crime family, that was almost nothing compared to the challenges Donna has faced from the emotional and psychological ripple efects of growing up a Hall. Donna and podcast producer Alan Katz trace how various ripple effects from Donna's chaotic childhood continue to impact her life today.

SHOW NOTES

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

THE BLURB: In the final episode of Season Two, Donna reflects on the conversations, guests, and stories that shaped this chapter of The Hall Closet. From wrongful convictions and addiction to trauma, resilience, and survival, this season became less about headlines and more about the people living in the aftermath of them.

But somewhere in the middle of holding space for everyone else’s stories, Donna began hearing her own a little louder.

This episode is a raw and honest look back at a season built on vulnerability, connection, and truth — while also opening the door to what’s coming next. Season Three will dive deeper into Donna’s own experience growing up in a true crime family, the lasting effects trauma has on the body and relationships, and what healing looks like in real time.

Not polished. Not perfect. Just real.

SHOW NOTES

The Hall Closet is written by Donna Hall. Costard & Touchstone Productions produced it. Donna Hall and A L Katz are the executive producers.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: The Hall Closet is not intended for sensitive audiences. Domestic abuse, violence, child endangerment, adultery, explicit language.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Facebook: @THEHALLCLOSETPODCAST

Instagram: @THE_HALL_CLOSET_PODCAST

TikTok: @the.hall.closet.p

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.