The Human Experience

⚠️ Content Warning - this episode contains conversations around abuse, stalking, and suicide.

This episode is a bit different than those we've done in the past; I had four guests on to discuss some of the intricacies and lesser discussed issues within Interpersonal Violence (also known as IPV) - namely, cyber stalking and parent/child alienation.

While many have suffered from both cyber stalking and parent/child alienation, there are still many that don't know much about it, and more importantly, how the system fails the victims.

Cyber stalking and parent/child alienation are difficult to legislate, for different reasons. But what remains the same is that very often in cases of IPV, victims see no justice.

Both Rhyan Strasters and Brian Martin are working, respectively, to bring new legislation to the table so that both of these issues can be better handled in the future.

📍 This episode was recorded in Pennsylvania.

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When Chandrika Phea went to China as a Christian missionary, she assumed her life would follow the trail that had been forged before her. An ordained minister in her own right, Chandrika grew up the daughter and granddaughter of minister's in the African American Pentecostal church.

But upon her return from China, Chandrika found herself with more questions than answers, and she struggled to find her footing within the American church again.

Chandrika's book is a raw and unabashed look at her journals she kept while she was serving in China, and an unflinching commentary on how far she has come since then.

📍 This episode was recorded in Columbus, Georgia

Buy Chandrika's Book - Lord, I Don't Want To Die A Christian

Visit Chandrika's Linktree

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Heidy is the proud daughter and wife of immigrants. Though she was born an American citizen, she has spent her life around those who have immigrated to the United States in search of "The American Dream".

Heidy has a unique view of what it means to be an immigrant in America as someone that has walked alongside and done life with many people who made the US their home after moving here.

Heidy is an author, speaker, podcast coach, and she hosts a podcast called "The American Dream Through the Eyes of Immigrants". In her show, she interviews people about what it means to them to create their life in the US, the joys and the struggles.

📍 This episode was recorded in Deltona, Florida

Heidy's Podcast

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⚠️ Content Warning: this episode contains conversations around infant loss and suicide.

When Heather and her husband found out they were pregnant with their first child, it was a time of celebration. Like many newlyweds, they were excited to start their family.

What they couldn't have foreseen was the gut-wrenching reality of infant loss that many live with every day.

At 38 weeks, Heather lost her baby boy. Because it was so late in the pregnancy, she had to deliver him, even while knowing that he was no longer alive.

For years, Heather battled with the grief that comes with such unexpected trauma. It took nearly two decades, but Heather is now telling her story to share both the realities of infant loss and the effects it can have on your life, as well as the hope that exists in healing.

📍 This episode was recorded in St. Louis, Missouri.

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⚠️Content Warning - this episode contains conversations around abuse.

Julie has the kind of story that you look back on and say, how can one person have lived through so much? Growing up in an abusive household, Julie was eager to get away as soon as she had her high school diploma. But escaping your past and your trauma, aren't necessarily easy; especially when life continues to get harder.

Because of how involved Julie's story is, it's split into 2 parts. This is part 2, where Julie talks about navigating difficult relationships, and multiple serious illnesses that have affected their family relationships.

You can visit Julie's website here.

📍 This episode was recorded in Dallas, Texas.

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⚠️Content Warning - this episode contains conversations around abuse.

Julie has the kind of story that you look back on and say, how can one person have lived through so much? Growing up in an abusive household, Julie was eager to get away as soon as she had her high school diploma. But escaping your past and your trauma, aren't necessarily easy; especially when life continues to get harder.

Because of how involved Julie's story is, it's split into 2 parts. This is part 1, where Julie talks about growing up, getting married, having young children, and navigating all of that while walking through abuse, uncertainty, injury, and illness.

📍 This episode was recorded in Dallas, Texas.

You can visit Julie's website here.

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⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains conversations around trauma, death, and drug use. Names have been changed in this episode to protect the identity of those involved.

Cody was a paramedic for over a decade. He spent more than ten years of seeing some of the saddest and worst parts of humanity, some of whom he knew personally. While he did so much good during that time, it left him numb, needing to dissociate and rely on alcohol to get through.

When his family encouraged him to go on a missions trip, it was the last thing he wanted to do. But spurred on by his mom and his niece, Cody went. And he found a new dream.

These days, Cody describes himself as a missionary to missionaries. He spends his time working with individual missionaries, small organizations, and orphans around the world.

📍 This episode was recorded in Brasov, Romania.

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Quanisha is a doula operating in San Antonio Texas, as well as a leader of the San Antonio Black Doula Collective.

While doula may or man not be a term you're familiar with, the practice of being the emotional, mental, and physical support for a woman leading up to, including, and after birth, their role has existed for centuries.

Quanisha is diligent in supporting her clients through the entire process of pregnancy, birth, and after care. It is her work in this community that got her involved with the San Antonio Black Doula Collective - a nonprofit that seeks to "support black families and doulas of San Antonio to help counter the high rates of maternal and infant mortality rates..."

📍 This episode was recorded in San Antonio, Texas.

Follow Quanisha on Instagram

Learn more about the San Antonio Black Doula Collective

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⚠️Content Warning - this episode contains conversations around infant loss.

When Mel was a teenager, still under her parents care, she was diagnosed with a progressive autoimmune disorder. While a diagnosis like that is bound to change your life in some way, the reality was that Mel had to start thinking about what she and her husband-to-be wanted their future to look like; this disorder could make it complicated to have children.

Knowing they wanted kids, Mel and her husband began planning for a family right away. And while they were able to welcome their first child without many complications, the story of Mel's subsequent pregnancies are ones of pain, grief, and confusion.

Infant loss is an incredibly difficult, but important, topic to speak about. It's important because so many women are suffering in silence, feeling as though they have done something wrong.

But there is help and there is hope. If you are struggling with infertility or infant loss, you are not incomplete, or bad, or wrong.

Mel's story is, ultimately, one of joy. And while not everyone will have the same outcome, telling these stories is important because they help us to know that we are not alone.

📍 This episode was recorded in Dallas, Texas.

Purchase Mel's Book, Tiny Miracles

Join Mel's Facebook Group

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⚠️Content Warning - this episode contains conversations around cheating.

As a pastor's kid, Hesron always knew what was expected of him. He played the part well, but from a young age, Hesron began living in two separate worlds. He was one person while he was in front of others, and someone else behind closed doors.

After being introduced to pornography at the age of 12, Hesron struggled with an addiction to it for more than a decade; and it escalated until he hit his lowest point - being unfaithful to his wife.

It was through his willingness to take accountability for his actions, his humility in seeking help, and his faith that Hesron has ultimately found healing.

📍 This episode was recorded in Austin, Texas.

Visit Hesron's Website

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