On this episode of The Peripheral I speak with Shane and Brent about a troubling situation. Brent was single at the time and trying out the dating world when he was contacted by someone who he thought was a perfect match. Brent will end up being catfished for months.. and then everything gets much worse. Please check out the Foul Play: Crime Series podcast - the season is called Making a Predator to hear a deep dive into this outrageous story. You can find it here: https://link.chtbl.com/foulplay

Welcome to The Peripheral

The nice ones. Being nice and compassionate is what I strive for. If only coming from a place of caring or understanding came from both sides. Sadly us nice ones can be taken advantage of, walked over and even targets for abuse. Abuse comes in many shapes and forms, it's not always physical. If you're listening to this and hear any similarity in your relationship, whether that's controlling, belittling or just someone taking advantage of your living situation or financials. Please know that what you're going through is not right and these are not the traits of a healthy relationship. If you know someone who is in a similar situation, please feel free to forward this episode to them. Maybe it'll help someone understand they're not alone and see abuse for what it is.

On today's episode I'm joined by Sam who has struggled with her eating disorder since she was 10 years old. Having been in and out of treatment facilities and going through seperation with her husband, her disorder spiraled bringing her to the brink of death.  One last drive, one last push, one last attempt along with lots love and support she was able to break the chain.  www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ Hotline 800.931.2237 www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders Feel free to reach out to Sam https://www.instagram.com/livingpeachydeath/ [email protected]

On this week's episode I speak with Ashley, who talks about repeatedly crossing paths with the person she would fall in love with.  What she didn't understand: these paths were actually railroad tracks, and she was about to be hit by a train.  She describes her struggles with finding places to live, with helping others, and how her giving and generous nature made her a target.  Ashley is now a survivor, and is stronger than ever.

On this episode of The Peripheral I speak with Sara, who lost her brother to heroin.  We talk about what it's like to watch a sibling's life disintegrate in front of you, how hard it can be to relate to what they're going through. If you know someone who is struggling, know that they aren't intentionally trying to hurt you.  Please visit these support groups for family members of addicts. nar-anon.og Al-anon.org

We all have our idea of the perfect relationship and what we look for in one partner. We follow social constructs that tell us who to love, how to love, and how many we can fall in love with. What if you meet several perfect partners at the same time? My guest Josie disregards the "rules" while making her own when it comes to love and relationships.

According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, almost 90,000 cases of child sexual abuse are reported each year. Countless incidents go unreported, and 96 percent of these children are abused by someone they know and trust. In this episode, my guests discuss what it's like to be young teens, the older men they were with and the manipulation they went through. First interview with Rosie from Voice of the Victim. She talks about the grooming process and the effects it had on her. My second guest Cara (starts at 23mins) talks about a relationship an 18 year old started with her when she was around 13 years old. My third guest Tiffany (starts at 1 hour 17mins) was targeted by a family friend who hides behind his membership in the Mormon church. Her parents handle the discovery of this abuse in sharply contrasting ways, adding to her fear and shame.

Trauma suffered during childhood can follow us through life, molding our behaviors and relationships. Today's guest Melissa talks about sexual abuse and the ripple effects that have influenced her life. National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, 95 percent of sexually abused children will be abused by someone they know and trust, and 84 percent of sexual victimization of children under 12 occurs in a residence.

I make an effort to cover topics that happen every day but that people find either too painful or taboo to speak of. Today, I have a returning guest who covers the topic of miscarriage and other issues she encountered during her pregnancy. Various medical staff gave her different answers while she was on an emotional rollercoaster, which ended up affecting every aspect of her life.