Today's episode we explore the darker side of podcasting. Think actors reading mean tweets but we'll go a bit further than that. I've seen that first 1 star review destroy a podcasters confidence. I've seen trolls and harassers bring other podcasters to the brink. I've collected submissions from other podcasters that read some of the worst messages they've received or just the messages they've received today. What you'll hear only scratches the surface of what we endure on a daily basis. This isn't anything out of the ordinary. This is just a Tuesday in a podcasters life. http://www.insightpod.com/ https://vovpodcast.podbean.com/ https://canadiantruecrime.ca/ http://www.mauramurraydoc.com/podcast/ https://www.oxygen.com/people/maggie-freleng http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/ http://thinkingsidewayspodcast.com/ https://art19.com/shows/generation-why-podcast

I had the pleasure of meeting Josh during my travels. As most of my conversations with people go, we skipped past the small talk and went straight to the trauma that has impacted his life. Josh contracted HIV after he was raped. He talks a bit about the attack and the repercussions from that night. His resilience and overall demeanor make him a superhero in my mind. I hope you enjoy hearing Josh's story as much as I enjoyed speaking with him. Check out his other podcasts if you have the chance. http://www.our-americana.com/oapodcast/ http://www.our-americana.com/karenandellen/

Today's guest talks about her lack of impulse control, harm thoughts, and OCD. She takes us down a path where she was on the brink of causing great harm to her fellow students. This episode will give listeners some insight into the Aurora shooter, Chardon HS shooting, and Parkland. We discuss things that can go right and wrong in the prevention of teens that could lash out towards others. We touch upon SSRIs and exposure therapy and their place in treating mental illness.

Commonly called postpartum depression but more accurately referred to as postpartum disorder. It's regularly misunderstood as simple depression but runs the gamut from anxiety to psychosis. Mothers who suffer from this are routinely judged and accused of being a bad parent. We are unable to control our hormones and chemicals that balance us every day. Pregnancy causes an extreme shift in a woman's body which creates havoc for her emotions and mental stability. My guests speak about their struggles, the shame they endured and how this topic is definitely on the peripheral.

We've talked about parents a lot on this podcast. Our first story involves a father who supports his family by not so legal means. After his disappearance, a secret life is revealed. Emma's colorful description of the family's reaction to their father's whereabouts is classic. The second story takes a darker turn. After Rose's family splits up she moves in with her father. Every daughter puts all their trust into their father and every father should protect that trust. His voyeuristic actions not only put her in danger but destroy the family. This is a situation that no child ever wants to find themselves.

Have you ever wondered what happens to guns that are seized by police or who cleans up after a murder? This is a not a true crime episode, rather what happens in the aftermath. On this episode, my guests talk about their roles in clean up, confiscation and give their views on the industries they work in. https://www.facebook.com/TheCleaningofJohnDoe/ @JohnDoePodcast

Part 2 is here! No worries if you haven't listened to part 1 yet. These episodes have similar topics yet fell on opposite ends of the spectrum. My guest, Mary, talks about the abusive upbringing that led her to a path of depression and low self-esteem. This combination drove her to seek validation in any way she could. After going through an endless supply of young men who invite her into their bedrooms, she still does not find a way of fulfilling herself. We do not go into explicit details but there are adult themes and language.

This will be a two-parter on sexual disorders. I say upfront in the episode that sexual disorders are more mental disorders that can reveal themselves in numerous ways. My first guest has severe anxiety that's prevented him from being intimate with women. My 2nd guest will be featured in part 2 and falls on the other end of the spectrum. It shows two different stories can come from the same coin. Finally show https://pleasingterrors.com/ some love. He's had a very rough week.

Happy to be back in the saddle after a long unexpected hiatus. I try to give a quick update and jump right into the story. This week I speak with Igor about his upbringing. He talks about his hard-working family and how he always felt like the black sheep. His father suffered from PTSD from the time he spent on the front lines of the Bosnian war and his mother struggled in the relationship. Igor struggles with his own demons while his family adapts to a new life in a new world.

Happy Valentine's day. I didn't intend to release an episode on domestic abuse on this day we should be celebrating our partners. My first guest is from Russia but has migrated west to Sweden where her nightmare begins. She also has an interesting introduction that I thought listeners would want to hear about. My second guest Brandon is a fun and energetic guy. When he was a teenager, his mother found herself in with a man who would put the entire family in jeopardy.