Trauma Interrupted with Jan Broberg

Today, Jan is joined by Tamar Blue, founder and CEO of MentalHappy, a Y Combinator-backed, HIPAA-compliant platform that empowers healthcare professionals, survivors, and advocates to create and lead expert-led support groups.

Content advisory: child sexual abuse.

Jan and Tamar discuss the need for safe, structured online communities away from the volatility of social media, especially for sensitive topics, like child sexual abuse and domestic violence. Tamar shares her empathetic journey into creating the platform, its features ensuring privacy and safety, and her vision for more preventative, community-based emotional healthcare.

 Where To Find Tamar:
MentalHappy

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

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Today, Jan is joined by Cathy Terkanian, who is here to share the heartbreaking story of her daughter, Alexis (Aundria M. Bowman), who was placed for adoption as an infant in 1974.

Content advisory: murder, death of a child, child sexual abuse, physical abuse, descriptions of violence, and inaction by authorities.

After Alexis vanished in 1989, Cathy spent decades piecing together the truth: her daughter had been abused and murdered by her adoptive father, a violent predator, and buried in their backyard. Despite systemic failures by police, courts, and social services, Cathy's relentless advocacy, aided by a web sleuth and DNA evidence, ultimately led to the discovery of Alexis's remains and the adoptive father's imprisonment. Cathy now fights to reform closed adoptions and remove the adoptive parents' names from her daughter's birth certificate, advocating for transparency and justice to protect other children.

Where To Find Cathy:
Netflix: Into The Fire: The Lost Daughter
FB Group: Justice for Aundria M. Bowman

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

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Today, Jan is joined by Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska, award-winning documentary filmmaker, academic, and psychoanalytic life coach, who is here to discuss trauma, healing, and the power of creative expression.

Content advisory: child sexual abuse, grooming, and domestic abuse.

Dr. Agnieszka and Jan explore themes of transgenerational trauma, silence, and the complex legacy of family history, drawing on Dr. Agnieszka’s personal experiences as the granddaughter of an Auschwitz survivor and a survivor of childhood grooming and abuse. The conversation covers her documentary work (such as Married to the Eiffel Tower), the use of creativity as a reparative tool, the pitfalls of "toxic positivity," and the spiritual journey that led her to the Quaker community. Throughout, they emphasize the importance of naming trauma, finding pathways to the light, and helping others through shared vulnerability and support.

Where To Find Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska:
Website: AgnieszkaPiotrowska.co.uk
Married to the Eiffel Tower (2008)
Her Latest Book: The Scholars’ Mentor’s Guide to Global Success for International Research Students
ScholarsMentor.com

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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Today, Jan is joined by Lynn Stroud, survivor turned advocate for those experiencing domestic abuse with an emphasis on bringing awareness about reproductive coercion to the public.

Content advisory: sexual content, reproductive coercion, domestic abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, rape, and stalking.

In this powerful conversation Lynn shares her extensive lived experience with reproductive coercion, domestic abuse, and sexual assault, spanning from her teenage years into her thirties. She details how these patterns of control and trauma manifested across multiple relationships, the impact of having her reproductive choices violated, and the long journey to finding safety and a healthy partnership. Lynn now uses her story to advocate for others, cultivate a trauma-informed mindset, and break intergenerational cycles of abuse.

Lynn was mentioned in an article:
Jezebel Article on Abortion Bans

Mentioned Resources:
TheHotline.org

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
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[Content Warning]: Child sexual abuse, child exploitation, trafficking, mild sexual content

Today, Jan is joined by Beth Magnetic, host of the Mormon True Crime podcast, to analyze the newly released Epstein emails, discussing the profound implications for survivors of child sexual abuse and trafficking. They delve into specific communications that reveal connections to powerful figures, including world leaders and business moguls, suggesting a network built on exploitation, blackmail, and political manipulation. The conversation highlights the importance of believing survivors and challenges narratives that minimize abuse. They also explore theories that the trafficking operation was a mechanism for gaining leverage and control on a global scale, emphasizing that this problem is fundamentally about power, not just sex.

Where To Find Beth Magnetic:
Mormon True Crime
Youtube: @DeathByPatriarchy

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
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[Content Warning]: Drug use, child abuse, neglect, child sexual abuse, addiction, attempted suicide, overdose, suicidal ideation

Today, Jan is again joined by Joshua Blomquist. In part two, Josh, emerging from prison with a new perspective, shares the powerful second half of his story. He details his journey through recovery, beginning as a case manager at the very organization that helped him, "Helping Hands." Josh discusses the profound work of addressing his trauma, learning that the question isn't "what's wrong with you?" but "what happened to you?". His experiences, once a source of shame, became his greatest asset in helping others. Now the Chief Operating Officer of a multi-million dollar organization, he reveals how he found purpose, healed relationships, and is ensuring his own child has an ACEs score of zero.

Where To Find Helping Hands:
Helping Hands Reentry Program
Insta: @HelpingHandsHopeCenters
FB: Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
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[Content Warning]: Drug use, child abuse, neglect, child sexual abuse, food insecurity, addiction, attempted suicide, overdose, suicidal ideation

Today, Jan is joined by Joshua Blomquist, whose life was shaped by immense childhood trauma then defined by his efforts to forge a new path forward. Josh recounts a childhood marked by food insecurity, neglect, and sexual abuse from ages 6 to 9, detailing how these Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) created a foundation of pain and insecurity. He explains how this trauma led to a 23-year struggle with substance abuse, using drugs and alcohol as a way to survive the voices in his head. Follow his descent, culminating in a desperate, non-violent hotel robbery—a cry for help to be sent to prison because he was too afraid to end his own life, setting the stage for his eventual incarceration. Come back next week to close out this two parter with a message of “If I can do it, so can you”

Where To Find Helping Hands:
Helping Hands Reentry Program
Insta: @HelpingHandsHopeCenters
FB: Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
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[Content Warning]: Child sexual abuse, incest, suicidal ideation, flashbacks, domestic violence,

Today, Jan is joined by Annie Piombino, a trauma-aware coach, speaker, photographer, and guide who helps women dissolve self-doubt and deepen self-trust so they can reclaim the life they were born to live. Annie shares her powerful journey of recovering memories of incestual childhood sexual abuse after a health crisis with her son started an internal and external collapse of her life that kickstarted her profound healing process. She discusses the non-linear path of healing from complex trauma, the stigma of incest, and the importance of somatic and therapeutic work. Annie explains how she transformed her trauma into empowerment, ultimately reclaiming her life and now guiding other women to dissolve self-doubt and deepen self-trust through her coaching program, "Evolving Out Loud." This is a conversation about post-traumatic growth, finding your voice, and the radical act of trusting yourself again.

Where To Find Annie:
AnniePiombino.com
Evolving Out Loud

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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In this series, Jan selects a word to focus on for each month, encouraging growth in a specific area, challenging herself and her audience. This year Jan will be focusing on the difficult words and topics we tend to tie to ourselves, offering insight and tools to manage or overcome these obstacles. This month, the focus is on boundaries. Jan shares insights from a transformative business/entrepreneurial conference she attended, "Survivor to CEO" which was created by friend of the pod Arci Grey. Jan reflects on the powerful connection between past trauma and the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, particularly women. Using Donna Thorell's book, "Ditch the Rules, Use the Tools, and Reclaim Your Life," as a guide, Jan delves into a crucial topic for healing: the power of boundaries. She explains why setting boundaries is an act of self-respect, not selfishness, and explores the science behind how they rewire the brain, lower stress, and foster healthier relationships. Jan offers relatable examples and reflective questions to help listeners identify where they need boundaries and find the courage to enforce them for a more peaceful and empowered life.

Mentioned Resources:
Survivor to C.E.O. Archetype Quiz
(Currently Unavailable) Ditch the Rules Use the Tools by Donna Thurell 

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒  The Jan Broberg Story
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💌 Fan Mail

Support the show

[Content Warning]: Domestic violence, gaslighting, financial abuse

Today, Jan is joined by Angeline Constantinou, a Women's Empowerment Partner, a survivor of domestic violence, and founder of Let’s Break the Silence, who has transformed her pain into a powerful mission to help others. Angeline shares her journey of breaking free from a marriage marked by financial, emotional, and physical abuse, and the cultural conditioning that taught her to be a people-pleaser. She discusses the pivotal moments of reclaiming her identity, the importance of self-love and faith, and how she now empowers women through her coaching program and podcast, "Let's Break the Silence." This conversation is a raw and inspiring look at turning a life lesson into a new beginning, emphasizing that we are stronger than our pasts.

Where To Find Angeline:
LetsBreakTheSilence.com
Let's Break The Silence Podcast
Angeline’s Insta: @angeline_constantinou
Let’s Break the Silence Insta: @lets_breakthesilence

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
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✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒  The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

💌 Fan Mail

Support the show