What Came Next

Content warning: organized crime, murder, attempted murder, extortion, child abuse, physical, mental, emotional, and financial abuse, domestic violence, trafficking, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.

Kurt Calabrese is a survivor, father, grandfather, and Chicago native whose life and family history have become the subject of many media productions. Kurt has shared his firsthand story in such outlets as ABC7 Chicago, the Chicago Sun-Times, Soft White Underbelly, Gangland Wire, and the Underbelly: Killing Kurt podcast. It is Kurt’s goal to bring greater awareness to the lasting impact of childhood abuse and trauma, drawing from his own experiences to encourage conversations about healing, mental health, and breaking the cycle of abuse. His story offers a deeply personal perspective on the effects that violence within a family can have long after childhood ends,  and also highlights the impact a larger social system of organized crime has. The Broken Cycle Media team is deeply grateful for Kurt’s honesty, openness, and rawness over these next several episodes.

Sources:

- “Hoax Bomb Shakes Trial.” Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2007, https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/06/20/hoax-bomb-shakes-trial/

-“How a Son’s Betrayal Brought Down Chicago’s Mob.” NPR, 14 Mar. 2011, https://www.npr.org/2011/03/14/134425257/how-a-sons-betrayal-brought-down-chicagos-mob

- “Jurors Claim Defendant Threatened Prosecutor During Mob Trial.” Courthouse News Service, https://www.courthousenews.com/jurors-claim-defendant-threatened-prosecutor-during-mob-trial/

- “Frank Calabrese Jr: Mobster Who Shopped His Dad to the FBI.” The Guardian, 25 Nov. 2011, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/25/frank-calabrese-jr-mobster-shopped-dad

- “Verdict in ‘Family Secrets’ Trial: All Guilty.” ABA Journal, [publication date if available], https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/verdict_in_family_secrets_trial_all_guilty

If you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, help is available. If you believe you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1 or contact your local authorities for emergency assistance. Local domestic violence programs, shelters, and crisis hotlines can also provide confidential support. Resources can be found via local agencies or thehotline.org

For a list of resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Thank you again to Cash App & Mint Mobile for sponsoring this episode. 

And don't forget for a new wireless plan starting at 15 bucks a month, go to MintMobile.com/wcn!

Content warning: organized crime, murder, attempted murder, extortion, child abuse, physical, mental, emotional, and financial abuse, domestic violence, trafficking, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.

Kurt Calabrese is a survivor, father, grandfather, and Chicago native whose life and family history have become the subject of many media productions. Kurt has shared his firsthand story in such outlets as ABC7 Chicago, the Chicago Sun-Times, Soft White Underbelly, Gangland Wire, and the Underbelly: Killing Kurt podcast. It is Kurt’s goal to bring greater awareness to the lasting impact of childhood abuse and trauma, drawing from his own experiences to encourage conversations about healing, mental health, and breaking the cycle of abuse. His story offers a deeply personal perspective on the effects that violence within a family can have long after childhood ends,  and also highlights the impact a larger social system of organized crime has. The Broken Cycle Media team is deeply grateful for Kurt’s honesty, openness, and rawness over these next several episodes.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, help is available. If you believe you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1 or contact your local authorities for emergency assistance. Local domestic violence programs, shelters, and crisis hotlines can also provide confidential support. Resources can be found via local agencies or thehotline.org

For a list of resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Thank you again to Lola Blankets for sponsoring this episode. Don't forget to get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at Lolablankets.com by using code WCN at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.

Content warning: organized crime, child abuse, physical, mental, emotional, and financial abuse, domestic violence, trafficking, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.

Kurt Calabrese is a survivor, father, grandfather, and Chicago native whose life and family history have become the subject of many media productions. Kurt has shared his firsthand story in such outlets as ABC7 Chicago, the Chicago Sun-Times, Soft White Underbelly, Gangland Wire, and the Underbelly: Killing Kurt podcast. It is Kurt’s goal to bring greater awareness to the lasting impact of childhood abuse and trauma, drawing from his own experiences to encourage conversations about healing, mental health, and breaking the cycle of abuse. His story offers a deeply personal perspective on the effects that violence within a family can have long after childhood ends,  and also highlights the impact a larger social system of organized crime has. The Broken Cycle Media team is deeply grateful for Kurt’s honesty, openness, and rawness over these next several episodes.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, help is available. If you believe you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1 or contact your local authorities for emergency assistance. Local domestic violence programs, shelters, and crisis hotlines can also provide confidential support. Resources can be found via local agencies or thehotline.org

For a list of resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Thank you again to Rula for sponsoring this episode. Don't forget that Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/wcn #rulapod

Content Warning: sexual assault, rape, image-based sexual abuse, strangulation, domestic violence, and attempted murder.

As shared in part one of her story, Kelly Sutliff is a survivor, founder of the nonprofit Kelly’s K-9’s: Tails of Courage, and a licensed professional counselor from New Jersey. In 2018, after a devastating grief journey, Kelly decided to return to her search for a life partner. It wouldn’t be long before she met a government contractor promising her the future she desired. However, her entire life changed on December 16th, 2019, when the loving relationship she had been cultivating with her new husband ended violently. After surviving an alleged attempted murder, Kelly has made it her mission to bring awareness and advocacy through her non-profit and sharing her story in the media. The Broken Cycle Media team is so very grateful for Kelly’s transparency, expertise, warmth, and listenership and support throughout the years.

Kelly's K-9's: Tails of Courage
https://www.kellysk9s.org/

Kelly's K-9's on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kellys_k9s_tailsofcourage/

Kelly on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/real_talk_with_kelly/

IDtv's 'Toxic':
https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/show/toxic-investigation-discovery-atve-us

For a list of additional resources and related non-profit organizations, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Content Warning: sexual assault, rape, image-based sexual abuse, strangulation, domestic violence, and attempted murder.

Kelly Sutliff is a survivor, founder of the nonprofit Kelly’s K-9’s: Tails of Courage, and a licensed professional counselor from New Jersey. In 2018, after a devastating grief journey, Kelly decided to return to her search for a life partner. It wouldn’t be long before she met a government contractor promising her the future she desired. However, her entire life changed on December 16th, 2019, when the loving relationship she had been cultivating with her new husband ended violently. After surviving an alleged attempted murder, Kelly has made it her mission to bring awareness and advocacy through her non-profit and sharing her story in the media. The Broken Cycle Media team is so very grateful for Kelly’s transparency, expertise, warmth, and listenership and support throughout the years.

Kelly's K-9's: Tails of Courage
https://www.kellysk9s.org/

Kelly's K-9's on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kellys_k9s_tailsofcourage/

Kelly on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/real_talk_with_kelly/

For a list of additional resources and related non-profit organizations, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Thank you again to Mint Mobile for sponsoring this episode. Don't forget to get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to mintmobile.com/wcn.

Content warning: sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse material, image-based sexual abuse, drug-facilitated sexual abuse, drug-facilitated rape, and rape.

Jenn Wilenta is a mother, survivor, educator, dancer, and advocate. After pursuing a degree in contemporary dance, Jenn reinvented her career several times to evolve with her burgeoning family. However, her trajectory would forever change in 2015 when she found a folder of videos on her partner-at-the-time’s computer. The videos showed her an alternate reality to the one she was living in, and life as she knew it changed forever. As a result, she would eventually seek justice within the criminal legal system, and cultivate her own sense of justice outside of it.  This led her to begin vulnerably sharing her experiences in her social media-based series, Tiny Kitchen Dances, which then led to the making of her documentary, Tiny Movements. The Broken Cycle Media team is so grateful Jenn was willing to share her story so powerfully and eloquently for the sake of our audience’s awareness.

Support Jenn:
- Jenn's Website: https://www.jenniferwilenta.com/
- Jenn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinykitchendances/
- Tiny Movements Film: https://www.tinymovementsfilm.com/
- Tiny Movements on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinymovementsfilm/

For a list of related resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Thank you again to Mint Mobile and Cash App for sponsoring this episode.

Don't forget, to get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to mintmobile.com/wcn. And:

Content warning: sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse material, image-based sexual abuse, drug-facilitated sexual abuse, drug-facilitated rape, and rape.

Jenn Wilenta is a mother, survivor, educator, dancer, and advocate. After pursuing a degree in contemporary dance, Jenn reinvented her career several times to evolve with her burgeoning family. However, her trajectory would forever change in 2015 when she found a folder of videos on her partner-at-the-time’s computer. The videos showed her an alternate reality to the one she was living in, and life as she knew it changed forever. As a result, she would eventually seek justice within the criminal legal system, and cultivate her own sense of justice outside of it.  This led her to begin vulnerably sharing her experiences in her social media-based series, Tiny Kitchen Dances, which then led to the making of her documentary, Tiny Movements. The Broken Cycle Media team is so grateful Jenn was willing to share her story so powerfully and eloquently for the sake of our audience’s awareness.

Support Jenn:
- Jenn's Website: https://www.jenniferwilenta.com/
- Jenn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinykitchendances/
- Tiny Movements Film: https://www.tinymovementsfilm.com/
- Tiny Movements on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinymovementsfilm/

For a list of related resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Content warning: grooming, sexual abuse, sexual abuse material, image-based sexual abuse, drug-facilitated sexual abuse, sexual assault, drug-facilitated rape, and rape.

Jenn Wilenta is a mother, survivor, educator, dancer, and advocate. After pursuing a degree in contemporary dance, Jenn reinvented her career several times to evolve with her burgeoning family. However, her trajectory would forever change in 2015 when she found a folder of videos on her partner-at-the-time’s computer. The videos showed her an alternate reality to the one she was living in, and life as she knew it changed forever. As a result, she would eventually seek justice within the criminal legal system, and cultivate her own sense of justice outside of it.  This led her to begin vulnerably sharing her experiences in her social media-based series, Tiny Kitchen Dances, which then led to the making of her documentary, Tiny Movements. The Broken Cycle Media team is so grateful Jenn was willing to share her story so powerfully and eloquently for the sake of our audience’s awareness.

Support Jenn:
- Jenn's Website: https://www.jenniferwilenta.com/
- Jenn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinykitchendances/
- Tiny Movements Film: https://www.tinymovementsfilm.com/

For a list of related resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Content warning: child abuse, religious abuse, religious trauma, child sexual abuse material, image-based sexual abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse, mental abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation.

Kate Johnson is a survivor, writer, poet, and occasional humorist whose work explores the process of deconstructing the evangelical beliefs and structures in which she was raised. A wordsmith who has also lived with a parent on the sex offender registry, Kate shares about the impact of her trauma, shame, grief, and estrangement. Her goal is to offer people inspiration and awareness amidst their own personal deconstruction process. The Broken Cycle Media team is incredibly appreciative of Kate's energy, time, advocacy, and her willingness to discuss hard truths in order to help ease others' trauma and lift their shame.

Kate on Substack: https://substack.com/@katejohnsonwrites
Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katejohnsonwrites/
Kate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katejohnsonwrites

For a list of resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

Content warning: substance use disorder, substance abuse, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, child-to-parent violence and abuse, and murder.

Ginger Goetz is a mother, graphic designer, and co-victim of murder from Kentucky. Since the 2015 murder of her mother, and the consequent legal battle to keep her sister imprisoned for the crime, Ginger has made it her life mission to bring awareness to intrafamilial murder & child-to-parent violence. In just over a decade, she has shared her and her mother’s story on many different platforms including Evil Lives Here, Deadly Women, Snapped, and more. She does so to honor her mother, Carlene, and to help others who may be navigating similar violence. The Broken Cycle Media team is deeply grateful for Ginger’s time, energy, and shared mission in grief. These two episodes are dedicated in loving memory of Carlene Conley.

If you believe you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency services. If you suspect you or a loved one may be a victim of domestic violence and/or child-to-parent violence and abuse in the United States, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-7233, texting "START" to 88788, or visiting thehotline.org to speak with a trained advocate. If you are outside the U.S., please contact a domestic violence support service in your country or region.

For a list of additional resources, visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources for a list of non-profit organizations that can help.