What happens when the very laws meant to protect children instead give predators a license to abuse? In this episode of Your Radical Truth Podcast, host Margaret Mary O'Connor speaks with survivor, advocate, and bestselling author Donna Simmons, whose life story exposes the devastating reality of child marriage in the United States.

Donna reveals how systemic failures, generational trauma, and outdated laws continue to silence survivors and perpetuate abuse. At just 16, she was forced into marriage—a betrayal legitimized by the system itself. Rather than remain silent, Donna transformed her pain into purpose. Today she leads the fight to end child marriage, hold institutions accountable, and empower survivors to reclaim their voices.

Her memoir, From Ashes to Flame, is more than a personal story. It is a call to action, urging lawmakers and communities alike to confront the truth and demand change.

This conversation is raw, urgent, and necessary. Tune in to hear how Donna Simmons is breaking cycles of trauma, challenging systemic betrayal, and sparking a movement for justice.

Listen now: www.YourRadicalTruth.com/044-Donna-Simmons

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, revealing a system that treats childbirth as an illness rather than a natural process. Reverend Brighid Danielle Curby Hegdale, ordained in the Reformed Anamkara Celtic Church and a longtime doula, joins host Margaret Mary O'Connor on Your Radical Truth Podcast to uncover the truth about midwifery, doulas, and the need for genuine consent in maternal care.

Reverend Hegdale shares her personal story of birth trauma, her decades of experience supporting women and families, and her journey into priesthood. This conversation explores how midwifery has supported families for centuries, why doulas are vital, and how faith and advocacy intersect to restore dignity in birth.

Full post here: www.YourRadicalTruth.com/043-Danielle-Hegdale

What happens when life ends suddenly, without warning or time to say goodbye?

Few people have confronted that mystery as closely as Father Nathan G. Castle, O.P., a Dominican priest with an extraordinary ministry. For more than three decades, Father Nathan has been called in dreams to help souls who died traumatically or abruptly. Over 600 individuals who passed through accidents, violence, or sudden events have appeared to him seeking peace, healing, and a way forward.

With prayer partners beside him, Father Nathan guides these souls through what he calls Interrupted Death Experiences™. His role is not about chasing the supernatural but about offering pastoral care and helping the departed release trauma so they can move into the light.

In this powerful conversation with host Margaret Mary O'Connor, you'll hear how:

• Souls can become "stuck" after sudden death and what helps them move on

• Truth and compassion bring healing, even in the afterlife

• Families sometimes witness near-death visitations that ease the transition

• A young baseball player nicknamed "Iron Mike" found freedom after decades of guilt and confusion

• Speaking openly about mystical encounters helps others share their stories without shame

Father Nathan also draws a clear line between his ministry and necromancy, explaining how his Dominican leadership recognizes this unique calling as part of his vocation. His stories reveal the profound variety of afterlife experiences and the hope that peace is always possible.

Resources Mentioned:

• Father Nathan's website: nathan-castle.com

• Afterlife Interrupted series

A conversation filled with faith, mystery, and compassion, offering a rare glimpse into what may await on the other side of life's most sudden endings.

www.YourRadicalTruth.com/42-Father-Nathan

Up to 70% of new moms face crushing exhaustion and overwhelm in their baby's first year — yet many suffer in silence. On this episode of Your Radical Truth, Margaret Mary O'Connor talks with Maria Moreno, founder of Mindful Mother, about her journey from postpartum depression and dangerous sleep deprivation to becoming a certified sleep consultant and motherhood life coach.

Maria shares gentle, proven strategies for improving infant sleep without hours of crying, why pediatricians often miss the signs of postpartum sleep struggles, and how lack of rest affects a mother's mental health, relationships, and safety. She also introduces Tumago, her line of sensory-friendly comfort blankets designed for babies, toddlers, and children with autism or ADHD.

If you're a new mom, an overwhelmed parent, or someone supporting one, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and the reminder that motherhood should not mean burnout.

Full post at: www.yourradicaltruth.com/014-Maria-Moreno

Kellina Powell was a happy-go-lucky four-year-old when her world suddenly changed. After experiencing severe illness, she lost her hearing. What followed could have been a story of limitation, isolation, and struggle. Instead, it became one of resilience, transformation, and leadership. Today, Kellina is a Deaf coach, international speaker, 4X best-selling author, and entrepreneur who is deeply committed to creating a more inclusive and empowering world for Deaf and disabled individuals.

Kellina recently joined Margaret Mary O'Connor on the Your Radical Truth podcast to share her extraordinary journey. She opens up about growing up Deaf, breaking down barriers, and using her voice to ignite change for future generations.

Finding Purpose in the Face of Adversity

Losing her hearing at a young age presented Kellina with countless challenges. From navigating communication hurdles to confronting a society that often fails to include or understand the Deaf experience, her early years were marked by a sense of otherness. Yet, rather than let her circumstances define her, Kellina chose to redefine the narrative.

She became determined to live life fully, not in spite of being Deaf, but proudly because of it. Her lived experience became the foundation for a mission-driven life, one rooted in empowerment, education, and advocacy.

Empowering Young Adults with Disabilities

Kellina's coaching practice focuses on helping young adults with disabilities build confidence, develop a strong sense of identity, and gain the tools they need to thrive. She understands what it feels like to be misunderstood or underestimated, and she brings a rare level of empathy and insight to every coaching session.

In the podcast, she explains how her work is not just about helping individuals achieve their personal goals. It is about giving them the skills to live boldly in a world that may not always be ready to support them. Kellina's coaching is as much about mindset and self-belief as it is about strategy and action.

Full post: www.YourRadicalTruth.com/040-Kellina-Powell

Only 1 in 5 women feel comfortable talking about menopause. That statistic is not just shocking—it's damaging. On my podcast, Your Radical Truth, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. J. Michelle Vann about why this silence is so harmful and how we begin to break it.

We talked about the vital conversations that should be happening between mothers, daughters, and grandmothers. Dr. Vann shared the inspiration behind Sistas Can We Talk and how her nonprofit is helping women build trust, community, and confidence around their health.

This episode is for every woman who has ever felt overlooked or unheard during a major life transition. www.YourRadicalTruth.com/039-Dr-Michelle-Vann

#MenopauseAwareness #GenerationalWellness #FaithAndWellness

Thousands of children are believed to be born to Catholic priests, yet their stories have been buried under decades of secrecy and shame. On this episode of the Your Radical Truth Podcast, I sat down with Linda Kelly Lawless, an Australian genealogist who discovered through DNA testing that her biological father was a Catholic priest. What followed was a six-year uphill battle to have the Church simply acknowledge the truth.

Her story is one of courage, perseverance, and the deep trauma caused by institutional denial. Linda is now the first person in Australia to have her birth certificate legally corrected in such a case. This episode isn't just about her, it's about a silenced population finally being heard.

www.yourradicaltruth.com/038-Linda-Kelly-Lawless #CatholicChurch #DNAJustice #YourRadicalTruthPodcast

Only a small fraction of military veterans become priests, and fewer still find their calling in an independent Catholic tradition like the Celtic Christian Church. In this inspiring episode of Your Radical Truth, host Margaret Mary O'Connor welcomes Father Thomas Marble, a combat medic turned priest, healer, and author.

Father Thomas shares how a life of constant relocation, 22 years in the military, and a deep yearning for spiritual truth led him to Celtic Christianity. He opens up about his experiences in Bosnia, his training in psychiatric nursing and chaplaincy, and how divine guidance pointed him toward a more inclusive, healing-centered form of faith.

Discover how his novel The Mission blends fantasy with Celtic wisdom, why radical hospitality is central to his ministry, and how his current studies in herbalism are helping him prepare for a new chapter of holistic healing.

Tune in for a moving conversation about service, sacred calling, women priests, and the power of spiritual authenticity.

Learn more at www.YourRadicalTruth.com/037-Father-Thomas-Marble

Did you know nearly 12 million adults in the U.S. are misdiagnosed annually, with some errors leading to serious harm or death? This staggering fact set the stage for a jaw-dropping episode of the Your Radical Truth Podcast, hosted by Margaret Mary O'Connor. In this deeply moving interview, guest Jessica Summers shares her harrowing and ultimately redemptive journey from thriving fashion designer to near-death patient, addiction, institutionalization, and homelessness - and how she reclaimed her voice, power, and purpose.

From Fashion to Freefall

Jessica Summers appeared to have it all: a successful career, a family, and a vibrant life. But her second pregnancy marked the beginning of a downward spiral. What began as routine prenatal care turned catastrophic when a medical oversight - retained placenta - set off a cascade of chronic infections, pain, and overprescription. "I was doing everything I was told," Jessica recalls, "but instead of healing, I got sicker." Each new symptom was met with a new medication - antibiotics, painkillers, antipsychotics - each pulling her deeper into the system that was supposed to help her.

The Medical System's Dark Underbelly

Jessica's story highlights what many women in medicine quietly endure: being dismissed, overmedicated, or misdiagnosed. Diagnosed with conditions she didn't have and subjected to medications that made her worse, she was labeled "non-compliant" when she tried to advocate for herself. "If you don't have an eyeball hanging out, they don't believe how sick you are," she says. At her lowest, Jessica found herself in a psychiatric facility, forcibly medicated, ignored, and punished for asking questions.

This episode of Your Radical Truth is essential listening for women navigating healthcare, particularly those in the marginalized, chronically ill, or overmedicated communities. It's a wake-up call to question blind trust in a system that often gaslights women's pain.

Full post: www.YourRadicalTruth.com/036-Jessica-Summers

According to Statistics Canada, nearly 1 in 5 Canadians aged 15 and older live with one or more disabilities—yet many of their stories remain untold. On this episode of Your Radical Truth, host Margaret Mary O'Connor shines a spotlight on one of those voices. Meet CJ Janzen—"The Singing Speaker"—a queer, disabled advocate, storyteller, and artist living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a severe chronic illness that leaves them mostly bedbound.

From working as a paramedic and scuba instructor to launching {dis}ABILITY Unleashed, CJ's life defies convention. Their journey of surviving childhood abuse, alcoholism, and complex chronic illness is matched only by their resilience and determination to create inclusive spaces where disabled artists can thrive.

With a mantra of "Choose to live joyously within the tempest of adversity," CJ uses story, song, and strategy to challenge stigma and ignite hope. In this heart-opening interview, they speak candidly about brain fog, living with limited energy, and finding purpose in creative advocacy.

Whether organizing Disability Pride Month events from bed or writing for anthologies like Start Over and Pillow Writers, CJ is committed to amplifying the voices too often left out. They remind us that joy, connection, and meaning are still possible—even in the hardest moments.

To learn more, visit www.YourRadicalTruth.com/035-CJ-Janzen