A Contagious Smile Podcast
A Contagious Smile is a powerful platform dedicated to uplifting and empowering special needs families and survivors of domestic violence. Through heartfelt stories, we shine a light on the journeys of extraordinary individuals who have overcome unimaginable challenges. Their triumphs serve as a testament to resilience and strength, inspiring others to rediscover their own inner light. Each episode features candid interviews with survivors, advocates, and experts who provide valuable resources and insights to support those on their own paths to healing and empowerment. Join us as we celebrate the power of resilience, the beauty of shared stories, and the unstoppable spirit of those who turn adversity into hope. Let us guide you in rekindling your spirit, because every smile tells a story of courage and transformation.
Episodes
352 episodes
Rising Strong From Domestic Violence
What if hope felt practical? We open with big news—a future celebrity co‑host, a magazine cover, and a wave of new faces in our academy—then pull the curtain back on why we do this: to help survivors leave, safely and on their terms. No scripts...
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58:06
Surviving Abuse, Exposing Cover-Ups, Rebuilding A Life
A bruised face, a polite traffic stop, and a business card offering the abuser a job. That moment anchors a raw conversation about how charm becomes control, how violence hides in plain sight, and how institutions can look away precisely when p...
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1:01:07
Scent, Love, And Starting Over
The laughter starts with old-school cologne and a running joke about who’s the “sapphire,” then takes a deliberate turn into what those small rituals really mean. We talk about flipping the switch from smelling good for strangers to making it a...
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53:39
We Share How Writing, Healing, And Community Keep Our Mission Alive
Start with a laugh, stay for the lifelines. We open the door on a raw, hope-forward conversation about healing from narcissistic abuse, breaking generational trauma, and keeping a mission alive without selling its soul. From landing the cover o...
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38:27
Addiction, Love, And The Weight We Carry
Two golden retrievers at our feet, a heavy topic on the table. We dive straight into addiction’s messy reality: the slow drift from “I’m fine” to morning liquor in coffee, the way denial dresses up as control, and the brutal truth that love alo...
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50:37
My Husband, A Pee Hat, And A Plot Twist
A bathroom mix-up in the ER shouldn’t become a masterclass in patient advocacy—but ours did. What starts as a comic detour with a “pee hat” turns into a sharp look at chain-of-custody, contamination risk, and the maddening silence that can stre...
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37:52
Protecting Your Peace From Narcissists
Some nights turn into a tug-of-war between chaos and clarity. We start with the mess that hits after a loved one passes—addresses, wills, medical directives, and the million tiny decisions no one wants to make while grieving. Getting your docum...
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41:23
Welcoming Dad Home
The night the house gets quieter, life gets louder. We open the door to Dad after he loses his wife and talk candidly about what it means to fold a parent into your daily rhythm—care, meals, jokes, horror-movie nights, and the steady work of ma...
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30:01
Smoke, Safety, And A Package On The Porch
A quiet Thanksgiving gave way to a jarring delivery that raised a bigger question: what’s the line between personal freedom and public safety at our front doors? We walk through the moment a driver cut across our lawn, tossed a package, and lef...
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29:58
Beyond The Limb And Beyond Labels: A Family’s Mission To Uplift Amputees And Special Needs Kids
What if the most meaningful gift you give this year is your story? We’re opening our arms to two big projects fueled by real life and real heart: Beyond the Limb, a practical, compassionate course for new amputees, and Not Defined By My Diagnos...
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34:42
How Muck Sticky Turns Grit Into Joy And Advocacy Into Action
Some stories crack you open in the best way. This conversation with Muck Sticky blends raw honesty, laugh-out-loud moments, and a deep well of heart—from Cookie’s courage through major dental surgery to a life lesson stitched into pajama pants ...
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1:18:35
Silence loses when truth finds a microphone
Truth doesn’t whisper—it arrives with fire, humor, and a plan. We kick things off with a preview of our upcoming conversation with Muck Sticky, whose out‑loud joy and off‑the‑wall songs remind us that laughter can be a lifeline. From there, we ...
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37:00
Jealousy, jokes, and the hard truths of narcissism—how one family turns chaos, grief, and healing into love, laughter, and boundaries
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41:51
Love, legacy, and the courage to prepare for the worst
A single phone call flipped our week, our plans, and our priorities—and taught us how “having a will” can still leave a family drowning in decisions. We open the door to our real-time experience of sudden loss: caring for Dad, sorting thirty ye...
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32:27
When Your Truth Becomes Their Trigger
Have you ever been silenced for speaking your truth? Join us for an intimate conversation about breaking through barriers and finding your voice even when others try to quiet it.Victoria reveals the surprising backlash to her evidence-b...
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43:43
One Ear Down: How Laughter Heals Even When You Can't Hear the Joke
What happens when the world suddenly goes silent on one side? Victoria's recent ear surgery has left her completely deaf in one ear, forcing her to navigate a new reality where simple interactions become profound challenges. In this raw and emo...
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27:22
We survived and we're telling our stories, no matter what they say.
Three years after losing her limb, Victoria marks her "FU anniversary" with a raw, unfiltered conversation about survival, resilience, and finding your voice after trauma. This special edition podcast takes listeners on a deeply personal journe...
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57:08
