Dismissed True Stories
Dismissed True Stories is a survivor-led podcast that dares to break the silence around domestic violence, emotional abuse, and toxic relationships. Each episode shares the raw, unfiltered realities of what abuse really looks like. From overlooked red flags to moments of escape, and everything in between.
Created by a survivor-turned-advocate with a broadcasting background, DTS is where stories once silenced are now spoken. Loudly, honestly, and without apology. We’re not here to sensationalize abuse; we’re here to humanize survivors.
You’ll hear from survivors finding their voices, families forever changed by loss, and organizations working to support healing and recovery. Sometimes, it’s one survivor passing the mic to another with a piece of advice that could change or.. save a life.
But DTS isn’t just about telling stories of survival. Each episode's commentary helps you decode your own story, make sense of your experiences, and see the patterns you might have missed while in survival mode.
The tone? Like talking with a trusted friend. No fluff. Just truth.
Whether you're navigating narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, or coercive control or you're in the process of rebuilding your self-worth and healing your trauma this space is for you.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is finally tell your own story.
Survivor-led. Heart-led. Truth-led.
#DismissedTrueStories | A podcast for survivors and victims, by survivors.
Dismissed True Stories
The Elephant In The Room
After seven months away, I've returned to the microphone with a refreshed spirit and important lessons to share. My break wasn't just about rest, it was an important journey into understanding how advocacy work affects mental health and how easily we can burn out when pouring ourselves into others' stories without proper self-care.
The past months taught me that stepping back doesn't mean stepping away from what matters. While deliberately distancing myself from the podcast, I remained deeply engaged with domestic violence prevention work, participating in a high lethality review group with local law enforcement, helping implement screening processes that could save lives, and even being recognized as a finalist for the Mari Martin Award. These experiences reminded me why I started Dismissed True Stories: to give survivors a platform, inspire healing, and help others recognize and leave abusive relationships.
Season Two brings exciting new dimensions to our community. You'll hear powerful survivor narratives from across the globe. I'm introducing a new storytelling series called "What They Couldn't Say," focusing on lives lost to domestic violence. I'll be introducing anonymous stories as well, and throughout it all, I'll be modeling the lesson that took me seven months to truly learn: taking care of yourself isn't weakness, it's the foundation that makes sustainable advocacy possible. Subscribe, share, and join me as we heal, grow, and rise together.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 OR text begin to 88788
Join the Sisterhood! The Survivor Sisterhood
Come join our community of survivors who are looking to meet someone just like you! See the behind the scenes work that goes into the sisterhood non-profit business, discuss DTS episodes, and of course find your survivor sister.
🔗 Follow Along:
Ready to share your story? Send me an email with the main talking points of your experience and I'll reach out to book an interview.
dismissedtruestories@thesurvivorsisterhood.com
Give DTS a 5 star rating! It helps this podcast reach other victims and survivors who NEED these stories! Help us find each other, help us heal, and help us find safety. Love you, mean it.
After a long seven months of some rest and reflection, I am finally back, and so is Dismissed True Stories. It feels actually really good to say that again. I have missed connecting with you for real and sharing the incredible stories of courage and resilience that make this podcast so freaking special. But first I want to thank you for your patience and understanding over the past six months. Let's just address or seven months, I think. Let's just address the elephant in the room. Yeah, I took a break, but I don't want to go into that without saying that your support means the world to me and I'm so grateful for this community. But why did I take a break? Well, because my mental health girl. I mean, that's the only way to put it.
Speaker 1:I totally forgot that while telling these stories and editing them and then making educational content, just being a survivor advocate, it's so easy to pour into everything else except for yourself. You really want to bring awareness. Talking about domestic violence is so close to your heart, but then you kind of forget that you're going to be triggered in the process. And taking care of yourself, taking care of myself, was the most important part to all of this, and I definitely was not doing that. So I burnt myself out so hard and, talking to my therapist, she was like you really need to learn how to regulate your nervous system and you need to learn how to be quiet and slow down. So that's what I did and over the past couple seven months, I learned how to just sit with myself. I have accomplished a lot in my personal life and, even though I wasn't doing the podcast, I was doing a lot behind the scenes. I am part of a high lethality group where we actually, like we do some case reviews, we look to see where some victims could have fallen through the cracks, and we're working with our local police department to enforce a high lethality screening, which is amazing. We're hoping that the state will soon adopt our program. Let's see what else.
Speaker 1:I was a finalist for the Mary Martin Award, which there's been so much going on, even though I decided to take a step away from the podcast and social media for a while. So I guess, with all that being said, I've learned that if you're not filling your own cup, you can't give to others the way that you truly want to. So it's okay to pause, it's okay to rest and it's okay to prioritize your healing. So, speaking of the power of rest, stepping back doesn't mean stepping away. I'm still here, and what that has definitely done is allowed me to come back to this work with just a renewed sense of passion and direction. It reminded me why I started this podcast in the first place, and it's to give survivors a platform and to inspire healing and to leave and to get out of that relationship. I know that that happened. I mean, I shared on the last episode in the season that somebody had contacted me and was like, because of this podcast, I realized that I'm in an abusive relationship and I'm going to be taking the steps that I need to eventually leave relationship. And I'm going to be taking the steps that I need to eventually leave and I hope that I just want to.
Speaker 1:Okay, first of all, let me say USA hey, girl, we're going through some shit, huh, but you're still my number one listener, so thank you very much, love you. Bangkok, thailand, girl, thank you so much for being here. That's so exciting. And the UK you come in third. You guys are amazing. I love you so much. Um, thank you for being here. I want to learn how to say hello, um to all of you. Does that even make sense, like um in Thai. Is that the language? I don't really know. That sounds really stupid of me. I should have looked that up before recording this. Anyway, let's talk about what's ahead for season two.
Speaker 1:I'm being a baby and not reaching out to the family that originally inspired this idea, because I don't know, I just can't Well guess what. I found a different family and I reached out to them and at first they turned me down, but then I actually I didn't tell you about this, but I hosted a vigil for the lives led to domestic violence in October of 24, in which one of those victims was included in the vigil Wow, and it was out of my state. It was in a completely different state, but I had been approached by a church that was like hey, I really feel like we need to bring some awareness to our community. So they hired me and I drove down there and we did the dang thing. Anyway, the family then decided to listen to the podcast and they contacted me and they were like you know what? We would be honored if you would tell her story. So I've been working with them for the next season.
Speaker 1:However, the thing is with that is that her ex has not seen a trial for his actions yet. So I can't release anything that we talk about, because we talk about some pretty sensitive topics until after her trial, because we don't want to compromise the trial. Count how many times I say trial. So that's kind of up in the air. We're juggling a couple of balls with that one, but we'll see the trial. Now it's already been pushed back since we've been working together, but the trial is set for this summer. So hopefully we're looking at when it comes to at least her story. We're looking at August to September timeline.
Speaker 1:But anyway, let's talk about what's for sure coming up and that is more survivor stories. I've got a woman from the UK. I've got just some incredible survivor stories along with. I'm starting a new little series. It's called what they Couldn't Say Girl, and it is about the lives lost to domestic violence. But this is more like a storytelling. I'm not interviewing anyone. I'm just going to do some deep dives and some research and bring you these stories just to raise awareness. I'm going to be talking about that on my social media too, so hopefully you can tune in there. I'm going to drop all of that in the show notes which I realized last season I wasn't really that great at I'm learning as I go.
Speaker 1:So awkward pause for that one, because you're probably over there like, yeah, girl, we know we noticed, but anyway, let's see what else. Oh, I've got an advocate from every town. We talk about gun violence. I've got the author, imogene Rowan, on. We talk about how her husband, after she left, ended up becoming an active shooter. I've got a lot coming for you and I'm so how many times? I've got a lot coming for you and I'm so how many times? Okay, let's count how many times I say trial, so excited. And yeah, girl, obviously those are my crutch words. We need to work on that.
Speaker 1:If you're as excited as I am about what's coming, I'd love for you to do a few things for me. Make sure you're subscribed to this podcast. That's number one. Okay, subscribe. Number two leave a review if you haven't already. Thank you for the ones that have. I've literally cried over some of the things that you've said. They're beautiful, gorgeous, and I should really be framing them in my studio. And number three share this podcast with anyone who might need it. Seriously, your support not only helps amplify these stories, but it helps reach the people who need them the most.
Speaker 1:Okay, I've almost talked to you for 10 minutes. I'm going to go. I miss you so much and I got some editing to do so. Bye, girl, but also thank you for being here, thank you for listening and thank you for being a part of this community. Remember that taking care of yourself I'm listening too Taking care of yourself is an act of strength. It's not weakness, not weakness. Okay, so let's continue to heal, grow always growing right and rise and heal together. I'll see you soon for the first episode of season two. Bye.
