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Defiance of Silence - A Sacred Witness

Defiance of Silence – A Sacred Witness is a podcast for survivors, healers, and those who walk beside them. Together, we stand against the silence that isolates and embrace the silence that allows us to be truly heard.

Hosted by Valerie — a U.S. Army veteran, Nurse, survivor, and trauma-informed witness — the show was born from her own two-decade journey of healing from sexual trauma and the power of being witnessed. Through real and unpolished conversations, guests share stories of courage, grief, resilience, and awakening.

This is not therapy. This is not performance. This is sacred witness. A space where vulnerability becomes strength, and where no one has to carry their story alone.

New episodes release every other week.

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Defiance of Silence - A Sacred Witness

Nicole - Breaking The Vow Of Silence

January 28, 2026 • Valerie Foglesong • Season 2 • Episode 2

0:00 | 1:25:05

Silence can protect us for a while—but eventually, it costs everything. In this powerful episode, Valerie sits down with Nicole, a decorated veteran, detective, and survivor whose 26-year career in law enforcement and the military was defined by service, strength, and relentless achievement. Rising to the role of Special Agent in Charge and Sergeant in the MA Army National Guard, Nicole Ferry also graduated from the FBI National Academy and holds advanced degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Administration. Her journey, however, was marked by unspoken trauma: military sexual trauma at age 19, the moral injury of losing a colleague to suicide, and the toll of chronic hypervigilance and pain.

Nicole shares the messy reality of recovery—navigating the VA system, seeking culturally competent care, and spending 142 days in a first responder treatment program where she confronted her own patterns: addicted to leadership, willing to abandon herself to save others. She opens up about the somatic fallout of panic, insomnia, and a near-fatal medication reaction, and how a service dog named Cash quietly transformed her sense of safety.

Through her advocacy for mental health and suicide awareness, Nicole leads impactful discussions and global resilience training, drawing from her own battle with PTSD and trauma. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Survive First Foundation, helping others find hope and healing.

This episode offers practical tools and gentle honesty:

Setting boundaries after sharing hard stories
Using shaking and rhythmic movement to discharge what isn’t yours to carry
The importance of safe witnesses
How healing begins when the vow of silence finally breaks

If you’ve ever felt alone in service, believed you had to be exceptional to be worthy of help, or carried strength at the cost of your own safety, Nicole Ferry's story will meet you where you are and invite you to breathe, soften, and try again.

nicoleferry.com

nicole@nicoleferry.com

www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-ferry-mpa

CopLine 1-800-copline 1-800-267-5463

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Remember YOU are loved and worthy of being witnessed!

If today’s episode stirred heavy feelings, you are not alone. Please reach out to a trusted friend or a professional if you need support: