46-Domestic Violence WARRIOR: From Victim to Advocate

Can a moment of vulnerability transform a life? Join me as I recount my journey from a domestic violence victim to an empowered warrior, sharing my story before an audience of victims, survivors and advocates. This episode captures the raw emotion and courage required to step out of the shadows of an abusive relationship, highlighting not only the staggering statistics of domestic violence but the strength found in breaking free and healing. My encounter with Karen, the incredible co-founder of After Awareness, further fueled my passion for advocacy and collective action, igniting a mission to shatter misconceptions and inspire resilience.

Empowerment and resilience are not just words but choices we must make every day. As a part of the 1 in 3 Podcast community, I invite you to rise with us—your stories are powerful allies in this fight against domestic violence. Together, we support each other through setbacks, drawing strength from shared experiences. Stay engaged with our community, share your journey, and let’s celebrate our resilience and determination as warriors. Your story matters, and together, we can forge a path of hope and healing.

1 in 3 is intended for mature audiences. Episodes contain explicit content and may be triggering to some.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need help right now, call the national domestic violence hotline at 800-799-7233 or text the word “start” to 88788.

Contact 1 in 3:

Send your emails to 1in3podcast@gmail.com
Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @1in3podcast
Check out the website https://www.1in3podcast.com/

Thank you for listening and please remember to rate, review & subscribe!

Cover art by Laura Swift Dahlke
Music by Tim Crowe

Transcript

WEBVTT

00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:02.064
Hi Warriors, welcome to 1 in 3.

00:00:02.064 --> 00:00:03.326
I'm your host, ingrid.

00:00:03.326 --> 00:00:06.980
Today's episode is going to be a bit different.

00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:13.621
I recently attended an event in New Smyrna Beach, florida, for a non-profit called After Awareness.

00:00:13.621 --> 00:00:23.467
After Awareness is an amazing organization designed to help combat legal abuse, which is not always domestic abuse, but certainly can be.

00:00:23.467 --> 00:00:26.033
Here is my experience.

00:00:40.180 --> 00:00:51.555
First of all, I want to say I do recognize that I sit in the comfort of my little DIY podcast studio, recording episodes and editing all the mistakes out before uploading them.

00:00:51.555 --> 00:00:59.353
It isn't much of an intimidating situation when it is only my voice and something I have been doing for a few years now.

00:00:59.353 --> 00:01:06.200
This past weekend, I was given an opportunity to push myself out of my complacent comfort zone.

00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:18.676
I was able to stand in front of domestic violence advocates, victims, survivors and warriors to say out loud in person that I am a survivor.

00:01:18.676 --> 00:01:23.951
Talk about a weird mix of humility and empowerment.

00:01:23.951 --> 00:01:29.802
A weird mix of humility and empowerment.

00:01:29.802 --> 00:01:32.387
Prior to and after the presentations, I was able to meet and speak with attendees.

00:01:32.387 --> 00:01:37.120
It was an absolute honor and incredible experience, and now I'm ready for more.

00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:44.260
In episode 43, with A Garcia, we discussed a domestic violence movement and how we wanted to be a part of it.

00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:50.745
Well, it's already happening all over and we are coming together to strengthen here goes.

00:01:50.745 --> 00:01:55.248
In the meantime, I wanted to share my short presentation I gave at the After Awareness event.

00:01:55.248 --> 00:01:55.668
Here goes.

00:02:09.741 --> 00:02:18.050
I'm going to present some important statistics from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

00:02:18.050 --> 00:02:27.421
In the United States, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner.

00:02:27.421 --> 00:02:32.555
That equates to more than 12 million men and women each year.

00:02:32.555 --> 00:02:41.723
Approximately one in three American men experience sexual violence, physical violence and or stalking by an intimate partner within their lifetime.

00:02:41.723 --> 00:02:52.293
Approximately one in three women worldwide experience physical and or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence by a non-partner in their lifetime.

00:02:52.293 --> 00:02:58.032
It's important to understand, however, that domestic abuse is not only physical.

00:02:58.032 --> 00:03:05.330
It also includes coercion and psychological, emotional, financial and legal abuse.

00:03:05.330 --> 00:03:22.031
As you let that information and those statistics sink in, you might consider the people within your personal circle Friends, family and colleagues who may have been affected by domestic violence, or random presenters.

00:03:22.031 --> 00:03:25.395
Yes, I am part of those statistics.

00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:30.651
My experience parallels almost every other domestic violence story.

00:03:30.651 --> 00:03:33.628
I thought I met my perfect match.

00:03:33.628 --> 00:03:38.806
He complimented me, he adored me, lavished me with love.

00:03:38.806 --> 00:03:41.707
We even had the same interests.

00:03:41.707 --> 00:03:44.889
But over time the relationship shifted.

00:03:44.889 --> 00:03:49.087
He became mean and insulting.

00:03:49.087 --> 00:03:52.258
I was constantly wondering what happened.

00:03:52.258 --> 00:03:55.639
Did I do something wrong to make him angry?

00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:58.598
How do I get us back to what we were?

00:03:58.598 --> 00:04:01.579
What do I need to change?

00:04:01.579 --> 00:04:05.930
As I attempted to better myself, he became crueler.

00:04:05.930 --> 00:04:16.095
Of course, he occasionally followed his bad behavior with apologies and promises to never again, but he always did.

00:04:17.096 --> 00:04:23.959
The cycle continued at just the right pace to keep me guessing, keep me hoping things would get better.

00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:31.122
I didn't want to actually admit what was happening, because I didn't want to admit that it was happening to me.

00:04:31.122 --> 00:04:39.939
But the psychological and emotional abuse that carried on for years eventually escalated to sexual and physical violence.

00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:45.690
But eventually something shifted again.

00:04:45.690 --> 00:04:56.408
Finally, understanding and admitting what I was a victim of domestic violence I began my transition from victim to survivor.

00:04:56.408 --> 00:05:01.156
I successfully left the relationship and began my healing journey.

00:05:01.156 --> 00:05:12.483
I learned this phase would also take years, perhaps even the rest of my life, but I was free, I was safe, I was happy and I was thriving.

00:05:12.483 --> 00:05:21.776
I was happy and I was thriving, and slowly I made yet another transformation from survivor to warrior.

00:05:21.776 --> 00:05:22.497
And you guys.

00:05:22.497 --> 00:05:25.242
This is my favorite phase.

00:05:26.485 --> 00:05:36.805
As I educated myself more on domestic violence, I began to look in the mirror and ask now what Something inside of me was awakened.

00:05:36.805 --> 00:05:41.057
I felt an actual burning need to do more.

00:05:41.057 --> 00:05:55.785
I could not ignore the fact that others were out there just like myself, feeling hopeless and alone, lost and confused, ashamed and silenced.

00:05:55.785 --> 00:06:01.841
Well, I fell back on what I do best talk.

00:06:01.841 --> 00:06:06.721
I created the one in three podcast to give a victim's perspective.

00:06:06.721 --> 00:06:17.415
With it, I hope to bring more domestic violence awareness, answer questions and clear up judgments and misconceptions that are all too often projected on victims.

00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:31.273
Wanting to take my new project to the next level, I attended a podcast convention in Orlando earlier this year, where I met our wonderful host and co-founder of After Awareness, karen.

00:06:31.273 --> 00:06:34.742
You see, karen is another warrior.

00:06:34.742 --> 00:06:41.478
In fact, I consider any advocate against any form of domestic violence to be a warrior.

00:06:41.478 --> 00:06:51.581
Those who attended the event in support of After Awareness and those who are listening right now, in my opinion, are all warriors.

00:06:51.581 --> 00:07:00.776
In closing, I will leave you with this quote I found from being Caballero Nobody is born a warrior.

00:07:01.778 --> 00:07:05.264
You choose to be one when you refuse to stay seated.

00:07:05.264 --> 00:07:11.353
You choose to be one when you refuse to back down, you choose to be one.

00:07:11.353 --> 00:07:20.079
When you stand up after getting knocked down, you choose to be one because if not you, then who?

00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.442
Thank you for listening?

00:07:22.442 --> 00:07:25.744
Sources for this episode can be found in the show notes.

00:07:25.744 --> 00:07:29.906
I will be back next week with another episode for you.

00:07:29.906 --> 00:07:43.077
Until then, stay strong and wherever you are in your journey, always remember you are not alone.

00:07:43.077 --> 00:07:47.750
Find more information, register as a guest or leave a review by going to the website.

00:07:47.750 --> 00:07:49.471
One and three podcastcom.

00:07:49.471 --> 00:07:50.954
That's the number one.

00:07:50.954 --> 00:07:54.079
I n theN the number three podcastcom.

00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:59.086
Follow 1&3 on Instagram, facebook and Twitter at 1&3 Podcast.

00:07:59.086 --> 00:08:03.360
To help me out, please remember to rate, review and subscribe.

00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:09.432
1&3 is a .5 Pinoy production Music written and performed by Tim Crow.

00:08:09.432 --> 00:08:23.504
© transcript Emily Beynon.

46-Domestic Violence WARRIOR: From Victim to Advocate

Listen On

Recent Episodes