The Survivor Story

Self Publishing w/ Kylie Lewis

Kylie talks about transforming her life of self-editing to meet others approval and addiction to stay numb, smal, and hidden to self-publishing her life to express and share her amazing authentic self.

The Spirit Persists w/ Jim

From abuse, enmeshment, and a childhood of trauma to finding his gentle-hearted spirit in the heart of Kentucky, Jim opens up about his journey towards healing.

Sink or Swim w/ Kavita Basi

In 2015, Kavita Basi suffered a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage. The doctor told her family she has a 50% survival rate and those who do survive most likely live severely limited lives. The brain aneurysm completely changed her personality, energy levels, short term memory, ability to read, watch, or listen. Again and again she was given the opportunity to sink or swim and she continued to choose to swim. She currently travels the world speaking her story and helping others along the way. She doesn’t know if she ever will be back to the person she was, but she continues to be a beacon of light for others.

Surrendering to Sanity w/ Michael

Michael discusses how normal people can have ptsd, become an alcoholic and make the changes to repair their relationship with them self and others by living a purposeful life of service.

Surviving Motherhood w/ Isabella

Isabella, middle child, mother of two, opens up about her struggles with constantly moving, postpartum depression, and financial poverty and how practices like Yoga, community, and affirmations helped her to overcome her troubles. 

You're Not Crazy w/ Sheila

Sheila shares her journey from living in a dysfunctional household, being locked down in a psych ward, struggling with substances, coping with the death of her father, and learning to sit and write out her experiences as a form of self-healing and realization.

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Staying Alive w/ Shea Freedom

Shea’s life begins by understanding the life of his ancestors. His parents were products of slavery and segregation which led to generational effects of trauma. Shea was born as a biological female but always knew he was male. Shea suffered from abuse and neglect at the hands of his parents.

Shea was taken from his family at the age of 7 and was placed into foster “care” until the age of 17. Shea was then thrusted into a life of homelessness. Shea had to learn his way in the world.

At age 14, Shea’s birth mother passed away and in return he was gifted his mother’s guitar. Shea found his own healing through music and told his own story of forgiveness and spirituality through the strum of his guitar and the harmony of his voice.

As a boy born into a woman’s physical body, Shea learned about spirituality through his own life experience. He spreads his understanding of life and spirituality through his music.

His goal isn’t to be famous, but to help other youth, especially transgendered youth, in the foster care system. He has toured and opened for bands like Rising Appalachia and Trevor Hall and continues to play music and be a voice for transgender and foster care youth.

Shea teaches us about honoring the ones who came before us and the ones who will come after us. Shea teaches us about forgiveness and the importance of “staying alive” and “following your dream.” He teaches us to continue through the dark to be a light for others.

Deepening into Myself w/ Caitlin

Caitlin’s first job became keeping the family as calm and “copacetic” as possible and to stay small and out of the way. Amongst growing up in a household that requested so much of her, Caitlin began seeking out things that would help maintain the pain. Caitlin sought after sex, alcohol, drugs, eating disorders, and anything that would help her seem like things were okay. She left her hometown to go to college which luckily made it difficult to access certain drugs such as heroin which she attributes to saving her from being a heroin addict.

 

She had trouble fitting in at college, until one person went out of her way to invite Caitlin in, amongst Caitlin’s attempt to push her away. This person introduced Caitlin to a Yoga studio that would impact her life still to this day.

 

Caitlin bounced around trying to find her place, running from triggering life experiences and attempting to learn about herself. This led Caitlin to finding her husband and her best friend, Jeff.

 

Jeff became an instrumental part in Caitlin’s healing. He listened to her whole story, told her to do absolutely anything she wanted to help her heal, and became a rock when times became difficult.

 

With her free time, Caitlin learned to sit and be with herself. She opened the doors to her deep emotions. At times she struggled, but found the strength inside her to keep going and learning.

 

Caitlin feels that things are not resolved, the journey isn’t done, there’s still so much for her to look at and heal from, but she continues to take the steps to be with herself in these moments, connect with community, and be open for change.

 

Caitlin teaches us to spend time listening to the wisdom that lives inside us all. She inspires us to keep pushing and keep going when life gets hard. Caitlin shows us how healing speaking one’s full story can be.

 

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Finding Recovery w/ Deb

Deb grew up in a family that expected her to be a good girl, to make others happy, and not display any negative emotions. She was taught to smile through the pain of living in a dysfunctional family. She learned how to navigate her world by numbing and shunning her true feelings. 

 

Since she had learned to focus on pleasing others and not expressing her true feelings, her adult relationships were difficult and not fulfilling. One relationship became extremely abusive, to the point where she was uncertain if it might cost her life. For many years she remained loyal to a partner who continually abused and took advantage of her. She felt compelled to stay in a miserable relationship, and she could not understand or explain why.

 

One day she realized enough was enough. She sought out help through therapy which eventually pointed her in the direction of recovery. Through recovery, she learned how to manage and control her inner states by working on her inner drug store, finding clarity and serenity, and seeking peaceful surroundings.

 

Deb teaches us to explore our past to learn new modes of thinking and behaving that serve our present experience. She teaches us to deeply reflect on our emotional reactions to shift into a life of conscious choice. She teaches us to be our own loving-parent and that finding contentment is possible.To learn more, visit our website at thesurvivorstorypodcast.com.

 

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The Survivor Story Trailer

Welcome to The Survivor Story. This episode we talk about what you should expect from this podcast. We dive into the motivation and inspiration behind creating this series.

We talk about the format of the podcast and how it allows our guests a chance to be more vulnerable about their experience and process, offering more benefit for our listeners to gain inspiration and hope.

We open the door to the healing power of stories and how when we speak our story and listen to the stories of others, deep change and transformation can occur.

We hope you enjoy this podcast and reap the benefits of hearing the life stories of others.