This podcast is called Speaking Your Truth: Untold Stories of Abuse. The inspiration behind this project was my own personal story with domestic violence. This year as I went through my divorce I was searching for an outlet to share my story, I was silent about what happened to me for almost 10 years, I wanted to be heard and I couldn’t find a platform to do so. The more I spoke up this year, I noticed how others were being inspired and began reaching out to me to tell me their stories. I was sadden to hear a lot people I considered friends have gone through similar situations and I never knew. It was then I decided to make my own platform to help others be heard and help them tell their stories. By doing this my hope is to not only help them heal but use our trauma to help prevent other tragedies from happening and help others out of toxic relationships. My goal is for victims to be listening to my podcast and learn more about how to get out and to know they are alone and should not feel ashamed. Or for survivors to be listening and also feel like they are not alone and to be inspired to tell their stories or find other ways to help. Domestic Violence effects more than 10 million people per year. More than 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and more than 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the U.S. report having experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. It’s time we give some of these survivors a voice and I hope my podcast can help do that.