Am I Broken: Survivor Stories

Jul 28 2024 37 ep. 51 mins 39

Am I Broken: Survivor Stories Podcast artwork

We sit with survivors of sexual trauma, who share their stories of abuse and healing.

Health & Fitness Society & Culture True Crime

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

S4 Ep2 - Claire "I Ignored It and I Believed Him Because He's the Storyteller [Neil Gaiman]"

Jul 28 2024 80 mins

Claire (she/her) uses a pseudonym to share her story about being groomed and sexually coerced and manipulated by world-renowned author Neil Gaiman. We discuss the power of stories and fame, and she shares how journaling, therapy, and friendships have helped her find her center in her own story. We originally spoke in 2022, and at that time she decided she wasn't ready, but said tha

S4 Ep1 Lindsey - "I Remember Thinking I'm Selling My Soul to the Devil"

Feb 19 2023 35 mins

Lindsey (she/her) tells her story about being groomed, taken advantage of, and sexually violated by a leader in Canada's psychedelic healing world. Learn how she finally recognized the abuse, and found her way to healing and resolution. In this episode, she asked to use a pseudonym and to have her voice masked, as she says this prominent facilitator is currently pursuing legal acti

S3 Ep8 Kat - "I Certainly Lost Faith in People"

May 02 2022 39 mins

Kat (she/her) shares her story of sexual violation during 4 days of a psychedelic therapy session with a well-known clinician. We discuss the healing she was seeking in the first place, the compounding of trauma, and what she both gained and lost from this experience. She requested to use a pseudonym and to have her voice masked to protect her from retaliation by this licensed psyc

S3 Ep6 Hannah - "You're Gonna Have to Pay for This"

Mar 01 2022 66 mins

Hannah (she/her) shares her stories of childhood sexual abuse from several local church leaders in her small town, including her grandfather. We talk about purity culture, keeping secrets, and self-harm. She describes the difficulties of her healing journey, as well as what has helped along the way, including art.Support the podcast at patreon.com/papillondeboer for $5/month.

S3 Ep5 Pat - "This Person Held the Trust of So Many"

Jan 31 2022 61 mins

Pat (they/them) shares a story long held secret, about their employer and colleague who offered to be their tantric teacher, then lied and manipulated and abused them. Hear how they healed from the trauma of not just that relationship, but also the ejection from that community, and what took them deeper into their own family history and catharsis.Support the podcast with $5/month a

S3 Ep4 Gabi - "This Has Happened Before"

Jan 02 2022 53 mins

Gabi (she/they) calls out two local perpetrators - a friend and community leader who sexually assaulted her during a massage, and the CEO of a solar power company who sexually harassed and assaulted her. We talk about failed community justice processes, and how telling her story and naming the offenders has given Gabi an increased sense of strength and power.Support the podcast at

S3 Ep3 Elle - "I Have This Connection With Her, And I'm Betraying Her"

Dec 01 2021 43 mins

Elle (she/her) shares her story of a sudden betrayal by her eating disorder therapist, a sexualized violation during their last meeting. She describes the conflict within herself as she receives various feedback from family and friends, and then learning that her other therapist is filing a report against the perpetrator. After a return of previous trauma response behavior, Elle fi

S3 Ep2 Tom - "Didn't Make Space For Any of My Truth"

Oct 31 2021 69 mins

Tom (he/him) shares his story of how childhood sexual abuse primed him to be sexually abused by his high school counselor, believing for years that they had a good relationship. He describes how this also set him up to be similarly enthralled by a professor and supervisor at his graduate school who also violated professional boundaries as well as his trust and vulnerability. We dis

S3Ep1 Lee Anne - "But It Wasn't Over"

Oct 01 2021 45 mins

Lee Anne (she/her) shares her story of being assaulted on a date with a firefighter. Being polyamorous was one more reason she was reluctant to file a police report. She describes her healing journey, which included support from her husband, and finding new boundaries for dating again, when she was ready. As a medical practitioner, Lee Anne also shares how her own trauma helped her

S2 Ep12 Deborah - "I Didn't Know What I'd Done Wrong"

May 31 2021 45 mins

Deborah, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Addictions Specialist, shares her story of coming to terms with several sexual assaults as well as returning memories of childhood sexual abuse. She details her struggles with not only addiction, but disordered eating, and her success with sobriety, AA, and intuitive eating.Support the podcast for $5/month at:www.pat