This season, I’m honored to feature music from my beautiful friend, Melissa Turri. Over many coffee dates and long phone chats, we’ve shared our journeys, supported each other, and leaned into each other’s healing spirits. When she released her album—just in time for this season—I knew I had to share her talent with you. Listen to the full length song, I'll Heal You. To learn more about Melissa Turri: Website: https://melissaturrimusic.com/ Email: MelissaTurrimusic@gmail.com Instagram:...

If you’ve ever felt lost in a life that looks fine but feels wrong, this story is your permission to begin again. From childhood abuse to postpartum collapse, medication dependency, bankruptcy, memory loss, and cancer, Sherry’s life unraveled—but she didn’t vanish. She began again, choosing daily to return to herself. Sherry shares how small habits built resilience, intuition became her guide, and honest self-love transformed her relationships. A U.S. Army veteran, mom, and full-time en...

If you’ve wrestled with father wounds, homelessness stigma, invisible illness, or the weight of expectations, this story offers a map and a hand to hold. We trace Jordan’s path from constant moves and a distant father to finding a home in faith, leading peers, serving in the Marines, living with an undiagnosed illness, and mentoring students through Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). A story of forgiveness, community, purpose, and joy that holds under pressure. Connect with J...

When truth is stolen, healing begins with reclaiming your story—one memory, one voice, one fearless step at a time. What happens when a child is abducted by a parent and raised in a world of control and religious manipulation? Dawn McCarty’s nightmare began at age four when her mother kidnapped her, erased her identity, and filled her life with fear and lies. Subjected to psychological abuse and weaponized Mormon theology, Dawn was taught to obey blindly and fear her real father. By eight, sh...

Her daughter’s absence became Barbara’s purpose: to break cycles of alienation, pain, and silence. For Barbara, it began with a lifetime of not belonging—first in her family, then in a broken marriage that spiraled into a fight not in court, but in the fragile space between mother and child no parent should ever face. Parental alienation twisted love into fear, turning her daughters against her with cult-like intensity. She watched in anguish as her children grew terrified of being seen with ...

Have a plan before you need it. The holiday season brings excitement—and dangerous distractions. Between shopping lists, phone notifications, and crowded parking lots, it’s easy to let your guard down. But awareness is your greatest defense. Train yourself to look up, scan your surroundings, notice who’s near your vehicle, and trust your instincts when something feels off. Distractions make you vulnerable; habits make you safe. Small choices like pocketing your phone, walking with confi...

"A child doesn’t care how much you know till they know how much you care," ~ Kenya From a nine-year crack addiction to 28 years of sobriety and service, John’s story shows the power of surrender and redemption. On July 22, 1995, sitting in a jail cell after being arrested for stealing, he prayed: “Lord, if you could just take this desire away… I’ll serve you till I die.” Nearly three decades later, John has kept that promise, living free from drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes, and dedicating his...

Theresa’s courage proves that even after 17 years of silence, a voice can rise stronger than the violence that tried to silence it. When Teresa heard glass shatter that March morning in 2007, her life changed forever. She survived a horrific sexual assault in her own home, and though her attacker was never caught, her story is defined by resilience, not violence. Alert and courageous during the attack, Teresa later reclaimed her life through faith, therapy, supportive friends, and artistic ex...

One night on a dark New Orleans street, Ashley was held at gunpoint. But instead of panicking, she did something unexpected—she hugged the mugger. That moment of compassion wasn’t random; it was the result of a life shaped by trauma and healing. Ashley had learned that unhealed pain often repeats across generations, and she was determined to break that cycle—for herself and others. With a Harvard background in data and AI, Ashley could have chosen a traditional path. Instead, she built Persep...

Some heroes don't wear capes—they open their garage doors. Jason’s bimonthly poker nights have become a sanctuary for military personnel and first responders seeking more than cards: genuine brotherhood. Haunted by trauma from Coast Guard and Army service, PTSD, and injuries, Jason struggled to ask for help—until a life-saving call to a friend sparked a new mission. Now CEO of Alpha Ready, he builds stigma-free spaces for healing. As a Christian, husband, father, and podcaster, he prove...

As a child, Adam watched police cars race past his window, dreaming of becoming an “ER car man.” That dream came true through military service and police work—until a call to Walmart on April 8, 2016, changed everything. Confronted by a woman with a hatchet, Adam made a split-second decision to use deadly force. Though cleared by investigators, the incident triggered a silent battle with PTSD. “I knew what I had done. I changed lives. I took her life, I changed my life,” he says. What follows...

When tragedy struck Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Laura—a licensed school psychologist—found herself on the front lines of grief and trauma. But amid the heartbreak, she witnessed something remarkable: therapy dogs offering comfort in ways words couldn't. That experience sparked the creation of Everyday Feathers Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting families facing canine cancer while promoting mental health through the healing power of dogs. Laura's journey from ed...

When the unthinkable happens without warning, how do we find our way through the darkness of grief? Diane’s world shifted forever when her husband Harry passed away suddenly in January, just days after returning from what would be their final vacation. What began as minor indigestion on a cruise excursion turned out to be something far more serious. Despite zip-lining and horseback riding without complaint, Harry was unknowingly living with three severely blocked arteries. His cardiologist wo...

From Grief to Action: Honoring Claudia, Preventing Tragedies When Tim and Melanie lost their 33-year-old daughter, Claudia, to a drunk driver on February 7, 2021, their world was shattered in an instant. Claudia, adopted as a teenager from Guatemala, was a vibrant part of their blended family—full of love, complexity, and growth. In the wake of unimaginable grief, Tim and Melanie chose not to be silent. Supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), they turned their heartbreak into...

What happens when you finally name the trauma that’s shaped your life? Nicole’s powerful story of surviving childhood physical abuse reveals the journey from silence to truth. For 40 years, she carried the weight of her father’s violence—hit at age five, chased in fear, and witnessing her mother being choked—all while believing it was “normal.” Even 1,100 miles away, a simple phone call from him could trigger panic. Her desperate need for his approval shaped her life—until she realized the cy...

From childhood trauma to becoming a fierce protector of young girls, Shala’s journey is a testament to healing and purpose. After losing the grandmother who raised her, she was thrust back into chaos—pregnant at 14, trapped in abuse, and raising two children alone. Yet somehow, she graduated high school on time. “How did I do it?” she wonders. Her answer: boundaries, self-love, and an unshakable will to break cycles. Shala founded Treasure Coast Girls Coalition to be what she once needed—a sa...

A single ride-along changed Jeff Otis’s life forever, launching a 26-year career in law enforcement marked by tragedy, trauma, and ultimately, profound healing. His journey began with heartbreak when a fellow officer and friend was killed during a routine call—while Jeff was still in training. From that moment, he lived under constant hypervigilance, navigating standoffs, officer-down situations, and countless traumatic crime scenes. Through raw, honest conversation, Jeff pulls back the curta...

When a desperate mother walked into a foster care group home asking for help, the psychologist's response, "until something bad happens, I can't help you," led her to say, "If you don't help me, something bad is going to happen." This moment sparked the creation of Safe Families for Children, an organization that now spans over 100 chapters across the U.S. and internationally. Safe Families addresses the needs of vulnerable parents by offering volunteer-based support networks, connectin...

Step into the incredible journey of Mika, a survivor who faced unimaginable trauma yet emerged with a message brimming with hope and resilience. Her story begins in a humble household, set against the backdrop of immigrant struggle and love. Micah shares how her upbringing instilled a sense of responsibility and a strong moral compass, shaping her into the empowered individual she is today. But life took a dramatic turn when red flags in her relationship blurred her judgment. What began as a...

Connect with Jen: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683 Website: https://ineedblue.net/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935 Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal fr...