Trauma Episodes

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that this episode contains discussions of sexual abuse and molestation.Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know need support, please refer to the resources listed in the show notes. On this week's episode, I will discuss cruising 101, offer a travel tip and share some more about myself. At 15:39 is when the trauma topic starts so feel free to stop at this point if it is uncomfortable to you. Website: https://rainn.org/resour...

In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I open up about one of the most difficult journeys of my life: surviving a narcissistic relationship. I share what these toxic relationships look like, how to recognize the signs, and why setting boundaries is not only important but life-saving. You’ll also hear a deeply personal story of survival that blends the supernatural with faith, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, the light is stronger than the darkness. A...

In this raw and honest episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I share the beginning of my story with David — the man I’ve long called “the devil.” What started as charm and protection quickly became control, abuse, and the kind of toxic love that nearly destroyed me. This is the beginning of my descent into darkness, and I tell it exactly as I lived it — the good, the bad, and the ugly. But life, like travel, always has layers. Alongside the shadows, I also bring you ligh...

This week on Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I continue sharing the raw, unfiltered chapters of my life with David — the calm before the storm. After heartbreak and rebellion, I found myself drawn to someone older, magnetic, and dangerous. From runaway nights to secret phone calls and reckless bonfires, my world with David unfolded in ways I couldn’t have imagined. What began as protection and passion soon pulled me deeper into a life that felt both thrilling and terrif...

In this deeply personal episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I continue my story with David—the man who became both my anchor and my undoing. From pool halls and jealousy, to an unforgettable trip to Memphis, and finally a night where love, trauma, and something unexplainable collided, this chapter of my journey is where light and darkness began their battle. Alongside my personal story, I share today’s travel tip about group travel and booking strategies that can save ...

In this deeply emotional episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I share the final chapter of my story with David - a story of love that turned dark, of abuse that nearly cost me everything, and of the moment light broke through the shadows. What began as young love became a journey through fear, control, and survival. This is the story of how I lost myself, found my strength, and learned that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way back to the light. If you or ...

Today’s episode is a little different. It’s a follow-up to my four-part series The Devil I Loved, where I shared my story—raw, real, and unfiltered—about my life with David.” If you’ve listened to those episodes, you know it wasn’t easy to tell. But it was necessary. And today, I want to talk more about what has happened since, how I’ve grown, and what I’ve learned from sharing my truth.

What happens after the storm? In this powerful episode, I share the raw and real process of rebuilding life after an abusive relationship. From navigating the emotional wreckage to rediscovering your identity, this is about moving beyond survival and learning to truly live again. Shannon shares her deeply personal journey of healing after escaping an abusive relationship. She reflects on the challenges of reclaiming her identity, the importance of support systems, and the...

This episode is personal. In this solo chapter of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I open up about the season of my life when everything quietly began to change — not because the past disappeared, but because I slowly learned that something steady could exist alongside it. I share the story of meeting my husband Jeff after leaving an abusive relationship, returning to Houston, and trying to piece myself back together while still carrying fear, self-doubt, and unhealed trauma. ...

In this heartfelt episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, host Shannon and co-host Ann engage with Deepak Chari, an engineer and certified biofeedback specialist, to explore the intersection of science and emotional healing. They discuss how emotions manifest in the body, the concept of voice biofeedback, and the impact of generational patterns on personal development. Deepak shares insights on how unresolved childhood experiences shape adult behavior and relationships, and introduces his Life Transformation Technology program designed to clear emotional blocks and ancestral imprints. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding one's emotional landscape and the potential for healing through awareness and technology. In this enlightening conversation, Deepak Chari shares transformative stories of healing and personal growth, emphasizing the impact of emotional well-being on relationships and life satisfaction. He introduces his Life Transformation Techn…

What happens when travel stops being an escape — and becomes a mirror? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Kristen Crabtree, author and transformation guide, to talk about freedom, identity, and the inner journeys that shape our lives. From 2016 to 2020, Kristen traveled full-time across the U.S. and Canada in an RV — seeking freedom, clarity, and a deeper understanding of herself. Along the way, she discovered a truth many of us learn the ...

What happens when a combat medic comes home — and her body and mind begin to collapse? In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with Brandi “Bee” Doyle — nurse practitioner, combat veteran, trauma survivor, and spiritual guide — to explore the journey from PTSD and autoimmune illness to deep, integrative healing. After serving in Afghanistan, Bee returned home expecting to resume normal life. Instead, she faced the unraveling of her physical and mental health. What foll...

What happens when your life changes in an instant? In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with trauma and traumatic brain injury survivor Nicholas Ruchlewicz to talk about the motorcycle accident that changed everything—and the unexpected path that followed. Nicholas shares what it was like to go from living a normal life to navigating the physical, emotional, and mental challenges of a traumatic brain injury. From identity loss and mental health struggles to finding ...

You don’t always recognize abuse when you’re in it. In this deeply emotional and eye-opening episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Mia Hanks, author of the award-winning memoir Bride-Made, to talk about her 29-year marriage to a covert narcissist—and the long, painful journey to understanding what she had been living through. Narcissistic abuse doesn’t always look the way we expect. It can be quiet. Subtle. Confusing. It can make you question your reality, your wort...

Why do toxic relationships feel so hard to leave? Why is sexuality still so difficult to talk about honestly? And why do humans continue repeating emotional patterns they know are hurting them? In this deep, unfiltered conversation, Shannon and Ann sit down with transformational coach and author Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards to discuss toxic relationships, emotional addiction, sexuality, shame, vulnerability, healing, and the psychology behind human connection. Inspired by his book The Ve...

What if your life had a soundtrack… and you could rewrite it? In this deeply personal episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with therapist and author Johnzelle Anderson to explore his powerful memoir, Mixtape: A Memoir—a story of survival, identity, and the journey from silence to voice. Told in “tracks” instead of chapters, Mixtape weaves together memories of growing up mixed race in 1990s Virginia, navigating childhood abuse, neglect, and racism, and searching for belongi...