An Interview from the Persistence U Podcast

This is the third in a three-part narrative with Dawn. This story necessitates trigger warnings due to its adult language, violence, a shooting, the use of drugs, and both emotional and physical abuse. Dawn was a skilled auto mechanic living in the Mid West. She moved to the west side of Chicago to work on cars at a family friend's shop. She was set up for success. A man she met in her apartment building became her boyfriend. From the start, everything felt right, but slowly the relationship took on a whole-new existence. You will see how Dawn tried to downplay her boyfriend's unhealthy behavior to her herself. That every time he was abusive was an aberration, or could be explained away. There are all kinds of warning signs Dawn looked past. She could have had a completely different reality in Chicago had she paid closer attention to what was going on. By the time we reach part three of this story, it is a miracle that Dawn survived. This is Dawn's story. NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. RESOURCES: National Domestic Violence Hotline – The Hotline.org – 800-799-SAFE LoveIsRespect – 866-331-9474 RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) – RAINN.org – 800-656-4673 Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the first in a three-part narrative with Dawn. This story necessitates trigger warnings due to its adult language, violence, a shooting, the use of drugs, and both emotional and physical abuse. Dawn was a skilled auto mechanic living in the Mid West. She moved to the west side of Chicago to work on cars at a family friend's shop. She was set up for success. A man she met in her apartment building became her boyfriend. From the start, everything felt right, but slowly the relationship took on a whole-new existence. You will see how Dawn tried to downplay her boyfriend's unhealthy behavior to her herself. That every time he was abusive was an aberration, or could be explained away. There are all kinds of warning signs Dawn looked past. She could have had a completely different reality in Chicago had she paid closer attention to what was going on. By the time we reach part three of this story, it is a miracle that Dawn survived. This is Dawn's story. NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. RESOURCES: National Domestic Violence Hotline – The Hotline.org – 800-799-SAFE LoveIsRespect – 866-331-9474 RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) – RAINN.org – 800-656-4673 Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the first in a three-part narrative with Dawn. This story necessitates trigger warnings due to its adult language, violence, a shooting, the use of drugs, and both emotional and physical abuse. Dawn was a skilled auto mechanic living in the Mid West. She moved to the west side of Chicago to work on cars at a family friend's shop. She was set up for success. A man she met in her apartment building became her boyfriend. From the start, everything felt right, but slowly the relationship took on a whole-new existence. You will see how Dawn tried to downplay her boyfriend's unhealthy behavior to her herself. That every time he was abusive was an aberration, or could be explained away. There are all kinds of warning signs Dawn looked past. She could have had a completely different reality in Chicago had she paid closer attention to what was going on. By the time we reach part three of this story, it is a miracle that Dawn survived. This is Dawn's story. NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. RESOURCES: National Domestic Violence Hotline – The Hotline.org – 800-799-SAFE LoveIsRespect – 866-331-9474 RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) – RAINN.org – 800-656-4673 Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part two of a two-part story. Kelsey thought Corey was the one. He was a talented artist with a following who bought his works. There were warning signs she though odd, but she decided to overlook them in favor of keeping the relationship moving. When something abusive happened, she felt each one was an isolated incident. This is a story about a caring woman and her narcissistic partner. There is no physical nor sexual abuse in this narrative, but that doesn't mean it would never lead to these. This is Kelsey's story. It's one where we see how she enabled him to do whatever he wanted. NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part one of a two-part story. Kelsey thought Corey was the one. He was a talented artist with a following who bought his works. There were warning signs she though odd, but she decided to overlook them in favor of keeping the relationship moving. When something abusive happened, she felt each one was an isolated incident. This is a story about a caring woman and her narcissistic partner. There is no physical nor sexual abuse in this narrative, but that doesn't mean it would never lead to these. This is Kelsey's story. It's one where we see how she enabled him to do whatever he wanted. NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I was recently interviewed by a podcast entitled "Persistence U" by Lizbeth Meredith. Persistence U covers all manner of survivor stories. Take a listen when you have time. Here is my interview with the host, Lizbeth Meredith. Once you have heard it, I hope you felt rewarded for listening to our interview. It is a mix of my daughter's tragedy, but also life-saving advice on how to be a survivor and break free from an abuser. There is nothing like regaining your freedom. Bill Mitchell NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two episodes in this story come with content warnings. This is part two. You may find when listening to this story that the content is too intense for you. If that becomes the case, I strongly urge you: do not continue listening. The descriptions tell of the intense emotional and physical abuse a husband put upon his wife.   I thought many times about whether to publish this story, but I promised myself years ago that listeners deserved the option of knowing about the worst of dating and domestic violence without looking away.   Lisa Clayton is a hero in real terms. She was so nice, sweet and innocent when she dated and married Josh Holden. Josh was, and remains today, a very sick-minded individual. He held no conscience or barriers in what he would do to keep Lisa in line under his thumb.    The purpose of the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast is to inform. You will find in the episode that warning signs that were overlooked and led to the worst kinds of behavior when a relationship continues to be as unhealthy as it can get.  In this story, Lisa Clayton gets to know the real Josh Holden. You will too.   NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two episodes in this story come with content warnings. This is part one. You may find when listening to this story that the content is too intense for you. If that becomes the case, I strongly urge you: do not continue listening. The descriptions tell of the intense emotional and physical abuse a husband put upon his wife.   I thought many times about whether to publish this story, but I promised myself years ago that listeners deserved the option of knowing about the worst of dating and domestic violence without looking away.   Lisa Clayton is a hero in real terms. She was so nice, sweet and innocent when she dated and married Josh Holden. Josh was, and remains today, a very sick-minded individual. He held no conscience or barriers in what he would do to keep Lisa in line under his thumb.    The purpose of the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast is to inform. You will find in the episode that warning signs that were overlooked and led to the worst kinds of behavior when a relationship continues to be as unhealthy as it can get.  In this story, Lisa Clayton gets to know the real Josh Holden. You will too.   NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abigail was 18 when she met him. She was taken by the idea that he played in a very well-known Seattle band. The idea that he wanted to pay attention to her thrilled Abigail. By the way, this man was 28. See how a young woman who trusted someone she didn't know well was lured into a hyper-unhealthy relationship. She learned the hard way about what can happen. We can each learn from her. Abigail had not intended to take her story to the world until she heard the WHEN DATING HURTS podcast. We thank her for choosing to tell us what happened. NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I was urged to run this episode again. IT'S THAT POWERFUL! So, it's back once more! One of our well-informed WHEN DATING HURTS listeners sent me an email with a list of things you must do before leaving your abuser. In this episode, you will hear the kinds of items a domestic violence counselor will tell you while figuring out your escape plan to safety. This is a short episode, but one of our most valuable. Have a pen and paper handy so don't miss a thing. Share this episode with friends and family who should hear it. You never know when someone is suffering in an unhealthy relationship today and needs to start preparing for a safe escape. NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can only be found on Amazon. Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices