Popular Podcasts on Domestic Violence
Podcasts are the modern anywhere, anytime talk-radio. From education to entertainment, a few minutes to a few hours in length, there are currently over half a million active podcasts available to listen to on iTunes alone. Anyone with a microphone and a little bit of web savvy can create and release their own podcast. Of course, this means some are inexpert or inaccurate, but it also allows many unique and disparate voices to be heard, including domestic violence advocates and brave survivors. With the audio medium and intimate feel, podcasts tend to personalize the difficult topic of abuse. Hear the voices of survivors directly and the emotions of those who take the time to tell their tales and impart their knowledge. Podcasts are a great way to learn on the go by listening while driving, cleaning, exercising, etc. The following are some top-ranked and recommended podcasts on domestic violence. Some educate listeners on various aspects of abuse, others are true crime narratives of particularly horrific or thought-provoking cases, and some give voices to survivors themselves to tell their own stories. While informative and inspiring, keep in mind that these podcasts may be triggering, especially for listeners who are victims or survivors.
Survivor Voices
These podcasts are dedicated to survivor stories in their own words. Some are created by survivors, who share their own experiences, and some are discussions between survivors and/or advocates.
- I’m a SurvivorMisty Chaviers is a domestic violence survivor and advocate. In her Purple Ribbon Award winning podcast, she discusses various aspects of her personal experience with abuse and her ongoing struggles that resulted from it. As she told Domestic Shelters, “I felt so silenced because, in Alabama, you don’t talk about abuse. I felt like I could maybe through my voice help women become free.” Misty also interviews other survivors and advocates to hear their stories and perspectives. Plus, she explains particular aspects of domestic violence, such as gaslighting and trauma bonding. Most episodes are 20 to 30 minutes long. Misty is still publishing new episodes at the time of this posting.
- Shatterproof: Thriving After Domestic ViolenceSurvivor and self-professed “change-agent” Mickie Zada was in an abusive relationship for 34 years. She shares her story in this podcast, with episodes breaking down aspects of abuse, things her abuser or family members said that stuck with her, and some of Mickie’s specific thoughts and feelings related to her abuse. She also speaks with many other survivors and hears their stories and perspectives. The focus is on how each survivor reinvented themselves after abuse. Though it is not currently publishing new content, there are over 150 archived episodes available. Episode length varies quite a bit depending on the content, but most fall between 10 and 45 minutes.
- Let’s Talk About It / Finding Our Voices
- Host Patricia McLean, an award-winning photojournalist, interviews a different survivor or survivors in every episode of this podcast. Along with the survivor(s), some episodes also feature a family member or friend who supported them through their experiences, exploring relationships with loved ones during and after abuse. Patricia delves into her personal experience as well, discussing with her daughter the primarily mental abuse her singer ex-husband Don McLean inflicted upon them. Other survivors’ stories explore protection orders and police involvement, religion, financial abuse, child abuse, and more. This podcast changed its name and so has two feeds, which overlap somewhat. Finding Our Voices comprises a short 9 episodes, while Let’s Talk About It has over 30 and is still being updated with new content occasionally. Episodes in both feeds are approximately an hour long.
- When Does it End…The anonymous survivor who created this podcast reveals her experience with abuse and what happened to her after leaving her abuser. Like many survivors, she continues to be linked to her abuser by the three children they share. Through 16 episodes of around 20-minutes each, she explains her relationship, the continued abuse, her mental health struggles, and her negative experience with the court system, which led to a “decision I never thought I would make”, of leaving her children with her abuser.
- She Is Your NeighbourProduced by Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region in Ontario, Canada, each episode shares the story of a survivor with a unique focus. From childhood abuse, abuse and the drug trade, and experiences with the legal system and shelters to violence as a refugee of the Rwandan genocide or as a child bride. Some distinctive tales are shared. There are also episodes dedicated to the experience of abuse through the lens of different races and cultures, including black women, South Asian communities, and indigenous women. Most episodes feature host Jenna Mayne in discussion with a survivor, though a few guests tell stories of survivors they are/were close to or discuss their experience working with survivors. There are 27 episodes available of 30 to 40 minutes each.
These podcasts are dedicated to survivor stories in their own words. Some are created by survivors, who share their own experiences, and some are discussions between survivors and/or advocates. The wide variety and depth of information available in these podcasts related to domestic violence is remarkable. A broad range of styles, formats, and topics make them accessible to extensive and diverse audiences. With so many survivors willing to share their stories in such a personal way, their voices are being heard and helping to eliminate the stigma surrounding abuse.
