TRIGGER WARNING: Episode contains graphic details from medical procedures and trauma, mental health and suicide, and institutional abuse.

This is a special episode previously recorded back in March 2025 with just Brooke (before Burning The Couch even came to fruition) and Jeff. The hope here is to connect Jeff to resources, support, and to help him reclaim his story that was wrongfully silenced.

We are unpacking how the systems we believe that are there to serve us, help us, protect us - often fail us and even terrorize us.

Jeff has been a client of Brooke's since 2020, and has been hit with every challenge, barrier, hurdle, you name it - known to man. This episode has been recorded and distributed with his consent.

Brooke & Jeff discuss how in just one part of his story - medically - how the medical system has caused him incredible amounts of trauma, neglect, mental torture, pain, fear, isolation, financial ruin, and more with a botched hip replacement in 2022.

Could you imagine walking around and unsure if your literal leg will detach from your body? That's what Jeff lived with for almost 2 full years and could not receive the proper medical care to have it repaired....

We discuss the multiple hip dislocations, ER trips, surgeries, and more that Jeff endured. The main goal of this episode is to help Jeff reclaim his story, and hopefully reach others that have possibly gone through the same events that could provide advice or tangible resources for his recovery.

Due to his hip, he unfortunately lost his job (legal cases pending due to unlawful discrimination) but this has caused major financial downfall as well since November 2024.

Jeff's life is quite literally like a series of unfortunate events... TBD if we will record more information but he seriously faces a million uphill challenges it seems - and we want to further unpack how the systems we believe are in place to help us - don't. They abuse us.

Jeff is a Veteran, and the VA has provided little to no support. He is also still fighting for any disability currently... which is WILD to Brooke being a therapist and filling out the disability forms.

Let us know if you'd like to hear more from Jeff in the comments!

Nikki is a survivor, profound poet, and childless cat lady that experienced estrangement over political views earlier in 2025 from JD’s family. She is a relative to JD Vance and a major part of her adolescence was raised by JD's father after her own father's accidental death.

We dive into her upbringing among high control religion (Christianity) and how it parallels to authoritarian systems, families, and government - and how she began to deconstruct from her religious views in her teens after experiencing tremendous trauma and abandonment.

This is just one of many potential conversations we can have about how systems all mirror each other, especially abusive/authoritarian systems. in our current events.

Brooke and Diana continue to share bits of their stories and survival and how this all intertwines.

At Burning the Couch - it is our mission to help liberate survivors from the oppression and silencing they've faced. We truly are honored to have Nikki with us, and her first podcast debut.

Please support Nikki and her amazing work:

Substack: https://substack.com/@nikkimccarty9?utm_source=about-page

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Nikki_McCarty_9?utm_source=searchhttps://www.patreon.com/Nikki_McCarty_9?utm_source=search

Poetry Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/buried-before-winter-nikki-mccarty/23873cc01d64dfd3?ean=9798218852283&next=t

TRIGGER WARNING: Sensitive topics discussed along the lines of domestic violence and relationship abuse.

Brooke & Diana dive into their experience in various conservative, MAGA communities and systems - and take on the lens of how domestic violence follows an identical pattern of abuse weaponized by the government, churches, communities and families. All enact isolation, fear, shame, control, coercion, domination, and hierarchy to keep members "in line" and not have individual identities, values, beliefs, and aspirations.

The purpose of this podcast is to illustrate how some members of MAGA may feel threatened or coerced into representing MAGA due to the true reality of being outcasted like Brooke in 2020 from her own family - and how it mimics the process of escaping DV.

"Why don't they just vote blue??!" is similar to DV survivors when you say "Why didn't she just leave!?"

It's incredibly nuanced, and our psychology will always choose connection to our family or "tribe" over moral values most of the time. It takes a high amount of self introspection, courage, self regulation, and community/resources to leave environments (cults) like this.

Part 2 will cover the in depth look at how your nervous system responds to disconnection, shame, and aggression from both Brooke & Diana's lived experience.

Need support? In an active crisis, dial 911 or head to your nearest emergency department. This is not a substitute for therapy, medical care, or legal advice. Seek out shelter from your local domestic violence agency if you feel in danger.

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

MORE INFO ON BROOKE'S SUBSTACK ABOUT AMERICA & ABUSE

https://substack.com/@brookelalonelmft?utm_source=user-menu

CONTACT US:

burningthecouch@gmail.com

Instagram and Facebook @burningthecouchpodcast

JOIN BROOKE'S FREE COMMUNITY:

https://www.skool.com/reclaiming-me-healing-6553

Want to learn more about Brooke?:

reclaimingmehealing.com

reclaimingmehealing@gmail.com

Instagram & Facebook: @Reclaimwith Brooke