In this episode, Nicole shares the story she once believed she would never speak — the decade of childhood sexual abuse she experienced while the world around her saw a bright, high-achieving, "perfect" young girl. At fourteen, a single, intuitive question from her mother led to a moment of truth that changed everything. Nicole reflects on her mother's immediate protective actions and the fear, shame, and uncertainty that followed in the aftermath. Nicole describes how she learned to push her emotions down, stay busy, and shape herself into whatever version of "okay" she believed people wanted to see. She explains how perfectionism, people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, and keeping up appearances became her survival strategies. Together, we talk about the difference between true resilience and toxic positivity, the pressure she felt to make others comfortable with her story, and the lifelong impact of fear, threats, and chronic nervous-system activation. She also speaks openly about how these early experiences spilled into adulthood, affecting trust, relationships, boundaries, and her ability to feel safe. This conversation sheds light on what it means to stop carrying the emotional responsibility that never belonged to you, to understand yourself before relying on others for understanding, and to reconnect with your voice after years spent hiding in plain sight. Nicole's journey is one of courage, honesty, and reclaiming inner safety — reminding us that healing begins when we stop performing strength and finally allow ourselves to be seen. Her key message to the listeners of the show is: sometimes you have to tip-toe out of your hiding spot and do things afraid — it's scary but it has benefits; find your courage within yourself to find your own voice and use it, even when you know it is scary, because on the other side there is something good.

Guest Bio:

Nicole is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, an author, advocate, and global activist who has spent more than two decades giving voice to awareness, prevention, and healing. She is the author of four books, producer of two films, host of the OneVOICE Podcast, and the executive director of OneVOICE4freedom — a non-profit dedicated to stopping child sex trafficking through prevention education and support for vulnerable children and families. Nicole has spoken to some of the most at-risk populations around the world, as well as to leading universities, companies, treatment centres, faith communities, and conferences. Her work has reached people across the world, empowering survivors to break their silence, reclaim their truth, and begin healing.

Known for her candour, warmth, and transparency, Nicole connects deeply with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. She recently created UNLEASH, an eight-week online healing course for survivors, and launched a live virtual support community that she leads weekly. When she's not blazing trails in her advocacy work, Nicole can be found in Columbus, Ohio, playing pickup basketball with her three boys. Her presence — on stage, online, or in community — inspires hope, authenticity, and the powerful reminder that every story matters.

URL for shoutout: onevoice4freedom.org

OneVOICE4freedom — Nicole's non-profit dedicated to preventing child sex trafficking and supporting vulnerable children and families worldwide.

Where to find me:
Website: iamonevoice.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicole_bromley/

X: https://x.com/nicole_bromley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleBraddockBromley/

OneVOICE Podcast: https://iamonevoice.podbean.com

Nicole's Books: https://www.iamonevoice.org/store

Nicole's online support community and e-course for survivors "UNLEASH": https://www.iamonevoice.org/unleash

Jennifer was raised to be strong and independent—and she carried that identity proudly. As a critical care nurse, she believed she knew the answers to what it meant to be healthy and well. But life had other lessons waiting. Her journey shifted in 2002, when her second son suffered a massive neonatal stroke just one hour after birth. The experience awakened her to the many gaps in the healthcare system and inspired her to begin bridging those gaps through energy work, nutrition, and exercise. Several years later, on the same day she discovered she was expecting her fourth child, Jennifer learned that her third son—then just two-and-a-half years old—had been diagnosed with high-risk leukemia. Between caring for her children, managing her family, and supporting a husband working long surgical hours, Jennifer's own health began to unravel. She experienced panic attacks, migraines, digestive issues, and chronic tension. She describes years of giving endlessly—until there was nothing left to give. In 2010, a medical episode that presented as a stroke but was later diagnosed as an atypical migraine became her wake-up call. Jennifer recognized the lifelong pattern she was living out: the giver who never learned to receive. It was the turning point that pushed her to let go of perfection, learn to ask for help, and honour her limits. She began to say yes to herself, to rest, to reset, and to redefine what strength truly means. Her story is one of radical self-awareness—of learning that being enough does not mean doing it all, and that real power often lies in the pause. Her key message to the listeners of the show is: You are so much stronger than you think you are, and then you rise; give yourself permission to pause, there is so much power in that pause; it's okay to not to be okay, you are not broken, it is information that you are out of balance, so show up for yourself now.


Guest Bio:
Jennifer Wren Tolo, known as "The Soul Connector," is a former critical care nurse turned award-winning health and wellness educator, transformational life coach, and sought-after speaker. She empowers women to move beyond survival mode and reclaim their happiness, health, and power. Inspired by navigating life-threatening illnesses with two of her four sons, Jennifer created her signature method, the "ABC's of Stress Management," helping clients reconnect with their inner voice and the wisdom of their soul.
A bestselling author and Adjunct Professor at Endicott College's School of Nursing, Jennifer teaches Holistic and Complementary Approaches to Health and Healing. She holds both BSN and Master's degrees and is certified as a Whole Health Educator and Patient Advocate, Personal Trainer, Reiki Master, and in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Jennifer is also the host of the Simple Awakenings Podcast, an executive contributor to BRAINZ magazine, and has been featured in Women's Journal, US Business Insider, and on FOX and ABC News.

URL for shoutout: https://wish.org/

Make-A-Wish Foundation – an organization devoted to bringing hope, joy, and life-changing experiences to children facing critical illnesses, offering moments of light and possibility when families need it most.

Where to find me:
Website: https://jenniferwrentolo.com

Instagram: Instagram@Jenwrentolo

LinkedIn: hLinkedin @Jennifer-tolo-RN-MA

Facebook: Facebook @jenwrentolo

Pillar.io/ Links: https://pillar.io/jenwrentolo

Julie's story unfolds at the intersection of faith, identity, and self-compassion. Raised in a culturally and religiously conservative South Asian household, she grew up surrounded by clear definitions of what was right and wrong — spoken and unspoken rules that guided how one should live and belong. But how Julie was authentically wired didn't always fit those expectations. The tension between who she was and who she was told to be became an early internal struggle, one she learned to carry as if it were her fault. When Julie was ten years old, she lost her father in a tragic car accident that also involved her entire family. That loss created a rupture in family life — one that was never fully named, only absorbed. The family's way of coping became rooted in faith and community support, drawing strength from Christian teachings. While Julie deeply valued the beauty of faith, she also found herself questioning why prayer alone didn't always bring comfort. Each time she struggled, she thought she must not be doing enough, not believing enough, not honouring God enough. As life went on, those early beliefs resurfaced through new challenges. After marriage, Julie faced infertility — an experience that brought grief, isolation, and shame. She describes the pain of believing something was wrong with her, that she had somehow failed spiritually or personally. Surrounded by well-meaning voices telling her to "rely more on faith," she began to internalize guilt and self-blame. Eventually, Julie reached out for professional help and was encouraged to begin therapy — her first experience with talk therapy. There, she began exploring the grief of unrealized motherhood and the impact it had on her mental health, faith, and sense of purpose. She speaks openly about the destabilizing period of not knowing how to reconcile her loss with her spirituality, and how learning to connect with herself relationally became a turning point. Today, Julie continues her journey of growth and self-understanding. Through vulnerability, faith, and self-compassion, she is finding balance between her roots and her authentic voice. Her msg to the listeners of the show is: whatever you are experiencing or navigating is valid, have compassion with yourself; wherever you are stuck you have good reasons for that, more compassion you practice, the more you lean into authenticity and presence; engage presence in this way and it accelerates growth.


Guest Bio:
Julie is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Connecticut and New York with advanced training in trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and evidence-based modalities such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, CBT, and DBT. She holds degrees from New York University, Rutgers University, and Seattle Pacific University, and brings over a decade of experience in both the fast-paced technology sector and clinical practice. Julie has supported individuals, couples, and families around issues including anxiety, depression, disordered eating, trauma, and premarital counseling.

Inspired in part by her own lived experiences, Julie has a deep passion for walking alongside women and couples navigating fertility challenges, racial trauma, and life transitions. She has facilitated support groups for sexual abuse recovery and divorce grief, and she remains committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where stories of struggle can be met with care and compassion. Today, Julie makes her home in Greenwich, CT, with her family and two rescue pups.

URL for shoutout: https://resolve.org/get-help/support-groups/


RESOLVE – an organization that offers fertility support through groups and resources available to individuals at little to no cost.

Where to find me:
Website: Website juliehalltherapy.com
Instagram: julievhall01
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliehalltherapy/
Email: julie@juliehalltherapy.com