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