A Contagious Smile Podcast

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Some people don’t hate you because of what you did. They hate you because you healed, and now they can’t control you. Tonight we get honest about narcissistic parents, the scapegoat role, and that gut-punch realisation Victoria shares: “She doesn’t like me because I fixed what she broke.” We talk about how toxic family systems survive on leverage, blame, and silence and what changes when a partner helps you rebuild boundaries and self-trust. 

Then we go where most couples won’t go on mic: cheating, betrayal, and the slow work of...

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Somebody can be sitting in an urgent care exam room with bruises, fear, and an abuser answering every question and still have no clear way to say, “I’m not safe.” We go there, plainly and practically, with our guest Joshua Hess, a physician assistant and former teacher who now hosts the research-driven podcast. Oh that’s a fact.

We talk about what medical teams can notice when a patient can’t speak freely, plus simple ways to ask for privacy without escalating danger. From nonverbal cues to requesting a private consult or...

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He’s supposed to be “Dad” and he’s supposed to be safe. Then one phone call turns into months of ambulance rides, doctor appointments, opioid red flags, and a home that slowly stops feeling like home. We share what happened when we took in Michael’s biological father after a death in the family, believing we were doing the right thing and trying to build a relationship that never had a real chance to grow.

Along the way, we also talk about a different kind of vulnerability: what it takes to trust y...

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Responsibility sounds like a boring word until life makes it personal. We kick things off with a question we’ve all wrestled with: how do you actually teach responsibility, especially to teens, without turning your house into a battleground? From a blunt teen pregnancy “what if” to the very real chaos of a brand-new puppy, we talk about how responsibility isn’t a speech, it’s a pattern: face what needs to be faced, stop procrastinating the hard talk, and follow through even when it’s inconvenient.

Then we go deeper into why avo...

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People love our chemistry and our laughter, but we don’t pretend life is perfect. We keep our home “drama trauma-free” by choice, even when outsiders try to pull us into mess, guilt, or old family patterns. That simple rule sparks a bigger conversation about what it really takes to protect a marriage, rebuild trust, and keep joy from being negotiable. 

We go deep on relationship healing and hard honesty. Michael owns his past infidelity and talks about what finally changed when he stopped chasing ego and started choosing character. Victoria breaks...

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A Sunday lands us in the emergency room, and somehow it starts with a “gunshot wound” joke and ends with one of our most honest conversations yet. We walk you through what happened, what helped, and why a simple decision to get checked out can be the difference between powering through and protecting the people who depend on you. Yes, there’s a neon pediatric bandage. Yes, there’s whining about the IV. And yes, there’s also gratitude for nurses who bring skill and humor when you need both.

Once we get hom...

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A lot can happen in one night at our house: a hurting back, a clean bedroom victory, a few laughs we didn’t plan on, and the kind of deep parenting truth that only shows up when you stop pretending life is tidy. We start with something simple and powerful, our children’s book series and the “I choose my brave” moments that help kids handle embarrassment, anxiety, and new challenges with real coping skills, not empty pep talks. If you’re looking for social emotional learning tools that are actually easy to use at hom...

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The jokes land fast, but the truth lands harder. We pull back the curtain on how narcissism doesn’t end with parents—grandparents can cross lines too, using children’s stories or medical needs to win attention, favors, even faster restaurant tables. That’s not quirky family drama; it’s exploitation. We talk through the damage it causes, how to set boundaries that actually hold, and the real-world signs that tell you it’s time to pull the plug on access.

From there we get practical. Victoria reads prompts from her new healing...

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A toga on the cover and a chiropractor who sends Michael flying might sound like pure chaos, but the laughter is only the doorway. We use that breath of humor to step into what really matters: building a trauma‑informed academy that protects survivors with layered security, clear boundaries, and scholarships that remove financial roadblocks. We share why we refuse rapid‑fire conversation formats—because healing needs time and trust—and how our platform’s multi‑step authentication, hidden profiles, and strict no‑soliciting policy were designed to keep abusers out and survivors safe.

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A ricochet at the range, a Hello Kitty bandage, and a house full of laughter set the stage for a deeper conversation about how families build real-world safety. We start with humor, then move into the practical: what range safety taught us about risk, response, and turning a scare into a teachable moment for kids.

From there, we open the door to the Stucco Squad, our ten-book series for ages four to eight designed to meet children at eye level. These stories tackle loud homes, illness, grief, and everyday courage, all...

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What if a simple “I love you” could steady someone on their hardest day? We open our hearts and our home to talk about building safety from the ground up—personally funding 480 academy scholarships, writing a child’s-eye-view book for noisy and unsafe homes, and speaking plainly about the harm that thrives when institutions deny, delay, or deflect accountability. The conversation moves from raw statistics to real stories, then lands on the everyday work of repair: quiet rituals, clear boundaries, and love spoken out loud.

We take you inside the new Stucco S...

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A mountain drive for “just one puppy” turns into two sleepy golden retrievers, a tour of a master blacksmith’s forge, and a sobering question we can’t ignore: why are survivors still punished for staying alive? We move from warm, funny moments in a whelping box to the hard edge of a case where a woman with documented abuse went to prison for self-defense. The contrast is intentional—joy reminds us what a safe home feels like, and why the fight for safety matters.

We unpack the gaps that keep people uns...

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What if the loudest part of your healing is the quiet choice to keep going? We start with playful chaos—forgotten rolls, pajama days, and TV heroes—then step straight into the fire: how survivors bank strength in secret, how evidence dismantles gaslighting, and how family love can turn scars into story. Along the way, we celebrate the unexpected: a message from a Chicago PD favorite, a new book rolling out, and the steady belief that protection and loyalty aren’t just TV tropes—they’re skills we can learn and live.

We dig...

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Start with a Valentine’s greeting, end with a fire in your chest. We open warm and then drive straight into the hard truths about consent, courtroom trauma, and why too many survivors are punished by the very systems meant to protect them. From a 1960s case portrayed on screen to present-day stats that will stop you cold, we look at how disbelief, repetition, and composure theater stack the deck against people who report sexual assault. No is still no—marriage doesn’t cancel it, clothing doesn’t grant it, and momentum doesn’t override...

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What if hope felt practical? We open with big news—a future celebrity co‑host, a magazine cover, and a wave of new faces in our academy—then pull the curtain back on why we do this: to help survivors leave, safely and on their terms. No scripts, no posturing, just real talk that trades judgment for strategy and turns fear into a plan.

We walk through the hidden mechanics of control—surprise drop‑ins at work, receipt demands, caller ID checks—and explain why “just leave” ignores the most dangerous moment a survivo...

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A bruised face, a polite traffic stop, and a business card offering the abuser a job. That moment anchors a raw conversation about how charm becomes control, how violence hides in plain sight, and how institutions can look away precisely when protection is needed most.

We unpack the anatomy of grooming—promises of family, curated public images, and rules that turn daily life into performance. When the mask slips, de-escalation isn’t a script; it’s a gamble in a locked room. So we get practical: how survivors build evidence trails that o...

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The laughter starts with old-school cologne and a running joke about who’s the “sapphire,” then takes a deliberate turn into what those small rituals really mean. We talk about flipping the switch from smelling good for strangers to making it a daily love language at home—tiny habits that say “you matter” without a single grand gesture. That warmth sets the stage for a deeper journey through fidelity, boundaries, and the work it takes to rebuild trust after harm.

We open up about loyalty the hard way. Michael owns a past he’s no...

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Start with a laugh, stay for the lifelines. We open the door on a raw, hope-forward conversation about healing from narcissistic abuse, breaking generational trauma, and keeping a mission alive without selling its soul. From landing the cover of Podcasters International to launching VictoriaCure.com, we’re celebrating wins while staying grounded in the work that matters most: practical tools for survivors, special needs families, and anyone ready to end cycles of harm.

You’ll hear how a 1001-question recovery workbook became a daily map for clarity, how a 500-page draft on b...

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Two golden retrievers at our feet, a heavy topic on the table. We dive straight into addiction’s messy reality: the slow drift from “I’m fine” to morning liquor in coffee, the way denial dresses up as control, and the brutal truth that love alone can’t outmuscle a substance. We talk openly about losing a close friend to drugs after a toxic on-again relationship, and how survivors shoulder the weight of unanswered questions long after the funeral. If you’ve ever tried to save someone who didn’t want to be saved, you’ll...

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A bathroom mix-up in the ER shouldn’t become a masterclass in patient advocacy—but ours did. What starts as a comic detour with a “pee hat” turns into a sharp look at chain-of-custody, contamination risk, and the maddening silence that can stretch for hours in emergency care. We talk honestly about how to ask better questions, push for timely results, and document what matters without turning confrontational. The details might be small, but the stakes are not: a compromised sample can shape a diagnosis, and a clear voice can change a plan.

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Some nights turn into a tug-of-war between chaos and clarity. We start with the mess that hits after a loved one passes—addresses, wills, medical directives, and the million tiny decisions no one wants to make while grieving. Getting your documents in order isn’t morbid; it’s merciful. We walk through what to set up now so you’re not scrambling later: living will, durable and medical power of attorney, beneficiaries, and a simple system that keeps paperwork from becoming a second storm.

From there, we pull back the curtain on narci...

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The night the house gets quieter, life gets louder. We open the door to Dad after he loses his wife and talk candidly about what it means to fold a parent into your daily rhythm—care, meals, jokes, horror-movie nights, and the steady work of making someone feel safe again. That warmth sits beside hard-won lessons on planning: why every family needs a last will and testament, a living will, and powers of attorney before the phone rings with bad news.

We unpack the human side of crisis management—how paperwork is a...

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A quiet Thanksgiving gave way to a jarring delivery that raised a bigger question: what’s the line between personal freedom and public safety at our front doors? We walk through the moment a driver cut across our lawn, tossed a package, and left a thick marijuana smell seeping into our living room—then unpack why that matters in a home that must stay scent‑free for medical reasons. This isn’t pearl‑clutching about legality; it’s about responsibility, impaired driving, and the real health stakes for families managing respiratory sensitivities during peak cold an...

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What if the most meaningful gift you give this year is your story? We’re opening our arms to two big projects fueled by real life and real heart: Beyond the Limb, a practical, compassionate course for new amputees, and Not Defined By My Diagnosis, a community-built book featuring unedited stories from parents and caregivers of special needs kids. Both efforts spring from lived experience—the weight of a prosthetic that doesn’t fit a rebuilt shoulder, the sting of public stares, the everyday work of turning overwhelm into agency—and from a stubborn...

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Some stories crack you open in the best way. This conversation with Muck Sticky blends raw honesty, laugh-out-loud moments, and a deep well of heart—from Cookie’s courage through major dental surgery to a life lesson stitched into pajama pants that became a personal promise: be comfortable in your own skin and stop bending for strangers. We trace a DIY music career built on personal responsibility, boundary setting, and a belief that joy isn’t an accident—it’s daily work.

We go inside the pajama origin story, why shock can be a t...

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Truth doesn’t whisper—it arrives with fire, humor, and a plan. We kick things off with a preview of our upcoming conversation with Muck Sticky, whose out‑loud joy and off‑the‑wall songs remind us that laughter can be a lifeline. From there, we move into the hard, necessary talk so many of you ask for: how to spot narcissistic patterns, cut toxic ties without guilt, and build a home that stays drama‑ and trauma‑free. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much” for telling the truth, you’ll feel seen here.
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A single phone call flipped our week, our plans, and our priorities—and taught us how “having a will” can still leave a family drowning in decisions. We open the door to our real-time experience of sudden loss: caring for Dad, sorting thirty years of collectibles, and navigating the awkward surge of relatives who appear for stuff but not support. From stocking a pantry to turning down sheets so a walker can slide in, we trace the small acts that bring dignity back, then get practical about the paperwork that actually reduces stress.

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Have you ever been silenced for speaking your truth? Join us for an intimate conversation about breaking through barriers and finding your voice even when others try to quiet it.

Victoria reveals the surprising backlash to her evidence-based book "Dark Dark Who's There," including a cease and desist letter despite her careful steps to change names and redact identifying features. As the black sheep in a narcissistic family system, she shares how speaking truth often makes you "the dangerous one" they try to silence - a reality many of our listeners...

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What happens when the world suddenly goes silent on one side? Victoria's recent ear surgery has left her completely deaf in one ear, forcing her to navigate a new reality where simple interactions become profound challenges. In this raw and emotional episode, we take you through the journey of adaptation and resilience that follows a life-altering medical procedure.

The moment hits hardest at a store checkout when Victoria can't hear the cashier speaking to her deaf side. It's a stark reminder of what life will be like moving forward—a reality ma...

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Three years after losing her limb, Victoria marks her "FU anniversary" with a raw, unfiltered conversation about survival, resilience, and finding your voice after trauma. This special edition podcast takes listeners on a deeply personal journey through narcissistic family dynamics and the challenging path of the family "black sheep."

Victoria shares exciting news about her new anthology "Dear Silence You Lost, We Get the Last Word" – a powerful collection of survivor stories from around the world. This international gathering of voices breaks the silence surrounding abuse in all its forms: emotional, ph...

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