You Probably Think This Story’s About You

This episode references domestic violence and other mature themes. [Lou’s Story Part 2/3] Lou is searching for a photograph of John — but it’s not just a picture she’s after. Beneath the surface of one man’s destruction lies a tangled web of resilience and buried truths waiting to be uncovered. In this chapter layers of manipulation are stripped away, exposing the hauntingly intertwined lives of Eve and Lou —two women forever linked by their shared past with John. As their stories unfold, they confront the ripple effects of trauma, the sinister disguises of control, and the power of reclaiming what was never his to take. From pregnancies to escapes, from shattered illusions to hard-fought reckonings, Lou and Eve retrace their paths, confronting the past as they piece together their present. Each revelation brings them closer to understanding not only John’s shadow over their lives, but the strength they’ve found in breaking free from it.   All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd Share your story with Brittani. Production of BDE Unlimited Sponsor information at https://brittaniard.com/sponsors  ___ RAINN Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Helpline https://rainn.org/about-rainn   Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988  https://www.988lifeline.org Childhelp Call or Text 800.422.4453  https://www.childhelphotline.org/ National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879 https://www.drughelpline.org/ National Domestic Violence Hotline  www.thehotline.com   Narcissist Abuse Resource https://www.helpguide.org/     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode references domestic violence and other mature themes. [Lou’s Story Part 1/3] Lou's story isn’t just about survival—it’s a battle cry of reclamation. In this chapter she unravels the deeply personal account of her entanglement with John, her manipulative and abusive ex-boyfriend. The emotional wounds of their relationship left scars that refused to fade, but it was the unexpected moment of seeing him again years later that pulled her back into the shadows of her past. As the trauma resurfaced, Lou found herself grappling with questions she thought she had buried. In retracing the steps of her formative years and confronting the weight of generational trauma, Lou begins to piece together a path toward recovery. But healing isn’t a straight line — it’s a labyrinth of pain, resilience, and startling realizations that could change everything.   All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd Share your story with Brittani. Production of BDE Unlimited Sponsor information at https://brittaniard.com/sponsors  ___ RAINN Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Helpline https://rainn.org/about-rainn   Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988  https://www.988lifeline.org Childhelp Call or Text 800.422.4453  https://www.childhelphotline.org/ National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879 https://www.drughelpline.org/ National Domestic Violence Hotline  www.thehotline.com   Narcissist Abuse Resource https://www.helpguide.org/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season five of Nobody Should Believe Me tells the story of Sophie Hartman: a young, white midwestern evangelical missionary who travels to Zambia and comes home with two vulnerable sisters in her care. When she returns to the states, she lands far away from her family in Seattle, WA where she embarks on a medical odyssey with her younger daughter, C, reporting a variety of alarming symptoms: from chronic vomiting, to seizures, to days-long episodes of full-body paralysis.  Eventually, C is diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood. Sophie weaves a tale of a child who could “leave us anytime” and uses the child’s illness to fundraise tens of thousands of dollars for special equipment and medical expenses, takes C on a Make-A-Wish trip, posts constantly about her family’s plight on her prolific social media accounts, and even writes a memoir about the story of her journey to adopt her. But is Sophie really the heroic mother of a sick child, or is she the ultimate unreliable narrator? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our stories rarely unfold the way we expect. In the first eight chapters, Brittani Ard uncovered something about herself she never expected: the most powerful weapon she had was her own voice. It wasn’t just a tool for healing — it was a force strong enough to confront her past and rewrite her future. But that discovery came at a cost. Retracing Kanon’s steps wasn’t just heartbreaking, it was a journey through pain, betrayal, and revelations since childhood that she wasn’t prepared to face. Yet, amidst the wreckage of chasing a love that was never meant to be, Brittani found something even more extraordinary — true love, waiting in the most unexpected place. Season 2 isn’t just about Brittani’s story. It’s about what happens when you refuse to be a victim of your own narrative. When you step into the raw, unfiltered truth of who you are and decide to own it. It turns out vulnerability isn’t a weakness. It’s where courage collides with strength, and where the most surprising chapters of life begin to take shape. *Some names and details have been changed to conceal the identities of those who wish to remain anonymous.    All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd Share your story with Brittani. Production of BDE Unlimited Sponsor information at https://brittaniard.com/sponsors  ___ RAINN Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Helpline https://rainn.org/about-rainn   Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988  https://www.988lifeline.org Childhelp Call or Text 800.422.4453  https://www.childhelphotline.org/ National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879 https://www.drughelpline.org/ National Domestic Violence Hotline  www.thehotline.com   Narcissist Abuse Resource https://www.helpguide.org/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices