Bitch Is A Bad Word: A Domestic Violence Podcast on Healing and Empowerment

This episode of Bitch Is A Bad Word was originally released on July 3rd, 2025.If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233What if your body knew the truth before your brain could catch up?In this riveting episode of Bitch Is a Bad Word, I sit down with Kelly Sutliff, a trauma-informed psychotherapist, domestic abuse survivor, and founder of Kelly’s Canines—a nonprofit providing canine support for survivors of trauma. Despite her professional training, Kelly found herself entangled in a high-speed relationship with a pathological abuser who manipulated, gaslit, drugged and assaulted her behind closed doors.Here’s the most chilling part: her abuser once told her she’d “end up on TV”—for his murder, the one he planned to stage and blame on her. But the plot twist? She ended up on TV for surviving his abuse. Kelly’s story was later featured on the true crime docuseries Toxic: Secrets Behind the Mask, exposing the calculated manipulation, coercion, and psychological warfare she endured.We unpack what it means when your intuition speaks, why smart and strong women get targeted, and how shame keeps us stuck in silence. Kelly’s story is raw, brave, and necessary—and it’s going to change the way you think about trauma, red flags, and trusting your gut.Inside This Episode:• The difference between red flags and pink flags—and why they matter• How abusers fast-track relationships to gain control• Why even trained professionals can fall for manipulators• What it means to be love-bombed, gaslit, and stalked• How to break free, especially when kids are involved• Why trauma-informed therapy is non-negotiable for real healingAbout Kelly Sutliff:Kelly is a licensed psychotherapist, survivor, and co-founder of Kelly’s Canines, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing trauma-informed canine companionship to abuse survivors. She brings deep clinical knowledge, lived experience, and fierce compassion to every conversation—especially this one.Visit Kelly at www.kellysutlifflpc.comIf you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233You’re not alone. Your healing matters. We’ve got your back, Besties!-----Support our SPONSORSReality isn’t always what it seems…. it’s what you make it. PREORDER "THE LIGHTRUNNER" , Ally Walker’s (SONS OF ANARCHY) debut thriller!!! Comes out on Amazon and Barnes and Noble June 6th but is Available for preorder NOW! Go to www.allywalkerofficial.com for more info.

This episode originally aired on July 25, 2025.The holidays and post-holidays can be a tricky period of time so we are wishing everyone a safe holiday season. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233What happens when the narcissist loses control of you and starts targeting your kids instead?In this raw and revealing episode of Bitch Is a Bad Word, Lindsay sits down with high-conflict divorce strategist Victoria McCooey, who shares what every woman needs to know before leaving a narcissistic or abusive partner and what’s waiting on the other side when you do it with strategy and power.Victoria explains how narcissists often shift their abuse to the children once they can no longer manipulate their partner, and how you can become the safe, steady place your child needs when the gaslighting turns on them. Whether you’re preparing to leave, knee-deep in a court battle, or struggling to co-parent with someone hellbent on control, this episode is your map, your mirror, and your megaphone.Inside This Episode:What actually happens when you finally decide to leaveHow to outsmart a narcissist without sinking to their levelWhy abuse often escalates when you’re pregnant or financially vulnerableThe heartbreaking moment a narcissist starts targeting the kidsHow to protect your child emotionally when the manipulation flips on themThe top 5 tactics narcissists use during divorce and how to prepare for themWhy leaving a narcissist is like launching a business and how to lead it like a CEOA free resource from Victoria: Five Things Every Woman Should Know Before Divorcing a NarcissistAbout Victoria:Victoria McCooey is a high-conflict divorce coach, narcissist abuse expert, and founder of Divorce Allies, a powerful support platform helping women navigate toxic relationships and emerge with clarity, confidence, and community. She offers one-on-one coaching, an expert-led membership program, and dozens of resources to help you leave smart and stay strong.Bestie Freebie:Download Victoria’s essential guide: Five Things Every Woman Should Know Before Divorcing a Narcissist, plus access support calls, expert workshops, and more at https://www.victoriamccooey.com/ and https://www.thedivorceallies.com/We’ve got your back, Bestie. And your exit plan.

We are wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year!The holidays can be a tricky period of time so we are wishing everyone a safe holiday season. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 This episode of Bitch Is A Bad Word was originally released on May 22, 2025---- You don’t need a black eye to be a survivor.In this raw and revealing episode, I sit down with Marcela, founder of Beyond the Bruise, to talk about what abuse really looks like — and why the healing journey isn’t one-size-fits-all.Together, we dive deep into what happens after the leaving. The grief. The gaslighting. The shaky steps toward trusting yourself again. Marcela shares her own story of survival and how she now helps other women walk through the fire and into freedom.If you've ever felt unseen, doubted your own experience, or wondered why you're still healing “so long after” — this episode is for you.What to Expect in This Episode:The truth about abuse that doesn’t leave physical scarsWhy survivors often miss the warning signs — and how to spot themThe emotional whiplash of loving someone who hurts youHow Marcela turned her pain into purpose with Beyond the BruiseReal talk on healing, self-trust, and reclaiming your voiceWhether you're still processing or years into recovery, Bitch Is a Bad Word is your space to feel validated, empowered, and unshakably seen. We've got your back, bestie.FOLLOW MarcelaIG: @beyond.the.bruiseIf you or someone you know needs help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

The holiday season can be a tricky period of time so we are wishing everyone a safe holiday season. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233This is a re-release from May 6, 2025 with Dr. Amelia Kelley.-----Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse designed to make you question your own reality, and in this powerful episode, Dr. Amelia Kelley—trauma-informed therapist and author—helps us uncover the truth about this manipulative tactic. We’ll break down the emotional impact of gaslighting and how it affects your mental health. Plus, Dr. Kelley introduces a fourth “F” trauma response that you might not be aware of. If you’ve been made to feel crazy or manipulated, this episode is a must-listen.What to Expect in This Episode:What gaslighting really is and how it affects your self-esteemRecognizing the red flags of gaslighting in relationshipsDr. Kelly’s introduction to a fourth trauma response (hint: it’s not just fight, flight, or freeze)Practical tips for survivors to heal and rebuild self-trust after emotional manipulationHow to break free from the toxic cycle of gaslightingWhether you're navigating a relationship with a gaslighter or you’ve recently emerged from one, we’ve got your back. Tune in for expert insights, real talk, and healing tips.You deserve to reclaim your truth and trust yourself again. FOLLOW Amelia:https://www.instagram.comdrameliakelley/ www.ameliakelley.comhttps://thesensitivitydoctor.simplecast.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DrAmeliaKelleyIf you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233Join the Bestie Gang on Patreon, Patreon.com/bitchisabadword------

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays to all of our Besties! The holidays can be a tricky period of time so we are wishing everyone a safe holiday season. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233This is a re-release from May 20, 2025 with Laura Richards.-----He never hit you… so it couldn’t have been abuse, right?Wrong. And this week, we’re unpacking exactly why.Joining me is Laura Richards, narcissistic abuse recovery coach, author of Married to a Nice Guy, and host of the podcast That’s Where I’m At. Together, we talk about what it’s really like to be trapped in a relationship with someone who everyone else thinks is “so nice” — while behind closed doors, your sense of self is slowly unraveling.Verbal abuse doesn’t always leave bruises — but it leaves marks. In this validating and eye-opening episode, Laura helps us break down the subtle yet devastating effects of emotional abuse. We explore how narcissists weaponize charm, how control can hide in plain sight, and what it takes to truly heal.What to Expect in This Episode:What verbal abuse actually looks and feels like — even when they “never hit you”How narcissists weaponize kindness and charm to isolate and controlRed flags you might miss in a “nice guy” relationshipThe unique pain of being disbelieved — and how to validate yourselfHealing after narcissistic abuse: reclaiming joy, confidence, and yes… enjoying dinner alone againWhether you’re still in it, fresh out, or deep in healing — this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and strong.Tune in now for raw truth, expert insight, and reminders that your story matters.Because your peace is not too much to ask for — and you were never “crazy” for wanting more.If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233LAURA RICHARDS- LISTEN to her podcast THAT'S WHERE I'M AT: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-where-im-at/id1704083491- IG:  ⁨@thatswhereimatpodcast⁩ - TIKTOK  ⁨@thatswhereimatpodcast⁩ -----Support our SPONSORSReality isn’t always what it seems…. it’s what you make it. PREORDER "THE LIGHTRUNNER" , Ally Walker’s (SONS OF ANARCHY) debut thriller!!! Comes out on Amazon and Barnes and Noble June 6th but is Available for preorder NOW! Go to www.allywalkerofficial.com for more info.

Besties, if you’ve ever looked back and thought, “Why did that relationship feel like home, even when it hurt?” this episode is for you. Lindsay sits down with our new BFF, Dr. Sherrie Campbell to unpack the painful truth. When you come from low-effort families, inconsistency, emotional neglect, and chaos can feel familiar. That familiarity can pull you into intimate relationships that mirror your childhood wounds.And when the relationship ends, the impact doesn’t. We talk about co-parenting after domestic abuse, high-conflict custody, and how control can continue through communication, schedules, and court. Dr. Sherrie shares practical, trauma-aware tools to help you break the cycle, set boundaries that hold, use low-drama communication strategies, and protect your peace while staying grounded as a parent.In this episode, we cover:Why “toxic” love feels familiar when you grew up in a low-effort family systemHow childhood conditioning shapes adult attachment, tolerance, and red flagsCo-parenting after abuse, when communication becomes the new battlefieldParallel parenting vs. co-parenting, choosing safety and stabilityGray rock and boundary scripts to stop feeding conflictDocumentation and pattern tracking for family courtNervous system regulation when every message triggers anxietyRebuilding self-trust and breaking generational cyclesAbout Dr. Sherrie CampbellDr. Sherrie Campbell is a licensed psychologist, author, and speaker focused on toxic family systems, emotional abuse recovery, and boundary work that helps people reclaim their lives. Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Watch the full episode on YouTube Join the Bestie Gang on Patreon for bonus content and behind the scenes Rate and review on Apple Podcasts so more survivors can find this episode Follow Bitch Is A Bad Word on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss an episode Share this with a bestie who’s co-parenting in chaos or healing childhood patterns Comment your biggest takeaway and the boundary you’re setting next Support is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline (US) 1-800-799-SAFE-----Support Our Sponsor: TALKINGPARENTS APPThe #1 App For More Confident Co-ParentingClick to Learn More: https://talkingparents.com/biabwWe’re teaming up with TalkingParentsApp to give the Bestie Gang one of the best tools for the Bestie Toolkit, the power to communicate without chaos. Because as much as we love reading your “Texties from your Exties,” some messages are better left professionally documented.If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, living through post-separation abuse, or just trying to protect your peace, the TalkingParents app will save your sanity. Every message. Every call. Every receipt. Safely logged. Documented bad words, gaslighting, word salads, or being run around more than a Target cart on a Sunday. Just boundaries, receipts, and your peace of mind.👉 Follow @TalkingParentsApp on Instagram & listen to the full episode of this Bitch Is A Bad Word ep now.

This episode is produced in partnership with The National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit www.thehotline.orgBesties, we’re going straight into one of the most overwhelming chapters after leaving abuse: family court.Because the truth is this. Abuse does not end when the relationship ends. It escalates. It shifts. And for many survivors, it becomes weaponized through custody battles, litigation, and the legal system itself.In this episode of Bitch Is A Bad Word, Lindsay sits down with Nikhita Ved of the National Domestic Violence Hotline to break down what survivors need to know when navigating family court, civil court, protective orders, and post-separation abuse.We unpack how litigation becomes the new form of control, why survivors are often retraumatized by the legal process, and how understanding court strategy, documentation, and timing can make all the difference. Nikhita brings decades of frontline experience supporting survivors through high-conflict custody cases, protective orders, supervised visitation, and court navigation, while Lindsay shares lived experience as a protective parent navigating the system.This is not about revenge.This is not about winning.This is about preparation, strategy, and protecting yourself and your children.What You’ll Learn in This Episode• Why abuse often escalates after separation through litigation and family court• How family court, civil court, and criminal court differ and why those differences matter• What litigation abuse looks like and how abusers use the legal system to maintain control• Why survivors need a bestie, not just an attorney, when navigating court• How judges actually think about the “best interest of the child”• How to prepare, document patterns, and protect your credibility in court• What it really means to work with a trauma-informed attorney• How pro se survivors can advocate for themselves more effectivelyAbout the National Domestic Violence HotlineThe National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential support, resources, and safety planning for survivors of domestic violence 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their advocates help survivors navigate abuse, custody concerns, legal options, and safety planning with compassion, patience, and care.

Besties, we’re going straight to the heart of the chaos: co-parenting after domestic abuse. Because the truth is this. Abuse does not end when the relationship ends. It shifts. It morphs. And it often gets weaponized through communication, schedules, school issues, and family court.In this episode of Bitch Is A Bad Word, host Lindsay Abernathy sits down with Steven Nixon, CEO and Family Law Attorney at Talking Parents, and Heather Ruiz, Marketing Director, to break down why your inbox becomes the new battlefield and how one app can create clarity, proof, and peace.We unpack how post-separation abuse shows up as communication chaos, why texts, emails, and DMs can backfire in court, and how Talking Parents creates a secure, unalterable record that helps establish patterns, reduce legal fees, and protect your mental health.This is not about “winning.”This is about documentation, boundaries, and safety.We've got your back, Besties.Need Help?If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit www.thehotline.org-----Support Our Sponsor: TALKINGPARENTS APPThe #1 App For More Confident Co-ParentingClick to Learn More: https://talkingparents.com/biabwWe’re teaming up with TalkingParentsApp to give the Bestie Gang one of the best tools for the Bestie Toolkit, the power to communicate without chaos. Because as much as we love reading your “Texties from your Exties,” some messages are better left professionally documented.If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, living through post-separation abuse, or just trying to protect your peace, the TalkingParents app will save your sanity. Every message. Every call. Every receipt. Safely logged. Documented bad words, gaslighting, word salads, or being run around more than a Target cart on a Sunday. Just boundaries, receipts, and your peace of mind.👉 Follow @TalkingParentsApp on Instagram & listen to the full episode of this Bitch Is A Bad Word ep now.What You’ll Learn in This Episode• Why post-separation abuse often shows up as “communication chaos”• How Talking Parents helps survivors create boundaries and court-ready documentation• Why “I never got that message” and “I didn’t see it” stops working• How courts use Talking Parents in high-conflict custody cases, DV cases, and supervised visitation• How to document patterns without living on the hamster wheelThe 5 Talking Parents Features Every Bestie Needs• Secure messaging with a court-ready record• Recorded audio calls with transcripts• Recorded video calls with transcripts• Shared calendar with edit history and notifications• Payments and reimbursement requests with built-in documentationPlus:Info Library, Vault storage, and a private journal to track what’s happening while protecting your peace. About Talking ParentsTalking Parents was built in family court for families navigating high-conflict co-parenting, custody disputes, and domestic violence situations. The platform creates an unalterable record of communication that courts trust and survivors rely on. It helps reduce conflict, establish patterns, and remove emotion from exchanges when safety and accountability matter most.

Pop star turned survivor advocate Tonya Mitchell is here, and Besties, this one hits every nerve. From getting signed to Motown at 15 and touring with *NSYNC to surviving covert domestic violence, smear campaigns, flying monkeys, and “kept woman” control, Tonya is turning every bruise you could not see into a battle cry. Her new song, “Nobody Loves Me Like You,” is a powerful domestic violence anthem for anyone who has ever asked, “Is this abuse or is it me?” and felt their body keeping score long before they had the language for what was happening behind closed doors.Tonya and Lindsay get brutally honest about emotional abuse, financial abuse, manipulation, narcissistic partners who smile in mug shots, and what it takes to break free, protect your kids, and reclaim your voice. If you have ever been called everything from “crazy,” “whore,” to “too sensitive,” this Bitch Sesh is your neon sign that you are not the problem.In this episode, we cover:How Tonya went from bullied teenager to Motown artist touring with *NSYNCThe difference between “perfect childhood” and adult partners who weaponize your empathyWhat domestic violence looks like when there are no bruisesFinancial abuse, hidden money, smashed laptops, and “rules for thee, not for me”Smear campaigns, flying monkeys, and estranged family members used as weaponsPostpartum depression, being a stay at home mom, and why “take a shower” is not a breakHow abuse shows up in your body through stress, rashes, hair loss, and chronic painIntermittent reinforcement, love bombing, and why leaving feels harder than stayingWhy abusing the mother of your children is abusing the children by proxyThe story behind “Nobody Loves Me Like You” and why this song is a lifeline for survivorsAbout Tonya MitchellTonya Mitchell is a singer, songwriter, and domestic violence survivor advocate. Signed to Motown as a teenager, she toured with *NSYNC and landed a Top 40 hit before walking away to build a family, only to find herself trapped in multiple abusive relationships. Today, Tonya uses her voice to speak for survivors through her new single “Nobody Loves Me Like You,” a powerful ballad about emotional abuse, coercive control, and the kind of love that suffocates instead of saves. She partners with the National Alliance of Domestic Violence Survivors and is dedicated to using music, storytelling, and lived experience to help women recognize the signs, get safe, and break the cycle.Follow & ConnectListen to “Nobody Loves Me Like You” by Tonya Mitchell on your favorite music platformWe've got your back, Besties.Need Help?If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit www.thehotline.org-----Support Our Sponsor: TALKINGPARENTS APPThe #1 App For More Confident Co-ParentingClick to Learn More: https://talkingparents.com/biabwWe’re teaming up with TalkingParentsApp to give the Bestie Gang one of the best tools for the Bestie Toolkit, the power to communicate without chaos. Because as much as we love reading your “Texties from your Exties,” some messages are better left professionally documented.If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, living through post-separation abuse, or just trying to protect your peace, the TalkingParents app will save your sanity. Every message. Every call. Every receipt. Safely logged. Documented bad words, gaslighting, word salads, or being run around more than a Target cart on a Sunday. Just boundaries, receipts, and your peace of mind.👉 Follow @TalkingParentsApp on Instagram & listen to the full episode of this Bitch Is A Bad Word ep now.