Send us a text The raw power of lived experience drives everything behind A Contagious Smile, and in this candid episode, Victoria and Michael reveal exactly why they've dedicated their lives to supporting abuse survivors. Fresh off receiving three prestigious awards—including Best Transformative Trauma Advocate for Domestic Violence from Insider Weekly—the couple shares how their platform continues to expand through media features in the New York Times and Good Morning US. Victoria delves into ...
Jun 23, 2025•48 min
Send us a text After Victoria's powerful interview about surviving domestic violence became the podcast's most popular episode ever, Michael and Victoria return with this crucial follow-up discussion diving deeper into practical escape strategies that saved her life. Victoria shares the harrowing reality of living with a violent narcissist while pregnant with her daughter. "He testified that if he hit me once, he hit me 200 times," Victoria reveals, explaining how she made the agonizing choice n...
Jun 22, 2025•44 min
Send us a text What happens when parents face the unexpected challenge of raising a child with different abilities? While some choose to run, others discover the most beautiful journey imaginable—one filled with unconditional love and unexpected lessons. In this raw and honest conversation, Victoria and Michael tackle the painful reality of abandonment in families with medically complex children. Victoria doesn't mince words about fathers who leave when faced with a child's medical diagnosis: "Y...
Jun 16, 2025•40 min
Send us a text The weight of trauma is perhaps best explained through a powerful metaphor: imagine holding a paper coffee cup. For a minute, it's nothing—lightweight, manageable. After an hour, it feels heavier. After days without putting it down, your muscles lock in place, exhausted from carrying something that initially seemed insignificant. This is precisely how trauma, fear, and resentment function in our lives. June marks PTSD Awareness Month, and we're unveiling our new online academy fea...
Jun 13, 2025•41 min
Send us a text https://acontagioussmile.mn.co/ Breaking free from the chains of domestic violence takes more than courage—it requires strategy, support, and hope. This raw, powerful episode features survivors sharing the methods they used to escape abusive relationships while living under the constant surveillance of their abusers. From creative financial independence strategies to secret documentation methods, listeners will hear firsthand accounts of how survivors navigated seemingly impossibl...
Jun 03, 2025•44 min
Send us a text We're back after a three-week hiatus, and there's a good reason for our absence. Victoria has undergone two additional surgeries, including a spinal implant for her Complex Regional Pain Syndrome that has miraculously reduced her pain by over 80%. As she puts it with characteristic humor, "I really should get free HBO at this point with all these things I have to plug in and out." But just as life seemed to be settling into a healthier rhythm, we experienced what we can only descr...
May 21, 2025•42 min
Send us a text The overwhelming response to our podcast has shown us just how many people are silently struggling with the aftermath of narcissistic family dynamics. This episode dives deep into what it truly means to be the "black sheep" in a narcissistic family – not a flaw, but a superpower of truth-seeing that threatens those who rely on facades and manipulation. We share a particularly moving story from a high school listener who reached out after realizing, through our podcast, that she wa...
May 19, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Send us a text Imagine a world where every special needs child feels like a superhero rather than someone who's different. That's exactly what we're creating with the Stucco Squad – our passion project unveiled in this heartfelt episode. After celebrating my husband's first colonoscopy (yes, really – and men, this is your sign to schedule yours!), we dive into the exciting details of the Stucco Squad initiative. We're assembling incredible gift packages filled with specially selected items that ...
May 14, 2025•51 min
Send us a text What happens when the people who should love you most become your greatest source of pain? In this raw and unfiltered Q&A episode, Dana and Victoria tackle the toughest questions about narcissistic family relationships sent in by listeners desperately seeking answers. The conversation dives deep into the psychological warfare experienced within toxic family systems—from feeling responsible for others' behavior to questioning your very right to exist. Both hosts share vulnerabl...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 17
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May 10, 2025•59 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Send us a text When a narcissist targets you for abuse, they reserve a special kind of cruelty that no one else sees. This powerful episode pulls back the curtain on narcissistic abuse through raw, firsthand accounts that validate what countless survivors experience behind closed doors. Dana and her co-host courageously share their personal journeys through narcissistic relationships, revealing how these master manipulators present a charming face to the world while systematically destroying the...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 15
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May 10, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Send us a text The unexpected viral success of our podcast has revealed a disturbing truth: millions of people recognize the nightmare of narcissistic abuse. While gratified to reach so many, we're heartbroken that our stories resonate with such a vast audience. This episode takes a dark turn as we explore the shocking reality of narcissistic retaliation. Dana shares a chilling recent incident where someone targeted her daughter Faith's medical insurance shortly after our podcast gained populari...
May 09, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Send us a text The unfiltered wisdom of teens takes center stage in this refreshingly honest conversation about youth mental health. When our teenage guests Kinsley and Faith join the podcast, they waste no time delivering hard truths about what young people actually need from the adults in their lives. "Maybe not hound them so much about a couple of things on the floor of their room," Kinsley suggests when asked what adults can do better. This simple yet profound insight sets the tone for a dis...
May 05, 2025•37 min
Send us a text What does it mean to heal after narcissistic abuse? In this raw, unfiltered Q&A episode, Dana and Victoria tackle the questions that keep survivors up at night—from handling others' judgment to finding self-worth when everyone around you has tried to strip it away. "I don't have to prove anything to anybody," Victoria asserts when addressing how to handle others talking down about you. This powerful statement sets the tone for a conversation that gives listeners permission to ...
May 04, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 11
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May 02, 2025•46 min
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May 02, 2025•46 min
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Apr 26, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Send us a text Mark Wright's story redefines what's possible after traumatic injury. As the first amputee motorcycle officer in United States history, Mark demonstrates that our physical limitations are often far less restrictive than our mental ones. When Mark crashed his motorcycle after a late-night shift, hitting a disabled vehicle with no lights, his world changed forever. Multiple compound fractures left his left foot "like it went through a meat grinder." Despite doctors' attempts at limb...
Apr 21, 2025•56 min
Send us a text The pollen count is high and so are the emotions in this raw, unfiltered conversation between Victoria and Michael. Between sneezes and watery eyes, they dive into the grueling realities of advocacy work—the sleepless nights, endless paperwork, and emotional toll that comes with fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves. Victoria opens up about a new family she's working with, revealing the complex dynamics involved in cases with multiple children and parents. Michael cou...
Apr 14, 2025•57 min
Send us a text Ever wondered what happens when you throw together a redhead, a redneck, and a family dynamic that thrives on elaborate pranks? This raw, unfiltered episode takes you straight into the chaotic heart of family relationships where shoes get thrown in restaurant parking lots and trucks become canvases for bird droppings and marshmallows. But beneath the laughter lies something deeper. When our conversation shifts to children caught in divorce crossfire, we don't hold back. From perso...
Apr 09, 2025•47 min
Send us a text Take a deep breath with us as we explore the transformation that awaits beyond toxic relationships. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, we step away from the heaviness of narcissistic abuse to focus on something equally important. This beautiful life exists on the other side of healing. One host shares her harrowing health journey, describing how narcissistic abuse physically manifested as a life-threatening lung condition requiring constant oxygen support, with levels dropping ...
Apr 09, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Send us a text Taking a deep breath becomes an act of revolution after escaping narcissistic abuse. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Faith and Dana step away from their usual format to share profound insights about life after abuse—and why that journey is worth every difficult step. Faith arrives emotionally drained from six days of intense advocacy work, including a harrowing six-hour standoff, prompting a candid discussion about the toll of supporting those still trapped in toxic dynamics...
Apr 02, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Send us a text Every survivor deserves a voice—regardless of gender. When Michael witnessed his wife Victoria's domestic violence advocacy work up close for the first time, it sparked a raw, necessary conversation about who abuse affects and how cycles can be broken. Victoria pulls back the curtain on her nearly two decades as an advocate, showing how she bridges the gap between survivors, law enforcement, and the court system. She explains the crucial first steps an advocate takes when approach...
Mar 31, 2025•51 min
Send us a text Heartfelt celebrations and serious conversations collide in this candid episode where we start by toasting Michael's first colonoscopy (yes, really!) and the clean bill of health that followed. It's a perfect reminder that sometimes the most uncomfortable moments become our greatest gifts to those we love - as Michael puts it, "I want to live longer for my family." The energy shifts as we unveil our passion project: the Stucco Squad. This initiative for special needs children has ...
Mar 25, 2025•51 min
Send us a text https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Things-Never-Kunken-Story/dp/1946074411/ref=sr_1_1?crid=I0A7ECUBICVQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vAMrAnYnj9uBVExYnQAqxQ.TbIaGSb-nuHCxGomqQSS7iGt-mmIv_mqDBOLqKob1oM&dib_tag=se&keywords=ken+kunken+story&qid=1742781695&sprefix=ken+ku%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-1 The moment Ken Kunkin made that fateful tackle during a Cornell University football game in 1970, his life's trajectory was forever altered. Left a quadriplegic with minimal movement in just hi...
Mar 24, 2025•34 min
Send us a text Financial abuse remains one of the most powerful yet least understood tactics used by abusers to maintain control. In this raw, emotional conversation, two survivors share their hard-earned strategies for financially preparing to escape dangerous relationships. The hosts reveal detailed methods that helped them break free—from getting cash back at checkout and removing that portion of receipts, to building reserves through reward programs, gift cards, and couponing. Their advice e...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Send us a text When Malcolm Goodwin reached out to thank Victoria for saving his friend's life, it reinforced exactly why the Contagious Smile podcast exists. "I'm not looking for praise or notoriety," Victoria shares with raw honesty. "When I went through this and was laying on the floor bleeding, not wanting to get up, I wished someone could say 'I've got you. You're not alone.'" That connection – knowing someone understands your darkest moments – can transform a tiny remaining spark into a wi...
Mar 19, 2025•45 min
Send us a text In this heartfelt episode, It's a colorful tapestry woven from laughter, memories, and the anticipation of what lies ahead. We discuss the nuances of gifting experiences over material items and reflect on what it means to prioritize relationships and shared moments. We also introduce an upcoming Podcast-a-thon aimed at supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing joy to children facing life-threatening illnesses, and provide insights into the transf...
Mar 18, 2025•55 min
Send us a text What does it mean to transform personal trauma into a mission that uplifts others? Join Victoria and Michael as they unveil several groundbreaking initiatives designed to create safe spaces for those who need them most. The excitement is palpable as Victoria announces their podcast-a-thon benefiting Give Kids the World, an extraordinary organization providing magical experiences for children with critical illnesses. This partnership with Make-A-Wish represents their commitment to ...
Mar 15, 2025•42 min
