A Contagious Smile Podcast
A Contagious Smile is a powerful platform dedicated to uplifting and empowering special needs families and survivors of domestic violence. Through heartfelt stories, we shine a light on the journeys of extraordinary individuals who have overcome unimaginable challenges. Their triumphs serve as a testament to resilience and strength, inspiring others to rediscover their own inner light. Each episode features candid interviews with survivors, advocates, and experts who provide valuable resources and insights to support those on their own paths to healing and empowerment. Join us as we celebrate the power of resilience, the beauty of shared stories, and the unstoppable spirit of those who turn adversity into hope. Let us guide you in rekindling your spirit, because every smile tells a story of courage and transformation.
Episodes
When we talk about domestic violence, the most damaging question survivors hear is "Why didn't you just leave?" In this raw and powerful episode, Victoria and Michael pull back the curtain on this misconception, sharing stories from their upcoming book project "Dear Silence, You Lost."
Victoria reveals a particularly moving submission from a child who once resented their mother for st...
What happens when survivors of domestic violence finally break their silence? In this raw, powerful episode, we unveil "Dear Silence," our groundbreaking international book project launching this October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This collection will feature letters from survivors who've endured the unimaginable—giving voice to those who were told to stay quiet for far too long.
Be...
The scars of domestic violence often remain long after the abuse ends. Victoria's story reveals the staggering physical toll—over 120 surgeries in nearly two decades with more to come—including an upcoming radical ear procedure that will leave her completely deaf in one ear. Yet despite never experiencing a pain-free day in almost twenty years, her positivity remains unshaken.
"If anyone has the rea...
When Victoria speaks of making a deal with the devil to protect her unborn child, you understand immediately this isn't an ordinary story of survival. Having endured over 100 surgeries resulting from brutal domestic violence, Victoria Cure has transformed unimaginable trauma into a mission that defines resilience in its purest form.
"How much more do I have to give?" It's the question her ...
The "We Built This" global summit created a powerful space where survival transforms into thriving. Hosted by Victoria Cure, domestic violence survivor and founder of A Contagious Smile, this event brings together an extraordinary collection of voices who've turned their deepest wounds into wisdom.
Susan O'Mallan introduces her groundbreaking Thriver's Own Motivational Model, addressi...
The anticipation is palpable as Victoria Coure and Michael dive into their latest episode, announcing that their upcoming webinar has generated remarkable interest, and their global speaking opportunities have sold out in record time! This success comes alongside features in over 50 media publications, including two fresh magazines that arrived just that day: Podcastars and Equubator. Perhaps most exciting? They’re fe...
What happens when life throws everything at you - traumatic brain injury, severe mental illness, chronic pain, and profound loss? Kurt Wagner's answer might surprise you: you become stronger.
After a catastrophic assault left Kurt with a broken vertebral artery, blood poured onto his brain for approximately eight hours. Doctors gave him last rites, believing he wouldn't survive. The injury destroyed...
"You're not your diagnosis, you're not your condition." These powerful words come from Victoria, founder of A Contagious Smile and survivor of extreme domestic violence that has left her with titanium throughout her body, one arm amputated, and now facing complete deafness.
Victoria's story isn't just about survival—it's about transformation. After enduring over 100 surgerie...
Ever wondered what happens when someone refuses to serve your child with a medical condition? Victoria and Michael share a raw, unfiltered account of standing up to a McDonald's manager who denied their daughter food despite knowing her medical needs. This powerful confrontation highlights the fierce advocacy that defines their approach to life and healing.
The couple dives deep into narcissistic relatio...
Some heroes wear uniforms, while others create sanctuaries for healing. In this powerful conversation, we meet JJ, founder of Ripple Retreat and a veteran with 27 years of military service who transformed his own trauma into a mission of recovery and hope.
After surviving four close calls during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, JJ faced another battle with alcoholism that nearly ended in suicide. Standing...
We're thrilled to announce the launch of Contagious Smile Academy! This passion project represents years of experience transformed into over 100 practical courses designed to support trauma survivors, special needs families, veterans, and anyone seeking personal growth during challenging times.
The Academy features specialized collections including the Safe Haven Phoenix Center for trauma recovery, Stucc...
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 feat...
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...
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...
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.
J...
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 wil...
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...
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 hig...
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&apos...
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