Unspoken: Conversations with Candace

In this poignant episode, Candace and her guest, Kelley, bravely open up about their experiences of abuse and the journey towards healing. Both women share their stories of resilience and hope, emphasizing the importance of speaking out and finding a supportive community.

Kelley candidly recounts her childhood experiences, from facing abuse to her struggle with addiction, and how she found healing through faith and community support...

Healing, Hope and Hardships with Carmen Santiago-Keenon

In this heartfelt episode, Candace and her inspirational guest, Carmen Santiago-Keenon, reflect on their healing journeys, sharing personal struggles and triumphs. They both express immense gratitude for family, faith, and their supportive communities. 

Carmen candidly discusses the challenges her family faced with vehicle accidents, yet how they've found strength...

In this powerful episode, Scott Kinderman shares his inspirational journey from trauma to transformation. Listen in as Scott, a relentless advocate for survivors, discusses his collaboration with BeLEAF Survivors and NAMI, and his recent honor at the EndCAN “Walk Together” event. 

Candace delves into her personal experience as a survivor and the incredible ripples her book has created in sparking crucial conversations. Neil, who co-...

Can speaking your truth save your life? Candace Sanchez and Neil Parekh are joined by special guest Shawn Hittman. Shawn, a finance professional who is a survivor and thriver, shares his courageous journey of healing. Through heartfelt anecdotes, Shawn paints a vivid picture of his childhood innocence and the impact of abuse that unfolded.

Discover how Shawn's healing journey at the Aurora Healing Center became a pivotal moment...

How can we break the cycle of sexual abuse in the church and create a safe environment for children to worship and grow without fear of being victimized? Candace is joined by co-host Neil and guest speaker Mike Koplinka-Loehr to shed light on the challenges faced by male survivors of sexual abuse in the church. Mike, who is starting the Healing Resource Institute for Victim Empowerment, shares his gripping story of being abused by ...

In this heartwarming and empowering episode, Candace and Neil welcome James Turner, a retired library assistant and poet. James brings us his journey of resilience and recovery from childhood trauma. James sheds light on his story's turning point, where he was able to recognize the source of his suffering and shares his experience of attending moMENtum, a Devon-based men's group aimed at enabling men to come together to d...

In this powerful and deeply emotional episode, Candace and Co-host Neil Parekh talk with Callen Harty who shares his emotional journey as a survivor of child sex abuse. Callen discusses his upbringing in a small town in Wisconsin and the traumatic experiences he had with his older brother from the age of 10 to 18. He reveals the impact that the abuse had on him and how it impacted his life until he found the courage to come out wit...

Male survivors of sexual abuse is a topic that is surrounded by stigma, shame, and misunderstanding, making it extremely difficult for survivors to speak out and receive the support they need. We're proud to feature Nathan Spiteri on this month's episode, as he shares his powerful story and advocates for change.

Nathan Spiteri, is a filmmaker, actor, writer, sexual abuse survivor, activist, and advocate. Nathan shares his ...

From Abuse to Advocacy with Kenneth Rogers, Jr.

Are you ready to take a deep dive into one of the most powerful stories of resilience and advocacy? Join us for an inspiring episode with Kenneth Rogers, Jr., a male survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Kenny endured years of abuse, depression, and isolation before he was able to begin his journey of healing. 

After finding success in speech and debate, Kenny turned to writing ...

Sharing Stories to Heal: A Season of Male Survivors

 Welcome to Season 3, which is dedicated to male survivors and giving male survivors a place for healing, support, and resources. In this episode, Candace speaks with Neil Parekh, a marketing and communications professional who is gifted at sharing the power of story. Listen in as Neil tells his own story of abuse and healing.

 Candace and Neil met at a conference centering around d...

In this episode, Candace talks to father and daughter duo, Scott and Scarlette Kinderman. Scott is the current Director of Business Intelligence and a volunteer that advocates for sexual assault at BeLEAF Survivors, Inc. While Scarlette is the upcoming Regional Community Partnerships Coordinator for Racine and Kenosha with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. She received the Bronze Congressional Award and the Silver President's V...

S2 E14: Strength Through Adversity with Araceli Esparza

 In this episode, Candace talks to Araceli Esparza, an entrepreneur and business consultant who helps others build their social capital for justice. She is the founder of 

Midwest Mujeres Collective. She helps other women grow their income and confidence. She got the inspiration to start her own business after hearing a speaker talk about being a social entrepreneur and how it c...

Candace is joined by Megan Schwan, who shares her story about having an abusive partner. She shares the turmoil and trauma she experienced on her journey, as well as how she dealt with it and began to heal. Megan offers advice for others who maybe in a similar situation, sharing how important it is to reach out for help and begin the process of rebuilding your life. She gives Candace and the listeners hope that it is possible to mo...

Surviving to Thriving

Candace is joined by Samantha Collier on this episode of the show. They talk about trauma and how it affects women who have survived sexual abuse. Candace shares her own story of trauma and how she was able to transition from surviving to thriving.

Samantha provides helpful tips for other women who are dealing with trauma, including how to seek help from a therapist or counselor. They al...

On this episode of Unspoken Conversations, Candace is joined by Susan Welton. They discuss childhood trauma and how it can shape our lives as we grow older. Susan mentions that it's important to face our fears in order to truly overcome them. She believes that we must encounter the darkness in order to become the light. 

This is an empowering message for women who have experienced trauma in their lives. It is a remind...

Surviving and Thriving Despite the Odds

Childhood trauma can have a profound impact on a person's life, influencing everything from their future relationships to their career choices. However, it is important to remember that just because someone has experienced trauma does not mean that they are doomed to a life of struggle. In fact, many people who have faced childhood trauma go on to lead successful and fulfilling ...

In this episode Candace interviews John, who shares his story of trauma and addiction. As a child, John faced some difficult challenges that left him feeling lost and alone. However, he eventually found his way out of the darkness and into sobriety. 
 
Today, John is grateful for his past experiences, as they have made him the strong and resilient person he is today. Listen with compassion as John opens up about his journey...

Matthew James Gutierrez is the author of a bilingual poetry book entitled Notes I Wrote Along The Way. He obtained a Bachelor’s in Science and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). As an undergraduate, he studied creative writing, focusing on fiction and poetry, and took courses on screenplay and television writing at UCLA.

Highlight:

08:11 – If plan a doesn’t work the way we always th...

Decision Permission with Kristy Jean

Kristy is a mom, educational leader, speaker, and author. She is a self-proclaimed optimist/ realist ball of energy whose mission is to help us all live our best, most authentic lives. She holds a Master of Science in Educational Administration as well as Principal and Director of Instruction licensures. She values blending the expertise of education, business, and wellness professionals for a mo...