From Now On

• THE MILITARY DISCHARGE: Surviving Sexual Assault & Healing PTSD with a Service Dog

  Just a heads up: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, initmate partner violence, substance abuse and PTSD. Some may find it upsetting. We encourage you to take care of yourself. What happens when a survivor of military sexual assault is not only silenced but discarded by the very institution they gave an oath to? How do we respond when their stories of trauma, PTSD, and struggle for justice come to light? Today, we confront military sexual trauma and the devastating aftermath for those who speak out. Army veteran, author, and PTSD advocate Simone Swartz joins Lisa to share her journey from honor and ambition to betrayal. Simone reveals how the military’s culture of misogyny and silence left her without a safe place to turn after being assaulted by a fellow soldier. Instead of receiving care, she was blamed, ostracized, and ultimately discharged—her service and future erased in a single stamp. Simone and Lisa discuss the long-term impact of military sexual trauma: PTSD, addiction, and the struggle for basic dignity and healthcare. But Simone’s story is also one of hope and transformation. She is dedicated to helping others understand that PTSD is treatable. Through therapy, community, and the unconditional support of her service dog, Simone learned to manage her symptoms and rebuild her life. She shares practical insights on recognizing PTSD, seeking help, and the importance of persistence in recovery.  For Simone, her service dog became a lifeline—helping her manage panic, rebuild trust, and reclaim her life one step at a time. Her message to listeners is clear: no matter the trauma, healing is possible, and no one is beyond hope. PTSD can be managed, and survivors deserve support, respect, and the chance to thrive. She has written, soon to be published PTSD and What Helped Me, in hopes of bringing a consolidated resource for those dealing with PTSD. This episode is a call to believe survivors, to demand accountability from the systems that fail them, and to recognize that recovery is possible—even after the deepest betrayals. Simone’s courage and advocacy remind us that with the right support, every survivor can find a path forward. “From now on, PTSD is treatable and the sky's the limit.” About Simone Swartz: Simone Swartz is an Army Veteran, mother of 3, author, public speaker, and leading PTSD expert on Service dogs and PTSD.  She is also a Military Sexual Trauma Survivor.  Her journey living with PTSD, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and addiction has led her to share her story and ways to overcome trauma and live a fulfilled life. Follow Simone @ptsdandwhathelpedme and @servicedoginnewyork on Instagram. @ptsdandwhathelpedme on TikTok and Youtube Check out www.ptsdandwhathelpedme.com to learn more about her work and to order her book.  From Now On is produced by LA PHILLIPS MEDIA. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Have a story to share with us? Email us at [email protected]. Join our movement and keep up to date on all things From Now On by following us @fromnowonpod on all socials. If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree). PAVE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors. Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) is dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.

  --------  

  1:01:31

  --------

  1:01:31
• THE FATHER’S SECRET: When Your Protector Turns Into Your Predator

  Just a heads up: This episode contains discussions of familial sexual assault, grooming, psychological abuse and physical abuse. Some may find it upsetting. We encourage you to take care of yourself. How do we recognize the signs of childhood abuse—especially when it’s hidden behind a mask of love and trust? What can we do to educate and empower children, parents, and communities to break the silence before it’s too late? In this episode, Lisa welcomes Jessica Ella, Australia’s leading women’s trauma therapist and survivor, to share her powerful story and expertise. Jessica’s childhood was marked by confusion, fear, and secrets—her father, admired by outsiders as “Super Dad,” was in reality her abuser. Like so many children, Jessica trusted her parent completely, making the betrayal and manipulation even more devastating. She describes how abuse cloaked in love creates unbearable confusion, self-blame, and a twisted sense of normalcy that can last for decades. Together, Lisa and Jessica break down the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of childhood abuse: secrecy, fear, sudden changes in behavior, withdrawal, and the burden of “unhappy secrets” that children are too scared to share. They discuss the importance of teaching children the difference between safe surprises and unsafe secrets, and why early, age-appropriate conversations are crucial for prevention. Jessica shares her experience writing the children’s book Secret or Surprise—a practical tool designed to help families and educators start these vital conversations with kids as young as four, before grooming and abuse can take root. This episode is a call to action for parents, teachers, and caregivers: learn the signs, trust your instincts, and create safe spaces where children know they can speak up. Lisa and Jessica remind listeners that education, open dialogue, and breaking generational cycles of silence are the keys to protecting children and supporting survivors on their path to healing. “From now on…I will always be the example.” About Jessica Ella: Jessica Ella is an internationally accredited holistic trauma expert and the founder of Aaruka® Therapy. Known as Australia’s Leading Women’s Trauma Therapist, Jessica has helped thousands of women break free from their past, helping them to heal their complex trauma and sexual abuse so that they can reclaim freedom, love & power. Her work is raw, real and deeply transformational. Follow Jessica Ella @iamjessicaella on Instagram. Check out www.jessicaella.com.au to learn more about her work and services. To order her book go to www.secretorsurprise.com.au. From Now On is produced by LA PHILLIPS MEDIA. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Have a story to share with us? Email us at [email protected]. Join our movement and keep up to date on all things From Now On by following us @fromnowonpod on all socials. If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree). PAVE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors. Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) is dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.

  --------  

  1:23:31

  --------

  1:23:31
• THE SECRET RELATIONSHIP: Surviving Abuse When He Denies You Ever Existed

  Just a heads up: This episode contains discussions of grooming, coercive control, and physical abuse. Some may find it upsetting. We encourage you to take care of yourself. What happens when the person who hurt you most insists you were never even together? When survivors come forward with stories of hidden relationships and abuse, they’re often met with disbelief—especially when the abuser’s public persona is charming, generous, and above reproach. In this episode, Lisa welcomes Davina Durgana, PhD, an award-winning human rights expert and survivor, who bravely shares her story of a secret relationship marked by manipulation, isolation, and escalating abuse. While her abuser maintained a blameless public image, behind closed doors, he was physically and emotionally abusive—using secrecy, coercion, and violence to control every aspect of her life. Davina’s story reveals how abusers weaponize secrecy, insisting on hidden relationships under the guise of “protection,” while privately inflicting harm and publicly denying any connection. When Davina finally broke her silence, her abuser not only denied their relationship and their child, but also launched a smear campaign—using legal threats, false accusations, and manipulative tactics to discredit her and protect his reputation. Lisa and Davina discuss the unique trauma of being erased and gaslit, the emotional toll of fighting for acknowledgment in a world that only sees the abuser’s public mask, and the exhausting legal battles survivors face just to be heard. From seeking restraining orders to defending herself against defamation to seeking child support, Davina’s journey exposes the deep flaws in a system that too often fails to recognize covert abuse and protect those most at risk. This episode is a call for empathy, validation, and accountability. Survivors deserve to be seen, heard, and believed—even when their abuser pretends they never existed and tries to destroy their credibility. Lisa and Davina challenge the culture of silence, urging listeners to stand with survivors and demand justice, both inside and outside the courtroom. “From now on…I will not tolerate behavior that I wouldn’t want my daughter to tolerate.” About Davina Durgana: Davina Durgana, PhD is an award-winning international human rights statistician who has developed leading global models to assess risk and vulnerability to modern slavery.  Dr. Davina Durgana was a Founding Author of the Global Slavery Index and Contributing Founding Author of the UN’s Global Estimates of Modern Slavery.  She is the Director of Free the Slaves, the oldest anti-trafficking organization in the United States and is currently working on a book on family court reform for domestic violence survivors and their children.  Follow Davina on Instagram @davinadurgana. From Now On is produced by LA PHILLIPS MEDIA. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Have a story to share with us? Email us at [email protected]. Join our movement and keep up to date on all things From Now On by following us @fromnowonpod on all socials. If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree). PAVE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors. Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) is dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.

  --------  

  1:38:39

  --------

  1:38:39
• THE DORM ROOM: Assaulted by 13 athletes and the university that covers it up

  Just a heads up: This episode contains discussions of physical, emotional, psychological abuse and sexual assault. Some may find it upsetting. We encourage you to take care of yourself. What happens when the place meant to launch your future becomes the site of your worst nightmare—and the very institution meant to protect you chooses to protect itself instead? In this episode, Lisa sits down with Iesha Campbell, whose first weeks at a North Carolina college ended in unimaginable horror: drugged and assaulted by 13 athletes at a party in a dorm room, a place she should have felt safe. But the trauma didn’t end with the crime. Despite a positive rape kit and clear evidence, Iesha was met with disbelief, intimidation, and victim-blaming by the university and campus police. Instead of support, she and her family were pressured to stay silent—warned that pursuing justice would only bring shame and ruin to her reputation, while her attackers walked free. The university’s priority was clear: protect its image and its athletes, no matter the cost to the survivor. Iesha’s story is not just about surviving a horrific assault, but about the lifelong consequences of institutional betrayal. She shares the enduring impact of the cover-up: PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the struggle to reclaim her sense of worth and safety in a world that failed to stand by her. Lisa and Iesha confront the staggering reality that one in five college women will be sexually assaulted, and most will never see justice—not because they didn’t come forward, but because those in power chose to look away. This episode is a call to break the silence, demand accountability from universities, and support survivors with empathy—not shame. Lisa and Aisha remind listeners that the true cost of a cover-up is measured in lives forever altered by trauma, and that speaking out is the first step toward change. “From now on… I’ll never abandon me.” About Iesha Campbell: Iesha Campebell is a resilient soul with a heart of gold. Despite life’s hardships, Iesha shares her story to inspire and empower others on similar paths, turning pain into purpose. Follow Iesha on Instagram @Ieshacampbell59 and on Facebook. From Now On is produced by LA PHILLIPS MEDIA. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Have a story to share with us? Email us at [email protected]. Join our movement and keep up to date on all things From Now On by following us @fromnowonpod on all socials. If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree). PAVE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors. Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) is dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.

  --------  

  48:55

  --------

  48:55
• THE BOXER: My Coach Controlled Everything—Even Me

  Just a heads up: This episode contains discussions of intimate partner violence and coercive control, emotional, financial, and psychological abuse. Some may find it upsetting. We encourage you to take care of yourself. What happens when the fight for your life takes place outside the ring? In this episode, we expose the hidden world of abuse, coercive control, and grooming in athletics through the powerful story of Nikki Hru—a female boxer whose coach became her abuser. Nikki’s journey reveals how power dynamics in sports can be exploited, turning mentorship into manipulation and training into emotional captivity. She bravely details how her coach groomed her, isolated her from support, and used his authority to control every aspect of her life, both in and out of the gym, under the guise of a relationship. This is not just a story about abuse in the boxing world—it’s a testament to the unique challenges female athletes face when the very system meant to empower them becomes a weapon for control. But Nikki’s fight didn’t end when she broke free from her coach’s grip. She faced a new battle in the legal system, navigating the daunting process of seeking a restraining order for her safety. Nikki shares the emotional toll of having to prove her abuse, the barriers survivors encounter in court, and the courage it takes to demand protection when institutions are slow to act. Nikki’s story is about breaking that silence, challenging the systems that enable abuse, and showing other female athletes that they are not alone. This episode is a call to action: to recognize, believe, and support survivors in sports, to hold abusers and institutions accountable, and to empower women everywhere to reclaim their stories—inside and outside the ring. “From now on… I’ll never abandon me.” About Nikki Hru: Nikki Hru is an actress and an influencer boxer, as well as a survivor of domestic abuse. Nikki is hoping that sharing at least part of her story will help other victims feel seen and empowered in their survival. She is committed to authentically living, creating good from even the worst of times. Follow Nikki on Instagram @NikkiHru. From Now On is produced by LA PHILLIPS MEDIA. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Have a story to share with us? Email us at [email protected]. Join our movement and keep up to date on all things From Now On by following us @fromnowonpod on all socials. If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree). PAVE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors. Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) is dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.

  --------  

  1:38:12

  --------

  1:38:12

More Society & Culture podcasts

Trending Society & Culture podcasts

About From Now On