Beyond the Monsters

Chell Bane

A podcast where people share real stories of trauma, survival, mental health, and the darkest moments of their lives. Trauma, abuse, true crime, resilience, and the long road toward healing are at the center of every episode. These conversations go deeper than the surface to uncover the truth of what they lived through, what it cost them, and how they found the strength to rise again. It is real, emotional, and driven by the belief that when survivors speak, others find the courage to heal. Hosted by Chell Bane, a medical professional with 20+ years in psychiatry and addiction medicine, and a survivor of trauma herself. If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here:  https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2D AGO

    68: Infiltrating a Motorcycle Club After His Father’s Murder and Fighting a Corrupt Family Court

    Paul Hurley shares a life shaped by institutional betrayal, childhood abuse, and a family court system that protected power over truth. After discovering his identity had been legally altered as a child and surviving physical abuse in his own home, Paul later fought a seven-year custody battle when his children were removed from him under false allegations. He uncovers how a police department, CPS worker, psychologist, and judge failed to contact him after his children were sexually abused in their mother’s home, choosing instead to restrict his parental rights while minimizing consequences for the offender. As he battles corruption in Smith County, Texas, Paul simultaneously investigates his father’s murder, infiltrating motorcycle clubs to expose drug trafficking activity involving individuals connected to the sheriff’s office. From wrongful arrest and supervised visitation to courtroom retaliation and systemic coverups, this story exposes the intersection of family court corruption, law enforcement misconduct, and the psychological toll of being labeled dangerous while fighting to protect your children. What happens when the system designed to protect families becomes the weapon used against them? Paul’s Links: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12877863/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk https://www.instagram.com/actorpaulhurley Resources: Crisis Text Line 741741 SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) RAINN 24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline  1-800-656-HOPE Beyond the Monsters’ Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/ https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care. Topics: Family Court, Court Corruption, Custody Battle, Parental Rights, Institutional Betrayal, Undercover Investigation, True Crime, Organized Crime If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 53m

  2. 6D AGO

    BTM Special: Married to the Wolf of Wall Street and How to Leave Abuse with Dr. Nae

    Dr. Nae (Nadine Macaluso) speaks from lived experience about what coercive control actually looks like behind wealth, power, and public spectacle. Known to the world as the real-life wife portrayed in The Wolf of Wall Street, she unpacks the psychological mechanics woven throughout the story, explaining how trauma bonding, intimidation, manipulation, and addiction shaped daily life inside the relationship. What many viewers recognized as chaos or entertainment is reframed as part of a sustained pattern driven by fear, intermittent affection, and a profound power imbalance that slowly erodes identity and safety. Now a licensed therapist, Dr. Nae explains why leaving is rarely simple, why survivors stay longer than they ever planned, and why the most dangerous moment is often the decision to go. She breaks down post-separation abuse, power-based retaliation, and the myths that fuel victim blaming, while offering hard-won insight on planning safely, trusting your body when your mind is confused, and rebuilding after years of survival mode. Dr. Nae’s Links: https://www.instagram.com/therealdrnadine https://www.tiktok.com/@drnaelmft https://www.facebook.com/drnaelmft https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealDrNadine https://drnae.com Run Like Hell by Nadine Macaluso https://a.co/d/1lgb7jL Resources: National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 Text BEGIN to 88788 Crisis Text Line 741741 Beyond the Monsters’ Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/ https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care. Topics: coercive control, trauma bond, leaving abuse, post separation abuse, domestic violence (DV), therapist If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  3. FEB 4

    67: Protecting Her Stepchildren From CSA and the Reality of Reunification Camp

    Kitty shares how the family court system used parental alienation claims and court-ordered reunification therapy to forcibly remove children from their protective parent and place them with their abusive parent, exposing a devastating pattern of institutional failure.  After marrying a man with sole custody of two young boys, concerning behavioral changes and SA disclosures emerged following court-ordered visitation with their biological mother. Counselors, forensic interviews, and law enforcement became involved, with professionals acknowledging abuse had occurred, yet prosecutors declined to move forward. What followed was years of ignored testimony, sealed records, institutional silence, and a family court system that failed to protect children who spoke up. As the case escalated, the court labeled the protective parents as alienators and ordered placement in a court-mandated reunification camp that forcibly removed the boys from their home and isolated them from their support system. Kitty shares the psychological and physical toll of prolonged legal trauma, coercive control disguised as treatment, judicial overreach, financial devastation, and the long-term impact on children subjected to court-sanctioned separation. This episode exposes systemic family court failures and the path that led Kitty to advocacy and legislative efforts aimed at protecting children from institutional and legal abuse. Kitty’s Links: https://www.instagram.com/georgiaprotectiveparents https://www.facebook.com/Georgiaprotectiveparents https://x.com/gaprotectvprnts Email: georgiaprotectiveparents@gmail.com Resources: Crisis Text Line 741741 SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use) 1-800-662-HELP (4357) RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) 24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline  1-800-656-HOPE Beyond the Monsters’ Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/ https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care. Topic: family court, coercive control, reunification therapy, reunification camp, institutional failure, systemic trauma If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 29m

  4. JAN 28

    66: Her Ex Tried to Murder Her After She Left

    Larissa survived an attempted murder by a former partner who had spent months isolating, controlling, and manipulating her under the guise of protection and faith. She recounts how what appeared stable and safe escalated into coercive control, sexual violence, stalking, and a near-fatal shooting that led to the amputation of several fingers. In the aftermath, Larissa navigates the psychological recovery that follows surviving extreme violence. She speaks to what it takes to escape, what happens after you do, and how healing is built slowly through reclaiming identity and self trust. Larissa's Links: http://www.larissaslovenotes.com https://www.instagram.com/ann_ri3 Resources: National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 Text BEGIN to 88788 Crisis Text Line 741741 Beyond the Monsters’ Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/ https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care. Topic: attempted murder, domestic violence (DV), coercive control, survivor story, stalking If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m

  5. JAN 21

    65: Being Married to an Abusive Serial Cheater (Kyleigh Part 2)

    Kyleigh shares the continuation of her story, detailing the escalation of domestic violence, coercive control, emotional abuse, and psychological manipulation within her marriage. The pattern includes physical assault, sexual boundary violations, gaslighting, intimidation, and explicit threats tied to military careers and reputation. Alongside the violence, Kyleigh describes repeated infidelity, secret relationships, deleted messages, inappropriate emotional and sexual boundaries with other women, and chronic deception. Betrayal by trusted friends, minimization of harm, blame shifting, and isolation compound the abuse and reinforce forced silence. As the relationship continues, Kyleigh explains how ongoing cheating, emotional neglect, body shaming, and intimidation severely impacted her mental health. Following a catastrophic knee injury, dependence and vulnerability intensified the power imbalance, leading to abandonment, control, and further psychological harm. Even during periods of academic achievement, military advancement, and professional growth, manipulation and instability persisted. Kyleigh’s account highlights trauma bonding, intermittent reinforcement, and the progressive erosion of identity that can occur in abusive relationships marked by both violence and infidelity. Kyleigh’s Links: https://www.instagram.com/kyleighraexo https://www.tiktok.com/@kyleighraexo https://www.facebook.com/kyleighrae19 Kyleigh’s Outfit: https://www.instagram.com/urbanecollectivellc Resources: National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 Text BEGIN to 88788 Crisis Text Line 741741 Beyond the Monsters’ Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/ https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care. Topics: Domestic violence, Coercive control, Emotional abuse, Infidelity/Cheating, Trauma bonding If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2h 39m

  6. JAN 14

    64: A Life Shaped by Foster Care, Failed Adoption, and DV (Kyleigh Part 1)

    Kyleigh’s story begins in Eastern Iowa, moving through foster care in early childhood before being adopted at a young age. Inside that adoptive home, she describes years of SA, physical abuse, neglect, and adults who prioritized image over child safety. As a teenager, after a report was finally taken seriously, Kyleigh was removed by authorities and placed back into the system, moving through temporary placements before transitioning into independent living. Adulthood did not bring immediate stability. Kyleigh describes marrying young while trying to escape having no family foundation, only to find herself in a relationship that escalated to domestic violence. The military later became a turning point, first through the National Guard and then active duty service, including Hurricane Harvey response and deployment to Afghanistan. Her story traces how childhood trauma, domestic violence, housing insecurity at different points in life, and military service intersect without a simple cause-and-effect narrative. Kyleigh’s Links: https://www.instagram.com/kyleighraexo https://www.tiktok.com/@kyleighraexo https://www.facebook.com/kyleighrae19 Kyleigh’s Outfit: https://www.instagram.com/urbanecollectivellc Resources: National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 Text BEGIN to 88788 Crisis Text Line 741741 RAINN 1-800-656-HOPE Beyond the Monsters’ Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/ https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care. Topics: foster care, failed adoption, domestic violence, military service, childhood trauma If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 51m

  7. JAN 7

    63: Custody Battle With a Sexual Predator and a Pattern of Coercive Control

    What began as a marriage marked by love bombing, manipulation, and emotional volatility escalated into a custody battle rooted in coercive control, deception, and credible allegations of sexual harm. Indee describes years of psychological abuse, isolation, and intimidation, including being physically restrained, gaslit, and threatened into silence. As she attempted to leave, the abuse intensified, evolving into legal retaliation, false narratives, and a calculated effort to maintain power through the family court system. The unraveling of her ex-husband’s lies revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that family members had long concealed, leaving Indee to fight alone to protect her child. This episode exposes how coercive control does not end when a relationship does, but often resurfaces through custody disputes, institutional failures, and court-sanctioned access to children. Indee shares the psychological toll of trauma bonding, suicidal crisis, and complex PTSD, alongside the exhausting reality of self-representation in court while facing a manipulative abuser. Her story underscores the dangers of dismissing survivor testimony, the consequences of silence within families, and the urgent need for trauma-informed custody decisions. Indee’s Links: https://www.instagram.com/simplyindee https://www.tiktok.com/@indeefields Resources: National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 Text BEGIN to 88788 SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use) 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Crisis Text Line 741741 Beyond the Monsters’ Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/ https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care. Topics: Coercive control, Custody abuse, Narcissistic abuse, Parental alienation, Family court trauma If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 22m

  8. JAN 3

    62: Kidnapped by Somali Pirates for 93 Days, Rescued by SEAL Team Six

    Jessica Buchanan never imagined that a career rooted in service would lead her into one of the most extreme survival situations imaginable. A former schoolteacher turned humanitarian aid worker, she was kidnapped while working in Somalia and held captive for 93 days in the desert. What began as a mission driven by responsibility, purpose, and service became a fight for survival involving armed captors, ransom negotiations, physical illness, psychological terror, and the constant uncertainty of whether she would live to see another day. Her story exposes the hidden risks faced by humanitarian workers, the failures of institutional duty of care, and the devastating consequences of ignoring intuition. What ultimately carried Jessica through captivity was not blind optimism or belief alone, but a disciplined inner survival strategy. Drawing from spirituality, memory, ritual, and mental control, she created structure where none existed and meaning where despair could have taken over. Her rescue by U.S. special operations forces marked the end of captivity but not the end of the trauma. Returning home meant rebuilding identity, navigating PTSD, motherhood after survival, betrayal by systems meant to protect her, and the long process of surviving survival.  Jessica’s Links: https://www.instagram.com/jessicacbuchanan https://linktr.ee/jessbuchanan https://www.jessbuchanan.com Her Book “Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six”: https://a.co/d/2oFjqwH Beyond the Monsters’ Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters/ https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care. Topics: Humanitarian worker kidnapping, Surviving captivity and hostage trauma, PTSD after extreme trauma, Intuition and survival psychology, Life after survival trauma If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here: https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Please contact beyondthemonsters@gmail.com for any business inquiries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 16m
See All (69)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A podcast where people share real stories of trauma, survival, mental health, and the darkest moments of their lives. Trauma, abuse, true crime, resilience, and the long road toward healing are at the center of every episode. These conversations go deeper than the surface to uncover the truth of what they lived through, what it cost them, and how they found the strength to rise again. It is real, emotional, and driven by the belief that when survivors speak, others find the courage to heal. Hosted by Chell Bane, a medical professional with 20+ years in psychiatry and addiction medicine, and a survivor of trauma herself. If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here:  https://form.jotform.com/243366933402153 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Chell Bane
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Monsters

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