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. 1 DAY AGO

    81: Her Brothers SAed Her, One Tried to Silence Her with a Lawsuit

    Darlene Lekowski was sexually abused by two of her older brothers beginning at just 7 years old, carrying the trauma in silence for more than five decades while building a life that looked perfect from the outside. She shares the long-term reality of sibling sexual abuse, PTSD, perfectionism, fear of abandonment, and what happens when trauma is buried instead of healed. After finally confronting one of her brothers, he responded by suing her for defamation, forcing her into a two year legal battle where she was made to relive the abuse publicly in court. Darlene breaks down the family dynamics that kept her silent, the threats and manipulation used against her as a child, and the emotional toll of protecting everyone else while destroying herself in the process. She talks about raising children while carrying hidden trauma, how PTSD showed up throughout her life, and the moment she realized surviving wasn’t the same thing as healing. After winning the lawsuit and being validated by a jury, she began rebuilding her life, writing her book Shattering Silence, and speaking publicly to help other survivors break the shame and secrecy surrounding sibling sexual abuse, trauma, and family betrayal. Darlene’s Links: darlene-lekowski.com  https://www.instagram.com/darlenelekowski https://www.facebook.com/darlenelekowski “Shattering Silence” book  https://a.co/d/003yCIaB Resources: RAINN 24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline  1-800-656-HOPE https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ 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: sibling sexual trauma and abuse (SSTA), childhood trauma, family abuse, PTSD recovery, sexual abuse awareness, 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.

    48 min

  2. 29 APR

    80: Her Estranged Husband Murdered Their Two Children

    Hope’s estranged husband murdered their two young children in an act of filicide after being granted unsupervised custody, despite clear warning signs of instability, prior abuse, and escalating mental health concerns. Just before their deaths, he made suicidal and homicidal statements, was hospitalized, and still walked out of court with 50/50 custody. Hope’s story exposes the reality of how quickly systems can fail, how mental health is misunderstood in legal settings, and how lethal risk is often missed until it’s too late. Hope shares what led up to that moment, including years of coercive control, psychological abuse, gaslighting, and physical violence that she kept hidden while trying to survive and protect her children. She breaks down the timeline of events, the court decisions, and the warning signs that were overlooked, while also speaking to the unimaginable reality of losing both of her children and what it means to live after that level of loss. Hope’s Links: Fill out the link to pass The Alec and Lydia Act! https://rallystarter.com/rally/2948/please-pass-the-alec-and-lydia-act-in-the-arizona-senate https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain https://www.facebook.com/people/Hope-In-The-Pain https://linktr.ee/hopeinthepain  Voices Against Filicide - Hope’s Podcast https://tr.ee/4zExkNUIYi  Resources: 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: filicide, family court failure, coercive control, domestic violence (DV), custody system failure, true 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.

    1hr 24min

  3. 22 APR

    79: Years of Domestic Violence Led to a 10 Year Custody Battle for Her Children

    Jess Patz was 18 when she entered an abusive relationship that quickly escalated from love bombing into domestic violence, coercive control, and manipulation. The first physical assault happened during her first pregnancy, followed by years of emotional abuse, gaslighting, sexual assault, and financial control that caused her to question her own reality. She breaks down what intimate partner violence actually looks like behind closed doors, including how someone can be conditioned to stay, how abuse escalates over time, and how early warning signs are often missed or dismissed.  After leaving, she was pulled into a 10 year custody battle where family court systems failed to recognize patterns of abuse, allowing continued exposure for her children. During that time and years after, her body began to break down with severe health complications, including recurrent pulmonary embolisms, chronic pain, autoimmune disease, and eventually a stroke that forced her to relearn how to walk. Jess shares the reality of post separation abuse, child custody in abusive relationships, and how trauma doesn’t just stay mental, it shows up physically in ways that can change your life. She is now a speaker, advocate, and TEDx presenter using her story to raise awareness about domestic violence and its long term impact. Jess’ Links: https://www.instagram.com/_jesspatz https://www.tiktok.com/@_jesspatz https://www.jesspatz.com Resources: Crisis Text Line 741741 National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 Find local resources: https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/domestic-violence-local-resources/ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center https://dvsacenter.org 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: DV, coercive control, family court system, SA, trauma recovery, narcissistic abuse, autoimmune disease, lupus, stroke recovery, chronic illness 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 8m

  4. 15 APR

    78: The Reality of the War in Afghanistan

    Sean Tobias Ambriz joined the Army at 18 and was deployed to Afghanistan early in his military career, where he was unexpectedly assigned as a combat medic in an active war zone. With accelerated training, he was responsible for treating wounded soldiers during intense firefights, navigating Taliban ambushes, sniper fire, and life-or-death decisions in the mountains. He describes being surrounded during combat, running toward gunfire to reach injured soldiers, and working through mass casualties with limited medical supplies. He also speaks on how experiences like his are often overlooked, as attention is typically focused on special operations forces, despite conventional Army units facing the same level of danger and loss. The trauma of war, loss of fellow soldiers, and repeated exposure to combat carried into multiple deployments, PTSD, and the long-term reality veterans face after surviving combat.  Sean’s links: https://www.instagram.com/chief_pinkmist https://www.seantobiasambriz.com Resources: Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD https://www.ptsd.va.gov 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: combat medic, Afghanistan war, military PTSD, war trauma, Army veteran 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.

    1hr 36min

  5. 8 APR

    77: She Lost Her Fiancé to an Overdose Just 8 Months After Their Son Was Born

    Jori lost her fiancé to an overdose after trying to save him from a hidden addiction to pills that began before they met. Kyle came into her life on New Year’s Eve and quickly became someone she saw a future with, outgoing, magnetic, and deeply loved by everyone around him. As their relationship grew, so did the life they were building together, but behind it, he was quietly battling a pill addiction. It quickly turned into the reality of loving someone struggling with substance abuse, relapse, and the cycle of recovery attempts that didn’t last. Jori found herself questioning the signs of addiction in real time, trying to make sense of behavior changes, secrecy, and the emotional weight of being in a relationship affected by addiction. After losing her fiancé to an overdose just eight months after having their son, Jori was left navigating grief, trauma, and the lasting impact of sudden loss. She was now facing life without her partner and the father of her child, a loss that reshaped everything moving forward. She shares what it’s really like to love someone through addiction, the moments that don’t make sense at the time, and the ones that stay with you long after they’re gone. She also opens up about the loss of her best friend in a car accident she witnessed at 10 years old, a moment that stayed with her and shaped how she processes grief, trauma, and emotional attachment. Jori’s Links: https://www.instagram.com/jorikinney Jori’s Podcast - Shattered Silence: https://www.youtube.com/@ShatteredSilencePodcast https://www.instagram.com/shatteredsilencepod https://linktr.ee/shatteredsilencepod Resources: Crisis Text Line 741741 SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use) 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 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: addiction, overdose, grief, relationships, mental health, loss, trauma healing, substance abuse 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.

    1hr 15min

  6. 1 APR

    76: Drugged at a Work Party Then Abducted and Brutally Raped

    Tressa was 21 years old when she attended a company party expecting a normal night with coworkers. Within minutes of taking a shot, she began to lose control of her body. She was drugged, taken out of the bar, carried to an apartment, and left alone with a man she had never met. What followed was hours of rape and violent assault that resulted in severe, permanent physical injuries and long-term medical complications that still impact her life today. In the aftermath, Tressa was forced to repeatedly recount what happened to law enforcement, medical staff, and investigators while navigating an invasive forensic exam and a system that questioned her account. She shares the reality of what happens after rape, including the physical trauma, the psychological impact of sexual assault, and the way these cases are handled behind the scenes. More than two decades later, Tressa is now working with state and federal lawmakers to reform the sex offender registry, using her experience to advocate for change and bring awareness to the long-term impact people live with after sexual violence. Resources: RAINN 24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline  1-800-656-HOPE https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ Crisis Text Line 741741 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988 SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use) 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 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: violent crime, date rape drug, sexual assault (SA), true crime, victim advocacy 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.

    1hr 56min

  7. 25 MAR

    75: Raised by Addiction and a Con Artist Then Held Captive in a Motel for Five Weeks

    Ember grew up surrounded by manipulation, addiction, and instability that shaped her life long before she had the ability to understand or escape it. With a father in and out of prison for organized crime and a mother struggling with severe alcoholism, she was forced into survival mode early. By her teenage years, she was already raising her younger sister while navigating emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and constant instability. The environment she was raised in shaped how she viewed love, trust, and safety, making her vulnerable to repeated patterns of manipulation in adulthood.  As an adult, those patterns escalated into domestic violence, coercive control, and a situation where she was held in a motel for weeks under psychological and physical abuse. She eventually escaped by using the same manipulation tactics she was raised around. Even after getting out, the cycle didn’t immediately end. She continued to encounter people who exploited her trust, including someone she lived with for years who was secretly struggling with addiction and deception. Ember is now in the process of rebuilding her life, setting boundaries, and working in crisis support to help others, while actively breaking the patterns she was conditioned to accept. Ember’s links: https://www.instagram.com/survivorsalchemy Resources: Crisis Text Line 741741 SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use) 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 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: human trafficking, domestic violence, trauma recovery, narcissistic abuse, coercive control, 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.

    1hr 4min

  8. 18 MAR

    74: From a Rising BMX Career to Homelessness, Addiction, and Prison with Tony Hoffman

    Tony was once a talented BMX athlete with a promising future before addiction took over his life in his early twenties. What followed was a rapid descent into homelessness, drug addiction, and eventually prison. But prison became the turning point that forced him to confront everything he had been running from and rebuild his life from the inside out. After his release, Tony returned to BMX racing, competing professionally and eventually coaching at the Olympic level. He went on to become a nationally recognized speaker and the founder of multiple addiction treatment centers dedicated to helping people stabilize during the earliest and most dangerous stages of recovery. His work is built on a simple belief: people are not defined by their worst chapter, and with the right tools, accountability, and support, transformation is possible.  Tony’s links: https://www.instagram.com/tonymhoffman www.tonyhoffmanspeaking.com Resources: Crisis Text Line 741741 SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use) 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 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: addiction recovery, prison transformation, recovery story, substance abuse, personal growth 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.

    1hr 5min
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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
    82
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Monsters

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