One Big Darkroom

Juniper-Quinn

Stories of trauma, healing, survival, and finding your way home I’m Juniper-Quinn. I’ve lived through the dark—and now I’m dragging it into the light. My Big Darkroom is a space where safety isn’t just a concept—it’s a way of surviving, healing, and reclaiming your life. Out of trauma came truth. Out of silence came stories. That’s how this podcast began. While I can’t share all of the details yet, what I can share is the path forward: the messy, honest, sometimes funny, sometimes heavy journey of rebuilding. It’s the raw stuff: trauma, healing, solo travel, gut instincts, messy love stories, and the grief we don’t post about. We unpack what it means to find safety again, to trust yourself again, to live through truth instead of hiding from it. You’ll hear my story. You’ll hear others’. And maybe, you’ll hear pieces of your own. This is where the quiet parts of life finally get to speak out loud. If you’re ready to hear them, I’m ready to share.

Episodes

  1. 12/10/2025

    Soul Dogs: How Pets Help Us Heal Trauma, Loss, and Ourselves

    In this deeply personal episode, we explore the ancient roots of human–animal relationships and the extraordinary bond so many of us share with our pets today. From the domestication of dogs and cats thousands of years ago to modern science on attachment, stress reduction, and emotional regulation, we look at why animals often become our safest companions... especially for those who grew up in chaotic or traumatic environments. I share the story of my own soul dogs, Nala and Shotgun. How they came into my life, how they shaped it, and the profound grief of losing them both within months of each other. Their love was a constant through heartbreak, instability, and some of the darkest moments of my life. Their loss became a turning point I’m only now ready to talk about. We also explore the psychology of trauma bonding, identity collapse, and why people who are grieving or emotionally untethered can become vulnerable to unhealthy or manipulative relationships. This episode lays the groundwork for the next one, where I will finally begin telling a story I’ve carried silently for three years. This is an episode about soul-level companionship, the science behind why animals heal us, and how profound grief can shape the choices we make...  sometimes in ways we never see coming. Content WarningThis episode contains discussion of: grief and loss of petsemotional traumadepressive symptoms (including feeling indifferent about living)references to past abusive or unhealthy relationshipstrauma bonding dynamicsThere are no descriptions of violence in this episode, but sensitive emotional themes are present. Listener discretion is encouraged. https://www.pedigree.com/dog-care-articles/evolution-pet-ownership? https://americanpetproducts.org/news/the-american-pet-products-association-appa-releases-2025-state-of-the-industry-report? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9216416/? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10986847/? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12380019/?

    27 min
  2. 11/26/2025

    You’re Not Doing the Holidays Wrong: Coping with Grief, Loneliness & Broken Traditions

    Content Notice: In this episode, I talk about grief, fractured traditions, trauma memories, and the emotional challenges many of us face during the holidays. If any of these topics feel tender for you, please listen gently and honor your limits. In this personal episode, Juniper-Quinn explores the complicated, tender reality of the holiday season.. especially for those whose traditions have fractured, shifted, or disappeared altogether. From growing up in two households to navigating trauma anniversaries, she shares how grief, loneliness, expectations, and the weight of family dynamics can turn the “happiest time of the year” into one of the hardest. Juniper-Quinn talks about Seasonal Affective Disorder, the emotional pressure of holiday culture, and the ways crisis often rises in the quiet spaces between celebrations. She opens up about the Christmas that changed everything, how she rebuilt her holiday life from the ground up, and why this is the first year she finally feels ready to celebrate again. Along the way, she offers trauma-informed insight, gentle encouragement, and practical ideas for creating your own traditions. Whether that means a cabin in the woods, a beachside retreat, tiny rituals, or the ancient practice of the Rauhnächte. If you’ve ever spent a holiday alone, struggled with family expectations, or felt out of place in a season built on togetherness, this episode is a soft landing.  A reminder that your pace is valid, your traditions are yours to build, and there is light to be found... even in the darkroom. https://www.crisistextline.org/ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=Exposure%20to%20sunlight.,learn%20how%20to%20manage%20them. https://www.school-of-souls.com/blog/the-magic-of-the-rauhnaechte-2024

    29 min
  3. 11/12/2025

    Supernatural and the Power of Fandom: How Stories Save Us

    In this episode of One Big Darkroom, Juniper-Quinn explores how a TV show about hunting monsters became a lifeline for millions. From LiveJournal threads to convention halls, the Supernatural fandom built a family out of darkness. One grounded in creativity, compassion, and the simple act of carrying on. Through stories of survival, faith, and fan-born movements like Always Keep Fighting and Random Acts, JQ traces how art can save lives and how we find light in even the darkest rooms. https://988lifeline.org/ https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/iywepl/supernatural_fandom_rise_of_the_supernatural/ https://supernaturalwiki.com/Always_Keep_Fighting?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://fansided.com/2019/09/09/supernatural-fandom-15-seasons-finale/#:~:text=Mystery%20Spot%E2%80%9D).-,Perhaps%20when%20the%20writers%20decided%20to%20have%20more%20fun%20with,continue%20well%20past%20the%20finale. https://www.meredithlpc.com/blog/mental-health-and-fandom#:~:text=%E2%80%9CFandom%2C%20especially%20one%20like%20Supernatural,with%20our%20own%20internal%20monsters.%E2%80%9D https://twloha.com/blog/jared-padalecki-always-keep-fighting/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://variety.com/2015/tv/people-news/jared-padalecki-always-keep-fighting-depression-suicide-twloha-1201451708/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://randomacts.org/history/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.dailydot.com/irl/supernatural-support-network/ https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db509.htm

    29 min
  4. 10/29/2025

    The Time Warp of Belonging

    From ancient Celtic bonfires to the flicker of a midnight movie screen, this episode traces the history of Halloween. Where masks first meant protection, and later, permission. Juniper-Quinn dives into the roots of Samhain, the birth of costuming, and the way a holiday once built on survival evolved into a celebration of identity and transformation. But somewhere along the way, freedom got tangled with control. We’ll talk about how society has tried to shape and silence women’s sexuality, and why that control still echoes today. Then we jump to the ultimate act of rebellion: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. From its strange little theater in London to its cult revival in midnight screenings around the world, Rocky Horror became more than a movie, it became a sanctuary. Juniper shares her own story of directing and starring in a live shadow-cast production, finding liberation on stage in fishnets and vulnerability, and discovering that performance can heal. This Halloween, we’re exploring what it means to wear a mask, take it off, and belong...  in the dark, in the light, and everywhere in between. https://www.onedarkroom.com/ https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Rocky-Horror-Picture-Show https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200618-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-the-film-thats-saved-lives https://www.oxfam.org/en/ten-harmful-beliefs-perpetuate-violence-against-women-and-girls https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622723000801#:~:text=The%20forceful%20control%20of%20women's%20sexuality%20can,Gowaty%2C%201992;%20Smuts%2C%201992%2C%201995;%20Gowaty%2C%201996). https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-halloween https://www.thehotline.org/

    23 min
  5. 06/11/2025

    How to Get an Order of Protection

    In this deeply personal first episode, Juniper Quinn opens up about her past relationship marked by emotional and psychological abuse. She shares how the longing for love led her into a toxic engagement, the years she spent trapped in the cycle of manipulation, and the long road to reclaiming safety. This episode is both a vulnerable retelling and a practical guide. After the story, Juniper walks listeners through the process of filing for an order of protection—what it is, who it’s for, and how to navigate the often overwhelming legal steps involved. Whether you’re in the midst of something unsafe, years out, or supporting someone who is, this episode is a resource. It’s about naming the harm, breaking the cycle, and knowing your options. Topics covered: The emotional toll of abusive relationshipsRecognizing the cycle of abuseIntimate partner violence vs. traditional definitions of domestic violenceStep-by-step guide to filing for an order of protectionLegal distinctions and survivor-centered safety planningWhy some survivors don’t file—and why that’s okayTrigger warning: This episode discusses emotional abuse, manipulation, and intimate partner violence. Time stamp for only order of protection information: 12:08 onebigdarkroompod@gmail.com https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/index.html https://www.domesticshelters.org/articles/identifying-abuse/the-lingo-of-domestic-violence https://www.domesticshelters.org/articles/identifying-abuse/what-is-the-cycle-of-abuse https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10248305/

    30 min
5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Stories of trauma, healing, survival, and finding your way home I’m Juniper-Quinn. I’ve lived through the dark—and now I’m dragging it into the light. My Big Darkroom is a space where safety isn’t just a concept—it’s a way of surviving, healing, and reclaiming your life. Out of trauma came truth. Out of silence came stories. That’s how this podcast began. While I can’t share all of the details yet, what I can share is the path forward: the messy, honest, sometimes funny, sometimes heavy journey of rebuilding. It’s the raw stuff: trauma, healing, solo travel, gut instincts, messy love stories, and the grief we don’t post about. We unpack what it means to find safety again, to trust yourself again, to live through truth instead of hiding from it. You’ll hear my story. You’ll hear others’. And maybe, you’ll hear pieces of your own. This is where the quiet parts of life finally get to speak out loud. If you’re ready to hear them, I’m ready to share.