A Contagious Smile Podcast

Victora Cuore; A Contagious Smile, Who Kicked First, Domestic Violence Survivor, Advocate, Motivational Coach, Special Needs, Abuse Support, Life Skill Classes, Special Needs Social Groups

Stop surviving and start thriving. A Contagious Smile is a globally ranked podcast providing a safe haven for abuse survivors and special needs families navigating the journey of trauma recovery. Whether you are healing from domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, childhood trauma, or the daily challenges of disability advocacy, our mission is to turn your pain into power. Each episode features raw, authentic conversations with survivors, mental health experts, and advocates who share actionable resources for PTSD healing, resilience building, and emotional wellness. We go beyond the struggle to highlight the triumphs of the special needs community, offering support for caregivers and individuals with disabilities who are rewriting their own narratives. Hosted by Victoria Cuore, an award-winning trauma advocate and survivor, this podcast delivers the "blueprints" for recovery—not just Band-Aids. Join our community to find hope, humor, and the unstoppable spirit needed to rekindle your inner light.

  1. 1d ago

    The Math Shirt Moment

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to understand our show is to hear us do what we do: laugh hard, pivot fast, and still land somewhere real. We start with a brand-new side business and a T-shirt that probably should not be worn around polite company, then we slide into the kind of honest marriage banter that only works when there’s trust underneath it. Along the way, we share a recovery check-in after spinal surgery, talk about visible bruising weeks later, and how a bold hair change becomes a quiet line in the sand: I get to choose who I am now. Then the surprises hit. We talk about why we treat celebrity status like a job title, not a personality, and we tease an upcoming conversation with Antonio Sabato Jr. That opens the door to a bigger theme: character over notoriety. A simple ice cream stop turns into a meaningful connection, a reminder of responsible choices, and a real example of paying it forward when strangers decide to help strangers. We also widen the lens to heavier topics: a powerful 9/11 volunteer survivor perspective, fears about school shootings, and the uncomfortable reality that violence is starting to feel “normal” in the news. We wrestle with what’s changing in education, what fundamentals kids still need, and what community support can look like when systems feel strained. We wrap with updates on StrongerThanAMountain.com, custom apparel options, and the peer-to-peer support work we’re building. Subscribe for more honest conversations, share this with someone who needs a laugh and a lift, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Support the show

  2. 2d ago

    From 9/11 Responder To Patient Advocate And Trauma Coach with Michael Mackniak, Victoria Cuore and special guest Craig Sotkovsky

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    From 9/11 Responder To Patient Advocate And Trauma Coach with Michael Mackniak, Victoria Cuore and special guest Craig Sotkovsky

  3. Aug 10

    Daniel Ryan Cotler, Victoria Cuore and Michael Mackniak Explains Why Narcissistic Abuse Leaves No Bruises

    Send us Fan Mail Abuse does not have to leave a mark on your skin to change the way you think, remember, and trust yourself. We sit down with Daniel Ryan Cotler, author of *Voiceless No More* and founder of the Heal Loudly movement, to name what so many survivors struggle to explain: coercive psychological abuse that feels like love at first, then turns into confusion, isolation, and relentless self-doubt. If you have ever wondered why smart, capable people stay, or why the pain gets dismissed as “just a breakup,” this conversation puts clear language to a reality that often gets minimised.  We unpack why the term “narcissist” is both common and often misused, and why that matters for survivors of narcissistic abuse, coercive control, and gaslighting. Daniel describes the early “indoctrination” phase many people call love bombing, how abusers “data mine” your fears and dreams, and why trauma bonding can feel like an addiction to the person they pretended to be. We also confront the darkest edge of this pattern: the way extreme psychological warfare can push people toward suicide while the abuser stays calm, credible, and protected by the story they tell first.  From smear campaigns to post-separation abuse, we talk about how friends, family, law enforcement, courts, and even treatment systems can get it wrong when the survivor looks hysterical and the abuser looks composed. Daniel shares his push for legal reform through the Voiceless Justice Act and the Frankie Initiative, aiming for real accountability and better recognition of psychological abuse harms. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs language for what they are living, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review so more survivors can find the help they deserve. Support the show

    Daniel Ryan Cotler, Victoria Cuore and Michael Mackniak Explains Why Narcissistic Abuse Leaves No Bruises

  4. Aug 10

    Real Talk On Respect with Victoria Cuore and Michael Solomon

    Send us Fan Mail Somebody can be laughing with you one minute and quietly fighting shame the next and that whiplash is real. We start with our usual marriage banter (dogs, treats, and a brand-new tattoo), then slide straight into the bigger topics people dodge: weight loss, body dysmorphia, and what it feels like to step out of a 20-year comfort zone and finally wear the clothes you avoided out of fear.  From there, we talk about respect in public and why “checking someone out” can turn into humiliating, dehumanising behaviour fast. A night out at a family restaurant turns into a lesson on how young men treat servers, why women are not “on the menu”, and what we should be teaching our kids about basic decency.  We also share a parenting moment that surprised us: Monster High. What looks like a silly show becomes a powerful message about bullied kids, rejection, differences, and building a group that supports each other. That launches a bigger conversation about raising confident kids, telling them the truth about their worth, and creating a home that feels safe.  Then we get honest about advocacy and recovery after spinal surgery, including the reality of chronic pain, limitations, and how exhausting it is when people only reach out because they want something. We close with a reminder to stay humble, show up for people in the hospital, and choose kindness even when it’s easier to perform it than live it. If this hit home, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re holding onto. Support the show

  5. Aug 5

    This Is What It Takes with Michael Mackniak and Victoria Cuore with Special Guest Alison Graham

    Send us Fan Mail “Bounce back” sounds motivating until you’re living with chronic pain, a major diagnosis, or a life event that permanently changes the map. We sit down with speaker, author, and resiliency expert Alison Graham to talk about what resilience looks like when the old path is gone and your capacity is stretched thin. If you’ve ever felt burnt out, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed while still trying to perform, this conversation gives you language and tools that actually match real life.  We get honest about the healthcare experience too: the gaps between specialists, the pressure toward symptom treatment, and how exhausting it is to repeat your story while you’re already depleted. Alison shares how she uses AI research summaries to support self-advocacy with doctors, plus a grounded perspective on pain management and when medication can help without becoming the problem. Victoria adds hard-won insight from CRPS and decades of navigating surgery, recovery, and relentless work demands.  The core takeaway is a simple framework that changes everything: separate your stress into tasks, obstacles, and adversities. Tasks get done with less friction, obstacles get solved with clear options, and adversities get honoured with space, grace, and healing rather than forced “fixing.” If you want practical stress management, burnout recovery strategies, and a smarter definition of resilience, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show

    This Is What It Takes with Michael Mackniak and Victoria Cuore with Special Guest Alison Graham

  6. Aug 3

    Cup Of Mud with Victoria Cuore and Michael Solomon

    Send us Fan Mail “A cup of mud” turns into a whole philosophy tonight. We start with the messy, funny reality of married life: coffee orders that confuse strangers, typing versus dictation, getting roasted by our kid, and yes, losing at bowling even when the lane has every possible advantage. It’s light, it’s chaotic, and it’s us. Then we pivot into something heavier: what happens when post-op care feels rushed, inconsistent, or flat-out disrespectful. We walk through a follow-up appointment after a serious reaction, how allergy concerns get handled (or ignored), and why reading your chart notes matters when what’s written doesn’t match what you experienced. We also talk about access problems like months-long waits, “five to seven business days” replies, and how patient advocacy becomes a survival skill, especially when you’re healing, in pain, or dealing with hearing loss and mobility risks. From there, a news story about a shooting stopped by a civilian opens up a candid talk on situational awareness, responsible concealed carry, training, and the small habits we use in restaurants and on the road to reduce risk. We close with what we’re building at Contagious Smile: peer-to-peer support rooted in lived experience, plus a heartfelt moment of condolences for Jesse Tyler Williams and a recommendation to check out her work. If any part of this hits home, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave us a review so more people can find the conversation. Support the show

  7. Jul 31

    This Is What It Takes with Mike Mackniak and Victoria Cuore. With Special Guest 3-time World Record Holder, John GrahamPanic Attacks And Presence

    Send us Fan Mail He could memorize a shuffled deck of cards in 21.5 seconds, compete on a massive Chinese TV stage, and beat world-class opponents with pure focus. Then he found himself calling 911, convinced he was having a stroke or a heart attack. That contrast is what makes our conversation with three-time USA Memory Champion John Graham so gripping: elite performance is not the same thing as inner safety, and the tactics that win trophies can also feed anxiety and panic. We dig into the real story behind the highlight reel, including John’s “chaos training” approach to pressure, the quiet drivers of vanity and insecurity, and how chronic stress can evolve into multiple panic attacks a day. John describes the lived experience of panic in vivid detail: the adrenaline surge, the sense of doom, the tight chest, the numbness, and the way the brain can start linking fear to ordinary places like a bridge, a grocery store, or a kitchen table. If you have ever searched “panic attack symptoms”, “how to stop a panic attack”, or “why am I anxious when everything is fine”, you will feel seen here. Most importantly, we explore what actually helped: stepping out of constant mental control and into embodiment, relaxation, and nervous system regulation. John explains surrender not as giving up, but as releasing the willpower battle and learning to stay with sensation until the body learns it is safe. We also cover proactive tools for hypervigilance, presence with family, and what to do when thoughts will not shut off at night. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show

    This Is What It Takes with Mike Mackniak and Victoria Cuore. With Special Guest 3-time World Record Holder, John GrahamPanic Attacks And Presence

  8. Jul 27

    When A Hospital Visit Feels Like A Ticket Line

    Send us Fan Mail A six-hour ER wait time shouldn’t come with a text message like you’re waiting for a table, but that’s exactly where we found ourselves and what happened next still doesn’t feel real. After we send love to Jessie Tyler Williams as she shares the devastating loss of her daughter to overdose, we shift into a raw, unfiltered talk about addiction, grief, and what families carry when the worst call comes through. Then we tell the story of a hospital visit that turns into a front-row seat to chaos: process bottlenecks, overcrowded waiting rooms, and a moment where someone appears to fake a seizure to get seen faster. We don’t tell it for shock value. We tell it because emergency room wait times, triage breakdowns, and patient safety aren’t abstract when your child is sitting beside you and you’re trying to keep them calm, fed, and protected. We also get into the practical and scary side of healthcare failures: allergies that are clearly documented but still ignored, confusing communication from staff, and the exhaustion of advocating for yourself while managing chronic pain and a spinal cord stimulator recovery. Underneath the rant is a simple standard we keep coming back to: treat patients like human beings, explain what’s happening, and use basic common sense. If you’ve ever felt dismissed by the healthcare system, or you’ve supported someone through addiction recovery, grief, epilepsy fears, or chronic pain, you’ll hear yourself in this conversation. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the one change you’d make to ER care today. Support the show

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4.8
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Stop surviving and start thriving. A Contagious Smile is a globally ranked podcast providing a safe haven for abuse survivors and special needs families navigating the journey of trauma recovery. Whether you are healing from domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, childhood trauma, or the daily challenges of disability advocacy, our mission is to turn your pain into power. Each episode features raw, authentic conversations with survivors, mental health experts, and advocates who share actionable resources for PTSD healing, resilience building, and emotional wellness. We go beyond the struggle to highlight the triumphs of the special needs community, offering support for caregivers and individuals with disabilities who are rewriting their own narratives. Hosted by Victoria Cuore, an award-winning trauma advocate and survivor, this podcast delivers the "blueprints" for recovery—not just Band-Aids. Join our community to find hope, humor, and the unstoppable spirit needed to rekindle your inner light.

Information

  • Creator
    Victora Cuore; A Contagious Smile, Who Kicked First, Domestic Violence Survivor, Advocate, Motivational Coach, Special Needs, Abuse Support, Life Skill Classes, Special Needs Social Groups
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    422
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 A Contagious Smile Podcast
  • Show Website
    A Contagious Smile Podcast