10 episodes

Love, marriage… and a secret history of trauma. Anna Maria Tremonti has been keeping her past a secret for over 40 years. As one of Canada’s most respected journalists, she has a reputation for being fearless and hard-hitting. She’s reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. But none were as immediately threatening as life at home.

In her early 20s, she fell in love with a man who seemed worldly and charming. Behind closed doors he was incredibly violent. They were only married for a year but the consequences of the abuse have lasted a lifetime.

This is the first time Anna Maria has told anyone—including family or close friends—the details of what she endured. Working with her therapist, she reveals the intimate details of a past she’s kept to herself for most of her life.

The result is a profoundly intimate portrait of a powerful woman confronting the source of tremendous pain and trauma and, remarkably, freeing herself from a life-long sense of shame. Written and hosted by Anna Maria Tremonti (The Current), produced by Daemon Fairless (Hunting Warhead, Boys Like Me) and mixed by Mira Burt-Wintonick (Wiretap, Love Me, Sorry About The Kid).

Welcome to Paradise CBC STORIES

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 203 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

Love, marriage… and a secret history of trauma. Anna Maria Tremonti has been keeping her past a secret for over 40 years. As one of Canada’s most respected journalists, she has a reputation for being fearless and hard-hitting. She’s reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. But none were as immediately threatening as life at home.

In her early 20s, she fell in love with a man who seemed worldly and charming. Behind closed doors he was incredibly violent. They were only married for a year but the consequences of the abuse have lasted a lifetime.

This is the first time Anna Maria has told anyone—including family or close friends—the details of what she endured. Working with her therapist, she reveals the intimate details of a past she’s kept to herself for most of her life.

The result is a profoundly intimate portrait of a powerful woman confronting the source of tremendous pain and trauma and, remarkably, freeing herself from a life-long sense of shame. Written and hosted by Anna Maria Tremonti (The Current), produced by Daemon Fairless (Hunting Warhead, Boys Like Me) and mixed by Mira Burt-Wintonick (Wiretap, Love Me, Sorry About The Kid).

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    The story Anna Maria never thought she’d tell: On stage at Hot Docs

    The story Anna Maria never thought she’d tell: On stage at Hot Docs

    For Anna Maria Tremonti, the decision to speak publicly about being abused by a former partner was complex; she wanted to tell it, but didn’t know how. Live on stage at the Hot Docs festival, Anna Maria unpacks what led her to creating Welcome to Paradise, and how the release of the podcast reconnected her with someone she never thought she’d hear from again.

    • 16 min
    Welcome to Paradise Introduces: Run, Hide, Repeat

    Welcome to Paradise Introduces: Run, Hide, Repeat

    Pauline Dakin’s childhood was marked by unexplained events, a sense of unseen menace, and secretive moves to new cities with no warning. When Pauline was a young adult, her mother finally told her what they were running from – organized crime, secret police and double lives. It was a story so mind-bending, so disturbing, Pauline’s entire world was turned upside down. Run Hide Repeat is the story of Pauline’s life on the run, her quest for the truth – and her search for forgiveness. Based on the best-selling 2017 memoir, this powerful 5-part journey spans decades and an entire country — and it will leave listeners questioning what’s real and who they can trust. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/WAfpvQrq

    • 33 min
    Ep. 6: "The Visitation"

    Ep. 6: "The Visitation"

    Anna Maria makes a trip to find out more about Pat's past and confirms something she’d suspected.

    If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405

    • 32 min
    Ep. 5: "The Message"

    Ep. 5: "The Message"

    As Anna Maria prepares to contact Pat, she makes a startling discovery.

    If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405

    • 31 min
    Ep. 4: “The Long Tail”

    Ep. 4: “The Long Tail”

    Getting out is only half the battle. After separating from her abusive husband, Anna Maria faces the most dangerous period of the relationship… and long-term emotional fallout that follows her for years.

    If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405

    • 29 min
    Ep. 3: “L is for Love”

    Ep. 3: “L is for Love”

    Anna Maria is living a double life. In public she and Pat seem like the perfect couple. At home, he’s becoming increasingly violent.

    If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405

    • 33 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
203 Ratings

203 Ratings

Jaxxtrax ,

Unsettling and Settling

A well thought and supremely presented personal story. Grateful to have had the opportunity to hear this experience.

heidbeuabflqyv3/-7& ,

Very important story, but the reporting is tooooo sloooow

Much credit to Tramonti for telling her story, but she and the woman who seems to be interviewing her sound like they’re on quaaludes more than half the time, and they keep repeating the same phrases. Listening to them, my brain feels like it’s moving in slow motion. I’m not sure what the interviewer’s purpose is— is she a psychologist? - but she doesn’t seem to add much substance; she says obvious things and expresses a sort of comatose sympathy. It sounds very amateurish and not insightful.

I think this podcast is probably valuable to anyone who is or has been going through a domestic abuse situation in explaining how it really can happen to anyone, but the super slow pace got on my nerves and I had to stop listening.

Kenneth E. ,

Divine Intervention

As each episode unfolded and it became clear the victim was not going to listen to the advice she’d been given, I couldn’t help but worry about the way this terrible choice might validate a listener considering doing the same (Don’t. They never change and there are no answers. Closure comes from you not them). Thanks to divine intervention her plan was thwarted.

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