What happens when the life you built no longer aligns with your truth — when years of silence, emotional pain, trauma, and hiding who you are leave you feeling lost, broken, and disconnected from yourself? In this deeply emotional episode of Bent Not Broken, Coach Deborah sits down with Barb Rebon to share a powerful story of healing, recovery, reclaiming identity, and starting over after a lifetime of silence. For more than 26 years, Barb dedicated her life to education, helping thousands of students and families. But behind her successful career was a painful private struggle shaped by childhood sexual abuse, shame, fear, emotional trauma, faith conflict, and identity suppression. In her upcoming book, The Heartbeat of My Silence, Barb opens up about what happens when your inner world slowly falls apart while trying to survive in silence. This episode explores: Surviving childhood sexual abuse and emotional traumaLiving for decades feeling lost, ashamed, and emotionally disconnectedHow silence and suppression can deeply impact relationships, identity, and purposeWrestling with faith, sexuality, and self-acceptanceThe emotional process of reclaiming your voice and identity later in lifeHow therapy, safe relationships, and storytelling help people heal and rebuildWhy starting over can become the beginning of freedom, healing, and authentic living Barb also shares the life-changing moment that sparked her transformation after watching country artist Shelly Wright publicly come out and tell her story — a moment that helped Barb realize she no longer wanted to live hidden by fear and silence. This conversation is raw, honest, and inspiring for anyone navigating trauma recovery, emotional abuse, identity struggles, life transitions, or the painful journey of rebuilding after years of silence. Key Topics DiscussedThe emotional weight of living in silenceTrauma recovery and long-term emotional healingHow shame and fear keep people emotionally trappedFaith, identity, and reclaiming self-worthThe power of storytelling in healing and recoveryLearning to rebuild your life with authenticity and purposeWhy healing often begins the moment you stop hiding About Barb Rebon Barb Rebon is a lifelong educator with over 26 years of experience impacting students and families. In her debut memoir, The Heartbeat of My Silence, she courageously shares her journey through trauma, faith, identity, and self-acceptance—offering hope and healing to others walking a similar path. Resources & Links The Heartbeat of My Silence (Coming Soon – Target Launch: May, ahead of Pride Month)Available soon on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Barb’s upcoming websiteBarb's website: http://www.barbararebonauthor.com/ Enjoyed this episode of Bent Not Broken: Life After Divorce with Deborah Griffiths? Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so more people searching for life after divorce, divorce recovery, co-parenting, dating after divorce, and healing from gaslighting can discover this empowering podcast. Every review helps others find hope, inspiration, and practical tools for thriving after divorce. Explore more resources: Visit BrokenToBoldness.com for coaching, workshops, and guidance on divorce recovery and life transitions. Follow Deborah Griffiths for daily empowerment and support: Instagram: @BrokenToBoldnessFacebook: Broken to BoldnessLinkedIn: Broken to Boldness Take the Living Bold Assessment Remember: divorce may bend you, but it does not break you. You are stronger than you think, and your bold new chapter starts now. Disclaimer: The commentary and opinions available on this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal or psychological advice. You should contact an attorney, coach, or therapist in your state to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.
