Irene Cares

Irene
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement

Built by Survivors. For Survivors. 🔗 Learn more or share your story: Irene@irenegpt.ai 🎧 Subscribe for more real conversations on resilience, healing, and community.

  1. 7h ago

    EP56: Child Kidnapping & Trafficking: How Road Warriors Hunt for the Missing. FT: Josh Lancaster

    How Road Warriors for the Missing Helps Bring Kids Home | Irene Podcast w/ Josh Lancaster Host Dedy interviews Josh Lancaster, co-founder of the volunteer nonprofit Road Warriors for the Missing, about how the group helps families when a child goes missing. Josh explains the organization’s roots, its all-volunteer team (including private investigators), and how they rapidly create and distribute flyers, run social media and email blasts, and canvas neighborhoods requesting camera footage and tips, then pass information to law enforcement. He discusses common causes of missing-child cases, including running away and being lured online through apps like Discord, and the risks of exploitation and trafficking, sharing an example from Salt Lake where volunteers responded to a trafficking concern and the girl was later found. Josh describes the group’s value in focusing solely on one case, ways parents should quickly share information, and future plans for an app with local alerts. He directs listeners to Facebook and roadwarriorsforthemissing.com to request help, volunteer, or donate. 00:00 Trafficking Callout 00:23 Meet Road Warriors 01:37 How It Started 03:05 Building The Nonprofit 03:57 How A Case Works 08:08 Why Kids Go Missing 10:04 Helping Beyond Police 12:06 Runaway Risks For Parents 14:46 Cases That Stick 17:17 What Parents Should Do 18:44 Future App Vision 21:34 How To Volunteer 24:10 Staying In Touch 25:46 Final Thanks And Support Instagram: roadwarriorsforthemissing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DhMcB... Website: https://roadwarriorsforthemissing.com/ Check out Irene Cares on other platforms: - Irenegpt.ai - Instagram - TikTok - Youtube

  2. 7h ago

    EP55: “God, how am I ever gonna stop?” Theresa's Story

    Theresa shares how her substance use began in seventh grade and escalated into dangerous situations, including flying to pick up drugs and being robbed at gunpoint, until a moment of desperation—asking “God, how am I ever gonna stop?”—was followed by an arrest and jail time that became her turning point. In a confrontational jail program, memories of her brother’s death and the fear of putting her mother through another late-night phone call helped motivate her to get clean, leading to early recovery steps like meetings, sponsorship, service, and rebuilding life through small, humbling changes. She also discusses swapping addiction for an affair, codependency, abusive relationships, self-talk, eating disorder recovery, and the role of faith and community. She explains the 12 steps and how they help identify patterns, take ownership, make amends, and sustain spiritual growth. 00:00 Drug Runs Gone Wrong 00:32 Theresa Before Recovery 01:00 Early Use and First Jail 03:00 Pipe Hit and Turning Point 04:17 Desperation and Jail Awakening 06:21 Brother’s Death and Real Bottom 08:04 Affair as New Addiction 09:19 12 Steps and Root Trauma 13:24 Owning Your Part and Healing 17:55 Choices Work and Community 21:27 30 Years Clean Baby Steps 24:22 Finding Identity and Purpose 25:42 Turning Pain Into Purpose 29:27 Outreach Over In-Reach 30:15 Small Acts Big Impact 31:34 First Steps Getting Clean 34:45 Unpacking Layers of Healing 37:51 Silencing the Inner Enemy 39:23 Gratitude as a Practice 40:17 The 12 Steps Explained 46:11 Living the Steps Daily 49:52 Higher Power for Everyone Check out Irene Cares on other platforms: - Irenegpt.ai - Instagram - TikTok - Youtube

  3. 7h ago

    EP54: "I Honestly Believed in Happily Ever After" Jenny's Story

    Jenny reflects on learning that marriage and motherhood don’t automatically lead to “happily ever after,” and how divorce, relocating, and painful experiences helped her stop accepting one-sided friendships and value quality over quantity. She discusses weeding out connections that feel convenient, choosing to be alone rather than feel “less than,” and the importance of authenticity, integrity, and mutual effort. Jenny emphasizes that “showing up” for people—especially in hard seasons like funerals—matters and is a free, powerful way to support others and teach children. She shares what she wishes she’d known before marrying a narcissist, including having hard conversations, avoiding dictatorship dynamics, and building true partnership through communication, while describing the freedom and joy of creating a life on her own terms with her kids. 00:00 Marriage Myth Busting 00:21 Outgrowing One Sided Friends 01:52 No More Social Games 02:50 Quality Friends Reconnected 04:24 Showing Up Matters 06:30 Healing The Father Wound 08:00 Choosing Happiness Daily 10:11 Starting Over And Finding Community 11:29 Lessons From Narcissistic Marriage 14:50 Life On My Own Terms 18:13 Joyful Mom Moments 19:02 Final Reflections And Goodbye Check out Irene Cares on other platforms: - Irenegpt.ai - Instagram - TikTok - Youtube

  4. Oct 7

    EP53: Part Two "My Own Parents Chose Him Over Me" Jenny's Story

    In part 2 of 3 of this interview, Jenny describes reaching a breaking point in her marriage after repeated drunken, hurtful behavior, and how counseling helped her realize that staying meant accepting it. She explains how having a daughter pushed her to model self-worth and boundaries, then recounts the long-term fallout of divorce: ongoing court fights, being forced out of the family home, and years of “jabs” from her ex. She also details moving from Southern California to Utah, her ex contesting the move to delay the case, eight months of instability including living in a trailer, and spending over $32,000 on attorneys before he dropped the challenge. She discusses recognizing narcissistic patterns in her mother, family members supporting her ex to retain control, her daughter setting firm boundaries, and building a new support system through friends and groups while continuing to co-parent amid conflict. 00:00 Marriage Breaking Point 00:38 Therapy Wake Up Call 01:25 Leaving for the Kids 02:01 Single Mom Survival 02:53 Court Battles Over Home 04:05 Starting Over by Moving 04:37 Narcissistic Parents Revealed 05:23 Boundaries and Smear Campaigns 06:32 Daughters Graduation Boundary 13:15 Grieving Family Loss 14:39 Ex Tries to Force Return 15:38 Fighting the Move 16:32 Trailer Life Waiting Game 18:21 Court Fees and Games 20:53 Rebuilding in Utah 22:26 Counselor Wisdom Lessons 25:04 Chosen Family Support 28:37 Co-Parenting Reality Check 30:15 Kids Deserve Peace 31:00 Perfect Family Myth Check out Irene Cares on other platforms: - Irenegpt.ai - Instagram - TikTok - Youtube

  5. Oct 7

    EP52: Part One "He spent $3000 at a strip club in Vegas" Jenny's Story

    Jenny on Abandonment, Motherhood, and a Narcissistic Marriage Jenny describes growing up not knowing her biological father, taking her stepdad’s last name without explanation, and later trying to contact her real dad—meeting him at 18, confronting him again after becoming a mother, and a final attempt years later—while dealing with lifelong abandonment issues. She recalls a childhood that felt stable and “all-American,” with parents who also raised her cousin and later her cousin’s child, which shaped her strong desire to be a mother. Jenny reflects on reinventing herself as her children grow up and on modern challenges for teens, including online scams and social media pressure. She then discusses marrying a narcissistic, functioning-alcoholic husband, describing walking on eggshells, prioritizing appearances, heavy partying instead of dating, lack of partnership, and trying counseling while building a family life that was often sustained through group activities. 00:00 Vegas Bombshell Opener 00:11 Jenny Joins the Podcast 00:47 Stepdad Enters the Picture 01:53 The Dad Nobody Discussed 03:31 Trying to Meet Him 04:11 Calling Dad at 18 07:38 Rejection and Closure Attempts 10:34 Abandonment and Family Patterns 13:15 Why Motherhood Matters Most 15:16 Reinventing Life at 50 18:23 Raising Teens in the Internet Age 20:19 Marriage to a Narcissist Begins 21:34 Partying Not Dating 23:16 No Partnership at Home 24:05 The Life They Built Together 24:39 Conclusion and Looking Ahead  Check out Irene Cares on other platforms: - Irenegpt.ai - Instagram - TikTok - Youtube

  6. Sep 19

    EP51: I Survived Abuse. Then I Learned to Love Myself

    In the final chapter of April Dawn's story, she opens up about the night she finally left an abusive marriage, the healing gift she was taught to hide, and the relationship with her late daughter Macy that only deepened after loss. This is the part of the story where the healing happens  Reiki, self-love, forgiveness, and the text message that told her everything she needed to know. This is Part 3 of April's story on Irene Cares. Built by Survivors. For Survivors. 00:00 Grief and Compassion 00:31 Owning Your Voice 01:36 Healing Is Possible 02:05 Light After Darkness 02:55 Macy Returns as Light 03:56 Forgiveness and Spirit Team 08:12 Choosing Unconditional Love 09:53 Who Was Macy 13:34 Reiki and Energy Healing 16:20 Seeing With God’s Eyes 17:15 Becoming a Willing Vessel 19:00 Healing Through Connection 20:24 Placed in Dark Places 21:47 The Whisper to Leave 24:31 Breaking Cycles With Motherhood 26:40 Learning Self Love 27:14 Love Is the Answer 29:05 What I Wish I Knew 32:11 Macy Dawn’s Final Words 33:29 Gratitude and Blessing  Check out Irene Cares on other platforms: - Irenegpt.ai - Instagram - TikTok - Youtube

  7. Sep 12

    EP50:I Survived by Pulling Over and Turning Myself In

    In Part 2 of April's story, she opens up about the seventeen years it took to walk away from addiction, why brutal honesty became the only way out, and how she found compassion even for the people who hurt her most. Then the story turns. April shares what finally broke the cycle of abuse she'd lived in her whole life: the murder of her daughter, Macy. It's the moment that cracked everything open and the moment Macy became the voice that's been pushing her toward the woman she is today. This episode discusses domestic violence, addiction, and the loss of a child to violence. Please take care while watching. Support resources are shared in the comments. 00:00 Turning Myself In 00:15 Honesty and Accountability 01:21 Faith Over Addiction 02:11 Victim to Victor Mindset 02:31 Breaking Cycles for Kids 03:50 Radical Compassion for All 06:25 Mental Illness and Love 07:35 Finding God in Unlikely Places 11:19 Boundaries and Balanced Love 13:25 Protecting Your Peace 15:03 Vulnerability and Honest Support 16:12 Honoring the Comeback Story 17:03 Find the Right Help 18:34 Honesty After Relapse 20:08 Faith and Community Support 21:12 Addiction as a Voice 24:08 Gods Downloads and Lessons 25:49 Empath Turned Off 28:26 Refiners Fire Perspective 29:50 Daughters Death Catalyst 32:53 Macy as a Guide 35:27 Learning to Speak Up  Check out Irene Cares on other platforms: - Irenegpt.ai - Instagram - TikTok - Youtube

  8. Sep 5

    EP49: I Survived 46 Years of Trauma Living in Survival Mode

    April shares that 46 years of her life were defined by abuse, trauma, addiction, and eight marriages, shaped by childhood sexual abuse that began at age four and continued into her teens, leaving her believing her only value was sexual. She describes living in survival responses like freeze and fawn, being gaslit throughout her life, and entering relationship after relationship seeking safety for herself and her six children. She explains how her understanding of God shifted from her LDS upbringing to experiencing God as unconditional love, truth, and intuition, and how that connection helped her reclaim her identity, set boundaries, and gain sovereignty over her body. She reflects on her daughter Macy’s death in a murder-suicide as a turning point that opened her eyes to patterns of abuse and the importance of acknowledging mental illness, while emphasizing hope, choice, and not giving up. 00:00 Life of Trauma 00:41 Finding God Within 02:37 Survival Modes Explained 06:36 Gaslighting and Breaking Point 10:07 Trusting Intuition 15:20 Turning Pain Into Purpose 20:10 Light and Dark Choices 25:56 Childhood Abuse Patterns 29:04 Reclaiming Body Sovereignty 31:14 Choosing to Keep Living  Check out Irene Cares on other platforms: - Irenegpt.ai - Instagram - TikTok - Youtube

See All (56)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Built by Survivors. For Survivors. 🔗 Learn more or share your story: Irene@irenegpt.ai 🎧 Subscribe for more real conversations on resilience, healing, and community.

Information

  • Creator
    Irene
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Irene Cares
  • Show Website
    Irene Cares