[Cash’s Story Part 1/2]

Cash’s journey through foster care is a tale of survival in a system full of harsh realities. Torn from her home and separated from her siblings, she was thrust into a world of uncertain foster placements, each one a new battle with its own dark challenges. In a system that seemed indifferent to her pain, Cash fought back with resilience—finding success in school and finally forming a meaningful bond with her adoptive mom, Wanda.

But survival comes at a cost. Now, at 32, Cash stands on the edge of revealing the truth of her childhood—an unflinching look at the system that failed her and the scars it left behind. Will sharing her story bring the closure she seeks, or will it expose even darker truths buried beneath the surface?

All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd

Share your story with Brittani.

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Learn more about the CASA Program.

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This episode references to sexual assault and other mature themes.

The chapters we fear the most often hold the keys to our liberation. For Brittani, confronting the sexual assault she endured at 13 was not just a reckoning—it was a battle for her own voice. Her journey was anything but straightforward, winding through years of suppressed memories, silent struggles, and an internal war she fought alone.

For 14 years, Brittani carried the weight of her silence, hiding behind walls that had protected her for so long. But when she finally began therapy and shared her story with her loved ones, those walls started to crumble. Piece by piece, she dismantled the silence that had held her captive, discovering a resilience she hadn’t known was there.

Now, Brittani isn’t just surviving her past, she’s facing it head-on, reclaiming her power, and rewriting her future.

All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd

Share your story with Brittani.

Production of BDE Unlimited

Sponsor information at https://brittaniard.com/sponsors 

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RAINN Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Helpline

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National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879

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Season 2 will resume next week, in the meantime enjoy this episode from lovelustfear!

All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd

Share your story with Brittani.

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lovelustfear | emma | you should be scared

Emma seeks comfort in the arms of a former client whose initial charm and good looks give way to his darker traits, trapping her in escalating emotional turmoil and abuse.

music | sounds

Music (CC BY 4.0): Lost Place Atmospheres (001 & 002) by Sascha Ende Very Low Note by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Other Music and Sound Effects by Franco Gonzalez, Cybercutie, Geoffrey Harvey, Syouki Takahashi, Timothy Kulig, Pixabay, Samuel F. Johanns, and UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay

Spacetime by Mountaineer

stay aware | follow | share (emma)

Kimberly Weeks https://www.thenarcissisticabusecoach.com/

National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7/365)

Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)

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story submission information

If you would like to consider being a guest on lovelustfear or would like your story featured anonymously, please contact us below.

submission link | https://lovelustfear.aidaform.com/lovelustfear

E-mail | [email protected] Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/lovelustfearpod/

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Season 2 is currently in production! While we put the finishing touches on upcoming episodes, we're excited to share something special: the first episode of The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi.

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The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi–Episode 1: GenesisIn 1978, Pope John Paul I was found dead in his bed just 33 days after he was elected. The official story is that he suffered a fatal heart attack. But in the years since his death, some have claimed he was murdered to cover up crimes in the Vatican. The question of the Pope’s death has never been definitively answered, but there is one man who claims to know the truth. A man from one of NewYork City’s crime families who has deep ties to the Italian mafia. He was there the day of the Pope’s death and witnessed his murder firsthand. Or, at least, that’s what he says. His name is Anthony Raimondi, and these are his confessions.

From USG Audio and Truth Media in association with Clockwork Films.

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This episode references domestic violence and other mature themes.

[Lou’s Story Part 3/3]

Two women, bound by a shared history of manipulation and abuse. What started as Lou’s solitary search for a single photograph spiraled into an unexpected connection with Eve —another woman ensnared by the same dark past. Together, they began to unearth what had long been buried, but the truth is rarely kind, and it only reveals itself when you’re ready to face what lies beneath.

Piece by painful piece, Lou and Eve began reclaiming their stories, finding strength in the solidarity of their shared resilience. But the funny thing about diving into your past is you don’t know how much weight you’re going to have to shed before you can come up for air.

All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd

Share your story with Brittani

Production of BDE Unlimited

Sponsor information at https://brittaniard.com/sponsors 

___

RAINN Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Helpline

https://rainn.org/about-rainn

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988 

https://www.988lifeline.org

Childhelp Call or Text 800.422.4453 

https://www.childhelphotline.org/

National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879

https://www.drughelpline.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline 

www.thehotline.com

Narcissist Abuse Resource

https://www.helpguide.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode references domestic violence and other mature themes.

[Lou’s Story Part 2/3]

Lou is searching for a photograph of John — but it’s not just a picture she’s after. Beneath the surface of one man’s destruction lies a tangled web of resilience and buried truths waiting to be uncovered. In this chapter layers of manipulation are stripped away, exposing the hauntingly intertwined lives of Eve and Lou —two women forever linked by their shared past with John.

As their stories unfold, they confront the ripple effects of trauma, the sinister disguises of control, and the power of reclaiming what was never his to take. From pregnancies to escapes, from shattered illusions to hard-fought reckonings, Lou and Eve retrace their paths, confronting the past as they piece together their present. Each revelation brings them closer to understanding not only John’s shadow over their lives, but the strength they’ve found in breaking free from it.

All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd

Share your story with Brittani.

Production of BDE Unlimited

Sponsor information at https://brittaniard.com/sponsors 

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RAINN Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Helpline

https://rainn.org/about-rainn

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988 

https://www.988lifeline.org

Childhelp Call or Text 800.422.4453 

https://www.childhelphotline.org/

National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879

https://www.drughelpline.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline 

www.thehotline.com

Narcissist Abuse Resource

https://www.helpguide.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode references domestic violence and other mature themes.

[Lou’s Story Part 1/3]

Lou's story isn’t just about survival—it’s a battle cry of reclamation.

In this chapter she unravels the deeply personal account of her entanglement with John, her manipulative and abusive ex-boyfriend. The emotional wounds of their relationship left scars that refused to fade, but it was the unexpected moment of seeing him again years later that pulled her back into the shadows of her past. As the trauma resurfaced, Lou found herself grappling with questions she thought she had buried.

In retracing the steps of her formative years and confronting the weight of generational trauma, Lou begins to piece together a path toward recovery. But healing isn’t a straight line — it’s a labyrinth of pain, resilience, and startling realizations that could change everything.

All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd

Share your story with Brittani.

Production of BDE Unlimited

Sponsor information at https://brittaniard.com/sponsors 

___

RAINN Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Helpline

https://rainn.org/about-rainn

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988 

https://www.988lifeline.org

Childhelp Call or Text 800.422.4453 

https://www.childhelphotline.org/

National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879

https://www.drughelpline.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline 

www.thehotline.com

Narcissist Abuse Resource

https://www.helpguide.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season five of Nobody Should Believe Me tells the story of Sophie Hartman: a young, white midwestern evangelical missionary who travels to Zambia and comes home with two vulnerable sisters in her care. When she returns to the states, she lands far away from her family in Seattle, WA where she embarks on a medical odyssey with her younger daughter, C, reporting a variety of alarming symptoms: from chronic vomiting, to seizures, to days-long episodes of full-body paralysis.  Eventually, C is diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood. Sophie weaves a tale of a child who could “leave us anytime” and uses the child’s illness to fundraise tens of thousands of dollars for special equipment and medical expenses, takes C on a Make-A-Wish trip, posts constantly about her family’s plight on her prolific social media accounts, and even writes a memoir about the story of her journey to adopt her. But is Sophie really the heroic mother of a sick child, or is she the ultimate unreliable narrator?

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Our stories rarely unfold the way we expect. In the first eight chapters, Brittani Ard uncovered something about herself she never expected: the most powerful weapon she had was her own voice. It wasn’t just a tool for healing — it was a force strong enough to confront her past and rewrite her future. But that discovery came at a cost. Retracing Kanon’s steps wasn’t just heartbreaking, it was a journey through pain, betrayal, and revelations since childhood that she wasn’t prepared to face. Yet, amidst the wreckage of chasing a love that was never meant to be, Brittani found something even more extraordinary — true love, waiting in the most unexpected place.

Season 2 isn’t just about Brittani’s story. It’s about what happens when you refuse to be a victim of your own narrative. When you step into the raw, unfiltered truth of who you are and decide to own it. It turns out vulnerability isn’t a weakness. It’s where courage collides with strength, and where the most surprising chapters of life begin to take shape.

*Some names and details have been changed to conceal the identities of those who wish to remain anonymous. 

All chapters are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd

Share your story with Brittani.

Production of BDE Unlimited

Sponsor information at https://brittaniard.com/sponsors 

___

RAINN Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Helpline

https://rainn.org/about-rainn

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988 

https://www.988lifeline.org

Childhelp Call or Text 800.422.4453 

https://www.childhelphotline.org/

National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879

https://www.drughelpline.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline 

www.thehotline.com

Narcissist Abuse Resource

https://www.helpguide.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the release of Season 2 approaches, Brit gears up to share not just hers but also those of others she’s connected with in the last few months.

The new season promises raw and authentic experiences that challenge and connect us, with episodes available early and ad-free on Apple Plus and Patreon. Brit is also embarking on a 28-city tour across the US and Canada starting February 8th, you can find tickets and more details on her website: https://brittaniard.com/

All episodes are available ad free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/BrittaniArd

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This isn’t your typical true crime story.

Brittani Ard steps back into the shadowy labyrinth of memories, scars, and fragile ties that bind us to our past. Where wounds still ache and the bonds of connection blur between salvation and entrapment. After revealing her own story in the first 8 chapters, she’s pulling at the threads of the past—threads so delicate they threaten to unravel everything.

This time, it’s not just her story. It’s the stories of others whose lives intertwine with hers in ways no one could have predicted. A woman searches for a photograph of her abusive ex, but the picture holds more than just memories. A foster youth exchanges black trash bags for a voice that refuses to be silenced anymore, revealing a haunting past that demands to be heard. And a story of rekindled love, as strength and vulnerability collide to reveal what was always meant to be.

You Probably Think This Story’s About You is raw, haunting, and achingly human—a tapestry of messy, beautiful lessons stitched together by the lives we touch and the stories we share. The secrets we carried no longer have power over us.

BDE Unlimited Productions

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*Some names and details have been changed to conceal the identities of those who wish to remain anonymous. 

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988 

https://www.988lifeline.org

Childhelp Call or Text 800.422.4453 

https://www.childhelphotline.org/

National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879

https://www.drughelpline.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline 

www.thehotline.com

HelpGuide 

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https://www.helpguide.org/

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