{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 100: Abusive Husband Michael Tormented His Family for Years But Family Court Dropped All Charges, Accused Mom of Alienting Kids Instead","description":"Many survivors of domestic violence don\u2019t realize they\u2019re being abused until years have passed. They convince themselves it\u2019s something else\u2014a bad day at work, a short temper, too much to drink or deep-seated childhood wounds that therapy might heal. They hold onto hope that things will change. But then, a pattern emerges\u2014unrelenting, undeniable. Promises are broken, help doesn\u2019t stick and sobriety doesn\u2019t bring peace. Joan was one of those survivors. For nearly a decade, she rationalized her husband Michael\u2019s behavior. It wasn\u2019t until the night he came after their family with a knife that Joan knew she had to escape. She got out, saving herself and her two children, but what came next was just as harrowing: a court system that refused to protect her. Instead, it turned the blame on her. This episode highlights Joan\u2019s story and introduces the Family Violence Appellate Project, a nonprofit that helps survivors appeal unjust court decisions in California and Washington. We want to hear from you. Do you have a story we need to discuss or a guest we should feature? Visit us at ToxicThePodcast.com and share your story. If you\u2019re experiencing abuse or domestic violence, please reach out to someone you trust. You can also connect with a trained advocate near you through DomesticShelters.org. Finally, help us keep this conversation going. Share an episode of Toxic with a friend, your dentist, or even the person next to you in line at the grocery store. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform or social media, and if you\u2019re willing, leave us a review. Your support helps us amplify these critical stories. Together, we can create change. ","author_name":"Toxic","author_url":"https:\/\/www.toxicthepodcast.com","html":"