We Survive Abuse Podcast

Black American Marching Bands: The Rhythm of Resistance

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:50:28 GMT

What happens when you take the rifle out of a soldier’s hand and replace it with a trumpet? You don't get silence—you get a revolution. In this episode, Tonya GJ Prince deconstructs the hidden, radical history of the Black American marching band. We go back to a time where Black men were "relegated" to the band as a form of military restriction. We explore how those ancestors refused to be dull, transforming heavy conduit poles into musical instruments and a display of style, poise, and undeniable dignity that the world had never seen. But the music didn't just survive on the field; it survived because of the community that surrounded it. Tonya shares a deeply personal look into her own journey, honoring the specific Black women—the matriarchs and protectors—who stood as a human shield around the band members in her life.

You Cannot Protect Children While Protecting Those Who Harm Them

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:02:00 GMT

Hook: If the system keeps saving the person who harms, it is not a system for children.

Children cannot be protected in environments that prioritize adult comfort, reputation, and “keeping the peace” over accountability. In this episode, we break down what it means when communities, institutions, or families shield harmful adults, and why that protection always has a cost.

In this episode:

How “protecting the community” can become a cover story for enabling harm
Why reputation-management is not safeguarding
What real accountability looks like in families, institutions, and communities

Stay Woke When a Warning Word Is Turned to a Punchline

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

So many warning words are minimized, mocked, or dismissed. In this episode, we explore what it means to stay awake in a world that gaslights urgency.

Stop Calling It Race Baiting: Black Maternal Death Is a Life-or-Death Reality

Tue, 16 Feb 2026 11:59:47 GMT

Too often, the deep reality of Black maternal death is dismissed or reframed as “race baiting” — a harmful distraction from the lived experiences of women whose lives and bodies are shaped by unequal systems of care.

19 James Baldwin Truths and Affirmations That Still Strengthen the Human Spirit

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

James Baldwin spoke truth with courage, clarity, and uncompromising honesty — and the wisdom he left behind continues to fortify us.

Why It Hurts So Much: Why Letting Go Feels So Complicated

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:42:37 GMT

Letting go is rarely just about ending something. It is about untangling hope, memory, attachment, identity, and the nervous system’s deep need for familiarity.

The Public Price Women Pay for Naming Genuine Harm

Wed, 10 Feb 2026 05:50:29 GMT

Speaking truth to power is not just courageous — it is costly.

You Can Be Kind And Maintain Sacred Boundaries: A Conversation Based in Truth

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:23:16 GMT

A conversation on staying kind without surrendering your boundaries, staying anchored in truth, and protecting your peace with clarity.

People Do Not Fear Your Inner World. They Fear Being Consumed By It.

Tue, 06 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In this first episode back after hiatus, Tonya GJ Prince talks about how the beliefs of others have been used to override consent, sovereignty, and survival.