Genesis The Podcast

What if the most powerful weapon in an abusive relationship isn’t a fist, but a login? We sit down with Jordyn Lawson, Chief Residential Officer at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, to unpack how financial abuse and coerced debt quietly trap survivors—even long after they leave. From paychecks diverted into hidden accounts to loans opened under threat or deception, money becomes a leash: it governs housing, food, credit, and the ability to move toward safety.

Jordyn shares what frontline work reveals: the overwhelming prevalence of financial control, the shock of discovering debts for cars or even boats survivors never saw, and why credit scores can become gatekeepers to a new home or job. We connect the dots between personal harm and public cost—billions lost to intimate partner violence, millions of workdays missed, and the chilling number of workplace homicides tied to abusers. Most importantly, we map the way forward: how to spot red flags, how loved ones can support without minimizing, and how workplaces should prepare to protect employees targeted by abusers.

There’s real hope in policy and practice. We highlight legal reforms that recognize coerced debt as identity theft in Texas, how survivors can challenge fraudulent accounts, and why advocacy partnerships streamline credit repair with minimal cost. We also dig into financial literacy strategies that restore control—pulling credit reports on safe devices, securing independent accounts, documenting coercion, and planning for deposits and child care. Along the way, we confront enduring myths about who works, who controls the money, and why “everyone fights about finances” is not a free pass for abuse.

If you care about safety, equity, or simply want to help someone you love, this conversation gives you clear tools and next steps. Listen, share with a friend, and help us push for policies and workplace practices that put safety first. If this episode resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what change would most improve financial safety for survivors?

We open the new year by exposing myths that keep victims unheard and abusers protected: the “nice guy” persona, the anger excuse, the belief that leaving solves everything. With Ruth Guerreiro, Chief Clinical Officer at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, we walk through the mindsets that drive coercive control and the covert tactics that slip past friends, families, courts, and even clinicians.

In this episode, Ruth breaks down recognizable patterns and behaviors of abusive men. From the demand man and Mr. Right to the drill sergeant, the player, and the terrorist, she shows how entitlement fuels different strategies with the same outcome: fear, isolation, and control. We explore social engineering and how a polished public image becomes a weapon in custody disputes and community spaces. You’ll also hear why anger management misses the point, how “high conflict” labels mask abuse, and what post‑separation abuse looks like when contact is enforced through parenting apps, daily calls, and court orders.

We also get practical. Learn how financial control can hide behind “I’ll handle the bills,” why the silent treatment harms more than shouting, how reckless driving is used to terrify, and how location sharing becomes surveillance.

How well do you know the driver of your rideshare? You don't. And you need to listen to this episode to understand what he is capable of and how to protect yourself.
In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the risks women face in rideshares and the systemic gaps that let predators operate with impunity. Together with Susan Knape, founder of A Case for Women, we trace the data behind thousands of harassment and assault reports, the realities of underreporting, and why a nice-looking car can lull riders into a false sense of security.
You’ll leave this conversation with a clear safety playbook: always sit in the back, stay alert, avoid revealing personal details, confirm your pickup without saying your name, don’t route to “Home,” and share your trip with someone who’s watching the route and timing. We also push for real fixes—mandatory in‑car cameras, access barriers, and stronger oversight—that deter abuse and create evidence when harm occurs. 
If you’ve ever stepped into a rideshare and felt that uneasy twinge, this conversation gives you the context, tools, and resolve to protect yourself while we keep pressing for a safer system. We also challenge victim-blaming narratives, especially when rideshare companies market themselves as the “safe” alternative after drinking, and explore the heightened risks for teens, disabled riders, and passengers leaving medical procedures.

Before you step into a rideshare this holiday season, you deserve to know what you are getting yourself into.

A voice possesses the power to either conceal - or reveal - the truth. After decades of silence and shame about what was truly unspeakable childhood abuse, Shana Halligan chose speak out. And what followed was a complete  transformation of her life that led to a music career of authentic self-expression and powerful presence.
As the daughter of Dick Halligan, founder of the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, Shana experienced music on a level most only dream about. From concerts to all-night jam sessions with some of the most renowned talent of the time to being the singing voice for Barbie commercials in the 1970’s, Shana was immersed in music her entire life. And it was music that finally allowed her to reveal the dark secret she had harbored since early childhood – that she is a survivor of sexual abuse. Shana’s earliest memories are of being molested by a stranger in her own bed – an experience that occurred for at least three years. Today, as the founder of the band Bitter:Sweet with a burgeoning music career of her own making, Shana has not only released the shame of what was done to her but also taken center stage in designing the life of her dreams. In this episode, Shana shares what happened to her all those years ago and how she emerged from the shadow of abuse to become both her own savior and a beacon of hope for others. Listen to the end of the episode for a sneak peek at Shana’s latest release, “Other Side.”
Shana’s story was revealed to the world in a Daily Mail article in 2025. You can read it at https://archive.is/20250523100119/https:/www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14740137/Mum-cold-told-Id-raped-aged-six-thought-Id-never-forgive-cruel-words-reveals-SHANA-HALLIGAN-deathbed-extraordinary-happened.html
The full music to the single “Other Side” can be found at https://app.box.com/s/bhfzhlq6c5lolmw71bsj7s5xugnwscnh
 More about Shana at https://www.shanahalligan.com/

In this episode of Genesis The Podcast, host Maria MacMullin delves into the topic of coercive control with expert Kate Amber. Ms. Amber, a survivor, who holds an MS in Psychology of Coercive Control from the University of Salford and is the founder of End Coercive Control USA (ECCUSA), shares her personal experiences with domestic abuse and explains her Quicksand Model of understanding coercive control. Kate Amber discusses how coercive control extends beyond physical violence in relationships to include patterns of manipulation and domination. The conversation covers the evolution of the term, systemic failures in recognizing coercive control, the impact on children, and how societal structures like patriarchy enable such behaviors. Amber also highlights how legislative and cultural shifts can aid in better addressing coercive control. The episode concludes with a discussion on the role of media in perpetuating or challenging coercive control and offers resources for further learning and support. Listeners can receive a discount on education modules related to coercive control offered through ECCUSA. Listen to the full episode for a discount code and where to find links to the trainings.