Genesis The Podcast

Navigating court-ordered visitation can be overwhelming for children, especially when they're required to spend time with predatory parent. Many kids cope by masking their true emotions, staying compliant during visits, and then unraveling once they're safe at home—often exhibiting behaviors like anger, withdrawal, people-pleasing, or even sudden aggression. These responses leave protective parents feeling confused, guilty, and drained.
In this episode, we review Dr. Christine Cocchiola’s insightful children's book, Every Moment of Every Day, and delve deeper into what’s really going on beneath the surface for mothers and children navigating custody orders. Dr. Cocchiola, a clinician, protective parent, and author, sheds light on how coercive control intentionally disrupts a child’s attachment to the safe parent through shame, manipulation, and false narratives. She explains the four stress responses—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and why children may mimic an abuser, appear "fine" when they're not, or act out upon returning home.
The conversation offers practical strategies for navigating transitions, such as co-regulation instead of interrogation, empowering children with choice, and using rhythmic, relational activities like music, dancing, trampoline play, drumming, or pillow forts to help them release stress. We also discuss Dr. Cocchiola’s “three Ps” for managing high-stakes handoffs and acknowledge the difficulty of healing when court-mandated contact persists. Still, Dr. Cocchiola reminds us that meaningful recovery is possible through informed, protective parenting and intentional repair.
If you’re concerned about child safety, family court custody battles, trauma-informed parenting, or the impact of coercive control, this review and discussion of Every Moment of Every Day will equip you with critical insights and actionable steps for supporting children through challenging transitions.

This week we talk with Jessica Smith Wilcott, sister of Officer Jillian Smith of the Arlington Police Department about how one fateful domestic violence disturbance call changed two families forever. In this episode, Jessica shares the story of what happened to Jillian that December night in 2010, who Jillian was beyond the badge, and how remembrance turned into action can transform law enforcement responses to domestic violence.

Our conversation moves from stark national statistics to the on-the-ground reality of officer safety and victim safety. Jessica details the shifts since Jillian’s death: two-officer responses to domestic calls, pairing women and men on scene, and departments across Dallas–Fort Worth weaving Jillian’s story into training and recruitment. We examine what still needs work—more officers on high-risk calls, trauma-informed de-escalation, reliable advocacy referrals, and dedicated pathways at police departments where victims can seek help without fear. Along the way, we talk about representation in law enforcement, why diverse recruiting builds trust, and how belief and patience can open the door to lifesaving disclosures.

Jessica also offers a deeply personal look at living with loss: the hard holidays, the role of faith and church community, and the small daily practices—photos, stories, saying her name—that keep Jillian present for the family. She reflects on the offender’s actions and the complex relief of being spared a grueling trial, and she describes an enduring connection with the girl Jillian saved that proves legacy can be a living promise. If you care about domestic violence prevention, officer safety, advocacy partnerships, and the human heart behind policy change, this conversation will stay with you.

In this episode we visit with Texas-born singer-songwriter and single mother of four Erin Duvall to unpack how she turned a season of survival into soulful songs, purposeful routines, and a foundation that champions single parents year-round.

In this lively conversation Erin traces her path from a childhood spent chasing any stage to a grown-up return to the studio with new clarity. She breaks down the collaborations that sharpened her sound—Dallas legends the Baker Brothers, Grammy-winning producer Keith Thomas, and Nashville writer-producer Brian White—and how those sessions shaped two creative eras: the relational healing of her album One by One and the hard-won selfhood in her new single Back to Me. Along the way, she shares how she protects her kids’ privacy while still letting them share the joy of performance when they choose.

The heart of our conversation lands at home. Erin explains why nothing is off limits at her kitchen table, how clear boundaries make kids feel safe, and why a strong village—grandparents, trusted neighbors, dependable carpools—turns chaos into momentum. She offers practical advice for single parents and busy creatives: start now, even small; guard your yes; trade FOMO for JOMO; and make time for rest nonnegotiable. We also spotlight the Twice the Love Foundation, Erin’s platform that raises awareness and resources for single parents through concerts, community events, and partnerships with on-the-ground organizations.

If you’ve wondered how to pursue a dream while raising a family as a single parent and still show up for others, this story delivers both inspiration and a blueprint. Listen for the mindset shifts, the daily systems, and a preview of the new release Back to Me that captures life after the storm.

What if the moment you finally said “enough” became the spark that built your legacy? We sit down with DeShandra (Monet) Cullins—a survivor, mother of five, entrepreneur, and author of You Good, Sis?—who turned lifelong trauma into a blueprint for healing, purpose, and generational change. From escaping intimate partner violence to walking into a shelter with her daughters, she shares the precise steps that moved her from survival mode to building a beauty brand that began in a women's shelter and grew into a platform for women's empowerment.

Dishandra opens up about complex PTSD and why it’s often misread as “just depression.” She breaks down how chronic trauma reshapes a nervous system, how EMDR helped her separate triggers from identity, and how simple daily structure—miracle mornings, hydration, journaling—became anchors that outlast motivation. We also spotlight the insidious tactics of financial abuse and the practical pivots that counter them: turning tax refunds into startup capital, learning credit repair and business credit, and using honest landlord letters to rebuild housing stability.

At the heart of the episode is ROOTS, her five-part framework—Reveal, Own, Open, Turn, Sustain—that integrates inner work with business strategy. You’ll hear how bold lipstick shades named for power and courage helped her reclaim her voice, why “Monet” was armor and “DeShandra” is integration, and how the You Good, Sis? book and journal teach check-ins that prevent burnout before it breaks us. If you care about survivor advocacy, faith-informed healing, entrepreneurship, or building legacy from hard beginnings, this story will change how you think about resilience.

Learn more about DeShandra and her work at www.deshandracullins.com or www.discoveringdeshandrasolutions.com and on Instagram at @discovering.deshandra

Genesis experts Ruth Guerreiro and Jordyn Lawson join the conversation to unpack models that explain domestic violence and provide real, practical solutions for survivors and those who support them. Together we walk through the Cycle of Violence framework as well as the Power and Control Wheel derived from the Duluth Model to understand their origins, purpose, and applications. 
Our discussion also grounds these theories in real-world practice: how survivors can identify escalation cues, why a “violent episode” isn’t limited to physical harm, and the safety planning steps that can reduce risk at each stage—at home, during separation, and long after. We explore the emotional work of healing—naming love bombing, processing betrayal, and rebuilding trust in one’s instincts.
Throughout the conversation, we push past outdated terms to language that validates lived realities and sharpens judgment: manipulative kindness over “honeymoon phase,” impact over intent, control over conflict. Whether you’re a survivor, ally, or professional, you’ll leave with clearer frameworks, practical examples, and a more intentional way to talk about and respond to abuse.