"My Family Had a Big Secret — Until I Wrote a Book About It."

Alreen Haeggquist is a successful attorney and author who’s made it her life’s mission to advocate for women — but her journey to becoming that woman is one of the most harrowing stories we’ve ever heard. In this raw and deeply emotional conversation, Alreen shares her experience of being abused by her father (both emotionally and sexually), the silence that surrounded it within her large family, and the lifelong impact of her mother’s silence. For decades, Alreen kept her story a secret…until the day she decided to write it all down. We talk about the trauma of secrecy, the physical toll of unspoken pain, how becoming a mother changed everything for her, and what healing actually looks like. Today, as a sexual harassment lawyer, Alreen helps others reclaim their voices, even as she continues to find hers. If you’ve ever questioned whether speaking out is worth the cost, this episode might just change your life. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse and childhood trauma. Purchase Alreen's book, "Fired Up: Fueling Triumph from Trauma: https://amzn.to/3Hs3DgL For more information & to contact Alreen, visit her website: https://www.alreen.com  Watch this episode in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjmevEcbh5h5FEX0pazPEtN86t7eb2OgX  To apply to be a guest on the show, visit luciefink.com/apply and send us your story.  I also want to extend a special thank you to East Love for the show's theme song, Rolling Stone.  Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealstuffpod  Find Lucie here:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciebfink/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luciebfink  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/luciebfink Website: https://luciefink.com/  Executive Producer: Cloud10 Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices