Let's Talk About It | WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse This month: Six survivors talk about what medical providers got right and what they got wrong in treatment for their domestic abuse injuries and trauma. Topics: 1) The medical community. 2) Physical symptoms of emotional abuse. 3) Why survivors reveal and do not reveal the real cause of their partner-inflicted injuries. Guests: Mary Kamradt, Mary Lou Smith, Laudan Ghayebi, Bethany McInnis, Sydney, Amy About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 4/10/26: Survivors Share experiences with the medical community first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Topics: Katherine talks about how her ex tried to cut her head off with a knife, got an obscenely low prison sentence, and was released to strangle another girlfriend. Guests: Katherine Erbes About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 1/9/26 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Liz Eckman talks about how Portland Maine city officials publicly recognized October as Domestic Abuse Awareness Month even as they were silent about criminal charges against their tax assessor for domestic violence assault against her. Topics: 1. Hypocrisy of town officials regarding domestic abuse 2. Court failure to notify victims of domestic abuse 3. Importance of survivors speaking out publicly Guests: Liz Eckman About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 11/14/25 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Sarah Doucette, author of Stronger Than That: A Domestic Violence Survivor Uncovers the Truth About Her Abuser, talks about the many factors that trapped her with a sociopath. Topics: 1. Financial abuse 2. Religion trapping you in abuse 3. Parental enabling  Guests: Sarah Doucette About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 10/10/25 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse The director of a Maine public library Rachel Davis talks about growing up with a violent father. In Part 2, 85-year-old Mary Lou Smith reflects on her 20-year anniversary of freedom. Topics: 1. Abusive fathers 2. Impact of domestic abuse on siblings 3. Breaking the cycle Guests: Rachel Davis and Mary Lou Smith About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 9/12/25 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse The owner of a popular cupcake shop breaks her silence about a first husband who regularly strangled her. Topics: 1. Misplaced shame. 2. Domestic Violence Strangulation. 3. How abusers do not change. Guests: Vicki Murray About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 7/11/25 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse When your ex tries to burn your house down with you and your daughter in it and is out of jail in less than a year. Topics: 1. Broken Judicial System 2. Domestic Violence Arson 3. Impact of Domestic Violence on Children Guests: Agnes Brackett About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 5/9/25 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse When your ex who almost killed you is released early from prison to now be charged with strangling another woman to death. Topics: 1. Broken Judicial System 2. Domestic Violence Strangulation 3. Impact of Domestic Violence on Children Guests: Darcia Maning and Dezarae Caron About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 3/7/25 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse When your best friend is murdered by her father. Topics: 1. Guns. 2. Growing up with abuse. 3. Police and VA response to domestic violence. Guest: Kerry Smith whose mother’s boyfriend was abusive and whose best friend was murdered by her father. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 12/12/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Domestic Violence Homicide—Actual and Almost Topics: 1. Strangulation. 2. From charmer to psychopath. 3. Femicide in Maine. Guest: Michelle, survivor; Kerry and Amber, best friends of two of the four women domestic violence homicide victims in Maine in October. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 11/8/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse He burned her house down, with her dog inside, and she is estranged from her children and grandchildren. Topics: 1. Arson. 2. Sexual abuse. 3. Family siding with the abuser. Guest: Mary Kamradt, Chief of Staff of Finding Our Voices. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 10/11/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Caroline McKuen shares how her pastor minimized the financial and sexual abuse and criminal activity of her ex-husband. Topics: 1. Financial abuse. 2. Patriarchal churches enabling domestic abuse. 3. Sexual abuse. Guest: Caroline McKuen, director of the Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition. More info at www.presbyterianadvocacycoalition.org About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 9/13/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse The devastation of financial abuse, as experienced by Lora, a Maine nurse, and explained by Jeannine, a domestic abuse survivor/victim’s advocate with Finding Our Voices. Topics: 1. Financial Abuse 2.Sexual Abuse 3. Manipulation of Abusers Guest: Lora and Jeannine. Jeannine is a survivor from Southern Maine who led the passage of LD 947: An Act to Address the Long-Term Impact of Economic Abuse by a Spouse. findingourvoices.net/jeannine-archive static1.squarespace.com/static/5ea1c13f9388622c75e02f04/t/5ea71229440a354e415493ea/1588007466061/Jeannine+Bill+.pdf About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 8/9/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse He strangled her, tried to smother her, forced her at gunpoint to take a bottle of sleeping pills and a judge lowered his bail so he could be released from custody. Topics: 1. Domestic violence murder hidden as suicide 2. Puffball sentencing of domestic abusers 3. Reckless Maine judges Guest: Anonymous About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 7/12/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse A man talks about being abused by a woman. Topics include: The Power and Control Wheel, the specific challenges of being a man abused by a woman, the similarities of men being abused by women and women being abused by men. Guest: Anonymous About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 6/14/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Jolene Miles of Lewiston talks about how Maine’s courts and police enabled her dangerous ex, putting herself, her children, her pets, the general public and also the police at risk. Guest: Jolene Miles Topics include: The dereliction of the courts when it comes to DV. How police fail victims of domestic abuse. How perpetrator rights trump those of the victim in Maine. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 5/10/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: “Bethany” Topics include: PFA violations being ignored DA Dismissals of DV over and over again Children traumatized by DV About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 4/12/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Amy Judkins talking about how DHHS prioritized custody of her granddaughter to a domestic violence felon. Topics include:  Maine officials emboldening domestic abusers. No accountability for Maine domestic abusers. Domestic abuser rights trumping the safety of children. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 3/8/24 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Gina Dobson, Sarah Graham, Jennifer Greensmith, Tiffany Pacin, Mary Kamradt, and Jolene Iannotti. Topics include:  How domestic abuse is worse during the holidays, road rage, when there is no joy for children due to the abuse. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 12/8/23: Holidays with Abuse first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Commissioner of Corrections, Randall Liberty Topics include:  How growing up with a violent father impacts boys and men. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 11/10/23: Man Growing Up With a Violent Father first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production Assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Ashley and Dezarae Topics include:  How the military turned a partner mean, same-sex abuse, emotional abuse, impact on children. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 10/13/23: Two-Parter On Military, LBGTQ Situations first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Anonymous Topics include:  Domestic abuse crosses into every socioeconomic strata, child abuse, how domestic abuse impacts family members, the complicity of silent friends. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 9/8/23: Yes it DOES Happen in Expensive Homes, Too first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Sue Garrett, Elizabeth Garber, Karin Spitfire, and Kathleen Robinson Weston Topics include:  Child abuse, how domestic abuse impacts the family, healing through art and writing About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 7/14/23: Abuse by a Father – Updated Version of 6/11/21 Episode first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Gina. Gina talks about how her ex made good on his promise to crush her if she left, by filing a false charge against her for murder when the death was actually a miscarriage, and how she remains a felon to this day. Topics include: Legal abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 6/9/23: Ex Turning a Miscarriage Into a Murder Charge first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Aimee, author of the blog Biddeford Bachelorette. Mandy returns to update us on how she is still being plagued by her ex years after the divorce and his way-too-short prison term for domestic violence, and how the courts are enabling him to shirk paying her child support. Topics include: Using your love of pets to terrorize you, no justice for domestic violence victims and no accountability for domestic violence perpetrators. Post-separation abuse. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 5/12/23: Narcisstic Abuse first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Donna Kaz. Donna talks about being swept off her feet by the late actor William Hurt who terrorized her for three years. Donna is a feminist activist and the author of Unmasked: Memoirs of a Guerilla Girl on Tour.  Topics include: Being stymied, staunched, and brutalized by someone the public glorifies. The harmful silence of others. Getting out from the shadow of someone famous and finding ourselves.  The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 4/14/23: When Your Abuser is Famous first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests:  Olivia and Jeannine. Olivia, 24, talks about being swept off her feet by an older man who was more established in her credit union work field and how the jealousy and control swept in as soon as they were engaged. Jeannine, a former TV news anchor, talks about financial abuse. Topics include: Coercive control, financial abuse, no justice in court. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 2/10/23: This Is Not Love! first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Melody Rose Paul, author of Savaged to Wellness and The Road to Recovery and Melissa, who barely survived the violent rampage of her ex who was out on bail when he committed this. Melody is a Mi’kmaq native who says that being incarcerated was a relief from her captivity at home by her controlling ex. Topics: Incarceration, the link between substance abuse and domestic abuse, no justice for victims of domestic abuse, turning pain into art. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non-profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time  all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 12/9/22: Surviving Domestic Violence – Melody and Melissa first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Gail and Natasha talk about lingering control and abuse of the children once you physically escape the abusive partner, and 83-year-old Mary Lou reads poems documenting her growing understanding of the 43 years of abuse she and her children endured. Topics Include: Post-separation abuse, the impact of domestic abuse on children, how domestic abut impacts the mother/child relationship. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non-profit breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 10/14/22: Effect of Domestic Abuse on the Children first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Denisse, Fullbright Scholar and Harvard Kennedy School graduate Lian, law school graduate Topics include: Emotional abuse, post-separation abuse, wanting to kill yourself because of the abuse. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grassroots survivor-powered non-profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse community by community all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 6/10/22: Surmounting Abuse to Excel Academically first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Donna Kaz. In Donna’s memoir Unmasked: Memoir of a Guerilla Girl on Tour she relates being terrorized by the serial domestic abuser William Hurt. Topics include: What is it like when your abuser is an artist admired around the world for his sensitivity, emotional abuse, the power of fame, being robbed of yourself and coming into yourself. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grassrroots survivor-powered non-profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse community by community all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 5/13/22: When Your Abuser is Famous first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Christie, beauty pageant director Topics include: Multi-generational abuse, how they don’t change, family enablers. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grassrroots survivor-powered non-profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse community by community all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 4/8/22: They Don’t Change first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Jennifer Greenmith and Anonymous. A woman survivor of domestic abuse in the orthodox Jewish community and another in the Christian community talk about how religion played a key factor in trapping them and keeping them trapped in domestic violence. Topics include: Religion, mental Illness, family court malfunction. About the host: Patrisha McLean is an award-winning photojournalist and the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the survivor-powered and grassroots nonprofit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse. The post Let’s Talk About It 1/14/22: Domestic Abuse and Religion first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Shelly Edwards-Jorgensen, author of the memoir Beautiful Ashes, talks about growing up with a charismatic, violent father and her healing journey after he killed her mother and burned their house down. More information can be found here: www.beautifulashesmemoir.com Topics include: How children suffer in homes where there is domestic violence, no justice in the courts, healing from trauma. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 12/10/21: The Effect of Domestic Violence on the Children first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean and Clara Shneid, Kathryn Brunhaver, Suzie Assam from DocSong Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Andy escaped the domestic abuse in his home when he left for college but now feels guilty for leaving his mom behind in it. Topics include: Alcohol, mother/son relationship, breaking the cycle. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 11/12/21: A Man’s Perspective of Growing Up In Domestic Abuse first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Amy Burns. How she thought her ex would protect her because he was a police officer but he ended up terrorizing her and her son, and how nothing happened when she reported him to his bosses at the Maine State Police. Topics include: Weaponizing of children, police covering up for one of their own, financial abuse About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 9/10/21: Police as the Abuser first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Tiffany Engelhardt. Because her first same sex intimate partner relationship felt so right, it was easy to overlook the red flags. Topics include:  Weaponizing children, dysfunctional court system, abuse specific to same sex relationship. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 8/13/21: Same Sex Domestic Abuse first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Rebekah Lowell, illustrator and author of the middle grade book The Road to After, talks about how the man she met at 17 kept her and their two children captive for 10 years. Topics include:  Terrorizing, Isolation, having your creativity stymied, the incompetence of the District Attorney. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 7/9/21: Extreme Isolation first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Elizabeth Garber and Sue Garrett of with readings by poets Linda Buckmaster, Ellen Sander, Marjorie Arnett, Kathleen Robinson and Karin Spitfire. All from Belfast, Maine Topics include:  Charismatic and controlling fathers, mothers as enablers and victims, healing through love and art. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 6/11/21: Parental Abuse first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Hannah, Mandy, Lori, and Sarah talk about police response to the domestic violence and how this impacted their safety as well as their children’s. Topics include:  Lax sentencing, mental illness. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 5/14/21: Police Response first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Dr. Kerry Roarke talks about how she was the breadwinner yet he controlled the money. Elizabeth Garber reads her poem about her abusive father. Topics include:  Financial abuse, coercive control, parental abuse. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 3/12/21: Emotional Abuse first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Jackie Lee McLean, musician daughter of the host of this radio show talks with her mother about the abuse in the home while she was growing up. Topics include:  How domestic abuse impacts each family member differently, not talking about it and then breaking your silence, breaking free, turning trauma into art. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 2/12/21: Mother and Daughter first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: Jackie Lee McLean Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Hannah Topics include:  Mental Illness, Family Court dysfunction, Leniency for Perpetrators. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 12/11/20: No Accountability For the Perpetrator first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: “Just A Bully” co-written with Patrisha McLean and Nora Willauer in a collaboration with DocSong. Performed by Willauer. Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guest: Amanda Fitzsimmons Topics include: Impact on children, court dysfunction, inaction of police and judge. This episode is sponsored by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 11/13/20: Let Down by the System first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: “Just A Bully” co-written with Patrisha McLean and Nora Willauer in a collaboration with DocSong. Performed by Willauer. Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Nicky and Kathi. These best friends and business partners discuss how they each were lured and trapped into dangerous relationships and how they helped each other escape. Topics include: Emotional abuse, financial abuse, isolation, power of friendship. This episode is sponsored by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 9/11/20: Best Friends Saving Each Other first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Tammy Oropesa Music: “Just A Bully” co-written with Patrisha McLean and Nora Willauer in a collaboration with DocSong. Performed by Willauer. Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Rhonda and Ashley talk about how they were controlled and tormented in similar and different ways by husband/father and how they healed their mother and daughter relationship. Topics include: Coercive control, child abuse, financial abuse. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 7/28/20: Mother/Daughter first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Production assistance: Alex Wilder Music: “Just A Bully” co-written with Patrisha McLean and Nora Willauer in a collaboration with DocSong. Performed by Willauer. Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Molly Eddy, Lindsay O’Brien and Carissa Carney. When there are no bruises it is harder to see, but feels just as bad and sometimes worse.  Second Part, more voices from some of the 45 women on the Finding Our Voices domestic abuse-awareness posters touring the state: Melanie Leo-Daigle, Meg Barclay, Maegan Graslie and Mary Lou Smith. Topics include: The tactics abusers use to get and maintain control of you. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 7/21/20: Emotional Abuse first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Technical assistance: Alex Wilder Music: “Just A Bully” co-written with Patrisha McLean and Nora Willauer in a collaboration with DocSong. Performed by Willauer. Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Jeannine Oren, Amber Hatch, Olivia Chilles, Patrisha McLean, Milli, Autumn Saldena, Bekah Martinez, Judy Godwin, and Betsy Thurston. All survivors on the Finding Our Voices domestic-abuse awareness posters throughout Maine. Topics include: The full range including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 7/14/20: Many Survivor Voices first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Technical assistance: Alex Wilder Music: “Just A Bully” co-written with Patrisha McLean and Nora Willauer in a collaboration with DocSong. Performed by Willauer. Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Jessica Scata and Sicily Siracusa. Topics include: The silence of family and community, how friends can help, the link between drugs and domestic abuse. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 7/7/20: Isolation first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Patrisha McLean Technical assistance: Alex Wilder Music: “Just A Bully” co-written with Patrisha McLean and Nora Willauer in a collaboration with DocSong. Performed by Willauer. Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Survivors of Domestic Abuse Guests: Sisters Julie and Patti talk about how domestic abuse impacts the sibling relationship.  Second part, 79-year-old Linda of Rockport talks about a first, 20 year marriage she didn’t realize until recently was abusive.  Topics include: Extreme physical abuse, Impact on family, denial. About the host: Patrisha McLean is the founder/president of Finding Our Voices, the grass roots survivor-powered non profit organization breaking the silence of domestic abuse one conversation and community at a time all across Maine. The post Let’s Talk About It 6/30/20: Sisters first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.