According to SPARC, stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress. In this episode, we sit down with stalking survivor and advocate Nicole Bialko to name what stalking really looks like and why it so often gets romanticized or minimized. Using Nicole's personal experience as a backdrop, we walk through warning signs, documentation, and what it takes to keep pushing for safety when the system feels hard to navigate.

We also get practical about respecting our own intuition and about what matters most when you’re trying to stay safe: understanding stalking as a pattern of behavior that causes fear or substantial emotional distress, and building documentation that clearly shows that pattern. Nicole shares tips for creating a simple timeline, saving texts and emails, capturing time-stamped photos or video, and gathering witnesses when possible. We also talk about the reality of reporting stalking, including moments of support from law enforcement and the frustration that can hit once a case moves into the court system, where communication gaps and plea deals can leave survivors feeling minimized.

In this episode author and survivor Jessi Bixler shares the story behind her memoir, The Story We Share: How One Sexual Assault Rippled Through a Family and Their Fight for Healing, recounting the assault that occurred in her home in 2013, the immediate aftermath, the failures of the criminal justice system, and her family’s decision to pursue civil accountability.

The conversation explores how trauma can fracture memory, disrupt relationships, and leave loved ones unsure of how to help. Jessi reflects on the role her husband, parents, brother, and friends played in her recovery, and how writing the book opened long-overdue conversations that ultimately strengthened many of those relationships. She also discusses her advocacy work with MOCSA, the importance of believing survivors, and why silence can deepen isolation. Jessi’s message to survivors is clear and compassionate: find your person, seek support, and know that there are people and organizations ready to believe you.

What if fear isn’t weakness… but wisdom?

In this powerful episode of Genesis the Podcast, Maria MacMullin sits down with Genesis CEO Jan Langbein to unpack a truth we don’t talk about enough:
for women experiencing abuse, fear is not an overreaction—it’s a signal.

A signal that something isn’t safe.
A signal that control is taking hold.
A signal that it’s time to listen.

Together, they explore how fear shows up long before physical violence, why it’s so often dismissed by others, and how that dismissal can deepen isolation and self-doubt. But this conversation doesn’t stop there.

It also reveals something extraordinary:
fear can be the beginning of courage.

Through real stories from Genesis, you’ll hear how women—while still afraid—take brave, life-changing steps toward safety, healing, and hope. Because bravery isn’t the absence of fear… it’s what we do in spite of it.

💜 If you’ve ever questioned your instincts, this episode is for you.
💜 If you want to better support someone who may be afraid, this episode is for you.
💜 And if you believe we must do better at listening, believing, and responding to domestic violence—this episode is for all of us.