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PODCAST

A Contagious Smile Podcast

Victora Cuore; A Contagious Smile, Who Kicked First, Domestic Violence Survivor, Advocate, Motivational Coach, Special Needs, Abuse Support, Life Skill Classes, Special Needs Social Groups

Stop surviving and start thriving. A Contagious Smile is a globally ranked podcast providing a safe haven for abuse survivors and special needs families navigating the journey of trauma recovery. Whether you are healing from domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, childhood trauma, or the daily challenges of disability advocacy, our mission is to turn your pain into power.Each episode features raw, authentic conversations with survivors, mental health experts, and advocates who share actionable

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

32:42

From Post Op Pain To Purposeful Impact with Victoria...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/10/05

Send us Fan MailOver 130 surgeries will teach you who is solid and who is just loud. While Victoria recovers, we talk honestly about what healing looks like right after the hospital: the itching, the bigger-than-expected scar, and the weird contrast of being treated like royalty up front and then rushed through post-op when the ward is full. It is funny in places, raw in others, and grounded in the day-to-day reality of surviving and still showing up.From there, we get into something even more

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25:45

Life After Surgery And Life After Abuse

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/10/02

Send us Fan Mail They got her through surgery, but nobody talks enough about what happens right after the operating room when you’re still foggy, hurting, and being told to get dressed and get out. We’re Michael and Victoria, and we’re sharing the raw play-by-play of her latest arm surgery recovery, the nerve pain and swelling, and the frustrating moment we felt rushed out of post-op before her body had time to settle. From there, the conversation turns into the bigger story so many people l...

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64:25

You Are Strong Enough To Leave Abuse Domestic...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/09/28

Send us Fan MailOne hit can flip your whole world, and the scariest part is how fast your brain tries to explain it away. We talk openly about domestic violence, coercive control, and the moment a relationship crosses a line that never should have existed. You’ll hear why denial is such a common first reaction, what “power and control” looks like in real life, and why an apology is often less about love and more about keeping you from leaving.We also get practical, because motivation without a plan

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68:29

He Brought Lube To A Vow Renewal, yep that's my...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/09/25

Send us Fan MailHe plans a birthday breakfast. Two hours later, we’re standing at a cemetery while Michael pulls out a handmade 12-page scroll, custom silver rings, and asks Victoria to marry him again in front of her grandparents’ gravesite. It’s sweet, funny, a little chaotic, and it sets the tone for what comes next: the honest truth about what it takes to feel safe after trauma and to build a life that’s bigger than what tried to break you. From there, we shift into Domestic Violence Awareness

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42:44

Turning Pain Into Purpose With Peer Support

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/09/21

Send us Fan MailYour worst day can feel huge, right up until real loss snaps everything into focus. We open by sending heartfelt condolences to our friend Monk Sticky after he loses his mom, and we talk honestly about what grief looks like when the world keeps moving and you still have to hold it together for the people you love.Then we swing into the messy middle of everyday life: trying to launch Stronger Than a Mountain coffee and merch while TikTok seller support runs us in circles, the chaos of

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36:34

Hair, Boundaries, And Hard Truths

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/09/14

Send us Fan MailA gross joke turns into something unexpectedly honest: what does it look like to take your life back when people have spent years trying to manage how you look, what you share, and even what you’re allowed to call “normal”? We talk about cutting off long hair as a line in the sand, body autonomy after trauma, and why self-expression can be a real mental health reset, not a shallow makeover.From there we get into the daily reality of disability and chronic pain and the gap between “I

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37:49

Living One-Handed And Refusing To Shrink

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/09/07

Send us Fan Mail Something as “small” as a haircut can crack open the real conversation: what happens when your body changes and the world thinks it gets a vote. We get personal about scars, body dysphoria, and why hair, looks, and other surface stuff should never be the deciding factor in love or respect. We also say the quiet part out loud: the most attractive person in the room can become ugly fast when they open their mouth, and the kindest person can feel flawless because you can see the...

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52:13

Claude Racine Velinsky Explains How She Rebuilt Her...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/09/04

Send us Fan Mail Postpartum depression doesn’t politely arrive with a warning label. It can hit like a trapdoor, and our guest Claude Racine Velinsky names the parts many people are afraid to say out loud: the panic, the grief for your old life, and the terrifying question of whether you just ruined everything. Claude’s story is uniquely sharp because she comes from a world built on discipline, performance, and constant “what’s next” energy. After years as a dancer and choreographer working ...

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52:13

From Dancer To Mother: Breaking Hustle Culture And...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/09/03

Send us Fan Mail Support the show

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41:41

Grace By Night And The Cost Of Hope with Victoria...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/28

Send us Fan MailGrace By Night made us stop, breathe, and feel everything, so we brought Antonio Spider Jr back to talk about what it takes to tell a story that honest. We get into why the film hits like a roller coaster of love, sorrow, and redemption, how a great screenplay and a fearless director can unlock a career defining performance, and what changes when you are making independent films with no money and no time. When you do not have the luxury of endless takes, you learn to show up fully

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44:01

Shot In The Line Of Duty With Ret. Sgt. Eric...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/24

Send us Fan MailA five minute stop at the office becomes a fight for survival. Retired deputy Eric Cochran answers a knock at the back door of his sheriff’s office and ends up shot through his lung, diaphragm, and liver, facing transfusions, a medically induced coma, and a long road back. The physical scars are obvious, but the episode goes where most stories stop: what it feels like to take a life in a suicide by cop scenario, to replay the footage, to question faith and purpose, and to realize

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40:07

Faith And Fire with Victoria Cuore and Antonio Sabato...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/20

Send us Fan MailIf you’ve ever felt like the world is getting darker while your own hope gets thinner, this conversation is a jolt of light. We’re joined by Antonio Sabato Jr, who shares what it looks like when faith becomes a real, personal relationship with God, not a public image and not a transaction. He talks about seasons of anger, doubt, and brokenness, then the shocking moment when you realize you were being strengthened the whole time.We also get concrete about healing: self-love, dignity,

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40:07

How Dancing And Self Love Break The Dark Cycle with...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/20

Send us Fan Mail Support the show

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41:51

The Math Shirt Moment

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/18

Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to understand our show is to hear us do what we do: laugh hard, pivot fast, and still land somewhere real. We start with a brand-new side business and a T-shirt that probably should not be worn around polite company, then we slide into the kind of honest marriage banter that only works when there’s trust underneath it. Along the way, we share a recovery check-in after spinal surgery, talk about visible bruising weeks later, and how a bold hair change becomes a...

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58:05

From 9/11 Responder To Patient Advocate And Trauma...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/16

Send us Fan Mail Support the show

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57:42

Daniel Ryan Cotler, Victoria Cuore and Michael...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/10

Send us Fan Mail Abuse does not have to leave a mark on your skin to change the way you think, remember, and trust yourself. We sit down with Daniel Ryan Cotler, author of *Voiceless No More* and founder of the Heal Loudly movement, to name what so many survivors struggle to explain: coercive psychological abuse that feels like love at first, then turns into confusion, isolation, and relentless self-doubt. If you have ever wondered why smart, capable people stay, or why the pain gets dismisse...

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44:44

Real Talk On Respect with Victoria Cuore and Michael...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/10

Send us Fan Mail Somebody can be laughing with you one minute and quietly fighting shame the next and that whiplash is real. We start with our usual marriage banter (dogs, treats, and a brand-new tattoo), then slide straight into the bigger topics people dodge: weight loss, body dysmorphia, and what it feels like to step out of a 20-year comfort zone and finally wear the clothes you avoided out of fear. From there, we talk about respect in public and why “checking someone out” can turn...

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56:57

This Is What It Takes with Michael Mackniak and...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/05

Send us Fan Mail “Bounce back” sounds motivating until you’re living with chronic pain, a major diagnosis, or a life event that permanently changes the map. We sit down with speaker, author, and resiliency expert Alison Graham to talk about what resilience looks like when the old path is gone and your capacity is stretched thin. If you’ve ever felt burnt out, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed while still trying to perform, this conversation gives you language and tools that actually match real li...

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36:14

Cup Of Mud with Victoria Cuore and Michael Solomon

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/08/03

Send us Fan Mail“A cup of mud” turns into a whole philosophy tonight. We start with the messy, funny reality of married life: coffee orders that confuse strangers, typing versus dictation, getting roasted by our kid, and yes, losing at bowling even when the lane has every possible advantage. It’s light, it’s chaotic, and it’s us.Then we pivot into something heavier: what happens when post-op care feels rushed, inconsistent, or flat-out disrespectful. We walk through a follow-up appointment after a

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46:55

This Is What It Takes with Mike Mackniak and Victoria...

A Contagious Smile Podcast ·

2026/07/31

Send us Fan Mail He could memorize a shuffled deck of cards in 21.5 seconds, compete on a massive Chinese TV stage, and beat world-class opponents with pure focus. Then he found himself calling 911, convinced he was having a stroke or a heart attack. That contrast is what makes our conversation with three-time USA Memory Champion John Graham so gripping: elite performance is not the same thing as inner safety, and the tactics that win trophies can also feed anxiety and panic. We dig into the...

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437 results

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