Busting the Top 5 Myths of Domestic Abuse with Amy Polacko on The Divorce and Beyond Podcast #317
Amy Polacko, Divorce and Empowerment Coach and Investigative Journalist returns to The Divorce & Beyond podcast with Susan Guthrie. Amy is here to help bust the top five myths of domestic abuse. The myths being busted are prominent and often repeated time and again. We must raise awareness so we don’t perpetuate these myths and continue to cause incredible harm. Amy Polacko is committed to helping women live on their terms during/after a toxic relationship or divorce. As a divorced single mom, she is passionate about coaching women one-on-one and founded the empowerment group Strong Savvy Women to support, inspire, and guide single women. She is also an award-winning journalist highlighting women's issues, including divorce, domestic abuse, coercive control, and singlehood. Myth Busting and Golden Nuggets includ Myth #1: “The Hysterical Woman.” Labeling women as "hysterical" diminishes their experiences and allows the cycle of abuse to continue. Myth #2: “Why didn’t she just leave?” One reason: You need to have a safe exit plan, which takes time and planning. Myth #3: If there isn’t physical violence, it’s not really abuse. The more we tell stories of domestic abuse, the more aware we can become. Myth #4: “It only happens in poor families.” Domestic abuse doesn't discriminate and affects people across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Myth #5: “What happens in someone’s home is a private matter.” Domestic abuse isn't a private issue; it has societal repercussions. What you can do to help break the cycle of abuse and raise awareness. **************************************** About this week's special guest: Amy Polacko Amy Polacko is a Freedom Warrior - and is committed to helping women live life on their own terms during/after a toxic relationship or divorce. As a divorced single mom, she is passionate about coaching women one-on-one and founded the empowerment group Strong Savvy Women to provide support, inspiration, and guidance to single women. Amy is also an award-winning journalist who sheds light on women's issues including divorce, domestic abuse, coercive control, and singlehood. Her recent journalistic work has appeared in The Washington Post, Newsweek, NBC News THINK, and Ms. Magazine. After graduating from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Amy worked as a newspaper reporter for Newsday and was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team covering the TWA Flight 800 crash. She then transitioned to television journalism, working as a writer and producer in New York City. Amy was an award-winning on-air reporter in Fargo, ND, where she traveled to Kosovo for a series on the North Dakota National Guard, and in Philadelphia, where she covered the national D.C. Sniper story. She also headed up an investigative reporting unit in Albany, NY, where she uncovered consumer scams, crime, and government corruption as part of her I-Team Investigations -- one of which exposed a loophole in the state's sex offender registry. Amy has spoken publicly on women's issues, empowerment and entrepreneurship at Yale University, the Women's Forum in Ridgefield, CT, the Women's Center of Greater Danbury, CT, the Hayvn co-working space for women, the Believe Inspire Grow national empowerment organization for women, and many other groups both virtually and in person. Website: www.freedomwarrior.info Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomwarriortribe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freedomwarriortribe/ *****************************************Episodes and Resources mentioned in this episode: Get Wise to the Tricks and Traps of Toxic People: Avoiding Narcissists and Sociopaths in Your Life with Former Investigative Journalist and Divorce Coach, Amy Polacko Special Bonus Episode EMPOWERED: How a New Family Court Law is (and isn’t) Helping Some Victims of IPV with Amy Polacko Amy’s article: ‘Hysterical’ Women Out for Revenge: Family Court’s Misogynistic Tropes Traumatize Women and Children Amy’s publis