Podcast Summary: Call Her Daddy "I Got Out of An Abusive Relationship"

Host: Alex Cooper
Guests: Sarah (Executive Director, Harvest Home), Angie (Harvest Home Alum)
Date: March 8, 2026
Length: ~71 min (excluding ads/interludes)

Episode Overview

On this special International Women’s Day episode, Alex Cooper sits down at Los Angeles’ Harvest Home with its Executive Director Sarah and alum Angie, to share Angie’s powerful journey escaping abusive relationships, addiction, and homelessness, and the vital role women-centered community played in her healing. The conversation covers the realities of domestic violence, how trauma shapes self-worth, the pathway out of abuse, and the transformational impact of supportive organizations like Harvest Home.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Harvest Home & Context

(09:10 – 10:43)

• Harvest Home serves unhoused pregnant women in Los Angeles, providing housing, therapy, healthy food, financial programs, classes, and doulas.
• Their homes are intentionally designed to feel safe, supportive, and like a "real home" rather than an institution.
  • Sarah: “One of the things we really pride ourselves in is our homes feeling like home and women really feeling valued and supported and seen when they walk in our doors.” (09:50)

2. Angie’s Story: Childhood Trauma & Cycles of Abuse

(15:11 – 19:08)

• Angie’s first experiences of abuse were as a young child (sexual abuse at age five), shaping her self-worth and relationships.
• Early relationships often involved older men and substance use, fostered in part by seeking validation and “feeling special.”
• Quote:
  • “I felt that’s all I deserved, because I ended up believing what the person was telling me.” — Angie (15:38)
  • “If you didn’t want to fuck me, I didn’t feel hot. I didn’t feel worthy.” — Angie (16:25)

3. The Reality of Domestic Violence

(13:13 – 14:38; 25:00 – 28:45)

• Sarah explains signs of abuse: controlling behaviors often start as seemingly caring gestures, then progress to isolation and manipulation.
• Pregnancy can increase abuse, due to shifting power dynamics and further vulnerability.
• Sarah on barriers to leaving:
  • Financial abuse, controlling housing and money.
  • “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. The known chaos… being in that environment actually feels sometimes more safe than stepping out into something that’s completely unknown.” (25:23)
• Societal attitudes often implicitly blame the woman for not leaving, rather than holding the abuser accountable.
  • Alex: “There’s so much emphasis put on why didn’t the woman do something about it? … the question isn’t, why did he not stop abusing her?” (31:48)

4. Addiction as Coping Mechanism & Breaking the Cycle

(21:08 – 23:48)

• Angie turned to prescription painkillers to numb from the anxiety and pain of abuse and isolation.
• Addiction escalated from a coping strategy to physical dependence.
  • “I didn’t have anybody … so that’s what gave me relief. Unfortunately, that’s what I had to lean on.” — Angie (21:22)
  • Describes the moment realizing she was in withdrawal, after a friend pointed it out (22:23)

5. Pathways to Healing: The Role of Harvest Home

(32:49 – 44:39)

• After years cycling through programs and relapse, Angie’s pregnancy and fear of losing her child became a motivator for change.
• Harvest Home provided immediate safety, structure, counseling, and an empowering, nonjudgmental community.
  • “When I came home one day to my room in Venice, there was this big bassinet with all kinds of baby clothes... everything I didn’t have that I needed.” — Angie (37:00)
• Surrounded by supportive staff and residents, she rebuilt her sense of self-worth, achieved sobriety, and prepared for motherhood.
• Angie’s baby was born healthy against the odds, reinforcing her resolve to never return to addiction.
  • “I knew I would never, ever touch another drug in my life. Like, he had given me such a miracle…” — Angie (38:45)

6. Women Supporting Women: The Power of Community

(44:39 – 47:30; 54:25–57:04)

• Structured group meals and therapy sessions foster a sense of family; mothers support each other through the highs and lows.
  • “I know that if you can do it, I can do it, right? ... I’ve met so many wonderful women in here, with just such big, caring hearts. It’s just a blessing.” — Angie (44:56)
• Staff and volunteers model nonjudgmental care:
  • Sarah: “We believe in you, even before you believe in yourself.” (27:07)
  • Nightly communal dinners normalize stability and reinforce the feeling, “I’m not alone.” (54:25)

7. Life After Abuse & Hopes for the Future

(57:04 – 62:49; 65:17–67:00)

• The sense of safety, hope, and self-worth built at Harvest Home carried Angie into independent life:
  • She gained custody of both sons, finished peer-support specialist training, and rebuilt her relationship with her partner on new, healthy terms.
  • “They believed in me before I did in myself, right? They loved on me until I could love on myself.” — Angie (57:58)
  • Her goal is to model unconditional acceptance and emotional openness for her sons:
    • “I want to give them what I never had ... I want to pour all that into my son, and I want to make him realize what Harvest Home made me realize. You are enough. You are worthy.” (62:16)

8. Advice, Affirmations, & Next Steps

(64:35 – 69:28)

• Supporting loved ones:
  • Sarah: “Keep showing up ... be the person that people feel safe coming to without judgment, without shame.” (64:35)
• Angie’s advice to her younger self and those still struggling:
  • “Trust yourself more, trust your gut. … When somebody shows you who they are, believe them the first time. Don’t budge for anybody or anything.” (65:28)
  • “My biggest asset is my story and my story is the biggest thing that can help somebody else.” (66:44)
• Ways to support:
  • Volunteer, donate, or check out local organizations; presence and connection can be transformative.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the trauma of abuse:
  • “I would rather get punched than verbally abused, because the punches just ... wear off, right? But the words have such a deeper cut.” — Angie (29:22)
• On the meaning of true support:
  • “We cook for each other ... certain little things that they implement here in the program that kind of reawaken some things in you.” — Angie (47:03)
• On self-worth:
  • “Now that I’m stable with my kids, in my own place with my name on it ... it feels so good to be able to tell my kids, like, this is our home. Nobody can get mad at me and say 'get out.'” — Angie (66:44–68:47)
• On the power of sharing stories:
  • “My biggest asset is my story, and my story is the biggest thing that can help somebody else.” — Angie (66:44)

Important Timestamps

• 09:10 – Sarah introduces Harvest Home and holistic services
• 12:18 – Angie’s first impressions of safety at Harvest Home
• 13:13 – Sarah on early warning signs of abuse
• 15:11 – Angie recounts childhood and relationship trauma
• 21:08 – Substance use as a way to cope with domestic abuse
• 25:00 – Why women return to abusers; role of financial abuse
• 27:07 – How Harvest Home creates a safe environment
• 32:49 – Angie’s year before Harvest Home, struggle to get clean, story of finding community
• 37:00 – Receiving support at Harvest Home
• 44:39 – Supporting each other, the impact of praise and community
• 54:25 – Sarah on relationship-building as Harvest Home’s “secret sauce”
• 57:04 – Angie’s outlook post-Harvest Home: custody, education, new confidence
• 64:35 – Sarah and Angie’s advice on supporting loved ones and self

Tone & Language

Alex Cooper brings her signature candid, nonjudgmental, and direct style—unafraid of confronting tough topics, centering empathy, and humor where appropriate. Sarah’s manner is deeply compassionate and measured, providing context and data, while Angie’s voice is raw, honest, and emotionally powerful, switching between vulnerability, humor, and hard-earned wisdom.

Takeaways for the Uninitiated

• Community saves lives: Safe, affirming support networks are vital for women escaping abuse.
• Abuse is complex: Leaving an abuser is rarely simple due to psychological, financial, and social barriers.
• Shame and judgment are obstacles: Survivors need compassion, not blame.
• Recovery requires more than “getting over it”: Healing is ongoing and incremental, bolstered by resources and community.
• Every story matters: Sharing lived experience can be a beacon to others still struggling.

Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or housing instability, resources are listed in the episode’s show notes, including national hotlines for domestic violence, sexual assault, and crisis support.

How to Get Involved

• Locally (LA): Volunteer or donate at Harvest Home; see website in show notes.
• Nationally: Support similar organizations or shelters in your area.
• As a Friend: “Keep showing up.” Offer nonjudgmental, consistent presence.

This episode is a moving testament to the healing power of community, the lifelong journey of recovery, and the importance of believing women—perfect for International Women's Day, and for any listener seeking hope amidst hardship.