The Truth Behind Being A Sex Worker

What happens when the beliefs you're raised with become the source of your deepest wounds? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Veronica Monet, who was born into a religious cult where isolation, control, and abuse were justified through faith. After escaping, addiction became a way to cope with the trauma she carried until she eventually found recovery. But recovery didn't lead to the life others expected. Sober and determined to survive on her own terms, Veronica chose sex work—a decision often misunderstood, but one she describes as an act of agency rather than defeat. This conversation challenges simplistic narratives about trauma and healing. It explores religious abuse, addiction, shame, autonomy, and what it means to reclaim ownership of your body and identity after years of control. For more than two decades, Veronica built a career in an industry many judge, while redefining survival, dignity, and self‑determination on her own terms. This episode is about cult recovery, addiction, agency, and the courage to rewrite your life when the world insists your story should end differently.

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Episoder(33)

The Most Shocking Moments - Part 2

Some moments stay with you long after the conversation ends. In this special episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih revisits some of the most powerful and unforgettable moments from the series...

13 Aug 28min

The Most Shocking Moments

5 Aug 21min

When Your Mother Is The Danger

Some conversations don't end when the cameras stop rolling—they deserve to be unpacked. In this episode of The Notebook, Hiba Balfaqih reflects on her conversation with Jazmine and explores the psych...

30 Jul 14min

The Story Her Kidnapper Never Wanted Told

How do you respond when your life changes in a matter of seconds? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Allison Smith, whose ordinary trip to a convenience store became a ...

23 Jul 1h 4min

What Epestein Did To Her Mind

Some conversations don't end when the cameras stop rolling—they deserve to be unpacked. In this episode of The Notebook, Hiba Balfaqih reflects on her conversation with Jena-Lisa Jones, a survivor of...

15 Jul 18min

My Family Was America's Most Dangerous Cult

What happens when the person who teaches you right from wrong is later revealed to be responsible for unimaginable violence? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Anna, wh...

1 Jul 57min

I Killed My Abuser

What happens when the people meant to protect you never do? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with David, who spent years growing up in an environment shaped by fear, contr...

24 Jun 1h 1min