Welcome to the Aware and Prepared podcast

where I, Mandi, a trained domestic violence victim advocate helps those feeling vulnerable learn emotional self defense and how to be street smart.

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You deserve to live in peace and safety! Hear safety tips that will help us enjoy empowered lives. Let’s leave worry behind so we can be savvy, aware, and prepared

True Tales - Why Victims Stay: Hidden Barriers to Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Mandi Pratt

Published on: 28/10/2025

Have you ever wondered why someone doesn’t just leave an abusive relationship? We pull back the curtain on what domestic violence really looks like and the complicated reasons survivors often stay. From fear and finances to faith and trauma bonds, you’ll gain insight that replaces judgment with compassion. If you care about someone who might be in an unsafe relationship (or you simply want to understand this issue more deeply), this episode is for you. Listen now and learn how to truly support survivors - not by giving up on them, but by standing beside them.

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When Relaxing Feels Impossible: Healing from Complex PTSD

Mandi Pratt

Published on: 15/10/2025

Ever find it hard to relax like your body doesn’t know how to come down from survival mode? You’re not alone! In this solo episode, I’m wrapping up our Complex PTSD Series by sharing some additional final thoughts on what trauma has looked like in my own life, including: - How trauma may contribute to early menopause - Difficulty processing emotions - The inability to relax - Reflections on hypervigilance, numbness, and learning self-compassion Hear practical ways to start reconnecting with your body and emotions safely. You are not alone! Healing, peace, and self-trust are absolutely possible.

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Beyond Talk Therapy: Healing Through the Nervous System and Somatic Work

Mandi Pratt

Published on: 08/10/2025

What if you’ve tried talk therapy for years but still feel stuck? Listen in as therapist, Catherine Lucey, LMFT, and host Mandi Pratt unpack the healing practices that go beyond talk therapy — bringing the body, self-compassion, and community into the process. You’ll learn: The three lenses of healing: nervous system regulation, self-compassion (through Internal Family Systems), and community. A simple interrupt + orient + safety practice you can use daily to calm your body in minutes. How movement, nature, creativity, and even surfing can help regulate the nervous system. What questions to ask when seeking a trauma-informed, body-based therapist. Whether you’ve experienced trauma yourself, or you support others on their healing journey, this episode is filled with practical tools and gentle reminders: you are not broken, and healing doesn’t have to be another overwhelming “to-do.”

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Trauma Expert Britt Frank Shares Practical Tips for Healing from Trauma and PTSD

Mandi Pratt

Published on: 24/09/2025

Mandi sits down with neuro-psychotherapist and author Britt Frank, LSCSW, SEP for a powerful and down-to-earth conversation about navigating healing after trauma. Together, they explore how our inner critic can feel overwhelming, why safety is the foundation of healing, and what it means to practice “trauma turtle rolls”— the small, grounding actions that carry us through tough moments until conditions improve. They share their real-life experiences with anxiety, affirmations, and even breathwork: what helps, what doesn’t, and why it’s okay if your healing doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Whether you’re managing PTSD, C-PTSD, or simply the waves of everyday stress, this conversation reminds you: healing happens in safe places, and even the smallest choices can bring peace.

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