Women's Hour

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Originally broadcast on: http://radiosoapbox.com Radio Soapbox

Women's Hour broadcasts live every Sunday at 7:00p.m. uk time. 

Join us every Sunday at 7pm uk time for Women’s Hour, the show that celebrates and amplifies the voices of women from all walks of life. Each week, we dive into a rich blend of topics, from personal stories and current affairs to health, culture, and the challenges women face in today's world. With expert guests, thought-provoking discussions, and inspiring interviews, Women’s Hour offers a platform for empowerment, education, and connection. Whether you're tuning in for insightful advice, a dose of inspiration, or just a moment to feel heard, Women’s Hour is here to celebrate you.


Welcome to another episode of Women's Hour, recorded on Sunday, 2nd February 2025. In the first half, we catch up with Captain Jo, who shares her hectic week and the technical difficulties she's been facing. We discuss the challenges of balancing life, work, and unexpected disappointments, all while enjoying a cheeky glass of red wine. Our conversation takes a light-hearted turn as we delve into our love-hate relationship with crisps and the struggles of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

In the second half, we have a brave guest, Amy, who shares her harrowing story of surviving abuse and overcoming addiction. Amy recounts her traumatic experiences from childhood, including being part of a pedophile ring and later being abused by her stepfather. She shares her journey through addiction to crystal meth and her eventual recovery. Amy's story is one of resilience and strength, as she emphasizes the importance of self-love and forgiveness.

Amy's courage in sharing her story is a powerful reminder of the ongoing issues of abuse and the need for support and understanding. Her participation in the upcoming Million Women March aims to bring awareness and change to the systemic issues surrounding abuse and conviction rates. Join us as we stand together for justice and change.

[00:01:24] Unknown:

Good evening to all of the beautiful women out there and the occasional gentleman that listens in too, and we know they do listen   in.   Welcome to Women's Hour.   Today's date   is   Sunday, 2nd February,   2025.   Okay. We've made it. So   we will join captain Jo for our first half,   and then we've got a wonderful guest, a very brave woman who's gonna be coming for part 2   who's gonna talk who's gonna talk to us about her situation, about abuse, and her life. It's a tragic story, but she's, she's a wonderful woman and a brave soul. So, we look forward to chatting to her in part 2.   If you would like to join in with a live chat,   go to my Rumble channel, Shelley Tasker. And any questions, comments, please, type them in and give us a like and subscribe as well.  

Right. Let's bring captain Joe on.   Let's bring captain Joe on. Now good evening, captain Joe.  

[00:02:24] Unknown:

Hello.  

[00:02:25] Unknown:

Oh, gosh. You're loud.   Am I? It's alright. It's just me. About that. No. That's alright.  

[00:02:32] Unknown:

Anyway I seem to be having some technical   difficulties,   not with   the aircraft,   but with the mic. It keeps turning itself off. So just wanna make you aware of that. No. That was me turning it off this end.   Oh, you?   You?  

[00:02:53] Unknown:

Sorry. I could hear a roar when I was playing the music, the intro music. So I was like, right. Now now I'm in the know. You know, I've been, I've switched to a new program, very boring for you listeners out there, but technical issues, oh my days. Anyway,   I think we've sorted it. And I know you don't wanna do video because you're at work, and you shouldn't be doing radio when you're at work.  

[00:03:16] Unknown:

I should  

[00:03:18] Unknown:

not. So, the second guest, we got it all sorted, and then she's like,   she can't get   signed into Rumble. So we're not doing video, but it doesn't matter. I've sourced it for another show. Anyway, good evening, captain Joe, and how the hell are you?  

[00:03:34] Unknown:

I'm   hanging I'd say this, you know, pretty much every time I speak to you, but I'm hanging in there. I'm not quite sure   how much longer I can continue   to hang.   You know, I mean, life just seems to get more and more hectic. And I know we spoke about this during the week for you. So you sort of stopped your full time job. You're more busy than you were before. And,   yeah, life is life is pretty full on at the moment.  

[00:04:04] Unknown:

I know. It's absolutely   crazy,   and   I'm waiting for it to calm down, to be honest with you. It's a little bit like, don't know. It's been a busy week because I've been trying to sort my books out and   things like that. But changing bedrooms around, and we've just dropped my car off to be MOT'd and doing test calls with people and stuff. And I'm like, I'd kinda be glad when tonight's show is over. That sounds awful. But I think we're there now. I can sit down and no. I can sit down and relax,   and I've got a cheeky little glass of red of red wine.   So,   Oh, very nice. I know. Very nice indeed. God knows I need it. But, yeah, it's not just,   you know, time, is it? I think, you know, I've joked joked about it recently, but I think as of 2 weeks ago when I had my crazy episode of crying at the pantomime,   it's just carried on. I haven't been crying as much, but I have said the f word so many times and another terrible word this week. And it's like if Oh, dear. If somebody riles   me, oh my days.  

I'm just like a mad woman.   And I don't feel that I'm able to cope with disappointment very well at the moment. And I think that's a tricky emotion, disappointment, isn't it? Because   if well, I don't know. It makes you almost feel like giving up on certain things. But,   you know, when most people are like, oh, well, it is what it is. But this week, I've suffered with a couple of disappointments, and it's, like, really, really got me mad over stupid things, you know, and you can't help how you feel, can you?  

[00:05:33] Unknown:

Yeah. I think it's a buildup, isn't it? Sort of, you know, you take one on the chin and then you take maybe the second one. But then when they just keep going, you know, it does affect you.  

[00:05:45] Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah. And then and then it's silly little things. You know, I was waiting for the IKEA delivery on Friday. And, you know, these days, I mean, I wasn't working anyway, but they didn't know that. I was working from home. But it's the fact that you gotta stay in all day for a delivery,   and then they go to the wrong house.   And it's like, that's your job. You're a delivery driver, and you can't read a bloody postcode.   And, oh, I was so mad. I phoned him up and he was like, well, I'm in Weybridge now. Was your house, like, with a silver door and blue car? And I'm like, no. It wasn't. I said, I know the house that you went to because we found it. But it was just you know, and at the end of the day, it didn't matter because Darren wouldn't have been able to build it all yesterday anyway. Poor Darren. He's up there as we still speak, still building,   flat packs.  



[00:06:29] Unknown:

Oh, no.  

[00:06:31] Unknown:

I can't do that. That stressed me right out. I mean, the bed did come,   and we got it all set. That's good. Yeah. Everything's come, but, you know, kids, they just don't understand, do they? Perrine's like, Darren, are you gonna put the door handle on my door? Darren, can you put my clog up? Poor Darren. He's there trying to do all this flat   You know? Perrin's just sat there gaming most of the day and playing, and it's like, we haven't stopped. But, hey. I did say to Darren earlier, you know, one day, we're gonna wake up on a weekend, and it's gonna be like,   oh, what should we do today?  

But then we'd be moaning if we were bored, wouldn't we? So but I do hope things calm down a little bit now.  

[00:07:09] Unknown:

Well, I would've I wouldn't moan if I was bored.   Sorry.   How unprofessional   of a pilot   to eat a piece of orange, and now I'm choking on it.   I do apologize,   passengers   that are along for the ride.   Oh my god.  

[00:07:29] Unknown:

At least you're blazing crisps.  

[00:07:32] Unknown:

No. No. Shelly, I've got to lay off the crisps. I really have. Now you know when I was very, very ill   and you thought that you'd find me dead in my bed surrounded by   flies,   I'm not kidding you. I must have lost   about 3a half, 4 kilos   in, like, well, probably 7 days till I was recovered.   Within a day,   I swear I must have put it all back on.   Oh, that would I You know, and that's  

[00:08:04] Unknown:

That's the only bone when you've had an illness though, isn't it? That's the only silver lining.   I've lost weight, but it doesn't take long to put it back on again.  

[00:08:13] Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah. So you know?  

[00:08:16] Unknown:

And I don't do kilos.   Discuss. Stop. I will always be there. Like, if someone talks kilos and I'll be, like, converting it kilos to pounds.   I'm old school.  

[00:08:29] Unknown:

Well, no. I I am stones and pounds, but I'm only talking in kilos because I did weigh myself the other day   Because I was like,   oh. Oh,   okay. I think I may have just overdone it with my you know, I had 2   packs of the industrial size crisps in one day. I thought, oh, I'll just get on the scales and see how much I may   have put on since I've been ill.   And they read to me in kilos, so I was horrified.   Horrified.  

[00:09:01] Unknown:

Too many carbs, Jo. Too many carbs.  

[00:09:04] Unknown:

But then I'm a carbolic.  

[00:09:07] Unknown:

I know you are. I mean, I do like the ought to treat thing and, like, Maddie popped up this morning with Phoebe, and she said, oh, have you got something sweet she can have? So she found the cherry bake wells, and she said, oh, you've only got 2 left. Can Phoebe have 1? I was, like, yeah. It'll probably be better actually because I only ever eat 2 at a time.  

[00:09:25] Unknown:

But they're so tiny. They are. They're so tiny.   They're literally one mouthful, and that's it. Gone. Yeah.   So   yeah. Yeah. But then saying that, I did go shop well, I did, like, a little mini shop, you know, just to get my lunch stuff.   And I ended up buying chocolate   and   2 packets of industrial sized crisps along with   1 multipack   of normal sized crisps, which basically, if I'm being honest, I inhaled them. They barely touch the sides, normal packs now.  

[00:10:00] Unknown:

I don't like eating, like, normal crisps. I just get stuck in all my teeth, and then then I've got my fingers in my mouth and no. Not not an attractive sight. Not an attractive sight. Not for you. Not for me. What do you mean normal crisps? No. Like What what aren't normal?   Well,   like, plain crisps, proper crisps. You know? I like like the hula hoop puff things that you can get, and they're really low in calories.   But now I just don't eat many crisps, actually.   You are crisp  

[00:10:31] Unknown:

I am. I am. You say that, you know, the puff things and hula hoops low in calories.   Those cheesy   puffs, they're not low in calories.   And, again, I don't buy a regular size. I have, like, full Monty size in one sitting.   I can't get them in my mouth quick enough.   Honestly   honestly,   I I'm I'm   I I fear I may have a problem brewing.  

[00:10:59] Unknown:

Well, you've had it But I just won't be It's like me me wanting to give up the wine. Yeah. I wanna give up the wine, and you wanna give up the crisps.   Yeah. Yeah. So, Warren, I can see that do that. I can see that you're there in the chat, Warren. Are you a big Crisp fan? I've got you asked. And I'm glad you're there because I wanted to say hello because I know you popped in on Wednesday, and I didn't see your messages till after the show. And then I thought you must have thought that was really rude. Anyway,   please do type, do you eat crisps?  



[00:11:27] Unknown:

Very important subject. And if yeah. And if so, we need to know   what size bag,   regular or industrial.  

[00:11:37] Unknown:

Or party size.  

[00:11:41] Unknown:

Party size. Do you like party rings?  

[00:11:45] Unknown:

What? As in biscuits?  

[00:11:47] Unknown:

Yeah. The party ring biscuits.  

[00:11:50] Unknown:

Yeah. We said, you know what? I don't buy a lot of stuff like that. At one point, when was going through his, like, non eating phase, his only safe food was those party rings. And I actually took him to school one day for his lunch, and I was so embarrassed, like, 6 packets of party rings.   But they knew we were struggling, and it went on like that for, like, 2 or 3 days because that was his safe food. And then it was like, right. This has got to stop. This is ridiculous.   And we got him out of the habit. But I don't know. I do have to buy sweet stuff for Perrin because he is a sugar addict, and Darren is as well, really. But I don't I'm a lot more of, like, I get to 3 o'clock, and then I fancy   something sweet, bit of cake or chocolate. But now I've gotten realized that I've got this dairy intolerance. I do feel straight away if I eat chocolate,   it's like, oh, I can feel that. I know. Oh, really?  



[00:12:40] Unknown:

Yes. Yes.  

[00:12:42] Unknown:

Go back to her and have any more tests done, that lady in the high street? No. I don't think I need to. She sorted me right out. I'd recommend to anybody.   Like I say to you, I'm always on all these different Facebook groups. I'd love to see how many groups I'm on, actually.   If I've got a problem or a concern about anything, I find a group on Facebook.   And people are always writing on the acid reflux groups. So so I always put now, go and get a food intolerance test. Because I don't think people   actually connect it. It's to what they're eating,   and they just think it's a medical problem like I did. For 6 years, I've been thinking I need an operation.  

And hello.   Take dairy away and, woo, you're healed.  

[00:13:22] Unknown:

Yeah. I mean, I would like to get that done, but I'd be kind of scared. You know? Say if they say, oh, Jo,   you're allergic to carbs, then I'm really, really  

[00:13:33] Unknown:

gonna struggle. Yeah. I don't think it works like that. I think you would know. I mean, you're you're quite healthy, aren't you? You don't like you know, ever since I've known you and you've known me, well, it's like, how many times have I got, like, oh, bad tummy and things like   that? You you seem to be a lot happier. Yeah. But Yeah.  

[00:13:51] Unknown:

Yeah.   But, yes. Yes. Let's move away from food because it's  

[00:13:58] Unknown:

it's making me hungry. What else have you been up to? What have I been up to? Well, I've been doing my books,   and I left that last minute because I don't know why. My brain, honest to God, Joe. We got in the car earlier to, like, Darren was testing that all my lights were working, and he said,   right. Start the car up. And I couldn't remember what to do. He said, you've got to put your foot on the clutch. And I was like, oh my god. I just didn't know what's wrong with me. Oh my god. Did you really? I did, honestly. I said, my problem is I want a key. Remember the good old days when you'd actually stick a key in and turn it around? Not these days, like,   you know   They're push button or something. Push button, aren't they? They're posh. Yeah. So sorry. Warren's replied, from Aldi. Got one yesterday, but only have a few. The bag will last me a week. A week, Joseph.  



[00:14:47] Unknown:

Weeks? I know. That's just meant so.   I mean, I changed my car about 2 years ago, not by choice, but,   it's got one of those   electric hand brakes, you know, the bottom thing.   Oh, yeah. And it took me it took me   probably   a good 6, 8 weeks   to really get used to it.   Like, you know, I'm sort of   looking. You know, you get in the car, and you're on autopilot, and then I'm looking. Where's the hand brake? Where's the or then I found myself automatically   reaching for the hand brake, and I'm like, oh, no. I don't have a car with the hand brake.   But it threw up some interesting   problems   because now   now I have found, if I don't use my car every day, and you may be able to ask your   older son this, if I don't use my car every day,   it's not that it appears to have a flat battery because I can sort of, you know, turn the ignition on and off a couple of times and then it starts.  

But I'm wondering if the battery is dying or whether it is the alternator.   Warren, do you know?   So  

[00:16:18] Unknown:

Warren Yeah. You just need to get the battery out.  

[00:16:22] Unknown:

We need meta rental. Our car problems don't we?  

[00:16:26] Unknown:

Yeah. Well, you know, in house I can, Eon, that would be a good idea. Warren, are you up for it?  

[00:16:32] Unknown:

And from a man's point of view   oh, no.   I I bought my first car, it actually   died because I never put any water in the engine or oil. No. Oh my gosh. Nobody told me that.   Nobody   says you need to do this. I think these are little things we should learn at school.   How to Yeah. I think I should really. Along with, like, changing a fuse and cooking simple foods.   But,   yeah. So, anyway, move away from food and cars.  

[00:17:04] Unknown:

Have you  

[00:17:06] Unknown:

have you got any information   that we need to know about the farmer's movement going on? Because I know you're busy in the back of the scenes, or is it still a big secret?  

[00:17:18] Unknown:

Well,   hopefully, after tomorrow, it won't be in terms of who we've got talking.   But we have we're just having a little get together   in London. Oh, okay. It'd be about 2,000,   like, 2,000   tractors.  

[00:17:39] Unknown:

And I'm not gonna What can I say about it? You're not? No. I can't. And I'm not gonna have fear of missing out, Jo.   I cannot do   any more 3 o'clock rises to go to London with you, alright, and be on a coach for 5 hours while driving the Well, and and  

[00:17:57] Unknown:

yeah. This is this is the thing. The time has altered, so   I think the set of time would be a lot, lot earlier than what we've done before. So you've probably made the right decision.   But   we,   yeah, we we've got some good speakers. We've got an awful lot of chatters   coming.   And rumor has it that,   you know,   I I don't wanna talk in terms of a   coup, but rumour has it that,   you know, people may start stepping down in parliament   soon.   So hopefully   hopefully, we won't have to suffer   this imbecile   and his sidekick   Rachel from accounts   much longer.  

Is that a rumor? That is. That is. Wow. I mean I was told that today   by   a very trusted   source  

[00:19:08] Unknown:

that was  

[00:19:10] Unknown:

yeah. That is in that in that domain.  

[00:19:13] Unknown:

I mean, big things are happening as well, aren't they? Yesterday, there was some protests, isn't there? 60,000 people in London for the whole Tommy Robinson thing. Didn't see any of that. Yeah. Didn't see any of that. Yeah. Didn't we?  

[00:19:24] Unknown:

No. We did not. Can't have   people, you know,   having freedom of choice and   standing up for   injustice.   Well, you know, standing up for justice   against   injustice,   I should have said.   But yet things now, just things   obviously of this magnitude,   Farmers   and Tommy   and anything else that shouldn't be going on within sort of a political   arena,   are moving   so quickly.   But then,   you know, you said the other day,   you're convinced that something   is going on with time. Because, you know, you you you make a cup of tea, and you go, oh, it's 1 o'clock. I'll sit down for 10 minutes.   And then it's not like you've fallen asleep or you've done anything.  

Next thing you know, you look at the clock, and it's like, why is it half past 2? It's like only 10 minutes ago.   Crazy stuff's happening.  

[00:20:25] Unknown:

It is. I would like to speak to somebody about that, actually, because I you're not the only one. We're not the only people that say it, but time is   it's mental. And I'm even though I'm getting up earlier,   I'm still not achieving   all I need to do.   So praise be   things quiet and down.   I've got the you know, I went for the other job. I got the job. They've got my,   references back. And as soon as my DBS check is back, I can start.   And then I got emailed, like, 10 courses to do online.  

[00:20:58] Unknown:

Oh. Oh,  

[00:21:00] Unknown:

no. So I was thinking this week, oh, I haven't really got any plans this week. I can,   like, do things and live a bit more less stressy.   But like I say, I don't know as well if it's just that time of life that I'm finding things a bit harder. I couldn't do a full time job, Jo. I just couldn't do it and run a home and I know people do,   but,   no. No. It's just it's just mental.   But Well,  

[00:21:26] Unknown:

they they do,   but I think they   they struggle a lot. And it's not like it it used to be. You could run a home and have,   you know, a full time job, but you didn't have all the   stress   that goes with it. And that stress is just caused by life in general in what we're in, really, isn't it?   So,   you know, if I   if I had a young family,   I   don't know how I'd be able to work full time.   I don't think I'd be able to help.  

[00:22:02] Unknown:

Did you oh, you didn't Well,  

[00:22:05] Unknown:

I yeah. I didn't I didn't   work until my daughter went to,   secondary school.   You know, and I was very, very fortunate,   but the flip side of that was   I was not so fortunate. I had to go through the ringer for that circumstance.   However,   you know, it kind of moved into a different time then, didn't it? You know, if your kids are at school full time   and you live near the school, it does make life easier.   And you do get into that routine, and it was just me and her. So I didn't really have to consider anybody else in the equation,   which was, you know, quite nice.  



[00:22:50] Unknown:

Yeah. I I do think,   perhaps I should claim PIP or something. I'll never work again.   Then perhaps I'll get a brand new partner and stuff.  

[00:22:59] Unknown:

Oh, that's You you could do that. You could do that. You better hurry up because this government's gonna stop that. They're saying   they think it's unfair   that the long term sick   are,   offered no.   Aren't invited back into the workplace.   So, basically, what they're saying is, we're gonna be doing away with Pip, and we don't care whether you're long term sick that you're gonna come back into the workplace,   but they're just trying to dress it up.  

[00:23:29] Unknown:

It's sad, and it's sickening at the same time. I was chatting to Maleficus about it last week and obviously doing my line of work,   support work and stuff.   Lots of these people are very vulnerable,   but there's lots of very vulnerable people out there, elderly people. You know, you could say anybody's vulnerable if they're a little bit mentally, you know, vulnerable, couldn't you? But it may got me thinking how much money and I know majority of our council tax and stuff   supposedly goes on the care system,   but I do believe that there's half of these people   out there that don't need to claim this. They don't need it. You know? I don't you know, I'm sure there's, of course, there's people that do. And I said again about benefits and stuff. You know? When I was on benefits, I've had to use them in my life,   and you can't slate anybody. And in this day and age, people can't work without the benefits because they're just not earning enough money.  

But it's the people that really that really know how to play the system, isn't it? It's sickening.  

[00:24:28] Unknown:

Yeah. Oh, yeah. And and they've always,   you know, they've always played the system, and they don't know any better. And, unfortunately,   they seem to   be able to get away with it. It's almost like   those that shout the loudest   get what they want, whereas people   that just keep their heads down   you know, I'll refer to the workplace. If you keep your head down, do your job. You may have a little whimsy moan to your colleagues,   but you don't really make a fuss.   But you get treated like dirt for that. But those that scream and shout,   their bosses are, like, literally, oh, okay. Okay. What do you want? What do you need?  

Oh, yeah. Okay.   I just think this world is somewhat inverted in its  

[00:25:22] Unknown:

Yeah. We need to, like, be wiped   rewipe the whole system   and do away Yeah. I mean, how hard can it be? I mean, I'm sure they wouldn't take it well, like, in,   what do you call it? In that politics house in London. See, I can't think of the name of things. This is just my Parliament. It's parliament. That's it.   If I stood up and said, let's just wipe the slate clean. All these debts and everything, and let's you know, we print our own money anyway, so let's just start afresh. But,   interestingly, my daughter was saying to me you know, she's a mortgage adviser, and she was saying how surprised she is. We look at people and we think, oh, they're doing really well. And she said these people that walk in for a mortgage,   and then you find out, like, oh, we he owes £20,000   on a car. I owe £10,000   on credit cards. There's so many winging it along with the debts just to, well, you know   Yeah. Buy. Yeah.  



[00:26:16] Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah. I mean,   it's   it's   alarming the amount of people that   have to.   You know, there there's probably those that are a bit   sort of, you know,   a bit a bit too used to just getting the old plastic cards out, but those there are those that have to live on their credit card. Not their debit card,   but their credit card   just to be able to shop or to pay the bills. And then that just leads into a whole another   snowball of a situation, doesn't it? Because,   clearly, you can't afford   to, you know,   do those things to eat or to keep warm   because you're using a credit card.  

So you can't really afford to pay for it, let alone   the interest that you're gonna have to pay back on it. If that and this is how people, like, get caught in it, isn't it? Before you know it, you're up up to your eyeballs and  

[00:27:24] Unknown:

god knows how much.  

[00:27:26] Unknown:

Yeah. Well, when I when I was nearly For neverminds.  

[00:27:29] Unknown:

I was nearly repossessed,   when me and my ex husband broke up. And   we had become credit card tarts, they call it, in the last year of our marriage because it was a big financial crash.   And we were literally every month, like, right. We'll move to another credit card now. And when I left that marriage, we both took 20 grams worth of the debt each.   And I pay a pound a month for all of these, and I will do for the rest of my life. I so I pay about £8 a   month. But there are ways and means for those people that are struggling. But it's like I said to my daughter because they've got into trouble just because of a a car that's gone wrong and then they needed to borrow another car and pay for that. And this one car has got them into so much debt.   And   so the little things, isn't it? Like, my MAT, is it gonna pass?  

Is it gonna be like, wow. Sorry, Shelley. It's gonna be, like, £800,   and then then you're at that Oh. Point, aren't you? Who knows? But   there are ways out, but then, like, you can say, oh, I'm just not gonna pay it because we know people that do that as well. But then it's like, we're not just saying, but if you do that, then you can't get a mortgage. So they've screwed you either way, really.   I don't know. I mean,  

[00:28:39] Unknown:

I don't know what the answer is other than what you said. You know, we just need to wipe the slate clean.  

[00:28:46] Unknown:

And it wouldn't be that hard, I don't think. But,  

[00:28:50] Unknown:

maybe. I don't know. Well, I don't think it'd be hard, but I don't think, you know, the people that   use it as a stick to beat you with and then to go, oh, okay. Well, you know, your debt was a £100,   but,   you've run up an interest bill on that of, like, 10,000.   So, you know, they're not gonna be happy because they're not gonna be making any money, are they? Exactly. If they got rid of that whole user e system, which we bang on about constantly, then,  

[00:29:17] Unknown:

the world would be a better place. But, hey, we are controlled by the banking system.  

[00:29:23] Unknown:

Yes. Yes. We are.  

[00:29:26] Unknown:

Anyways They're not all these people. Miss captain Jo Wood, we we've reached the end of half an hour. Where did that go?   And have you got the final words?  

[00:29:37] Unknown:

Other than Warren hasn't taken us up on the offer of agony arms. He's not replied.   You'll have to chase him up on that. Well, this is a women's show, Jo,  

[00:29:48] Unknown:

but   we know the men listen in too. Definitely.   Oh, bless. I will let you get on, and, we will catch up very soon. No doubt. Absolutely.   Have a good week. You too, my lovely. Take care. Bye.  

[00:30:05] Unknown:

Bye. Bye bye.  

[00:30:07] Unknown:

Right.   That is captain Jo gone. Right. Like I say, part 2, we've got a very special guest this evening, a very brave   woman that's come forward because I mentioned before, I'm helping to organize the,   1,000,000 women's march that's happening   across the nation on Monday 17th February,   and we're running one in Truro. And I was getting a bit stuck for speakers desperately, and I put an announcement up on Facebook. And this brave woman came forward   and said that she felt that it was time to share her story. And we've had a couple of FaceTime calls, and,   she's going to be speaking on the day, but,   she also agreed tonight that she would come on and share her story. So,   let's   get   Amy   on the call. Bear with me a second.  

Doesn't wanna work now.   We couldn't get Skype working   earlier,   but we managed to get Messenger going. So she should be there. Fingers crossed.   I'm 55 seconds late.   But good evening, Amy.   Yes. Hello. Hello, my lovely. How are you doing?  

[00:31:19] Unknown:

I'm doing good. Thank you. Yourself?  

[00:31:21] Unknown:

Yes. I'm very well. Thank you. And I've just explained to our listeners how brave you are   for coming forward to share your story.   And,   yeah, it's,   well, it's not a nice story, but these stories do need to be shared. And, you know, I I do believe when you come and speak on the at the march that,   you know, a lot of people are gonna sympathise with you and get an understanding about what really goes on in this world.  

[00:31:49] Unknown:

Yes. It's an unfortunate truth a lot of people don't even want to acknowledge.  

[00:31:54] Unknown:

No. No.   So let's let's start at the beginning, lovely. I mean this is such a delicate subject, and I don't wanna I just wanna let you tell your story   from the beginning.   And, yeah, if if you're happy, we just go ahead.  

[00:32:09] Unknown:

Okay.   Well, I guess if we're going back to the beginning,   I came from a large family. I lived in inner city Houston,   kind of more community.   And,   you know, we were,   the white people were were the minority where I lived, and next door to us was a pastor.   And   this pastor   had a basement. Now I know no one understands in Houston that's a huge deal because we're already below the sea level. People don't have basements.   Right. It's one of those things that stick out in your brain as a child. It's one of those memories I've never   seen a basement.  

And he was the head of a pedophile ring.   And,   I mean, I was very young.   The my main memories,   it was a very dark room, but I knew that I was surrounded.   I just couldn't see who I was surrounded by,   because I was under a bright light.   And,   I don't I I   my dad was already abusing my older sisters. I I I he was already that way inclined,   but I think, you know,   he was forced basically to get all of his children involved, and I don't really think that that's what he wanted. And from the age of 6a half, 7, we moved every year.   And I believe that's about how long it took to find for them to find us, and I think my dad did that, basically,   to try to save us from that. Not that he stopped abusing my sisters, but,   he did   move us around. And I and now from an add on looking back, you know, I I thought he did it because,   you know, we owed lots of people money and things like that. But it now putting all the pieces together,   I do understand that we were we were running from them.  



[00:34:11] Unknown:

Right.   I  

[00:34:13] Unknown:

And,  

[00:34:14] Unknown:

Sorry. Carry on.  

[00:34:18] Unknown:

Yeah. Is it   I guess I I appreciate that now at the time. I hated moving every year.  

[00:34:26] Unknown:

But at that time, obviously, you were so young. Did you understand that what was happening to you just wasn't right?   Or was it just like the normal? You didn't know any different?  

[00:34:37] Unknown:

Well, I did I   I didn't feel good. I didn't feel happy doing it. I didn't want to do it.   I got forced to watch what happened to my sister and told that that's how I needed to behave,   because I wasn't doing it right.   Oh, god.   So   those those types of memories are the ones that stick with you. Mhmm.   And and are probably, you know, some of the hardest ones to get over when when your siblings are involved.   And it it it crippled my my   my my siblings.   I'm really the only one that that that that's been able to   overcome.  

[00:35:22] Unknown:

And what do you think gave you that strength to overcome it?  

[00:35:27] Unknown:

Oh, I think I was fortunate enough to be the youngest.   So I had the fewest memories, and I was in it the least amount of time.   Right. I think that that helped me a lot.   But, you know, I I have to be honest. I mean, I had other experiences after that. When my parents got divorced, my mom remarried another pedophile, and   that was a whole new experience for me as well. And   so I didn't quite escape it, really, but I just   I I'm I'm dog headed. I'm just really dog headed. I I think it's just my pure   determination   to survive.  



[00:36:07] Unknown:

Yeah. I understand that.   So you,   your mom then got with your stepfather,   and he then started abusing you as well.   And your mom knew about this.  

[00:36:20] Unknown:

Yeah. There was no way she couldn't have done, because we lived in a a static caravan y'all call them. We lived in a in a trailer, and they had paper thin walls. If you've ever been in 1, you know this. And so she woulda heard me trying to tell him to leave me alone every night as he got drunk and then came into my room and tried to undress me.   I actually went to my stepsister, his daughter,   looking for help.   And,   he was the captain of the fire department,   and I was told under no uncertain terms that   that would not be good. The police would not help me. They they aren't gonna look into it. They're gonna protect their own, and it's gonna turn against me.  

You know, I was I was 13 at the time, and so they'd start looking at my behavior. And I was quite a wild child. I was already drinking and smoking and and going out partying, so   it   I could see how that would be used against me.  

[00:37:17] Unknown:

Gosh. I don't know what to say, really. It's, it's awful.   So and you got to that point then. You you told me that, like, you reached, like, 15 and you reached out to the harder stuff, crystal maths.  

[00:37:30] Unknown:

Well, by 15, I was I was addicted to crystal meth. I mean, it's amazing to amazing to me now, a 12 year old 12 year old   at 12 years old, I was going to LSD parties. So   I don't know what   these 20 year old men were doing allowing a 12 year old girl to come and take LSD with them, but, it wasn't sexually motivated.   They were sitting there playing Dungeons and Dragons. It it was just   yeah. They but yeah. So by by 15, I was addicted to crystal meth.   By 18, I was in Orleans Parish Prison.   And,   that's it actually   spending that time in prison, you know, regardless of what people say is really did help me because I did not want to go back.  



[00:38:17] Unknown:

Right. Right.   Yeah. No one And I didn't  

[00:38:20] Unknown:

No. Yeah. I didn't wanna go go back on drugs. So when I came out of there, I was I was pretty dead set determined.   I didn't mind drinking some alcohol or smoking some weed, but I was not gonna go back on COVID meth or anything harder.  

[00:38:34] Unknown:

No. And and how did you find coming off that? I know you say you're strong willed.   Was it an easy experience because you were so self motivated?  

[00:38:43] Unknown:

Well, no. Actually, I had no desire to come off crystal meth. I I it would've killed me.   1 of my   friends who I know on purpose, but I actually got addicted to crystal meth as well, her mother was a nurse   and,   she offered to let me come to their house in Dallas for Christmas.   And things just happened that I needed to get away from the area I was in, and I just thought, oh, I got this offer. I'm gonna go up there. So I went up to Dallas,   and it was already planned. She locked me in a room and made me go cold turkey, and it was the worst experience of my life.  

[00:39:17] Unknown:

But it saved my life. Yeah. Yeah. And how how long does that process take then?  

[00:39:24] Unknown:

That was weeks. It was weeks. It was 3 weeks before she unlocked the door.  

[00:39:29] Unknown:

Oh my days. I just can't imagine.  

[00:39:33] Unknown:

Yeah. And and it and it was   I tell you what, it because,   amazingly enough, I started using drugs again after that. I I shot coca, and, I was addicted the first time I did it.   But I walked away from it before I got to the point that I was gonna have to detox in the same way. I knew what was coming, and I didn't wanna do it. So I did. I just walked away from it. I just said, no. I'm not doing that again   and walked away.  

[00:40:01] Unknown:

No. And I mean, Coke is supposed to be one of those things as well, ain't it? They say you do it once and it's like, it's a rich man's drug. You're hooked.  

[00:40:11] Unknown:

Well, I mean, you know, shooting it's a lot different than snorting it.   Shooting it the first time is absolutely   amazing and every time after, you're just trying to emulate the first time and you never  

[00:40:22] Unknown:

can. Yes. Yes.   I I get that.   So so what I mean, I know we had a brief chat yesterday and what have you. What is it? I mean, you've been carrying this around for years,   and I I met you last year at a barbecue. And I know we had, quite a good chat, and I was like, we didn't even cover this subject. I can't even remember what we were chatting about, but I knew it was like we were kind of, like, on the same level about so many things.   So, like, looking back now, how how has your experience shaped like the person that you are today?  

[00:40:57] Unknown:

Well, I I I'd never change it. As horrible as the things that I've been through have been, I'd never change it.   And it's it's made me a very strong person, and and I do appreciate that.   I don't,   I don't cater. I don't worry about what other people think or say about me.   It doesn't bother me. They can think or say about me what they want. If they know that I've been through this experience and they wanna look down on me, that actually says more about them than me, so I don't need to worry about it. Yeah. Yeah.   And I think I've I've,   I I've honestly, I've stared death in the face, and I and I've been in a situation where I was   someone's will was trying to be forced over my own.  

You know, they really I had been sold to the Banditos,   and they wanted me to go into the whorehouses,   and I didn't wanna do it. What are the Banditos?  

[00:41:50] Unknown:

Sorry, Amy.  

[00:41:52] Unknown:

The Banditos   are a they're a gang. They're a motorcycle gang in America,   and they're they they're   they're kinda rivals with the with the   they run the same kind of thing, drugs, prostitution,   you know, trafficking.   They're in the same loop   of things.   Right. And when I was in New Orleans,   I had a girl befriend me.   I didn't you know, I was too young. I didn't realize she was grooming me. I'm I'm I've always been naive. I'm still naive, amazingly enough. I still am trusting the people,   and I just thought we were going away for the weekend, and I,   one of one of those things, you know, your mom teaches you is my mom taught me is when you're on a road trip and you get the opportunity to stop and pee, you never pass it up.  

Mhmm. And so on this road trip, we were stopping by someone else's house in Baton Rouge to pick them up to come with us.   And my mate said, well, why don't we stop in and go pee? And I'm like, oh, yeah. I always do that. My mom tells me always to do that. So I that's what I went in and did.   And, I I did notice when I entered the room to go to the bathroom that   there was,   the window was had bars on it and things. I'd but I I didn't really clock it. I just noticed that they had bars on the window.   And I went into the bathroom, and it was a en suite room. And when I came out, the door was locked. That was it.  

[00:43:26] Unknown:

Right. Right.   I'm just looking at the chat here a minute. Someone can't hear the guest. There are some,   on Rumble. Soapbox is fine. Oh, that's interesting.   Bear with me. I'm just gonna text my something always. This is because we've used Messenger, and I thought we got it all working.  

[00:43:44] Unknown:

But  

[00:43:46] Unknown:

I did actually figure on Skype out, amazingly enough. Did you? I tell you what then. Let's hang up, and I'll call you on Skype, Amy.   Okay. Wonderful. Right. Bear with me. Alright.   Speak to you in a second.   Right. Let's hope this works. It was too good   to be true, wasn't it?   So if you are struggling to hear, I think soaps and everything seems to be working.   So   hello?   Hello? Oh, gosh. You're loud. No. That's alright. That's brilliant.   Sorry. Right. But where were we, Amy? So you'd stopped to go to the toilet. You've gone in, and there's bars on the window.   What happened next?  



[00:44:32] Unknown:

I came out, and the door to get out was locked.   And I thought that was really strange, and so I knocked and just waited for an answer. And I turned around, and   the the window had been boarded over. There was a board now in front of the window. And,   and immediately I realized I was in trouble, and I started banging on the on the door.   And I'll be honest with you. I thought Lisa was in the same boat. I thought that   that she was also   a captive like me.  

[00:45:03] Unknown:

Right. This is your friend that had groomed you.  

[00:45:07] Unknown:

Yeah.   Oh, okay.  

[00:45:10] Unknown:

So moving forward. Yeah. What happened then?  

[00:45:14] Unknown:

Well, they tried everything. You know?   In the in the bath in in the bathroom you know, this is an American bathroom. It has the the double sinks. It's quite   big, and there was every drug imaginable up there. Needles. There was just everything.   And,   it it I flushed it all. And every day, they keep putting more, and I keep flushing it. And then they'd realized that that's what I was doing, so they stopped doing that.   And then they tried beating me and raping me and trying to beat me into submission, and that wasn't working. So then he tried defend befriending me and tried to get me to fall in love with him,   taking me to his barbecues and stuff like that and that wasn't working.  

And then he went back to beating me and I and I did. I I looked at him and I said, you know, you're gonna have to kill me. I am not   going to do what you want me to do. You're gonna have to kill me. I'll never forget the look on his face. I I know he wasn't expecting me to say that,   and I can't remember how many days later, I gotta be honest, but he left.   Another car came,   and I you know, just little things. I can't remember if the door was unlocked or they broke the lock,   but the door opened and he said, if you wanna live, come with me.   And my immediate thought was, well, this is it. I'm going to the woods to get a bullet in the head.  

And,   he put me in the back of the car. He put me on the floorboard and covered me up with loads of rubbish.   And that was my first glimmer of hope that maybe I will survive this.   And, he took me straight to the bus station and put me on a bus to New Orleans.   And I just had the presence of mind to go back to the homeless shelter that I had been in when I met this girl   and tell him what happened.   They honestly they didn't believe me. They had a doctor come in. They put me through examinations.   He confirmed everything I said,   and I didn't know it, but they had a safe room, and they put me in this safe room.  

But every day, people kept coming by and and asking about me and asking for me.   And so, thankfully, the covenant house had another chapter in Houston.   And at 2 o'clock in the morning, they put me on a Greyhound bus for Houston. They told me there was an undercover police officer on the bus.   I got picked up in Houston. I got put in another safe room for another 2 weeks.   No one came looking for me,   and I came out at when I came out of that safe room, Shelly, I'll, you know, what I did   when I closed the door behind me, I just went in my head that never happened   and I literally   erased it from my memory.  

And I just, I just blocked it And I remember doing that, and that's it's actually that memory that triggered the memory of the whole   scenario.  

[00:48:04] Unknown:

Sure. Sure.   So   what happened after that then?  

[00:48:10] Unknown:

I moved to England, married an Englishman, was married 25 years, led a fairly normal life.  

[00:48:17] Unknown:

And here you are today,   an advocate Yeah. An advocate for others. So I mean what would what message would you like to share   Amy or anybody that's going through something similar?   Where should they go for help?  

[00:48:31] Unknown:

Oh, wow.   Well, you need to go to other survivors.   There are lots of very good organizations   I've in and   that think that they're helping but I gotta be honest unless you've lived it You can't help you can't help somebody through it   and you need to be careful about who you get help from.   I I personally think the most important thing that needs to happen is you need to forgive yourself   and you need to understand   that you are not tainted   or ruined   or unlovable   or broken,   you know, when you go through an experience like that it took me a long time to overcome the feeling of being tainted.   I wasn't worthy, I wasn't good,   And I allowed a lot of bad things to happen to me because I didn't feel like I was good enough.  

And I, unfortunately,   taught my children some,   you know, you can be too giving, and you and and if it's not balanced, then you get taken advantage of.   And it took me a long time to learn that that having boundaries is a way of loving yourself   and boundaries are are a way of protecting yourself especially   because you when you go through that situation, you don't trust yourself. You don't trust   your judgment. You don't trust your intuition. You don't trust anything.   And you're always looking to other people, you know, is this okay?   Is this person okay? Is what they're doing okay? Should I be doing this?  

And,   it you know, learning to connect with yourself, trust yourself, trust your intuition,   and knowing that you aren't tainted you aren't broken   and you are lovable   and worthy of love.  

[00:50:20] Unknown:

Some really powerful words there and I mean I'm presuming like afterwards, you said you've moved on. You've you've come to England, been married for 25 years.   Would would you say in that time you still how how although you've moved moved forward,   would you say at that time that you still have was holding a lot of trauma?  

[00:50:38] Unknown:

Oh, definitely. I mean, I didn't really start dealing with my past until   my oldest   was 8 years old because I was emotionally shut down. I was not an emotionally available person.   And it worked well with my marriage because I married someone else that wasn't emotionally available.   And so we worked well together.   But I did recognize that my eldest child   wanted to connect with me on a level that I couldn't.   And I, you know, I've had angels in my life. I've said this a lot. I've had a lot of angels in my life. The woman that helped me get off crystal meth is 1.   And I went to a counselor   and told her that what I wanted to achieve was to be able to connect with my eldest   child in a way that they would feel loved.  

Because I knew they weren't getting that from me and they needed that.   And, she recommended I try to emotionally connect with someone I felt safe with and I had a best friend, Mandy.   And,   You know, she's the one   I let her see everything I let I let her know everything   all the horrible horrible horrible stuff and she still felt   that I was lovable and I was worthy.   And, you know, in the beginning, I only felt lovable and worthy because she thought I was lovable and worthy.   And then eventually I was able just to accept it for myself that, yes, I am. I am worthy of love, and I'm worthy of loving myself.  

[00:52:08] Unknown:

Absolutely.   God. Such a   such a, well, heartfelt   topic really, isn't it? With and I mean, there's so much of this going on, and   this is what the march is about. Obviously, in a couple of weeks, people like you, you went for help, and you were told nobody's gonna listen to you, and this happens so much.  

[00:52:29] Unknown:

Well, I mean,   it it's it's   it's not just in the, you know, it's systemic   in in the police. I mean, that 1% of rapes get convicted.  

[00:52:43] Unknown:

Is that all one percent?  

[00:52:45] Unknown:

You know, I was I I I've had I've had the unfortunate experience of being spiked   at,   a club in Truro and being raped, and I didn't even bother going to the police because I knew that what they were gonna put me through would be more traumatic.   And I and I knew I knew the conviction rate. I knew it was pointless. I knew that all I would be doing   was causing myself more trauma.  

[00:53:13] Unknown:

I just don't go out on my own. No. No. Absolutely not. And I think we all well,   a lot of talk goes on about grooming gangs at the moment, and we know   where I live in Campbell and stuff. It it's going on. It's going on everywhere.   But Yes. It's quiet, you know, but we know it's going on.  

[00:53:31] Unknown:

So, I'll be honest with you. I was out in Campbell and I saw a woman getting targeted,   and I made sure she got home safely because I'm just so   in tune to it. When you've been around those people,   you see them. You see the color of them. That's how I put it. I can   I have friends that almost are afraid to let me meet their boyfriends because they're afraid of what I'm gonna say just because I see through people so well now? Yeah. Yeah. Well I suppose you're going to aren't you?   Yeah.  

[00:54:00] Unknown:

Oh bless you. Bless you. You're so brave for coming forward and sharing your story Amy and I do think that,   this this is really gonna help a lot of people.  

[00:54:11] Unknown:

And If I can help one person, that's that's good enough for me.  

[00:54:15] Unknown:

Yeah. And I was so thrilled that you came forward,   not just for you, but you said the moment was right for you as well. You've kind of been waiting   to get this out there.  

[00:54:26] Unknown:

Yes.   I knew that I was gonna have to speak one day.  

[00:54:31] Unknown:

And I suppose that's got to have an essence of healing about it as well, isn't  

[00:54:35] Unknown:

it? Well, definitely. Definitely.   You know, you you I tell bits and pieces to people, but very rarely do I tell the whole story.  

[00:54:45] Unknown:

No. No.   Well, I guess a lot of people when you tell somebody something like that, what do they say? What what do you say? I've I've never had you know, your message came through the other day and I was like,  

[00:54:55] Unknown:

oh, god. I tell you the worst thing you can do for a son   I hate when people pity me. Yeah. Because when you pity somebody, it makes them feel pitiful.   Nice.   That's a really good thing to learn. Don't pity people. Never pity somebody.   But,  

[00:55:11] Unknown:

I'm like But we've got to honor your bravery,   Amy, because what you're doing is massive. It's massive.   So I don't pity you,   but I'm always you're always gonna be you know, your heart's gonna go out to someone. Of course it is because it's so sad that somebody's had to have this experiences in their life. But   you're one brave lady, and you've made it through when I think you're gonna help bring about a lot of change for people.  

[00:55:37] Unknown:

I really hope so. I I think that if you're dealing with   when I've told my story that that the thing that actually,   you know, probably held me back from talking about it more as I was talking to somebody about it and it really triggered them   and It made them remember something from their childhood that they had forgotten   that they then needed to heal from   and I almost felt responsible even though I in no way was but,   so I do worry about triggering people,   but the majority of the response I get to be honest with you is people start crying   because they just can't fathom.  



[00:56:18] Unknown:

No. No. It's   I I tried to stay away from it,   but the last, like, 6 weeks or so trying to organize   this March, the stories that are coming through,   not not personal stories like your own, just statistics and things on the group group chat. A couple of the other members have said that they've had to step back a little bit because   it plays on you. You think about it   and, you know, you feel for these people that you don't even know. And it's just awful to know that there's so much sickness in this world when it should be such a beautiful place.  

[00:56:50] Unknown:

Yes. I mean, I I when I   started researching into it myself because,   I was   helping the underground railroad for a while,   you know,   it's hard to acknowledge what's going on out there that no one is talking about.  

[00:57:10] Unknown:

Yeah. It's the elephant in the room, isn't it?  

[00:57:12] Unknown:

Yes.   Yes. It really is. But, And everybody you think you should be able to go to are the people you can.  

[00:57:22] Unknown:

Well,   have you got any final words, my lovely? We're coming to a close.  

[00:57:30] Unknown:

Just love yourself.   Love yourself.   That but that's my final word. Love yourself. You're worth it.  

[00:57:37] Unknown:

You are. You are very worth it, and I'm gonna say it one last time. You're so bloody brave, and I thank you so much   for coming on. I'd like to say Thanks for having me. No. You're welcome. I'd like to say it's been a pleasure, but it's really, really difficult conversation. And I've I've never done a interview like this, to be honest with you. And I'm part of me is like, I should have looked into it more because you gotta be careful what you say, and I I don't want it to come across that pity pity you or anything like that, you know, but I just thank you so much for your honesty.   And I think, like I say, on Monday 17th   February,   when you give your talk, people people are gonna be so grateful for you speaking your truth.  

So Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much. And, I mean, if anybody wants to get a hold of you, Amy, do you have an email address you'd like to share or anything?  

[00:58:24] Unknown:

Yeah. They can reach me. It's,   Samy, s a m y   Yeah. [email protected].  

[00:58:35] Unknown:

Wonderful.   Okay. I'll get that put in the link as well.   Well, you've been a hero, Lovely, and, I look forward to meeting you again in person on the day.   And just again, thank you so much. Much love to you for you and your story. Thank you. Bless you. Take  

[00:58:50] Unknown:

care, sweetie. Bye bye. You too. Bye bye. Bye.  

[00:58:54] Unknown:

Wow.   That was   chilling, really, isn't it? Chilling. But this what this million women march is all about,   happening nationwide. We want justice. We want a change on conviction rates and stuff like that. We want to be heard.   It's too much kicking this stuff underneath the carpet.   Anyway, with that,   I'm off now, and we've got the wonderful Eric von Essex   with Fockham Hall Radio after me on radiosoakbox.com.   And I'm moving over to Facebook to do an interview in quarter of an hour on Resurgence News. That'll be interesting.   Busy little night for radio.  

So wonderful people.   Have a wonderful week. Stay strong.   Believe in yourself. Wear that big smile, and just love yourself like I Amy just said. Have an awesome week.