Eleanor* once owned an apartment in the United States, had a significant share portfolio and a very healthy savings account. She is now living paycheck to paycheck. The costs of a legal battle with her abusive former partner total more than a quarter of a million dollars.
Eleanor* says her former partner has deliberately drawn out the court case in every way possible. It’s been three years since proceedings began. Beyond the financial burden, that’s three years spent trapped in the past, and being forced to recount the darkest time of her life as evidence.
We’ve passed the halfway mark in There’s No Place Like Home and in this episode we explore systems abuse. With Eleanor*’s help, Future Women does a deep dive into how perpetrators manipulate the very laws designed to protect victims.
Often, when a person leaves an abusive relationship, it doesn’t mark the end of that relationship’s story. Instead it is the beginning of a new chapter. One which can have a protracted and painful emotional and financial impact.
In this episode of There’s No Place Like Home, you’ll hear from experts, advocates and practitioners - as well as Eleanor* herself. Together we’ll explore some of the possible solutions including specialist domestic and family violence courts. The early research on which is very positive.
Content note: This podcast includes descriptions of domestic and family violence and may be upsetting to some listeners. If you have experienced or are at risk of domestic and family violence and/or sexual assault, you can call the national counselling service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, or if you are not feeling safe, always call the police on 000.
There’s No Place Like Home is a podcast by Future Women, made in collaboration with CommBank which is supporting long-term financial independence for victim-survivors through CommBank Next Chapter.
*We have used a pseudonym to protect Eleanor*’s identity.
Support the show: https://futurewomen.com/theresnoplacelikehome/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Boysober
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com