1-Introduction to the Legal Abuse Explained Podcast

We introduce our new podcast focused on explaining how the legal system can be weaponized and providing expert guidance on navigating these challenges.

• Host Ingrid Dutton (1 in 3 podcast) is joined by Karen Tosoni (co-founder of After Awareness) 
• Legal abuse occurs when abusers use court filings, custody battles, and financial litigation to continue control after separation
• The podcast will feature expert guests including attorneys, psychologists, and financial advisors
• Topics will include legal abuse syndrome, hiring the right attorney, documenting abuse, and protecting yourself financially
• The LEAF Alliance program (Legal, Emotional, and Financial) launching in 2026 aims to provide comprehensive support
• The podcast focuses on creating pathways forward rather than just highlighting problems
• Episodes will provide practical tools for self-advocacy and building resilience

Learn more about us and our work at afterawareness.org. You can also connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn @AfterAwarenessInc. Don't forget to check out our After Awareness Inc YouTube channel for more videos and insights.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Hello and welcome to our brand new podcast, legal
Abuse Explained, the podcastwhere we explain how the legal
system can be weaponized and whopays the price.
I'm Ingrid Dutton, host of theOne in Three podcast, and I'm
joined here with Karen Tassoni,co-founder of After Awareness.
Hi, karen.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Hello Ingrid, I'm so thrilled we're doing this.
I'm excited that we can finallyshare the many layers of legal
abuse and bring in the expertswho are willing to share their
knowledge to help others.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
For our listeners who may not know us yet.
A big part of my mission withOne in Three podcast has been to
share stories and resources tohelp people understand the
multifaceted nature of domesticviolence.
I've always believed thatknowledge is the first step
toward freedom and healing.
My own journey led me to createa platform where people could

(01:16):
feel seen and heard.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yes, I agree, the name after awareness comes from
a very simple but powerful idea.
Awareness comes from a verysimple but powerful idea.
We often talk about the momenta person becomes aware that they
are a victim of abuse or thatthey are a victim of legal abuse
.
That awareness is a vital firststep, but it's just the
beginning.
The real difficult work beginsafter that realization.

(01:41):
We are here to help during thatlong, difficult part of the
journey when you're no longerasking what is this, but what do
I do now?

Speaker 1 (01:53):
I love that you call it the real work, because it
truly is.
For years, I've had listenersreach out sharing stories of
escaping abusive relationships,only to be trapped in a new kind
of hell the legal system.
They talk about court battles,custody disputes and being
re-victimized by the very systemthat's supposed to protect them

(02:14):
.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
Exactly the stories our organizations hear are so
similar.
My journey begins with my ownexperiences with legal abuse.
I went from feeling empoweredafter leaving a toxic situation
to feeling completely powerlessonce I learned he was using that
system as a weapon of choice.

(02:35):
Once after I left, it felt likethat's when my abuse began.
It's a form of abuse that issilent, insidious and often
overlooked.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Legal abuse is often overlooked because of its not
seen as an immediate crisisuntil it is While legal abuse
isn't always domestic violence,abusers may utilize the legal
system to further control theirvictims.
They weaponize court filings,child custody battles and

(03:09):
financial litigation to continuetheir control, drain their
victims' resources and extendthe abuse for years.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
I was so deep in the legal battle that it felt like
quicksand.
The more I struggled, thefaster I sank.
I had to stop fighting in orderto survive.
The cost could have been mylife.
Once aware, it was the shockingrealization that the system
wasn't going to save me.
My aha moment happened when afriend who had been a victim of

(03:41):
the same type of abuse took herown life.
Her death was the wake-up callI needed to realize urgency of
this issue.
This story is why I started.
After Awareness, I wanted tocreate a lifeline of vetted
resources.
I wanted to save others fromthe same mistakes and provide a

(04:01):
network of vetted resources.
I wanted to save others fromthe same mistakes and provide a
network of vetted experts.
Our goal is to empowersurvivors to become their own
advocates, so they have thetools and support and team not
only to survive but to thrive.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
Survivors deserve a dedicated platform that sheds
light on the often overlookedissue of legal abuse.
That's why we came together tocreate this podcast.
It's just not anotherconversation about domestic
violence.
It's a space that zeroes in onthe intersection of domestic
violence and the legal system,with a special focus on the many

(04:41):
forms of legal abuse.
Most importantly, expert guestswill highlight solutions and
pathways forward.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
And that brings us to the core of what this podcast
is all about.
We want to bring in the peoplewho can offer real, tangible
guidance.
We're going to be interviewinglegal experts, family law
attorneys, psychologists,financial advisors and advocates
out to help survivors.
Our mission is to shift theconversation from a place of

(05:14):
negativity to a place of hope.
We focus on who can help increating a clear path forward
for survivors.

Speaker 1 (05:24):
Our goal is to demystify the legal process.
We want to arm our listenerswith knowledge.
We'll have experts explainingwhat to look for when hiring an
attorney, how to document abusefor court and how to protect
yourself financially.
We'll also cover topics likeemotional and psychological
resilience.

(05:45):
It's about building a toolkitfor self-advocacy.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
Exactly.
We're going to tackle toughquestions like what is legal
abuse, how it affects thesurvivor, their family and the
community.
We will dive into specifictopics like legal abuse syndrome
.
What is legal abuse syndromeand how does that look like?
Most importantly, we'll talkabout what vetted resources are

(06:12):
available to help survivors,specifically those facing legal
abuse.

Speaker 1 (06:17):
Hearing from experts who understand this type of
abuse can be incrediblyvalidating.
It can make you feel less aloneand more prepared.
Our guests won't just betalking about the theory.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
They'll be sharing practical advice and real-world
strategies through this or iscurrently in the thick of it.
It's also for friends, familymembers and advocates who want

(06:50):
to be in better support forsomeone they love.
Our first few episodes arealready lined up and we are so
excited to bring you somepowerful conversations.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
We're on a mission to explain and educate, because
when you know better, you can dobetter, and together we can
work to understand the system.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
We cannot do this work alone.
We need a collective of experts, a network of support that
could be providing guidance.
I never had and I want to makesure that's available to others.
That is what our LEAF Allianceprogram was created for.
Leaf stands for legal,emotional and financial.
It is a crucial balance thatcan help each survivor in their

(07:29):
own individual journey.
We are super excited to launchearly 2026, and I am beyond
ready to begin this new journeytogether.

Speaker 1 (07:41):
Learn more about us and our work at
afterawarenessorg.
You can also connect with us onFacebook and LinkedIn at After
Awareness Inc.
Don't forget to check out ourAfter Awareness Inc YouTube
channel for more videos andinsights.
Thank you for listening.
We'll see you next time onLegal Abuse Explained.

(08:03):
Make sure to subscribe whereveryou get your podcasts so you
never miss one of our expert-ledepisodes.
Thank you, you.