#181. Beyond Trauma: Rediscovering Your Voice, Identity, and Inner Strength: with Dana S. Diaz

In this powerful episode of A Voice and Beyond, Marisa Lee sits down with Dana S. Diaz, a woman whose story will both break your heart and fill it with hope.

Dana is the author of Gasping for Air, Choking on Shame, and Rising from the Ashes—a memoir trilogy chronicling her survival from generational abuse, emotional neglect, and a 25-year marriage to a narcissistic abuser. But more than survival, Dana’s story is about reclamation—of her voice, her identity, and her life.

We explore:

• What it means to be silenced as a woman—and how to break that silence
• How generational trauma impacts identity and worth
• The inner work of healing from narcissistic abuse
• How Dana reclaimed her voice through writing and speaking
• What true empowerment looks like after survival
• Her message for every woman who feels unheard or unworthy

This conversation is a profound reminder that your voice matters and that even the quietest whispers can become a roar.

Episode Description:

What happens when a woman who’s been silenced her entire life finally finds her voice?

In this deeply moving episode, bestselling author and abuse recovery coach Dana S. Diaz joins A Voice and Beyond to share her journey from trauma to triumph. Drawing from her powerful memoir trilogy—Gasping for Air, Choking on Shame, and Rising from the Ashes—Dana opens up about growing up in a home where she wasn’t wanted, enduring a 25-year marriage to a narcissistic abuser, and how she found her way back to herself.

This is more than a story of survival—it’s a call to every woman who’s ever been told to stay silent. Dana’s message is clear: your voice is your power.