Some kids run away to rebel. Sarah ran to survive.
By 16, she had lived in homeless shelters, watched her mother spiral through addiction, been adopted into a deeply abusive household, and slept in a garage while her brothers got bedrooms. When she asked to be placed back into foster care, she was denied. So she packed up her life, lied about her age, and disappeared.
In this episode of BHostel, host Bryant Perkins sits down with Sarah Burris—who at the time of this interview in 2021 was 20 years old and working at a hostel in Austin, Texas—to unpack a harrowing but astonishing story of trauma, flight, survival, and redefinition. From escaping the man who tried to groom her in a corporate job, to reuniting with her mother in a moment that feels too cinematic to be real, Sarah's story isn't about being found.
It's about finding her way out.
This conversation pulls back the curtain on what it means to wake up in a world where every adult failed you—and still choose to keep going. Sarah is funny. Fierce. Grateful. And above all, real.
This episode contains themes of abuse, neglect, and survival. Listener discretion is advised.
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🎙️ Recorded inside 11th Ave Hostel, Denver, CO
📍 Part of our efforts to get you reacquainted with our platform and to launch Season 3 of the podcast with a deeper dive into the lives that don't post themselves online
💼 For survivors, seekers, and soul travelers
You B the Storyteller!
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.
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My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.