S E25: Nobody Hurts Forever: Stories of Survival and Healing from Trauma

Hunter speaks with two strangers about traumatic experiences and how they're coping with the lasting effects.

Ashbey and her son Beau survived a horrific mass shooting at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois. She recounts the terror of that day when a gunman opened fire, murdering seven people and injuring 48 others. Ashbey describes the chaos as thousands fled, her son's legs giving out from fear as he pleaded "I don't want to die" , and her determination to protect him. In the aftermath, Beau suffered severe PTSD — nightmares, inability to sleep alone for over a year, wearing clothes inside out and backwards for control. Ashbey transformed her pain into action, becoming a full-time gun violence prevention advocate, helping pass Illinois's assault weapons ban, lobbying nationally, and even crashing a press conference in Tennessee that went viral. She emphasizes the overlooked toll on uninjured survivors, noting her family has spent nearly $80,000 on therapy, and advocates reframing the gun debate around economic costs and domestic terrorism charges for mass shooters. Through years of therapy and music, Beau has made remarkable progress, recently demonstrating self-regulation when a loud bang triggered him at a concert. Ashbey expresses profound pride in her son's strength and her unwavering commitment to ensuring he knows she fought to prevent this from happening to others.

Julian shares the pain of losing his closest friend, Brandon, who was killed by a drunk driver after surviving military deployment. Julian recounts their bond formed in basic training, their inseparable friendship, and the devastating dream he had the night before learning of Brandon's death. He also opens up about his own PTSD from a military assault that led to his medical discharge, describing how he scans for exits constantly and initially struggled to accept his new reality, even attempting suicide. His grandmother's words — "quiere decir que nadie sufre para siempre" (which means nobody hurts forever) — became his lifeline. Julian emphasizes the importance of his support system, therapy, and his service dog Nala in his healing journey. He advises others struggling with PTSD to find their "why" and overcome the barriers to asking for help, particularly those faced by first-generation immigrants and military culture.

Chapters:
00:00:00 Surviving a mass shooting at a holiday parade
00:03:19 Managing sheer panic and a paralyzed child while fleeing
00:06:35 Turning personal trauma into full-time gun violence advocacy
00:09:51 Finding unexpected healing through music and concerts
00:15:12 Reflecting on the hidden financial and emotional costs of gun violence
00:19:32 Fighting through feelings of burnout and jadedness
00:22:18 Coping with severe nightmares and behavioral changes after the event
00:25:03 Remembering a fallen military brother and friend
00:28:21 Receiving devastating news about a tragic loss
00:30:46 Cherishing lighthearted memories and brotherhood during basic training
00:32:20 Navigating a difficult transition out of the military with PTSD
00:36:49 Finding strength, support, and the importance of asking for help

Topics:
Surviving the Highland Park parade shooting with a six-year-old child
Navigating childhood PTSD, panic responses, and emotional regression
Becoming a full-time gun violence prevention advocate after trauma
The uncounted financial toll and therapy costs for uninjured survivors
Music as immersive healing and a breakthrough moment at Lollapalooza
Meeting best friend Brandon on day one of Air Force basic training
Coping with the sudden loss of a military brother to a hit-and-run
Understanding military PTSD, hyper-vigilance, and exit scanning
Rebuilding life after rock bottom with service dog Nala
Overcoming mental health stigma and learning nobody hurts forever

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