Marika was only 17 years old when she broke her silence and spoke out about the abuse she experienced within her own family. One of the most striking passages in her chapter describes the moment she realized the world was no longer protecting her -- she was welcomed not with love, but with a six-pack of beer and a pack of cigarettes. That day, she understood she wasn't being given tools to grow but she was being handed tools to self-destruct.
From the loss of her twin brother before she took her first breath, to the day she finally spoke her truth, to the moment motherhood changed her forever — Marika carries a message for anyone who has ever felt unheard, caged, or invisible.
She reminds us that healing is messy, but absolutely possible — and that our stories, even a hundred years from now, may serve as survival guides for others. Today, Marika uses her voice, her writing, and her podcast to help others step into their worth, rise from trauma, and begin their own healing journey.
