George's story begins with a childhood shaped by three different abusive men. From physical beatings by his foster father for minor childish behaviors to learning at age nine that the man he'd called "dad" wasn't his biological father, his early years were marked by confusion and pain.
When his stepfather entered the picture, the abuse escalated. One particularly cruel moment led to George's decision to bury his emotions completely—a survival mechanism that would last nearly four decades.
What makes George's testimony so remarkable is what happened after he finally shared his story publicly. After 40 years of emotional numbness—so complete he couldn't cry even when his beloved grandfather passed away—his feelings began to resurface. "I don't remember these feelings," he explains, describing the strange experience of navigating emotions that feel brand new at age 54.
George's journey reminds us that healing doesn't follow a timeline. Sometimes our greatest breakthroughs come decades after trauma, when we find the courage to break our silence. His story offers hope that no matter how long we've carried our burdens, it's never too late to begin the work of reclaiming our full emotional lives.

1 in 3 is intended for mature audiences. Episodes contain explicit content and may be triggering to some.

Support the show

If you are in the United States and need help right now, call the national domestic violence hotline at 800-799-7233 or text the word “start” to 88788.
Contact 1 in 3:

• Send your emails to [email protected]
• Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @1in3podcast
• Check out the website https://www.1in3podcast.com/

Thank you for listening and please remember to rate, review & subscribe!
Cover art by Laura Swift Dahlke
Music by Tim Crowe