Welcome to Paradise

Love, marriage… and a secret history of trauma. Anna Maria Tremonti has been keeping her past a secret for over 40 years. As one of Canada’s most respected journalists, she has a reputation for being fearless and hard-hitting. She’s reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. But none were as immediately threatening as life at home. In her early 20s, she fell in love with a man who seemed worldly and charming. Behind closed doors he was incredibly violent. They were only married for a year but the consequences of the abuse have lasted a lifetime. This is the first time Anna Maria has told anyone—including family or close friends—the details of what she endured. Working with her therapist, she reveals the intimate details of a past she’s kept to herself for most of her life. The result is a profoundly intimate portrait of a powerful woman confronting the source of tremendous pain and trauma and, remarkably, freeing herself from a life-long sense of shame. Written and hosted by Anna Maria Tremonti (The Current), produced by Daemon Fairless (Hunting Warhead, Boys Like Me) and mixed by Mira Burt-Wintonick (Wiretap, Love Me, Sorry About The Kid).

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

LincKym

Amazing!

Such an amazing podcast about a very important subject matter. So well made, everyone needs to listen to get an understanding of the complexities of domestic violence and coercive control.
Marcarte3456

Coercive control

I feel there needs to be a follow-up episode in this podcast series by an expert in coercive control. Perhaps it could be with Monckton-Smith from Episode 4 or someone like Evan Stark. The term for the strangulation Anna Maria suffered is ‘non-fatal strangulation’. It is now widely recognised a leading indicator of escalating violence in a relationship, and an important risk factor for homicide. The suggestion by one of the therapists Anna Maria talks with to make contact with her abuser to ask the ‘why’ question was utterly irresponsible. It’s an extremely dangerous suggestion for *anyone* who’s experienced coercive control, particularly if it involved physical violence, to rekindle contact. Perpetrators of coercive control have a profound lack of self-insight. They are not capable of giving you an insightful ‘this is why I did it’ answer. But they are very capable of giving you a victim blaming/ gaslighting answer or a lie. Many coercive controllers are pathological liars as well - it’s part of the well documented cluster of behaviours that can also includes charisma. If you’re experiencing intimate partner violence, arn yourself with information: know thy enemy. Google coercive control. Google non-fatal strangulation. Finally seeing it all explained in clear language helped me understand my situation and safely escape my abuser. Sometimes the difference between non-fatal strangulation and fatal strangulation is 3 seconds, whether it’s intentional or not.
andy6OO

Thank you

This is one of the most healing podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Thank you Anna Maria for helping me through this time. To be in a place where you’re not feeling healed but are open and seeking help and you come across something like the last episode of this show and its so calming and assuring. Through tears I’m so thankful for you opening up in this way. Sending love.
Kensingtonlad

One of the best

An incredibly moving story beautifully told.
Leeme22

Important and relatable

I admire Anna Maria for sharing her story and the work she is doing reflecting on the abuse her former partner subjected her to. I have found some of the reflections from her therapist very helpful. Thank you