This episode: Breaking the Silence: Leo Marrs on Surviving Abuse, Reclaiming Identity, and Leading with Breath.   Here’s what you’ll learn about: Meeting Introduction and Initial Connection (0:10) Host Drew Deraney thanks Guest Leo Marrs’ virtual assistant for introducing him and emphasizes the importance of meeting guests in person to build a connection. Drew discusses the concept of life's teachings and how external circumstances can derail plans, introducing the idea of three types of people: those who ignore adversity, those who blame others, and those who take action. He explains the concept of "Leo Marrs," a person who recognizes adversity and takes action to change their circumstances. Leo shares his background, mentioning his age (42) and two significant turning points in his life at 27 and 30. First Turning Point: Spiritual Experience and Depression (2:27) Leo describes a profound spiritual experience at 27 while visiting his father in Alaska, where he lost his sense of self and had a shattering realization. This experience led to a decade of inquiry and a period of depression as he struggled to reconcile his identity. Drew acknowledges the difficulty of understanding how someone can control depression despite significant life changes. Leo explains that the experience was a turning point but also led to a period of self-loathing and confusion. Second Turning Point: Discovering Trauma and Meeting a Partner (5:25) At 33, Leo discovered early childhood trauma that had influenced his life, leading to a realization that he had misinterpreted his world and self-worth. He met a partner who initially treated him well but later revealed a sociopathic personality, using his vulnerabilities against him. Leo describes the initial stages of the relationship, which felt like a level-up, but eventually led to a series of assaults and manipulation. The partner's manipulative behavior included calling the police on Leo, leading to a traumatic experience and a police report. The Relationship's Deterioration and Its Impact (27:30) Leo shares how the relationship deteriorated, with the partner becoming increasingly controlling and violent. He describes the partner's attempts to manipulate and defame him after he left the relationship, leading to significant personal and professional losses. Leo emphasizes the importance of recognizing when someone shows their true nature and the dangers of giving second chances to the wrong people. The partner's defamation efforts included imp...