What separates those who merely survive from those who transform their pain into purpose? Today's guest knows that answer intimately.

Adriene Caldwell is the author of Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines—a raw, unflinching memoir that has been compared to Educated and The Glass Castle.

Her story begins with a gun pressed to her temple, the trigger pulled twice, saved only by a safety mechanism that engaged by less than a millimeter. But that harrowing moment is just one chapter in a life marked by schizophrenic abuse, traumatic foster care, sexual assault, addiction, and homelessness.

Yet Adriene didn't just survive—she earned her way an education, reconciled with her past, and now shares her journey to help others find light in their darkest moments. Her book is accompanied by actual CPS case files and psychiatric evaluations, making it not only a beacon of hope for survivors but essential reading for anyone studying trauma and resilience.

This is a conversation about what it truly means to be unbroken—not undamaged, but untamed, undefeated, and refusing to stay within the lines.

Adelante, Siempre, por tu Mente / Forward, Always, for your Mind

Love & Strength,Oscar Luna, Creator/HostFYI - I Am Damaged Podcast

Instagram: FYIiAmDamagedSpotify, YouTube & Apple Podcasts: FYI - I Am Damaged

This podcast. FYI - I Am Damaged. I sit in this chair pulling stories out of others.

But today, the mic turns on me. In this episode, I'm not the interviewer. I'm the one being asked to look at my own cracks.

My wife, Argelia, sits across from me and asks the questions I may have spent years avoiding. What happens when your passion becomes the only place you still feel alive while the rest of your life is burning you out?

How do you hold a 9 to 5, bills, expectations, stress that eats at your bones while still chasing the one selfless passion that makes your heartbeat? And how do you keep creating when you're carrying trauma, disappointment, and the quiet grief of feeling unseen?

This isn't a highlight reel. It's not a motivational speech.

It's a moment of honesty, my honesty, about what it really costs to build something meaningful while life keeps throwing weights on your chest. If you've ever questioned whether you could hold it all together and still build your dream, this conversation might be the permission you've been waiting for. Let's begin!

Adelante, Siempre, por tu Mente

Forward, Always, for your Mind

Love & Strength,

Oscar Luna, Creator/Host

FYI - I Am Damaged Podcast

Instagram: FYIiAmDamaged

Spotify & Apple Podcasts: FYI - I Am Damaged

What if the cure for isolation wasn’t technology or social media—but simply telling your story aloud? In today’s episode, I sit with Raquel, founder of MomsWestchester, a movement that began in her living room and is now sparking deep connection across Westchester County.

She reveals why small talk is limiting us, how storytelling heals mothers across generations, and what happens when strangers become family through truth-telling.

This isn’t just about motherhood—it’s also about humanity.

Stay tuned, because what Raquel shares will make you question how you connect, and maybe even inspire you to join and support her circle of storytellers for Mothers.

Adelante, Siempre, por tu MenteForward, Always, for your Mind

Love & Strength,Oscar Luna, Creator/HostFYI - I Am Damaged Podcast

Please Play, Like, and Follow my Podcast!

When the life you built breaks, what breaks open? Jessica—Bronx-born educator and mom—lets us inside her pending divorce: the shock, the anger, and the grind through the five stages of grief.

From suddenly plowing through separation documents to quiet nights, she confronts identity, safety, and the courage to endure without losing herself.

This isn’t gossip; it’s a roadmap to rebuilding—setting boundaries, co-parenting with grace, and choosing self-love first.

If you’re standing at the edge of an ending, press play for practical tools, hard-won hope, and a reminder that you’re stronger than the story that hurt you.

Adelante, Siempre, por tu Mente

Forward, Always, for your Mind

Love & Strength,

Oscar Luna, Creator/Host

FYI - I Am Damaged Podcast

This episode is brought to you by:

We Forgive to Live - ⁠www.weforgivetolive.com⁠

Cultura Cigars by William Roberts "It's more than just cigars, it's a lifestyle" - William Roberts

⁠⁠Cultura Cigars by William Robert (@culturacigars) • Instagram photos and videos

I sit down with a powerhouse from the Bronx Chapter of 100 Hispanic Women — President Miguelina Camilo and surprise guest Vice President Virna Crespo.

We talked about their mission to uplift Latinas through education, mentorship, and real opportunity.

From immigrant roots to law, politics, and public service, she's cultivated a community-driven network that’s breaking stereotypes and opening doors.

Whether you're chasing your dreams, searching for mentors, or just wanting to be reminded that we rise by lifting each other — this conversation is for you.

Adelante, Siempre, por tu Mente

Forward, Always, for your Mind

Love & Strength,

Oscar Luna, Creator/Host

FYI - I Am Damaged

PodcastSponsors:⁠

https://cimiconsulting.com

917-261-3775

angela@cimiconsulting.com⁠⁠

www.weforgivetolive.com⁠

Please Play, Like, and Follow my Podcast!

In this episode of FYI-IAD, we dive deep into the emotional terrain that most men are taught to avoid.

I sit down with Franco, one of the creators of We Forgive to Live, for a real, unfiltered conversation about what it actually means for a man to open his heart.

And why it's one of the riskiest and most powerful things we can do.

We talk about the weight of generational patterns, the pressure to protect while hiding our own pain, and how emotional safety isn’t just for women — men crave it too.

Whether you're a man, a partner, or a parent trying to show up differently, this episode hits deep.

www.weforgivetolive.com

Adelante, Siempre, por tu Mente

Forward, Always, for your Mind

Love & Strength,

Oscar Luna, Creator/Host

FYI - I Am Damaged Podcast

Please Play, Like, and Follow my Podcast!

One of the rare times that I speak to someone so modest about their strength to overcome something so heavy; Iliana is a rare breed.

Listen as she details her journey with breast cancer and how her mindset is all the way forward, for herself, her health, and her family.

This episode is brought to you by Cimi Consulting; want to maximize your non-profit fundraising impact to help change the world?

https://cimiconsulting.com

917-261-3775

angela@cimiconsulting.com

Adelante, Siempre, por tu Mente

Forward, Always, for your Mind

Love & Strength,

Oscar Luna, Creator/Host

FYI - I Am Damaged Podcast

Please Play, Like, and Follow my Podcast!

I talked with trauma therapist, Samuel Gary Johnson about Spiritual Bypassing.

Where traumatized individuals avoid dealing with difficult emotions, unresolved traumas, or personal challenges with spiritually reinforced mantras.

You can find Samuel at 4C LTD:

⁠4C LTD Christian Counseling, Coaching and Consulting | Sam Gary Johnson⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samgaryjohnson

This episode brought to you by CulturaCigars by William Roberts

"It's more than just cigars, it's a lifestyle" - William Roberts

Cultura Cigars by William Robert (@culturacigars) • Instagram photos and videos

Adelante, Siempre, por tu Mente

Forward, Always, for your Mind

Love & Strength,

Oscar Luna, Creator/Host

FYI - I Am Damaged Podcast