{"podcast":{"title":"The Shadow Sessions","slug":"the-shadow-sessions-7629928","podcast_index_feed_id":7629928,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/TPG2074943060","website_url":"https://www.theshadowsessionspodcast.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/508c7f04-d53c-11f0-b71b-e3c48ce77e6b/image/197508254b9c224e2d1fc897170e5141.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Hiba Balfaqih","episode_count":31,"summary":"The Shadow Sessions is hosted by Hiba Balfaqih, an unconventional psychologist and trauma alchemist. We explore the stories that most people bury—particularly those tied to shame, trauma, and identity. Our goal is to shed light on the hidden corners of human experience, allowing listeners to hear stories that challenge societal norms and spark deep,introspective conversations.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-30T16:19:48.311441+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shadow-sessions-7629928"},"episode":{"title":"The Story Her Kidnapper Never Wanted Told","slug":"the-story-her-kidnapper-never-wanted-told","published_at":"2026-07-23T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shadow-sessions-7629928/the-story-her-kidnapper-never-wanted-told","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shadow-sessions-7629928","url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/tcQd6Q6C0RUUlOHq1Ytj/mgln.ai/e/51/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/TPG4120702445.mp3","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/tcQd6Q6C0RUUlOHq1Ytj/mgln.ai/e/51/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/TPG4120702445.mp3","summary":"How do you respond when your life changes in a matter of seconds? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Allison Smith, whose ordinary trip to a convenience store became a fight for survival when an armed woman hijacked her car. In those terrifying moments, Allison experienced what so many trauma survivors describe: first freezing, then fawning, and ultimately finding the strength to fight back. But surviving the attack was only the beginning. This conversation goes beyond violent crime. It explores the psychology of survival, why our instincts don't always look the way we expect, and the emotional aftermath that follows once the immediate danger has passed. Allison shares what it means to live with trauma, reclaim her voice, and rebuild a sense of safety after experiencing the unimaginable. This episode is about survival instincts, trauma recovery, resilience, and discovering that healing begins long after the moment you survive.","meta_description":"How do you respond when your life changes in a matter of seconds? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Allison Smith, whose o…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3881,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-shadow-sessions-7629928/episodes/the-story-her-kidnapper-never-wanted-told/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shadow-sessions-7629928/the-story-her-kidnapper-never-wanted-told.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}