Juliet Ramos is a podcast host and mental health advocate/survivor. Her story is the story of so many people, women in particular. In 2011, Juliet was pushed to the breaking point by her abusive husband and was placed on a 51/50 hold after attempting suicide. Believing she had no one to count on but herself, she fought back against the abuse, insecurity, and self-doubt to emerge stronger than ever. Juliet wanted to be the voice for those women that had similar struggles and began the Broken Girl Unchained Podcast. By sharing her healing journey along with the stories of other survivors, she would bring the topic of mental health and abuse to the forefront. In 2019-2020 Broken Girl Unchained hit the top 100 podcasts on iHeart Radio in part to the episode “Through the Looking Glass of a 51/50: The True Story of a Suicide Survivor” in which Juliet tells her story about that fateful day in 2011 and the impact it has had on her family. The article based on her story was voted Best Article of 2020 in Healer’s Magazine. That one night of despair has led to Juliet in the biggest fight of her life for the custody of her children. A true fighter, she is battling the legal system to win her children back and prevent other women suffering the same fate. Juliet believes that in breaking the chains that once held her she will heal herself and others along the way.
HI! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS JULIET RAMOS IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
I’m the type of woman you go to war beside, but never against. I’m a true empath, I feel deeply and when I love, I love hard. I’m hungry, I’m driven, and I know what I want in this life. At times, I can be a little too much for some people and maybe too intense, too passionate, too crazy, too sad, too everything. However, I have been the greatest ally for people when it counts and I pride myself on my loyalty. My life’s experiences have shaped me into the woman I am today and I’m proud of the person I have worked to become.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PODCAST?
My podcast is a form of strength, empowerment, and it’s most definitely about as real as it gets. That’s been one of the most profound compliments I have received since I started. I pride myself on providing real, useful, and entertaining content. I have professionals and everyday people who have graced the show. It’s their true stories that I feel best resonates with the audience. In addition to the show topics, I have also started to branch out and be an advocate for family’s rights, sexual abuse, autism awareness, suicide prevention, and a variety of other topics. I’m even challenging the flawed family court system after experiencing the inhumane devastation my family has suffered as a result of these flaws. I’m not going to sit back and watch other families go through what I have been through without speaking up. Everyone deserves a fair trial and all too often the people in charge are more concerned about their status than doing what is in the best interest of the family. This activism fuels my passions, and helps me focus on making some sort of difference in our world.
HOW DID YOU COME WITH THE NAME “BROKEN GIRL UNCHAINED” FOR YOUR PODCAST?
When my partner Mike and I started this, I kept going back to the concept of being broken. I have felt broken many times in my life and the podcast has helped to unchain me from those shackles. I’m honest with my past and present experiences, but that truth is what has unchained me from the hell I was living in. So, that’s where the name BrokenGirl Unchained originated.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?
I’m influenced by strong women everywhere who have conquered (or are working to conquer) life’s toughest trials. It’s those people who pull themselves out of bed every day and try to be a better person today than they were yesterday that truly inspire me.
WHAT’S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US?
I was born with six toes. Haha. I’m dyslexic. I was in special education classes for most of my schooling. However, I always loved to write and help people. People have often mistaken my kindness as fake, but I’m a true lover of anyone real. I’ve realized that with more notoriety comes more problems. People assume that things are all butterflies and rainbows, just because you’re thriving. What they don’t realize is that I’m still battling with some of these topics I cover. I’m still human and I will always battle with depression, anxiety, fear of abandonment, and many of the issues I cover. I’m still battling a narcissistic ex and fighting for my children. It seems like no matter how much good I do in the world, people still want to judge me on the person I was 10 years ago. I’ve learned to channel these issues in a healthy way through BrokenGirl Unchained. Now, I’ve learned to spot the red flags and I’ve learned how to focus on my own healing journey. I’m still here, even with people who are still trying to break me. This is what makes me unchained.
YOU ARE ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTS OF CHARITY AND HUMANITARIANISM; HOW DO THESE ACTS IMPACT YOUR LIFE?
I’ve always loved to help people, even when it might seem that they are beyond help. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes in my life and my podcast helps me to turn a negative into a positive. The first time someone told me that I helped them through a difficult situation was one of the most profoundly rewarding experiences of my life. It makes me want to continue to help others and show people that being broken isn’t a permanent condition.
WHAT IS ONE MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO OUR READERS?
I want them to know that it’s ok to fall. It’s ok to fail. It’s ok to make mistakes. Those mistakes don’t define who you are. Everyone has the capacity to make a positive change. I’m currently in a horrific situation with custody disputes and heath issues. I know that I will come out the other side of these challenges, even if I’m a little worse for wear afterwards. Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid of change. Become the type of person you can be proud of, even if it takes you to find your courage among the unknown future.
WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE?
You can find me at brokengirlunchained.com, Instagram, Facebook, and the podcast is available to download on all major platforms.
