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The Shadow Sessions

The Shadow Sessions

By: Hiba Balfaqih
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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.Hiba Balfaqih Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • I Killed My Abuser

    I Killed My Abuser
    Jun 24 2026
    What happens when the people meant to protect you never do? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with David, who spent years growing up in an environment shaped by fear, control, and abuse. When systems that are supposed to intervene fail, trauma does not simply disappear—it adapts, accumulates, and leaves lasting psychological consequences. This conversation is not about violence. It is about what comes before it. The chronic stress of living in survival mode. The impact of prolonged childhood trauma on identity, emotional regulation, and the nervous system. And the reality of growing up without safety, support, or a path to escape. David reflects on the lasting effects of abuse, the weight of silence, and the difficult questions that emerge when trauma is left untreated for years. Together, they explore accountability, survival, and what happens when pain is forced underground until it can no longer stay there. This episode is about childhood trauma, systemic failure, and the lifelong search for healing after protection never arrived.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • How A 16 Years Old Robbed A Bank

    How A 16 Years Old Robbed A Bank
    Jun 17 2026
    We love stories about bank robbers. The masks. The getaway cars. The thrill of the chase. Popular culture often turns them into anti‑heroes—rebels who live outside the rules. But what happens when the robbery isn’t really about the money? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Alex, a former bank robber whose actions were driven by something deeper than financial gain. Beneath the crime was a pattern of addiction, compulsion, and a relentless search for something that always seemed just out of reach. This conversation explores the psychology of risk, the allure of adrenaline, and how destructive behaviors can become substitutes for meaning, control, or escape. It examines what happens when the pursuit of a feeling outweighs its consequences. Alex reflects on identity, self‑deception, and the internal emptiness that can make danger feel alive. Because sometimes the story isn't about the crime itself—it's about the unmet needs, unresolved wounds, and patterns operating underneath it. This episode is about addiction, accountability, and what happens when a person is finally forced to confront the reasons behind the mask.
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    55 mins
  • America's Most Hated

    America's Most Hated
    Jun 10 2026
    We often imagine hate as something obvious—loud, ignorant, easy to recognize. But radicalization rarely begins that way. It begins with belonging. With anger that feels like purpose. With identity built around opposition. In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Arno, a former white nationalist skinhead who once lived at the center of extremist culture. He was the lead singer of a neo‑Nazi metal band and a member of Hammerskin Nation, one of the most violent white supremacist gangs in the United States. This wasn’t distant ideology. It was community, music, organizing, and identity. Today, Arno works with Parents for Peace, helping prevent radicalization and supporting individuals and families navigating extremism and disengagement from hate groups. This conversation explores the psychology of radicalization, how identity can become fused with anger and ideology, and what it actually takes to leave extremist movements behind after they have defined your purpose, your community, and your power. This episode is about transformation, accountability, and dismantling the beliefs that once shaped an entire life.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
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