Ya Never Know w/ Jake Haendel

In this episode of Ya Never Know, we sit down with Nurse Erica — RN, healthcare leader, nurse advocate, podcast host, and someone who’s seen healthcare from every angle.We dive into the real-world signs of factitious disorder imposed on another (formerly Munchausen by proxy), how it shows up, and why it’s so difficult to recognize in real time.From there, the conversation widens to nurse advocacy, hospital staffing, the so-called “nursing shortage,” leadership corruption, profit-driven healthcare, and what it’s like trying to do the right thing inside a broken system.We also touch on personal moments — how Erica and Jake first connected through podcasting, recovery progress updates, and the reality that meaningful work often comes with chaos. Erica also shares insight into the difficult fallout with her former podcast partner, Nurse Jessica, and how it impacted her work and platform.If you’re a nurse, patient, caregiver, or anyone who wants an honest look at modern healthcare — this episode is for you.

Bernenda’s life is a story of service, sacrifice, and survival—revealing the hidden cost of being both a Soldier and a police officer, and how war, loss, and untreated mental health trauma can collide.Born into an undocumented Haitian family, Bernenda learned resilience early. A high-achieving student and the first in her family to join JROTC, she enlisted in the military and deployed overseas at a young age. She returned home changed, carrying unprocessed trauma and little support.Determined to keep serving, Bernenda became a police officer. But while on duty, her partner and close friend was struck by a drunk driver. Though initially surviving the impact, they were pronounced dead on scene. In a single moment, Bernenda lost her partner and her friend. Soon after, she also lost both of her parents.As the weight of war, sudden death, and compounded grief mounted, Bernenda pushed forward—staying silent and staying on the job, as many in uniform are taught to do. Eventually, the pressure became unbearable. While still serving as a police officer, she experienced a mental health crisis that ended her career.In this episode, Bernenda speaks openly about trauma, depression, suicidal thoughts, and what it means to reach a breaking point while wearing a uniform. This conversation shines a light on the mental health risks faced by Soldiers, veterans, and first responders—and the urgent need for better support.Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of death, suicide, war trauma, and mental health crises. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional help or contact local crisis resources.

In Part Two, Brooke takes us deeper inside Missouri’s family-court system, sharing the most intense cases she has encountered as an advocate and court watcher — including one case that ended in death and raised serious, unanswered questions.She breaks down recurring patterns she says are impossible to ignore: the same judges, the same GALs, the same families financially and emotionally devastated, and a system that appears to punish those who speak out while protecting itself.Brooke also discusses a leaked GAL Zoom call, now publicly available on YouTube, which she says provides a rare look at just how dysfunctional and alarming the system really is. The footage has circulated widely online and, according to Brooke, confirms concerns many families have raised for years:👉 https://youtu.be/eaiwCNVZd9sNo longer willing to suffer in silence, Brooke details her work with the Family Warrior Project, her decision to name names, and the personal risks that come with exposing powerful institutions. This episode examines what happens when transparency disappears — and why some stories refuse to stay buried.

Karl joins us all the way from Sweden to share the story of the tick bite he got at his summer home in the archipelagos — a chain of islands off the coast of Sweden — a bite he barely noticed but that almost cost him his life. What began as an ordinary weekend turned into a full medical emergency when his body suddenly crashed, forcing doctors to airlift him by helicopter from the islands to Sahlgrenska University Hospital. There, he finally got the diagnosis: TBE — a tick-borne illness similar to Lyme disease in America, but far more deadly. Karl breaks down what TBE does to the body, the brutal symptoms he faced, and how the disease is becoming more common across Sweden as the climate shifts and tick populations explode.

In Part One of Elizabeth’s story, she opens up about a childhood shaped by a cult-like environment, strict purity culture, and an abusive father. She walks us through the hidden rules, the fear, and the control that defined her upbringing—and how it all set the stage for a deeply painful, messy marriage she didn’t see coming.Elizabeth also shares the heartbreaking story of her sister’s death at 20 years old—a case that, eight years later, remains unsolved.Jake and Elizabeth draw unexpected parallels between their lives, including the moment Jake reflects on his own marriage to Elle (Ellen) and the realization that he didn’t truly know the person he had committed to—mirroring Elizabeth’s experience of discovering who her husband really was after the wedding.This is Part One of a story filled with trauma, resilience, and unanswered questions. Part Two dives even deeper.

Kyle’s story is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. A prolific weed grower, a transgender man, and a terminal brain cancer survivor — somehow, he’s still here. After years of building his life in California and Colorado, Kyle was diagnosed with an aggressive, “incurable” form of brain cancer that no one else has survived. Forced to leave everything behind and return home to the South Side of Chicago, he faced his mortality head-on. Through a groundbreaking experimental immunotherapy, Kyle began to defy every medical prediction. Along the way, weed became both his medicine and his metaphor — a symbol of resilience, balance, and growth

This episode picks up where Part One left off — after Daniella’s daring escape from the Children of God cult. What came next was a new kind of structure, discipline, and control: the U.S. military. Daniella (@daniellamyoung_) opens up about serving two tours in military intelligence, the psychological aftermath of leaving one cult only to find herself in another, and how she ultimately reclaimed her freedom and voice.Her bestselling memoir, Uncultured: A Memoir (available everywhere), tells the story of her journey from indoctrination to independence. Her forthcoming book, The Culting of America (available now for pre-sale at knittingcultlady.com), explores how cult dynamics appear in modern society.This is Part Two — powerful, revealing, and impossible to forget.

Caitlyn (@caitlyn.cohen) is a model, TikTok star, and passionate advocate who’s opening up about life with a stutter. In this episode she shares what it’s really like, how she found the courage to speak out, and why using her platform matters so much.Keep up with Caitlyn’s journey here: linktr.ee/caitlyn.cohen

Ashley tells us about her high school sweetheart, Travis, whose life was turned upside down when he became locked in. He is still currently fighting to survive, fluctuating through different states of consciousness while facing the medical complexity of locked-in syndrome. Ashley opens up about the challenges of navigating hospital care, the emotional weight of raising their young daughter during this fight, and the heartbreak of watching her first love endure such a rare condition.This episode is raw, emotional, and deeply human—a story of love, resilience, and advocacy! You can support Ashley and her family during this difficult time here: Follow Ashley on Instagram: @ashburydaniels Donate to the GoFundMe: Burke Family Campaign

Emily joins us with a story that starts with something unexpected: strange nipple changes that turned out to be cancer. She opens up about the fear, the fight, and the strength it took to survive — and why paying attention to your body could save your life.We also talk about what it means to live after cancer, how to stay empowered through the hardest battles, and what to say to your kids when you’re facing the unthinkable. I open up about my own experience with almost dying, and the years I spent living with a terminally ill mother battling cancer — and how it left a mark that still shapes me today.This conversation is raw, powerful, and filled with takeaways for anyone navigating illness — or supporting someone who is.

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Ramsdell — the Guinness World Record holder for the biggest gape in the world. We talk about what it’s like stepping on stage for America’s Got Talent, building a massive following, and why Sam’s hysterical, open-book personality is exactly how we should all be. From hilarious stories to freaking out on way too many mushrooms in Italy and calling the cops on herself, Sam brings nonstop laughs and authenticity. Follow Sam on Instagram: @samramsdell5

In this episode Jake goes deep with his ex girlfriend Adrienne into his relationship with Elle. What did she think of her when she first met her? What was their relationship like? Were there any red flags? Then Adrienne talks about where she is now, which concludes with a partnership with Jake?!

In this episode, Jake and Adrienne discuss why she left him, what she was in search of, some of her story that includes arrests, getting clean, and a glimpse into life after.