A Contagious Smile Podcast · Victora Cuore; A Contagious Smile, Who Kicked First, Domestic Violence Survivor, Advocate, Motivational Coach, Special Needs, Abuse Support, Life Skill Classes, Special Needs Social Groups

From Picture Books To Magazine Covers With A Survivor Advocate

March 12, 2026·50 min·3 clips

Victoria says CEO Times named her Best humanitarian advocate for special needs and domestic violence lifetime for 2026.

1. A Contagious Smile Podcast centers this episode on Victoria Curie’s books, awards, family life, and trust-based parenting. 2. Victoria Curie is the author and advocate, and Michael is her husband and co-host who comments on her writing, awards, and day-to-day life. 3. The episode asks how Victoria balances survivor advocacy, writing for specific age groups, and a family that uses humor to handle stress. 4. Victoria says book two of the Stucco Squad series is out, book three is being reviewed, and book four is in review for Amazon and VictoriaCurie.com. 5. She reads from Oops, I Did It Again and Trying Something New, two pages that ask children to choose a response such as taking a breath, helping clean up, or asking for help. 6. The hosts say each book runs about 50 to 60 pages and can be read in a night. 7. Victoria says she was invited to be a guest at an unnamed agency, met “amazing, amazing people,” and left thinking weekly support groups should be added. 8. Michael says that experience mattered because survivors need a different perspective, a new approach, and “a way out.” 9. Victoria says she got notified about being featured in Unstoppable Woman in October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 10. Michael adds that the spread will be four pages and calls it her fifth magazine cover. 11. Victoria says CEO Times named her Best humanitarian advocate for special needs and domestic violence lifetime for 2026. 12. She says she feels like “just me,” not a title, and calls herself “wife and mom and advocate and survivor.” 13. Victoria says writing the 13-to-15 series is hard because she normally writes a master course in hours or a Stucco Squad book in an hour. 14. Michael says the first chapter of The Facade was intriguing because he could not tell whether the events were imagined or happening in the character’s environment. 15. Victoria says the new series is meant to address trauma and questions that teens may not want to ask a counselor, teacher, parent, or sibling. 16. The family talks about one piece, with Michael describing it as sci-fi with kids who have powers and pirates. 17. The conversation style is loose, heavily conversational, and full of teasing between Victoria and Michael. 18. The tone stays personal and informal, with back pain, jokes, and interruptions shaping the pace. 19. Listeners who like survivor advocacy, family banter, and children’s books will fit this episode. 20. Listeners wanting a tight, topic-focused interview may skip it.

As heard by us

A loose late-night conversation where back pain, book talk, and survivor safety all share the room.

A late-night conversation turns back pain, a chiropractor visit, an Xbox session, and a bedroom cleanup into a lived-in picture of a household still in motion while one partner is hurting.

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Why you'd press play

For listeners who like late-night couple banter that can suddenly turn toward safety, survivors, and the people a home is trying to protect.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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