Nichole Schmidt on Gabby Petito’s Legacy: Domestic Violence Awareness, Coercive Control & A Mother's Mission To Save Lives

What can we learn from Gabby Petito’s story to help recognize dangerous behavior in relationships? Michele Locke sits down with Nichole Schmidt, Gabby Petito’s mother, to discuss the devastating impact of losing her daughter – and how her family is turning unimaginable grief into meaningful action. Nichole opens up about the emotional toll of repeatedly sharing Gabby’s story, the importance of setting boundaries while navigating trauma, and the coping tools that help her keep going, including meditation, breathwork, and taking time to step away. She also reflects on co-parenting Gabby with her father and how they have come together through the Gabby Petito Foundation to honor their daughter’s legacy. Michele and Nichole explore the warning signs of abusive relationships, including coercive control, isolation, love bombing, future faking, and the dangerous escalation of abuse. They examine why it can be so difficult to recognize these behaviors from inside a relationship, the reasons asking “why didn’t she leave?” places blame in the wrong place, and why understanding the dynamics of abuse is essential to prevention. Nichole also shares the mission behind the Gabby Petito Foundation, which works to educate young people about healthy relationships and dating violence, train law enforcement officers and 911 dispatchers, advocate for lethality assessment laws, provide scholarships, and support families of missing people whose cases may otherwise receive limited attention. The conversation highlights the urgent need for stronger training, accessible resources, trauma-informed responses, and early education that empowers people to recognize red flags before abuse escalates. This episode is a reminder that domestic violence prevention requires more than recognizing the signs. It requires compassion, informed intervention, meaningful support, and a willingness to listen without judgment. No one should have to navigate abuse alone, and no family should have to fight to have their loved one’s story heard. In this episode, we discuss: — The emotional realities of grief, trauma, and sharing a loved one’s story publicly. — The warning signs of coercive control, love bombing, future faking, and isolation. — Strangulation and other indicators associated with escalating danger in abusive relationships. — Why leaving an abusive relationship can be complicated and why victim-blaming must stop. — Lethality assessments, legislative advocacy, and gaps in domestic violence response systems. — Teaching children and young adults about boundaries, healthy relationships, and personal safety. — The work of the Gabby Petito Foundation and how education can help prevent future tragedies. — Supporting missing-person cases, standing alongside families, and approaching survivors with empathy. Resources and ways to help If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, confidential support is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or thehotline.org . Learn more about the Gabby Petito Foundation, its prevention initiatives, and ways to support its mission at gabbypetitofoundation.org . Listen, learn, and share this episode. Awareness matters, but turning awareness into action can save lives. **DISCLAIMER** The information shared in this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. Subscribe Here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lovelustlaw/id1819843688 Spotify: https://op