Show overview
Welcome to Paradise has been publishing since 2022, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 10 episodes, alongside 3 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 4 hours of audio in total. Releases follow an irregular cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 19 min and 32 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-CA-language Society & Culture show.
There hasn’t been a new episode in the last ninety days; the most recent episode landed 3 months ago. The busiest year was 2022, with 8 episodes published. Published by CBC.
From the publisher
Love, marriage… and a secret history of trauma. Anna Maria Tremonti has been keeping her past a secret for over 40 years. As one of Canada’s most respected journalists, she has a reputation for being fearless and hard-hitting. She’s reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. But none were as immediately threatening as life at home. In her early 20s, she fell in love with a man who seemed worldly and charming. Behind closed doors he was incredibly violent. They were only married for a year but the consequences of the abuse have lasted a lifetime. This is the first time Anna Maria has told anyone—including family or close friends—the details of what she endured. Working with her therapist, she reveals the intimate details of a past she’s kept to herself for most of her life. The result is a profoundly intimate portrait of a powerful woman confronting the source of tremendous pain and trauma and, remarkably, freeing herself from a life-long sense of shame. Written and hosted by Anna Maria Tremonti (The Current), produced by Daemon Fairless (Hunting Warhead, Boys Like Me) and mixed by Mira Burt-Wintonick (Wiretap, Love Me, Sorry About The Kid).
Latest Episodes
Welcome to Paradise Introduces: Creation Myth
Get lost in someone else’s life. From a mysterious childhood spent on the run, to a courageous escape from domestic violence, each season of Personally invites you to explore the human experience in all its complexity, one story — or season — at a time.In the latest season of Personally: Creation Myth, Helena does not want kids. Her husband believes she’ll change her mind—she has so much love to give, she would be a perfect mother. That will never happen, she tells him. Again. And again. Until one day, he leaves.In the silence, doubt starts rushing in. So she asks her close friends, her mother, her sister, even a perfect stranger—did she make the right decision? What is the purpose of life? Center your pleasure, says one friend. Go for adventure, says another, and isn’t parenthood the biggest adventure of all? Be true to yourself, says a father who regrets his decision. But the voice she needs to hear is her own. More episodes of Creation Myth are available wherever you get your podcasts and here: https://link.mgln.ai/CMxWTP
The story Anna Maria never thought she’d tell: On stage at Hot Docs
bonusFor Anna Maria Tremonti, the decision to speak publicly about being abused by a former partner was complex; she wanted to tell it, but didn’t know how. Live on stage at the Hot Docs festival, Anna Maria unpacks what led her to creating Welcome to Paradise, and how the release of the podcast reconnected her with someone she never thought she’d hear from again.
S1 Ep 6Ep. 6: "The Visitation"
Anna Maria makes a trip to find out more about Pat's past and confirms something she’d suspected. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405
S1 Ep 5Ep. 5: "The Message"
As Anna Maria prepares to contact Pat, she makes a startling discovery. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405
S1 Ep 4Ep. 4: “The Long Tail”
Getting out is only half the battle. After separating from her abusive husband, Anna Maria faces the most dangerous period of the relationship… and long-term emotional fallout that follows her for years. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405
S1 Ep 3Ep. 3: “L is for Love”
Anna Maria is living a double life. In public she and Pat seem like the perfect couple. At home, he’s becoming increasingly violent. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405
S1 Ep 2Ep. 2: “See What You Made Me Do”
Pat seems charming, funny and worldly – the perfect husband. But shortly after their wedding, Anna Maria discovers the man she’s married is an entirely different person behind closed doors. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405
S1 Ep 1Ep. 1: “One of Those People You Hear About”
Ready to reveal her longest-held secret, Anna Maria Tremonti talks to her therapist about a trauma from 40 years ago that’s the source of shame and self-loathing. She’s reported on gender-based violence many times as a journalist, including from war zones – but this time, she’s telling her own story. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/resource-list-welcome-to-paradise-1.6328619. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/welcome-to-paradise-transcripts-listen-1.6803405
Introducing: Welcome to Paradise
trailerThe secret's out. As one of Canada’s most respected journalists, Anna Maria Tremonti has a reputation for being fearless. She’s reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. But there’s one story she’s never made public: when she was 23 years old, she married a man who beat her. Their marriage only lasted one year but the consequences of that abuse lasted a lifetime. Now she's telling her own story. Welcome to Paradise launches February 15. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at cbc.ca/WTPresources.
Teaser: Welcome to Paradise | Content Warning
trailerContent warning: contains descriptions of intimate partner violence. Please take care when listening. Anna Maria Tremonti is sharing a 40-year secret. She reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones – but none of them were as immediately threatening as life at home. Welcome to Paradise launches Feb. 15. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at cbc.ca/WTPresources.