31. Uncommon Compassion: A Conversation with One of Our Kidnappers - Part 1
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
Release Date: 11/21/2025
35. Get Your Alignment Checked
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
The Importance of Alignment in Life Alignment in life is a fundamental aspect that significantly influences our overall well-being. When we refer to alignment, we mean the harmony between our values, beliefs, actions, and the people and situations we engage with. Achieving this alignment is crucial for maintaining peace, clarity, and authenticity in our lives. In this episode of Soul Wide Open, host Michelle Renee delves into the concept of alignment and what it truly means in our lives. Drawing an analogy between life and the alignment of a car, Michelle explores how being out of alignment...
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34. 5 Ways to Regulate When Your Nervous System Gets Hijacked
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
If you’ve ever felt hijacked by your past… this one is for you. When confronted with a trauma response, one of the most effective strategies for regaining control and alleviating overwhelming emotions is to acknowledge and name your feelings. This process involves recognizing what is happening within you and articulating it, which can significantly diminish the emotional charge associated with those feelings. In this episode of Soul Wide Open, host Michelle Renee shares what really happens when something cracks open a wound from childhood and your nervous system gets hijacked. She...
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33. The Art of Unhiding: 3 Ways To Step Out of the Shadows and Live Fully
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
Unhiding is a deeply personal journey that involves revealing your true self, both to yourself and to others. It is not about making bold statements or being loud; rather, it is a subtle and often quiet process of self-discovery and acceptance. In this episode of the Soul Wide Open podcast, host Michelle Renee emphasizes that many people may not even realize they are hiding parts of themselves. This concealment can stem from various factors, including shame, fear of judgment, and past trauma. The act of unhiding involves confronting these hidden aspects and embracing them, which can be a...
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32. Collateral Damage: The Impact of the Kidnapping on Our Families (Part 2)
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
In this Soul Wide Open podcast episode, host Michelle Renee explores the profound impact of open communication and vulnerability on healing relationships, particularly in the context of trauma and family dynamics. She is joined by one of her daughter's kidnappers, Robert Ortiz, for this surprising, unfiltered look into accountability, amends, and a deep dive into uncommon compassion. Their discussions highlight several key aspects that underscore the necessity of these elements in fostering understanding and reconciliation. One of the most poignant moments in the episode occurs when...
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31. Uncommon Compassion: A Conversation with One of Our Kidnappers - Part 1
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
In this deeply moving episode of "Soul Wide Open," host Michelle Renee sits down with Robert Ortiz, the man who once broke into her home and held her and her daughter hostage. Together, they explore the profound journey of healing, focusing on the power of compassion and understanding in transforming their lives. The importance of compassion and understanding in the healing process, even after experiencing trauma and violence, is a central theme in the podcast episode featuring Michelle Renee and one of her and her daughters kidnappers, Robert Ortiz. Their conversation highlights how both...
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30. Ditch Your Expectations: The Silent Power of Being Present
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
Join Michelle Renee in this inspiring episode of the Soul Wide Open podcast as she shares a transformative experience from a recent night out. Discover the power of listening to your inner voice and showing up for yourself and others, even when it feels like a whim. Michelle recounts a spontaneous decision to bring her camera to a local music event, which led to unexpected opportunities and meaningful connections. She emphasizes the importance of living life intentionally, embracing joy, and being open to the lessons that come from every interaction, no matter how fleeting. In this episode,...
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29. Rebuilding Self-Worth Through Love Languages
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
Understanding and communicating your love language is essential for building meaningful relationships and ensuring that your emotional needs are met. In a recent podcast episode, Michelle Renee shares her personal journey of discovering the significance of love languages, particularly her own preference for words of affirmation. This exploration highlights several key points about the importance of love languages in fostering healthy connections with others. In this episode of the Soul Wide Open podcast, Michelle shares a heartfelt reflection on the importance of love languages, particularly...
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28. Compliment or Manipulation: Love Bombing Unpacked
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
Love bombing is a manipulative tactic often employed in romantic relationships, where one partner inundates the other with excessive affection and grand gestures early on. This behavior can be particularly confusing, as it may initially feel flattering and exciting. However, as discussed in the podcast episode, love bombing typically lacks a solid foundation or genuine connection, leading to a lack of emotional connectedness and confusion. In this episode of Soul Wide Open, host Michelle Renee dives into the intriguing concept of "love bombing." Familiar with the term yet not knowing what it...
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27. The Cycle of Fighting for Love: 5 Signs You're Still In It
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
Unpacking the Need for Validation in Relationships In this podcast episode, Michelle Renee explores the profound impact that childhood experiences have on adult relationship behaviors, particularly the tendency to fight for love rather than simply receive it. This theme is essential for anyone seeking to understand their relationship dynamics and the underlying reasons for their behaviors. Michelle shares her personal journey of recognizing how her upbringing in a highly dysfunctional and toxic environment shaped her beliefs about love and relationships. She delves into the complex...
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26. 'Never Look Back' is BS and Here's Why
Soul Wide Open with Michelle Renee
The Mirror of Our Experiences and The Meaning We Give Them A key theme in the episode is using painful experiences as a mirror for self-reflection. Michelle describes a recent encounter with a new friend that triggered memories of being objectified in her youth. This moment served as a catalyst for her to revisit and process those past feelings. Instead of avoiding the discomfort or avoidant behavior in general, she chose to sit with it, leading to a deeper understanding of herself. This process of reflection is vital for personal growth, as it encourages individuals to confront their past...
info_outlineIn this deeply moving episode of "Soul Wide Open," host Michelle Renee sits down with Robert Ortiz, the man who once broke into her home and held her and her daughter hostage. Together, they explore the profound journey of healing, focusing on the power of compassion and understanding in transforming their lives.
The importance of compassion and understanding in the healing process, even after experiencing trauma and violence, is a central theme in the podcast episode featuring Michelle Renee and one of her and her daughters kidnappers, Robert Ortiz. Their conversation highlights how both individuals, despite their vastly different experiences, found a path toward healing through love, empathy, and forgiveness.
After receiving a letter from Michelle and her daughter expressing their desire to let go of anger and resentment, he was profoundly impacted. The letter served as a catalyst for his transformation, prompting him to reevaluate his life choices and the man he wanted to become. This moment of compassion from his victims allowed him to step back from his past actions and commit to a path of healing and personal growth.
Joining them in this part one of a two-part series is Michelle's brother, Dave, who played a crucial role in supporting her and her daughter throughout their healing process and during the trial. This episode delves into their collective stories, the complexities of forgiveness, and how they are sharing their message of hope and resilience with the world. Tune in for an unforgettable conversation that challenges the boundaries of healing and connection.
Conversation Highlights:
00:10 - Introduction and significance of the interview.
02:37 - Robert Ortiz's childhood story.
05:44 - Childhood responsibilities and rebellion.
11:10 - Sense of belonging in crime.
17:23 - Navigating life after parole.
18:36 - Losing control and masculinity.
27:12 - Piece of humanity never left.
28:27 - Dave's Story: Shattered glass
33:51 - Trial and trauma experience.
36:34 - Witness protection and trauma.
42:34 - Healing through love and forgiveness.
51:02 - Redemption through personal struggles.
56:46 - Parenting and addiction recovery.
01:08 - Restorative justice and personal growth.
1:11:52 - Self-improvement in prison.
1:15:29 - Ancestors and generational healing.
1:24:10 - Spiritual healing.
1:28:55 - Face-to-face meeting with family.
Quotes:
"This is what it looks like when we choose to heal our entire life and when we put love, compassion, and understanding at the absolute center of our lives"
"One of my biggest triggers is losing control."
"I can't reach out to call anybody and ask for help because I'm gonna feel like less of a man or I'm gonna feel like a loser."
"That night broke me open in ways that I could never, ever, ever have imagined."
"She was totally gone. There was no Michelle."
"I was in a totally different kind of prison than what you were in."
"It was a calling that I, I mean, I'm gonna say divine, creator, God, whatever you wanna call it, was absolutely calling me to do this."
"If I don't, as a mother, right now, teach her that there's another way, I'm gonna cause her more harm than you could have ever caused her."
"I made the decision to stay up for two days. I made the decision to drink and drive, and I got in that car."
"I realized, sitting in that room of a bunch of men telling the truth, that I had been denying the truth my whole life, that I was damaging the people that I care about."
"I had my own prison sentence going on that nobody knew about, that I was running from, that wasn't even real."
"I no longer see myself as a monster. And actually, your words, you helped humanize me again."
"Nothing has grounded me like this, where I just call on my ancestors for help."
Stay Connected:
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Connect with Michelle:
My Website https://michelle-renee.com
Instagram: 
/ _michellerenee_
TikTok 
/ themichellerenee
VERB Media Group https://verbmediagroup.com/
Connect with Robert:
Freedom 4 Youth Robert@freedom4youth.org
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