For 20 years, Andrea believed she was living her dream life. Then her husband confessed he had been secretly running a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme, shattering everything she thought she knew. In this episode, Andrea shares the devastating moment her world fell apart, how she navigated betrayal, financial ruin, and single motherhood, and what it took to rebuild her life after losing everything. She hopes her story reminds others that even after unimaginable trauma, healing is possible. Check Out Andrea: → Instagram https://www.instagram.com/realandreamerriman?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== → TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@andrea.merriman?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Topics Discussed: → Ponzi Scheme Survivor → Marriage Built on Lies → Financial Betrayal → Life After Losing Everything → Healing After Trauma Sponsored By: → AirDoctor | Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code INSANE and get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! All AirDoctor air purifiers come with a 30-day money back guarantee. → ZocDoc | Taking care of your health just got easier – start here with Zocdoc: https://zocdoc.com/insane #sponsored → HERS | Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/insane to get personalized, affordable care that gets you. On This Episode We Cover: → 00:00:00 - Introduction → 00:00:46 - What was Andrea's childhood like? → 00:03:06 - Why didn't wealth seem like a red flag? → 00:06:34 - How did she meet her future husband? → 00:08:08 - Why did Sean seem so charming? → 00:10:56 - Did their relationship seem too good to be true? → 00:12:42 - How did her father's death change what she wanted in a partner? → 00:16:31 - What were the first red flags in their marriage? → 00:19:10 - How did they build their dream life together? → 00:22:26 - How wealthy did they become? → 00:24:56 - What happened on March 18, 2009? → 00:29:38 - What did he confess first? → 00:31:50 - What is a Ponzi scheme? → 00:35:12 - How did she find out they had lost everything? → 00:35:12 - How did she find out they had lost everything? → 00:39:44 - What do you do after your entire life falls apart? → 00:44:34 - Why did she need her own attorney? → 00:49:18 - What was it like during the federal investigation? → 00:55:05 - How do you tell your children their father is going to prison? → 01:00:08 - How did she prepare her family for prison? → 01:04:00 - What happened when the first victim came to their door? → 01:08:54 - How dangerous did things become after the fraud was exposed? → 01:13:50 - How much money was stolen? → 01:17:20 - Why did she refuse to hide her jewelry? → 01:21:22 - How was she cleared by the government? → 01:23:12 - Why did her family move to Utah? → 01:27:00 - How did sharing her story help her heal? → 01:30:20 - How do you help your children recover from trauma? → 01:33:18 - Why is forgiveness the key to moving forward? → 01:35:02 - When did the shame finally disappear? → 01:36:44 - How did rebuilding her life lead to new opportunities? → 01:39:24 - Is recovery possible after losing everything? → 01:44:26 - How much prison time did her ex-husband serve? → 01:46:12 - Was it difficult to trust and love again? → 01:49:30 - How did she meet her current husband? → 01:50:52 - What does Andrea want others to know? Further Listening → I Sent My Boyfriend’s Brother to Prison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQRab4JgnZg YouTube More We Are All Insane: → OFFICIAL MERCH NOW AVAILABLE - code INSANE10 gets you 10% off for a limited time: https://shop.wereallinsane.com → Join We’re All Insane Mailing List for EXCLUSIVE Content + Discounts: https://mailchi.mp/6d0e5d7a3998/were-all-insane