When Freedom of Speech Becomes Fear


In this episode of Living Richardson, Sam unpacks what it feels like when the right to speak stops feeling safe. From the murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, to a local uproar over coach-led prayer, the headlines aren’t just news, they’re personal.
As a mom of three, a volunteer cheer coach, and someone who has been sued, gagged, and even held in contempt of court for speaking out, Sam shares her full story: the neighbor dispute that spiraled into a two-year legal battle, the camera that invaded her family’s privacy, and how she unexpectedly became known online as the “Queen of the Glory Holes.”
This is an honest and raw conversation about trauma, resilience, and refusing to be silenced. It’s about the cost of free speech, the power of community, and why silence never protected any of us.