Episode 246: Burak Yilmaz

Burak Yilmaz grew up in a very small town in Turkey and was best friends with his beautiful, glamorous mother: she taught him fashion, makeup, and hair, and would dress him in outfits to match her. But when he was five years old, Burak's mother left, launching him into a real-life Cinderella story, complete with a literal wicked (read: abusive) stepmother. In addition to his stepmother, Burak also endured abuse at the religious boarding school he was shipped off to, later documenting his experiences in a best-selling Turkish memoir that he wrote under a pen name. But when his identity was discovered, Burak was captured and imprisoned. He shares his incredible story of perseverance, culminating in his recently released book, "If My Mother Never Left." Also, the debt that Miley Cyrus owes him for her new hit single!

(TW: child abuse)

Follow Burak on Instagram at @burakny212, and look for "If My Mother Never Left" (available soon in audio form) on Burak's website (https://burak212.com/), Amazon, or wherever else you buy books online!