A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast

Rise From The Ashes: Resilience of the Children of 9/11

It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly 20 years since the 9/11 attacks took place in New York City in 2001. Traumatic events like this become imprinted in our minds. Some choose to forget, especially if we are directly affected. But if an event like this becomes so ingrained in a person’s mind who was almost 1000 miles away from the tragedy, what can something like this do to a person who is directly affected? What about the people who grow to love them, the ones who experience secondary trauma?

Payton Lynch, Author of the recently released book, Rise from the Ashes: Stories of trauma, resilience, and growth from the children of 9/11, who is also the spouse of a 9/11 surviving child describes what she has learned from the children personally affected by such a public tragedy.

Coming to Terms with Trauma

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, I wanted to invite a former ATSTP guest, Matthew John Bocchi. Last year, he released the first memoir written by a surviving child of a 9/11 victim. This year Sway is being re-released in paperback.

Sway details the tragic event of Matt losing his father during the 9/11 attacks, the manipulation and sexual abuse by an uncle, drug addiction redemption, and sobriety. Matt joins us today to update us on his life after his perpetrator is released from prison, sobriety, how he is honoring his father 20 years after his death, and his latest endeavors.

Justice Over Childhood Sexual Abuse

Children are reluctant to report abuse for fear of not being believed or even worse, being punished. What if the abuse is by the hands of a close family member? From my own experience, I understand the fear of living with an abuser and the manipulation it took to keep me quiet.

Today, Child Advocate Kathy Picard joins me and she is the author of “Life with My Idiot Family: A True Story of Survival Courage and Justice over Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Black Men In America: How to Navigate Discrimination

Throughout my podcast, my focus has not only been to destigmatize mental illness but to also to provide different perspectives to elicit empathy and compassion. When we are fully able to be curious, we begin to develop a better understanding of others.

 

D. John Jackson joins me today, he is a Fortune 50 leader, creative visionary, who is an executive producer of documentary films, an author, a strategist, a futurist thinker, a lecturer, and a motivational speaker. He is also the founder of 5J Entertainment, a company committed to educating, informing, entertaining, and promoting positive images of African Americans through various forms of media. Its first film documentary, What About Me, explores the untold, unheard, distorted, and misunderstood stories of Black men in America.

Psychedelic Integration (Part 3)

This is Part 3 of my 3-part podcast series in my MDMA experience. Heather Smith, my  Internal Family Systems therapist and Psychedelic Integrative therapist joins A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast to discuss MDMA's ability to heal trauma and how to integrate the experience post MDMA session.

 

We discuss transformational growth or post traumatic growth and other ways this sacred drug can mental health conditions.

Psychedelic Integration (Part 2)

In part 2 of my 3-part podcast series, I have invited Deborah Servetnick, Transformational and Psychedelic Integrative Coach on A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast. Deborah is a cancer survivor and was part of the Johns Hopkins Research in psychedelic therapy. Deborah joins the show to discuss the psychedelic experience to heal the soul.

Psychedelic Integration (Part 1)

This is the first of my 3-part podcast series in my MDMA experience. Methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA) is commonly known as ecstasy (E) or molly. This episode discusses what I did to prep with my personal trauma therapist, Internal Family Systems Therapist, and Psychedelic Integrative Therapist, Heather Smith. 

In my journey to healing, I have been privileged enough to explore the many treatment
modalities out there, including having MDMA to support my work in therapy. 

In my search for more information about MDMA assisted therapy, I realized Internal Family Systems, or IFS therapy was effective in the preparation of the treatment as well as integration afterward.

Psilocybin's Therapeutic Rebirth

My search for alternative trauma treatments from my own childhood sexual abuse led me to so many modalities: EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, Neurofeedback, and so much more. But nothing intrigued me as much as psychedelic-assisted therapy, which includes MDMA, LSD and psilocybin mushrooms, and ketamine among others. 

In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast, Eric Osborne discusses the benefits of Psilocybin. Osborne is the Founder of PLEDG, Inc. a US-based nonprofit dedicated to providing legal psilocybin assisted therapy to those in need and co-founder of the Psanctuary Sacred Mushroom Church.    

 

Neurostimulation Therapy: Treating Mental Health with Electrical Stimulation

In my quest to find alternative therapies and even medications to help mental health, I’ve been testing out a neurostimulation device that you wear for 20 minutes a day to treat insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

Today's guest is Kelly Roman Co-founder and CEO of Fisher Wallace Laboratories which created the wearable neurostimulation device. He discusses how it works, its benefits, and its side effects.

Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention with RAINN

Everyday hundreds of Americans are affected by Sexual Violence.

RAINN, the Rape Assault Incest National Network is an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence every day of the year. However, in April during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, RAINN is asking you to be a part of the conversation.

Ebonique Bethea joins A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast to discuss education and resources available to survivors. Bethea serves as the Clinical Director at RAINN, providing guidance and oversight on clinical, and trauma-informed services.