Choosing Forgiveness: Madeleine Black on Healing After Sexual Violence

from Speak Shame with Dr Connie Kerali · host Dr Connie Kerali

At 13, Madeleine Black was gang-raped. For decades, shame kept her silent, but she came to realise: the shame was never hers to carry. In this powerful episode, Dr Connie is joined by two-time TEDx speaker and author of Unbroken, Madeleine Black, who made the extraordinary decision to forgive the men who raped her – not for them, but for herself.Madeleine shares her journey from trauma, silence, and a psychiatric ward at 14, to writing her book and speaking on global stages about sexual violence and shame. Expect a raw, honest conversation about healing, forgiveness, finding your voice, and why sharing your story is one of the most powerful things you can do.This episode will remind you: it's not what happens to us, it's what we do with it.00:00 Content Warning00:39 Meet the Host and Guest02:43 The Night Everything Changed03:46 Aftermath and Survival04:57 The Impact of Shame06:24 Finding a Voice and Love10:37 Going Public and Forgiveness14:23 Ripple Effects and Writing Unbroken17:46 Advice for Healing19:17 Resilience and Family Legacy21:39 Where to Find Madeleine22:04 Remarkable Woman Inspiration23:15 Closing and Resources MADELEINE BLACK· Instagram: @madblack65· Website: MadeleineBlack.co.uk UK SUPPORT SERVICES• In an emergency, dial 999; for non-emergencies or dial 101 (UK only)• Find your nearest NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centre• Find an NHS Talking Therapy service near you or contact your GP surgery• Charities: Mind, The Samaritans, Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, or Victim SupportGET IN TOUCHJoin the community:@DrConnieKerali on InstagramSign up for my Born Worthy newsletter to get your weekly dose of empowerment.Are you ready to break free from the shame that keeps you stuck? My free, on-demand, Shame Resilience Workshop is for Remarkable Women who are tired of hiding parts of themselves and are ready to step into a life of authenticity, courage, & self-compassion.Hello Remarkable Woman, do you know your story matters but don't know how to tell it yet? Join The Storytellers Club, a free, private community hub to discover the power hidden in your story through creativity & connection.

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This episode is 24 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 17, 2026.

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