Dumb Girl No More: From Childhood Trauma to Gun Safety Advocate

This episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast features a powerful conversation between host Dave Roberts and guest Heidi Yewman. The discussion explores Heidi’s journey from surviving childhood trauma and abuse to becoming a passionate advocate for gun safety. Heidi shares her personal story, the impact of her upbringing, and how those experiences shaped her advocacy work, including her book "Dumb Girl" and her documentary "Behind the Bullet." The episode delves into the importance of empathy, listening without judgment, and finding common ground on polarizing issues like gun violence. Through candid storytelling, both host and guest highlight the resilience required to overcome adversity and the transformative power of sharing one’s story to inspire healing and change.Heidi's Bio and Contact InformationHeidi Yewman has dedicated 26 years to advocating for trauma survivors, witha passion for gun violence prevention ignited in 1999 when her former basketball coach and teacher, Dave Sanders, was tragically killed alongside 12 students in the Columbine High School massacre. An award-winning director and producer of the documentary “Behind the Bullet,” Heidi has also authored the book “Beyond the Bullet: Personal Stories of Gun Violence Aftermath” and contributed numerous articles highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence on victims and their families. As a board member of Brady United Against Gun Violence, Women Donors Network, Develop Africa, and the Trauma Intervention Program, Heidi has combined deep empathy with extensive experience in trauma work and community organizing to foster more meaningful conversations about gun violence. She approaches advocacy with fresh perspectives, aiming to create solutions rooted in compassion and dialogue. Her writing has appeared in USA Today, Ms. Magazine, The Seattle Times, The Oregonian, and The Huffington Post. Her widely recognized four-part series, "My Month with a Gun," was published in Ms. Magazine, The Daily Beast, and The Denver Post. Her debut memoir, “Dumb Girl,” will be published August 2025. Website - https://heidiyewman.com/ Book trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwgh-FmluQ4 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heidiyewmanauthor/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572729608602 BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/heidiyewmanauthor.bsky.social Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220630538-dumb-girl Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Dumb-Girl-Journey-Childhood-Advocacy/dp/1647429420/ Behind The Bullet Documentary: Can be found on amazon to rent or buyBookshop - https://bookshop.org/p/books/dumb-girl-a-journey-from-childhood-abuse-to-gun-control-advocacy-heidi-yewman/7cc465fa041d5442