Surviving Trauma and the Journey to Healing- Johnzelle Anderson

Johnzelle Anderson grew up mixed race in 1990s Roanoke, Virginia feeling like an outsider in every room. Born to a disengaged West African father and a volatile white mother, he experienced childhood abuse, neglect, and racism. The only safety he had was his grandmother's love and an inner voice that promised a better future.‎Now he is a licensed therapist and the author of Mixtape: A Memoir– a raw, lyrical story told in tracks instead of chapters. It is a coming-of-age story about survival, identity, and healing.‎‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:‎- What it felt like to grow up mixed race in 1990s Virginia‎- The role of music and rhythm as survival tools‎- How a grandmother's love kept hope alive‎- The journey from trauma to becoming a therapist‎- A life-changing trip to Ghana to find lost roots‎- How to unlearn and rewrite the soundtrack of your life‎- What it means to parent differently than you were parented‎- One thing you can do today to start rewriting your own story‎If you have ever felt like an outsider or wanted to rewrite the story of your past this conversation is for you.‎Your past does not have to be your permanent soundtrack. You can unlearn. You can heal. You can rewrite the songs that play in your head.‎‎Connect with Johnzelle Anderson‎Website: johnzelle.co‎Book: Mixtape: A Memoir (available on the website)‎instargram: Johnzelle_‎‎Follow and rate the show