Trauma Uncensored

Your nervous system was never working against you. Every survival response you developed -- the freeze, the shutdown, the hypervigilance -- served a purpose. It helped you make it. EMDR therapist Alice Stricklin joins Brooke to break down how trauma actually gets stored in the body, why it gets stuck, and what it really takes to process it. This is not a conversation about reliving the past. It's a conversation about finally being free in the present.Content NotesThis episode discusses PTSD, complex trauma, childhood trauma, nervous system dysregulation, survival responses, dissociation, and suicidal ideation (briefly referenced by Brooke in the context of her own healing journey). Listener discretion is advised.Timestamps 00:00  EMDR is not about the past01:37  Meet Alice Stricklin02:24  What EMDR is and how it was discovered 09:51  Your nervous system's survival responses: fight, flight, freeze, collapse 20:32  How trauma gets stored and stuck in the body 25:17  How EMDR works: the two memory networks explained 37:30  Bilateral stimulation: what actually happens in a session 44:50  The key to EMDR: staying in the present moment 47:27  What Alice wants every listener to knowConnect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.com Instagram: @traumauncensored YouTube: @traumauncensored TikTok: @traumauncensored Email the team: [email protected] Email Brooke: [email protected] the GuestAlice Stricklin is a licensed EMDR therapist with 17 years of clinical experience specializing in complex PTSD, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation. She works with individuals who carry the weight of both early childhood trauma and adult traumatic experiences, helping them build the internal resources needed to process what got stuck. Alice approaches healing with deep respect for the ways people learned to survive, and her work centers on honoring those adaptations while helping the nervous system find new options. She is one of the practitioners recommended by Brooke's own EMDR therapist, Lori Hoven.Connect with Alice StricklinWebsite: https://www.alicestricklin.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063789169941# Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicestricklincounseling/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQGPlsE834R0hUlh-2gYedAAbout the HostBrooke Scherer | Creator and HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also a mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke's world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: A space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.IF THIS EPISODE HIT HOME: Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who has ever been told their anxiety or reactions are "too much" without anyone asking what made them that way. WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY? Reach out at [email protected] or email Brooke directly at [email protected] RESOURCES: If you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or text "START" to 88788.

Secondary trauma, first responder marriages, and the invisible weight of the spouse's role — this is what it actually costs to love someone who runs toward danger for a living. Kate Carr has been married to Boston Police Officer Chris Carr for 16 years. In this episode, she shares why she calls the worst day of their marriage a blessing, how she built a life strong enough to hold both of them, and the one line about counting down to retirement that will stop you cold.Content NotesThis episode discusses secondary trauma, law enforcement stress and PTSD, alcohol use and recovery, an active shooter incident, anxiety and emotional dysregulation in first responders, and the psychological impact of high-risk careers on families. Listener discretion is advised.0:00  Hot open: "That day to me was a blessing."5:51  The book Kate gives every new law enforcement spouse9:39  Why you have to be independent to be married to a police officer10:58  Kate's perspective on November 9, 202114:54  The day of the shooting: Kevin's phone call, the kids, "I'm okay"22:19  The Watertown standoff: the one time Kate actually panicked26:28  "I'm okay means I'm alive" — how the Carrs learned to communicate in crisis27:52  How they debrief: she watches the news, he tells her the wrong details31:11  Why Kate never asked for the details of the shooting: a healthy protective boundary32:04  The wives' debrief: "I only know how many years he has till he can retire"33:35  Why using your partner as your therapist is a relationship-breaker35:48  Protecting the kids: keeping them innocent as long as possible37:42  The 2020 anti-police climate and what it does to police families40:12  Don't read the commentsConnect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] mentionedThe Emotional Survival Guide for Law Enforcement Officers and Their Families by Kevin GilmartinAbout the GuestKate Carr  |  Police Spouse & Community BuilderKate Carr is a police spouse, mom of four, and the kind of woman who will hand you a book and change how you see your marriage.She has spent 16 years building community, protecting her kids, and standing beside a husband whose job never fully left the house. Kate is known in her law enforcement community for her honesty about the invisible weight spouses carry — and for the boundary she has kept for 16 years: she never asks for the details, and she has never needed to. The mission, she says, is knowing he's coming home. Everything else is his to carry.About the HostBrooke Scherer  |  Creator and HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also a mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke's world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: a space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.IF THIS EPISODE HIT HOME:Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who has ever been the one waiting at home for someone they love to walk through the door. It helps more people find these conversations.WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY?Reach out at [email protected] or email Brooke directly at [email protected].

HPV-related cancer diagnoses, all linked to his choices, all arriving while she was still processing the betrayal. In this episode, Eileen shares what it actually looks like to carry layered trauma in your body, why she refused to stay silent, and what she wants every woman to know about HPV before it’s too late.Content NotesThis episode discusses marital infidelity, sexual betrayal, HPV and HPV-related cancers, cancer treatment, complex PTSD, betrayal trauma, EMDR therapy, suicidal ideation (brief reference), and the pressure to stay silent after abuse. Listener discretion is advised.Connect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] the GuestEileen McGill Fox  |  HPV Awareness AdvocateEileen McGill Fox is a marriage and family therapy professional turned HPV cancer advocate who, after uncovering 30 years of deception in her marriage, was diagnosed with three HPV-related cancers linked to her husband’s secret life. She holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and has chosen to speak publicly about her experience because she believes silence is the second betrayal. Eileen is dedicated to HPV awareness, early detection, and reminding women that their story belongs to them.Connect with EileenFacebook: Eileen McGill FoxInstagram: @eileenfox_1X: @LilaFox14TikTok: @lilafox1011About the HostBrooke Scherer  |  Creator and HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also a mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke’s world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: a space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.IF THIS EPISODE HIT HOME:Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who has ever been told to stay quiet about something that was done to them. It helps more people find these conversations.WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY?Reach out at [email protected] or email Brooke directly at [email protected] RESOURCES:If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or text “START” to 88788.

Mandy Hamlin sent her 20-year-old son Cooper to a licensed, accredited rehab facility in California, charging $4,200 a day. She vetted it. She FaceTimed him the night before he died. The next afternoon, she found out he was gone through a voicemail. What followed wasn't just grief. It was the unraveling of a system that failed Cooper at every level, and a mother who refused to let it stay that way.Content Notes:This episode discusses fentanyl poisoning, substance use and addiction, the death of a child, rehab facility negligence, grief, trauma, the criminal justice system, and parental loss. Listener discretion is advised.00:00 Meet Mandy Hamlin 00:02:03 Who was Cooper? 00:06:58 When things started to change 00:10:02 A nervous system with no outlet: trauma, Covid, and the quiet 00:17:20 Cooper and Mandy vet the facility together 00:20:25 Inside the facility: what $4,200 a day actually looked like 00:24:50 The voicemail 00:26:25 What Cooper's MacBook revealed 00:31:22 Blowing up California: Mandy contacts the state investigator 00:32:37 Tracking down the dealer for $14 00:40:29 The federal indictment and the plea deal 00:44:04 A $2,500 fine and a facility that never closed 00:44:54 The scam hiding in plain sight: rehab fraud and your insurance 00:46:10 Parenting him now: how advocacy became Mandy's missionWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] the GuestMandy Hamlin is a mother and advocate. In 2023, she lost her youngest son Cooper to fentanyl poisoning while he was a patient at a licensed residential rehab facility in California. Rather than accepting a $2,500 fine as the system's final answer, Mandy launched a relentless pursuit of accountability, working with federal investigators, the DEA, and state agencies to see the drug dealer responsible sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. She now advocates for federally mandated transparency standards for rehab facilities so no family has to vet a program blindly again. Cooper was 20 years old.About the HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also a mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke’s world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: a space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.If this episode hit home: Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who has ever felt failed by a system that was supposed to help. It helps more people find these conversations.Want to share your story? Reach out at [email protected] or email Brooke directly at [email protected] you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Grief support and trauma healing take on a whole new dimension when you meet someone who has survived what most of us can barely imagine. Kelly Guay has lost her mother, her brother, a stillborn son, her husband, and her father — five profound losses spanning 17 years. And she is still standing.In this conversation, Kelly and Brooke explore what happens when grief keeps coming before you've finished grieving the last loss, how watching her own mother model resilience after tragedy became a blueprint Kelly didn't know she had, and why Kelly refuses to become "a miserable shrew" — even though nobody would blame her if she did.This episode is a masterclass in what it looks like to feel it fully, then ask: now what?Content Notes: This episode discusses multiple losses, stillbirth, spousal loss, grief resilience, faith, spirituality, and intergenerational healing. Listener discretion is advised.Timestamps:0:00 "It does not matter what your trauma is. It sucks."2:29 Walking through 25 years of loss2:50 Losing Mom and Brother (2001–2003): the depression Kelly didn't see coming4:37 Searching for healing: therapists, faith, and a skeptic's first visit to a medium11:12 The stillbirth of son at 36 weeks (2011)12:42 The dream that brought peace: Mom finally had a grandchild14:20 "At this point, I think I could lead the support group"16:20 Do prior losses prime you for future grief? Brooke and Kelly explore17:40 Losing Dad in 2018: the hardest one — "my last cheerleader"19:41 Brooke shares her own grief evolution and spirituality24:17 Kelly's mother lost her son David in 1971: "Good things can happen from bad things"26:34 How watching a grieving mother model joy shaped Kelly's entire foundation28:03 The parenting philosophy: feel it, then "now what?"Connect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] the HostBrooke Scherer | Creator and HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also a mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke's world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: A space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.IF THIS EPISODE RESONATEDSubscribe, share it with someone who's been carrying grief longer than they'd like to admit, and leave a review — it helps more people find these conversations.WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY?Reach out at [email protected] or email Brooke directly at [email protected] RESOURCESIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or text "START" to 88788.

What happens when the person helping families through death is quietly carrying grief of her own at home? Alisha sat with families in their most devastating moments while simultaneously managing a long-distance caregiving role for her mother—diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and given months to live. She lived two and a half years.This is a conversation about grief layered on grief, the weight of being the helper, generational trauma patterns, and what it actually looks like to protect yourself when your job is to hold other people’s worst days.Content Note: This episode discusses terminal illness, pediatric death, grief, compassion fatigue, caregiver burnout, childhood trauma, complicated family relationships, and end-of-life decision-making. Listener discretion is advised.Website: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] Mentioned in This EpisodeWhat Is a Genogram? https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-genogram-5217739Alisha McGuire is a pediatric palliative care social worker with nearly a decade of experience sitting alongside families in the most devastating moments of their lives. She entered the field during one of the hardest seasons of her own—simultaneously managing long-distance caregiving for her mother, who had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer with multiple metastases and given only months to live.Her mother chose palliative radiation over aggressive treatment, and defied expectations by living two and a half years—time that allowed Alisha to do something she hadn’t been able to do before: let go of the pain in their complicated relationship and be truly present.What she calls “the knowing”—a deeper empathy earned through living through profound loss—has fundamentally changed the way she shows up for grieving families. As a new mother herself, Alisha is now navigating the same generational patterns she helps others recognize, and speaking openly about what witnessing pediatric death every day is doing to her nervous system.Her work is a reminder that the helpers grieve too, and that there is no sustainability without honest reckoning with what this work costs.Brooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also a mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke’s world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: a space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.If this episode hit home: Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who is carrying the weight of caregiving, grief, or a job that asks too much of their heart. It helps more people find these conversations.Want to share your story? Reach out at [email protected] or email Brooke directly at [email protected] you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Childhood trauma doesn't just shape your past; it shapes who you think you deserve to become. For Marla Grant, it shaped 27 years of surviving domestic violence, PTSD, complex trauma, and the calculated plan it took to finally leave. This isn't a trauma healing story with a clean arc. It's a real-life story about staying because leaving felt more dangerous, dealing with grief you're not allowed to name, and the healing journey that starts when you finally have nothing left to lose.Content Notes:This episode discusses domestic violence, sexual assault, childhood trauma, emotional abuse, alcoholism, generational trauma, and survival. Listener discretion is advised.Connect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] the GuestMarla Grant is a crisis counselor, grief coach, and domestic violence survivor who spent 27 years in an abusive marriage before leaving at age 48 with nothing but her life, her children, and $16,000 in debt. Her story isn't about one breaking point. It's about the slow accumulation of control, violence, and hypervigilance that defined her adult life, and the childhood patterns that set her up to accept it all as normal.At 21, Marla married a man fresh out of Vietnam with unaddressed trauma, alcoholism, and a sex addiction she didn't yet have the language to name. Over nearly three decades, she learned to manage his volatility, protect her children, and calculate when it would finally be safe enough to leave. That moment came after a sexual assault, weeks after he threw a leaded crystal glass at her shoulder hard enough to send her to the emergency room.Today, Marla uses her lived experience to help others navigate grief, loss, and the long road to acceptance after trauma. She works as a crisis counselor and supports clients through the kind of pain she once carried alone. Her approach is grounded in the belief that acceptance doesn't mean condoning what happened. It means refusing to let it rule your life.Marla's work is a reminder that healing doesn't follow a timeline, survival takes many forms, and you don't owe anyone an explanation for how long it took you to save yourself.About the HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also a mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke's world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: A space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.If this episode hit home: Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who (fill in specific content). It helps more people find these conversations.Want to share your story? Reach out at [email protected] or email Brooke directly at [email protected] you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

We've all heard it: 'He's just being a boy' or 'He'll grow out of it.' But what if he doesn't? What if that 'phase' is actually deeply rooted shame? Today, therapist Jarrod Hoffman joins us to pull back the curtain on the silent epidemic facing teen boys.At 11 years old, Jarrod found pornography. Or more accurately, it found him. What started as curiosity quickly became a numbing mechanism after his parents divorced, a pattern that followed him for years. In this raw conversation, Jarrod shares his journey from a boy desperate to be seen, through years of hidden shame and addiction, to becoming a therapist who now helps other teen boys break the same cycle.If you're raising a son, mentoring a teen, or carrying this story yourself, this conversation is a roadmap for healing before the patterns become permanent.Content Notes: This episode discusses divorce, pornography addiction, childhood trauma, shame, mental health challenges, and sexual behavior. Listener discretion is advised.Connect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] Mentioned in This EpisodeUnwanted by Jay Stringer - https://a.co/d/0ji7xUySFight the New Drug - fightthenewdrug.org.20 Questions to Evaluate Sexual Addiction https://www.sa.org/Free Parent Quiz - https://jarrodhoffman.com/does-my-teen-need-therapy/Newsletter: https://jarrodhoffman.com/About the Guest: Jarrod Hoffman is a licensed therapist in Tennessee who specializes in working with teenage boys navigating pornography addiction, unwanted sexual behavior, and trauma. His work is deeply personal: at 11 years old, Jarrod was exposed to pornography shortly after his parents' divorce, and what started as curiosity became a numbing mechanism that followed him into adulthood. After years of wrestling with shame in isolation, Jarrod found healing through therapy, EMDR, and the realization that his story could help others break the same cycle.Today, Jarrod works with adolescent boys in person and virtually across Tennessee, helping them understand the root stories behind their behaviors rather than just treating symptoms. He uses play therapy, curiosity-driven exploration, and evidence-based modalities to meet teens where they are, not where adults want them to be. Jarrod also created a free quiz for parents called 'Does Your Teen Need Therapy?' to help families identify when typical adolescent behavior has crossed into something deeper.His approach is rooted in the belief that shame thrives in secrecy, and that the question isn't 'What's wrong with you?' but 'What happened to you?' For Jarrod, helping teen boys heal means helping them feel seen, often for the first time.Connect with Jarrod at jarrodhoffman.com.About the Host: Brooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also a mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke's world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.If this episode hit home: Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. It helps more people find these conversations.Want to share your story? Reach out at [email protected] or email Brooke directly at [email protected] you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Rita Peters lost her husband Shawn to familial ALS in February 2022. Four months later, she lost his younger brother to the same disease. In this conversation, Rita walks Brooke through what it actually feels like to grieve someone every day for months before they are gone, why year two of widowhood broke her body in ways she never expected, and the moment her son told her she had “made a museum” out of their home that finally cracked her open to healing.This episode is for anyone navigating anticipatory grief, caregiver burnout, sudden identity loss, or the messy nonlinear work of rebuilding yourself after the person who shaped you is gone. Rita is a prosecutor, mother, and now first-time author whose honesty about therapy, shopping addiction, chronic pain, and figuring out “what kind of eggs she likes” will stay with you long after the credits roll.Connect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] Warning: This episode discusses terminal illness, caregiving, anticipatory grief, death, and genetic disease risk.About the GuestRita Peters is a career prosecutor, mother of two, and author whose life was upended in 2021 when her husband Shawn was diagnosed with familial ALS, the same disease that had taken his father and would take his younger brother just months after Shawn's death in February 2022. Rita served as Shawn's primary caregiver while continuing to prosecute sex crimes and human trafficking cases, then walked a four-year road through grief, identity loss, and what she calls reinvention. She wrote a book about her ALS journey as her own form of therapy and now speaks openly about anticipatory grief, caregiver trauma, and the lifelong reality of carrying genetic risk forward to her children.About the HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke's world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: a space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.

Brooke sits down with Chris Carr, a 20 year Boston Police officer whose career spans patrol, special operations, SWAT, and now the academy. Chris shares how law enforcement ran in his family, then walks through the moment his “normal day” in 2021 turned into gunfire through a door and an image that still lives in his body. From there, the conversation moves into what happened after the scene cleared, panic attacks, night terrors, drinking, and the fear of losing control. Chris and Brooke also talk about the stigma of being seen as weak, why peer support can feel risky even when it exists, and how the job can desensitize you in ways your family feels first. Brooke connects that to her own dad, and what she misunderstood for years after Logan’s death. This episode is a grounded look at what trauma does over time and what changes when you finally let someone in.In This Episode We ExploreFamily legacy and the path into policing;A 2021 barricaded call that changed everything;Panic attacks, night terrors, and the cost of holding it in;Stigma, peer support, and the fear of looking weak;Desensitization and the impact on families.Connect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] Warning: This episode includes discussion of gun violence, an officer involved shooting scene, workplace trauma, panic attacks and night terrors, alcohol use, strong language, and the impact of cumulative trauma on families.About the GuestChris Carr is a 20-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, with experience in patrol, SWAT, Special Operations, and now the Police Academy. Coming from a multi-generational law enforcement family, Chris built what many would see as a dream career, while quietly carrying the weight of cumulative trauma. In 2021, a call where three teammates were shot in front of him forced everything to the surface. What followed were night terrors, panic attacks, and emotional collapse. With the support of his wife and team, he sought help and began healing through EMDR. Today, Chris has stepped away from SWAT, prioritizes his family, and serves as an academy instructor, using his story to mentor the next generation.About the HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke's world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: a space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke sits down with Cassie Dobbs, a licensed professional counselor, registered art therapist, and fellow in thanatology with Riley Grief Services at Riley Children’s Health. Cassie shares how losing her dad at 18 shaped her path, and why art became the place she could go when words were not enough. Brooke reflects on Mallory’s grief journey, the role Riley Grief Services played for their family, and why kids often need a space that is not home, not school, and not their parents to say what they are carrying. Together they talk about how creativity can restore a sense of choice and control after a loss, how making something with your hands can open conversations that feel impossible, and why peer support matters so much for kids and teens. The episode also explores continuing bonds, including how siblings can stay connected to a brother or sister they lost, even when they never met them.In This Episode We ExploreHow art therapy helps when words are not enough;Choice and control as healing tools after loss;Continued bonds, keeping a loved one present in everyday life;Supporting bereaved siblings, including kids who never met the sibling they grieve;Peer support, grief camps, and why community changes outcomesConnect with Trauma UncensoredWebsite: traumauncensored.comInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @traumauncensoredEmail the team: [email protected] Brooke: [email protected] Warning: This episode includes discussion of child loss and bereaved siblings, substance use disorder and a parent’s death, traumatic grief, divorce, and mental health topics including anxiety, OCD, and coping in long-term grief. Listener discretion is advised.About the GuestCassie Dobbs is a licensed professional counselor, registered art therapist, and Fellow in Thanatology (the study of death, grief, and loss). Cassie works with Riley Grief Services at Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis, where she supports children and families navigating some of the most difficult and emotional moments of their lives. Through the loss of her, Cassie found healing through art, which led her to find work in grief counseling and art therapy. Cassie helps people process loss in ways that often go beyond words, creating space for expression, understanding, and healing when grief feels overwhelming.National Alliance for Children’s Grief: https://nacg.org/American Art Therapy Association: https://arttherapy.org/Doug Center: https://www.dougy.org/Coalition to Support Grieving Students: https://grievingstudents.org/About the HostBrooke Scherer is the creator and host of the Trauma Uncensored Podcast, where she leads honest, unfiltered conversations about trauma, grief, mental health, and healing. She is also mother to Logan, Mallory, and Mila.In 2016, Brooke's world was shattered when her son Logan was killed by a distracted driver. In the silence that followed, she found a culture unequipped to talk about child loss, grief, and trauma in any honest way. That silence became her mission.Brooke built Trauma Uncensored to offer what she once needed most: a space to speak openly, without judgment, timelines, or expectation. Through her own story and conversations with survivors, mental health professionals, and others whose lives have been permanently altered, she reminds listeners they are not alone.She believes trauma permanently changes us, but it does not have to define the limits of our lives.

For Episode 50, Brooke takes us back to the beginning. This is a rerun of Episode 1, the first time she shared the story that started Trauma Uncensored, the day her family’s life split into “before” and “after.” Brooke and Andres explain why the show exists, healing out loud, telling the hard stories, and building a place where people feel less alone. Brooke recounts the violent crash that killed her nine-year-old son, Logan, and why she refuses to call it an accident. She shares what she remembers, what she smelled when she woke up, the frantic scan of the car, the moment her body went into pure survival, and the lifelong imprint of what she saw that day. The episode also touches on why this case became a landmark distracted driving conviction years later, and why Brooke believes the fight is bigger than one family.In this episode we explore:The mission of Trauma Uncensored, and what “healing out loud” meansBrooke’s “before and after” life, and the day everything changedWhy language matters, accident vs. preventable crashGraphic reality, trauma memory, and survival responsesDistracted driving accountability, and why this story continues_____________________________________________________________Email Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠Be a guest: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredWebsite, Merch, & More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.traumauncensored.com/⁠⁠⁠_____________________________________________________________Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of child death, graphic descriptions of a fatal car crash scene, severe injuries, CPR attempts, traumatic grief, and strong language.If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes back John Kinsey and Carolyn Clennon for a raw, honest conversation about what first responder work really looks like after the adrenaline wears off. They talk about expectation versus reality, how a “sick person” call can become a cardiac arrest, and why you learn to make decisions fast even when you do not have perfect information. John shares how the job can tax relationships and emotions over time, and Carolyn explains why confidence and compartmentalization are often survival tools, not coldness. Brooke connects the conversation to her own crash, what she misunderstood for years, and how compassion can grow when you finally understand the system behind the scene. They also unpack misconceptions, the difference between EMT and paramedic, why people should stop calling them ambulance drivers, and what it takes to protect your nervous system before the bucket overflows.In this episode we explore:How the job changes you, at work and at home;Compartmentalization, confidence, and desensitization;Triage decisions, urban vs rural realities, and unseen limitations;Boundaries, balance, and what helps keep the bucket from spilling;Misconceptions about EMS and what deserves more respect._____________________________________________________________Email Us: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Be a guest: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases⁠⁠Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredWebsite, Merch, & More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.traumauncensored.com/⁠⁠_____________________________________________________________Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of child death, traumatic crash response, graphic injury references, suicide and suicide-related language, substance use and alcoholism, and first responder trauma, stress, and burnout.If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke is joined by Stephen Teal, a retired firefighter with 32 years in the fire service, to talk about what first responders carry and what finally forces it into the open. Stephen explains how humor and compartmentalization became the default coping tools, until one unexpected trigger hit his body like a warning light. From there, the conversation moves into what actually helps, peer support that understands the job, debriefing that is accessible, and a culture shift where it is normal to admit a call affected you. Stephen also shares the work he stepped into in his last years of service, helping expand recovery pathways, reduce overdose harm, and connect people with treatment through mobile outreach, peer programs, and medication-assisted treatment. This episode is both a reality check and a lifeline, for first responders, families, and anyone carrying too much alone.In this episode we explore:Why pediatrics and family calls hit differently, and how triggers show upHumor, compartmentalization, and what happens when the bucket overflowsPeer support programs that meet crews right after the hard callsSubstance use stigma, Narcan realities, and why compassion changes outcomesTaking the first step to ask for help before it gets worse_____________________________________________________________Stephen's Links:CORE Network: https://www.flcorenetwork.com/_____________________________________________________________Email Us: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Be a guest: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases⁠⁠Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredWebsite, Merch, & More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.traumauncensored.com/⁠⁠_____________________________________________________________Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of first responder trauma and PTSD, pediatric medical emergencies and child death, graphic injury references, suicide and suicide-related language, overdose response and Narcan, substance use disorder and medication-assisted treatment, and stigma in recovery.If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke is joined by Elizabeth “Liz” Boring, a licensed social worker and Fellow in Thanatology who supports families through Riley Grief Services at Riley Children’s Health. Brooke shares how Liz’s presence shaped her own grief journey, including small acts of remembrance that mattered more than people realize. Together they break down what thanatology is, why grief is not a mental health disorder, and how society’s discomfort with death can leave bereaved families isolated. Liz gently corrects common misconceptions, especially the idea that grief should shrink with time, and offers a more honest picture: the loss stays, but your capacity to carry it can grow. They also talk about why the dominant emotion in grief is often longing, why that longing is frequently misunderstood, and how families can navigate different grief styles under one roof. The episode closes with practical guidance for supporting grieving children and showing up for people when you do not know what to say.In this episode we explore:What thanatology is and why grief education matters;Why grief has no timeline, and what actually changes over time;Longing versus sadness, and why that distinction matters;Different grief styles inside families, and how to communicate needs;Supporting grieving kids with honesty, preparation, and the right resources._____________________________________________________________Liz's Guest Links:National Alliance for Children's Grief: https://nacg.org/National Coalition to Support Grieving Students: https://grievingstudents.org/What's Your Grief: https://whatsyourgrief.com/_____________________________________________________________Email Us: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Be a guest: ⁠[email protected]⁠Newsletter: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases⁠Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredWebsite, Merch, & More: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.traumauncensored.com/⁠_____________________________________________________________Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of child loss and bereaved parenting, traumatic grief, longing and complicated emotions, references to suicidal-sounding statements as an expression of grief (not a diagnosis), and guidance for supporting grieving children and families.If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke sits down with Glenn Davis, a Florida firefighter-paramedic and longtime EMS educator, for a candid conversation about cumulative trauma and the moment his body finally said “enough.” Glenn describes his first PTSD collapse at home, the calls that quietly piled up behind the scenes, and how hard it was to admit he could teach about mental health while still missing it in himself. He also shares the role his wife played in keeping him alive, creating a safe space, pushing him to debrief, and helping him name what he was carrying. The episode turns toward what changed everything, a treatment journey Glenn calls a game changer, and what it felt like when the noise in his head finally quieted after decades. Glenn also explains why he is speaking now, the colleagues he has lost, the stigma that keeps people silent, and the hope that one more person can choose help before it is too late.In this episode we explore:Cumulative trauma and the first PTSD collapse at home;Triggers, flashbacks, and why pediatric calls hit differently;Marriage, faith, and building real support inside the home;TMS explained in plain language, plus sleep and nervous system recovery;Stigma, suicide loss in the profession, and why Glenn is telling the truth now.Glenn's Guest Links:eTMS Florida https://etmsflorida.com/JLC Services https://jlcservicesinc.net/Glenn's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gdavis09/Email Us: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Be a guest: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases⁠⁠Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredWebsite, Merch, & More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.traumauncensored.com/⁠⁠Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of PTSD, cumulative trauma in first responders, pediatric medical trauma, depression, suicidality, suicide loss of colleagues, sleep deprivation, and treatment discussion including transcranial magnetic stimulation.If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke sits down with her longtime friend Carolyn Clennon, a paramedic in Indianapolis, for an honest look at what EMS work asks of a person over time. Carolyn shares what paramedic school demanded, how quickly burnout can build when you are expected to reset and go right back in service, and why the gap in support can feel louder than the sirens. She also talks about the double standard in how lifesaving work gets recognized, and what that does to morale when you are carrying hard calls day after day. Brooke and Carolyn make space for the human side of the job, the moments you cannot unsee, the questions people should stop asking, and the practical kinds of care that actually help. The episode ends with a reminder that lands softly but hits deep, sometimes the most powerful thing you can offer is not a procedure. It is comfort.In this episode we explore:What paramedic school and 911 work demand over time;Burnout, back-to-service pressure, and why support must be proactive;Recognition gaps and the “just your job” double standard;Prevention and public education that could save lives;Why comfort is part of care.Email Us: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Be a guest: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases⁠⁠Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredWebsite, Merch, & More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.traumauncensored.com/⁠⁠Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of traumatic medical calls, workplace stress and burnout, suicide, overdose response and Narcan, pediatric cardiac arrest and infant death, and preventable infant safety risks.If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke finally does the deep-dive episode listeners have been asking for, an EMDR-focused conversation with Alice, an EMDR specialist recommended by Brooke’s own therapist. Brooke shares how EMDR first entered her life after Logan’s death, why she was too hijacked for it to land back then, and what changed when she returned to it years later alongside ketamine therapy. She also shares a personal update about filing for divorce, and how EMDR helped her connect present-day patterns to childhood wounds and the belief that love is not safe. From there, Alice breaks down EMDR in plain language, where it came from, what trauma responses look like in the body, why some people develop PTSD and others do not, and what complex PTSD really means. They talk through frozen memories, adaptive versus maladaptive networks, the importance of preparation phases, and why EMDR is not about living in the past, it is about being present enough to heal what still gets triggered today.In this episode we explore:What EMDR is, how it started, and why it works;Fight, flight, freeze, collapse, and how trauma responses develop;Complex PTSD and how repeated danger reshapes the nervous system;Why prep and resourcing matter before reprocessing;Letting go of control and staying present during healing.Alice Guest Links: Website: https://www.alicestricklin.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063789169941#Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicestricklincounseling/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQGPlsE834R0hUlh-2gYedAEmail Us: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Be a guest: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases⁠⁠Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredWebsite, Merch, & More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.traumauncensored.com/⁠⁠Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of child loss, divorce, childhood trauma, emotional abuse and unsafe caregiving, complex PTSD, dissociation, suicidal thoughts, OCD, and detailed discussion of trauma responses and treatment modalities including EMDR and ketamine therapy.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

In Part Two with Bri, Brooke returns to the day Rio was born and what happened after the C-section, when something felt wrong immediately and Andres was pulled into another room while Bri lay in recovery, waiting. Bri describes holding fear with an open hand, trying not to spiral into every “what if,” and the shock of navigating decisions while groggy, stitched up, and separated from her baby. Then the story widens into the grief that was already in motion: Bri’s mom’s dementia and the weight of bringing family into a NICU filled with alarms, other babies, and other parents living their own worst days. Bri shares one of the most tender moments of the episode, a brief window where her mom recognized her, lit up, and asked about the baby. Brooke and Bri talk about secondary losses, permission to feel anger, and why reframing is a practice, not a requirement, especially when you are exhausted.We explore:C-section aftermath, separation, and waiting for answersNICU overwhelm and how the environment intensifies fearDementia, grief, and the ache of the moments you do not getReframing fatigue, permission to feel it all, and grace for yourselfTrauma stored in the body, EMDR, movement, and bilateral tools.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: email [email protected]: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of traumatic birth and C-section recovery, NICU hospitalization and critically ill infants, fear of infant loss, dementia and caregiver stress, grief and secondary losses, anger in grief, and discussion of trauma responses and treatment tools including EMDR and somatic practices.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

This episode picks up right where last week left off, this time from Bri’s side of the story. Brooke sits with Bri, Andres’ wife and Rio’s mom, to talk about the quieter kind of trauma that can start long before a medical crisis: the waiting, the hoping, the expectations you did not realize you were holding. Bri shares what it felt like to navigate pregnancy fears, early bleeding, the pressure of “geriatric pregnancy” labels, and the grief of watching a carefully imagined birth plan unravel. From there, she walks through the intensity of trying to flip a breech baby, the pain and fear inside an ECV attempt, and the moment the C-section became unavoidable. Along the way, Bri and Brooke talk about how emotions are information, how healing is a practice, and what it means to stay present in uncertainty, especially when your body and your baby are both unknowns. The episode ends with a clear pivot: this is part one, and the hospital and NICU story continues next.In this episode, we explore:Pregnancy anxiety, expectations, and the grief under “normal” milestonesBreech birth, ECV attempts, and fear around anesthesia and controlC-section realities, dissociation, and what nobody prepares you forEmotional regulation, capacity, and staying honest in the unknownWhy this story continues, and what comes after dischargeEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of pregnancy anxiety and pregnancy loss fears, bleeding during pregnancy, fertility and IVF references, medical stigma, intense pain during a medical procedure, anesthesia and surgical risks, emergency C-section discussion, dissociation, infant medical concerns including NICU and surgery planning, and discussion of infant illness and infant death.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke sits down with producer Andres for an episode that feels like both a reunion and a turning point. Andres shares the first major trauma of his life, open-heart surgery at six years old, the moment he was told he was pronounced dead on the table, and what he remembers about the time that followed. From there, the conversation moves into how early medical trauma can echo for decades, shaping fear, avoidance, and the way the body reacts long after the crisis ends. Brooke and Andres also talk honestly about spirituality, the stories we are allowed to hold without being challenged, and how healing can change the charge around a memory, even if it never disappears. In the second half, Andres tells the story of his daughter Rio’s birth, the shock of an immediate NICU emergency, and how a lifetime of survival taught him how to stay calm when his child needed him most.We explore:Near-death experience, memory, and what can be hard to explainMedical trauma, triggers, and nervous system responses that lingerSpirituality, belief, and making room for different experiencesNICU realities, parenting under stress, and the power of supportPerspective without toxic positivity, and why choice still mattersEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of child loss, near-death experience, pediatric heart surgery and medical trauma, vomiting and pain, anxiety and OCD, spirituality and belief, traumatic birth and emergency C-section, NICU hospitalization, infant surgery and medical procedures, feeding tubes, and discussion of other critically ill infants and infant death.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes therapist and friend Tara for a candid conversation about loving her brother Cody, losing him to an accidental fentanyl overdose at 37, and learning how community holds what one person cannot. Tara shares growing up with two older brothers, the long arc of Cody’s addiction, and why highly sensitive people can be especially vulnerable. She explains addiction in plain language, comparing the brain’s pull to check a phone with the biochemical hijack of substances, and unpacks why “it is not your fault” and “it is still your work” can both be true. Together they talk Al-Anon and 12-step wisdom, practicing powerlessness without abandoning love, and the therapist’s careful use of self-disclosure. They also stay with continuing bonds after death, keeping a person as “is,” not “was,” and the everyday rituals that make space for grief and connection. The episode closes with part of Tara’s eulogy for Cody, a tender portrait beyond his illness.We explore:Addiction, sensitivity, and a clear, accessible brain-based explanationAl-Anon, powerlessness, and why community changes outcomesWhat therapists mean by self-disclosure, used as a tool for safetyContinuing bonds, “is not was,” and simple connection ritualsEncouragement for families living with addiction and after lossTara's Link:https://www.villagewellcounseling.com/work-with-taraEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of accidental fentanyl overdose, substance use disorder, Narcan use, grief, child loss, distracted-driving crash, OCD, medication and ketamine treatment, EMDR, Al-Anon, and 12-step recovery.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes Daniel for a candid conversation about growing up in chaos, choosing a different path in seventh grade, and what it took to build a steady life as an adult. Daniel describes a childhood shaped by addiction, violence around the home, and the day he drew a hard line and moved in with his grandmother. He shares the grief and complexity of his mother’s overdose, how therapy and ministry school helped him move from anger to forgiveness, and the role his marriage played in learning safety and consistency. Together, they talk about surrender over control, the long game of small daily changes, and forgiving people who could not be who you needed them to be. The episode closes with breaking generational patterns and practicing presence with their kids.We explore:Choosing a different path in seventh grade and leaving an unsafe homeGrieving a parent’s overdose and the slow work of forgivenessMarriage, faith, and consistency as anchors during healingSurrender versus control, and why small changes compoundBreaking generational patterns and parenting with presenceEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of childhood exposure to violence, parental substance use, overdose death, abandonment, generational trauma, perfectionism and control, Christian faith, cancer diagnosis and surgery, therapy and ministry school, marriage strain, and parenting after trauma.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke sits down with Shayna to trace a decade of grief after her father’s death was quickly deemed a murder-suicide. Shayna walks through the calls, the drive-way “funeral march,” and the details that never added up, then names what living with unanswered questions does to a nervous system. Brooke grounds the conversation in real tools that help, talking about EMDR and ketamine-assisted therapy alongside medication and everyday self-care. Together they explore what it means to pause the hunt for answers without abandoning love, to let community hold some of the weight, and to choose presence on ordinary days. The episode closes with permission to be both the kid who misses her dad and the adult who advocates for better processes, boundaries, and support.We explore:When “official” answers don’t fit, and how ambiguity compounds traumaEMDR, ketamine therapy, antidepressants, and practical regulation toolsGiving yourself permission to pause the investigation and still honor your personCommunity, creative outlets, and reframing “new normal” into honest next stepsEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of gun violence, homicide, suicide, police investigation practices, traumatic grief, seizures/epilepsy, mental health treatment including EMDR, ketamine therapy, and antidepressants, and family dynamics.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes Lindsay, Melanie, and Michelle back for a frank panel on what it really takes to begin again after grief and harm. They name the difference between chasing a “new normal” and telling the truth about a life that changed, and how fear, guilt, and shame collide with hope when you choose to move forward. Lindsay describes IVF after her son Christian’s death, a miscarriage, and the faith that carried her to Chance’s birth. Melanie talks about dating, remarriage, and parenting through waves of guilt while slowly building a larger toolbox for healing. Michelle shares leaving abuse, learning to trust with her husband Paul, and the work it takes to protect a marriage after trauma. The group closes with perspective shifts in parenting, choosing presence over perfection, and an invite for listeners to send questions for future panels.In this episode we explore:Rejecting “new normal,” telling the truth about life after loss, IVF, miscarriage, and holding hope through setbacks. Remarriage after widowhood, guilt, and rebuilding trust. Boundaries after abuse, patience, and doing the work. Parenting and partnership with perspective, not perfection.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of child loss, spousal loss, abuse, infertility, IVF, miscarriage, marital strain, faith, therapy, and coping after trauma.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes Marla Grant, a longtime grief guide who has lived what she teaches. Marla shares the neonatal loss she could not fully grieve until decades later, the years with her daughter Nicole and the shock of her relapse and death, and the very different work of grieving her son Ryan after suicide. Together they name why grief is not a straight line, why comparing pain helps no one, and how choice shows up in the small, daily ways we care for ourselves and each other. Marla offers three touchstones that shaped her recovery, personal responsibility, acceptance, and willingness, and a gentle reminder to talk about people’s children because silence can wound. The conversation also touches the grief Olympics, waves that return without warning, and keeping a relationship with loved ones in the present tense.We explore:Delayed grief after neonatal loss, then a classroom moment that unlocked itNicole’s life, relapse, and how everyday absence changes a homeRyan’s death by suicide and what compassion looks like for the living and the deadWhy grief is not stages, and how to ride the wavesChoice, personal responsibility, acceptance, and willingness in practiceGuest LinksMarla's Website:www.inspiredgriefrecovery.comMyths About Grief: Six Major Concepts that Keep You from Moving Forward (free book that includes free 30-minute chat with Marla)https://www.inspiredgriefrecovery.com/eventMarla's Substack:https://substack.com/@marlagrantEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of stillbirth and neonatal loss, pediatric cancer and death, suicide loss, grief and nonlinearity, spiritual experiences, and practical coping.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke sits down with Pearl to share the day her son Matthew died and the years that followed, from the midnight dread she could not shake to the morning she saw a headline about a single-car crash and recognized her family’s vehicle. Pearl recounts calling hospitals, then the morgue, and learning there had been no next-of-kin notification before an organ donation call arrived. She traces the investigation gaps, the rumors she had to correct, and the complicated layers of identity, race, and belonging Matthew carried as a mixed-race adoptee. The conversation widens to Christmas after loss, naming both the rituals that help and the years you cannot decorate at all, and then toward Pearl’s work with women on boundaries and self-care. Her rock-in-the-pocket practice, learning that no is a complete sentence, and the retreats she leads show what rebuilding can look like when you choose yourself and keep going. We explore:The night of calls, the morning news alert, and the confirmation no parent wants to make. What was and was not said by officials, and why clear next-of-kin processes matter. Adoption, identity, and how belonging struggles can shape coping. Holidays after child loss, from ornament blankets to years you keep it simple. Boundaries, the rock practice, and learning to say no without apology. Guest Links:Women's Successful Living Retreats: www.wslivingretreats.comSHERO My Visionary Guide: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQtCOVwnVpCYZ5hR_WlGBqNDjfUD6q0Q0xLxrsgyPGONAtw/viewform?usp=headerSHERO Reset: Journal and Coloring Book: https://amzn.to/48VF3QBVision Unfiltered - Axing Out Limiting Beliefs & Design Your 2026 SHERO Vision! https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ei1srrDXD/Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of child loss, DUI and single-vehicle crash, racism and family conflict, alcohol use, law-enforcement notification gaps, grief during holidays, and boundary setting in recovery. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke sits down with John Kinzie, a Florida firefighter-paramedic who worked Logan’s crash and later became a close family friend. John traces how cumulative loss, the crash, and job culture pushed him toward heavy drinking, the December 2018 night he checked into a hotel intending not to leave, and the moment he chose help instead. They talk frankly about stigma in fire and EMS, why some clinicians and programs miss the mark, and what real support can look like for first responders and families. John shares how 12-step community, peer support, and concrete department changes made recovery possible, and he closes with the simple practices he uses on hard days: prayer, brief quiet, and helping someone else. We explore:The day of the crash from the medic’s side, including getting struck by a vehicle while rushing in, and the first time he cried on a call. Depression, drinking to numb, and the hotel night that became a turning point toward sobriety. Stigma, peer support, and building real pathways to help inside departments. Practical tools for regulation and perspective when the job gets heavy. GUEST LINKS:Contact John: [email protected] ; 352-403-1230Meditation for Fidgety Skepticshttps://amzn.to/3KTkT0rNational Alliance on Mental Illnesshttps://www.nami.org/Hernando County Fire Rescue PEER Support Teamhttps://www.facebook.com/share/17ooNQrLY2/?mibextid=wwXIfrFirst Repsonders Foundation https://firstrespondersfoundation.org/Hernando County Fire Rescue Community Paramedicshttps://www.facebook.com/share/17iZMD7sEv/?mibextid=wwXIfr Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of pediatric death, first responder trauma, depression, alcohol use disorder, suicidal ideation, emergency psychiatric care, stigma in public safety, and recovery resources including 12-step community and peer support. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes licensed professional counselor Christopher O’Riley to unpack how mindfulness helps a chronically stressed nervous system, and why ten minutes can truly change your day. Christopher shares his path from a chaotic adolescence into a daily practice that ended substance use before age 20, then led to clinical training and decades in addiction and trauma care. Together they talk about the parasympathetic “breather” mindfulness provides, doomscrolling that looks like rest but isn’t, and simple ways to weave presence into drives, dog walks, and dishes. The conversation also explores generational patterns, why many with addiction histories carry unresolved trauma, and how formal practice makes informal presence easier. Christopher closes with details on his live, six-week online mindfulness groups beginning in January, plus encouragement for anyone who wants to begin again with something small today. We explore:What chronic stress looks like today, why doomscrolling isn’t recovery time, and how mindfulness helps the body shift out of fight-or-flight. Christopher’s story, discovering mindfulness at 19, and the life that followed. The “ten minutes a day” research note and building a habit that sticks. Formal vs informal practice, with everyday anchors like breath, walking, showering, and coffee. Trauma, addiction, and why feeling safe in relationships is central to recovery. Remedy Counseling & Wellness:www.remedycw.comMindfulness Groups:https://www.remedycw.com/mindfulness-groupsEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of addiction, childhood trauma, depression and anxiety, nervous system dysregulation, compulsive phone use, and recovery practices including mindfulness and meditation. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes her cousin Katie Swisher, whose road to motherhood includes infertility, four miscarriages, and a micro-preemie who redefined hope. Katie traces the early losses and how joy drained out of every positive test, then the day a routine scan became an admission and bedrest. Hannah arrived at 25 weeks, 4 days, just 1 lb 10.8 oz and 12 inches, followed by 117 days in the NICU where alarms, nurses, and new language became daily life. Katie shares the first quiet minute she held Hannah, the long drive to the hospital, and the care team who taught them how to parent a preemie. Later, Henry’s New Year’s Day birth was followed by RSV and postpartum depression that an OB team caught and treated, giving them a “homecoming do-over.” The conversation includes faith, what not to say to grieving parents, and how community and intuition kept nudging them forward.We explore:Infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and hope shrinking to one day at a timeA 25-week delivery, NICU life, and small wins that matteredHenry’s birth, RSV readmission, and postpartum depression caught at an OB visitMedical anxiety after a chiropractic artery dissection and stroke, and why long-term meds helpedFaith, language, and kinder ways to support families after lossGuest Links: Katie's FB Post 1facebook.com/share/p/1CimS3wjeJ/?mibextid=wwXIfrKatie's FB Post 2https://www.facebook.com/511862352/posts/10161400502417353/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=g3ye3GuyOH3S3SA8#Katie's blog entry about first miscarriagehttps://swisherfactory.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-11-2009.html?m=1On Sharing the Silent Grief of Miscarriagehttps://www.calebwilde.com/2014/10/on-sharing-the-silent-grief-of-miscarriage/Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of infertility, recurrent miscarriage, preterm birth and NICU care, postpartum depression, stroke following chiropractic neck manipulation, faith and grief, and pediatric illness.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes her friend Heather Luna to share how years of depression led her toward inner child work and Kundalini yoga, and why practical nervous system tools changed her life. Brooke sets the table for new listeners and explains the heart behind Trauma Uncensored before introducing Heather’s background in yoga therapy and trauma-informed practice. Heather traces the arc from persistent depression into an unfamiliar meditation practice, then into teacher training where a 40-day kriya coincided with the first day she noticed the old cloud was gone. Together they talk about curiosity over reactivity, what neuroplasticity really means in daily life, and why simple habits matter more than grand plans. Brooke also names her own experiences with shutdown and suicidality, and how stabilization plus practice helped her find steadier ground. The episode closes with two portable regulation tools listeners can try anywhere: extend the exhale by humming or whistling, then keep it going for a few minutes. We explore:A candid origin story of depression, self-medication, and the first steps toward practice. Teacher training, a 40-day meditation, and the moment the cloud lifted. Curiosity versus reactivity, plus a plain-language neuroplasticity sketch. Daily practice that fits real life, not perfection. Two go-anywhere tools for downshifting your system. Guest Links:Heather's official website: https://theheatherluna.com/Book a complementary discovery call:https://calendly.com/swanloveholistics/30minFollow Heather on social media:https://www.instagram.com/swanloveholistics/https://www.facebook.com/swanloveholisticsWhistle, Hum or Sing to Improve Your Health blog post:https://theheatherluna.com/whistle-hum-or-sing-to-improve-your-health/Take an on-demand workshop series with Heather - The Art of Inner Mastery:https://swanloveholistics.heymarvelous.com/product/89804/aboutTry a FREE guided 1:2 ratio breath practice with Heather:https://swanloveholistics.heymarvelous.com/product/60425/free-media/599598Practice kundalini yoga in the comfort of your own home with Heather:https://SwanLoveHolistics.heymarvelous.com/product/54315Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of depression, substance use as self-medication, grief, trauma, suicidal thoughts, OCD, therapy and medication, and somatic and yogic practices. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke welcomes Marie Cat Bass, a Tennessee horse trainer and nutritionist, for a candid story about survival and repair. Cat traces early years of physical and verbal abuse, the night she called 911 at eighteen, and what it cost to start over on her own. She talks about mother wounds, boundaries that took a decade to build, and the ripple effects of divorce, co-parenting, and a public detour when her ex appeared on reality TV. The conversation turns to healing practices that changed everything for her, especially inner-child work and the letting go method she learned from Michael Singer, and why she now chooses peace over anger. Cat closes with grounded advice for anyone in an abusive situation, including the hardest part, leaving, and what life on the other side can look like.We explore:Calling 911 at eighteen and the moment police lights meant survivalMother wounds, distance, and rebuilding contact with limits that protect youCo-parenting through upheaval, including reality TV fallout on a familyInner-child repair and the letting go method as daily practicePractical encouragement for people planning a safe exitEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of childhood physical and verbal abuse, domestic violence, strangulation risk, religious trauma, divorce, co-parenting conflict, and references to hospitalization.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke sits down with Peggy Davenport, a widow reflecting on the day everything changed and the slow, determined work of building a life afterward. Peggy shares the moments leading up to her husband’s sudden passing, the shock of holding that reality, and the unexpected “signs” that helped her get through the early weeks. She talks about community rallying around her, returning to their catering business, and why therapy, routine, and small steps mattered when nothing felt possible. The conversation moves through timelines that do not behave, the myth that one year solves it, and the choice to let go of control enough to follow the next breadcrumb. Peggy also opens up about dating after loss, faith, and finding purpose in service, including a project to support kids in sports. This is a grounded, hopeful listen for anyone rebuilding after grief and wondering what comes next.We explore:Community showing up and how to accept help without losing yourselfTherapy, routine, and the myth of “being better after a year”Letting go of control to notice the next right stepWork, purpose, and new beginnings after a spouse diesBooks Mentioned: Amazon.com: Guided: The Secret Path to an Illuminated Life (The Path of Light Series): 9780593729571: Jackson, Laura Lynne: BooksSigns: The Secret Language of the Universe (The Path of Light Series): Jackson, Laura Lynne: 9780399591617: Amazon.com: BooksWaking Up Alone: Grief & Healing: Cicero, Julie: 9781425997632: Amazon.com: BooksAmazon.com: The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery (Audible Audio Edition): Brianna Wiest, Stacey Glemboski, Thought Catalog Books: Audible Books & OriginalsEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of sudden spousal loss, grief, faith and spiritual signs, therapy, dating after widowhood, and coping in early bereavement.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke opens her first panel as solo host and gathers Mel, Michelle, and Lindsay to talk honestly about the holidays after grief and change. They trace how traditions shift, why permission to do less can be lifesaving, and what it takes to rebuild connection without pretending everything is fine. Lindsay shares the ache of celebrating with surviving children while honoring the one who is missing, including the family’s ornament ritual. Mel describes dreading Thanksgiving after her husband died, then creating a new gathering that finally felt like theirs. Brooke reflects on early holidays after the crash, how guilt can push parents to overdo it, and the relief of choosing experiences that bring real peace. Together they circle practical encouragement for anyone in a fresh season of loss, from saying no, to resting, to setting boundaries that protect your energy. We explore:How grief reshapes holiday traditions and expectationsPermission to rest, say no, and set healthy boundariesStarting new traditions that fit the family you are nowEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of child loss, spousal loss, miscarriage, grief, holidays after loss, divorce, and boundaries.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Brooke shares what is changing on the show, including hosting some conversations solo, and why this season asks all of us to slow down and go deeper. Then Mel returns with the kind of honesty that makes you lean in. What really happens when you push yourself back to “normal” too soon. How do you know when stabilization has to come before the deeper work. Announcements and updates will always be said in the podcast, and today they set a new tone for where we are headed together.We explore:The vision for the April 30 to May 4 community retreat and how it came to lifeBrooke stepping into solo episodes and what that means for listenersThe cost of pushing through dysregulation and how to notice the signsChoosing therapists and modalities that match trauma needs, including EMDRWhy medication and stabilization can make therapy finally clickEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of spousal loss, medical error, grief, burnout, dysregulation, suicidal thoughts, therapy and medication, and references to ketamine therapy.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Andres and Brooke welcome Lindsay Hernandez for a candid conversation during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Lindsay shares the story of her son’s birth at 34 weeks, the frantic minutes in the O.R., and the autopsy findings that revealed VATER syndrome and a trachea that did not connect to the lungs. She speaks to the paralysis of those moments, the shock of leaving the hospital without her baby, and the long game of grief that reshapes marriage, parenting, and community. Together, they discuss what support really looks like after "casseroles" fade, the difference between sprinters and marathoners, and how comparison can give way to compassion. Lindsay also describes founding the Christian Michael Hernandez Foundation and the perspective shift that guides how she parents today.We explore:Pregnancy and infant loss, NICU response, and unanswered what ifsVATER syndrome, monitoring, and why the outcome still changed everythingCommunity care, sprinters and marathoners, and feeling less aloneChoosing perspective, carrying grief, and parenting after lossPractical hope that honors a child’s life while living your ownChristian Michael Hernandez Foundation:⁠http://www.christianmichaelhernandez.org/⁠VATER Syndrome ⁠https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24083-vater-syndromeEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.Content Disclaimer:This episode includes pregnancy and infant loss, neonatal death, emergency delivery, medical details related to VATER syndrome and NICU efforts, grief, and funeral planning.

In Part Two with Michelle Bandy Davis, the conversation moves from history to hard-won clarity. She recounts how early abuse and neglect set patterns that echoed into young adulthood and marriage, then describes the slow weave of control, the rupture that followed, and the moment everything collapsed into a forced psychiatric hold. From there, the story turns toward rebuilding: naming financial abuse, securing safety for her kids, entering therapy, and learning boundaries, forgiveness, and community. The question beneath it all is simple and fierce: how do you take your power back without losing your heart?We explore:How childhood harm shapes adult attachment, choices, and denialIsolation, manipulation, and financial control inside a marriageRock bottom, hospitalization, and the pivot toward survival and supportPractical recovery tools, from therapy and EMDR to transparent communityCo-parenting, accountability, and forgiveness without abandoning boundarieshttps://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/⁠⁠https://www.thehotline.org/⁠⁠https://www.allstatecorporation.com/the-allstate-foundation/relationship-abuse.aspxEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredContent Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual assault, physical abuse, domestic violence, infidelity, financial abuse, and suicidal thoughts, as well as references to hospitalization and trauma therapy.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer :This episode contains open and emotional discussion of childhood trauma, abusive relationships, sexual abuse, parental betrayal, and emotional breakdowns. Please listen with care.In Episode 24 of Trauma Uncensored, Brooke and Andres sit down with a powerful guest Michelle Bandy Davis whose story unfolds slowly—and then all at once.What begins as a conversation about life after trauma takes a sharp turn when the guest begins to share memories of being abused as a child—and the betrayal that followed. It’s not a scripted retelling. It’s pain as it surfaces, clarity arriving mid-sentence.https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/⁠⁠https://www.thehotline.org/⁠⁠https://www.allstatecorporation.com/the-allstate-foundation/relationship-abuse.aspxEmail Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support—24/7.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussions of emotional boundaries, family trauma, and terminal illness. Listener discretion is advised.In Episode 23 of Trauma Uncensored, Brooke and Andres dig deep into the messy, often misunderstood topic of boundaries—how they’re formed, how they’re violated, and what happens when we go too long without them.Brooke reflects on how the dynamic with her father forced her to confront her own limits. She shares what it looked like to set boundaries with someone she deeply loves, and how doing so became a crucial act of self-preservation. For the first time, she reflects on what it means to create space for herself—even when it’s uncomfortable.Together, they explore:– What boundaries actually are—and what they’re not– Why we often wait too long to protect our peace– The role of community in surviving emotional collapse– How grief shapes what we allow and what we tolerateThis episode is for anyone who’s been stretched too thin, loved too hard, or lost themselves trying to hold everyone else together.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support—24/7.Visit us at: https://www.traumauncensored.com/

⚠️ Content Disclaimer:This episode contains open discussion of emotional setbacks, guilt, shame, loss of a child, grief processing, and long-term healing. Listener discretion is strongly advised.In this vulnerable installment of Trauma Uncensored, Brooke and Andres return to the mics to unpack a painful truth: even after years of healing work, trauma can still catch you off guard.Brooke reflects on where she is emotionally nine years after Logan’s death, while Andres opens up about what it means to be emotionally depleted while supporting others. Together, they reflect on what it means to be honest about where you are.Together, they dive into:The guilt of being “set back” when you thought you were past itThe shame that lingers, even after deep healingHow grief evolves—but never disappearsLearning to live for the ones we’ve lost, without living in their shadowThis episode is a raw and honest reminder that healing isn’t a straight line and sometimes the most powerful growth happens in the middle of the mess.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support—24/7.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer:This episode contains detailed discussion of grief, medical trauma, the death of a spouse, parenting while grieving, PTSD, and emotional regulation. Listener discretion is advised.In Episode 21 of Trauma Uncensored, Brooke and Andres are joined by longtime friend and special guest Mel Jordy, who shares the deeply personal story of losing her husband Leon after a sudden medical emergency. While their losses are different — Brooke lost her son, Mel lost her partner — what binds them is the quiet knowing of what trauma does to a body, a mind, and a family.Mel recounts the day Leon stepped on a boat anchor — what seemed like a minor injury became an infection, then hospitalization, and then tragedy. But that’s only part of the story. She also shares how her nervous system shut down, how she battled disbelief and institutional gaslighting, and how grief lingered in her body long after the world moved on.Together, Brooke and Mel explore:How trauma hides in the body, even after the worst is “over”The difference between shared grief and shared healingWhat it means to carry guilt, shutdown, and survival at the same timeWhy stories like these need to be told — even years laterThis episode isn’t just about tragedy — it’s about recognizing your reflection in someone else’s survival.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, 24/7 support.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer :This episode contains discussion of child loss, grief anniversaries, trauma recovery, emotional triggers, and personal accountability. Please listen with care.This special episode of Trauma Uncensored was recorded to release on Logan’s angel date—marking the anniversary of his passing. What starts as a reflection on grief evolves into something deeper: a raw conversation about what healing really looks like, and how much of it depends on the choices we make after trauma.Brooke and Andres explore:The difference between pain and sufferingWhy grief anniversaries feel different over timeThe emotional cost of avoiding healingAnd how our triggers can become teachers—if we’re brave enough to lookThis isn’t a soft conversation—it’s a powerful one. Brooke speaks with unfiltered honesty about her past patterns, where she is now, and what it means to take radical responsibility for your healing… even when the world gave you every reason not to.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential support, 24/7.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode includes candid discussions of trauma, grief, and therapeutic drug use. Listener discretion is advised.In this raw and revealing episode of Trauma Uncensored, Brooke opens up about what a full day of ketamine therapy actually looks like. From what time she wakes up, to the moment she’s hooked up in the starry Sagittarius Room, we follow her step-by-step through a treatment that has become a powerful tool in her trauma recovery.Andres asks the right (and sometimes ridiculous) questions—What does it feel like? Is there music? What kind of chair is it?—and Brooke delivers with honesty, humor, and deep introspection. They discuss the difference between healing and escaping, why the environment matters, and how ketamine can soften the mind enough to reshape painful memories.They also tackle the big questions about therapy, identity, and how to manage the emotional aftermath. This episode pulls back the curtain on a treatment that's often misunderstood, and shows the courage it takes to keep showing up.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses grief, loss of a child, mental health struggles, suicidal ideation, and the insensitive things people sometimes say in the face of tragedy. Please listen with care.What do you say to someone when their world has shattered? In this episode of Trauma Uncensored, Brooke and Andres take a raw, unfiltered look at the clichés, comparisons, and unsolicited advice that grieving people so often hear — and why they hurt more than they help. From “at least he’s in a better place” to “shouldn’t you be over this by now?”, they break down the most common phrases and share their honest reactions, sometimes with humor, sometimes with heartbreak.You’ll also hear what actually does bring comfort — from simple, validating words to meaningful acts of support — and how even small gestures can create space for healing.Whether you’re walking through grief yourself or trying to support someone who is, this conversation is packed with wisdom, empathy, and practical takeaways.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer:This episode contains open discussion of child loss, spiritual confusion, faith and religion after trauma, survivor’s guilt, and strong language. Please listen with care.This episode is for anyone who’s ever asked: Why me?Brooke and Andres dive into the spiritual wreckage that comes after trauma — especially when that trauma is the death of your child. Brooke shares her complex, evolving relationship with God, religion, and the people who say “everything happens for a reason.”She also speaks directly to other grieving parents, reminding them that it’s okay to rage, to question, and to say:“Because my son died… and that f*ing sucks.”From irreverent metaphors to honest reflections, this conversation holds space for the confusion, the anger, and the refusal to slap a bow on it.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential support, 24/7.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of addiction, alcohol use, medication access, trauma responses, and coping mechanisms rooted in grief and survival. Please listen with care.In this raw and reflective episode, Brooke opens up about the slow unraveling that led to her stopping drinking — and why that wasn’t the end of the struggle. She talks about the difference between survival mode and healing, and why regulating your nervous system is an ongoing, daily practice.From her high school years of escaping through performance, to spending money as a form of self-soothing, to the immense amount of inner work she does today, Brooke gets honest about what it means to stay upright when everything inside wants to collapse.And in one powerful rant, she calls out a broken mental health system that makes it nearly impossible for people to get the medication they need.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensored📞 Need support? Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential, 24/7.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of sibling loss, childhood grief, trauma recollection, therapy for kids, and emotional healing. Please listen with care.In this special episode, Brooke and Andres are joined by a long-awaited guest: Mallory — Brooke and Jordan’s daughter, and Logan’s younger sister — who just turned 14.Together, they reflect on:What Mallory remembers from the day of the crashHow her parents talked to her about Logan’s deathWhat therapy, friendship, and time have taught her about healingAnd how grief shaped her childhood — without defining itFrom an embarrassing story about Brooke to the heartfelt things they’re proud of in each other, this episode is full of love, honesty, and resilience. Mallory’s story is one of survival — and light.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential support, 24/7.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer:This episode includes detailed discussion of child loss, suicidal ideation, physical shutdown due to trauma, abuse, self-harm, and the emotional collapse leading up to Logan’s death. Please listen with care.This isn’t the story of the crash — it’s the story of everything that came before it.In this powerful and long-awaited episode, Brooke shares the painful truth she’s never spoken publicly: the year leading up to Logan’s death was already unraveling. From family conflict and physical collapse to suicidal thoughts and emotional disconnection, Brooke describes what it was like to live inside a “big black hole” no one else could see.She and Andres talk about what high-functioning trauma looks like from the outside — awards, success, booked speaking gigs — and how underneath it all, Brooke was already at her breaking point. They revisit the events that put them on the road the day Logan died, why Brooke wasn’t in therapy at the time, and how trauma distorts our ability to be present.This is the episode Brooke says she’s waited ten years to tell.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

After nearly nine years of healing, Brooke took a trip out West for one reason: to finally pause. In this episode, she shares what happened when she stopped pushing through pain, disconnected from family obligations, and prioritized herself for the first time in her adult life.From quitting smoking and alcohol to diving deep into breathwork, ketamine therapy, and spiritual healing, Brooke opens up about the revelations that surfaced — including the realization that unhealed childhood trauma was still shaping how she showed up as a wife, mother, and business owner.She also talks about how grief lives in the body, what the “root chakra” has to do with lower back pain, and why healing isn’t linear… but it is always possible. Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensored⚠️ Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of emotional burnout, childhood trauma, spiritual healing practices (e.g. chakra work, breathwork, ketamine therapy), inner child work, grief, OCD, and estrangement from family members. Please listen with care.If you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

In this deeply personal episode, Brooke shares how she and her husband Jordan have worked to help their daughter, Mallory, process the unimaginable loss of her brother, Logan. From early grief counseling and trauma camps to everyday emotional guidance, Brooke opens up about the messy, nonlinear journey of parenting through pain. She also discusses how breaking generational cycles and healing her own trauma became essential to showing up for her daughter.This is an episode about honesty, emotional survival, and the legacy of love after loss.⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of child loss, grief in children, emotional detachment in parenting, and generational trauma. Please take care while listening.Email Us: [email protected] & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/Be a guest: [email protected] Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredIf you're struggling with thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.