How We Heal: The Audio Series

Naima Shalhoub and Bela Pasin had very different childhoods. One grew up in a Lebanese household, the other in India before moving to the U.S. — yet both were taught, without words, that lighter skin and whiteness were somehow better. In this raw and honest episode, they discuss how those subconscious messages affected their sense of identity and self-worth. Together, they unpack the ways negative attitudes based on race shows up across cultures and the surprising ways they’ve found healing.

For years, Will Cantine felt like he had to prove himself over and over again. He was often doubted, questioned and treated unfairly — just for being himself. It took a toll. But then something changed. In this episode, Cantine shares with his fellow educator, Lindsey Fuller, what changed and why it matters.

By surrounding themselves with individuals and communities that respected their cultural heritage, Marisol Pineda Conde and Salina Mae Espinosa-Setchko found a space where they could freely express themselves. As public school teachers, they began to overcome the feeling that they didn’t quite fit in or belong, sometimes known as “impostor syndrome.” Both women reveal how the experience of racial healing helped them fully embrace their culture and their humanity.

Kristina Lear and Skandia Shafer share an open and honest conversation about how they’ve come to understand that racism hurts everyone, not just those who face it firsthand. They describe what opened their eyes and how they’ve used their voice to work for change within white communities.

For Indigenous people and communities, reclaiming traditional practices is crucial to healing. Customs, spirituality and language play a vital role in addressing the impact of intergenerational trauma. In this episode, Indigenous change-makers Lenny Hayes, a citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, and Vicky Stott, a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation, share what prompted their healing journeys and what they continue to learn along the way.