Ronni and Jennie: Conversations on Recovery from Childhood Trauma and Abuse
Ronni and Jennie are sisters who were not supposed to be friends. They grew up in a home with addiction, abuse, and untreated mental illness, which generated dysfunctional dynamics that often pitted them against each other. Miraculously, they came together in adulthood to help each other heal. Now, drawing on their personal and professional experiences, they are telling their story to help others recover from childhood trauma and abuse, and to help them mend their own sibling relationships. They invite you to join them in this healing conversation. Please feel free to share your own experiences, or ask questions, via their website: www.ronniandjennie.com (other free content is also available there), or follow them on Instagram: @ronni_and_jennie.
Ronni Tichenor is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at State University of New York--Polytechnic Institute, specializing in family studies; Jennie Weaver is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years' experience in family practice and mental health. They detail their story in their book, Healing Begins with Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 27 minutes
- Episodes
- 127
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
How to Identify Red Flags in Abusive Relationships
Abusive relationships are (sadly) quite common, but identifying the warning signs early makes it much easier to leave. Ronni and Jennie share what to look for to keep yourself (and thos…
How do You “Mother Yourself?”
Those recovering from childhood trauma, who don’t have a nurturing mother (or who have had to break contact with their mothers), are often told that they can simply “mother themselves.”…
Managing Feelings of Worthlessness
If you grew up with addiction, abuse, or other forms of trauma in your home, you likely struggle with feelings of worthlessness. Ronni and Jennie unpack how these feelings are generated…
What to Do When You Feel "Stuck"
We all go through periods in our lives where we feel like we're not where we want to be, or aren't able to move forward the way we'd like. In the premier episode of Season Five, Ronni a…
BONUS EPISODE: What Does It Mean to "Live Authentically" in Recovery?
As Ronni and Jennie gather with their families for their yearly summer reunion, they consider what it means to "live authentically" when you've grown up being pigeon-holed into roles li…
You Don’t Have to Be “Healed” (or “Love Yourself First”) to Build a Healthy Love Relationship
Some in the healing/recovery committee think that you have to “heal yourself” or “learn to love yourself” first, before you are able to build a healthy love relationship. Ronni and Jenn…
You Don't Have to Forgive Your Abuser to Heal
There is sometimes a great deal of shaming in recovery communities, urging people to "forgive" someone who has abused them, saying that you have to forgive your abuser to heal. Forgiven…
How Do You Know If You're Healing?
Recovery takes consistent work, and when you’re doing it, it can be hard to tell if your effort is paying off. Then, all of a sudden, you start to see positive changes. Ronni and Jennie…
Are You Afraid to "Shine Your Light" and "Share Your Gifts with the World?"
We all have gifts to share with this world. Experiencing trauma or abuse in childhood can leave us feeling like what we have to offer is worthless—or at least, less valuable than what o…
Unpacking the Language of Recovery and Spirituality
The language used in healing communities can sometimes seem confusing or contradictory. If we are all “beings of Light,” what is “the shadow self?” Are we all really “doing the best we …
"Don't Take It Personally!"
Easier said than done! But this week, Ronni and Jennie talk about situations that trigger defensiveness, and the strategies they use to manage their emotions and come back to a place of…
Recovery from Growing Up with Addiction, Abuse, and Mental Illness
Ronni and Jennie talk about what the word “recovery” means to them, in the context of healing from childhood trauma, and what their recovery journey has felt like.
Sonya Renee Taylor: "The Body is Not an Apology"
Body shaming is rampant in American culture; the “body positivity” movement has done much to challenge this and help people feel good about themselves and their bodies. But Sonya invite…
What Does It Feel Like, Growing Up with Addiction, Abuse, and Mental Illness?
This week, Ronni and Jennie share the second chapter of the audio version of their book, “Healing Begins With Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond,…
Oprah, Prince Harry, and "The Me You Can't See"
This episode from Season Two of the podcast really resonated with listeners, so we are sharing it again. In their series,"The Me You Can't See," Oprah and Prince Harry shine a loving li…
How to Unwind Dysfunctional Patterns
Trying to unwind what you learned growing up in a home with trauma and abuse can be daunting, and generate a wide range of uncomfortable emotions. Ronni and Jennie share their experienc…
Reconnecting with Your Body in Recovery from Childhood Trauma
Survivors of childhood trauma and abuse often dissociate from their bodies in order to survive. Ronni and Jennie share their strategies for rebuilding their relationships with their own…
Setting Intentions for What You Want (and We Want All the Joy We Can Get!)
Jennie shares her experience of setting her intention for how she wants to live her life moving forward, and the excitement of seeing how her intentions are manifesting each day.
Caring for Aging Parents and Recovery
If we grew up with abuse or other traumas, taking care of aging parents can be fraught with additional difficulties and emotional landmines. Ronni and Jennie talk about their caregiving…
How to Take Up All the Space You Deserve
Those of us who have survived childhood trauma often make ourselves small to do so. We learn that our needs don’t matter, and that we have no right to make demands or ask for what we ne…