When Bearing Witness®: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Storyteller
The When Bearing Witness® podcast is an invitation to explore trauma-informed storytelling, a safe and healthy process of gathering and telling painful stories. Join my conversations with trauma-informed experts and fellow social-good storytellers as we help shape the intersection of trauma-informed care and the storytelling process.
Stories are sacred, and we can create a safe space to tell and share them.
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 28 minutes
- Episodes
- 45
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
The Realities of Storyteller Vicarious Trauma with Àmáká Òkóyè
Crisis journalist Àmáká Òkóyè has witnessed some of the most harrowing conflicts and atrocities in Nigeria’s recent history. And her commitment to elevating the human stories behind the…
Using Empathy to Foster Social Impact with Joseph Cope
In an era where social change often feels like one step forward and two back, this impactful conversation with "The Empathy Guy," Joseph Cope, offers a fresh perspective on how we can m…
Exploring Ancestral Trauma with Meenadchi
Meenadchi is many things, including being a somatic healing practitioner, TEDx speaker, and communications expert whose work centers on social change and embodied transformation.
She al…
Becoming an Anti-Ableist Storyteller with Tiffany Yu
In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany Yu, disability rights advocate and author of the groundbreaking new book The Anti-Ableist Manifesto, as she shares her journey from a childhood…
Rx for Storyteller Wellness with Therapist Shulamit Ber Levtov
In this episode, I sit down with Shulamit Ber Levtov, "The Entrepreneurs' Therapist," to address a critical issue in the nonprofit world: the mental health of storytellers who bear witn…
Beyond Sensationalism: Navigating Human Trafficking Stories with Matthew Fairfax
Join us as we explore the complex world of human trafficking storytelling with Matthew Fairfax, co-founder of the Justice and Soul Foundation.
Content warning: This episode discusses sex…
Sensory Story Gathering with Madeleine St. John
In this episode
Imagine if story gathering wasn't just about words on a page or voice-to-voice.
What if we could capture narratives through the stroke of a paintbrush, the sculpting of c…
Safely Telling Youth-Centered Stories with Janelle Suzanne
In this episode
In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Janelle Suzanne, the managing partner and chief marketing officer at Louder Agency. Janelle and I take on the compl…
Painful Stories in Public Defense with Sy Hoekstra
In this powerful episode, former public defender Sy Hoekstra shares his experiences working in family court, shedding light on the often-overlooked challenges within the child welfare s…
Creating Trauma-Informed Spaces with Frank Velásquez Jr.
Are you ready for a masterclass in trauma-informed space holding?
In this episode of When Bearing Witness, we are joined by Frank Velásquez Jr., founder of 4 the Hood and creator of the…
Lessons From a Social Justice-Driven Oral Historian with Cliff Mayotte
Cliff Mayotte, a seasoned oral historian and co-author of the book Say It Forward: A Guide to Social Justice Storytelling shares invaluable insights from his experiences as a social jus…
Building an Inclusive and Values-Driven Brand with Crystal Whiteaker
In this episode, Crystal Whitaker, an inclusive branding and leadership development consultant, shares her insights on creating authentic, values-driven brands that foster a sense of be…
Overcoming Fundraiser Fatigue with Micah James
Fundraising is a calling fueled by a passion for important causes. However, the weight of connecting resources to meet overwhelming needs can lead to burnout for even the most dedicated…
Exploring Storyteller Self-Care with Liz Jackson
As a development director at NAMI, Liz Jackson is immersed in the powerful and often painful stories of those impacted by mental illness. In this episode, she shares her journey of lear…
Emotionally Health Activism with Jonathan Walton
In the first episode of our special series on mental health in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we discuss maintaining emotional health while continuing your activism. Many activ…
Body Scan Meditation for Storyteller Wellness With Carol Flanagan
Carol will guide us through a 20-minute body scan meditation.
The body scan is a practice of systematically bringing gentle attention to each part of the body. It helps us become more p…
Human-Centered AI and Data with Meena Das
AI has seemed to blow in like a tornado this past year. The rapid development of AI has brought both excitement and concerns around potential biases and inequities.
In this episode, dat…
When Telling Your Story with Marti Statler
Giving voice to our stories, especially the painful chapters, can be a daunting yet profoundly healing journey. Many of us hold back, grappling with self-doubt and the fear of revisitin…
Unconditional Love As A Principle of Trauma-Informed Care, with Rev. Sanghoon Yoo
Reverend Sanghoon Yoo has walked an incredible journey - from a social worker dealing with trauma and crisis to becoming a pastor and experiencing his own period of trauma and burnout. …
Why Trauma-Informed Language Matters With Cody Hays
The way we communicate about traumatic experiences matters deeply. This episode dives into the importance of using trauma-informed language with nonprofit marketing expert Cody Hays.
Th…