Episodes

March is Social Work Month. This encore episode highlights Drs. Beverly Buckles and Kimberly Freeman. They are leaders in social work internationally. They will share their international work, demonstrating the impact that social works make worldwide. The Loma Linda University (LLU) International Behavior Health Trauma Team (IBHTT) operated by the LLU School of Behavioral Health (SBH) has been providing international trauma preparatory training and psychological first aid disaster response sin...

Dr. Ravi Chandra returns to Resiliency Within to share his reflections and wisdom about amplifying compassion during the current sociopolitical climate. He will share his thoughts about the importance of compassion. Dr. Chandra's inspired words reflect what is essential for all of us to remember at this time in our history. "The voices of all individuals and communities are profoundly important for the future because our survival and growth as a nation and world depend on empathy and compassi...

Natalia Rudsynska, formerly Natalia Valevska, is the International Partnership Director of EdCamp Ukraine. Natalia was married in 2024. Our host, Elaine Miller-Karas, has been providing support to Ukrainian teachers, children and community members since before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. This is a time to honor our Ukrainian friends and colleagues and stand with them. During this encore show, Natalia shares her insights from living in her beloved country, Ukraine, during the Russian invas...

In a time of deep division, uncertainty, and crisis, Finding Light in the Darkness will explore how we can maintain our well-being, integrity, and hope. Hosted by Elaine Miller-Karas, an internationally recognized trauma expert and resiliency advocate, she will illuminate practical strategies for navigating today’s complex social and political landscape. Elaine hopes this episode will provide a beacon of light—insights on staying grounded, fostering compassion, and building resilience in the f...

Dr. Ilene Naomi Rusk has a trauma-informed science-based approach to brain health and optimal longevity. She’s developed a user-friendly way of using a functional medicine approach to help prevent Alzheimer’s and improve cognitive health. Dr. Rusk focuses mainly on helping her patients build stress resilience, and she focuses on numerous lifestyle pillars of brain health. These lifestyle pillars, like sleep, diet, and movement, and how we engage with them, can directly affect how we think and f...

Erin Kennedy and Scott Dinits are deeply embedded in the communities affected by the wildfires in Northern California. With the recent firestorms on Maui and Southern California, learning how to support children and adults is essential. They were direct responders after the 2018 Campfire that devastated Butte County Communities and the town of Paradise, California. As Boys and Girls Club employees, they share what is essential to help children and adults heal. Both Erin and Scott are trained in...

Since this show was first aired, climate events have become more frequent. Dr. Lise Van Susteren, a recognized authority in climate change's physiological and psychological impacts, enlightens us about her advocacy efforts. She helps us understand these incidents' cumulative effects on children and adults. Dr. Van Susteren delves into the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences in the context of climate change, elucidating pathways for the recovery and healing of individuals. Moreover, she ...

Shannon Biteng of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is the Trauma Informed Organization Manager. She will share the development and implementation of the ODHS Trauma Aware Program. The program supports over 12,000 human services professionals dedicated to assisting 1.5 million Oregonians in accessing essential resources and enhancing their overall well-being. She will share how the Trauma Aware initiatives foster resilience, promote well-being, and strive to empower individuals aff...

Resiliency Within welcomes back John Kania and Laura Calderon de la Barca. Join this conversation with the Collective Change Lab team who are at the leading edge of shifting how organizations, movements, and collective system change efforts are evolving towards more healing-centered ways of working. John Kania is the Founder and Executive Director of Collective Change Lab. Laura Calderon de la Barca is a psychotherapist specializing in individual, intergenerational, and collective trauma, as w...

Dr. Phil Allen, Jr. returns to Resiliency Within to discuss his journey since the release of his documentary and his first book, Open Wounds: A Story of Racial Tragedy, Trauma and Redemption. In this encore episode, he will explore the themes of his second book, The Prophetic Lens: The Camera and Black Moral Agency, from Martin Luther King to Darnella Frazier, which examines the role of the camera in the fight for racial justice. Allen highlights both the prophetic potential of the camera and ...

Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward and host Elaine Miller-Karas will explore the meaning of friendships, the joys and sorrows that come from loving relationships, and reflect on their nearly two decades of friendship. Recent research indicates that friends can strengthen our immune system, help us recover from illness more quickly, sharpen our memory, and help us live longer. This knowledge reassures us of the healing and life-extending benefits of friendships, filling us with optimism and a sense of security...

Resiliency Within’s host, Elaine Miller-Karas, co-founded the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI). She resigned as Executive Director in 2020 when she welcomed Dr. Michael Sapp as the CEO of TRI. They will discuss the international organization's past, present, and future. The Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that cultivates trauma-informed and resiliency-focused individuals and communities worldwide. TRI is known internationally for its innovative perspectives ...

The holidays often come wrapped in ribbons of joy, but for many, they conceal threads of grief, suicide, and seasonal depression. In this episode, Elaine Karas-Miller invites Dr. Jamie Gamboa and Brian Stefan from Spotlight On Suicide (SOS) to explore these difficult truths, offering compassionate insights into the darkness that can creep in under the glow of holiday lights. They unpack the weight of unspoken sorrow and share their practical Suicide Prevention Toolbox — strategies to help when t...

Rev. Lesley Carroll has dedicated her life to the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. To her, this mission is a lifelong calling. Her efforts extend beyond the borders of Northern Ireland, as she has been instrumental in fostering dialogues for peace and reconciliation in regions such as Rwanda, Nigeria, Kosovo, and Croatia. She was the past Prison Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. She now serves as the Assistant Commissioner for investigations: Support Independent Commission for Reconciliation a...

Clifford D. Barnett, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of Warner Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Wilmington, NC, where he is a dedicated community organizer and team builder, passionate about connecting individuals in need with essential resources. Elected to Wilmington’s City Council in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, he currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem. Joining Resiliency Within, Pastor Barnett brings his perspective on resilience, drawn from his extensive experience in ministry, government, and community a...

RACHEL ZIMMERMAN, an award-winning journalist, is the author of Us, After: A Memoir of Love and Suicide. Her book examines domestic devastation and resurgence, the struggle between public and private selves, life’s shifting perspectives, the work of motherhood, and the secrets we keep. She will share how she confronted the unimaginable and discovered the good in what remains. When a state trooper appeared at Rachel Zimmerman’s door to report that her husband had jumped to his death off a nearby ...

Join an open-hearted conversation with Psychotherapist Elaine Miller-Karas, host of Resiliency Within with Kevin McLeod, Director of Community Development, and Psychologist Michael Sapp, CEO of the Trauma Resource Institute. Together, they’ll explore practical ways to navigate the emotional landscape following the 2024 election results. As celebrations and grief arise within workplaces, homes, and communities, this dialogue offers tools to foster understanding and resilience across differing pol...

The diverse Latino culture is rich with traditions. The identities of Latinas and Latinos are shaped by geography, heritage, race, and gender. Latinas and Latinos embrace their heritage and contribute to the culture of the United States. This is a time in US history when it is essential to embrace the richness and value of #Latino culture to counter the disparaging comments being made. On Monday, Elaine Miller-Karas and Martha Parra will share the beauty and values of their Latino culture. M...

Julia Loken and Hughie Stone Fish, both Los Angeles-based artists in the area of humor, comedy, and more, join Resiliency Within to talk about their work. They will reflect on humor and comedy in this present moment. Elaine Miller Karas, the host of Resiliency Within, states that “humor is one of the elixirs of life.” An elixir is described as a magical power to cure and improve something. Humor and comedy play a vital role in human life because they offer a way to relieve stress, build connecti...

Jordan R. Murphy, PhD, RN, is a nurse scientist who specializes in behavioral health and trauma-informed care. Dr. Murphy will share her work in Gun Violence Prevention, supporting professionals and survivors. Gun violence is a major public health and social justice issue, and yet it is preventable. For the last three years, gun violence was the #1 cause of death for children and adolescents 1-17 years of age, surpassing motor vehicle accidents and cancer. Where common sense laws are lacking to ...

Mike Sapp, the CEO of the Trauma Resource Institute, and our host, Elaine Miller-Karas, the Co-Founder of the Trauma Resource Institute, will discuss how to launch the Disaster Relief Mobilization: Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Preparation Program (DRM:CRM) in your community post-disaster like Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. The program is a model that can create a trauma-informed, resiliency-focused prevention program in preparation for a community disaster. The United Nations Office...

Bo Dean and Jvanete Skiba of Wilmington, North Carolina, join Michael Sapp, CEO of the Trauma Resource Institute, and Elaine Miller-Karas, host of Resiliency Within, to discuss valuable lessons learned to enhance the well-being of survivors from Hurricane Florence and other disasters. Their reflections and the interventions they have adopted offer crucial insights for the people of the Northeast United States, who are grappling with the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene re...

Resiliency Within will highlight the Poor People's Campaign to get out the vote during this pivotal time in American politics. Every vote matters. The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is organizing in more than 40 states to get out the vote of poor, low-propensity voters across the country. Studies show that small increases in the number of these voters casting ballots for an agenda that addresses their needs and concerns can change the outcomes of elections. You’ll hear...

Chia-Ti will share her years of experience teaching movement, mindfulness, somatics, and resiliency building in New York City. She will address how she uses movement practices, including yoga (hatha, vinyasa, restorative) and qigong, which she offers to a wide range of age groups, including elders, adults, and teens, through community-based programs. Chia-Ti will share her personal journey of resilience - — from factors of developmental safety to learning how to move from anxious attachment to s...