Episodes

Clarence Nero will share his wisdom from his lived experience and his contributions to youth with innovative writing projects. He is an Associate Professor at Baton Rouge Community College, author, and screenwriter whose accomplishments include his critically acclaimed novel, Cheekie: A Child Out of Desire, nominated for ’Best Books for Young Adults’ by the American Library Association and selected as ’One of the Best First Novels’ by Library Journal which he adapted into a screenplay and is cur...

Survivors of childhood family trauma typically go through many stages in their path to healing. Kaytee highlights 6 of them: pre-awareness, uncovering, digging in, healing, understanding, and nurturing. Using elements from her clinical work, as well as personal experience, she provides support and tips for survivors navigating the healing journey. Kaytee will discuss the stages and provide insights into healing childhood family trauma. Most of us are only starting to become aware of how our foun...

Resiliency Within celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King. This year, on Martin Luther King's Day, Dr. Brenda Ingram, who has made significant contributions to our collective understanding of Resilience, Recovery and Resistance will be my guest. She has co-authored a chapter in the book titled Black Women and Resilience: Power, Perseverance, and Public Health. The chapter she contributed Resilience, Recovery, and Resistance: Black Women Overcoming Intersectional Complex Trauma will be the fo...

Dr. Ravii Chandra will share his wisdom and personal reflections about how we can amplify compassion to contain cruelty and abuse. Dr. Chandra's inspired words reflect what is important for all of us to remember at this time in our history. He said, The voices of all marginalized individuals and communities are profoundly important for the future because our survival and growth as a nation and world depend on empathy and compassion for vulnerability. When we see each other, when we see our own v...

What causes schizophrenia? Is it a genetic glitch or are environmental factors at play? A combination of the two? Whatever the reason, what medication and course of action will give the patient the best chance at a normal life? Of all the mental illnesses, schizophrenia eludes us the most. Despite the strides scientists have made in neurological research and doctors have made in psychiatric treatment, schizophrenia remains misunderstood, almost complacently mythologized. Without a reason for the...

In Crusade to Heal America, Judy Pearson shares the never-before-told story of Mary Lasker, a woman who was savvy, steely, and deliberate, with the goal of eliminating human suffering. While scientists looked at disease as a problem to be solved, Lasker saw it as a beast to be slain. Her first step was creating, with her husband Albert, the Lasker Foundation, which bestows annual awards for medical research. Next, they reimagined—and renamed—the American Cancer Society, greatly increasing the do...

As individuals committed to humanitarian work, DisasterReady is dedicated to upholding the core values of compassion for humanity. Their mission revolves around the vital aspects of preserving lives, alleviating suffering, and safeguarding the inherent dignity of all individuals affected by crises without any form of discrimination. This commitment extends not only to those we aid but also to ensuring the safety and well-being of our own dedicated workforce and volunteers. However, witnessing th...

Allan Sussman, M.D. will share his new book, Saving the Art of Medicine (2023) on Resiliency Within. Many doctors have become despondent, working within a commodified system that pushes for speed and efficiency and profit over patient care. Early in his endocrinology career, Allen Sussman, MD, clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington counted himself among them. When an injury kept him from playing piano, he explored new outlets and was drawn to study meditation and the princi...

Empatico’s mission is to empower school-aged students all around the globe to form meaningful connections that foster a more empathetic world. Empathy is a critical skill that allows us to feel what others feel (emotional empathy), understand what others think and feel (cognitive empathy), and take action on those feelings and understandings (behavioral empathy). In our interconnected world, empathy is a key personal and professional skill, and its development has the following benefits for indi...

Rev. Lesley Carroll serves as the Prison Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (NI), dedicating 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. In these challenging times for our global community, Rev. Carroll will generously share her insights and the valuable...

Bo Dean, an engaged member of the New Hanover County community in North Carolina, has actively pioneered the integration of biological models such as the Community Resiliency Model. As a certified Community Resiliency Model Teacher, he has played a pivotal role in introducing these models to his community. Bo Dean will candidly recount his deeply personal journey with cancer and how he effectively harnessed his diverse skillset throughout his diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing recovery, including...

Karen LeSage empowers children and families. Her work was recently recognized for her outstanding contributions with the ChildCareBC Awards of Excellence Childcare Leadership Award in May 2023. In this episode, we will delve into Karen LeSage's early life, marked by significant adversity that ultimately led to a diagnosis of PTSD. We'll explore how she discovered inner strength and resilience through her mission of empowering others. Karen's journey will shed light on her experiences supporting ...

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, social workers Martha Parra and Elaine Miller-Karas will discuss how their heritage infused their work with advocacy and service. Martha's family came to California from Mexico, and Elaine's mother and grandmother came to California from El Salvador. They will share the values they learned from their families and how their rich heritage has inspired their personal and professional journeys as social workers. They will also share their families' challenges as ...

WorldBeing (formerly CorStone) is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization that conducts innovative in-school wellbeing programs to empower vulnerable and marginalized youth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These programs help youth to re-frame their identities, unleash their potential, and transform their life trajectories. Their programming particularly focuses on gender equality and building the skills of marginalized youth, especially girls, to advocate for their righ...

The age-old debate on whether entrepreneurs are born or made has ignited discussions and research across academic, entrepreneurial, and parenting spheres. Rajesh Nair's extensive work in underserved communities offers illuminating insights into this question. It suggests that the fundamental traits of innovators and entrepreneurs are cultivable in children and youth nationwide, a discussion of profound importance to educators, administrators, and parents. Innovators and entrepreneurs, catalysts ...

Rev. Chrissy Ruehl and Rev. John Ruehl are dedicated ministers in Savannah, Georgia, They have a passionate commitment to serve their community. They will share their perspectives as a married couple from different faith traditions who share common goals about the possibilities of community change. They will share how they use and integrate the Community Resiliency Model and Asset-Based Community Development. Join us as we discover how you can change your community using what’s already there. Li...

What do resilience and leadership look like for women of color? Women of color comprise about 18 percent of the U.S. population, yet only 4 percent of C-Level positions in 2018, falling far below white men (68 percent) and white women (19 percent). Why? Rising to power is a gendered and racist journey. Women of color don’t face a glass ceiling. They face a concrete ceiling. Unlike a glass ceiling, it’s impossible to see through a concrete ceiling or envision how to get past it. Elaine and Analiz...

Dr. Lise Van Susteren, a recognized authority in the realm of climate change's physiological and psychological impacts, will enlighten us about her advocacy efforts. She aims to provide insight into these incidents' cumulative effects on children and adults. Dr. Van Susteren will delve into the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences in the context of climate change, elucidating pathways for the recovery and healing of individuals. Moreover, she will share her perspectives on how we can all con...

As a nation, we are heartbroken about the destruction of Lahaina and all the lives lost. The community of Butte County, California, experienced similar destruction and loss in 2018 as a result of the Campfire. The community mobilized and is recovering. Members of their community wanted to share what they learned and the wisdom that was gained. They hope that their discussion on Resiliency Within can help the Lahaina community's recovery process. Erin Kennedy and Scott Dinits, who were deeply emb...

Resiliency Within celebrates in this episode the bonds of sisterhood during this National Sister Month. Today's show is dedicated to the concept of sister-friends—those special individuals who support us through life's ups and downs. Whether they share our DNA or are sisters of our choosing, these connections are invaluable. Sister-friends love us unconditionally, standing by us even when we're not at our best, and offer judgment-free support whenever we need to confide in them. These foundation...

Dr. Joy Miller will join Resiliency Within to talk about her remarkable work with global resilience. Miller created a new forum for training in the area of resiliency. Resiliency Productions became a gift of love to the global world, offering free access to mental health techniques for those struggling with the pandemic, loss, grief, anxiety & depression. Dedicated to offering personal empowerment & resiliency strategies to global participants, Miller created the remarkable event, Resilience 202...

Vanessa Kettering and Rhonda Rodgers, co-founders of Way of Well-Being, will share their experiences with the life-changing work from the early days of the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) to translating the skills for others in their community to find peace and resilience in a world full of heteronormative ideas and sometimes hostile or misinformed views. Their connection with TRI, tools of contemplative practice, and positive psychology have not only transformed their work in higher education a...

This show is a story of hope, resilience, and love. Resilience is sometimes the outcome of some of the darkest moments in one’s life. My guests, a mother, Sue Borrego and her daughter, Kelsey Bunker Robertson, had very different experiences following Sue’s coming out when Kelsey was 9. Sue was occupied by the fear of losing her children and job and moving through the generational shame of her sexuality. Kelsey became a fierce advocate, proud of her parents and much less touched by the shame her ...

Welcome to Resiliency Within and part 2 of my discussion with the Rev. Dr. Keith Menhinick of Emory Univesity's Candler School of Theology. Part 1 aired on July 3, 2023. Today's show will explore Queer Theology. Rev. Dr. Keith Menhinick will discuss his views about Queer theology, and the course he teaches at Emory University. Sexuality and spirituality are often pitted against each other in religious community and doctrine. In sociological and psychological research on LGBTQ+ folks, religion is...