In this powerful episode of Resiliency Within, host Elaine Miller-Karas is joined by Louise Godbold, Executive Director of ECHO, to explore the critical role of survivor agency in trauma recovery. Together, they discuss why healing must be guided by the survivor's voice, choices, and lived experience—especially within systems that often overlook or override individual
needs.

Louise shares insights from her work with survivors of high-profile abuse, highlighting the added layers of complexity that come with public disclosure, including media exposure and the risk of retraumatization. The conversation also brings attention to Hague Mothers—women who flee domestic violence across borders to protect their children, only to face legal systems that may return their children without fully considering the context of abuse.

In light of recent public conversations—including the courage of Dolores Huerta and her allegations against César Chávez—this episode also reflects on the immense courage it takes for survivors to come forward, particularly when speaking about powerful and widely respected figures. Survivors who have disclosed experiences involving individuals such as Bill Cosby, Jeffrey Epstein, and Harvey Weinstein have helped bring greater awareness to the complexities of trauma, power, and accountability. These disclosures often come with significant personal risk, including public scrutiny, disbelief, and retraumatization.

This episode explores the importance of helping survivors create a coherent narrative of their experiences as part of the healing process, and the responsibility of journalists, professionals, and communities to adopt trauma-informed practices that reduce harm and promote resilience.

With compassion and clarity, this conversation offers a call to action: to center survivor agency, uphold dignity, and create systems that truly support healing.

About Our Guest:

Louise Godbold is the Executive Director of ECHO, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing training and educational resources on trauma and resilience for survivors and professionals across multiple sectors.

Following her decision to come forward about her own experience with Harvey Weinstein in 2017, Louise became a trusted advocate for survivors of high-profile perpetrators, supporting them as they navigate the complex and often retraumatizing
terrain of public disclosure.

Her work centers on survivor agency, ethical storytelling, and trauma-informed systems change. Louise has written extensively on trauma and survivorship for publications including Pacific Standard, Slate, Smithsonian Magazine, Vox, and The Wrap. She is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing survivor-centered approaches that honor dignity, choice, and voice in the healing process.

In this episode of Resiliency Within, I am joined by Jenn Turner of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment for a thoughtful and energizing conversation about what it means to be women leaders in the fields of mind-body health and trauma healing.

Together, we explore the evolving landscape of therapeutic relationships—moving away from traditional hierarchies toward models of shared power, collaboration, and mutual respect. Jenn brings deep insight into embodied trauma healing, helping us understand how the body holds our lived experiences and how healing must include—not bypass—our physical sensations and inner awareness.

We also dive into the role of interoception—the ability to notice and make meaning of sensations inside the body—and how this skill supports emotional regulation, resilience, and a deeper connection to self. Grounded in neurobiology, we discuss how the nervous system shapes our responses to stress, trauma, and healing, reinforcing the idea that our reactions are rooted in biology, not personal weakness.

Importantly, this conversation also examines how patriarchal structures have influenced healing modalities—often prioritizing authority, control, and "fixing" over listening, collaboration, and empowerment. As women in leadership, we reflect on how we are helping to reshape these systems into ones that honor voice, agency, and the wisdom of the body.

This episode invites listeners to consider a new vision of healing—one that is relational, embodied, and rooted in both science and compassion. Whether you are a practitioner, educator, or someone on your own healing journey, this conversation offers meaningful insights into how we can create more equitable, attuned, and human-centered approaches to well-being.

About Our Guest:

Jenn has had the honor of working with survivors of trauma for all of her career. Along with working in private practice as a trauma-informed therapist, Jenn is the Executive Director of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment where she works to oversee training and supports the development of body-first interventions for healing from trauma.

Jenn also leads trainings in Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) throughout the U.S. and provides consultation to organizations on how to become more trauma-informed at all levels. Jenn co-founded the Center for Trauma and Embodiment in 2018.

In this episode of Resiliency Within, our host, Elaine Miller-Karas, will interview Bo Dean about his reflections of how the first 2,000 days of life—from pregnancy through early childhood—lay the foundation for resilience across the lifespan. Together, we discuss how these early experiences shape the developing brain, nervous system, and sense of self.

Our conversation explores how love and stress can coexist within families, and how unspoken trauma can quietly influence a child's development. Drawing from neuroscience and research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), we examine how early environments shape long-term health and well-being—and, importantly, how resilience can still be cultivated.

The hopeful message is clear: resilience is not something a child builds alone. Even one stable, caring relationship can change the trajectory of a life. Bo and Elaine will explore how families, educators, faith leaders, and communities can create supportive environments that foster healing and help children truly thrive.

Join us for this meaningful and insightful conversation on shaping resilience from the very beginning.

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About Our Guest

L.S. "Bo" Dean Jr. is a Senior HR Analyst for Learning & Development at New Hanover County Government and a certified Community Resiliency Model® Teacher/Educator through the Trauma Resource Institute. He designs and delivers Learning and Development for approximately 2,000 public employees across 30 departments — always through a trauma-informed, nervous-system-aware lens.

Learn more: https://bodean.substack.com/