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/

After disaster strikes, recovery is often measured in dollars—insurance claims, rebuilding costs, financial losses.But what about the human side of recovery?

In this episode, Elaine Miller-Karas sits down with Joy Chen, Executive Director of the Every Fire Survivor's Network, to explore how thousands of Los Angeles fire survivors are navigating not only financial hardship, but also the emotional toll of loss and displacement.

Through a growing community of over 10,000 survivors and allies, Joy and her network have helped unlock more than $100 million in delayed insurance payouts. Yet what's equally transformative is what happens when survivors come together—moving from isolation to connection, from overwhelm to empowerment.

Together, we explore how people directly impacted by disaster are stepping into leadership, advocating for change, and reshaping the systems meant to support them.

This is a conversation about more than rebuilding homes.

It's about restoring agency, dignity, and hope—and discovering the strength that emerges when communities rise together.

About Our Guest:

Joy Chen is the Executive Director of the Eaton Fire Survivor's Network, the largest survivor-led recovery community in the nation, representing over 10,000 fire survivors and allies across Los Angeles. Through her leadership, the network has helped unlock more than $100 million in delayed insurance payouts and built a recovery hub recognized by the Los Angeles Times as a lifeline for thousands.

A former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, Joy led economic and workforce development initiatives focused on expanding opportunity in historically underserved communities. She has also worked globally in executive leadership at Heidrick & Struggles, advising Fortune 500 CEOs, and trained thousands through the Multicultural Leadership Institute. An internationally recognized author and thought leader, Joy's work has reached millions, challenging traditional narratives of success and empowering individuals—especially women—to lead with agency and purpose.

Today, she is a leading voice in disaster recovery and insurance accountability, working to transform broken systems so families can rebuild their homes—and their lives—with dignity and hope.

In times of global upheaval and community suffering, many of us feel shaken—mentally, emotionally, and physically. The brutality and uncertainty we witness can disrupt our sense of well-being, leaving us confused, anxious, or overwhelmed. Yet even in the midst of collective stress, it is possible to cultivate inner harmony.

Inner harmony is the quiet meeting place of our thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. It is a living balance that emerges when we understand the rhythms of our nervous system and gently guide it back toward regulation and well-being.

On this episode of Resiliency Within, host Elaine Miller-Karas shares heartfelt reflections and practical, biologically based insights drawn from the Community Resiliency Model. She explores how we can restore balance, strengthen our resilience circuits, and reconnect with a sense of embodied well-being—even when the world around us feels unsteady. Join us for a thoughtful and empowering conversation on how to nurture inner harmony during stressful times.

Crisis Recovery for Kids, Parents, and Teachers

Children worldwide are living during very difficult times within the United States and globally. Current policies are impacting our schools - our children, teachers, and school staff.

Inez Tiger and Elaine Miller-Karas will discuss how educational systems worldwide are increasingly confronted with the impact of natural and human-made crises - war, genocide, wildfires, ICE raids, and community violence.

These events disrupt the stability of whole communities with profound implications to children and those who care for them.

Join our host, Elaine Miller-Karas, and Educator Inez Tiger for this encore show on implementing the Community Resiliency Model in a systematic, phased approach to support resilience for children, educators, and school staff.

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About Our Guest:

Inez Tiger, LMFT, brings over 30 years of experience as an educator, school leader, and mental health professional. She has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, counselor, principal, and most recently as Director of Wellness at The Pressman Academy.

Inez is a certified teacher of the Community Resiliency Model® (CRM), a practitioner of the Trauma Resiliency Model® (TRM), and a longtime facilitator and trainer in the practice of Council.

Specializing in self-regulation, trauma healing, and the power of storytelling, Inez recently transitioned from her role as a school-based educator to focus more deeply on healing and wellness.

A collector of stories, she finds meaning in listening to the resilience of students, parents, and teachers as they navigate their school journeys.

Originally from South Africa, Inez lives in Los Angeles with her partner and their two children. She finds joy in art-making, meaningful collaboration, and long walks with their dog, Chase.

One of her guiding mottos comes from Maya Angelou: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

On this episode of Resiliency Within, Elaine Miller-Karas welcomes Bev Weise, MBA,
ACC—leadership coach, social entrepreneur, and co-founder of Refugee Jumpstart Coaching.
Bev shares the inspiring story behind the organization she co-founded in 2021 with Syrian
refugee Hussein Alzribi to help educated and highly skilled refugees rebuild their professional
lives.

Refugee Jumpstart Coaching connects refugees around the world with a global network of pro
bono leadership, wellness, and career coaches, as well as job search, entrepreneurship, and
industry mentors. Their innovative work empowering displaced professionals earned the
organization the International Coaching Federation's Global Social Impact Award in 2024.

That same year, Refugee Jumpstart Coaching became a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization in California, expanding its ability to support refugees seeking opportunity,
dignity, and meaningful work.

Bev brings more than 35 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership development.

She is an ICF-certified Leadership Coach and the founder of Leadership Talent Solutions, a
consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations identify, develop, and retain leadership talent.

Her career has included roles such as Executive Director of Interlaw Ltd., an international
association of law firms, and Corporate Director of Executive Planning and Development
at Northrop Grumman Corporation.

A turning point in Bev's life came in 2016 when she volunteered in a refugee camp in Chios,
Greece. The experience deeply moved her and inspired her commitment to helping refugees
recognize their strengths and rebuild their futures.

In this heartfelt conversation, Bev shares how compassion, leadership, and global collaboration
can help transform adversity into opportunity—reminding us that resilience often grows when
people are given the chance to rediscover their gifts and purpose.

Resiliency Within welcomes back Dr. Phillip Allen. Dr. Allen is a theologian and ethicist whose research and writings include the intersections of social structure, race, culture, and theology and ethics of justice.

He has authored two books: Open Wounds: A Story of Racial Tragedy, Trauma, and Redemption and The Prophetic Lens: The Camera and Black Moral Agency From MLK to Darnella Frazier. He is an affiliate assistant professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he completed his PhD in Theology. He is also a poet and documentary filmmaker.

Dr. Allen founded the nonprofit Racial Solidarity Project based in Pasadena, CA. As a former Division 1 college basketball player at North Carolina A&T State University, he has enjoyed opportunities as a guest chaplain for college and pro sports teams.

Dr. Allen will talk about the nonprofit he started, the Racial Solidarity Project and his book, the Prophetic Lens. The Prophetic Lens takes an important look at the use of the video camera as an indispensable prophetic tool for the security of Black lives and greater possibility for racial justice.

He will share how the camera can be a catalyst for cultural change, using Walter Brueggemann's Prophetic Imagination as a framework for understanding the concept of "prophetic." Chronicling the use of the camera, particularly in film from J.D. Griffiths' Birth of a Nation to Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, Allen's historical approach reveals how effective this technology has been in achieving the goals of its respective storytellers.

Dr. Allen's work is an example of the importance of chronicling the richness of black history.