A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast

How do you recognize how far you've come when you're still in the middle of healing? In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast, Lorilee Binstock welcomes back Cali Binstock for an honest, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about what growth actually looks like after trauma. From learning to recognize emotional progress to breaking free from patterns of self-blame, Lorilee and Cali explore the ways healing changes our relationship with ourselves and the world around us. They discuss the importance of self-love, nervous system regulation, gratitude, forgiveness, and the role spirituality and manifestation can play in personal growth. Along the way, a hilariously exhausting climb up the stairs at Red Rocks Amphitheatre becomes an unexpected metaphor for life: sometimes we're ready to give up just before reaching the top. Because healing isn't linear. Progress doesn't mean never struggling again. Sometimes it simply means finding your way back to yourself a little faster. And maybe the greatest realization of all is that there was never anything wrong with you to begin with.

What happens when a life-changing experience doesn't change your life overnight? In this deeply personal episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock opens up about her two-night ayahuasca ceremony and the unexpected lessons that followed. After years of trauma healing, therapy, and psychedelic exploration, Lorilee entered the experience hoping to uncover what was still holding her back. But instead of the profound revelations she anticipated, she found herself confronting intense physical discomfort, emotional release, and uncertainty about what it all meant. It wasn't until a month later, during a transformative weekend at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, that the pieces began falling into place. The realization? So much of her life had been driven by fear. From parenting and relationships to decision-making and the need for control, Lorilee began recognizing how deeply fear had shaped her behaviors—and what might happen if she started choosing trust, love, and compassion instead. But understanding a pattern and changing it are two very different things. In this episode, Lorilee explores the difference between having a breakthrough and actually living it, why healing isn't linear, and how the real work begins long after the ceremony ends. Because sometimes the most powerful transformation isn't what happens during the experience. It's what happens when you return to everyday life. Content note: This episode discusses childhood trauma, psychedelic experiences, and intense physical and emotional reactions. Ayahuasca carries significant medical and psychological risks and is not appropriate for everyone.

What if healing isn't about becoming someone new, but learning to love every part of who you already are? In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast, I'm joined by my cousin and returning guest, Cali Binstock, for an honest, deeply personal conversation about trauma, self-love, spirituality, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Cali opens up about her experience with eight sessions of ketamine-assisted therapy and how the process helped her reconnect with herself, confront shame, and embrace parts of her identity that had been shaped by trauma. She also discusses the ****Crime Victims Compensation Fund, which helped pay for her ketamine treatments. We explore the powerful role of Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and therapeutic support in preparing for psychedelic experiences, along with the importance of integration, meditation, and finding a healing path that feels right for you. We also dive into spirituality, higher consciousness, and what it means to find wholeness without rejecting the difficult parts of our stories. Because sometimes healing isn't about getting rid of the darkness. It's about bringing those hidden parts of ourselves into the light and discovering that we're worthy of love, exactly as we are. Content note: This episode includes discussions of sexual trauma, suicidal thoughts, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. The experiences shared are personal and are not intended as medical advice.  

What happens when you've spent years healing, but still feel called to go deeper? After years of trauma therapy, psychedelic-assisted healing, and learning to move beyond survival, I found myself asking an unexpected question: If I'm no longer trying to survive, why am I still searching? In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast, I share what led me to say yes to an ayahuasca ceremony after years of believing it wasn't for me. From unexpected signs and a powerful dream to the frustrating realities of preparation, I explore the curiosity, fears, and intentions that shaped my decision. But this episode isn't just about ayahuasca. It's about the difference between healing and constantly trying to fix ourselves, learning to surrender expectations, and recognizing that personal growth doesn't always mean something is wrong with us. Because maybe the next chapter of healing isn't about escaping what we've survived. Maybe it's about discovering who we are beyond it. Content note: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse, trauma recovery, and psychedelic experiences. It reflects my personal journey and is not medical advice.

What happens when you're no longer just trying to survive? After nearly a year away, Lorilee Binstock returns for Season 8 of A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast with a new perspective, a more personal format, and a question that has changed the way she thinks about healing: What comes after survival? In this deeply personal season premiere, Lorilee opens up about why she stepped away from the podcast, the emotional exhaustion she experienced, and the unexpected growth that came from giving herself permission to slow down. After seven seasons exploring trauma, healing modalities, and the journey from victim to survivor to thriver, Lorilee reflects on one of the most powerful lessons she's learned: healing isn't necessarily about eliminating pain. It's about changing the relationship we have with ourselves. From radical self-love and setting boundaries to rediscovering joy, purpose, and identity beyond trauma, this episode sets the stage for a season dedicated to what happens when we stop seeing ourselves as something that constantly needs fixing. Lorilee also shares what's ahead, including more intimate conversations, new perspectives on healing, and her decision to explore ayahuasca as part of her continued personal growth. Because healing isn't just about surviving what happened to us. It's about discovering who we get to become afterward.

In this powerful episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock talks with Stephanie Hutchins, author of See Through: The Art and Cost of Radical Transparency. Together, they explore what it means to live authentically after trauma — setting boundaries, embracing imperfection, and embodying post-traumatic growth. Stephanie shares her journey from high-functioning trauma to embodied healing, discussing how listening to the body and nervous system leads to genuine transformation. ✨ Topics Covered: What radical transparency looks like in real life Setting boundaries without losing yourself Healing the nervous system after trauma High-functioning trauma and authenticity Post-traumatic growth and self-compassion About the Guest: Stephanie M. Hutchins, PhD, is the author of See Through: The Art and Cost of Radical Transparency in a World That Profits from Pretending, as well as three earlier books on trauma recovery: Transformation After Trauma, Reclaim Your Life After Trauma, and Moving Forward. She is the founder of Serotinous Life, where she helps people healing from trauma harness the power of post-traumatic growth and reclaim authorship of their stories. A former college professor with fourteen years of experience teaching anatomy and physiology, Stephanie integrates science, embodiment, and coaching tools—including certifications in life coaching, wellness coaching, stress management, yoga, and NLP—into her work. Grounded in lived experience of childhood abuse, sudden loss, and high-functioning suffering, she guides others to move beyond survival and into integration, proving that healing isn't about erasing the past but about learning to live fully seen, even with the scars. https://www.serotinouslife.com/see-through https://www.facebook.com/serotinouslife https://www.youtube.com/@serotinouslife https://www.instagram.com/serotinouslife https://www.linkedin.com/in/serotinouslife

In this deeply moving episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock sits down with Patrice Griffin, writer, activist, and survivor who courageously fought for justice after enduring years of sexual abuse by members of the Black Watch Movement and X Clan. For more on her story, listen to her episode in Season 1 after releasing her book, The Unconscious Community. Patrice shares how she used the Child Victims Act to win her civil cases, her five-year legal battle for accountability, and how therapy and advocacy became the foundation of her healing. Together, Lorilee and Patrice discuss: 💬 The emotional toll of reliving trauma in the justice system ⚖️ How the Child Victims Act changed the game for survivors 🧠 The power of trauma-informed care and mental health support ❤️ Turning pain into purpose through advocacy and community 🌍 The importance of believing survivors and protecting children Patrice is also the founder of Patrice’s Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering children in underserved communities through education and awareness. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of child sexual abuse and trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening. 🎧 Listen to A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast on: Mental Health News Radio Network | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

When writer and mother Amber Sweet Davis heard the words “your child has cancer,” her world changed forever. In this powerful episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock sits down with Amber to discuss her emotional memoir, Please Don’t Die — a raw, unfiltered look at motherhood, trauma, grief, and resilience in the face of unimaginable loss. Amber opens up about her four-year-old son’s neuroblastoma diagnosis, the emotional and physical toll of treatment, and how writing became her lifeline. Together, they explore what it means to mother through fear, find strength in vulnerability, and hold on to love and hope even in the darkest seasons. This episode is for anyone navigating grief, parenting through crisis, or healing after trauma — a reminder that survival isn’t about perfection, but about the courage to keep showing up with an open heart. To Purchase Her Book, Click Here

In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock speaks with Jane Chen, social entrepreneur, inventor, and co-founder of Embrace Global, the organization behind a low-cost infant incubator that has saved more than one million premature babies around the world. While Jane’s humanitarian work earned global recognition, from presidents to the World Economic Forum, behind her achievements was a woman quietly unraveling. Burned out and battling the scars of childhood trauma, Jane faced the collapse of her identity when her company nearly fell apart. In her deeply personal memoir, Like a Wave We Break: A Memoir of Falling Apart and Finding Myself, Jane shares her transformative healing journey, from confronting her father’s violence to exploring somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems, psychedelics, and working directly with Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score. Jane and Lorilee dive into how overachievement can mask trauma, why talk therapy alone isn’t enough, and how redefining success through self-compassion, presence, and surrender led Jane to a more authentic life. If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, identity, or the relentless drive to prove your worth, this conversation will remind you that our greatest breaking points can lead to our most profound breakthroughs.  

What happens when you break free from a doomsday cult and an abusive marriage—but lose everything you’ve ever known? In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock talks with Brooke Deanne, a Trauma Healing Mentor, Rapid Transformational Therapist (RTT), NLP Practitioner, and Author of “Shattered, Broken, and Beautiful: Losing My Religion and Finding Faith.”  Brooke shares her courageous story of surviving religious trauma, narcissistic abuse, and psychological control—and how therapy, self-discovery, and spirituality helped her reclaim her voice and rebuild her life. This powerful conversation explores faith beyond religion, the impact of cult programming, and what it truly means to heal after trauma. 🎧 Tune in now for an inspiring story of freedom, resilience, and rediscovering authentic faith. Learn More about Brooke Deanne, Here Buy the Book Here