Collective Responsibility Ends Domestic Violence with Liz Odongo
Release Date: 01/23/2025
I’m All I Wanted to Be. Now What? With Sat Dharam Kaur
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This conversation opens with Sat Dharam sharing her realization that her original life goals have been achieved, and asking herself, “What’s next?” She goes on to look forward and explore the possibilities. A therapist’s state is known to influence the client's experience and expand the potential for healing. That’s why Compassionate Inquiry® brings empathetic presence into therapeutic contexts. But if current psychological and spiritual understandings were expanded to include environmental consciousness and creative expression,...
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What Happens in Women’s Circles with Tanya Lynn
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted and Produced by J’aime Rothbard In this lively conversation, Tanya reveals why women gather in Circles and the personal growth that can happen when they do. She shares her long Circling history and what recently motivated her to train in Somatic Experiencing and integrate it into her Circle Work. Tanya also demystifies: - Sisterhood - The Mother Wound, Sister Wound and Witch Wounds - The Role of Circles - The Roles of Perimenopause and Menopause - The Wild Woman - The Council of Queens - The Grandmother Clan Join us to learn what happens in Woman’s Circles. You might...
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Longing to Belong with Cristina Bâra
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted and Produced by J’aime Rothbard The gentle conversation flows from Cristina’s personal journey to her professional role within the Compassionate Inquiry® organization to the approach’s impact on individual and group development. She highlights how Compassionate Inquiry® groups foster a sense of community and mutual support by inviting individuals to explore their emotions and experiences in the safe facilitated spaces that are essential for meaningful personal exploration. Cristina also explains: - Why the self-discovery and healing path often require us to experience our...
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Bonus Song: U.K. Blessed with Jacob Kishere AKA Culture Pilgrim
The Gifts of Trauma
In our most recent episode, host Kevin Young sat down with the multi-faceted and multi-talented Jacob Kishere in . If you missed it, you can find the conversation . If you've already listened, you'll be pleased to hear that we didn't let Jacob get away without offering a taste of this artform he fully produces and performs independently under his stage name, Culture Pilgrim. U.K. Blessed is a hiphop testament of Jacob's enduring pursuit of mining hope from within when the exterior world is perceivably void of it -- and coming up with glistening things born of weathering the pressures of such...
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Evoking the Resonant Man with Jacob Kishere
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This deep, esoteric and practical conversation addresses the lack of positive role models and meaningful traditions for men, today. Jacob introduces the "Resonant Man," an archetype that aims to evolve masculinity into a sacred form that addresses current societal contexts and the importance of male identity. After recognizing the need for a communal space that fosters growth and understanding in relation to masculinity, Jacob encourages men to connect with supportive communities, engage in dialogues, explore their emotional...
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Enhancing Bodywork & EFT (Tapping) with Compassionate Inquiry with Pam Sommer
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this intimate, flowing conversation, Pam unravels the interconnections of emotions and physical sensations, particularly pain, in therapeutic settings including Massage Therapy, RMT, Emotional Freedom Technique, EFT (tapping), and Compassionate Inquiry® CI. She shares the therapeutic effects on her anxiety and physical pain she experienced while training in EFT and CI, highlighting that while both issues are still present, she now has the tools to manage them. Pam also touches on: - Generational trauma and how earlier...
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Awakening from Shutdown, Numbness & Not-Enoughness with Irina Sadakova
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard In this revealing conversation, Irina shares her experience as a child growing up in Soviet Russia, the impact of generational trauma and her journey of personal transformation. She weaves in repeating ancestral themes, highlights the abandonment trauma that impacted three consecutive generations in her maternal line, and explains how grief can fuel growth and healing. In this interview Irina also emphasizes the significance of: - Compassionate Inquiry in the expansion of her understanding of trauma - Personal experiences in...
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Multicultural & Ancestral Healing Perspectives with Soraya Romao-Inglis
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This gentle conversation explores Soraya’s multifaceted approach to therapy which acknowledges personal, cultural, and systemic factors. She shares her personal trauma experiences as a BIPOC female immigrant in Canada, her ancestors' influence in her life and work, and the multicultural compassionate lens she uses to support her clients’ healing. Soraya also explains: Trauma’s roots and manifestations in human behavior - Emotional eating as a coping mechanism for unaddressed trauma. - How nervous system...
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The Art of Integrating CI in Relational Trauma Therapy with Rita Bozi
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard This nuanced conversation begins with a deep dive into healing relational trauma. Rita explains developmental trauma, relational trauma and how both are rooted in ancestral and intergenerational trauma. After deftly highlighting how trauma experienced during critical developmental periods can lead to gaps in our self-awareness, emotional and relational functioning, she goes on to explore: - Forgiveness as a natural outcome of personal healing rather than a prerequisite for it. - Embodiment’s role in fully experiencing and...
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Transforming Corporate Organizations into Soulful Workplaces with Amy Elizabeth Fox
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This episode explores the role of trauma awareness in leadership and organizational development. By integrating psycho-spiritual insights, Amy’s work supports leaders in fostering healthier, more sustainable, workplaces which can lead to individual and company-wide healing and transformation. Her initiatives invite leaders to explore their early traumas and free themselves from the old survival strategies and untreated traumas that affect their daily decision-making and organizational dynamics. In this deep, rich conversation,...
info_outlineHosted and Produced by J’aime Rothbard.
Join us for this deep dive into the maze of trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault and the often futile search for vital support services. Liz unravels this complex weave by sharing her personal trauma and healing experiences, as well as the need for systemic change and collaboration that invokes the proven healing powers of community.
Former colleagues and co facilitators in the domestic violence and collective trauma arenas, Liz and J’aime explore various forms of abuse, including emotional and psychological manipulation, not just physical violence. They also highlight the role of "compounding trauma," where individuals experience multiple subsequent traumatic events, without adequate time to heal.
Liz shares her personal journey, and how being a trauma survivor empowers her to create, advocate for and train others in sensitive, trauma-informed support services.
She highlights the need to break down silos between agencies and services and improve the overall response to domestic violence. Liz also advocates for:
- Cross-disciplinary professional collaboration (academics, attorneys, domestic violence advocates, housing experts…) in order to create more useful support systems for trauma / abuse survivors.
- The development of trauma-informed practices that prioritize the well-being of survivors.
- Reducing the risk of overwhelming or re-traumatizing survivors by raising support service providers awareness
- Collective processes that welcome communities pivotal roles in supporting, healing and recovery, ensuring individuals are not alone in their experiences.
The interview also touches on how societal language and cultural norms can normalize violence and contribute to the perpetuation of abuse, and ongoing efforts to reframe domestic violence to promote awareness and positive change.
About Liz Odongo
Director of Grants and Programs, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV)
A registered descendant of Koniag, Inc. and the Native Village of Afognak (a recognized Alutiiq Alaska Native tribal entity) Liz obtained her MA in International Training & Education from American University, her BA in Global Studies from the University of Washington, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guyana, and a high school exchange student in Venezuela.
During 2+ decades spent working to end gender-based violence, Liz serves as the Director of Grants and Programs for the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, was a Domestic Violence Systems Advocate, an Educator at The Women’s Center, and a Program Officer in the Global Health, Population and Nutrition Department at the Academy for Educational Development. She also testified for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Sexual Assault in the Peace Corps.
Liz developed and facilitated national and international training to address violence against women, which was delivered to many agencies, including the U.S. Military, State Department, Government agencies, law enforcement and local community-based organizations. Today she provides technical assistance, training, and support around compliance, budgeting, reporting, and program development to grantees implementing health contracts from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Raised in Seattle, WA, Liz is the mother of two children and wife of an African Immigrant. While she enjoys coaching her kids’ basketball teams, playing guitar, and keeping her ASL and Spanish fluency strong, she never fails to stop and smell the flowers.
Promotional Link: If you’ve been listening to our podcast, you may have heard guests share stories of suicidal distress. If you're a therapist, education, medical or personal development professional seeking tools to support people on this path, the Compassionate Inquiry® 25-hour, trauma-informed, live online professional Suicide Attention Training is designed to increase both your skills and confidence. Please use this link to learn more. Registration closes on Feb 16.
Resources
Websites: Professional
Relevant Links:
99 Ways to Please a Man by Public Spectacle
Shehugger
Sugpiat People from the Native Village of Afognak, members of Koniag, Inc,
Dr Nkiru Nnawulezi of The Domestic Violence Action Research Collective
Violence Interrupters of Peace DC
Karma Cottman of Ujima
Koniag Government Services
Academy for Educational Development
Books: Theater of the Oppressed
Films: The Wisdom of Trauma
Statistics: WHO Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women
Social Media Handles:
Liz Odongo LinkedIn | Facebook
DCCADV LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter