Healing Ruptured Connections to Self, Land and Culture with Sanjog Kaur
Release Date: 08/07/2025
Paul Noiles on, The Malevolent Nature of Emotional Abuse
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes & J’aime Rothbard. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. How do smart, accomplished people end up in emotionally abusive relationships without realizing it? As both a trauma coach and former victim, Paul illuminates how emotional abuse operates through fear, manipulation, and control—and why it's so difficult to recognize and name. He also touches on common signs; chronic invalidation, gaslighting, control disguised as concern, walking on eggshells, confusion, toxic shame, and how our earliest attachments can create susceptibility. In this...
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Mandy Rodstrom & Debbie Mason on, Creating Spaces for Stuttering to Exist
The Gifts of Trauma
Mandy Rodstrom & Debbie Mason on, Creating Spaces for Stuttering to Exist Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. What if traditional fluency-focused approaches designed to "fix" stuttering cause more harm than healing? In this conversation, speech therapists Mandy Rodstrom and Debbie Mason share personal and clinical insights that reveal how trauma, nervous system dysregulation and social stigma profoundly impact those who stammer. They highlight the critical importance of connecting people who stutter with supportive communities where stuttering is welcomed and...
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Cat McCarthy on Emergent Authenticity & Rewriting Scripts
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. What happens when we stop performing and start being? Cat guides us through her transformational journey from codependent conditioning to embodied authenticity. With wisdom drawn from 30+ years of yoga practice, plant medicine journeys, and navigating her own healing from Breast Cancer, Cat reveals why the answers we seek aren't outside ourselves, but waiting to be uncovered within. Cat reflects on: - How shedding her protective layers enabled her to access her true strength - Her expanded her capacity to be present, hold space for others...
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Zach Bush, MD & Eva Dalak on Relating to Our Original Imprint: Nature & Collective Healing.
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by J’aime Rothbard & Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. What if the path to inner and outer peace—and to the survival of our species—runs through our biology, not just our psychology? In this bonus finale to our Relating Series, Eva and Zach guide us beyond the familiar terrain of human-to-human relating to the new ground of relating to our original imprint. This conversation weaves hard science with systems thinking and spiritual wisdom to show that rather than transcending our humanity, healing our separation wound is about fully embracing our original...
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Unsafe! Navigating Domestic, Public and Systemic Violence, with Dr Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John and Jordan Decker
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes and J’aime Rothbard. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This vulnerable conversation continues exploring relating through the LGBTQ+ lens, as Vimalasara and Jordan share insights rarely disclosed to the heteronormative population. Jordan reflects on the inner work required to create safety for others—unpacking his own trauma so he can hold space for someone else's. Vimalasara addresses the harsh realities of domestic violence in LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting the barriers to seeking help—being subjected to transphobia, homophobia, or violence in...
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Gender & Identity, From Unconscious to Conscious with Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John and Jordan Decker
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes and J’aime Rothbard. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This thought provoking conversation explores relating through the LGBTQ+ lens, but not only presented to that community. Instead it is a vulnerable and honest sharing in which Vimalarara and Jordan offer insights and perspectives rarely disclosed to the heteronormative population. In this inclusive episode they touch on the: - Use of pronouns can create a sense of safety and inclusion - Perspective of gender as a social construct rather than a personal identity - Historical impact of religious and...
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Reducing Relationship Issues Through Proactive Design & Planning, with Dr Stan Tatkin and Leila Bahri-Lucas
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes & Leila Bahri-Lucas. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This episode reminds us that the unconscious processes that drive humans, our memories and survival instincts, often lead to misunderstandings and reactive behaviors. Consequently, most relationship issues, while they may seem personal, actually stem from our innate drives. Stan outlines that rather than being approached casually, successful relationships require deliberate design, shared purpose, defined roles, and agreed-upon principles. We also explore: - The PPPRRR Approach: Couples can...
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Polyamory: Attachment, Trauma & Relational Growth Unpacked, with Jessica Fern, David Cooley & JP Bolhuis
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This episode introduces Polyamory, a form of consensual non-monogamy, as a relational style involving multiple loving, consensual, romantic partners simultaneously. It emphasizes trust, open communication (as opposed to secretive ‘cheating’) and mutual agreement. Jessica and David, themselves polyamory practitioners and co-authors of two books on Polyamory, are joined by JP Bolhuis, a Psychosocial Therapist, Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner and Private Mentor who recently entered the world of polyamory. Jesica and David...
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Rethinking Sex Addiction: Trauma, Shame & Compulsive Sexuality, with Diana Safta & Silva Neves
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by J’aime Rothbard and Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this soft and flowing conversation, Silva Neves differentiates the term "sex addiction" from "sexual compulsivity," as addiction is an independent disorder, while compulsion arises from environmental distress. Like food, sex is a primary drive, and has a natural physiological stopping point not present in other addictions. The analogy of food and diverse cuisines to normalize conversations about sexuality, highlighting that different tastes and preferences in food are accepted, but similar...
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Healing Northern Ireland: From Personal Trauma to Societal Change, with Dr Paul Gallagher
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this conversation, Kevin introduces us to Dr Paul Gallagher, a lecturer in trauma studies at Cork University who started his formal education at age 40, after a significant "gap" in his life. Born in Belfast in 1972 at the height of "The Troubles," Paul recounts growing up in a war zone, where at 21, his home was invaded and his family held hostage. During this attack, he was shot and paralysed, and while physical and medical care were provided, psychological support was not. Paul highlights: - The crucial roles of...
info_outlineHosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard
Sanjog’s spiritual name means ‘connection.’ In this flowing, deeply connected conversation, Sanjog describes how ‘longing’ helped her heal her eating disorder. She also explains how heartfelt intentions (as opposed to external goals) helped her navigate obstacles in her addiction recovery. In addition to attuning to our innate ‘longings’ and ‘intentions’, Sanjog highlights the importance of trusting our own intuition, and accepting that we inherently know what we need.
Join us to hear Sanjog describe how:
- A trip to the US, unspoken grief, and early bullying led to her develop Bulimia, at age 13
- She overcame her reluctance to seek help through Kundalini Yoga, her relationship, community and her own longing to free herself from a coping strategy that served her well…but at great cost.
- Her professional focus shifted from anthropology to therapy
- Her emerging personal and professional aspirations might evolve her life and work
Sanjog also paints a beautiful picture of her upbringing in the Andes Mountains, the influences of her land’s unique geography, languages and cultures, and how, after initially dismissing what Ecuador offered, and wanting to leave, she has come to deeply appreciate its culture, land and diversity.
About Sanjog Kaur:
Somatic Therapist & Eating Psychology Coach
Born and raised in Ecuador’s Andes Mountains, Sanjog studied Anthropology at New York University and earned her Master’s Degree in Gender Studies at FLACSO-Ecuador.
She was introduced to the field of mental health in 2008, when she began her recovery process from an eating disorder she had lived with since childhood. A few years later, she trained as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, an Eating Psychology Coach and various therapeutic models, including Gestalt Therapy, Art Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Brainspotting.
In 2012, Sanjog met Dr. Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur through the Beyond Addiction Program and began practicing compassionate self-inquiry. As a Compassionate Inquiry® (CI) Practitioner, Founding Facilitator, Mentor, and Circles Leader, Sanjog led the translation of the CI programs into Spanish and is currently the Director of the CI Spanish Programs.
Promotional Message:
If you're a current Compassionate Inquiry® Professional Training Program participant or graduate, you're invited to CI's Experiential Intensive Retreat, in the north of Ireland, from September 8 - 12. Deepen your personal and community connections in the beautiful natural setting of Corrymeela, with beautiful views over the Irish sea. Rest, reflect, and partake in workshops, Compassionate Inquiry®-, body- and nature-based practice sessions, plus delightful evening community celebrations with home-cooked meals, Irish music and dancing. Tap this link to learn more.
Resources:
Websites:
Sanjog’s Compassionate Inquiry Profile
Books:
The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom
Quotes:
“Our hunger to belong is the longing to bridge the gulf that exists between isolation and intimacy.”
- John O'Donoghue
“Can you be fearless and compassionate?” - Sanjog Kaur
“I really want to be thin and have this type of body. I wouldn't describe that as a longing that came
from the connection with myself. I would say that’s someone else's voice telling me who I needed to
be in order to be accepted or to belong or to be safe in the world. But the longing would have been,
yes, I want to belong and I want to be safe in my body and I want to connect with people. And then,
I want to be accepted and loved and live with dignity. That's what I really wanted for myself in my
life. And the idea that thinness will bring you there was just a distraction.” - Sanjog Kaur
Training:
Compassionate Inquiry (English)
Compassionate Inquiry (Spanish)
Social Media: