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Peace Activation Begins Within, with Eva Dalak

The Gifts of Trauma

Release Date: 10/02/2025

Reducing Relationship Issues Through Proactive Design & Planning, with Dr Stan Tatkin and Leila Bahri-Lucas show art 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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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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The Gifts of Trauma

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Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this conversation, our guests forge a link between childhood trauma and the severity of menopausal symptoms. Aisling, a GP who is herself experiencing perimenopause, notes that the menopausal women who consult her often carry immense stress from being "sandwiched" between their peak career responsibilities and caring for children, grandchildren and aging parents.  Together Aisling and Rati contrast: - "Estrogen Washing" a term Aisling coined to suggest that HRT often serves as a "wash" which may offer temporary relief but is...

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Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes.  Produced by J’aime Rothbard Join us for this wide ranging conversation between a Menopausal Naturopathic doctor and a Therapist who lives with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome while mothering a neurodivergent family and experiencing Menopause. Together, Rosie and Priya address the many physiological, emotional and practical implications of Menopause "tipping points" for women’s health. They highlight that: -  Living an inauthentic life (always "doing" for others) can create physical symptoms, likewise addiction patterns may emerge or intensify if unmet...

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Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard This conversation moves from the medicalization of menopause to reclaiming it as a natural process; an important, transformative life stage marked by growth, development, and renewal, not an illness or pathology. Kate and Inés advocate for shifting from symptom management to trusting the body's innate capacity and involving the entire community in understanding this transition. Inés and Kate highlight:: - Brain Pruning which "chops away" old ways of thinking and being, making way for authenticity, new identity, and a...

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Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This conversation exposes the impact of cultural trauma on Indian mental and emotional well-being and  the conflicts these cultural pressures can cause. After outlining how therapeutic approaches can ease the pain, transform lives and begin to shift cultural norms, expectations and beliefs, Mansi asserts that having dreams, desires, and boundaries is an expression of one's wholeness, not a betrayal of others. Cultural dynamics explored include: - The expectation that women will sacrifice their personal happiness for family...

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Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes.  Produced by J’aime Rothbard.

This conversation explores Eva’s transformative journey from traditional peacework to a trauma-informed, soul-centred approach. Her own experience of progressive vision loss forced her into two years of deep shadow work. In this process she identified and released unhelpful core beliefs and avoidant patterns  Today, Eva believes she lost her eyesight to rediscover her true vision and destiny, through embracing her Palestinian-Israeli identity

She clearly explains why:
- Sustainable peace begins within us
- Traditional peacework as fundamentally broken
- Trauma-informed peacebuilding is able to end suffering comparisons and the weaponizing of trauma
- The Israel-Palestine conflict as a colonial themed theater in which global powers operate
- True conflict resolution requires the recognition of multiple truths and perspectives

Eva emphasizes that bringing people together in the midst of a genocide is immoral. Instead, she suggests the focus be on holding space for community pain, including the deep impact of collective generational trauma. She shares an inspiring vision in which she saw humans experiencing darkness as "particles of light" on a journey back to wholeness. 

About Eva Dalak. Founder, Peace Activation

A skilled conflict transformation facilitator and peacebuilding trainer, Eva combines grassroots depth with policy-level insight. For 20+ years she has worked with international organisations in 22+ conflict zones across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, blending systemic change with personal and collective healing. After 30+ years as a gender and conflict expert, she leads trauma-informed, soul-centered initiatives as a women’s empowerment coach. 

Growing up as a Palestinian-Muslim in Israel, Eva experienced a fragmented identity within a system designed to ‘divide and rule,’ reflecting the collective fragmentation she later observed. Fluent in five languages, she is trained in international development and law, spiritual psychology, and somatic experience. 

Currently based in Costa Rica, Eva launched Peace Activation on October 7, 2023 in response to the escalating crisis in Palestine and Israel. It is a global peace initiative rooted in the belief that sustainable peace begins within. 

Eva hosts the Peace is Possible podcast and authors The Other Narrative Substack, sharing stories of resilience and hope from the frontlines of conflict. On October 7, 2025, she will release her new book, Dancing In The Dark: How I Found My True Vision For Peace.

Promotional Message:

Did you know that Compassionate Inquiry® offers a free public blog library with over a thousand short posts written by our practitioners and facilitators?  Each is only a 5 or 6 minute read, and topics range from connecting with authenticity to overcoming food addictions to understanding epigenetics, rethinking drug use, CI & Psychedelics, and much, much more. You can also read excerpts from podcast guests' interviews. Tap this link to access our helpful, enlightening and inspiring blog library.

Resources:

Websites:

Eva Dalak

Peace Activation

Related Links

The Drama Triangle

The Other Narrative - Substack

Books:

When the Body Says No 

Dancing In The Dark: How I Found My True Vision For Peace. (Available Oct 7, 25)

Exodus

Podcasts: 

Peace is Possible Podcast

Crossing the Boundary

Peace in the Fire

The Better Human Podcast 

Quotes: 

"Peace cannot be imposed through declarations. It is an ongoing process, a daily act of quiet courage... and it must be made again and again.”  - Eva Dalak

I didn't fall into darkness—I answered its call. There, I remembered the grief I carried was never mine alone. What breaks us open is sometimes what births us whole." - Eva Dalak

"I believe that I lost my vision so that I could discover within myself where I had already lost my vision for my destiny. I had to lose my vision to find where, why, and what I am choosing to live." - Eva Dalak

"Wholeness is not something granted by a government, a passport, or a flag... Wholeness is something we must reclaim from within." - Eva Dalak

"Peace is not something we wait for. It is something we activate. We do not wait for peace; we embody it. The work is not done. It is just beginning." - Eva Dalak

Social Media:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/evadalak/
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-dalak-0702b02/?originalSubdomain=cr
YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChbEP_Qv3J3PuWr2z-d8G4w
FB: https://www.facebook.com/evadalak/