Invisible Made Visible: Authenticity, Healing, and Impact, with Barbara Brangan
Release Date: 10/16/2025
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...
info_outlineThe 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...
info_outlineThe 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...
info_outlineThe 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_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. Tony shares his personal journey, from growing up gay in the 60s, to experiencing sexual trauma and seeking healing in his 50s. He views safety, kindness, and gentleness as essential for healing, as they invite us to lower our shields and ‘just be.’ Having worked in the psychedelic world for 2 decades, Tony stresses that profound psychedelic experiences are only valuable if they lead to a greater sense of ease and conscious awareness with which we can navigate our challenging world. He also recounts: - The development of gentler, more...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this gentle, heart-felt conversation, Leila guides us through the emotional landscape of infertility debunking common myths and misconceptions. She also shares her personal story, from 11 rounds of IVF to complete emotional collapse, which led her to agency, freedom, a new beginning and a baby. Leila also addresses: - How Infertility, as a trauma in its own right can unearth feelings of shame and worthlessness - Why trauma-informed support can ease the emotional toll of infertility medical interventions...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
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...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
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...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
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...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
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...
info_outlineHosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.
Our guest, an expert grant writer for charities, social enterprises, and Indigenous organizations, shares her profound transition from a deep sense of invisibility to authentic visibility and happy invisibility. Barb also describes how integrating spiritual wisdom, trauma-informed healing and self-introspection ultimately directed her to surrender to her unique gift for impactful social justice work.
Barb delves into:
- Her own "happy childhood" myth, hiding the pain of her childhood medical trauma.
- The value of Cosmic Human Design, Gene Keys and True Sidereal Astrology
- The mysterious illness that led her to Dr. Gabor Maté's work
- How CI therapy and training profoundly transformed her parenting
- The power of recognizing one's inherent beauty, gifts, and supported nature
Initially aiming to build a "spiritual empire" based on Human Design, Barb realized her true passion by using her gift of "translation" to simplify complex grant proposals and secure over $50 million in funding for charities, social enterprises, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations.
About Barb Brangan
Founder, Grantful & Pearlful
A strategic funding expert, Barb crafts compelling, high-value funding proposals for impact-driven organisations to facilitate amazing projects. The $50+ million in grants and tenders she has secured is fueling transformational social impact across mental health, housing, youth suicide and domestic violence prevention, and aged care.
By combining her Compassionate Inquiry training with her counselling background, Barb’s deeply trauma-informed, human-centred approach enables her to help organisations not only secure critical funding but also to align deeply with their mission and values.
Passionate about uncovering the authentic nature of individuals and organisations, Barb weaves her love for True Sidereal (Cosmic) Astrology, Human Design and Gene Keys into her mentoring and strategy work. She believes that when people lead from their innate gifts and lived experience, they can create funding narratives and social impact initiatives that are both compelling and deeply authentic.
Known for her ability to make complex funding processes clear and empowering, and for bringing fun into the process, Barb is a trusted ally for social impact teams ready to scale their vision and impact. A dual citizen of Australia and Ireland, she supports clients locally and globally from Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Promotional Message:
If you've been listening to our podcast and are curious about the transformative power of Compassionate Inquiry®, join us on Feb 22 for a 6-hour online experiential introduction to the Compassionate Inquiry approach and community . This link takes you to a web page where you can get information and, if you choose, register for the CI Experience event.
Resources
Websites:
Professional website - Grateful
Professional website - Pearlful
Books:
Article:
Her Business - Featured Member
Related Links:
Compassionate Inquiry Training
Compassionate Inquiry Practitioners' Directory
Videos:
Podcast:
How to Transform your Life with Human Design
Quotes:
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost.
“Compassionate Inquiry has completely transformed how I parent. We can allow space for sadness and happiness and all of that, because … the feeling isn't wrong. It's just allowing… it to be there. That has changed me, it has changed us as a family. My daughters are teenagers, and I really enjoy this stage.” - Barbara Brangan
Social Media:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/barbarabrangan
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarabrangan/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/barbarabrangansoul