The Trauma of Infertility, with Leila Bahri-Lucas
The 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...
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Menopause: From Estrogen Washing to Social Silence, with Dr Aisling Quiery & Rati Roberta Riccardi
The 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...
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Menopause: From Multitasking Queen to Second Girlhood, with Dr Priya Duggal and Rosio Fuentes
The 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...
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Menopause Pruning: Clearing Space for Authenticity, with Inés Zabalaga & Kate Hazlitt, ND
The 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...
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Unveiling Indian Cultural Trauma, with Mansi Poddar
The 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...
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Invisible Made Visible: Authenticity, Healing, and Impact, with Barbara Brangan
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted 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...
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From Wounded Warrior to Universal Illuminator, with Juliano Innocenti, PMHNP, MSN
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J'aime Rothbard. In this episode, Juliano shares his personal journey from the trauma of in utero addiction and premature birth, to being raised in the foster system, to his healing through expressive arts and Compassionate Inquiry®(CI). As a psychopharmacologist with time-limited patient prescription assessments, Juliano describes how incorporating CI practices into these sessions can help patients uncover years of hidden suffering, validate their lived experiences, question false narratives and potentially end trauma cycles He emphasizes the...
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Peace Activation Begins Within, with Eva Dalak
The Gifts of Trauma
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...
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Technology & AI : Benefits & Hazards, with Sat Dharam Kaur, ND
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by J’aime Rothbard, Kevin Young and Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. Join us as we explore the overall impact of technology and AI on human attachments, relationships, dependence, skills, wellbeing and our environment. AI is examined in therapeutic contexts, along with the considerable ethical and societal concerns around its use in that capacity, and the documented damage it can inflict on vulnerable populations. Sat Dharam addresses a number of ‘hot’ tech and AI topics including the: - Potential future implications of transferring human attachment...
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Resolving Math-Anxiety Through Trauma-Informed Teaching, with Dr Bea Bleile
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard This conversation explores how academic learning is impacted by a student's emotional state, prior experiences, and the safety of the learning environment. Bea, who has been teaching in various roles since 1993, saw that traditional teaching methods fail to account for the "whole" students who enter the classrooms. This failure often results in elevated student anxiety and hindered learning: As a teacher committed to evolving current educational institutions and systems, she addresses: - The impact of negative emotions on learning...
info_outlineHosted 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 honor
- Belief systems that defy logic and reason
- Abusive parents, difficult in-laws, avoidant husbands and broken familial promises
- The opposition of successful, educated professional vs. traditional wife and mother roles
- Normalizing physical abuse, financial abuse, and marital rape
Constantly overriding authenticity to pursue attachment gives rise to appeasement patterns, fawning responses and false beliefs such as, "sacrifice is love." These behaviours are linked to autoimmune diseases, as is detailed in Gabor Maté's book, When the Body Says No. Mansi supports his thesis with a poignant story of a friend battling terminal cancer, who sadly learned this lesson too late.
About Mansi Poddar, Psychotherapist
A trauma-trained psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, Mansi developed the SANI Model of Therapy—a trauma-informed, integrative framework which weaves together 4 key strands of therapeutic wisdom—Somatic Psychology, Affective and Attachment Psychology, Narrative Therapy, and Deep Inquiry. Having supported individuals through trauma, life transitions, and emotional healing for 14 years, Mansi’s approach is designed to provide deep healing, emotional resilience, and personal transformation.
She specializes in Compassionate Inquiry (developed by Dr. Gabor Maté), somatic therapy, narrative therapy, and inner child healing, integrative approaches that support deep transformation of both body and mind.
With a MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University, Mansi is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a Certified Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner trained in suicide prevention. Manis is currently pursuing advanced training in Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), Somatic Experiencing and Somatic Psychotherapy.
Promotional Message
If you're interested in experiencing Gabor Maté's trauma healing approach, consider working with a certified Compassionate Inquiry (CI) Practitioner. Access healing support for mental, emotional and physical symptoms, unresolved trauma, relationship issues, addictions, and more. Use this link to access our global directory of multilingual certified professionals. In addition to their years of CI training and regular Certification reviews, our Practitioners bring the depth of their own personal lived experiences and skills in additional, complementary therapeutic approaches.
Resources:
Websites:
Related Links:
Parental Abuse in Indian Culture
Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ)
Books:
Podcasts:
Quotes:
“For decades, Indian culture has practised an authoritarian style of parenting where parents believe in having complete autonomy over their child’s life, in most cases, even during the teenage and adult years. ‘Tough love’ is a favorite among Indian parents. ‘Traditional Indian parenting’ or ‘conservative mom and dad’ are terms loosely thrown around in India to uphold and normalise acts of suppression and child abuse, carried out for decades in familial structures.” - The Naked Truth
“When you question something, you are told, this is our culture, this is our tradition, and when this is done, it means that logic has ended and belief has come in.” - Kamla Bhasin.
“We are being educated. We are being told you should get a career, you should get a profession, you should be financially independent. But nobody is teaching men and their families to…create a culture that sustains this for women. So there is a conflict…A lot of women get diagnosed as borderline or bipolar because… they're filled with rage, and after talking, get people to mediate or communicate their needs. Nobody is hearing them. So they get these diagnoses. And a large part of my work is helping them peel off the labels and look at what's beneath it.” - Mansi Poddar
“Beliefs that hold women back: 1. Sacrifice is love. 2. Family honor is more important than personal happiness. 3. Good women don't say no.” - Mansi Poddar
“Shame is a very strong thing in this culture. Constant comparisons, body shaming, humiliation. I meet adults who are 60 years old who are still being humiliated by their parents.” - Mansi Poddar
Social Media:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mansitherapy?igsh=MWxvdTRmanprenlk&utm_source=qr