Episode 063: Post Traumatic Super Growth with Shannon Moroney
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Release Date: 08/04/2023
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
In this episode, Brenda welcomes Marc Robert from Trexo Robotics for an insightful episode about the intersection of mobility, technology, and community for kids with disabilities. What began as a father’s search for better options turned into something much bigger, a movement helping families reclaim hope, gather data, and imagine new futures for their children. Marc shares how a viral GoFundMe campaign led to his son becoming one of the earliest users of the Trexo exoskeleton, a robotic gait trainer designed to help children with physical disabilities take assisted steps and build...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
In this episode, Brenda welcomes three guests from Clear Water Integrated Health and Anchor Rehab Support Services: Justin Kline, CEO, Jane Savage, Registered Social Worker and Clinical Director, and Stacie Dertinger, Chief Clinical Officer. This multi-pronged conversation explores how their teams are creating wraparound care models for individuals navigating complex diagnoses, brain injuries, and developmental differences, while also prioritizing the mental health and sustainability of caregivers. From partnering with child welfare agencies and designing inter-agency care plans and securing...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda welcomes Kylie James, founder of Koru Nutrition, for a powerful conversation about how nutrition is a missing pillar in recovery care, and how small, manageable changes can lead to massive, measurable results. A Certified Nutritional Practitioner and Registered Occupational Therapist, Kylie shares her unique lens on helping clients recover from motor vehicle accidents, brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, and chronic stress-related conditions. Drawing from personal experience, clinical research, and day-to-day work with clients across Canada, she unpacks everything from gut-brain health...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew and Jordan Assaraf are joined by lawyer, speaker, and host of The Trauma-Informed Lawyer podcast, Myrna McCallum. Together, they talk about how trauma shows up in the legal world, for both clients and lawyers, and why creating a safe, empathetic space is essential to the profession. Myrna shares stories from her own life, including her work on the Indian Residential Schools adjudication process, and how her own healing journey led to her passion for trauma-informed advocacy. They dive into the importance of curiosity over judgment, the role of nervous system regulation in...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
In this episode, Brenda and Jordan sit down with Kris Bonn, managing partner at Bonn Law, to talk about his unique journey from criminal defense to personal injury and medical malpractice law. Kris opens up about his early career, high-stakes trials, the evolution of his family’s practice, and how small-town roots influence big legal wins. They also explore the importance of collaboration between firms, using tech to improve case management, and how competitive drive fuels strong client advocacy. Key Takeaways: [1:01] Kris shares his background and how his practice in Belleville grew...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew and Jordan Assaraf catch up with Charlie Johnstone, the new President and CEO of Variety - the Children’s Charity of Ontario. They talk about his first few months on the job, how inclusion and community are driving everything forward, and why his experience running events like the Royal Winter Fair and Honda Indy helped him hit the ground running. They also dig into the importance of creating real partnerships, building sustainable programs, and making space for everyone—on and off the field. Key Takeaways: [1:01] Charlie introduces himself and shares his...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda welcomes her friend Kristy Dickinson, a rare disease patient, advocate, and founder of Kristy Dickinson Consulting. Together, they chat about the challenges of patient advocacy, the importance of lived experience in healthcare, and how systemic barriers often force patients and caregivers to become their own strongest advocates. They discuss the impact of delayed diagnoses, the need for a cultural shift in the medical field, and how healthcare professionals can work collaboratively with patients for better outcomes. Key Takeaways: [1:01] Brenda introduces guest Kristy Dickinson...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew is back, this time co-hosting with Charles Gluckstein as they sit down with Chris Clifford and Ted Bergeron, the founding partners of Bergeron Clifford LLP. In this episode, they chat about how legal practices are evolving, touching on how technology, diversification, and the challenges of life after COVID have shaped their approach. From growing their firms and embracing data-driven decisions to expanding into new practice areas, it’s all about staying client-focused. They also chat about the importance of mentorship, firm culture, and how tools like AI are transforming the way...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew is joined by Linda O'Brien, a lawyer with Gluckstein Lawyers, to discuss the world of personal injury law. Linda breaks down the complexities of personal injury cases, from medical malpractice to sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents, and more. Brenda and Linda delve into the different tiers of personal injury law firms, the importance of specialization, and why clients should do their homework when choosing a lawyer. They also address some of the challenges in the legal marketing world and emphasize the importance of putting the client’s well-being first. Key Takeaways:...
info_outlineButter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew, your host, is joined by Diana Harris, Gluckstein Lawyers' intake coordinator, and her sister Suzanne Coleman, the founder of Horse&Hands. Suzanne introduces us to Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning (FEEL), a transformative therapy that uses horses to help individuals reconnect with their authentic selves. In this episode, they discuss how horses provide healing support to trauma survivors, including survivors of sexual abuse, by fostering trust, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. Suzanne shares her journey, the incredible wisdom of horses, and the remarkable...
info_outlineBrenda Agnew, your host, welcomes Shannon Moroney to the podcast. Shannon is the author of Through the Glass, her own journey following the violent crimes and incarceration of her first husband., Out of The Shadow, and her newest book, Heal For Real: A Guided Journal to Forgiving Others―and Yourself by exploring what she calls the new f word: forgiveness.
Shannon is also an internationally recognized advocate of restorative justice, a powerful keynote speaker, one of the “world’s 50 most resilient people” (Global Resilience Project), a New York Times “Women in the World” recommended writer (2016), and is featured by the international Forgiveness Project. She travels extensively to lead transformative forgiveness and healing retreats for people and communities overcoming trauma.
Key Takeaways:
[6:18] Brenda discusses a trauma-informed seminar she recently took.
[8:21] Shannon explains why we don’t want to become a society in which we cannot speak.
[8:57] We live in a ‘trigger world’.
[9:26] There is a distinction between big T trauma and little t trauma.
[11:56] Recounting means reliving; Shannon explains how Trauma Therapy approaches patients who have lived traumatic experiences.
[12:30] Shannon gives an example of how trauma affects our psychology.
[17:52] Shannon assures there is no chance of living in a non-triggering society; she supports this with an example.
[21:20] Shannon shares the story of her first husband.
[23:32] Anyone trying to recover from trauma has to take responsibility for the healing process.
[27:07] People who seek help in a therapist's office are really brave.
[30:47] Shannon talks about her big T Trauma.
[39:14] Shannon acknowledges her ‘golden circle’ and dives deep into the Justice System Trauma.
[46:28] Shannon explains how the restorative justice approach works in Canada.
[48:36] The civil justice process is much more restorative than the criminal process.
[51:04] Sometimes, people don’t understand what they did was wrong.
[55:23] People who do monstrous things are not monsters; they are still people.
[1:00:12] Shannon expresses her passion for the work she does.
[1:02:30] Brenda explores the conversation with Shannon and highlights the main approached topics.
[1:04:54] Shannon shares her words of encouragement, empathy, and compassion.
Mentioned in this episode:
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