The Big Silence

Karena Dawn
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The Big Silence is a top-rated mental health and self-development podcast for anyone ready to build resilience, heal deeply, and grow with intention. Welcome to The Big Silence podcast. This is a space for real, honest conversations about mental health, resilience, and the things we’re all navigating but don’t always say out loud. I’m your host, Karena Dawn—mental health advocate, wellness entrepreneur, and owner and co-founder of Tone It Up—and each week I’m sitting down with psychologists, wellness experts, and people I deeply admire to talk about what healing actually looks like in real life. You’ll hear personal stories, expert insight, and simple, powerful tools you can apply to your own life. My hope is that you leave every episode feeling supported, understood, and more confident in your ability to move through whatever season you’re in. No more silence. Only healing. -- A non-profit 501(c)3, The Big Silence Foundation provides resources and support to anyone directly or indirectly impacted by mental illness. 'The Big Silence' theme song was written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney. Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

  1. HACE 6 DÍAS

    The Truth About Modern Dating, Marriage & Attraction with Relationship Coach Stephan Labossiere

    Bestselling author and sought-after relationship coach Stephan Labossiere, also known as Stephan Speaks, joins Karena Dawn for an honest, spiritually grounded conversation on love, dating, and marriage. From decoding red flags to understanding why physical attraction matters more than most people admit, this episode is essential listening for anyone navigating modern relationships: single, dating, or partnered. How do you stop searching for love and start becoming it? Healing your past isn't just self-care. It's the foundation for every meaningful relationship you'll ever have. (01:37) What Real Love Actually Is Stephan defines love as spirit-to-spirit connection, not performance, chemistry, or circumstance Why you can't force two people to love each other simply by putting them together How Stephan went from IT professional and real estate investor to relationship coach through an unexpected spiritual journey What it really means to be "prepared" for love: healing past wounds, not just showing up (19:48) Dating, Marriage & the Attraction Nobody Talks About Red flags to watch: men who won't discuss feelings, men who say they're not serious, and the women who don't believe them The #1 issue Stephan sees in marriages: loss of physical attraction, and why no one wants to admit it Why attraction isn't just about looks. It's about effort, respect, and energy How low self-worth in one partner quietly dismantles intimacy for both (44:42) Being Love: The Foundation Everything Else Rests On Why the goal isn't to find love. It's to become it The emotional vs. physical disconnect that quietly breaks most marriages and how to bridge it Healing as the prerequisite: how unresolved pain sabotages every new relationship Practical ways to walk in love daily: rejecting negativity, caring for your health, starting with the people around you Thanks for the support from our partners, including:  Guest Resources Visit his website: StephanSpeaks.com Follow him on Instagram Shop his Books If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection Subscribe on YouTube Donate to The Big Silence Foundation The Big Silence Resource Guide Find exclusive offers from our supporters Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST TONE IT DOWN PODCAST Tone It Up App Tone It Up YouTube Tone It Up Instagram Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

    1 h 20 min

  2. 23 ABR

    Dr. Eboni Cornish on Neuroinflammation, Gut Health & Why You're Still Not Getting Better

    Dr. Eboni Cornish is the Associate Medical Director at Amen Clinics and president-elect of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), with 16+ years specializing in neuroinflammation, Lyme disease, mold illness, PANS/PANDAS, and long COVID. In this episode, she joins Karena to break down the overlooked root causes driving brain fog, anxiety, poor sleep, and chronic illness — making the case that most people suffering from mood and cognitive symptoms have an underlying physical cause that's going completely undetected. What if the anxiety, brain fog, and exhaustion you've been managing as mental health symptoms are actually your body flagging something physical — something that's never been investigated? When mental health is treated as brain health, the entire conversation changes. Dr. Eboni Cornish shows us what's possible when we stop medicating symptoms and start asking why. (02:15) Brain Health Is the Missing Piece of Longevity You can sauna, plunge, and lift — but if you're not sleeping, your brain can't heal Non-restorative sleep is the number one red flag your brain is under stress Hormones, cortisol, and fight-or-flight mode all disrupt sleep Supplements Dr. Cornish recommends: L-theanine, GABA, and magnesium (18:31) Mold, Environmental Toxins & Your Mood Mold toxins cause inflammation that mimics depression, anxiety, and even dementia Some patients' mood symptoms resolved entirely after leaving a water-damaged building HLA gene testing can reveal whether your body can clear mold toxins or retains them Brain fog is a symptom, not a diagnosis (33:49) Lyme Disease, Tick Bites & PANS/PANDAS in Kids and Adults Less than 50% of people with Lyme ever notice a tick bite or bullseye rash Lyme is a global disease, a "great imitator" that can present as depression, fatigue, or psychosis In kids, sudden personality changes after illness can signal PANS/PANDAS, an autoimmune neuropsychiatric response Thanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest Resources Visit Dr. Eboni Cornish's website (https://www.drebonicornish.com/) Follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dr.ebonicornish/) Learn about Amen Clinics (https://www.amenclinics.com) Find an ILADS-trained physician (https://www.ilads.org) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners) Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/new-year-new-tiyou-challenge) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) TONE IT DOWN PODCAST (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-down-podcast) Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en) Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

    51 min

  3. 16 ABR

    Bob Saget's Widow Kelly Rizzo on Grief, Resilience & Loving Again

    Kelly Rizzo is a food and travel creator, host of the Comfort Food podcast, and founder of the Comfort Club grief community. In this episode, she opens up about losing her husband Bob Saget, rebuilding her identity, and what surprised her most about grief. She and Karena also explore career reinvention at any age, learning to love without fear, and why sharing your story is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and others. What if the hardest chapter of your life turned out to be a helpful pathway for others? Kelly Rizzo didn't plan to become a voice for grief and resilience. But when she started sharing her healing journey after losing Bob Saget, the responses she received solidified her mission. (00:00) Resilience, Grief & Why It's Still Taboo Kelly and Karena connect over resilience as a shared foundation Why grief is still taboo — and why that needs to change (05:14) Reinvention at Any Age How a market crash, a divorce, and a dead end led Kelly to start over in her mid-30s From family real estate to food and travel vlogging before "influencer" was even a word (09:32) Bob Saget, Grief & What Losing Him Taught Her How Bob slid into her DMs and why she almost didn't give him a chance What grief actually feels like from the inside The detail that shocked her most  (23:47) Love After Loss & Never Sweating the Small Stuff What it was like to open her heart again and why it scared her  How her boyfriend Brecken embraced Bob as part of their life together Why grief completely changed the way she shows up in her relationship — and what that means for anyone starting over Thanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest Resources Instagram (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.instagram.com/kellyrizzo__;!!IjqdgNtW8d72VyZ5!JI-8y7XdQUobtOLvEqXeU4Ej3DLUTh76jENW-BWGww4R1EXJ32b5gq2RB8jIuAvFG1NF3COb3uxRdHmcnMhNdokUf01XtTXL$) TikTok (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.tiktok.com/@eattravelrock__;!!IjqdgNtW8d72VyZ5!JI-8y7XdQUobtOLvEqXeU4Ej3DLUTh76jENW-BWGww4R1EXJ32b5gq2RB8jIuAvFG1NF3COb3uxRdHmcnMhNdokUfwzrBQAB$)  Eat Travel Rock (https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.eattravelrock.com/__;!!IjqdgNtW8d72VyZ5!JI-8y7XdQUobtOLvEqXeU4Ej3DLUTh76jENW-BWGww4R1EXJ32b5gq2RB8jIuAvFG1NF3COb3uxRdHmcnMhNdokUf-AZ7ZxM$) Comfort Food with Kelly Rizzo Podcast (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comfort-food-with-kelly-rizzo/id1716987177__;!!IjqdgNtW8d72VyZ5!JI-8y7XdQUobtOLvEqXeU4Ej3DLUTh76jENW-BWGww4R1EXJ32b5gq2RB8jIuAvFG1NF3COb3uxRdHmcnMhNdokUf1iR5719$) Comfort Club (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.comfortclubonline.com/__;!!IjqdgNtW8d72VyZ5!JI-8y7XdQUobtOLvEqXeU4Ej3DLUTh76jENW-BWGww4R1EXJ32b5gq2RB8jIuAvFG1NF3COb3uxRdHmcnMhNdokUf-LCFn0q$) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners) Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/new-year-new-tiyou-challenge) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) TONE IT DOWN PODCAST (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-down-podcast) Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en) Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

    36 min

  4. 9 ABR

    Randy Spelling: From Hollywood Royalty to Recovery & Helping Others Heal

    In this conversation with Randy Spelling — life coach of 18 years, son of legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling, and co-host of the Oldish podcast — Karena explores how growing up with fame and fortune still left him empty. He shares how addiction nearly took his life and how he rebuilt himself through somatic therapy, EMDR, inner child work, and learning to trust his own intuition. You’ll gain practical tools for breaking negative self-talk, working with rumination, and taking the first steps toward real healing. What does real healing look like when you've already tried everything — and still hit rock bottom? Randy Spelling grew up inside one of Hollywood's most famous families, with every privilege imaginable — and still ended up at lost, searching for anything to dull the pain. In this deeply honest conversation, Randy walks Karena through the night that changed everything, the addiction that almost killed him, and the 18-year coaching practice he built on the other side of it. From inner child work to EMDR to rewiring negative self-talk, this episode is a masterclass in what it takes not just to survive, but to actually heal. (00:58) Presence Over Metrics: How Randy Coaches Today Most goals are placeholders for what people actually want to feel The vacation analogy: you can be on the beach at sunset and still be completely disconnected inside (07:14) Growing Up in Aaron Spelling's Shadow Despite enormous privilege, Randy never felt good enough or fulfilled Being highly empathic meant constantly reading the room to earn love and attention (13:22) Rehab, Relapse & the Decision That Actually Stuck His first rehab was someone else's choice- the second time, he chose it The time his heart stopped (22:27) EMDR, Somatic Therapy & the Healing That Goes Deeper Than Talk After years of traditional therapy, Randy felt he was going in circles — he needed something that moved what was stuck in his body He explored somatic therapy, Reiki, EMDR, and working with spiritual teachers (31:50) Inner Child Work, Negative Self-Talk & the Rumination Method Inner child visualization — seeing yourself at a specific age, making eye contact, and saying what that child always needed to hear For negative self-talk: write it down to get it outside your head, then alchemize it  The rumination method: personify it, let it speak, take its notes, then consciously let it out of the car Thanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest Resources Visit Randy's website (https://www.randyspelling.com) Follow Randy on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/randyspelling) Discounted offer to Randy's 'You 2.0' 14 Day program: YOU 2.0 (https://go.randyspelling.com/you-2-0) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners) Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/new-year-new-tiyou-challenge) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) TONE IT DOWN PODCAST (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-down-podcast) Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en) Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

    48 min

  5. 2 ABR

    How Creative Writing Heals: Allie Michelle on Journaling, Archetypes & Emotional Strength

    In this conversation with Allie Michelle, poet, spoken word performer, and author of four poetry collections, she and Karena cover the healing power of journaling and radical honesty on the page. They discuss how EMDR therapy rewired her nervous system in just eight sessions, the difference between the Lover and Seeker archetypes, and why fluid identity beats fixed personality systems. Youo’ll hear why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to expand empathy, and where she personally draws the line on AI in the creative process. Can writing become a form of therapy? Allie makes the case that it can. Whether you've never touched a journal or you've been writing for years, this conversation will change the way you think about creativity, honesty, and what it means to truly feel your feelings. Highlights: (00:52) From Library Kid to Poet: Finding Words That Held Her Allie ditched school to hide in the poetry section and found writing before she found herself Growing up shy, she used poetry to process emotions she couldn't speak out loud Working the Teen Line crisis hotline at 14 gave her emotional tools way beyond her years How slowing down in Hawaii finally made space for her voice (05:31) Journaling as a Lifeline: How to Get Radically Honest on the Page Why her journals are her favorite writing: stripped down, unperformed, completely true "We don't have as much negative space to process our feelings like we once did. Journaling is that space of just, how am I really feeling today?" For beginners: the prompted journal Becoming a Warrior as a diving board and the rule of big pen energy (11:52) AI, Authenticity & Where Allie Draws the Line "Integrity is not a line in the sand. It's a state of awareness." — the framework she uses to navigate AI ethics How fiction bridges empathy gaps and why that matters more than ever right now The difference between feedback from people you trust and the noise of the internet (22:41) Healing the Self: EMDR, Somatic Work & Coming Back Into Your Body Spending the first half of her life dissociated and what finally brought her back EMDR as a game-changer: eight sessions that completely altered her nervous system  From craniosacral therapy to holotropic breathing- how she built a full toolkit for self-regulation "It's not about being perfect. It's just learning to be this really wonderful container for myself." (24:52) Archetypes, Identity & The Many Versions of You Why she loves archetypes and how they allow for fluidity, not fixed identity The Lover: tasting life fully, Eros, the sweetness of doing nothing, and its shadow of codependency The Seeker: obsessed with growth, the itch to stretch your spirit "Part of loving ourselves and also loving people really well is listening for which one is alive and present." Thanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest Resources Follow Allie Michelle on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/alliemichellel) New Poetry Collection: Don't Wait to Light the Candles (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/dont-wait-to-light-the-candles-allie-michelle?variant=44262764806178) Fantasy Novel: Legends of Lemuria (https://shopcatalog.com/products/legends-of-lemuria) Resources Mentioned: Gabby Bernstein describes EMDR therapy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYI_0VDMVGk) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners)

    40 min

  6. 26 MAR

    ADHD, Dopamine & Brain Fog: What Your Brain Is Trying to Tell You | Dr. Steven Storage

    Dr. Steven Storage is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist at Amen Clinics, where brain SPECT imaging is used to diagnose and treat conditions like ADHD at the neurological level. In this episode, he and Karena cover the four pillars of brain health, how social media hijacks your dopamine, why ADHD is both genetic and environmental, the seven subtypes of ADHD, what low dopamine actually feels like, and a simple cognitive technique to stop negative thoughts from running your day. What happens to your focus, your mood, and your sense of self when your brain isn't getting what it needs — and how do you even know? Dr. Storage breaks down the neuroscience in a way that's impossible to unhear, from why one bad night of sleep costs you 30% of your executive function to how your social media habit may be draining the same brain chemical you need to feel motivated. This is the brain health conversation that has been missing from the wellness space. (00:38) The Four Pillars of Brain Health Sleep, exercise, nutrition, and avoiding toxins — the foundation for a functioning brain 20 minutes of higher-intensity cardio every other day shown to be as powerful as antidepressant medication for the brain What the brain is actually doing while you sleep  Food is fuel or garbage — why refined sugar and processed foods are inflammatory for the brain (07:07) Social Media, Dopamine & the Addiction Loop Social media is engineered to produce a dopamine spike, and the crash after is real Doom scrolling depletes the same chemical needed for focus, motivation, and productivity Why students who decompress with video games before homework are setting themselves up to struggle (11:59) ADHD Explained — Genetics, Perimenopause & What's Really Happening ADHD is one of the most genetic conditions in psychiatry ADHD as a supply-demand issue: blood flow to the prefrontal cortex vs. the demands placed on it Why perimenopause triggers ADHD-like symptoms  The difference between brain fog from perimenopause and preexisting ADHD — and why one makes the other worse (21:04) ADHD as a Superpower — And Why Medication Isn't the Enemy Why traits coded as ADHD likely survived evolution  Creativity, hyper-focus, intuition, outside-the-box thinking — the real strengths of an ADHD brain The mismatch between ADHD wiring and traditional classrooms: why Dr. Storage doesn't view ADHD as a disorder Stimulants vs. non-stimulants — what Adderall actually does to the prefrontal cortex The goal isn't to eliminate the superpower — it's to modulate the brain so you can access focus when you need it without losing creativity (32:35) Brain Development, Early Diagnosis & Rewiring Negative Thoughts The prefrontal cortex isn't fully developed until mid-to-late 20s — so how do you know when to treat? New MRI data: kids treated for ADHD before age 12 showed accelerated prefrontal cortex development Dr. Storage's three-step method for negative thought patterns Why meditation builds metacognitive awareness and helps thoughts pass like luggage on a conveyor belt Thanks for the support from our partners, including:  Guest Resources Follow Dr. Steven Storage on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drstevenstorage/) Follow Dr. Steven Storage on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/discover/dr-steven-storage) Visit Amen Clinics (https://www.amenclinics.com) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners)

    42 min

  7. 19 MAR

    Author & Executive Coach Amina AlTai on Burnout, Core Wounds & Escaping the Ambition Trap

    Executive coach and bestselling author Amina AlTai joins Karena to unpack the hidden psychology behind burnout, overachievement, and what she calls the "ambition trap" — the exhausting space between feeling too much and never enough. After her own health crisis brought on by relentless overworking and undiagnosed autoimmune disease, Amina went back to study coaching, nutrition, and mindfulness, and built a practice helping high-achieving women reconnect with purposeful ambition. In this episode, they explore the five core childhood wounds that quietly shape our careers, how invisible labor fuels resentment, and the concrete steps to set boundaries, stop tolerating what's costing you, and find work that's truly yours. How do you stop building your ambition on a foundation of childhood wounds and start living from a place of purpose? Recognizing the core wounds quietly driving your hustle is the first step toward breaking free from the ambition trap and reclaiming a life that's actually yours. (00:16) The Burnout That Nearly Broke Her Amina's origin story: marketing career, immigrant family pressure, and the relentless pursuit of achievement How two autoimmune diseases became the catalyst for an entirely different life Why burnout isn't just exhaustion; it's what happens when achievement becomes identity (03:01) The Five Core Wounds Driving Your Ambition Amina's framework: abandonment, rejection, humiliation, betrayal, and injustice, and the masks we wear for each Why the control mask often leads directly to burnout Awareness is the first and most powerful step to breaking the pattern (10:44) How Core Wounds Show Up at Work The withdrawal mask: avoiding opportunity out of fear of rejection Masochism and martyrdom as the blueprint for burning out Perfectionism (the rigidity mask) and why waiting for 110% keeps you stuck The real cost of micromanagement and what it signals about the betrayal wound (16:07) Boundaries, Burnout & Invisible Labor The SBIS model (Situation, Behavior, Impact, Solution) for navigating hard workplace conversations Invisible labor = the unpaid, unseen work women carry at home and at the office How tolerations silently drain your energy and how to start raising the standard (31:13) Reinvention, Purpose & the Passion Myth Why the idea of one singular career no longer fits how long or how fully we live The crucial difference between passion and purpose  Amina's five elements of purposeful work  Joy sparkers vs. fire starters: a practical tool for building more of what lights you up into daily life Thanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest Resources Get the book: The Ambition Trap — How to Stop Chasing and Start Living Visit Amina's website Follow Amina on Instagram If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection Subscribe on YouTube Donate to The Big Silence Foundation The Big Silence Resource Guide Find exclusive offers from our supporters Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST TONE IT DOWN PODCAST Tone It Up App Tone It Up YouTube Tone It Up Instagram Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

    42 min

  8. 12 MAR

    How Fitness Saved His Life & Why Community Is the Most Underrated Health Tool

    In this conversation with Kenny Santucci — personal trainer, entrepreneur, and founder of Strong New York — Karena explores how growing up broke in New Jersey shaped his relentless work ethic, why he lost millions and kept going, and how fitness became his anchor through canceled deals, failed businesses, and a suicidal crisis. Kenny also shares his philosophy on building real community through fitness, what the industry gets wrong, and why he believes a healthier city starts one workout at a time. How do you rebuild your life when every external win has been stripped away — and still choose to get up? Resilience isn't a personality trait. It's a decision you make in the dark, over and over again. (00:46) Jersey Roots, Zero Hand-Outs Growing up broke in Newark and learning early that work was the only way out Why Kenny's never taken investor money How coming from nothing shapes your hunger as an entrepreneur (03:15) The Fat Kid Who Became a Trainer Kenny's upbringing and the gym that changed everything How getting in shape shifted the way the world treated him — and what he actually thinks about that "If you want people to add to your cup, you need to give them some sort of value." (13:57) From the Docks to the Gym Floor From the Port Newark shipping yard to New York City What television taught him and why he walked away Why everyday clients, not celebrities, are the ones who make lasting changes (17:50) Getting Canceled and Going Broke Losing two gyms to bad partners  Being canceled and the dark spiral that followed How he climbed out by chalking up wins, leaning on family, and just going for a run (32:57) What the Fitness Industry Gets Wrong  Selling aesthetics over community is the industry's biggest disservice The "gateway drug" approach: try yoga, boxing, Pilates — and don't marry any of it Why you push 30–40% harder alongside other people (53:29) Strong New York, Plant Medicine & the Supplement Stack The mission behind Strong New York's September 26th event  Kenny's take on psilocybin, microdosing, and the mental health case for plant medicine His actual supplement priority list: creatine, protein, nootropics Why a brain isn't a brain without other brains around — and what AI therapy is getting wrong Thanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest Resources: Follow Kenny on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kennysantucci) Follow Strong New York on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/strongnewyork) Strong New York on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@StrongNewYork) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community: Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners) Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/new-year-new-tiyou-challenge) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) TONE IT DOWN PODCAST (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-down-podcast) Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en) Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

    1 h 3 min
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The Big Silence is a top-rated mental health and self-development podcast for anyone ready to build resilience, heal deeply, and grow with intention. Welcome to The Big Silence podcast. This is a space for real, honest conversations about mental health, resilience, and the things we’re all navigating but don’t always say out loud. I’m your host, Karena Dawn—mental health advocate, wellness entrepreneur, and owner and co-founder of Tone It Up—and each week I’m sitting down with psychologists, wellness experts, and people I deeply admire to talk about what healing actually looks like in real life. You’ll hear personal stories, expert insight, and simple, powerful tools you can apply to your own life. My hope is that you leave every episode feeling supported, understood, and more confident in your ability to move through whatever season you’re in. No more silence. Only healing. -- A non-profit 501(c)3, The Big Silence Foundation provides resources and support to anyone directly or indirectly impacted by mental illness. 'The Big Silence' theme song was written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney. Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

Información

  • Creador
    Karena Dawn
  • Años de actividad
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodios
    199
  • Clasificación
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 The Big Silence Foundation
  • Mostrar sitio web
    The Big Silence

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