The Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness Podcast David Treleaven

This episode's guest is Elizabeth Stanley, a professor at Georgetown University and author of the book "Widen the Window: Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive During Stress and Recover from Trauma." Liz is a U.S. Army veteran who came to practice (in part) to help her with PTSD. In their conversation, David and Liz discuss contemporary definitions of trauma and how this relates to the current moment; the neurophysiology of trauma, including the relationship between what Liz terms the “thinking brain” and “survival brain”; and their current assessments of the impacts of COVID-19, it’s impact on social windows of tolerance, and their hopes for the path ahead.

This episode features Sydney Spears, a trauma-sensitive mindfulness and yoga teacher, clinical social work, and trauma-sensitive care. Sydney teaches Mindful Self-Compassion with a particular focus on diversity, oppression, and trauma. In their conversation, David and Sydney discuss the role of mindfulness and compassion can play in helping heal trauma and oppression; the relationship between trauma and social oppression; and how to skillfully navigate multiracial spaces as a leader in contemplative settings.

This episode's guest is Staci Haines, is co-founder of generative somatics, a multiracial organization that offers somatics, embodied leadership and trauma healing to social and environmental justice organizers. She is also the founder of generationFIVE, an organization whose mission is to end the sexual abuse of children within five generations. David and Staci's conversation centers around her writing and work, her assessment of the impact COVID-19, and also the role embodiment and resilience can play at this time.

This episode's guest is Rick Hanson, a psychologist, a Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and a New York Times best-selling author. In their conversation, David and Rick talk about what resilience means and its connection to mindfulness; the distinction between “working with” and “being with” when it comes to meditation; and the practices Rick depends on in his life to cope well with stress and adversity.

Zabie Yamasaki is the Program Director of Trauma-Informed Yoga Programs at UCLA, and created a trauma-informed yoga program that’s being used at over 20 college campuses in the US. In this episode, David and Zabie discuss the difference between observing and absorbing adversity and stress in a leadership role; strategies to support self-regulation to best support others; and how the physiological triggers of trauma can be worked with skillfully in body-based contemplative practices.

This episode's guest is Shelly Tygielski, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher, who's also deeply involved in offering trauma-informed mindfulness programs to communities who have been affected by gun violence and mass shootings in the US. In their conversation, David and Shelly discuss what Shelly’s learned in creating trauma-sensitive environments for those impacted by gun violence; What it means to be a “mindful first responder” and how to responsibly promote self-care; And the connection between mindfulness and social justice, specifically anti-gun violence organizing.