The Big Silence

Karena Dawn
  • 4.7 (3)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 1 DAY AGO

    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

    1h 3m
  2. How to Stop Repeating Your Parents' Patterns | Dr. Shefali Tsabary on Conscious Parenting

    5 MAR

    How to Stop Repeating Your Parents' Patterns | Dr. Shefali Tsabary on Conscious Parenting

    In this conversation with Dr. Shefali Tsabary, clinical psychologist and author of The Conscious Parent, Karena explores how unhealed childhood wounds get passed down through generations, why traditional discipline doesn't work, and how the three-step process of awareness, acceptance, and action can help you break toxic patterns — whether you're a parent or not. How do we stop unconsciously passing our unhealed wounds onto the people we love most? The path to conscious parenting begins not with your child — but with you. (00:23) From Psychologist to Conscious Parent: The Origin Story Why Dr. Shefali's work applies to anyone who has ever had a parentHer journey from clinical psychology to meditation to motherhoodHow unhealed childhood baggage gets projected onto the people we love most(06:55) Triggers, Boundaries & Breaking the Cycle Why nothing outside of you is truly the trigger, only the matchWhy real boundaries are internal actions, not instructions to other peopleThe three-step path forward: awareness, acceptance, action(11:12) Screens, Mental Health & the Disconnection Crisis “Screens are the worst thing to happen to children."Anxiety in girls has doubled; suicidality in boys is at an all-time highThe real culprit: Overstimulation and disconnection from the present momentConnection is the antidote to all emotional disease(15:10) Control, Happiness & the Wake-Up Call We're All Avoiding Why the need to control comes from having been controlled in childhoodThe numbing epidemic: Netflix, dead-end relationshipsWhat it takes to honestly say "I don't like my life" How compliance in children (and adults) leads to eventual breakdown(23:11) Role Reversal, Self-Love & the Books That Can Change Your Life A community question on growing up as the caretaker and what happens when you need careKarena shares her painful experience as her mother's caretaker in her final five yearsDr. Shefali's truth: "No one can love us the way we need — that's everyone's ultimate lesson."Thanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest ResourcesVisit Dr. Shefali's websiteGet a 30-day free pass to Dr. Shefali's community! Email her office and mention The Big SilenceOrder her booksFollow her 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 audiobooka href="https://thebigsilence.com/colle

    35 min
  3. Permission To Feel: Dr. Marc Brackett on Male Emotions, Grief & the Science of Regulation

    26 FEB

    Permission To Feel: Dr. Marc Brackett on Male Emotions, Grief & the Science of Regulation

    In this conversation with Dr. Marc Brackett, founder and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Karena explores the science of emotional regulation, the RULER framework (Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions), and why traditional approaches to handling feelings often fail. Dr. Brackett shares his personal story of childhood trauma, discusses the unique challenges men face with emotional expression, and provides practical strategies for dealing with grief, anxiety, and everyday emotional overwhelm. How do you actually deal with your feelings instead of suppressing them—and why is emotional intelligence the key to better mental health, relationships, and longevity? Understanding how to regulate your emotions isn't about fixing or judging them—it's about building the vocabulary and tools to recognize, understand, and work with what you're feeling. (01:23) The RULER Framework & Navigating Grief Without Judgment How to be present for others during loss while protecting your own well-beingBecoming an "emotion scientist vs. emotion judge" during difficult timesEmotionally intelligent time travel: recognizing temporary circumstances and taking space when needed(07:18) Why Men Are Drowning in Suppressed Emotions & The Uncle Marvin Story Gender differences in emotional expression are socialized, not biologicalHow "toughen up" culture teaches boys to deny and suppress feelingsDr. Brackett's childhood sexual abuse, bullying, and why suppression creates emotional debt(15:42) From Trauma to Yale: Building Emotional Vocabulary & Understanding Anxiety How childhood pain sparked Dr. Brackett's career researching emotional intelligenceWhy precise emotional vocabulary mattersBuilding emotional granularity to better understand your internal state(27:35) Realistic Optimism, Toxic Positivity & Six Strategies for Dealing With Feelings Why "everything will be fine" is dangerousLearn to deactivate your nervous system through meditation and breathworkThe biology of regulation: sleep, nutrition, and movement directly impact your ability to manage emotions(38:46) The Dealing With Feeling Wheel: Monthly Check-Ins for Emotional Health Monitoring self-talk, breathing practices, reflection, and social connectionAssessing sleep quality, nutrition habits, and movement patternsWhy all these elements work together for mental health and longevityThanks for the support from our partners, including: Guest Resources

    45 min
  4. Why Eating Disorders Kill & How to Heal: Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt Explains

    19 FEB

    Why Eating Disorders Kill & How to Heal: Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt Explains

    In this conversation with Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in eating disorders and founder of Within Health and Galen Hope treatment centers, Karena explores the life-threatening reality of eating disorders as serious mental illnesses that claim one life every 52 minutes in America. Dr. Oliver-Pyatt explains the biopsychosocial foundations of eating disorders, shares her personal journey from ballerina to eating disorder specialist, and discusses the warning signs in athletes and high achievers. She reveals the controversial truth about GLP-1 medications and eating disorder risk, and provides actionable tools for reframing your relationship with your body through self-compassion and intentional self-care practices. How do you stop fighting your body and start healing your relationship with food, weight, and self-worth?Understanding that weight stigma is trauma opens the door to compassion—and real recovery. (01:13) The Deadliest Mental Illness You've Never Heard Of Eating disorders kill one person every 52 minutes in AmericaWhy they aren't classified with "serious" mental illnesses despite being more lethal than manyThe confusion between societal pressure and actual mental illness diagnosisUnderstanding the biopsychosocial foundation: biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors(04:47) From Ballerina to Eating Disorder Psychiatrist Growing up as the child of a Holocaust survivor with a mildly autistic motherHow ballet and puberty collided to create impossible body standardsThe danger of narrow frameworks about what's "acceptable" in our bodies(18:32) Athletes, Perfectionism & the "Healthy" Eating Trap Why high-achieving athletes and fitness enthusiasts face elevated eating disorder riskThe difference between disordered eating behaviors and diagnosable eating disordersHow orthorexia disguises itself as "clean eating" or "wellness"Warning signs to watch for in competitive sports and fitness culture(32:47) What Real Treatment Looks Like The biopsychosocial-spiritual treatment model that addresses all aspectsHow nutritional rehabilitation and medical stabilization work togetherFamily-based treatment approaches for adolescents and young adults(47:36) The GLP-1 Controversy: Ozempic, Wegovy & Eating Disorders "It's asinine there's no eating disorder warning"How rapid weight loss medications trigger and worsen eating disorders, especially in teensThe danger

    59 min
  5. Your Brain Is Lying to You — Bizzie Gold on Childhood Trauma, Self-Deception & Brain Patterns

    12 FEB

    Your Brain Is Lying to You — Bizzie Gold on Childhood Trauma, Self-Deception & Brain Patterns

    In this conversation with Bizzie Gold, founder of Break Method and creator of brain pattern mapping technology, Karena explores how childhood experiences create predictable patterns that shape your relationships, career, and mental health—and how understanding your source belief pattern can help you break free from self-deception and build a healthier life. How do you rewire the brain patterns formed in childhood that still control your life today?Understanding your source belief pattern is the first step toward breaking free from self-deception and building the life you actually want. (02:05) Brain Pattern Mapping & Bypassing Your Story How Bizzie created a predictive algorithm with 98.3% accuracyUnderstanding childhood experiences as a "distortion filter"Helping people see their own blind spots(06:16) The Sweet Spot of Trauma That Makes Great Entrepreneurs Why childhood instability creates self-trust and self-efficacyDeveloping situational awareness to stay safe and how it translates to businessBeing able to "think five rings down" when others can't see what's comingAttracting chaotic people because you have too much empathyWhy workaholism is easier than intimate relationships for abandonment patterns(13:47) Enmeshment Patterns & The Right Side of the Spectrum The struggle with self-trust and decision-makingWhy enmeshed patterns need to learn to disappoint peopleUnderstanding why some people can't say no(27:18) Self-Deception & Why Your Brain Lies to You How childhood patterns create self-deception mechanismsWhy Bizzie keeps giving chances to people with bad intentionsThe lesson: don't let empathy destroy your business from the inside(40:33) Growing Up with Psychiatric Illness & Finding Your Drive Bizzie's experience with an unstable, abusive childhoodActivities and achievement as a distraction from chaos at homeWhy self-preservation instincts don't come naturally for some patterns(49:08) Self-Care for Workaholics & Pattern Opposition Why self-care is actually mental health work for go-go-go peopleDoing things that make you feel accomplished in self-careFor avoidant patterns: the opposition is to just...

    1 hr
  6. The Other Side of Trauma: Surviving the Unthinkable Opened the Door to the Other Side | Susan Grau

    5 FEB

    The Other Side of Trauma: Surviving the Unthinkable Opened the Door to the Other Side | Susan Grau

    What if your worst childhood trauma became the gateway to your greatest gift? In this profoundly moving episode of The Big Silence, Karena sits down with Susan Grau: soul healer, grief and addiction therapist, and Hay House bestselling author. Her near-death experience transformed a childhood marked by extreme trauma into a life devoted to healing. Susan had a childhood that most people can't imagine surviving. But she’s transformed unimaginable pain into a life of powerful healing. Now a grief and addiction therapist who works with spirits from the other side, Susan shares how she learned to survive by becoming her unstable mother's "ally," how codependency became her survival strategy, and why she believes therapists need lived experience to truly help people heal. How do you heal from a childhood that tried to destroy you, and then use that pain to help others?True healing comes from walking through the fire, not just studying it from afar. (02:43) A Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything Susan's story of being locked in a freezer at age 5 Growing up with sexual abuse and traffickingHow childhood trauma shaped her entire life journey and awakened her abilitiesThe beginning of her connection to the spirit world(05:51) Growing Up with a Mother with Mental Illness Susan's mother: borderline personality disorder, seeing spirits, and extreme inconsistencyLearning how to stay safeThe confusing duality: loving and giving one moment, frightening and abusive the nextWhy Susan became her mother's "ally" while her siblings didn't understand howUnderstanding codependency as a survival strategy for children of mentally ill parents(14:18) Addiction, Alcoholism & A Household of Dysfunction Growing up in a home with addiction, alcoholism, and abuse Her brother’s schizophrenia The unpredictability of never knowing which version of your parent you'd getHow dysfunction becomes normal when it's all you know(27:33) Her Brother's Suicide & Choosing to Become a Therapist Why that loss pushed her toward becoming a grief and addiction therapistThe importance of therapists having lived experience with trauma and lossHow walking through darkness prepares you to help others find light(38:13) Why Your Therapist Needs to Have Walked Through Fire Too Why Susan doesn't want to see a therapist who hasn't experienced real trauma

    48 min
  7. The Power of Gratitude: A Guided Meditation to Create More of What You're Thankful For

    25 JAN

    The Power of Gratitude: A Guided Meditation to Create More of What You're Thankful For

    What if gratitude isn't just something you feel, but something you create more of every time you practice it? In this grounding Mental Wellness Month meditation, Karena guides you through an 8-minute practice designed to help you reconnect with gratitude for your body, your breath, and your journey. Using breathwork, visualization, and mantras, this meditation invites you to pause and give thanks for all that has carried you to this moment. Perfect for finding beauty in the everyday, shifting your perspective, or simply celebrating all that you have and all that you are. How do you cultivate gratitude as a way of living, not just a fleeting feeling?Gratitude is a practice. And every time you acknowledge it, you create more of it. (00:00) Finding Your Peaceful Place & Connecting to Beauty Settling into a quiet space, either indoors or in nature Recognizing that you are surrounded by beautyPausing to give thanks for all that you are and all that has carried you here(03:30) Bringing Gratitude to Mind & Holding It in Your Heart One thing you're grateful for todayGratitude for your body, your breath, a loved one, a lesson you've learnedUnderstanding gratitude as a practice, a perspective, a way of living(06:00) Mantras & Radiating Gratitude Outward "I am grateful for my body. I am grateful for this breath. I am grateful for my journey."Letting your gratitude radiate outward into your life and everydayCelebrating all that you have 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 audiobookShop The Big Silence Self Love CollectionSubscribe on YouTubeDonate to The Big Silence FoundationFind exclusive offers from our supporters: https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE...

    9 min
  8. Dr. Will Cole on The Body-Brain Connection | Your Gut is Why You’re Anxious

    22 JAN

    Dr. Will Cole on The Body-Brain Connection | Your Gut is Why You’re Anxious

    What If Your Gut Could Heal Your Mind? In this deeply personal episode of The Big Silence, Karena sits down with functional medicine pioneer and bestselling author Dr. Will Cole. From growing up with a bodybuilding dad in the '80s to building the first functional medicine telehealth clinic, Dr. Cole shares his unconventional path to becoming one of the most trusted voices in holistic health. He opens up about the gut-brain connection, why psychiatry still ignores the organ it's treating, and how he practices what he preaches. If you've ever felt dismissed by traditional medicine, struggled with anxiety, or wondered why your mental health and digestive issues seem connected, this conversation will validate everything you've suspected and give you the tools to finally heal. Can you heal your mind by healing your gut? True healing requires looking at root causes, not just symptoms. Mental and physical health aren't separate—they're the same conversation. (00:00) From Bodybuilding to Functional Medicine Pioneer Growing up in the '80s with a Gold's Gym-owning bodybuilder dadHow his childhood of "crunchy granola" health became his life's workStarting the first functional medicine telehealth clinic 16 years ago(08:00) Why Doctors Told Karena They "Don't Deal With Mental Health" The devastating disconnect between mental and physical health in conventional medicineWhy psychiatry is the only field that doesn't test the organ it's treatingThe gut-brain connection: how inflammation, microbiome imbalance, and stress show up as anxiety and depressionBreaking down the stigma and siloed approach to healthcare(15:00) The Shame-Inflammation-Trauma Loop No One's Talking About How toxic shame inflames your body and destroys gut healthThe science behind stress, trauma, and autoimmunityWhy unresolved emotional pain manifests as physical symptomsDr. Cole's personal struggle with anxiety and overthinkingThe tools that work: vagus nerve stimulation, peptides, nature, and movement(25:00) When Everything Hit at Once His father's sudden death The "Gwyneth bone broth" controversy Navigating professional chaos while grieving(33:00) The Real Tools for Anxiety, Stress & Staying Grounded Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation: what it is and why Dr. Cole wears it dailyThe role of peptides in healing and stress management

    52 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Karena Dawn
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    194
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 The Big Silence Foundation
  • Show Website
    The Big Silence

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