Karena Dawn shares her deeply personal journey of healing from childhood trauma, mental illness in her family, and her transformative path through forgiveness, acceptance, and self-love. This episode explores the power of vulnerability, emotional resilience, and holistic wellness. Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Writing 'The Big Silence' 02:57 Mother-Child Relationships and Acceptance 06:07 Transforming Trauma into Strength 08:54 Navigating Abandonment and Trust in Relationships 11:59 Healing Through Therapy and Self-Discovery 14:49 Building Healthy Family Dynamics 17:45 Redefining Motherhood and Personal Choices 20:29 The Influence of Family on Fitness Journey 22:58 Building a Fitness Brand: Tone It Up 25:32 Authenticity and Sharing Personal Stories 28:53 Navigating Fear and Anxiety 30:49 Establishing a Healthy Routine 34:07 Healing Relationships and Personal Growth 37:21 A Message of Hope and Healing Sponsors: FATTY15 OFFER: Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/KIMBERLY and using code KIMBERLY at checkout. USE LINK: fatty15.com/KIMBERLY LMNT OFFER: Right now, for my listeners LMNT is offering a free sample pack with any LMNT drink mix purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/FEELGOOD. That’s 8 single serving packets FREE with any LMNT any LMNT drink mix purchase. This deal is only available through my link so. Also try the new LMNT Sparkling — a bold, 16-ounce can of sparkling electrolyte water. USE LINK: DrinkLMNT.com/FEELGOOD Karena Dawn Resources: Book: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing (July 25th, 2025) Website: karenadawn.com Social: IG: @kerenadawn (204k) Bio: Karena Dawn is a co-founder of Tone It Up, the leading women’s fitness community, the founder of The Big Silence, the mental health nonprofit foundation, and host of The Big Silence Podcast, a leading mental health and self-development podcast. Karena has authored several books focused on fitness, wellness, and personal growth including New York Times bestseller Tone It Up: 28 Days to Fit Fierce, and Fabulous, Balanced and Beautiful: 5-Day Reset for Your Body, Mind, and Spirit, and The Big Silence: A Daughter’s Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing. In her memoir, Karena shares her personal story of growing up with a mother suffering from severe mental health issues and schizophrenia, her own struggles with depression and addiction, and her path to healing and self-discovery. Karena has been featured on Good Morning America and Tamron Hall, and in People, Shape, Oprah, Parade, Business Insider, E!, and in Forbes for creating a “fitness empire.” She was also named on the Create & Cultivate 100 list honoring women who are masters in their field. She has also headlined the POPSUGAR Play/Ground Festival, has been a keynote speaker at the PoWer Up Women’s Conference, is a regularly featured speaker and instructor for TED Women, and is a mindful meditation coach for Chopra Global. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.