In this episode, Auroara Leigh sits down with Len Pierre for a deeply reflective conversation about healing, decolonizing mental health, self-validation, trauma, and wellness outside of institutional definitions. Together, they explore what shifts when we move away from asking, “What is wrong with me?” and instead ask what has happened to us, what is true for us, and what wellness looks like on our own terms. Auroara shares insights from her book, You’re Not Crazy, You’re Responding: Reclaiming Wholeness in a Pathologized World, discussing social conditioning, colonial violence, and how individuals become pathologized for natural responses to harmful environments. The dialogue moves through grief, anger, trauma, ceremony, relationships, nature, community, and the importance of reclaiming autonomy in our healing journeys. Len adds key perspectives on coming to terms with trauma, culturally grounded wellness, reconciliation, decolonization, and the long-term work of systemic change. At its heart, this episode is about restoring self-trust, reclaiming wholeness, and reimagining what our communities and institutions must become for true collective well-being. About the Guest: Len Pierre Len Pierre, M.Ed., is a Coast Salish educator, consultant, professor, TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and traditional knowledge sharer from Katzie First Nation. As Owner and CEO of Len Pierre Consulting, he supports organizations in advancing Indigenous cultural safety, reconciliation, decolonization, anti-racism, and systemic transformation. Len holds a Master of Education from Simon Fraser University focusing on Indigenous curriculum design, blending Indigenous knowledge systems with leadership and organizational change to guide institutions beyond awareness toward meaningful policy and cultural shifts. Connect with Len Pierre: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lenpierreco...Website: https://www.lenpierreconsulting.com/ About the Host: Auroara Leigh Auroara Leigh is a wellness anthropologist, educator, author, and founder of Simply Sacred Solutions and HEAL IT International. Her work bridges research, lived experience, somatic practice, and systems thinking to explore how trauma, culture, identity, and colonial systems shape human wellness. She is the author of You’re Not Crazy, You’re Responding and Sacred Witness, a trauma-informed guide for building safer, relational, and culturally responsive environments. Through facilitation, consulting, and healing-centered leadership development, Auroara supports individuals and organizations in reducing harm, building relational safety, and creating healthier ways of living and leading. Connect with Auroara Leigh: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auroaraleigh/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/auroara/Website: https://simplysacred.ca Get the Books: You're Not Crazy, You're Responding: Reclaiming Wholeness in a Pathologized World: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1778108228Companion Workbook: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1778108242
