A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast

Lorilee Binstock
  • 4.9 (54)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

In this podcast series, I’ll share my experiences as a trauma survivor and my journey through recovery. With the help of mental health advocates and experts, we will discuss ways to dismantle the stigma around mental illness to promote mental wellness.

  1. Authenticity After Trauma: Stephanie Hutchins on Radical Transparency and Healing the Nervous System

    11/12/2025

    Authenticity After Trauma: Stephanie Hutchins on Radical Transparency and Healing the Nervous System

    In this powerful episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock talks with Stephanie Hutchins, author of See Through: The Art and Cost of Radical Transparency. Together, they explore what it means to live authentically after trauma — setting boundaries, embracing imperfection, and embodying post-traumatic growth. Stephanie shares her journey from high-functioning trauma to embodied healing, discussing how listening to the body and nervous system leads to genuine transformation. ✨ Topics Covered: What radical transparency looks like in real life Setting boundaries without losing yourself Healing the nervous system after trauma High-functioning trauma and authenticity Post-traumatic growth and self-compassion About the Guest: Stephanie M. Hutchins, PhD, is the author of See Through: The Art and Cost of Radical Transparency in a World That Profits from Pretending, as well as three earlier books on trauma recovery: Transformation After Trauma, Reclaim Your Life After Trauma, and Moving Forward. She is the founder of Serotinous Life, where she helps people healing from trauma harness the power of post-traumatic growth and reclaim authorship of their stories. A former college professor with fourteen years of experience teaching anatomy and physiology, Stephanie integrates science, embodiment, and coaching tools—including certifications in life coaching, wellness coaching, stress management, yoga, and NLP—into her work. Grounded in lived experience of childhood abuse, sudden loss, and high-functioning suffering, she guides others to move beyond survival and into integration, proving that healing isn't about erasing the past but about learning to live fully seen, even with the scars. https://www.serotinouslife.com/see-through https://www.facebook.com/serotinouslife https://www.youtube.com/@serotinouslife https://www.instagram.com/serotinouslife https://www.linkedin.com/in/serotinouslife

    41 min
  2. From Survivor to Advocate: Patrice Griffin’s Fight for Justice and Healing After Years of Abuse

    11/05/2025

    From Survivor to Advocate: Patrice Griffin’s Fight for Justice and Healing After Years of Abuse

    In this deeply moving episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock sits down with Patrice Griffin, writer, activist, and survivor who courageously fought for justice after enduring years of sexual abuse by members of the Black Watch Movement and X Clan. For more on her story, listen to her episode in Season 1 after releasing her book, The Unconscious Community. Patrice shares how she used the Child Victims Act to win her civil cases, her five-year legal battle for accountability, and how therapy and advocacy became the foundation of her healing. Together, Lorilee and Patrice discuss: 💬 The emotional toll of reliving trauma in the justice system ⚖️ How the Child Victims Act changed the game for survivors 🧠 The power of trauma-informed care and mental health support ❤️ Turning pain into purpose through advocacy and community 🌍 The importance of believing survivors and protecting children Patrice is also the founder of Patrice’s Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering children in underserved communities through education and awareness. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of child sexual abuse and trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening. 🎧 Listen to A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast on: Mental Health News Radio Network | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

    32 min
  3. Parenting Through the Unthinkable: Love & Survival After A Child’s Cancer Diagnosis

    10/29/2025

    Parenting Through the Unthinkable: Love & Survival After A Child’s Cancer Diagnosis

    When writer and mother Amber Sweet Davis heard the words “your child has cancer,” her world changed forever. In this powerful episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock sits down with Amber to discuss her emotional memoir, Please Don’t Die — a raw, unfiltered look at motherhood, trauma, grief, and resilience in the face of unimaginable loss. Amber opens up about her four-year-old son’s neuroblastoma diagnosis, the emotional and physical toll of treatment, and how writing became her lifeline. Together, they explore what it means to mother through fear, find strength in vulnerability, and hold on to love and hope even in the darkest seasons. This episode is for anyone navigating grief, parenting through crisis, or healing after trauma — a reminder that survival isn’t about perfection, but about the courage to keep showing up with an open heart. To Purchase Her Book, Click Here

    34 min
  4. Beyond Achievement: Jane Chen on Redefining Success

    10/22/2025

    Beyond Achievement: Jane Chen on Redefining Success

    In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock speaks with Jane Chen, social entrepreneur, inventor, and co-founder of Embrace Global, the organization behind a low-cost infant incubator that has saved more than one million premature babies around the world. While Jane’s humanitarian work earned global recognition, from presidents to the World Economic Forum, behind her achievements was a woman quietly unraveling. Burned out and battling the scars of childhood trauma, Jane faced the collapse of her identity when her company nearly fell apart. In her deeply personal memoir, Like a Wave We Break: A Memoir of Falling Apart and Finding Myself, Jane shares her transformative healing journey, from confronting her father’s violence to exploring somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems, psychedelics, and working directly with Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score. Jane and Lorilee dive into how overachievement can mask trauma, why talk therapy alone isn’t enough, and how redefining success through self-compassion, presence, and surrender led Jane to a more authentic life. If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, identity, or the relentless drive to prove your worth, this conversation will remind you that our greatest breaking points can lead to our most profound breakthroughs.

    25 min
  5. From Religious Control to Radical Healing: A Woman's Journey from Cult Survivor to Trauma Healer

    10/15/2025

    From Religious Control to Radical Healing: A Woman's Journey from Cult Survivor to Trauma Healer

    What happens when you break free from a doomsday cult and an abusive marriage—but lose everything you’ve ever known? In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock talks with Brooke Deanne, a Trauma Healing Mentor, Rapid Transformational Therapist (RTT), NLP Practitioner, and Author of “Shattered, Broken, and Beautiful: Losing My Religion and Finding Faith.”  Brooke shares her courageous story of surviving religious trauma, narcissistic abuse, and psychological control—and how therapy, self-discovery, and spirituality helped her reclaim her voice and rebuild her life. This powerful conversation explores faith beyond religion, the impact of cult programming, and what it truly means to heal after trauma. 🎧 Tune in now for an inspiring story of freedom, resilience, and rediscovering authentic faith. Learn More about Brooke Deanne, Here Buy the Book Here

    28 min
  6. Spirituality, Self-Compassion, & Healing Through Hard Times | A Conversation Between Lorilee & Cali Binstock

    10/08/2025

    Spirituality, Self-Compassion, & Healing Through Hard Times | A Conversation Between Lorilee & Cali Binstock

    When life feels heavy, healing starts with honesty. In this candid episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock opens up about navigating emotional exhaustion and parenting challenges while exploring what spirituality really means. Joined by Authentic Insider's Art Director Cali Binstock,  they dive into self-compassion, guilt, and the messy reality of healing. 💫 A raw, heart-centered conversation on spirituality, parenting, and showing up as your authentic self—especially when life gets hard.

    39 min
  7. Life After Divorce: From Heartbreak to Thriving

    10/01/2025

    Life After Divorce: From Heartbreak to Thriving

    When betrayal shattered her marriage, author Sarah May hit rock bottom. In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, Sarah shares how she found healing through community, solo adventures, and writing her memoir She Journeys, a powerful reminder that from heartbreak can come homecoming. Visit shejourneys.us to find out where to purchase the book and visit traumasurvivorthriver.com for past episodes of A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast or to read the latest issue of Authentic Insider Magazine here.

    32 min
  8. Healing Through Restorative Justice

    09/24/2025

    Healing Through Restorative Justice

    In this powerful episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast, host Lorilee Binstock sits down with Amanda Carrasco, author of Becoming the Brave One. Amanda shares her story of surviving childhood abuse, the devastating murder of her sister and twin nephews, and how restorative justice became a pathway to healing, courage, and peace. Her journey is a testament to resilience, self-love, and the power of choosing bravery every day. In conversation with host Lorilee Binstock, Amanda reflects on her traumatic childhood marked by violence, sexual abuse, and the devastating murder of her sister and twin sons. She recalls how the woman who became her caregiver and who she considered her sister provided safety and love in the midst of chaos, and how that loss pushed her into years of numbness and survival. Through years of hard work, therapy, and an unrelenting will to heal, Amanda realized she was not truly surviving or thriving until she faced her trauma head-on. She opens up about her experiences with restorative justice—a process that brings victims back into the center of the justice system, gives them a voice, and encourages offenders to take accountability and develop empathy. Amanda courageously shares what it was like to sit face-to-face with the man who murdered her sister, and how that experience ultimately gave her peace and freedom. Her memoir, Becoming the Brave One, is more than a story of survival; it is a call to bravery, a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome, and an invitation for others not to give up on their healing. Amanda’s honesty and vulnerability will leave listeners with hope, inspiration, and a reminder that healing is possible—even after the darkest of tragedies. Visit For more information on Amanda Carassco, visit https://amandacarrasco.com/

    47 min
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4.9
out of 5
54 Ratings

About

In this podcast series, I’ll share my experiences as a trauma survivor and my journey through recovery. With the help of mental health advocates and experts, we will discuss ways to dismantle the stigma around mental illness to promote mental wellness.

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