Trauma Meets Recovery Podcast

Dr Mark McNear
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement

Dr. McNear, Licensed Psychotherapist, sits down with best-selling authors, courageous survivors, and leading global experts to dismantle the stigma of trauma and offer actionable insights for healing. Whether you are a survivor finding your words, a clinician seeking deeper perspectives, or a supporter of someone in pain, join us for honest conversations that prove beauty can be found in the broken places.

  1. 1d ago

    Your Body Is Not Broken: How Healing Begins After Trauma | Dr. Aimie Apigian

    Why can the body continue to feel unsafe—even after the danger has passed? In this episode of Trauma Meets Recovery, Dr. Mark McNear speaks with Dr. Aimie Apigian, a double board-certified physician, trauma expert, and bestselling author of The Biology of Trauma, about the connection between unresolved trauma, the nervous system, and physical health. Dr. Aimie Apigian explains that trauma is not only about what happened. It is also about whether an experience overwhelmed the body’s ability to respond, recover, and return to safety. This conversation explores how stored trauma may affect: -The nervous system and emotional regulation -Energy, metabolism, and chronic fatigue -Digestion, inflammation, and immune function -Disconnection, shutdown, and feeling stuck -The body’s ability to experience safety and repair Dr. Aimie Apigian also explains five common patterns of stored trauma: disconnection, disruption, depletion, dysregulation, and disease. You’ll hear why insight and talk therapy may not always be enough on their own—and why healing may involve working with the mind, the body’s somatic responses, and the underlying biology. The episode also includes simple practices that may help the nervous system experience greater safety, including gentle movement, creating physical space, humming, and vibration. Your body is not broken. It may be responding in ways it once learned were necessary for survival. #TraumaHealing #DrAimieApigian #BiologyOfTrauma #NervousSystemHealing #SomaticHealing #TraumaRecovery Subscribe to Trauma Meets Recovery Podcast for real stories of trauma, healing, and hope. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, medical advice, or crisis support. If this topic feels activating, please pause, take care of yourself, and reach out to a trusted professional or support system. 🌐 Learn more about Dr. Aimie Apigian: BiologyofTrauma.com: Instagram :@draimie Facebook: @aimie.apigian YouTube:  @DrAimieApigian   🌐 Learn more about The Trauma Meets Recovery Podcast: www.traumameetsrecovery.com Follow us on Social Media: Facebook & Instagram: @traumameetsrecoverypodcast 🌐 Learn more about Dr. Mark McNear https://drmarkmcnear.com/

  2. Jul 9

    Reclaiming Life After Childhood Abduction | Tim Smith’s Story

    In this episode of Trauma Meets Recovery, Tim Smith shares his story of surviving childhood abduction and reclaiming his life after trauma. Tim’s story is not only about what happened to him, but about what it took to reclaim his life afterward. From fragmented memories and early trauma to the long road of healing, identity, and recovery, this conversation offers a meaningful look at how trauma can shape a life — and how hope can still be found on the other side. Joining the conversation for this episode is guest host Joe Schweighardt, bringing thoughtful presence and support to this important discussion. This episode is a reminder that recovery is not about pretending the past did not happen. It is about finding the courage to face what was lost, rebuild what was broken, and step into life with renewed strength. In this episode, we discuss: Childhood abduction and its lasting impact Fragmented memories and trauma survival The process of reclaiming identity Family wounds, resilience, and recovery Finding hope after painful early experiences Subscribe to Trauma Meets Recovery Podcast for real stories of trauma, healing, and hope. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, medical advice, or crisis support. If this topic feels activating, please pause, take care of yourself, and reach out to a trusted professional or support system.   Learn more about Tim Smith: Instagram: @tim.smith.writes www.faultlinememoir.com Learn more about The Trauma Meets Recovery Podcast: www.traumameetsrecovery.com Follow us on Social Media: Facebook & Instagram: @traumameetsrecoverypodcast Learn more about Dr. Mark McNear https://drmarkmcnear.com/

  3. Jun 25

    Radical Healing & Returning to Your True Self | Scott Moore

    Trauma doesn't just affect what happens around us—it can separate us from who we truly are. In this episode, Scott Moore shares how trauma creates internal fragmentation and why healing is ultimately a journey back to ourselves. We explore practical recovery tools including breathwork, cold exposure, sauna, and jiu-jitsu, and discuss how these experiences can help regulate the nervous system, build resilience, and restore a sense of agency. Scott also shares the vision behind Numa Wellness Collective and explains why healing often requires stepping into discomfort rather than avoiding it. In This Episode: • Trauma and internal fragmentation • Reconnecting with your truest self • Breathwork and nervous system regulation • Cold plunges, sauna, and resilience • Jiu-jitsu and reclaiming agency • Healing through presence and embodiment • The mission of Numa Wellness Collective Whether you're on your own healing journey or supporting someone else's, this conversation offers practical insights into recovery, resilience, and personal transformation. Learn more about  Scott Moore & The Numa Wellness Collective: https://www.numawellness.org  Learn more about The Trauma Meets Recovery Podcast: www.traumameetsrecovery.com Follow us on Social Media: Facebook & Instagram: @traumameetsrecoverypodcast Learn more about Dr. Mark McNear https://drmarkmcnear.com/

  4. Jun 11

    Why Childhood Trauma Keeps Showing Up in Your Relationships | Dr. Tian Dayton

    Why do the same relationship patterns keep showing up in our lives? Why do we struggle with people-pleasing, over-functioning, emotional reactivity, difficulty trusting others, or constantly managing everyone else's emotions? In this powerful episode of Trauma Meets Recovery, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with renowned psychologist, author, and trauma expert Dr. Tian Dayton to explore how childhood trauma, addiction in the family system, and early survival strategies continue to shape our adult lives and relationships. Dr. Dayton shares insights from her newest book, Growing Up With Addiction, and explains how many of the behaviors that helped us survive difficult childhood environments can become obstacles to healing later in life. Topics discussed include: • Childhood trauma and relational trauma • Adult Children of Addiction (ACA/ACOA) • Why the same relationship patterns keep repeating • Codependency and hypervigilance • Emotional sobriety and nervous system regulation • Process addictions and self-medicating pain • Triggers as teachers • Psychodrama and trauma recovery • Healing through connection and self-awareness One of the most powerful takeaways from this conversation: "You can't think yourself better." Trauma is carried not only in the mind, but also in the body, nervous system, and relationships. True healing requires more than understanding—it requires connection, experience, and recovery. Whether you're navigating childhood wounds, addiction in your family history, relationship struggles, or your own recovery journey, this episode offers hope, insight, and practical wisdom for healing. Subscribe for more conversations on trauma, recovery, mental health, resilience, and healing. Follow ‪@TraumaMeetsRecoveryPodcast‬ Facebook & Instagram: ‪@TraumaMeetsRecoveryPodcast‬ Learn more about Dr. Tian Dayton: Instagram: @tiandaytonphd YouTube: @tiandayton6150 Website:  https://relationaltraumarepair.com #TraumaMeetsRecovery #TianDayton #ChildhoodTrauma #TraumaHealing #RecoveryJourney

  5. Jun 2

    Trauma Tried to Steal My Life | Hal Hughes

    After multiple traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts, Hal Hughes wasn't sure he would survive. In this powerful episode of Trauma Meets Recovery, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with psychotherapist, former police officer, and TBI survivor Hal Hughes to discuss trauma, resilience, recovery, and the journey from suffering to purpose. Hal shares his deeply personal story of how severe head injuries during his policing career changed the course of his life—leading to PTSD, emotional dysregulation, addiction, and a battle to reclaim his identity. He also reveals the moment his young son's words became the catalyst for his recovery: "I want my real daddy to come home." Together, they explore how trauma impacts the brain and body, why healing requires more than medication alone, and the daily practices that helped Hal rebuild his life. Topics covered in this episode include: • PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) • Addiction recovery and the Rat Park experiment • Trauma and the nervous system • Neuroplasticity and brain healing • Somatic healing and body-based recovery • The dangers of overmedication • Exercise, fasting, cold exposure, and resilience • Viktor Frankl and finding meaning in suffering • Victimhood vs. personal responsibility • Purpose, service, and post-traumatic growth Hal's story is a powerful reminder that trauma does not have to define your future. Recovery is possible, even after profound suffering.  About Hal Hughes Hal Hughes is a psychotherapist, former police officer, traumatic brain injury survivor, and addiction recovery advocate. Through his clinical work and personal experience, he helps others navigate trauma, resilience, and meaningful recovery. Learn more about Hal Hughes: www.halhughes.com Learn more about Trauma Meets Recovery: www.traumameetsrecovery.com Follow us on Social Media: Facebook & Instagram: @traumameetsrecoverypodcast If you found this conversation helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may benefit from hearing this message.

  6. May 19

    Trauma Expert Dr. Peter Levine | Why Trauma Gets STUCK in the Body

    In this exciting episode of Trauma Meets Recovery, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with world-renowned trauma pioneer Dr. Peter Levine — creator of Somatic Experiencing® and a leading voice in nervous system healing and trauma recovery. Dr. Levine explains how trauma becomes trapped in the body, why so many people stay stuck in survival mode, and how healing begins through reconnecting with the nervous system — not just the mind. He provides hope for those whose lives had been impacted by trauma. We explore: • Why trauma is stored in the body • Fight, flight, freeze & shutdown responses • The nervous system’s role in healing • Somatic Experiencing® explained • How unresolved trauma affects daily life • Why traditional talk therapy can miss the body • Practical insights for regulation and recovery Whether you’re healing from trauma, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how the body and mind work together, this conversation offers profound insight and hope. 🎧 Subscribe to Trauma Meets Recovery for conversations on healing, trauma, mental health, nervous system regulation, addiction recovery, and personal growth. Follow  @TraumaMeetsRecoveryPodcast Facebook & Instagram:  @TraumaMeetsRecoveryPodcast   Find Dr. Peter A. Levine:  Instagram: @drpeteralevine   #PeterLevine #SomaticExperiencing #TraumaHealing #NervousSystem #PolyvagalTheory #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingTrauma #TraumaRecovery #PsychologyPodcast #TraumaMeetsRecovery

  7. May 5

    Mike Cuevas | D.I.D Isn’t What You Think… Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder & Trauma

    What is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) really like? In this episode of Trauma Meets Recovery, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with Mike Cuevas—author, advocate, and survivor—to break down the truth about DID, trauma, and the mind’s incredible ability to adapt. 🧠 DID isn’t chaos. It’s not weakness. It’s a powerful survival response developed when safety wasn’t available. In this conversation, we explore:  • What Dissociative Identity Disorder actually is  • The truth behind the “multiple personalities” misunderstanding  • Why DID is a response to trauma—not a disorder to fear • How the nervous system creates “parts” to survive • The shift from “What’s wrong with me?” → “What happened to me?” • Tools for healing, self-compassion, and integration Mike shares his personal journey of discovering DID, navigating memory gaps, and learning to work with—not against—the parts of himself that helped him survive. 💬 “DID isn’t broken… it’s how the mind survives.” If you’ve ever felt disconnected, overwhelmed, or like different parts of you are pulling in different directions—this episode will change how you understand yourself and others. 🎧 Listen / Watch Now: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on trauma, healing, and mental health

  8. Apr 21

    Deb Dana, LCSW | How to Shift From Survival to Thriving: Polyvagal Theory & Your Nervous System

    What if the key to healing trauma isn’t just in your thoughts—but in your nervous system? In this powerful episode of the Trauma Meets Recovery podcast, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with renowned clinician and author Deb Dana to break down Polyvagal Theory into simple, practical tools you can use in everyday life. Together, they explore how your nervous system constantly scans for safety and danger through a process called neuroception—and how bringing these patterns into awareness can give you something many trauma survivors struggle to access: choice. Deb Dana walks listeners through the three core states of the nervous system—regulation, fight-or-flight, and shutdown—and explains why healing isn’t about staying calm all the time, but learning how to move out of survival states with awareness and support. You’ll learn: How to recognize your body’s cues of safety vs. dangerWhy trauma keeps us stuck in survival responses—and how to shift outThe difference between implicit (automatic) and explicit (aware) experienceHow to build a personalized “regulation plan” for moments of overwhelmThe power of co-regulation and safe connection in healingWhat “glimmers” are—and how tiny moments of safety can rewire your nervous systemThis conversation is both deeply insightful and immediately actionable—offering a roadmap to move from reactivity to resilience, from survival to thriving. If you’ve ever felt stuck in anxiety, shutdown, or emotional overwhelm, this episode will help you understand why—and more importantly, what to do about it.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Dr. McNear, Licensed Psychotherapist, sits down with best-selling authors, courageous survivors, and leading global experts to dismantle the stigma of trauma and offer actionable insights for healing. Whether you are a survivor finding your words, a clinician seeking deeper perspectives, or a supporter of someone in pain, join us for honest conversations that prove beauty can be found in the broken places.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Mark McNear
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Trauma Meets Recovery Podcast
  • Show Website
    Trauma Meets Recovery Podcast

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