Trauma and the Brain Podcast

Chantell Anderson

The Trauma and the Brain Podcast is hosted by Chantell Tilly Anderson and features guest expert Matt Lasslo, LPC (AZ), a licensed counselor with over 13 years of experience in trauma therapy, crisis work, and supervision. The TATB podcast explores how trauma shapes our thoughts, emotions, bodies, and daily lives—and how we can respond with awareness and compassion instead of fear or judgment. Together, Chantell and Matt unpack how political violence, grief, secondary trauma, and even doom-scrolling ripple through our nervous systems—and how we can interrupt those cycles. That’s why we created this podcast: to make trauma education accessible, practical, and empowering—so each person can take responsibility for their own healing and learn why they do what they do. Listeners will hear about: Why trauma is less about the event itself and more about how it reshapes safety, trust, and self-image. Types of trauma, called primary and secondary trauma, and how events, news stories or videos can leave us anxious, unsafe, or overwhelmed. How grief is a form of trauma—and why sadness is not weakness but part of real healing. Practical skills: grounding, nervous-system resets, inner-child work, healthy boundaries, and forgiveness that heals without excusing harm. The Trauma and the Brain Podcast is for anyone seeking to understand themselves, support others, or navigate the world with greater steadiness. Each episode blends science, lived experience, and accessible tools—so you walk away not only informed, but equipped to live with greater awareness, resilience, and empathy. Join Chantell as she builds a space where trauma education is approachable, human, and empowering—because understanding your brain is the first step to changing your life.

Episodes

  1. Feb 25

    Episode 8: Closure, Accountability, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

    In episode 8 of Trauma and the Brain, Chantell Tilly Anderson sits down with licensed counselor Matt Lasslo to talk about a word people often chase after painful experiences: closure. What is closure really, clinically and practically? Why do so many people feel stuck waiting for an apology, an explanation, or some kind of final moment that makes the pain “make sense”? Chantell and Matt break down what the brain is trying to do when it searches for closure, how trauma shapes core beliefs and nervous system functioning, and why healing is less about time passing and more about the work you do. They also unpack a key concept that often gets tangled in the closure conversation: accountability vs. responsibility—and what it means to reclaim healing even when the person who caused harm never takes accountability. This episode is for adults and is intended for education, not medical advice. In this episode, we cover: What “closure” looks like from a clinical and functional perspectiveWhy healing isn’t a finish line, and why it isn’t about timePsychological expectations: the brain’s need for order, control, and a simple storySocial expectations: why people pressure others to “move on” and how that can backfireNervous system expectations: why the body doesn’t just “get over it”The difference between closure and repression (and how to tell the difference)Accountability vs. responsibility—and how to heal without waiting for someone elseBuilding an internal narrative that supports recovery, empowerment, and stability

  2. Jan 26

    Episode 7: Brain Waves - Questions from the Community

    In this Brain Waves episode of the Trauma and the Brain Podcast, host Chantell Tilly Anderson and licensed professional counselor Matt Lasslo respond to real questions from the community about emotional numbness, trauma responses, anxiety, intuition, and healing. The conversation begins with emotional numbness — why it develops as a protective response to trauma, how dissociation once kept us safe, and why it can become harmful later in life. Matt explains how motivation to heal often conflicts with the brain’s instinct to stay protected, and why grounding in present-moment safety is the foundation for change. Listeners are guided through practical grounding strategies, including sensory-based techniques like the 5-4-3-2-1 method, with a focus on tailoring mindfulness to whatever sense feels most “offline.” The episode also explores how trauma and chronic anxiety in childhood can affect emotional development — not as “stunted growth,” but as an over-reliance on coping strategies that were once adaptive and are now limiting. Other questions explore: How trauma can cause certain emotional skills (like anger or dissociation) to dominate while others are suppressedThe difference between intuition and anxiety, and how to evaluate where a signal is coming fromWhy mindfulness can reduce trauma symptoms by keeping the brain out of past- and future-based fear loopsAlternatives to exposure therapy for anxiety related to driving, heights, and loss of controlWhy loneliness, depression, and anxiety are so often hidden — and how stigma, self-shaming, and fear of being misunderstood keep people silentHow to tell the difference between genuine healing and simply becoming better at avoidance or “appearing okay”Throughout the episode, Chantell and Matt emphasize self-compassion, realistic healing timelines, and the importance of finding support that truly understands trauma. This episode offers both validation and practical insight for anyone navigating trauma recovery, anxiety, or emotional disconnection — one question, one feeling, and one wave at a time.

  3. 12/10/2025

    Episode 6: Trauma and What Could Have Been

    In this episode of the Trauma and the Brain Podcast, Chantell Tilly-Anderson and licensed professional counselor Matt Lasslo explore regret through a trauma lens. They unpack the difference between regret, guilt, and shame, and talk about how trauma can turn “I wish I’d done that differently” into “there’s something wrong with me.” Matt explains why the brain clings to should have / would have / could have thinking, the “Back to the Future” alternate-timeline fantasy, and the painful experience of mourning the unrealized self — the version of us who never got the chance to exist. Together, they look at how shame gets installed, why survivors often feel they “deserve” to suffer, and how blame, control, and shame get tangled up. The episode closes with practical ways to bring regret back into the present: recognizing victimization without blaming yourself, identifying unmet needs, using mindfulness to return to the here-and-now, and turning regret into action that moves you toward the life you want today.

  4. 11/23/2025

    Episode 5: The Grief Brief

    In this episode of the Trauma in the Brain podcast, hosts Chantell Tilly Anderson and Matt Lasslo delve into the complex topic of grief. They explore personal experiences with loss, the psychological and neurological impacts of grief, and how it shapes our relationships and perceptions of safety. The conversation emphasizes the importance of processing grief individually, understanding the difference between grief and trauma, and the necessity of radical self-acceptance in navigating the emotional landscape of loss. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, they provide a comprehensive look at how grief can be both a painful and transformative experience.

  5. 11/15/2025

    Episode 4: Trauma Over Time

    In episode four of the Trauma and the Brain Podcast, Chantell Tilly Anderson and licensed professional counselor Matt Lasslo expand on the question, “What is trauma?” by examining how it manifests across a lifetime. They tease apart trauma as a life event versus trauma as the body’s response—diving into fight, flight, and freeze, dissociation, and why some experiences get “stuck” instead of integrating into long-term memory. Matt breaks down the core PTSD symptom clusters—intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, avoidance and “conscious justifications,” and negative shifts in mood and thinking—with real-life examples of how fear, shame, and intrusive thoughts can quietly shape relationships, work, and day-to-day choices. From there, the conversation zooms out to the lifespan of trauma: how childhood and adult trauma often impact us differently, what the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study actually found, and how unresolved trauma can affect physical health over time—sleep, pain, digestion, blood pressure, even vulnerability to illness. They also touch on medical and psychiatric trauma, including what it can feel like to hand over control of your life to a hospital system. The episode closes with first steps toward healing: acknowledging trauma instead of minimizing it, paying attention to the body’s signals (like held breath and chronic tension), using grounded, believable affirmations, and learning to set and honor healthy boundaries—both as a trauma survivor and as someone supporting one.

  6. 10/23/2025

    Episode 3: Forging Forgiveness

    Chantell Tilly Anderson and LPC Matt Lasslo dive into forgiveness—why it’s so loaded after trauma, what it is (and isn’t), and how to approach it safely. Matt frames forgiveness as three things: an effort (it takes real work), an act (something you do that changes your body), and an experience (you feel a release—like taking off heavy armor). They bust common myths, including: “forgiveness says what they did was okay,” “I have to let them back in,” “it’s not self-respecting,” and “I don’t need it to heal.” Safety comes first; you never have to re-enter unsafe situations to forgive. They contrast resolution (the person makes it right) with closure (you choose to let go even without repair), and discuss boundaries, accountability, and why you can forgive and still press charges or keep distance. They explore barriers—language like “unforgivable,” defensiveness, and waiting to heal before forgiving—and offer a reframing: forgiveness helps start healing by putting the event in the past. Research-backed benefits include reduced anxiety/depression, lower blood pressure, better sleep, and overall stress relief. For anyone not ready, they suggest asking, “Why does it feel impossible?”—the answer often points to a myth you can work through. The episode closes with a powerful message: forgiveness is a self-directed way to reclaim power, health, and freedom—one step, one rep, one choice at a time.

  7. 09/29/2025

    Episode 2: Processing Political Violence

    In this episode of Trauma and the Brain Podcast, host Chantell Tilly Anderson is joined by licensed counselor Matt Lasslo, LPC (AZ) to unpack the impact of political violence on our minds and bodies. From graphic headlines to videos on our social feeds, violence in the public sphere doesn’t just affect those directly involved—it ripples outward, shaping our collective nervous system. Together, we explore how exposure to violence, even secondhand, can trigger fight-or-flight responses, re-traumatization, and heightened anxiety. This conversation covers: The difference between primary trauma (direct exposure) and secondary trauma (witnessing or hearing about it).How repeated images of violence overwhelm the nervous system and create a constant sense of danger.Why people often respond with anger online—and how it ties to survival instincts.The role of grief as a form of trauma, and what the stages of grief look like in these contexts.Practical ways to set boundaries with media, care for your nervous system, and approach hard conversations with empathy rather than hate.Political violence is unsettling, divisive, and deeply human in its impact. By understanding how it affects the brain and body, we can begin to process our reactions with compassion—for ourselves, for our communities, and for the nation we share. Trauma and the Brain Podcast: strengthening minds with trauma-informed tools, one rep at a time.

  8. 09/29/2025

    Episode 1: What is Trauma?

    In the debut episode of Trauma and the Brain Podcast, host Chantell Tilly Anderson asks a fundamental question: what does trauma really mean? With guest Matt Lasslo, LPC (AZ), a licensed professional counselor with more than 13 years of clinical experience, we break down how trauma is defined—not just as an event, but as the body’s ongoing response when fight or flight isn’t enough. Together we explore: Why trauma overwhelms the nervous system and changes how we see ourselves and the world.The difference between “big T” and “small t” trauma, and why both can leave lasting impacts.Common myths—like the idea that trauma only applies to combat or extreme abuse—and what research such as the ACE study reveals about everyday experiences.How trauma shows up in the brain and body through fight, flight, freeze, and dissociation.What it really means to view life through a trauma-informed lens—and how curiosity and compassion change the way we respond to others.Practical ways to begin exploring your own experiences without digging blindly, and how to support loved ones while respecting boundaries.This opening conversation sets the foundation for the podcast: clear, compassionate, and practical trauma education. If you’ve ever wondered whether your struggles are connected to trauma—or how to better support others—this episode is for you. Trauma and the Brain: strengthening minds with trauma-informed tools, one rep at a time. Find Us: www.traumaandthebrain.com Quora: https://qr.ae/pCt1s3

  • 8 Episodes

About

The Trauma and the Brain Podcast is hosted by Chantell Tilly Anderson and features guest expert Matt Lasslo, LPC (AZ), a licensed counselor with over 13 years of experience in trauma therapy, crisis work, and supervision. The TATB podcast explores how trauma shapes our thoughts, emotions, bodies, and daily lives—and how we can respond with awareness and compassion instead of fear or judgment. Together, Chantell and Matt unpack how political violence, grief, secondary trauma, and even doom-scrolling ripple through our nervous systems—and how we can interrupt those cycles. That’s why we created this podcast: to make trauma education accessible, practical, and empowering—so each person can take responsibility for their own healing and learn why they do what they do. Listeners will hear about: Why trauma is less about the event itself and more about how it reshapes safety, trust, and self-image. Types of trauma, called primary and secondary trauma, and how events, news stories or videos can leave us anxious, unsafe, or overwhelmed. How grief is a form of trauma—and why sadness is not weakness but part of real healing. Practical skills: grounding, nervous-system resets, inner-child work, healthy boundaries, and forgiveness that heals without excusing harm. The Trauma and the Brain Podcast is for anyone seeking to understand themselves, support others, or navigate the world with greater steadiness. Each episode blends science, lived experience, and accessible tools—so you walk away not only informed, but equipped to live with greater awareness, resilience, and empathy. Join Chantell as she builds a space where trauma education is approachable, human, and empowering—because understanding your brain is the first step to changing your life.

Information

  • Creator
    Chantell Anderson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Chantell Anderson