Season 2 Episode 1 Show Notes Meera Atkinson In this episode of How’s That Working For You?, host Dr Zoe Krupka speaks with writer, poet, trauma scholar, and long-time friend Meera Atkinson about trauma, memory, healing, and the complex relationship between personal experience and broader social systems. Drawing on Meera’s acclaimed hybrid memoir Traumata, the conversation explores how trauma is lived in the body, shaped by relationships, and reproduced across generations. Together, Zoe and Meera examine the challenge of telling the truth of traumatic experience while also making sense of what neuroscience, psychology, feminism, and trauma scholarship can teach us about its enduring impacts. Reflecting on their own lived experiences, they discuss the limitations of treatment, the realities of recovery, and why simplistic narratives of healing often fail to capture the ongoing nature of living with trauma. The conversation also explores the role of patriarchy in shaping individual and collective suffering, and why trauma must be understood not only as a personal experience but as a social and cultural phenomenon. Meera brings insights from decades of research and writing on transgenerational trauma, literary testimony, and the ways traumatic histories continue to reverberate through families, communities, and institutions. Together, Zoe and Meera consider what becomes possible when we move beyond individualised understandings of trauma and embrace more systemic, relational, and compassionate ways of making sense of suffering. Don't miss this thoughtful and deeply moving conversation on trauma, resilience, storytelling, and the transformative power of bearing witness. About Our Host Dr Zoe Krupka https://www.cairnmillar.org.au/staff/dr-zoe-krupka/ About Our Guest Meera Atkinson Meera Atkinson is a writer, poet, and trauma scholar whose work explores the intersections of trauma, memory, identity, gender, and social justice. She is the author of the acclaimed memoir Traumata Traumata | UQP (University of Queensland Press), which combines personal narrative, trauma theory, neuroscience, and feminist critique to examine the enduring impacts of childhood trauma and the social structures that perpetuate it. She is also the author of The Poetics of Transgenerational Trauma. Her essays, poetry, fiction, and scholarly work have been widely published in Australia and internationally. Meera’s forthcoming poetry collection, Some Letters Take a Lifetime, explores traumatic growth, memory, and transformation and is scheduled for publication by Upswell Publishing in 2027. Website: https://www.meeraatkinson.com/ Recommended Reading Traumata by Meera Atkinson https://www.uqp.com.au/books/traumata The Cairnmillar Institute For more information about our organisation, the services we offer, and how to donate, visit our website at www.cairnmillar.org.au. Coming up next Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations as we explore diverse aspects of wellbeing, mental health, and therapeutic practice. Thank you for joining us on the How’s That Working For You? podcast. Take care out there. Disclaimer: This podcast is a space for open conversations, but it's important to remember that what you're hearing are the personal experiences and thoughts of our host and guests. While we're here to share insights, please don't take any of this as medical advice. If you have concerns about your mental health or wellbeing, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional. This episode was recorded in 2026.
