Trauma Uncensored

Brooke Scherer
  • 5.0 (19)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Trauma Uncensored is a weekly podcast that candidly explores what it’s really like to live with grief, trauma, and the daily realities of mental health, while holding onto the determination to keep moving forward uncensored, unapologetic, and out loud. Hosted by Brooke Scherer, whose son Logan was killed by a distracted driver in 2016, the show confronts the hard truths of healing with honesty and heart. Grounded and deeply human, each episode opens space for real conversations about loss, recovery, and the quiet—often unspoken—work of rebuilding a life after it’s been shattered.

  1. 6D AGO

    43. A Moment With Mom | Bri Gamboa Part 2

    In Part Two with Bri, Brooke returns to the day Rio was born and what happened after the C-section, when something felt wrong immediately and Andres was pulled into another room while Bri lay in recovery, waiting. Bri describes holding fear with an open hand, trying not to spiral into every “what if,” and the shock of navigating decisions while groggy, stitched up, and separated from her baby. Then the story widens into the grief that was already in motion: Bri’s mom’s dementia and the weight of bringing family into a NICU filled with alarms, other babies, and other parents living their own worst days. Bri shares one of the most tender moments of the episode, a brief window where her mom recognized her, lit up, and asked about the baby. Brooke and Bri talk about secondary losses, permission to feel anger, and why reframing is a practice, not a requirement, especially when you are exhausted. We explore: C-section aftermath, separation, and waiting for answers NICU overwhelm and how the environment intensifies fear Dementia, grief, and the ache of the moments you do not get Reframing fatigue, permission to feel it all, and grace for yourself Trauma stored in the body, EMDR, movement, and bilateral tools. Email Us: hello@traumauncensored.com Merch & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/ Be a guest: email hello@traumauncensored.com Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases Instagram: @traumauncensored TikTok: @trauma.uncensored YouTube: @traumauncensored Facebook: @traumauncensoredpodcast Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of traumatic birth and C-section recovery, NICU hospitalization and critically ill infants, fear of infant loss, dementia and caregiver stress, grief and secondary losses, anger in grief, and discussion of trauma responses and treatment tools including EMDR and somatic practices. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

    1h 21m

  2. FEB 16

    42. When The Plan Falls Apart | Bri Gamboa

    This episode picks up right where last week left off, this time from Bri’s side of the story. Brooke sits with Bri, Andres’ wife and Rio’s mom, to talk about the quieter kind of trauma that can start long before a medical crisis: the waiting, the hoping, the expectations you did not realize you were holding. Bri shares what it felt like to navigate pregnancy fears, early bleeding, the pressure of “geriatric pregnancy” labels, and the grief of watching a carefully imagined birth plan unravel. From there, she walks through the intensity of trying to flip a breech baby, the pain and fear inside an ECV attempt, and the moment the C-section became unavoidable. Along the way, Bri and Brooke talk about how emotions are information, how healing is a practice, and what it means to stay present in uncertainty, especially when your body and your baby are both unknowns. The episode ends with a clear pivot: this is part one, and the hospital and NICU story continues next. In this episode, we explore: Pregnancy anxiety, expectations, and the grief under “normal” milestones Breech birth, ECV attempts, and fear around anesthesia and control C-section realities, dissociation, and what nobody prepares you for Emotional regulation, capacity, and staying honest in the unknown Why this story continues, and what comes after discharge Email Us: hello@traumauncensored.com Merch & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/ Be a guest: hello@traumauncensored.com Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases Instagram: @traumauncensored TikTok: @trauma.uncensored YouTube: @traumauncensored Facebook: @traumauncensoredpodcast Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of pregnancy anxiety and pregnancy loss fears, bleeding during pregnancy, fertility and IVF references, medical stigma, intense pain during a medical procedure, anesthesia and surgical risks, emergency C-section discussion, dissociation, infant medical concerns including NICU and surgery planning, and discussion of infant illness and infant death. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

    1h 25m

  3. FEB 9

    41. Why Me/Why Not Me | Andres Gamboa

    Brooke sits down with producer Andres for an episode that feels like both a reunion and a turning point. Andres shares the first major trauma of his life, open-heart surgery at six years old, the moment he was told he was pronounced dead on the table, and what he remembers about the time that followed. From there, the conversation moves into how early medical trauma can echo for decades, shaping fear, avoidance, and the way the body reacts long after the crisis ends. Brooke and Andres also talk honestly about spirituality, the stories we are allowed to hold without being challenged, and how healing can change the charge around a memory, even if it never disappears. In the second half, Andres tells the story of his daughter Rio’s birth, the shock of an immediate NICU emergency, and how a lifetime of survival taught him how to stay calm when his child needed him most. We explore: Near-death experience, memory, and what can be hard to explain Medical trauma, triggers, and nervous system responses that linger Spirituality, belief, and making room for different experiences NICU realities, parenting under stress, and the power of support Perspective without toxic positivity, and why choice still matters Email Us:hello@traumauncensored.com Merch & More:https://www.traumauncensored.com/ Be a guest: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehrpjtHptufyUPxEp6K-qkedpWOkGsKR5Hdj5Qh9zRes7COA/viewformNewsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredFacebook: @traumauncensoredpodcast Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of child loss, near-death experience, pediatric heart surgery and medical trauma, vomiting and pain, anxiety and OCD, spirituality and belief, traumatic birth and emergency C-section, NICU hospitalization, infant surgery and medical procedures, feeding tubes, and discussion of other critically ill infants and infant death. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

    1h 33m

  4. FEB 2

    40. Sibling Loss, Addiction, and Grace | Tara Booker

    Brooke welcomes therapist and friend Tara for a candid conversation about loving her brother Cody, losing him to an accidental fentanyl overdose at 37, and learning how community holds what one person cannot. Tara shares growing up with two older brothers, the long arc of Cody’s addiction, and why highly sensitive people can be especially vulnerable. She explains addiction in plain language, comparing the brain’s pull to check a phone with the biochemical hijack of substances, and unpacks why “it is not your fault” and “it is still your work” can both be true. Together they talk Al-Anon and 12-step wisdom, practicing powerlessness without abandoning love, and the therapist’s careful use of self-disclosure. They also stay with continuing bonds after death, keeping a person as “is,” not “was,” and the everyday rituals that make space for grief and connection. The episode closes with part of Tara’s eulogy for Cody, a tender portrait beyond his illness. We explore: Addiction, sensitivity, and a clear, accessible brain-based explanation Al-Anon, powerlessness, and why community changes outcomes What therapists mean by self-disclosure, used as a tool for safety Continuing bonds, “is not was,” and simple connection rituals Encouragement for families living with addiction and after loss Tara's Link: https://www.villagewellcounseling.com/work-with-tara Email Us:hello@traumauncensored.com Merch & More:https://www.traumauncensored.com/ Be a guest:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehrpjtHptufyUPxEp6K-qkedpWOkGsKR5Hdj5Qh9zRes7COA/viewform Newsletter:https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredFacebook: @traumauncensoredpodcast Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of accidental fentanyl overdose, substance use disorder, Narcan use, grief, child loss, distracted-driving crash, OCD, medication and ketamine treatment, EMDR, Al-Anon, and 12-step recovery. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

    1h 17m

  5. JAN 26

    39. Daniel’s Story: Generational Trauma, Faith, and Forgiveness

    Brooke welcomes Daniel for a candid conversation about growing up in chaos, choosing a different path in seventh grade, and what it took to build a steady life as an adult. Daniel describes a childhood shaped by addiction, violence around the home, and the day he drew a hard line and moved in with his grandmother. He shares the grief and complexity of his mother’s overdose, how therapy and ministry school helped him move from anger to forgiveness, and the role his marriage played in learning safety and consistency. Together, they talk about surrender over control, the long game of small daily changes, and forgiving people who could not be who you needed them to be. The episode closes with breaking generational patterns and practicing presence with their kids. We explore: Choosing a different path in seventh grade and leaving an unsafe home Grieving a parent’s overdose and the slow work of forgiveness Marriage, faith, and consistency as anchors during healing Surrender versus control, and why small changes compound Breaking generational patterns and parenting with presence Email Us:hello@traumauncensored.com Merch & More:https://www.traumauncensored.com/ Be a guest:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehrpjtHptufyUPxEp6K-qkedpWOkGsKR5Hdj5Qh9zRes7COA/viewform Newsletter:https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredFacebook: @traumauncensoredpodcast Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of childhood exposure to violence, parental substance use, overdose death, abandonment, generational trauma, perfectionism and control, Christian faith, cancer diagnosis and surgery, therapy and ministry school, marriage strain, and parenting after trauma. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

    1h 4m

  6. JAN 19

    38. Murder–Suicide Ruled—Now What? One Daughter’s Journey | Shayna Williams

    Brooke sits down with Shayna to trace a decade of grief after her father’s death was quickly deemed a murder-suicide. Shayna walks through the calls, the drive-way “funeral march,” and the details that never added up, then names what living with unanswered questions does to a nervous system. Brooke grounds the conversation in real tools that help, talking about EMDR and ketamine-assisted therapy alongside medication and everyday self-care. Together they explore what it means to pause the hunt for answers without abandoning love, to let community hold some of the weight, and to choose presence on ordinary days. The episode closes with permission to be both the kid who misses her dad and the adult who advocates for better processes, boundaries, and support. We explore: When “official” answers don’t fit, and how ambiguity compounds trauma EMDR, ketamine therapy, antidepressants, and practical regulation tools Giving yourself permission to pause the investigation and still honor your person Community, creative outlets, and reframing “new normal” into honest next steps Email Us:hello@traumauncensored.com Merch & More:https://www.traumauncensored.com/ Be a guest: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehrpjtHptufyUPxEp6K-qkedpWOkGsKR5Hdj5Qh9zRes7COA/viewformNewsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releasesInstagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredFacebook: @traumauncensoredpodcast Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of gun violence, homicide, suicide, police investigation practices, traumatic grief, seizures/epilepsy, mental health treatment including EMDR, ketamine therapy, and antidepressants, and family dynamics. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

    1h 33m

  7. JAN 12

    37. New Beginnings: The Courage to Find Perspective and a Way Forward

    Brooke welcomes Lindsay, Melanie, and Michelle back for a frank panel on what it really takes to begin again after grief and harm. They name the difference between chasing a “new normal” and telling the truth about a life that changed, and how fear, guilt, and shame collide with hope when you choose to move forward. Lindsay describes IVF after her son Christian’s death, a miscarriage, and the faith that carried her to Chance’s birth. Melanie talks about dating, remarriage, and parenting through waves of guilt while slowly building a larger toolbox for healing. Michelle shares leaving abuse, learning to trust with her husband Paul, and the work it takes to protect a marriage after trauma. The group closes with perspective shifts in parenting, choosing presence over perfection, and an invite for listeners to send questions for future panels. In this episode we explore: Rejecting “new normal,” telling the truth about life after loss, IVF, miscarriage, and holding hope through setbacks. Remarriage after widowhood, guilt, and rebuilding trust. Boundaries after abuse, patience, and doing the work. Parenting and partnership with perspective, not perfection. Email Us: hello@traumauncensored.com Merch & More: https://www.traumauncensored.com/ Be a guest: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehrpjtHptufyUPxEp6K-qkedpWOkGsKR5Hdj5Qh9zRes7COA/viewform Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases Instagram: @traumauncensored TikTok: @trauma.uncensored YouTube: @traumauncensored Facebook: @traumauncensoredpodcast Content Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of child loss, spousal loss, abuse, infertility, IVF, miscarriage, marital strain, faith, therapy, and coping after trauma.If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

    1h 13m

  8. JAN 5

    36. Three Losses, Hard-Won Wisdom | Marla Grant

    Brooke welcomes Marla Grant, a longtime grief guide who has lived what she teaches. Marla shares the neonatal loss she could not fully grieve until decades later, the years with her daughter Nicole and the shock of her relapse and death, and the very different work of grieving her son Ryan after suicide. Together they name why grief is not a straight line, why comparing pain helps no one, and how choice shows up in the small, daily ways we care for ourselves and each other. Marla offers three touchstones that shaped her recovery, personal responsibility, acceptance, and willingness, and a gentle reminder to talk about people’s children because silence can wound. The conversation also touches the grief Olympics, waves that return without warning, and keeping a relationship with loved ones in the present tense. We explore: Delayed grief after neonatal loss, then a classroom moment that unlocked it Nicole’s life, relapse, and how everyday absence changes a home Ryan’s death by suicide and what compassion looks like for the living and the dead Why grief is not stages, and how to ride the waves Choice, personal responsibility, acceptance, and willingness in practice Email Us:hello@traumauncensored.com Merch & More:https://www.traumauncensored.com/ Be a guest:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehrpjtHptufyUPxEp6K-qkedpWOkGsKR5Hdj5Qh9zRes7COA/viewform Newsletter:https://mailchi.mp/traumauncensored/episode-releases Instagram: @traumauncensoredTikTok: @trauma.uncensoredYouTube: @traumauncensoredFacebook: @traumauncensoredpodcast Guest Links Marla's Website: www.inspiredgriefrecovery.com Myths About Grief: Six Major Concepts that Keep You from Moving Forward (free book that includes free 30-minute chat with Marla) https://www.inspiredgriefrecovery.com/event Marla's Substack: https://substack.com/@marlagrant Content Disclaimer:This episode includes discussion of stillbirth and neonatal loss, pediatric cancer and death, suicide loss, grief and nonlinearity, spiritual experiences, and practical coping. If you are struggling or worried about someone, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free, confidential support, 24/7.

    1h 13m
See All (43)

5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Trauma Uncensored is a weekly podcast that candidly explores what it’s really like to live with grief, trauma, and the daily realities of mental health, while holding onto the determination to keep moving forward uncensored, unapologetic, and out loud. Hosted by Brooke Scherer, whose son Logan was killed by a distracted driver in 2016, the show confronts the hard truths of healing with honesty and heart. Grounded and deeply human, each episode opens space for real conversations about loss, recovery, and the quiet—often unspoken—work of rebuilding a life after it’s been shattered.

Information

  • Creator
    Brooke Scherer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brooke Scherer
  • Show Website
    Trauma Uncensored