Life After Trauma with Jess Vanrose

Dr. Sue McCreadie, MD, is a paediatrician and midlife transformation expert who helps women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s navigate hormones, heartbreak, and healing. In this candid conversation, we explore the fear and shame many of us feel around perimenopause, how to separate identity from emotion, and practical ways to move through self-doubt with love.We talk about:Perimenopause 101: what’s happening in our bodies and why the timeline is so individualNaming shame & fear (Jess’s “black ball”) and how to unhook “I am” statementsSelf-doubt in high-achieving women + tiny, loving actions that rebuild confidenceMasculine structure vs. feminine flow in creativity, business, and healing“What would love do?” as a daily compass for boundaries, rest, forgiveness, and courageSecond callings: surrendering control and following the breadcrumbsTake the Midlife Personality Quiz:Uncover your greatest gift, biggest growth opportunity, and 8 personalized ideas to joy as a midlife woman.https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/6527eb2db315de001400d356Resources & Links:Dr. Sue’s website: https://www.drsuemccreadie.com/Substack: https://drsuemccreadie.substack.com/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/drsuemccreadie/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drsuemccreadie/

In this deeply moving conversation, I’m joined by Amanda Durocher, host of the New View Advice podcast. Amanda shares her journey of surviving sexual violence, uncovering repressed memories, and navigating the terror of speaking her truth out loud for the first time. We explore how her healing journey has been shaped by self-compassion, learning to trust herself again, and finding freedom from the weight of trauma. Amanda’s courage in sharing her raw experiences — from the moment she realized she could no longer keep memories buried, to her reflections on anger, body-based healing, and community — offers powerful validation and hope for survivors everywhere.What you’ll hear in this episode:Amanda’s experience of repressed memories surfacing through dreamsThe terror and liberation of finally speaking her story out loudWhy trusting yourself is essential after traumaHow self-compassion shifted her healing journey and saved her lifeThe role of the body — and practices like meditation, yoga, and somatic singing — in processing traumaWhy anger, often seen as “bad,” is actually an important messenger in healingConnect with Amanda Durocher:Website: www.newviewadvice.comTikTok: @newviewadviceAmanda also hosts the New View Advice podcast, where she offers honest and empathetic reflections on what it means to be human.

Therapist-turned-intuitive mentor Keri Nola joins Jess to explore ego death, shadow work, and the brave act of opening your heart after trauma. We talk boundaries vs. armor, how trauma blocks receiving, and a gentler path to “mature manifestation” so you can reclaim power and let life meet you.What we coverEgo death as a soul nudge toward your next chapterBoundaries ≠ armor: why shutdown blocks receivingBody-based steps to find & thaw hidden blocksMinimizing yourself as a misuse of power (solar plexus work)Receptivity vs. receiving vs. takingA beginner-friendly journal prompt + two mantras you can use todayMay this conversation be a soft place to land as you practice opening again.This episode contains discussions of trauma, abuse, and other potentially sensitive topics. Please take care while listening and pause if you need to. Your well-being matters most.Chapters00:00 Ego death, body signals01:06 Trigger warning + welcome01:54 Closing a thriving practice03:25 Following a soul call05:14 Feeling rooted, fast06:39 Provision meets truth08:20 Jess goes all-in09:50 Boundaries vs. armor12:13 “What am I afraid of if life improves?”14:45 Safe support, slow healing18:31 Parts work & inner conflict21:11 Self-respect vs. self-compassion24:00 What shadow work really is26:24 Facing what’s hidden27:57 “You’ll only get what you’re ready for”29:56 Taking up space31:21 Belonging & being disliked33:03 Healing isn’t linear34:47 Oracle reading setup38:17 Card 1: Uneven Exchange (sacral) + mantra41:30 Card 2: Power (solar plexus) + mantra44:56 Womb healing: releasing shame46:33 Gentle journal prompt48:10 Receptivity vs. taking50:11 Mature manifestation52:09 Curiosity in hard seasons55:25 Opening the heart again58:43 Keri’s behind-the-scenes practices59:56 What “Life After Trauma” means to Keri + where to find herResources & LinksKeri Nola — offerings, readings, journal: kerinola.comMantra (Card 1: Uneven Exchange / Sacral): “I am worthy of being in balanced relationship with giving and receiving in a way that deeply resonates with the full essence of me.”Mantra (Card 2: Power / Solar Plexus): “I am worthy of standing firmly in the truth of who I am. This is the home of my divine power.”Journal prompt: “If I knew I could trust what would be revealed, I would be willing to open myself to…”Declaration: “I’m willing to see what I need to see, hear what it’s time to hear, feel what I’m ready to feel, and heal what is prioritizing for healing.”

In this Reflections with Jess episode, I share a moment from a small-town coffee shop where the simple act of someone typing nearby sent my nervous system into high alert. What unfolded was a reminder that healing is not about proving your strength—it’s about listening to your body, honouring your capacity, and choosing yourself.✨ I’ve started a Fall Solo Date Reels series on Instagram, where each week I travel to a new small town, explore cozy cafés, and share the magic of solo adventures. The first one is live now—and yes, it features the café where this reflection was born. You can watch on @lifeaftertraumapodcast or on my personal account @jessvanrose.☕ Support the podcast: Buy Me a CoffeeIf this episode resonated with you or made you feel seen, I would be so grateful if you follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

Jess sits down with Jennifer Chase—certified life coach and founder of Rise Addiction Life Coaching—to rethink a well-worn myth: Is trauma the real gateway to addiction? Jennifer shares her generational story of alcoholism, childhood sexual abuse, a brain-tumor surgery that led to opioid dependence, and the exact tools and reframes that helped her reclaim voice, power, and peace.We cover:The controversial reframe: “Substance wasn’t the problem—it was my solution.”The “perfect family” facade, secret-keeping, and why truth-telling is liberationShame → use → more shame: how forgiveness (including of her abuser) broke the loopThe hardest mirror: when her son became addicted to her prescribed opiatesCodependency ≈ addiction: why connection is the antidote to bothPractical tools: meetings, movement, meditation, journaling, music, and “choosing your hard”A closing thought Healing isn’t linear. When we shine light on shame, we make space for breath, choice, and self-worth.Chapters 00:00 — TW + welcome 01:05 — “Perfect” outside, chaos inside 04:40 — Truth-teller, not “black sheep” 08:48 — Brain tumor → opioids: “Where has this been?” 12:50 — Shame spirals & escalating use 14:55 — When your child mirrors your pain 18:58 — Rock bottom → treatment 21:05 — Forgiving to reclaim power 25:12 — Families, enabling & new boundaries 29:00 — Choosing your hard 34:20 — Tools you can use today 40:05 — Emotional safety in unsafe systems 46:40 — “The cave you fear…” 49:55 — What life after trauma means todayResources & LinksJennifer’s website: https://riseaddictionlc.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenchaseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferreinhartchaseFind support: AA & Al-Anon (search local meetings in your area) Tap Follow on Spotify/Apple and Save this episode so you don’t miss what’s next. Sharing this with a friend helps more than you know. 💛

In this Reflections with Jess episode, I’m speaking directly to those of you who are just beginning your healing journey. Being at the start can feel overwhelming—with so many tools, modalities, and voices telling you what you “should” be doing. I want to remind you that your body already holds the answers.Here’s what we explore together:Why healing begins with tuning into yourself—not following every trendHow to notice what your body is telling you and use that as guidanceMy own early practices with meditation and yoga that helped me reconnectThe importance of becoming a student of healing—curious, patient, and openWhy small steps planted now grow into lasting transformationThis is your invitation to pause, breathe, and remember that healing doesn’t have to be rushed. You already have what you need within you.🌙 Stay connected with me on Life After Trauma by following on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Your follows, saves, and reviews mean so much—they help other women find this podcast and feel less alone.

In this deeply grounding episode, Jess is joined by international speaker, resilience coach, and author Laura Bratton. Laura began losing her vision as a teenager—and in the years since, she has cultivated a life rooted in courage, self-trust, and a deep commitment to living fully, even through change. Together, Jess and Laura explore how true resilience isn’t about pushing through or staying positive—it’s about being honest with our emotions, validating our grief, and choosing to move forward in small, brave steps. Whether you're navigating a season of uncertainty, rebuilding your sense of self, or learning to trust your inner voice again, this conversation will meet you with compassion, clarity, and strength.In this episode, we talk about:- What real resilience looks like (and what it’s not)- How Laura navigated losing her vision in high school- The power of daily support, community, and staying present- Learning to trust yourself again, one moment at a time- Gratitude as a healing practice (even on the hardest days)- Why it's okay to hold grief and hope at the same time- Advocating for your needs—without apologyChapters & Timestamps00:00 – Welcome & reflection02:15 – Life changed in seconds08:49 – Resisting the pressure to “be strong”13:34 – Grieving what was lost19:42 – What helped Laura stay24:05 – When you feel invisible29:18 – Rebuilding life on new terms34:41 – Healing beyond resilience38:20 – Final thoughts + closing invitationResources & Links:✨ Learn more about Laura’s work or get her book Harnessing Courage: www.laurabratton.com⚠️ Trigger WarningThis episode contains discussions of trauma, abuse, and other potentially sensitive topics that may be activating for some listeners. Please take care while listening and pause if you need to. Your well-being is what matters most.💛 If you haven’t already, it would mean the world to me if you subscribe, and if you learned something new or found inspiration from this episode, please leave a review and share this episode.

In this Reflections with Jess episode, I’m sitting down to talk about a question I know so many of us carry:“Why do I feel like I’m doing all the right things for healing, but I still keep getting pulled back into old patterns?”Together, we explore:Why healing isn’t linear (and what that actually looks like in daily life)How trauma imprints on the nervous system and body, not just the mindWhat real progress looks like (hint: it’s often the small shifts)Why falling back doesn’t mean starting overThe power of self-compassion on the hard daysHealing is slow, gentle work — but if you’ve ever asked yourself this question, it means you care about your healing, and that matters.💭 Reflection for the week: What is one small shift you’ve noticed in yourself over the past year?

In today's eye-opening discussion, I sit down with Tracy DeTomasi, CEO of Callisto and a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in gender-based violence prevention and survivor advocacy. Tracy shares how Callisto’s encrypted technology is creating a groundbreaking pathway for survivors to connect, reclaim their power, and pursue justice on their own terms.We explore:How Callisto uses encryption to safely connect survivors of serial perpetratorsWhy knowing “you’re not alone” can be life-changing for healing and justiceThe ripple effects of the MeToo movement and how it intersects with Callisto’s missionWhat enthusiastic consent really means and why coercion is often overlookedThe cultural and systemic shifts needed to end serial perpetrationThe role of boundaries, resilience, and survivor agency in trauma recoveryTracy’s wisdom bridges advocacy, technology, and healing, reminding us that justice begins with empowerment and survivor choice.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – The power of encrypted technology for survivors07:00 – A story of healing through connection11:20 – Me Too, media, and the need for safer systems16:40 – Redefining sexual assault and coercion25:00 – Building Callisto with survivor-centered ethics33:00 – Boundaries, resilience, and life after trauma📌 Resources & LinksLearn more about Callisto: projectcallisto.orgFollow Callisto on Instagram & LinkedInWatch Jess Michaels’ TED Talk (referenced in this episode)