Resiliency Within

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Resiliency Within is honored to spotlight the extraordinary work of Melissa Boley, who reflects on her remarkable career as a psychotherapist and leader in the field of trauma healing. Melissa was recently awarded the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Idaho Counseling Association, in recognition of 36 years of dedicated service as a Licensed Cl...

In this episode of  Resiliency Within , Elaine Miller-Karas, interviews Dr . Adam Barsouk about a sobering reality: cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in many developed nations. Yet there is hope—up to half of cancer deaths may be preventable through lifestyle changes, environmental awareness, and thoughtful public policy. Dr . Barsouk shares important information fro...

In this powerful episode, we honor the legacy of Jane Stevens , founder of PACEs Connection, and explore how her vision is evolving into a bold national and global trauma recovery movement—one grounded in the belief that healing-centered care is a right, not a privilege. Through an intentional collaboration of organizations guided by Alliance Practice | Strategic Consulting for the Trauma Sector,...

In this powerful episode of Resiliency Within, host Elaine Miller-Karas is joined by Louise Godbold, Executive Director of ECHO, to explore the critical role of survivor agency in trauma recovery. Together, they discuss why healing must be guided by the survivor's voice, choices, and lived experience—especially within systems that often overlook or override individual needs. Louise shares insights...

In this episode of  Resiliency Within , I am joined by Jenn Turner of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment for a thoughtful and energizing conversation about what it means to be women leaders in the fields of mind-body health and trauma healing. Together, we explore the evolving landscape of therapeutic relationships—moving away from traditional hierarchies toward models of shared power, collabora...

In this episode of  Resiliency Within , our host, Elaine Miller-Karas, will interview Bo Dean about his reflections of how the first 2,000 days of life—from pregnancy through early childhood—lay the foundation for resilience across the lifespan. Together, we discuss how these early experiences shape the developing brain, nervous system, and sense of self. Our conversation explores how love and str...

After disaster strikes, recovery is often measured in dollars—insurance claims, rebuilding costs, financial losses. But what about the human side of recovery? In this episode, Elaine Miller-Karas sits down with Joy Chen, Executive Director of the Every Fire Survivor's Network, to explore how thousands of Los Angeles fire survivors are navigating not only financial hardship, but also the emotional...

In times of global upheaval and community suffering, many of us feel shaken—mentally, emotionally, and physically. The brutality and uncertainty we witness can disrupt our sense of well-being, leaving us confused, anxious, or overwhelmed. Yet even in the midst of collective stress, it is possible to cultivate inner harmony. Inner harmony is the quiet meeting place of our thoughts, emotions, and bo...

Crisis Recovery for Kids, Parents, and Teachers   Children worldwide are living during very difficult times within the United States and globally. Current policies are impacting our schools - our children, teachers, and school staff.    Inez Tiger and Elaine Miller-Karas will discuss how educational systems worldwide are increasingly confronted with the impact of natural and human-made crises - wa...

On this episode of Resiliency Within, Elaine Miller-Karas welcomes Bev Weise, MBA, ACC—leadership coach, social entrepreneur, and co-founder of Refugee Jumpstart Coaching. Bev shares the inspiring story behind the organization she co-founded in 2021 with Syrian refugee Hussein Alzribi to help educated and highly skilled refugees rebuild their professional lives. Refugee Jumpstart Coaching connects...

Resiliency Within welcomes back Dr. Phillip Allen.  Dr. Allen is a theologian and ethicist whose research and writings include the intersections of social structure, race, culture, and theology and ethics of justice. He has authored two books:  Open Wounds: A Story of Racial Tragedy, Trauma, and Redemption  and  The Prophetic Lens: The Camera and Black Moral Agency From MLK to Darnella Frazier.  H...

In a time of deep division, uncertainty, and crisis,  Finding Light in the Darkness will explore how we can maintain our well-being, integrity, and hope. Hosted by  Elaine Miller-Karas , an internationally recognized trauma expert and resiliency advocate, she will illuminate practical strategies for navigating today's complex social and political landscape. Elaine hopes this episode will provide a...

In this encore episode, Elaine Miller-Karas, host of Resiliency Within, welcomes back Kevin McLeod, Director of Business & Community Development at the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI), for a powerful conversation about teens, healing, and hope. In this episode, Kevin addresses the Trauma Resource Institute's inspiring work bringing the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP) to teens in Georgia's Juvenile...

In this episode of  Resiliency Within , Elaine Miller-Karas sits down with Edith Boyle, LCSW—President & CEO of LifeBridge Community Services—for a meaningful conversation about the power of  balancing the narrative  and why the stories we tell about our communities shape their future. Bridgeport, Connecticut is often described through statistics of hardship—high poverty rates, community violence,...

In this conversation, Maryam Zar reflects on resilience as an act of continuity—how individuals and communities carry memory, identity, and care forward after profound disruption. Drawing from her leadership in post-wildfire recovery and her partnership in Art for Healing and the Legacy Family project among other initiatives, Maryam explores how healing is supported when survivors are seen as keep...

Dr.  Rebecca Shasanmi Ellis  joins  Resiliency Within  to explore how we can mobilize models of care that strengthen resilience, promote health equity, and advance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of  The Beloved Community  across the life span. Drawing on her expertise as a community mental health nurse and a Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Teacher, Dr. Ellis brings a grounded, systems-level...

The chronic illness of a child does not arrive gently. It comes like an asteroid—sudden and life-altering. In this episode, I am honored to be joined by  Kelly Cervantes , author of  The Luckiest , and her husband  Miguel Cervantes , the acclaimed Broadway star of  Hamilton , as they share their extraordinary journey through unimaginable loss—and enduring love. Kelly and Miguel open their hearts a...

After moving from a conservative Midwestern suburb to New York City to pursue an acting career, Kelly Cervantes never could have imagined what life had in store for her—or how much she would fundamentally change along the way.  Now, in her memoir  The Luckiest , Kelly shares the experiences that shaped who she is today—the pain of unrealized dreams, navigating her husband Miguel's Broadway spotlig...

As we begin 2026, Elaine Miller-Karas, the host of Resiliency Within, airs an encore podcast with Aziza Hasan, Executive Director, and Andrea Hodos, Associate Director of New Ground, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging divides and convening constructive conversations around challenging social issues. New Ground envisions what is possible in a world deeply divided which is as pertinent today as it wa...

On this Christmas Day, Resiliency Within will bring back the episode first aired in 2023 with Rev. Lesley Carroll.   We can remember, "what else is true?" as we end 2025, which has been a year that has brought many challenges to our world community.   Dr. Carroll is the former Prison Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and the current Assistant Commissioner for Investigations for the Independent Commiss...

Carla Cavlcanti and Kim Aasland will share how they help their respective churches live beyond their walls. They both believe in being a compassionate presence woven into the daily life of the neighborhoods they serve. There is the belief that "A truly missional church steps outside its sanctuary and into the streets, homes, and gathering places where people live, work, and struggle." They are cal...

For four decades, Ellen Bassuk has navigated the worlds of psychiatry, advocacy, and motherhood—shaped by her son Daniel Schoonover's lifelong struggle with mental illness, especially schizophrenia. Between Two Worlds  is their deeply personal memoir, chronicling Daniel's journey through a broken health care system, an ill-equipped educational system, and the parenting challenges that came with it...

Dr. Peggy Ward and Sister Peace join Resiliency Within to share the wisdom and poems of Dr. Larry Ward. In this conversation, Dr. Peggy Rowe-Ward reflects on the life and legacy of Dr. Larry Ward and his first poetry collection, Morning Night. She explores how Larry understood poetry—reading it, writing it, and living it—as a powerful form of spiritual practice. As a true great sound and one of th...

Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, will discuss the second edition of her book, Building Resiliency to Trauma, with Dr. Michael Sapp, the CEO of the Trauma Resource Institute. During and after a traumatic experience, survivors experience a cascade of physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, relational, and spiritual responses that can make them feel unbalanced and threatened. The second edition of Buil...

In this episode, Dr. Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey shares her work as the Creative Voice + Community Connections Director for ALTA Arts Collective, a volunteer-led organization of artists, educators, and community leaders dedicated to providing opportunities for healing, expression, and togetherness in the wake of the #EatonFire. 🔊 Listen on… Libsyn: https://bit.ly/VA_ResiliencyWithin Spotify: https:/...