Resiliency Within

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:/...

Since January 8th, the  Trauma Resource Institute (TRI)  has been actively supporting survivors of the  Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire . Our team has offered  Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® workshops  across Los Angeles County for individuals and families impacted by these devastating events, called Disaster Relief Mobilization, Community Resiliency Model (DRM-CRM) Through  CRM Workshops ,  Circ...

Dr. Michael Sapp and our host, Elaine Miller Karas will discuss the work of the Trauma Resource Institute as they work with an international team bringing the Community Resiliency Model to our world community. They will discuss the mission and purpose of the Trauma Resource Institute and how, through simple biological skills, they have increased individual and community well-being. How do we nurtu...

Dr. Ilene Naomi Rusk shares her trauma-informed and science-based approach to brain health and optimal longevity in this encore episode. During these unprecedented stressful times, her approach is essential in today's world. She's developed a user-friendly way of using a functional medicine approach to help prevent Alzheimer's and improve cognitive health. Dr. Rusk focuses mainly on helping her pa...

Across the globe, there exists a pressing demand for effective treatment of complex trauma. While a growing number of trauma-informed mental health professionals dedicate themselves to supporting individuals, relationships, communities, and systems, the daily confrontation with trauma can take a toll, leading to exhaustion and burnout. Who stands ready to provide support to these therapists and ai...

In this encore presentation, Michael Karlin, one of the creators of Compassionate Integrity Training(CIT), illuminated our listeners about this innovative program that was adopted by  UNESCO MGIEP.   The UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) is UNESCO's category 1 Research Institute that focuses on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) towards educ...

Resiliency Within welcomes back John Kania and Laura Calderon de la Barca. Join this conversation with the Collective Change Lab team who are at the leading edge of shifting how organizations, movements, and collective system change efforts are evolving towards more healing-centered ways of working. John Kania is the Founder and Executive Director of Collective Change Lab. Laura Calderon de la Bar...

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 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...

This week on Resiliency Within, we present this encore episode in memory of Dr. Larry Ward. Drs. Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe-Ward will address how we are all as a world community are impacted by Racism and how we can heal from the traumas that arise from Racism. Dr. Ward's book, America's Racial Karma published in September 2020 addresses how America can begin to heal. They have been teaching and pr...

Dr. Joy Miller returns to Resiliency Within to share an extraordinary global offering—Resiliency 2025: The Power of Connections. Taking place on September 10, 2025, from 12–4:30 pm EST, this free international event brings together an unprecedented 51 renowned presenters from around the world—our largest gathering yet. Join our host, Elaine Miller-Karas, for a dynamic conversation with Dr. Joy Mil...

Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, the host of Resiliency Within, will interview Inez Tiger, LMFT, who has over 30 years of experience as an educator, school leader, and mental health professional. They will discuss how educational systems worldwide are increasingly confronted with the impact of natural and human-made crises, including wildfires, immigration enforcement, and community violence, including...

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 Justice System—and how t...

Erin Kennedy and Scott Dinits are deeply embedded in the communities affected by the wildfires in Northern California.  With the recent firestorms on Maui and Southern California, learning how to support children and adults is essential.  They were direct responders after the 2018 Campfire that devastated Butte County Communities and the town of Paradise, California. As Boys and Girls Club employe...

Elaine Miller-Karas, the host of Resiliency Within, welcomes back Dr. Michael Sapp, the Executive Director of the Trauma Resource Institute. Dr. Sapp and Elaine will acknowledge the profound challenges many people in our worldwide community have been navigating during 2025. The weight of witnessing so much uncertainty, fear, and suffering can feel overwhelming, especially for those who have dedica...

Helping Survivors of Natural Disasters: Lessons From Hurricane Florence   In the wake of the recent flood in Texas, our hearts are heavy with sorrow for all who have suffered unimaginable losses. To those grieving the death of children, family members, friends, and neighbors, we extend our deepest condolences. As the full magnitude of this tragedy continues to unfold, we are reminded of the profou...

As the current administration takes away funding for school-based mental health interventions, now is the time to amplify the good works done by school districts around the country, including Cleveland County Schools in North Carolina.   In this encore episode, Ryan Etheridge will describe how his school district prepared the staff and teachers for helping children during the transition from home...