Invisible Scars

This week, Jessalynn is joined by Dr. Tanya Cotler to explore the nuances of intergenerational trauma-its transmission, impact, and pathways to healing. Dr. Cotler, a seasoned clinical psychologist, shares insights on the role of cycle breakers in families, what it means to be one, navigating family members who aren't on the same page, and some of the common misconceptions and misinformation...

This week, Jessalynn is joined by Paige Mathison, a clinical counselor (and part-time comedian!) with a background in psychiatric nursing who now specializes in helping trauma-exposed professionals. Paige discusses what sparked her transition into counseling, from the limitations she faced in nursing to her profound desire to support her peers, to then suffering from her own mental health injury w...

This week, join Jessalynn in a heartfelt conversation with Shannon Jenkins, host of the Starting Over Podcast, to hear Shannon's journey of overcoming a narcissistic relationship and rebuilding her life as a solo parent. In this episode, Shannon opens up about her marriage, parenting, and the challenging custody battle that ensued after parting ways with her partner. She candidly reflects on...

This week, Jessalynn is sitting down with her friend Brooke Wilson to discuss her journey in navigating her son Jack's epilepsy diagnosis and rare neurological condition, polymicrogyria (PMG). Brooke takes us through the complexities of Jack's condition, the impact on her family, marriage, mental health, and the flawed medical system they've had to deal with over the years. Despite...

**TRIGGER WARNING: Detailed discussion of Aaron's severe burn injury**This week, Jessalynn is sitting down with former NHL player Aaron Volpatti to hear his truly inspiring story of resilience following a traumatic campfire accident in 2005. Growing up, Aaron always had a passion for hockey, with dreams of playing on a professional level. However, in 2005, his life changed forever. Suffering...

This week, Jessalynn is sitting down for a solo episode where she reflects on the new year so far and candidly shares how she's been feeling! She shares a personal reflection on how she's been navigating finding the right balance between making choices that are beneficial for her health and well-being, and she acknowledges the moments of self-doubt that stem from the small voices of her...

This week, Jessalynn is sitting down with Amanda Gurman, mental health advocate and host of the Honest as a Mother Podcast. Together, they're diving into all things motherhood, parenting, and the many challenges and pressures that new moms face when it comes to postpartum and parenting. They discuss how trauma can look different for every individual and how children's behaviors can trigg...

Trigger Warning: Child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and human trafficking This week, Jessalynn is sitting down with Alexandra Ford, an anti-human trafficking expert, public speaker, author, and survivor. Alexandra started her anti-trafficking work at 11 years old, and 10 years later, she was trafficked by a boyfriend. It wasn't until another 10 years passed that Alexandra was able to ide...

This week, Jessalynn sits down with former hosts of the Love Fix Podcast, Sherry Gaba and Carla Romo, for a fun, hilarious, and light-hearted conversation on dating, relationships, co-dependency, and love addiction. Covering topics including rebuilding trust after trauma, decoding co-dependency for healthier connections, and the signs of love addiction in relationships, Sherry and Carla bring thei...

Happy New Year, everyone! This week, Jessalynn sits down for a powerful conversation with Antonia Deignan, the brilliant author behind "Underwater Daughter," a memoir following the life of Tuni. From grappling with the complexities of her relationship with her parents to coping with her experience of sexual assault, "Underwater Daughter" unravels the many layers of Tuni's...

Trigger Warning: Discussion of Eating Disorders This week, Jessalynn sits down with Erin Treloar, an accomplished health, wellness, and life coach, meditation teacher, and the inspiring host of the Raw Beauty Talks Podcast. Rooted in intuitive eating, mindfulness, and mind-body wellness, Erin's transformative work has garnered recognition in publications like Elle, the LA Times, and Marie Cla...

REWIND EPISODE! To wrap up 2023, we're re-releasing 2 of our favourite episodes from this season. If you didn't get a chance to listen earlier this year, this is SUCH an amazing episode and Stephanie is such an inspiration! Hope you enjoy! Jessalynn is joined by the inspiring Stephanie Vainer. She is an indigenous creator and the founder of Cottage Living and Style, and today she joins t...

This week, Jessalynn sits down with Bethany Levasseur to share her story of navigating grief following the tragic and sudden loss of her brother in 2017. Bethany shares insight into the family dynamics she had growing up and the close relationship she had with her brother. Together, they discuss how such a loss at a young age translated into the anxieties of being a new parent and the stress of no...

This week, Jessalynn is joined by Gillian Roberts, a Canadian triathlete and teacher who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 28. Gillian is also a writer for her blog, where she shares her personal experience of navigating life with ovarian cancer, her triathlete training, and her thoughts on how to support and be there for someone who is navigating their own journey with cancer. Today...

This week, Jessalynn and Susie are back for their monthly chat, and together they're tackling how to set clear boundaries during the holidays. The holiday season can often be a difficult and triggering time for many, especially individuals who have experienced trauma. Together, they dive into some of the common behaviours and feelings that can arise during the holidays and how to navigate tho...

**Trigger warning: This episode discusses child sexual assault, drugging, rape, and grooming ** PART 2:  This week, Jessalynn and Naomi are back for Part 2 of their 2-Part episode, where they reconnect for the first time since they put their abusers behind bars as kids. In this episode, we will continue to hear Naomi's story from Willow River, what her relationship with the rest of Crystal&ap...

**Trigger warning: This episode discusses child sexual assault, drugging, rape, and grooming ** PART 1:  This week is a deeply personal episode. If you listened to Episodes 1 and 2 of Invisible Scars, you are familiar with Jessalynn's personal story of being a child sexual assault survivor in the Willow River child pornography case in the 90's. One element that was not discussed during t...

This week, Jessalynn is sitting down for her first ever solo episode to dive into the topic of self-compassion and self-worth. She shares her personal journey of navigating self-compassion over the years, along with her relatable struggles of constantly worrying about appearances and seeking validation from others. Throughout the episode, she also gives insight into some of the biggest things she&...

**Trigger warning: suicide & suicide attempt**This week, Jessalynn sits down with the remarkable Kevin Hines, a best-selling author, global public speaker, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. At the age of 19, Kevin attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. He is one of only 36 people (less than 1%) to survive the fall, and his survival story includes the help of a...

**Trigger warning: Discussion of sexual assault, rape** This week, Jessalynn is joined by Dr. Holly Richmond, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author with a profound dedication to helping survivors overcome the shackles of their trauma and rediscover the joys in their sexual experiences. Their discussion delves into vital topics such as regaining control, exploring and maintaining plea...

This week, Jessalynn sits down with her best friend Susie for their monthly episode to dive into the importance of practicing self-compassion and why it can be challenging for many. To start, they first dive into defining what self-compassion really is as well as how it can often be confused with self-esteem. They discuss the common misconceptions of self-compassion and how many people resist prac...

This week Jessalynn is joined by Emmy Marie, a Certified Trauma Informed Coach, whose own experience with trauma and complex PTSD inspired her to become a Trauma Informed Coach. Emmy opens up about her past in an abusive relationship and how her PTSD manifested physically, mentally and emotionally. Through Emmy's education, she not only learned how to help others affected by trauma but also l...

This week, Jessalynn is joined by Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, a clinical psychologist, couples therapist, author, and host of the I'm Not Your Shrink Podcast. Dr. Tracy has 15 years of experience in her practice working with individuals and couples, and today, she sits down with Jessalynn to share her journey into the clinical psychology space along with insight and advice into what couples therapy...

This week, Jessalynn sits down with Jordan Canova, founder of the More Than female empowerment brand and host of the I Am More Than Podcast. At 19, Jordan's public story began when she decided to leave her small town and attend college in Arizona. After experiencing significant weight loss, she found that the validation surrounding her weight was fueling her biggest insecurities. Her modellin...

This week, Jessalynn sits down for a follow-up episode with her best friend Susie Sidsworth to answer your most common questions following the release of episodes 1 and 2, where Jessalynn opened up about her personal story of childhood Sexual Assault. Walking through each of the questions, Jessalynn touches on her current relationship with her family members, including her mom and brother, along w...