When Bearing Witness®: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Storyteller

Send us Fan Mail Join Maria Bryan and Carly Euler, Marketing Director at MemoryFox, to explore the insights from the hot-off-the-press 2024 Ethical Storytelling Report.  As nonprofits navigate the delicate balance between sharing compelling stories and respecting the dignity of those they serve, this conversation takes a deep dive into the evolving landscape of ethical storytelling practices in th...

Send us Fan Mail When brand scientist Chloé Nwangwu discovered that crucial Yemen voices were excluded from peace talks during its civil war, she realized something profound: brands teach others how to treat you. This revelation led her to develop groundbreaking research on what she calls the "invisibility tax" - the hidden costs that under-recognized groups must pay to gain visibility i...

Send us Fan Mail Gone are the days of guilt-driven appeals and false urgency in nonprofit marketing. In 2025, we are embracing trauma-informed storytelling that empowers, not exploits. In this episode, we unpack why ethical calls to action matter and how they can inspire meaningful engagement without manipulating emotions. We explore the harm caused by donor saviorism, shame-based giving, and misl...

Send us Fan Mail As nonprofit storytellers, navigating the legal landscape of consent, privacy, and story ownership is daunting.  In this episode of When Bearing Witness , we sit down with attorney Allie Levene to answer your most pressing questions about storytelling and the law. What elements should a media consent form include to truly protect both the storyteller and the organization? What sho...

Send us Fan Mail In this reflective solo episode kicking off season two of When Bearing Witness, Maria Bryan shares valuable insights gained from a transformative year of conversations about trauma-informed storytelling.  Join us as we reflect on lessons from the past year and tackle big questions: How do we move beyond surface-level discussions to foster deeper action? What role does empathy play...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of When Bearing Witness, we talk with Kishshana Palmer, a dynamic international speaker, coach, and author, to discuss her new book, Busy Is a Four-Letter Word: A Guide to Achieving More by Doing Less.  Kishshana’s candid insights offer a much-needed pause for nonprofit professionals and storytellers navigating the relentless demands of their work. We discuss the i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Romero, Associate Director of Marketing at The Nature Conservancy, to explore the critical intersection of environmental advocacy and trauma-informed storytelling. We delve into how environmental and conservation challenges profoundly impact communities, revealing the human stories often hidden behind environmental issues. Melissa sheds li...

Send us Fan Mail Crisis journalist Àmáká Òkóyè has witnessed some of the most harrowing conflicts and atrocities in Nigeria’s recent history. And her commitment to elevating the human stories behind the headlines came at a heavy personal cost.  In this powerful episode, Àmáká bravely opens up about her mental health crisis after immersing herself in conflict reporting. Her story shines a much-need...

Send us Fan Mail In an era where social change often feels like one step forward and two back, this impactful conversation with "The Empathy Guy," Joseph Cope, offers a fresh perspective on how we can move the needle on significant social issues. Thanks to Joseph, leaders around the country have begun to discover one of the keys to authentic human connection—the most unheralded of leader...

Send us Fan Mail Meenadchi is many things, including being a somatic healing practitioner, TEDx speaker, and communications expert whose work centers on social change and embodied transformation.  She also helps folks clear ancestral trauma to create intergenerational healing.  Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of generational healing, offering insights that could transform your persp...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany Yu, disability rights advocate and author of the groundbreaking new book The Anti-Ableist Manifesto , as she shares her journey from a childhood car accident to becoming a leading voice in disability inclusion.  For storytellers, content creators, and anyone looking to make their work more inclusive, this conversation is an essential guide...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Shulamit Ber Levtov, "The Entrepreneurs' Therapist," to address a critical issue in the nonprofit world: the mental health of storytellers who bear witness to challenging narratives. In the nonprofit sector, many of us wear multiple hats - we're not just storytellers but also fundraisers, advocates, project managers, and more. T...

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we explore the complex world of human trafficking storytelling with Matthew Fairfax, co-founder of the Justice and Soul Foundation. Content warning: This episode discusses sex trafficking and sexual violence. Please be mindful of your emotional capacity while listening. Matthew's journey from salon owner to advocate is both surprising and inspiring. His organizatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Imagine if story gathering wasn't just about words on a page or voice-to-voice.  What if we could capture narratives through the stroke of a paintbrush, the sculpting of clay, or the graceful movements of dance?  In this fascinating episode, we dive into this very realm with Madeleine St. John, whose vocation spans from nonprofit communications, philanthropy,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Janelle Suzanne, the managing partner and chief marketing officer at Louder Agency. Janelle and I take on the complex topic of youth-centered storytelling, offering valuable insights into the delicate balance between sharing impactful narratives and protecting vulnerable children. Our discussion begins by explo...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, former public defender Sy Hoekstra shares his experiences working in family court, shedding light on the often-overlooked challenges within the child welfare system.  A system where both families and public defenders have no choice but to tell incredibly traumatic stories.  Content Warning: Sy describes the traumatic impact of investigations on families,...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready for a masterclass in trauma-informed space holding?  In this episode of When Bearing Witness, we are joined by Frank Velásquez Jr., founder of 4 the Hood and creator of the Ascending Leaders in Color Fellowship program .  Frank pulls back the curtain on how he creates protected spaces for leaders of color to connect, grow, and authentically express themselves without...

Send us Fan Mail Cliff Mayotte, a seasoned oral historian and co-author of the book Say It Forward: A Guide to Social Justice Storytelling shares invaluable insights from his experiences as a social justice-centered storyteller. Cliff's journey began with a deep love for theater and a transformative encounter with Studs Terkel's oral histories, which ignited his passion for storytelling...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Crystal Whitaker, an inclusive branding and leadership development consultant, shares her insights on creating authentic, values-driven brands that foster a sense of belonging.  Crystal delves into the fine line between intentional inclusion and performative actions, stressing the need for consistent, year-round efforts that go beyond tokenism. She provides practi...

Send us Fan Mail Fundraising is a calling fueled by a passion for important causes. However, the weight of connecting resources to meet overwhelming needs can lead to burnout for even the most dedicated fundraisers. In this candid discussion, veteran fundraiser Micah James opens up about the unique stresses faced by those tasked with championing non-profit missions through securing donations. From...

Send us Fan Mail As a development director at NAMI, Liz Jackson is immersed in the powerful and often painful stories of those impacted by mental illness. In this episode, she shares her journey of learning the critical importance of self-care for storytellers bearing witness to trauma.   Liz openly discusses the warning signs that she was approaching burnout early in her role and how she became m...

Send us Fan Mail In the first episode of our special series on mental health in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we discuss maintaining emotional health while continuing your activism. Many activists burn out quickly due to compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and a lack of emotional self-care. In this episode, Jonathan Walton opens up about his own journey from unhealthy activis...

Send us Fan Mail Carol will guide us through a 20-minute body scan meditation.  The body scan is a practice of systematically bringing gentle attention to each part of the body. It helps us become more present and aware of the physical sensations we often ignore or tune out. With this awareness, we can release areas of tightness or tension.   Before you press play, find a comfortable position. You...

Send us Fan Mail AI has seemed to blow in like a tornado this past year. The rapid development of AI has brought both excitement and concerns around potential biases and inequities.  In this episode, data equity expert Meena discusses why we need to be intentional about centering humans and promoting inclusivity as AI becomes more ubiquitous. Meena emphasizes that data is ultimately about people -...

Send us Fan Mail Giving voice to our stories, especially the painful chapters, can be a daunting yet profoundly healing journey. Many of us hold back, grappling with self-doubt and the fear of revisiting trauma. However, as Marti Statler, CEO of Rebel Queen Books, passionately shares, bravely articulating your narrative through writing can be a transformative act of self-reclamation. To be clear,...