Category: Episodes

We talk about trauma and healing amidst the cultural dynamics of Korean and Asian American families. Trauma-informed therapist Toni Kim joins co-hosts Helen Choi and DJ Chuang on this season 4 finale and explore how soju and jugeullae intersect with a culture of shame.

Show Notes

Toni D. Kim tonidkim.com – Holistic & Integrative Psychotherapy

Open Path Collective openpathcollective.org

“Can We Really Inherit Trauma?” Headlines suggest that the epigenetic marks of trauma can be passed from one generation to the next. But the evidence, at least in humans, is circumstantial at best. (New York Times, December 2018)

“Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Korean American Immigrants: Moving Toward a Community Partnership Between Religious and Mental Health Services” by Hochang B. Lee, MD. Psychiatry Investigation. 2008 Mar; 5(1): 14–20.

In this conversation with J.S. Park, you’ll hear the shocking revelation when he first learned that what he grew up with was not normal and actually tramatic, how he went from surviving to thriving, lived to tell about it, write about it, and helping others to experience health and wellness.

And, you’ll love the part where he talks about his high school experience that was like a Napolean Dynamite moment.

J.S. Park works as a hospital chaplain in Florida and author of “The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise.” He blogs at https://jsparkblog.com

Show Notes

J.S. Park’s new book – The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise

J.S. Park blog at jsparkblog.com + on Twitter @jsparkblog + on Instagram @jspark3000 + Like on Facebook facebook.com/pastorjspark

J.S. Park’s special high school moment – photo

One Andrew Yang launched a presidential campaign. Another Andrew Yang launches a newsletter about discovering strength through mental health in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2020.

Listen to how this second Andrew dealt with his identity crisis, growing up in a collectivistic family in an individualistic society, how conflict can be good, and more.

Show Notes

Andrew Yang’s Heem Publication newsletter heem.substack.com

(Twitter) twitter.com/HeemPublication

(Instagram) instagram.com/heempublication

(Facebook) facebook.com/HeemPublication

(Personal) twitter.com/ecurrencyhodler

Helen and DJ have a lively and life-giving conversation with Emelda De Coteau (writer, podcaster, and creative) about COVID-19, grief and loss due to unemployment, anti-Asian racism, and vulnerable populations being heavily hit hard in poor communities in particular seniors homes, black neighborhoods, disabled and homeless and refugee shelters. How we can join together and support and be safe with self-care during this season of crisis. Count up all the practical tips and do the healthy things to be well.

Show Notes

Emelda will be co-leading this online event with another creative, Ebony Westbrook—Peace over Panic Workshop: Gratitude Journaling, Meditation & Sound Healing (May 3, 2020) – part of the ongoing series “Creating Through COVID-19“

• Women Creatives Chat –  (check out the blog for posts on wellness / self care / empowerment)
• Pray with our Feet podcast 
• Insight Timer App (thousands of meditations)
• Favorite meditation teacher – Sarah Blondin (on Insight Timer) insighttimer.com/sarahblondin
• Liberate app (meditation teachers of color whose work is supporting communities of color)

Articles

Early Data Shows African Americans Have Contracted and Died of Coronavirus at an Alarming Rate (ProPublica)

As the coronavirus spreads, so does online racism targeting Asians, new research shows (Washington Post) 

At Least 19 Children at a Chicago Shelter for Immigrant Detainees Have Tested Positive for COVID-19 (ProPublica)

Self-Care Tips For Asian Americans Dealing With Racism Amid Coronavirus (HuffPost)

Crisis counselor David Dicken talks with Tyesa Harvey about the trauma and shame of the underworld of sex trade and prostitution.

Tyesa Harvey, co-founder of the Sex Crime Awareness Treatment Center (S.C.A.T), is passionate about working with women and children who have endured trauma, specifically related to sex crimes. Through the Center, Tyesa focuses on holistic healing as part of the rehabilitation efforts to help survivors of traumatic experiences reintegrate into society.

She was featured in “Shattered Dreams” – a sex trafficking documentary that has won several awards at film festivals. 

WARNING: This episode has explicit content for mature audiences.

Show Notes

Tyesa Harvey’s website tyesaharvey.biz + Facebook facebook.com/tyesa.harvey + Instagram @TyesaHarvey

“Shattered Dreams: Sex Trafficking in America” – documentary film; watch the trailer at https://vimeo.com/269676418

Crisis counselor David Dicken shares some practical tips for how to support your friends, family, and others during times of crisis like this worldwide COVID-19 pandemic by supporting people through making it safe to talk about feelings and emotions, then taking action that brings healthy relief.

Show Notes

Crisis text line: text HELLO to 741741 anytime for help and support for whatever you’re experiencing

Contact David Dicken at makesomeonegreattoday.com

Nôn Wels explains why being a feely human is absolutely essential to being fully human. That means feeling your feelings makes you more human and more healthy. DJ Chuang hosts this Erasing Shame conversation.

Nôn Wels hosts the You, Me, Empathy podcast and is launching the Feely Human Collective with a crowdfunding campaign—you can help make it happen! Nôn is passionately making space and developing ways to help people be more healthy and human.

Show Notes

Fully Human Collective feelyhuman.co – support the crowdfunding campaign at feelyhumans.co

You, Me, Empathy podcast—Sharing Our Mental Health Stories

Nôn Wels’ website nonwels.com

Nôn Wels’ story in written form + in episode #78 of You, Me, Empathy

Our special guest Jamilah George talks with Helen Choi and DJ Chuang about the true realities of racialized trauma. Listen to stories about how both intentional and unintentional racism cause real pain to real people. Soak in her words of strength and healing as she wisely guides the importance of feeling the feelings and being a part of healthy & supporting community.

Recorded on the National Day of Racial Healing 2020.

Jamilah graduated from University of Michigan and Yale University and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Connecticut. Her research interests include obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, the psychological effects of discrimination and racial trauma on people of color.

Jamilah’s passion for social justice and equality issues fuels her work as she advocates for the mental and holistic wellbeing of socially disenfranchised groups, including women, people of color, impoverished domestic and international communities, and the intersections therein.

Show Notes

Connect with Jamilah George via email jamilah.george@uconn.edu

Jamilah’s web page psych.uconn.edu/graduate-students/jamilah-r-george/

Jamilah’s recent publication, “The Psychedelic Renaissance and the Limitations of a White-domint Medical Framework: A Call fo Indigenous and Ethnic Minority Inclusion.” This is great resource for understanding the history and resurgence of psychedelic medicine and the necessity to include indigenous and ethnic minority individuals in the movement.

“Uncovering the Trauma of Racism: New Tools for Clinicians” (Psychology Today)

“Colorblind Ideology Is a Form of Racism” (Psychology Today)

As we end the year 2019, co-hosts Helen Choi and DJ Chuang talk about how the holiday season brings up all kinds of mixed emotions from family memories past and expectations for the present and future. We explore how forgiveness and grace are vital to the journey of healing.

Trigger Warning for this episode names the painful and traumatic things that have happened to people. Nothing graphic, but the mere mention of those categories can be triggering for some. Naming the pain is an important step towards erasing shame.

We are genuinely sorry for the pain and trauma that has happened to you. We believe you have the strength to survive, to heal, and to thrive when you experience the power of forgiveness and grace.

Show Notes

Holiday Depression and Stress (WebMD)

How to practice forgiveness for a healthier and happier holiday – Methods to improve your emotional health and time with family and friends (CBC Life)

Season 4 Episode 1 of Erasing Shame – back story of Helen Choi and DJ Chuang

History of Hanukkah

History of Kwanzaa

California Peer-Run Warm Line – To talk to a Warm Line counselor when you need emotional support. They provide assistance via phone and web chat on a nondiscriminatory basis to anyone in need. People can call or text (855) 845-7415 from 7AM-11PM Monday through Friday, 7AM-3PM Saturdays and 7AM-9PM Sundays.

Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC)

Kids Help Phone –

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line – text HOME to 741741 in the USA, Text 686868 in Canada, Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK, text SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280 in Ireland; more to come in Australia, South Africa, Latin America.