[Content Warning]: Child sexual abuse, Holocaust

Today, Jan is again joined by mother/son duo Karmela (‘Karm’) & Joel Waldman, hosts of the Surviving The Survivor podcast. Jan, Karmela, and Joel share stories of blessings, media careers, the search for truth in journalism, and the importance of connection and empathy in a divided world. The conversation also touches on parenting instincts, the significance of trusting one's gut feelings, and the importance of preserving history and tradition for future generations. The conversation emphasizes the need for critical thinking and understanding human nature, ultimately highlighting the shared desires for peace and connection among people.

Where To Find The Waldmans:
SurvivingTheSurvivor.com
Youtube: @SurvivingTheSurvivor
Buy Surviving The Survivor by Joel Z. Waldman

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
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💞 Thrivivors

[Content Warning]: Holocaust

Today, Jan is joined by mother/son duo Karmela “Karm” & Joel Waldman, hosts of the Surviving The Survivor podcast. They delve into the themes of generational trauma, the importance of acknowledgment in healing, and the supportive nature of the survivor community. The conversation highlights the distinction between victimhood and survival, emphasizing resilience and the potential for reinvention after trauma. Karmela shares her experiences as a Holocaust survivor, while Joel reflects on the impact of their shared history on his life and mental health. They discuss the importance of memory, the role of humor in coping with trauma, and the complexities of optimism in the face of harsh realities. The conversation also touches on parenting instincts, the significance of trusting one's gut feelings, and the importance of preserving history and tradition for future generations.

Where To Find The Waldmans:
SurvivingTheSurvivor.com
Youtube: @SurvivingTheSurvivor
Buy Surviving The Survivor by Joel Z. Waldman

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒 The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

[Content Warning]: Child sexual abuse

In this series, Jan selects a word to focus on for each month, encouraging growth in a specific area, challenging herself and her audience. This year Jan will be focusing on the difficult words we tend to tie to ourselves, offering insight and tools to manage or overcome these obstacles. This month, the focus is on Blame. Jan reflects on the significance of fathers and the complexities of parenting. She discusses the impact of parenting styles on children's emotional health, particularly the consequences of blame and corporal punishment. Jan emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's responses and the dangers of blaming others as a coping mechanism. She encourages listeners to let go of blame to achieve personal freedom and emotional well-being, highlighting the transformative power of forgiveness and open-heartedness.

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒 The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

[Content Warning]: Domestic violence, child abuse, abandonment, narcissism

Today, Jan is again joined by Hope Rose, a previously sponsored ultra endurance athlete, a self-published author of Unstoppable Vision, a health+wellness book, and featured in many publications such as NBC Nightly News and the Today Show. The emotional conclusion follows Hope's ongoing fight for justice and healing after the unthinkable loss of her son. She describes the bittersweet moment she finally reunited with her child after three years of no contact, and how she ministers to other incarcerated women as a "light in dark places." Hope dismantles the illusion of closure, sharing how some days the grief still feels like a tsunami—yet she chooses daily to "serve love, not trauma." Her story transforms into a mission: exposing how family courts profit from broken families while offering real solutions through her Glow Up Sisterhood, a healing community for mothers navigating similar battles. The episode culminates with her metaphor of the Hope Rose—a flower blooming through cracks in concrete—symbolizing how our deepest wounds can become our purpose. Together, these two parts form a masterclass in resilience, showing how to alchemize injustice into unshakable strength.

Join Glow Up Sisterhood for FREE using Promo Code: F8EB678

Where to find Hope Rose:
HopeRoseSpeaks.com
Insta: @hoperosespeaks

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒 The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

[Content Warning]: Domestic violence, child abuse, abandonment, narcissism

Today, Jan is joined by Hope Rose, a previously sponsored ultra endurance athlete, the self-published author of Unstoppable Vision, a health+wellness book, and featured in many publications such as NBC Nightly News and Today Show. In this gripping first installment, Hope Rose takes us through her incredible journey from elite ultra-runner to survivor of unimaginable trauma. She shares how her athletic discipline prepared her for life's hardest battles, including escaping a dangerously abusive relationship where she discovered her partner was still married and manipulating her life. The nightmare escalated when the family court system, which she describes as "legalized child trafficking," allowed her ex to obtain full custody of their son through an ex parte order—with no evidence or due process. Hope recounts her arrest for "custodial interference" after refusing to surrender her child, spending 130 days in jail while her son was placed in foster care. Amidst this darkness, she reveals the spiritual tools that sustained her, including a couple powerful daily forgiveness practices and her unwavering commitment to being "the steward of her story."

Join Glow Up Sisterhood for FREE using Promo Code: F8EB678

Where to find Hope Rose:
HopeRoseSpeaks.com
Insta: @hoperosespeaks

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒 The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

[Content Warning]: Child sexual abuse, mild language

Today, Jan is joined by Alex Abraham, author of ‘Trauma and Ecstasy: How Psychedelics Made My Life Worth Living’, who shares their deeply personal journey of overcoming trauma through unconventional means. The conversation explores how repressed experiences can surface unexpectedly, shaping both mental and physical health in profound ways. They discuss alternative approaches to healing, the challenges of navigating systems that often overlook root causes, and the complexities of seeking accountability. The dialogue touches on broader themes of resilience, the power of storytelling, and the societal shifts needed to better address trauma. With reflections on forgiveness, self-discovery, and hope, this episode offers a raw look at one individual’s path to reclaiming their life, and why such stories matter for collective healing.

Where To Find Alex:
TraumaAndEcstasy.com
Trauma and Ecstasy: How Psychedelics Made My Life Worth Living by Alex Abraham
Insta: @alex.l.abraham

Mentioned Resources:
Trust Surrender Receive by Anne Other
A Dose of Hope by Dr. Dan Engle
The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒 The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

[Content Warning]: Self-harm

In this series, Jan selects a word to focus on for each month, encouraging growth in a specific area, challenging herself and her audience. This year Jan will be focusing on the difficult words we tend to tie to ourselves, offering insight and tools to manage or overcome these obstacles. This month, the focus is on denial. In today’s episode Jan reflects on the month of May, highlighting various celebrations, then focusing on the theme of denial, particularly in the context of motherhood and family dynamics. She shares personal stories and insights about how denial can manifest in relationships, especially regarding abuse and trauma. Jan closes by emphasizing the importance of acknowledging painful truths and seeking support to navigate through denial, ultimately fostering healing and understanding.

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒 The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

Today Jan is joined by David Polidi, a dedicated trauma therapist and social worker who blends compassion with clinical expertise. Through his practice Empowered Through Compassion, David guides adults and couples using Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR therapy—two powerful approaches for trauma recovery. A passionate advocate for self-healing, he’s also co-authoring *IFS-Informed EMDR* (2025/26), a collaborative book featuring insights from 20+ therapy experts.

Jan and Dave's conversation explores how trauma reshapes identity, beginning with David’s own family story about names and generational legacy. They discuss his transition from school counseling (where systemic barriers limited trauma work) to private practice, where he now helps clients reprocess pain through EMDR and IFS. David breaks down these modalities: how EMDR rewires traumatic memories, and how IFS teaches us to listen to our inner ‘parts’ without judgment.

They also tackle harder truths—how schools fail traumatized kids, why the justice system retraumatizes survivors, and how healing requires both individual work and community support. Throughout, David emphasizes hope: that self-energy (marked by qualities like courage and compassion) can help survivors reclaim wholeness.

Where To Find David:
EmpoweredThroughCompassion.com
Empowered Through Compassion Podcast
Insta: @Empowered.through.compassion

Mentioned Resources:
No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒 The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors