Breaking the Silence: 3 Women, 3 Paths, One Truth

What does healing really look like when you stop performing for the world and actually tell the truth?

That question sat with me throughout these conversations—and it’s why I’m so excited to share this special Love and Trauma: The Real Deal recap episode.

This week, I’m revisiting my favorite moments from interviews with three incredible women who don’t just talk about resilience—they live it. Each of them has walked a different path. But they share one undeniable truth: real healing begins when we break the silence.

✨ Listen to the recap episode here: [LINK TO THIS EPISODE]

Below, I want to introduce you (or re-introduce you!) to these powerful guests—and share my three biggest takeaways from their stories.

🎙️ Sabrina Bier: The Power of Letting People See You

Sabrina is a keynote speaker, marketing executive, and seasoned real estate professional. But beneath the success is a survivor who’s endured a devastating car accident that left her in a coma, 11 surgeries, decades of chronic illness, and the daily realities of living with an autoimmune disease.

What struck me most about our conversation was Sabrina’s willingness to go deep about what trauma did to her body, her sense of self, and her ability to trust in relationships.

She reminded me:

So many people feel exactly like Sabrina: terrified that if people really knew what happened to them, what’s still going on inside, or how the past still affects them, they wouldn’t want to be friends with them—let alone in a romantic relationship. But here’s the truth she reminded me of: you don’t have to open up to everyone. You’re allowed to have boundaries. But the people who truly love you? They can handle the truth. They want to know you. Because real intimacy is built on being seen, mess and all.

✨ Listen to my full conversation with Sabrina: [LINK TO SABRINA’S EPISODE]

🎙️ Elle Petrillo: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Elle is a personal branding strategist who’s helped over 1,000 thought leaders build purpose-driven brands. But behind the polished exterior is a woman who lost her father at 13, survived trauma-fueled relationships, and lived through an emotionally abusive marriage.

Elle’s story is a powerful reminder that success on the outside doesn’t mean you’re okay on the inside.

She taught me:

So many of us are suffering alone in silence, thinking we have to figure it all out ourselves. But Elle’s story is such a powerful reminder that you don’t have to do it alone. By reaching out for help—even to just a few trusted people—you can actually get where you want to be faster. The deep, messy, transformative work often needs witnesses, support, and guidance. Healing speeds up when you let the right people in.

✨ Listen to my full conversation with Elle: [LINK TO ELLE’S EPISODE]

🎙️ Emily Gangell: The Painful Power of Radical Honesty

Emily isn’t a therapist or coach. She’s a stay-at-home mom and writer who’s done the quiet, unglamorous work of unpacking trauma in the corners of marriage and motherhood.

She shared what it was like to wear an “emotional bomb suit” to keep everyone safe from her truth—until she realized her silence was teaching her child to shrink.

Emily’s story reminded me:

By having true honesty with yourself, you can make real change. It’s not easy. It’s painful. But Emily’s story about parenting really brought this home. She realized that staying silent about her pain was teaching her child to shrink, to hide his own struggles. When she finally faced her truth—and shared it—she broke that cycle. Real change starts with being brutally honest about what’s really going on, so you can choose something different for yourself and for the people you love.

✨ Listen to my full conversation with Emily: [LINK TO EMILY’S EPISODE]

💛 Why This Episode Matters

These three conversations aren’t easy listening. They’re honest, raw, and sometimes painful. But they’re also necessary.

Because so many of us are holding it all in.
So many of us are afraid that our truth is too much.
So many of us are trying to heal alone.

If that’s you, I hope you listen and remember this: you don’t have to do it alone. And your story doesn’t make you unlovable. It makes you human.

✨ Listen to the full recap episode here: [LINK TO THIS EPISODE]

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Let’s keep breaking the silence together.