(Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeart or TuneIn)

What happens to us when we experience trauma? What impact does trauma have on our bodies, brains, hearts, relationships and lives? And what does it take to truly heal physical and emotional trauma — especially when we’ve been carrying our wounds for a long time, maybe even generations? 

To help answer these questions and more, I’m joined on the show by Yemi Penn — author, documentarian, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and all-round powerhouse woman. 

Yemi’s work around trauma stems from her own deeply personal experience of childhood abuse. Determined to free herself from the wounds she was carrying, she began searching for ways to empower her own healing journey and overcome the other forms of trauma she recognised in herself — including generational trauma that she inherited. 

In this fascinating, inspiring, and incredibly important conversation, you’ll hear how Yemi turned her pain into power, how she processed and integrated her trauma so she could set herself free, and how her journey towards healing became a catalyst for transformation and growth. You’ll also discover the simple but powerful technique she swears by for releasing stored trauma, how hidden trauma can be impacting your relationship without you even realising, how trauma can hold us back from achieving our full potential, and how you too can set yourself free.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child abuse. Follow your intuition if you know this conversation is not for you right now.

About Yemi Penn

Yemi Penn is a fearless businesswoman and thought leader, who teaches people to discover what they’re truly capable of and rewrite the script of their life. She is a serial entrepreneur with a common thread of transformation across her businesses, whether it be transforming Sydney’s rail network as an engineer, transforming physical health in her F45 gym, or shifting the perspective of our minds as she supports people in creating a life that they not only want, but deserve. More recently Yemi has added documentary producer to her repertoire as she shifts her core life’s purpose to raising the vibration of acknowledging and healing our individual and therefore collective trauma.

An author, documentary producer, and TEDx speaker, Yemi is helping to pull back the veil for many, instigating us all to use our trauma as a catalyst for transformation and growth.

In this episode we chat about:

• Trauma 101: Understanding the different types of trauma and how they affect us physically and emotionally (03:12)
• Why conflict and disagreement can be surprising allies in your healing journey (06:35)
• The unexpected ways that trauma can impact your relationship (09:46)
• The simple but powerful technique you can try at home to release trauma and trapped energy (12:36)
• What happens to our body when we have a traumatic experience? How can we use this knowledge as a catalyst for healing? (21:23)
• How to break the cycle of generational trauma for good — even if it’s something you’ve struggled with your whole life. (This part is CRUCIAL listening for all parents!) (24:38)
• How ‘cleaning’ your trauma can turn your pain into power (29:03)
• The best way to address traumatic experiences with children. (I love these suggestions SO much!) (36:45)
• How to *finally* stop taking everything so personally and set yourself free (44:38)

Episode resources:

• Did I Choose My Trauma? (Documentary)
• The Body Keeps the Score by Besser van der Kolk (Book)
• My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem (Book)
• Do we choose the experience our trauma teaches us? | Yemi Penn (TED Talk)

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be SO grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple podcasts, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

P.S. Please seek advice from a qualified holistic practitioner before starting any new health practice.

P.P.S. If you’re looking for a high-impact marketing opportunity for your business and are interested in becoming a sponsor for The Melissa Ambrosini Show podcast, please email pr@melissaambrosini.com for more information.

Introducing The Melissa Ambrosini Show+

Did you know you can get ad-free listening, a bonus up close and personal pump-you-up weekly motivational episode with me, and a bonus Q&A episode with Nick and me where we answer your burning questions? You can join…

1. Zen+ to get totally ad-free listening.
2. Motivate+ to get ad-free listening and a weekly exclusive motivational episode that includes a deep dive into what’s going on in my personal life, businesses, my favorite new discoveries, health and life hacks and so much more.
3. VIP+ to get ad-free listening, as well as everything in Motivate+, and an intimate monthly Q&A episode where Nick and I answer all your burning questions on ANYTHING. it’s a private space so no holds barred here my friend!

Choosing your membership takes 30 seconds, costs less than a green juice per month, and you can listen on your favorite podcast app!