HopeMakers: Disrupting the legacy of trauma.
Trauma doesn't just harm those who experience it directly—it ripples outward, shaping behaviours, fuelling violence, and creating new victims. But what if we could interrupt that cycle?
In season one of Hopemakers, we celebrated the extraordinary resilience of individuals who transformed their trauma and adversity into purpose—powerful stories of survival, healing, and hope that proved change is possible.
Now, in season two (coming in 2026) we're expanding our mission. Hosted by Dr Erica Bowen, a registered practitioner forensic psychologist, chartered coaching psychologist, somatic trauma-informed coach and trauma-informed practice consultant, Hopemakers now bridges the personal with the systemic, bringing together three vital perspectives: the lived experiences of survivors who've broken cycles of harm, the cutting-edge research of academics working to reduce violent crime perpetration, and the practical insights of those pioneering trauma-informed approaches in communities and organisations.
Through a somatic lens—understanding how trauma lives in our bodies and shapes our actions—we examine both sides of trauma's devastating cycle: how it wounds us, and how unhealed trauma can lead to harm. Each conversation explores the profound connections between individual healing and violence prevention, offering evidence-based insights alongside deeply human stories.
This isn't just another podcast about trauma recovery. It's about understanding that healing personal wounds and preventing collective harm are two sides of the same coin. By disrupting trauma's legacy at every level—individual, systemic, and intergenerational—we create safer, more compassionate communities for everyone.
Whether you're here for the transformative survivor stories that launched season one, or you're ready to explore the research and practice that can prevent violence before it happens, Hopemakers offers thought leadership, evidence, and above all, hope that change is possible.
Because when we stop trauma in its tracks, we don't just heal individuals—we transform entire legacies.
Subscribe to HopeMakers wherever you listen to podcasts, and discover your own path to hope.
HopeMakers: Disrupting the legacy of trauma.
Episode 4: Finding Hope in Every Challenge: Tools for Resilience with Tony Burgess and Julie French
In this inspiring episode of the Hope-Makers podcast, Erica is joined by personal development experts Tony Burgess and Julie French, a dynamic couple who both live and work together as therapists, coaches, and trainers.
Tony and Julie share their journey in the personal development field, where they've been partners since 2005, working across various domains including corporate training, one-on-one therapeutic work, and coaching. They discuss their extensive experience with NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Havening techniques for trauma clearing, psychometric profiling, and even facilitating transformative experiences like fire walks and glass walking.
The conversation delves into personal stories of hope, with Tony recounting how his scout leader "Twiggy" instilled a powerful sense of self-efficacy and a "can do" attitude that has served as a reference point throughout his life. Julie shares her profound journey with an autoimmune condition called polymyalgia rheumatica, which took her from running marathons to temporarily needing a wheelchair. She explains how she maintained hope through this challenging time by focusing on what she could control and mentally rehearsing not just healing but coping effectively no matter the outcome.
Tony and Julie introduce their concept of "Pink Bucket Thinking" (freely available as a PDF on their website), which provides a framework for noticing unhelpful thought patterns and replacing them with more constructive ones. They share practical tools for cultivating hope, including:
- Being mindful of what media you consume, especially during challenging times like a pandemic
- Nurturing your self-concept by acknowledging positive qualities through exercises like "At my very, very best I am..."
- Harnessing the power of "what if" questions positively rather than catastrophizing
This episode offers listeners both inspiring personal stories and practical techniques to build resilience and maintain hope through life's inevitable challenges.