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 5: Hope in Practice: Tools for Cultivating Resilience with Tony Burgess and Julie French
In this inspiring fifth episode of the Hope-Makers podcast, host Erica Bowen continues her conversation with personal development experts Tony Burgess and Julie French, focusing on practical techniques for cultivating hope in daily life.
Erica begins with reflections on finding moments of hope during the pandemic – her parents receiving COVID vaccinations and the simple joy of watching neighborhood children playing in the snow, reminding listeners that even in difficult times, there are glimpses of light.
The conversation with Tony and Julie explores how they work with hope in their therapeutic practice, especially with clients who arrive feeling helpless. They explain how Havening techniques can clear psychological space by emptying the "trauma bucket," creating room for hope to flourish. They also introduce their concept of "Pink Bucket Thinking," a metaphor for distinguishing between helpful and unhelpful thought patterns.
The discussion reveals several powerful concepts: the importance of examining the meanings we give to experiences, focusing our attention on where we want to go rather than obstacles (illustrated through Tony's motorcycle lesson), recognizing that we all stand on a foundation of past achievements, and learning to see the "diamond" of potential within ourselves and others.
The episode concludes with three practical tools listeners can implement immediately:
- Being mindful of media consumption that may increase anxiety, choosing instead to engage with content that nurtures hope
- Strengthening self-concept through exercises like completing "At my very, very best I am..." statements
- Transforming "what if" questions from tools of catastrophizing into powerful invitations for possibility thinking
This episode offers both inspiring perspectives and actionable techniques to help listeners maintain hope and resilience, especially during challenging times.