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 11: Quantum Leap: From Corporate Comfort Zone to Transformational Purpose with Alexandra Ionitta
In this inspiring International Women's Day episode, host Erica Bowen speaks with Alexandra Ionitta, a 27-year-old mindset coach who made the bold decision to quit her dream corporate job - travelling the world for a global company—because despite having everything she thought she wanted, she felt miserable and disconnected from herself.
Alexandra shares the moment she recognised she was "living for the weekend," that quiet whisper of intuition telling her something had to change. Without any backup plan, she handed in her resignation and began travelling solo through Asia, searching for the connection with herself that she'd lost. This journey eventually led her to discover web design, then mindset work, and ultimately to studying with Bob Proctor and other leaders in the field of subconscious reprogramming.
The conversation explores the crucial difference between being "interested" in change versus being "committed" to it—the difference between doing what's convenient and doing whatever it takes. Alexandra explains the distinction between self-confidence (believing you can do what you're already doing) and self-image (seeing yourself as the person who has already achieved what you desire), emphasising that without the right self-image, you'll sabotage even the best strategies.
Alexandra discusses why personal development often gets dismissed as "fluffy" or ineffective—it's not that affirmations and visualisation don't work, but that people do them without genuine belief, which makes them useless. She explains how she experienced quantum leaps in her business (earning in months what previously took a year) by changing her internal programming rather than just working harder on external strategies.
The episode addresses crucial themes for women, including the socialisation to serve others first, the difficulty of asking "what do I really want?" when we're bombarded by expectations, and the revolutionary act of filling your own cup first (which actually gives you more to offer others, not less). Alexandra challenges the language around goals—shifting from "losing weight" to "releasing what doesn't serve you," from punishment to self-love.
She introduces powerful practices including: daily visualisation of your desired future self (even if it feels like pretend at first), looking in the mirror and declaring self-love until it feels true, and using gratitude as a bridge from negative states to positive ones. The core message is that hope—belief in yourself and your power to create change—is the foundation everything else builds upon.
Key Takeaways:
- The difference between being interested in change and being committed to it
- Self-image (who you see yourself becoming) matters more than self-confidence
- Every strategy fails without the right mindset and belief system underneath
- The importance of disconnecting from external influences to discover what YOU truly want
- "Releasing" rather than "losing" creates a healthier relationship with change
- Loving yourself NOW, before achieving your goals, is what makes transformation possible
- Gratitude serves as a bridge from negative emotional states to more positive ones
- Action reveals the next step—you don't need to see the whole staircase before starting
- Three daily practices: let go of the past each morning, visualise your future self, practice gratitude
- Everything happens FOR you, not TO you—there's always a lesson for your growth