Michael A. Singer is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Untethered Soul and New York Times bestsellers The Surrender Experiment and Living Untethered, which have been published worldwide.

Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., is the President of the Trauma Research Foundation, Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University Medical School and author of NYTimes Bestseller “The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. After a twenty-year career in family practice, Dr. Gabor Maté began working in Vancouver’s Eastside area with patients who were challenged by addiction and mental illness. Dr. Maté is the best-selling author of four books published in over twenty-five languages, including In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress, Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder and, along with Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers.Dr. Maté is an internationally renowned speaker, highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development and the relationship between stress and illness. He is currently writing his next book entitled The Myth of Normal: Illness and Health in an Insane Culture, due out in late 2021.Dr. Maté developed a new therapeutic approach called Compassionate Inquiry which is now being studied by hundreds of therapists, physicians and counselors in their practices.2:32 – The system is working the way it was designed to. When They See Us – TV series discussed.3:50 – Quote from Gabor Maté’s book and Fritzi’s 8 ACEs.4:54 – Promiscuity, workaholics – the need to be lovable and valuable. Addiction patterns serve a purpose.6:30 – Society belittles people for their trauma coping behaviors.7:27 – Manifestations of trauma (violence, obesity examples) – society’s attitude and self judgement.8:17 – What if instead, everyone from schools to courts took trauma into account?8:50 – People in leadership roles are in fight or flight when making decisions about our lives.9:08 – Leaders (like Presidents) and their traumatized behaviors.10:42 – Lawmakers have no problem supporting wars, causes of poverty.11:10 – Traumatized people in positions of power.12:15 – Comparing President Carter with Presidents JFK and Clinton.14:52 – The system is running as it was designed to.15:29 – Traumatized people who volunteer for the military – PTSD and addiction.17:30 – Former Veteran in prison.18:02 – Society creates trauma in the first place then turns traumatized into enemies.18:40 – Protecting society from violent criminals doesn’t mean we need to put them in prison in its current format.19:50 – False equivalence between current prison system and protecting society.20:11 – How the system has failed.20:52 – We are only tough on lower class crime.21:44 – Accountability and the hypocrisy of the prison system.22:10 – Prisoners charged money to call families or buy enough food.24:24 – Correctional Officers are also highly traumatized.25:30 – Many professions have tremendous stress, but no one helps the employees.26:23 – Systemic ignorance of trauma and stress.27:16 – Self-care while under stress – Gabor describes his ordeal as an expert witness for the courts system. Courts don’t care about the truth, only who wins.32:19 – How can the average person deal with assaults and hostility within the courtroom?33:37 – Court appointment physicians thought the accused had a happy childhood. Gabor Mate’ discovered he in fact did not.35:55 – Addicts are not making a conscious choice – there is a good reason behind the behavior.37:11 – Addiction behaviors make people feel like a human being, alive and vital.38:55 – Protective shutting down of emotion by the brain during childhood trauma.39:20 – Medical professionals including a famous Psychiatrist who don’t understand trauma (ACEs).41:00 – Things are starting to slowly change for the better.41:36 – Trauma education is needed so that we can stop hurting our children.42:35 – Prevention of trauma should begin with prenatal care.

Over the last thirty years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences holding a variety of academic positions. His work on the impact of abuse, neglect and trauma on the developing brain has impacted clinical practice, programs and policy across the world.

Dr. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science degree and is a Doctor of Chiropractic. His postgraduate training includes the fields of neuroscience and neuroplasticity, quantitive electroencephalogram EEG measurements, epigenetics, mind-body medicine and brain heart coherence as a researcher, lecturer, author and corporate consultant. His interests lie in demystifying the mystical so that people have all the tools within their reach to make measurable changes in their lives.

Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. is Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and Professor Emeritus at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland.

Dr. Levine is the founder of the Somatic Experience Trauma Institute. He's worked in the field of stress and trauma for over 40 years. He is the developer of the Somatic Experiencing Method.

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-VAUnGV1Vs&t=4s Dr. Vincent J Felitti, MD from Kaiser Permanente is the co-principal investigator, along with Robert F. Anda MD from the CDC, of the Adverse Childhood Experiences research study. The ACE study changed the way we understand the impact and predisposing influence childhood trauma has on adult health issues. It helped bring to the forefront the realization that we aren’t bad people but, rather, bad things have happened to us which have subsequently impacted our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Dr. Felitti graduated from John Hopkins Medical School, starting his medical career as an infectious disease physician in 1968. Dr. Felitti founded the Department of Preventive Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Diego and held the position of Chief of Preventive Medicine in 2001. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at University of California and a Fellow at the American College of Physicians. 2:05 – Origins of the ACE survey 3:23 – Obesity program uncovers hidden childhood trauma and sexual abuse 4:35 – Major study of 26,000 adults CDC and Kaiser Permanente 5:00 – 10 most common ACES selected that kept coming up with obese patients in weight loss program 5:50 – Initial sample was biased (74% white, middle class) 6:09 – 5% of people in initial study had family member go to prison 7:09 – Of 1000-person sample of those enrolled in obesity program, 55% experienced childhood sexual abuse 8:20 – Female prison population, nearly 100% experienced past sexual abuse 8:41 – ACE survey includes “often or very often” meaning repetitive emotional abuse 9:25 – Parents telling children to keep quiet about abuse, or not believing them, equates to parental neglect (adds another ACE) 10:15 – Unpredictable abuse leads to hypervigilance 11:04 – Domestic violence 12:38 – 440,000 patients over several years were surveyed by integrating ACE questions into medical history questionnaires 13:30 – Mathematician analyzed whether or not the ACE study had any effect on subsequent healthcare of patients 14:00 -- ACE survey results in amazing reductions in medical visits within following 12 months 14:25 – Vermont legislature invited Dr. Felitti to present, including ACE information in their state-run programs. Now 22 more states have passed similar legislation. 16:26 – Example of high cholesterol – is it genetics? ACEs? 17:24 – ACEs affect health in three categories including coping (crystal meth is street version of meth antidepressant from 1940s) 19:19 – One of Dr. Felitti’s more memorable patients – obese, heavy smoker, history of childhood molestation 22:46 – Neurochemical depression – life experiences cause chemical changes 23:37 – Prevalence of anxiety in society and 64% of Americans with at least 1 ACE 25:50 – Should we do ACE with the census? 26:55 – Patients appreciated medical staff acknowledging their “dark secrets” and still making them feel accepted 28:39 – Cities have published ACE survey in their newspapers 29:28 – School play idea – address abuse via fictional character development 31:45 – Awareness is key, rage is not who we are 32:37 – ACE awareness in prisons 32:55 – Why doesn’t the media address the childhoods of murderers? Wesley Purkey had an ACE score of 10. We executed him. 35:23 – 2000 ACE surveys have gone out to prisons 36:27 – 4 or more ACEs, seven times more likely to go to prison 36:54 – 3 pathways ACEs lead to disease: Coping mechanisms, toxic stress (brain chemistry) and epigenetics (influences on gene function) 41:58 – autoimmune issues associated with ACEs 42:24 – toxic stress and brain releases pro-inflammatory chemicals 44:45 – Need to improve parenting across the nation 45:57 – COVID and...

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://youtu.be/FbITRNVNT3s Another road map to transformation with the unstoppable visionary Richard Mireles. This conversation will also be included in our Trauma Talks series and will be delivered to prison tablets across the nation! Richard Mireles is a dynamic public speaker and expert communicator with advanced leadership and communication certifications with the world-recognized Toastmasters International. He is Certified Career Coach having graduated under the tutelage of Master Coaches Christina Lee and Dr. Yvette Hall of Paradigm 360 LLC. An inspiring leader and powerful orator who delivered over 65 transformational coaching seminars and workshops. Richard possesses the uncanny ability to capture a room’s attention while conveying impactful messages to any audience. Having spent over 20 years inside the CDCR, Richard made abundant contributions as a co-founder of the Inside Solutions think tank and lead intern for CROP Organization’s programs offered within correctional institutions. Richard graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management from California Coast University. He has an advanced certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) (CADC II) counselor who received a certificate of recognition from the California State Senate for his contributions to the recovery community. He is a graduate of Initiate Justice's "Institute of Impacted Leaders" and has spoken as a criminal justice reform advocate at the California State Capitol on 5 separate occasions and has conducted 90 legislative visits. Richard is also the only known incarcerated person to earn the status of Associate Trainer from John Maxwell’s EQUIP Leadership. Richard was found suitable for parole at his initial Board of Parole Hearing and was released in March of 2019. Today he is the Director of Outreach and Engagement at CROP Organization and Host of The Prison Post Podcast. He trains transformational/personal empowerment seminars in carceral settings, community colleges, and leaders of nonprofit organizations. Note to listeners, our Youtube edition of this discussion has photos in some of the interview. Donate to our non-profit Compassion Prison Project

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://youtu.be/2AmdypsJr94 Our mission at Compassion Prison Project is to create trauma-informed prisons and communities. Our guest today is Jarvis Jay Masters, our first interview with someone on Death Row. Jarvis Jay Masters was born in Long Beach, California, in 1962. He is a widely published African American Buddhist writer and the author of That Bird Has My Wings: The Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row which is the latest pick for Oprah’s Book Club. His poem “Recipe for Prison Pruno” won the PEN Award in 1992. He has kept an active correspondence with teachers and students across the country for two decades, and his work continues to be studied in classrooms in both grade schools and colleges. Since taking formal refuge vows with H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche in 1991, Jarvis has also been guided by Ven. Pema Chödrön, with whom he shares an enduring friendship. In 2020, he became the subject of a podcast series Dear Governor as well as a new biography, The Buddhist on Death Row: How One Man Found Light in the Darkest Place, by David Sheff. Originally sent to San Quentin State Prison in 1981 for armed robbery, Jarvis was convicted of conspiracy to murder a prison guard in 1985 and sentenced to death in 1990. He was placed in solitary confinement and endured there for twenty-one years, from 1985 to 2007. Jarvis exhausted his state appeals in 2019, and his case is currently in the federal courts. Donate to our non-profit Compassion Prison Project

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://youtu.be/mycAo0nC-to Our mission at Compassion Prison Project is to create trauma-informed prisons and communities. Our guest today is Jarvis Jay Masters, our first interview with someone on Death Row.Jarvis Jay Masters was born in Long Beach, California, in 1962. He is a widely published African American Buddhist writer and the author of That Bird Has My Wings: The Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row which is the latest pick for Oprah’s Book Club. His poem “Recipe for Prison Pruno” won the PEN Award in 1992. He has kept an active correspondence with teachers and students across the country for two decades, and his work continues to be studied in classrooms in both grade schools and colleges. Since taking formal refuge vows with H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche in 1991, Jarvis has also been guided by Ven. Pema Chödrön, with whom he shares an enduring friendship. In 2020, he became the subject of a podcast series Dear Governor as well as a new biography, The Buddhist on Death Row: How One Man Found Light in the Darkest Place, by David Sheff. Originally sent to San Quentin State Prison in 1981 for armed robbery, Jarvis was convicted of conspiracy to murder a prison guard in 1985 and sentenced to death in 1990. He was placed in solitary confinement and endured there for twenty-one years, from 1985 to 2007. Jarvis exhausted his state appeals in 2019, and his case is currently in the federal courts. Donate to our non-profit Compassion Prison Project

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://youtu.be/59fKdmiB4MU Originally filmed to be included in our Trauma Talks program, this conversation includes a discussion about resilience and solitary confinement. It is our goal that we break the cycle of violence that exists in our prisons, our communities and our families. Our Returning Citizen Roundtable Part 2 features Jason Bryant, Eldra Jackson III and Robert Mosqueda. Jason Bryant is the Program Director for CROP (Creating Restorative Opportunities and Programs), holds a BA from Adams State University with an MA in Philosophy from California State University and an MS in Psychology from California Coast University. He has 20 years of lived experience within the CDCR. Jason dedicated his term of incarceration to higher education and serving other people through thoughtful conversations and coaching about new possibilities for people’s lives. In 2020, Jason’s sentence was commuted by Governor Newsom who ordered his immediate release from prison due to his remarkable contributions in transformative and rehabilitative work while incarcerated. Eldra Jackson III is the Co-Executive Director of Inside Circle. A writer and sought after public speaker on the topics of at-risk youth advocacy, effective criminal justice rehabilitation and turning around ‘toxic’ masculinity, Eldra brings clarity of purpose, mission focus, and inspiration to his role at Inside Circle. He was living at New Folsom Prison when he found Inside Circle and began the inner personal journey that eventually led to his release in 2014 and his current leadership role. A living example of successful rehabilitation and re-entry, Eldra has dedicated his free time on the outside to serving at-risk youth, acting as a facilitator, trainer, and mentor for organizations like Youth Empowerment and Goals Association, Shoulder to Shoulder, and the Alternatives to Violence Project. Robert Mosqueda is the Program Manager with the Women Center Youth and Family Services located in Stockton, CA. He is passionate about criminal justice; having grown up in the Department of Corrections with a father who was an Associate Warden and was incarcerated in California Department of Corrections. He speaks from personal experience how those in correction play a vital role in the rehabilitation process. Donate to our non-profit Compassion Prison Project

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://youtu.be/BI27-qxQIUI Originally filmed to be included in our Trauma Talks program, this conversation dives into the ACE Quiz as well as a discussion about the prevalence of childhood trauma in the trauma to prison pipeline. This conversation is included in Episode 2 of our series which is being implemented in several prisons and communities in the United States. It is our goal that we break the cycle of violence that exists in our prisons, our communities and our families. Our first Returning Citizen Roundtable discussion about childhood trauma featuring Shaka Senghor, Jason Bryant, Eldra Jackson III and Robert Mosqueda. Shaka Senghor entered prison in 1991 for committing second-degree murder. Today, he’s a best-selling author, lecturer at universities, and leading voice on criminal justice reform. During his 19 years incarcerated—including seven in solitary confinement—Shaka began a journey of self reflection, inspired by reading and writing as a means of understanding his past, his present, and his future potential. By embracing forgiveness, hope, and everything that’s possible when you refuse to be defined by your past, he’s become a leading voice on the potential inherent in us all when given support and a second chance. In the decade since his release, he's written books, garnered awards and fellowships, lectured at universities, started and worked with nonprofits seeking to lift people up, visited the White House, been interviewed by Trevor Noah and Oprah Winfrey, given award-winning TED talks, featured in a song with Nas, and tirelessly worked to help create the personal and societal change we need for a more inspired, just, fulfilling future. Jason Bryant is the Program Director for CROP (Creating Restorative Opportunities and Programs), holds a BA from Adams State University with an MA in Philosophy from California State University and an MS in Psychology from California Coast University. He has 20 years of lived experience within the CDCR. Jason dedicated his term of incarceration to higher education and serving other people through thoughtful conversations and coaching about new possibilities for people’s lives. In 2020, Jason’s sentence was commuted by Governor Newsom who ordered his immediate release from prison due to his remarkable contributions in transformative and rehabilitative work while incarcerated. Eldra Jackson III is the Co-Executive Director of Inside Circle. A writer and sought after public speaker on the topics of at-risk youth advocacy, effective criminal justice rehabilitation and turning around ‘toxic’ masculinity, Eldra brings clarity of purpose, mission focus, and inspiration to his role at Inside Circle. He was living at New Folsom Prison when he found Inside Circle and began the inner personal journey that eventually led to his release in 2014 and his current leadership role. A living example of successful rehabilitation and re-entry, Eldra has dedicated his free time on the outside to serving at-risk youth, acting as a facilitator, trainer, and mentor for organizations like Youth Empowerment and Goals Association, Shoulder to Shoulder, and the Alternatives to Violence Project. Robert Mosqueda is the Program Manager with the Women Center Youth and Family Services located in Stockton, CA. He is passionate about criminal justice; having grown up in the Department of Corrections with a father who was an Associate Warden and was incarcerated in California Department of Corrections. He speaks from personal experience how those in corrections play a vital role in the rehabilitation process. Donate to our non-profit Compassion Prison Project

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://youtu.be/gLG-Lb_PoxI We recently interviewed Chris Wilson, author of "The Master Plan." Chris is a visual artist, author, film producer and social justice advocate, and was serving a life sentence when he started writing "The Master Plan." In his memoir, Chris writes about his journey from being incarcerated to becoming the successful entrepreneur he is today.Chris Wilson is a living example of how discipline, self-determination and knowing your self worth can change everything: including getting yourself out of prison.Chris splits his time between Baltimore, Maryland, and New York City. Through his work, he investigates societal injustices, human relationships, and public policies. His book, "The Master Plan," continues to inspire people from all walks of life.His artwork is collected and displayed internationally and his production company, Cuttlefish, has produced several successful films, including The Box, which was recently featured in the Tribeca Film Festival. He is also the founder of the Chris Wilson Foundation, which supports social entrepreneurs and prison education, including re-entry and financial literacy for returning citizens, as well as art-related programs.Feature image from chriswilson.biz Learn more about Chris and his work Buy Chris's book, "the master plan" Donate to our non-profit Compassion Prison Project

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://youtu.be/e2rdXV2iY_w April is Child Abuse Awareness month and I can't think of a better guest than Dr. Gabor Maté to discuss what happens to a child when he faces abuse and neglect while growing up. This was one of my all-time favorite conversations. We discuss Authenticity vs. Attachment, why a young, traumatized person is attracted to gangs, what happens to a young brain when it's traumatized and Dr. Maté answered questions sent in by men from prison. About Dr. Gabor Maté After 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, Dr. Gabor Maté worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of four books published in over thirty languages, Gabor is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. His books include In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction; When the Body Says No; The Cost of Hidden Stress; Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder; and (with Dr. Gordon Neufeld) Hold on to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. His next book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture is due out on September 13, 2022. Gabor is also co-developer of a therapeutic approach, Compassionate Inquiry, now studied by hundreds of therapists, physicians, counselors, and others internationally. Learn more about Dr. Gabor Maté, his books and his work here. Feature image from drgabormate.com Donate to our non-profit compassion Prison Project

Dr. Jay Faber is a clinical and forensic psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, and adult psychiatrist at Amen Clinics. He has more than two decades of experience in Child Psychiatry, Adolescent Psychiatry, and Adult Psychiatry and Pharmacological Management, treating patients in clinical private practices in Colorado, California and Georgia.

Dr. Kim Gorgens further explains what Traumatic Brain Injury is, how it effects our behavior and explains what Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor is!

Mark Moskowitz had a 28-year career in finance including a time owning his own hedge fund. During a spiral in his life, Mark found himself pleading guilty to wire fraud for taking $700,000 of the funds assets. He was sentenced to 33 months and went to Otisville Federal Prison. It was there that he learned about his trauma as a child that led to a life of low self-esteem and poor decision making.

This conversation, with the director and two principle participants in the making of the award-winning film “The Prison Within”, touches upon taking responsibility for our own violence, our accountability as a society and how we get down to doing the work necessary to heal the past both individually and collectively.

Brian Koehn is the founder of Social Profit Corrections, a nonprofit organization. He has over 28 years of experience in the field of private corrections serving in various leadership roles, including 14 years as a Complex Warden and Warden at five separate facilities, managing contracts in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the United States Marshal Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, multiple States, detention and county jails.