Mark interviews Daryn Brito, an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity about her work and her new book THE BECOMING: UNREPEATABLE MIRACLE, WHO ARE YOU?

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor, and a trigger warning for listeners.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Daryn about:

• Mark first meeting Daryn in a class at the Waterloo Regional Police Citizen's Academy
• How Daryn's main goal when doing speaking engagements is to start in a way to humilify herself first to help demonstrate her humanity and put the audience at ease
• The importance of taking her academic study and leveraging it in a way that the average person can understand it
• How Daryn is currently doing two simultaneous Masters programs in preparation for her Phd
• The specific therapy models that Daryn is focusing on in her study
• The undergrad study Daryn did showing that only 3% of people who were in foster care attempt post-secondary education - this is usually due to lack of support
• How, growing up, school was the one area where Daryn had a sense of control, and how she focused hard in that realm
• Regularly being told that her heart is too big for her own good
• Daryn's early childhood experiences, starting with her mother's experience while pregnant with Daryn
• The first time of having to go to court and testify as a victim of sexual assault at the age of twelve
• Being a primary caregiver to younger siblings and struggling with a strong/high empathy
• Deciding she had finally had enough of living in a situation filled with IPV (Intimate Partner Violence)
• Getting involved in helping to train police officers in better understanding trauma related to IPV
• Initially mistrusting the police, particularly due to the environment she grew up in
• How the investigating detective in Daryn's case was one of the most compassionate human being Daryn had ever met in her life
• The deciding factor in making the police report not being about Daryn getting hurt again, but her feeling responsible for the possibility of other people getting hurt
• How if it weren't for Daryn's heart for others, she wouldn't be here today
• Doing a lot of speaking for police at the academy for those being trained in IPV (Intimate Partner Violence)
• The journals Daryn had always kept which helped provide the fruit for the creation of her book THE BECOMING
• The importance of breaking down the walls we put up, knowing that it's safe to open your heart to the world again
• The various groups who have purchased Daryn's group in order to help other people
• Choosing a release date for her book as her ex-abuser's parole hearing day as a way to make that day brighter
• What Daryn would say to someone who is or has faced adversity or trauma
• The incredible "basic needs" special housing program/project that Daryn is looking at
• The value of showing up with love and compassion

After the interview Mark reflects on the concepts of compassion and empathy and the importance of recognizing multiple viewpoints and environments unique to different people.

Links of Interest:

• Daryn Brito Website
• Waterloo Regional Police
• Flashpoint TV Series
• Superstars Writing Seminars
• Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page)
• CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association)
  • Mental Health Meter
  • What's Your Stress Index?
• Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)
• Buy Mark a Coffee
• Patreon for Stark Reflections
• Mark's YouTube channel
• ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)
• Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)
• An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries
• The Relaxed Author
  • Buy eBook Direct
  • Buy Audiobook Direct
• Publishing Pitfalls for Authors
• An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores
• Wide for the Win
• Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books
  • This Time Around (Short Story)
  • A Canadian Werewolf in New York
  • Stowe Away (Novella)
  • Fear and Longing in Los Angeles
  • Fright Nights, Big City
  • Lover's Moon
  • Hex and the City
  • Only Monsters in the Building
  • Once Bitten (Novella)
• The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles
• Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard
• Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
• I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises

Daryn Brito is an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity. Through her work, she empowers individuals and strives for systemic change.

What makes Daryn's journey so remarkable, is how she turns her lived experiences into transformative wisdom. So through her compelling public talks, her insightful research and her book The Becoming: unrepeatable miracle, who are you? Daryn challenges us to question who we are beneath all the labels, and invites us to step into our most authentic, fullest selves

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0