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Episode Summary:

 In this powerful episode, host Liz Blanding sits down with trauma survivor and sound healer Matthew DeWard. After surviving a near-death stabbing and enduring extensive facial reconstructive surgery, Matthew found healing through music and peer-to-peer trauma recovery. Today, he channels his journey into helping others heal at Stillwater Temple, his sound-focused recording studio.

Together, Liz and Matthew explore:

• How trauma shaped Matthew’s life and his journey back from the brink
  
  
  
• The unique healing power of peer-to-peer trauma coaching vs traditional therapy
  
  
  
• Why forgiveness and self-awareness are crucial to recovery
  
  
  
• How trauma-informed approaches helped him overcome substance dependency
  
  
  
• The importance of uncovering buried trauma to prevent unconscious reactions
  
  
  

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that “who feels it knows it” and that healing is possible when we walk together.

Resources & Links:

• Follow Matthew’s work: Stillwater Temple (sound healing)
  
  
  
• Learn about the Pathway Professional Mentorship Association (PPMA): Oasis Wellness Centers
  
  
  
• Join the trauma recovery community: Get Trauma Informed Podcast
  
  
  

Quote from Matthew:

“Peer-to-peer recovery is like having a travel companion instead of just a map, we walk together.”

We are dedicated to providing support, education, and resources to individuals recovering from various forms of trauma.

With a dedicated listener base, our podcast offers a unique opportunity for sponsors to connect with a deeply engaged and supportive community.

Partnering with us will provide crucial support to many who need it on their recovery journey. 

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Mission: Oasis Wellness Centers is dedicated to relieving pain, promoting relaxation & restoring mobility through Premium Natural Herbal Salve Utilization. 

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

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Episode Overview:

This episode of the "Get Trauma Informed" podcast addresses the significant challenges transit workers face, including high levels of stress, frequent traumatic events, and long-term impacts on their mental health. Featuring insights from Coach Michael, a retired Chicago Transit Authority worker, the discussion also highlights the "Pathway to Trauma Recovery" book, offering readers strategies and resources to foster trauma recovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Transit Worker Trauma: The daily pressures of avoiding accidents, managing passenger safety, and dealing with verbal abuse expose transit workers to trauma. Notably, assaults on transit workers reached a 15-year high in 2023.
• Coach Michael's Story: As a retired transit worker, Michael shares his realization of unaddressed trauma years after retirement, leading him to become a certified trauma recovery coach.
• "Pathway to Trauma Recovery" Book: With contributions from 13 authors, this book guides readers through various trauma experiences and offers tools to overcome trauma, achieve balance, and recognize personal triggers.
• Resources from Oasis Wellness Centers: Oasis provides support groups, trauma recovery sessions, and additional recovery tools to help individuals on their journey.

Topics Covered:

1. Transit Worker Trauma Exposure:
   • Incidents of physical and verbal abuse, risk of accidents, and the constant pressure to ensure passenger safety contribute to anxiety, PTSD, and health issues.
2. Personal Experience of Coach Michael:
   • Ten years after retiring, Coach Michael identified unrecognized trauma symptoms, leading him to collaborate with Wellness Coach Liz in trauma recovery.
3. "Pathway to Trauma Recovery" Book:
   • A comprehensive resource featuring strategies for managing trauma symptoms and reaching life balance.
4. Oasis Wellness Centers Resources:
   • Support groups, live sessions, and trauma-informed resources are available through Oasis Wellness Centers.
5. Importance of Trauma Awareness:
   • Educating transit workers and managers on trauma's impact can foster a supportive and trauma-aware work environment.

Next Steps:

• Explore the "Pathway to Trauma Recovery" book: A must-read for those looking to understand trauma triggers and work towards recovery. 

Visit Oasis Wellness Centers: Additional resources are available, including group sessions and recovery tools.

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

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Episode Summary:

In this episode of Get Trauma Informed, pre-recorded July 2024. We sat down with Justin Moore, a former Air Force jet engine mechanic turned entrepreneur. Justin shares his inspiring journey from military life to business success, and how a trauma-informed approach has helped him navigate life’s challenges. He discusses the impact of mental health awareness and the importance of shifting away from unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Justin also introduces his sustainable business, Agoge Hemp Protein, and provides insights into launching a wellness-focused startup. Tune in to discover how trauma-informed living, community support, and entrepreneurship intersect on the path to recovery.

Key Topics Covered:

• Justin’s Background (0:00) – Military service, business development, and entrepreneurial journey.
• Understanding Trauma-Informed Practices (1:32) – How past experiences affect present decisions and relationships.
• Mental Health & Managing PTSD (1:32) – Tools Justin uses to maintain mental wellness.
• Launching Agoge Hemp Protein (5:02) – Building a sustainable product and promoting healthy living.
• Connecting Resources & Community Support (19:00) – The role of community and trauma-informed initiatives in healing.
• Next Steps & Encouragement (27:23) – Agoge Protein benefits and future plans.

We are dedicated to providing support, education, and resources to individuals recovering from various forms of trauma.

With a dedicated listener base, our podcast offers a unique opportunity for sponsors to connect with a deeply engaged and supportive community.

Partnering with us will provide crucial support to many who need it on their recovery journey. 

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

Send us a text

Episode Summary

In this closing episode of the Warrior Within 12-week series, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding celebrates the journey we’ve taken together from understanding trauma to building emotional safety, recovering from financial trauma, reclaiming identity, and experiencing the power of peer support.

This week, the focus shifts to your new mission: moving forward with meaning after trauma. Trauma may always be part of your story, but it doesn’t define your future. You’ll learn how to embrace post-traumatic growth, reclaim your goals, rebuild relationships, and redefine your life around purpose.

You’ll also hear Liz’s personal story of transformation, from devastation to strength, wisdom, and compassion — and why “the air is so much better” on the other side of recovery.

Timestamps & Key Takeaways

0:11 — Recap of the Warrior Within Series
Highlights from the past 12 weeks: understanding trauma, PTSD vs CPTSD, emotional safety, financial trauma recovery, identity, purpose, and peer support.

2:32 — Moving Forward with Meaning
How recovery shifts your focus to reclaiming goals, relationships, and purpose, and stepping into post-traumatic growth.

4:28 — Personal Recovery Story
How trauma broke Liz open to become stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.

5:12 — Spiritual Reflection
Jeremiah 29:11 — God’s plan is to give you hope and a future, not just survival.

6:01 — Your Next Step
Invitation to join Oasis Wellness Centers' programs, like The Rebirth of the Veteran and the Pathway Professional Mentor Association for aspiring trauma recovery coaches.

Your Next Step: Continue the Journey with Us

Recovery is just the beginning; now it’s time to thrive. At Oasis Wellness Centers, you’ll find programs, resources, and communities that help you keep moving forward. Whether you’re a veteran ready for your next chapter or you feel called to become a trauma recovery coach, we have a path for you.

💛 Join our All Things Recovery Patreon community for weekly support calls, tools, and a safe, faith-filled space to grow alongside others.
Patreon — All Things Recovery

Reflection Prompt:
What has this recovery journey taught you about who you are and the life you now want to live?

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

Send us a text

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Get Trauma Informed, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding explores the transformative role of peer support in long-term trauma recovery. Trauma can make us feel isolated, unseen, and unsafe, but connection changes everything.

You’ll discover:

• How peer support rewires your beliefs about safety, belonging, and worth.
  
  
  
• The neuroscience of co-regulation and why your nervous system needs safe people to fully recover.
  
  
  
• A biblical reflection from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminding us that “two are better than one” in the journey of restoration.
  
  
  
• How to choose healthy communities and distance yourself from toxic influences that hinder your recovery.
  
  
  

This is your reminder that you were never meant to recover alone and that the right community can become your lifeline.

Timestamps & Key Takeaways

0:04 — The Power of Peer Support
 Why validation and shared experiences help dissolve shame and break isolation.

3:40 — The Neuroscience of Safe Belonging
 We are wired for co-regulation — calming in the presence of grounded, non-judgmental people.

4:51 — Biblical Perspective
 Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 affirms that God sends people to help us rise when we fall.

5:14 — Choosing the Right People
 Healthy communities are essential; replace toxic influences with safe, positive support systems.

5:38 — Reflective Prompt
 Consider the spaces where you feel safe, seen, and supported — and where you need more of that connection.

Your Next Step: Join a Loving, Supportive Recovery Community

Recovery is hard work, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Oasis Wellness Centers, we create safe spaces for trauma Survivors and Thrivers to connect, share, and grow together.

If you’re ready for ongoing encouragement, guided recovery tools, and a faith-fueled, non-judgmental support circle, join us inside our All Things Recovery Patreon community. You’ll get access to:

• Weekly connection and support calls
  
  
  
• Recovery tools, journal prompts, and affirmations
  
  
  
• A safe, loving community that truly “gets it”
  
  
  

💛 Join today and start recovering one breath at a time: Patreon — All Things Recovery

Reflection Prompt:
 Who in your life offers you a safe space to recover, and where might you need more of that support?

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

Send us a text

Episode Summary:

In Week 10 of The Warrior Within, Liz Blanding addresses a critical — and often misunderstood — part of the trauma recovery process: relapse. Whether it's returning to old habits, toxic relationships, or emotional shutdown, relapse is not the end of your healing. It’s a signal from your nervous system that you need support, not shame.

Key Topics Covered:

• What relapse looks like in trauma recovery (isolation, shutdown, avoidance)
• Why relapse happens: trigger stacking, shame flare-ups, emotional fatigue
• The difference between failure and falling
• How to build a safety plan for hard days
• Personal story of grace in relapse moments
• Scripture reflection: Proverbs 24:16
• Reflection prompt: “What does relapse look like for me — and what safety plan do I need to put in place for those days?”

Call to Action:

Join the Warrior Within recovery program at oasiswellnessctrs.com to continue your journey with guided support, journaling prompts, and spiritual healing tools.

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

Send us a text

Episode Summary:

In Week 9 of The Warrior Within, Liz Blanding tackles one of the most transformational skills in trauma recovery: boundaries. For many survivors, especially those from chaotic homes, military environments, or abusive relationships, boundaries were broken before they were ever built. In this episode, Liz breaks down what boundaries are, how trauma disrupts them, and how rebuilding them can lead to self-worth, peace, and emotional wholeness.

Key Topics Covered:

• Understanding the types of boundaries (physical, emotional, financial, spiritual)
• How trauma, especially military and CPTSD, disrupts boundaries
• Common trauma beliefs: “I can’t say no,” “Love means overgiving”
• Personal story of learning to say no and reclaiming peace
• Scripture reflection: Proverbs 4:23
• Reflection prompt: “Where have I been afraid to speak up — and what would change if I did?”

Call to Action:

Join the Warrior Within recovery program at oasiswellnessctrs.com to continue your journey with guided support, journaling prompts, and spiritual healing tools.

You deserve boundaries that protect your healing. Visit oasiswellnessctrs.com to access boundary-setting resources and trauma-informed support.

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

Send us a text

Episode Summary:

In Week 8 of The Warrior Within, Liz Blanding leads us into one of the most transformative aspects of trauma recovery: telling your story. Trauma teaches us to stay silent, shrink, or hide. But healing begins when we reclaim our voice and shift from surviving to storytelling. This episode explores how testimony transforms, why telling your story in your own words matters, and how it aligns with both neuroscience and scripture.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why storytelling is essential in trauma recovery
• The neuroscience behind testimony and memory integration
• Reclaiming identity through voice and purpose
• Personal story of naming trauma and reclaiming power
• Scripture reflection: Revelation 12:11
• Reflection prompt: “If I could share my story with someone who needed hope, what part would I tell?”

Call to Action:

Join the Warrior Within recovery program at oasiswellnessctrs.com to continue your journey with guided support, journaling prompts, and spiritual healing tools.

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

Send us a text

Episode Summary:

In Week 7 of The Warrior Within, Liz Blanding opens up a vital yet often overlooked topic: financial trauma. Many trauma survivors — veterans and civilians alike — carry deep emotional wounds around money. From poverty and job loss to financial abuse and instability, money becomes more than a resource — it becomes a trigger. This episode explores how to recognize financial trauma, understand its symptoms, and start healing your relationship with money through spiritual truth and self-compassion.

Key Topics Covered:

• What is financial trauma and who it affects
• Signs of financial PTSD: anxiety, panic, guilt, shame
• How trauma rewires our beliefs about money
• Personal story of financial collapse and recovery
• Scripture reflection: Philippians 4:19
• Reflection prompt: “What messages about money did I receive from trauma — and what do I want to believe instead?”

Call to Action:

Rebuild your relationship with money by starting with healing. Visit oasiswellnessctrs.com to access trauma-informed coaching and financial empowerment tools.

Join the Warrior Within recovery program at oasiswellnessctrs.com to continue your journey with guided support, journaling prompts, and spiritual healing tools.

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters

Send us a text

Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode of The Warrior Within, Liz Blanding explores the essential trauma recovery theme of emotional safety. From nervous system dysregulation to broken trust and relational isolation, Liz breaks down how trauma impacts our emotional world—and how we can begin to heal. Whether you're a veteran or a civilian CPTSD survivor, this episode guides you toward regulation, rebuilding trust, and reconnecting with yourself and others.

Key Topics Covered:

• Emotional regulation: understanding hyperarousal and hypoarousal states
• The difference between emotional survival and true emotional safety
• Why trust gets broken after trauma—and how to rebuild it
• Rebuilding relationships with boundaries, not barriers
• A personal story from Liz's trauma recovery journey
• Scripture reflection: Proverbs 4:23
• Reflection prompt: “Where have I confused emotional survival with emotional safety?”

Call to Action:

Join the Warrior Within recovery program at oasiswellnessctrs.com to continue your journey with guided support, journaling prompts, and spiritual healing tools.

Support the show

Remember, Trauma was not your fault, your were collateral damage on someone else's warpath. Trauma was not your fault, however Recovery is your Responsibility. I am your host, Wellness Coach Liz Blanding, and this is The Get Trauma Informed Podcast.

Contact us at:
http://oasiswellnessctrs.com
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/blog/blog
https://oasiswellnessctrs.com/contact
https://linktr.ee/dlblanding
https://www.lifewave.com/oasiswellnesscenters