Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris
Welcome to Let’s Get Real, the podcast for women who feel like they’re holding it all together on the outside… but falling apart on the inside.
If you’re exhausted from pretending, overwhelmed by the pressure to be everything for everyone, or unsure who you even are anymore—you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy.
Let’s Get Real is where we have honest conversations about the struggles most people avoid—healing emotional wounds, losing yourself in motherhood, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to live whole again.
I’m Jena Burris—wife, mom, and your host. With a background in marriage and family therapy, life coaching, and years spent navigating life behind the scenes of the NFL and Hollywood, I’m passionate about creating a space where real conversations lead to real healing.
Each week, you’ll hear real stories, practical tools, and the reminder that freedom is closer than you think. Because I believe that in order to heal, we have to get real.
New episodes every Tuesday. Real talk. Real tools. Real healing.
For speaking inquiries, brand partnerships, or workshop opportunities, visit www.jenaburris.com or email jena@jenaburris.com.
Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris
Healing After Trauma, Grief & Identity Loss with Nicole Gibson
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Episode 46: Healing After Trauma, Grief & Identity Loss with Nicole Gibson
Life can change in an instant. One moment you’re building a future, and the next, you’re trying to make sense of a life that no longer looks or feels familiar. For many women, trauma doesn’t just bring physical or emotional pain. It brings grief for the life they thought they were living and confusion about who they are now.
In this episode of Let’s Get Real, I sit down with Nicole Gibson, an engineer, traumatic brain injury survivor, and author of Shattered Into Grace. Nicole shares her story of surviving a severe brain injury at 20 years old and the long, often invisible journey of rebuilding her identity, her faith, and her sense of worth.
This conversation is honest, grounding, and full of hope for anyone navigating life after loss.
When Life Breaks and Identity Shatters
One month after turning 20, Nicole was hit by a car while walking to class. The accident left her with a severe traumatic brain injury, multiple skull fractures, and no memory of who she was. When she woke up, her life felt fragmented, like puzzle pieces scattered on the floor with no clear way to put them back together.
Recovery wasn’t just physical. It was deeply personal. Returning to school, relearning routines, and trying to reconnect with a version of herself she could barely remember forced Nicole to rebuild from the ground up. The question wasn’t just how to heal, but who am I now?
Trauma didn’t erase her life, but it changed it. And learning to live inside that reality took time, patience, and support.
The Long Road Through Grief, Relationships, and Worth
One of the most powerful parts of Nicole’s story is her honesty about how long healing really took. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, recovery stretched over years, not months. Even when life looked “fine” on the outside, internally she was struggling with fear, loneliness, and a deep desire to feel accepted.
Her turning point came when she acknowledged that something had to change. Stepping away from unhealthy environments and returning closer to the people who truly supported her helped Nicole begin reclaiming who she was beneath the trauma.
Healing, Faith, and Becoming Whole Again
Faith played a significant role in Nicole’s healing, but not in a neat or linear way. She speaks honestly about anger, doubt, and wrestling with questions that didn’t have easy answers. Healing didn’t come from bypassing grief, but from allowing space for it.
Over time, surrender replaced striving. Instead of forcing life to look a certain way, Nicole began asking what would actually bring her peace, joy, and health. That shift opened the door to a life that looks different than the one she lost, but still whole.
Connect with Nicole
You can learn more about Nicole, her book Shattered Into Grace, and her ongoing writing at dynamicallycrafted.com, where she shares reflections on healing, faith, and rebuilding life after trauma.
P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.