Defiance of Silence - A Sacred Witness
Defiance of Silence — A Sacred Witness is a space for human stories.
Hosted by Valerie — a U.S. Army veteran, nurse, survivor, and trauma-informed witness — this podcast explores the quiet things people carry and what happens when they finally have a place to tell the truth about them.
Through honest conversations with survivors, veterans, caregivers, healthcare workers, healers, advocates, and everyday people, we explore trauma, grief, moral injury, recovery, identity, caregiving, resilience, and the many ways human beings learn to keep going after life changes them.
Some stories center on trauma. Others explore healing, service, loss, faith, purpose, or the unseen weight carried by those who witness suffering every day.
Here, we don’t rush stories.
We don’t fix people.
We witness them.
This is not therapy.
This is not performance.
This is a space where truth can land without spectacle.
A field of human stories.
A place to feel less alone.
Take what steadies you. Leave what doesn’t.
New episodes every other week.
Defiance of Silence - A Sacred Witness
Amber - The Sacred Art of Witnessing
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
"The body keeps the score." This phrase has become commonplace in trauma-informed circles, but what does it actually mean when your physical symptoms have emotional roots? How do we become truly present in bodies that have stored years of unprocessed experiences?
In this profound conversation with Air Force veteran, former firefighter, and bodyworker Amber Miskovich, we explore the sacred art of witnessing—both ourselves and others. Amber breaks down the science of how our thoughts create physical constriction or dilation in our bodies, explaining why anxiety, digestive issues, and countless other symptoms often connect to emotional states we've yet to process.
We will delve into what makes a good witness versus someone who simply wants to fix, rescue, or join in your drama. Amber shares powerful practices for healers and helpers to avoid absorbing others' pain while still holding compassionate space.
The conversation also addresses the challenging balance between sharing your story and practicing discretion, why truth-tellers are essential on your healing journey, and how to recognize when your body is signaling "yes" or "no" to a person or situation. Join us for this deeply nurturing exploration of coming home to yourself while learning to witness others with presence and care.
Find Amber on IG: @awonderly @thewonderwithin
https://www.thewonderwithin.com
Remember YOU are loved and worthy of being witnessed!
If today’s episode stirred heavy feelings, you are not alone. Please reach out to a trusted friend or a professional if you need support:
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | rainn.org
- SAMHSA Mental Health/Substance Use: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
- 988 LIFELINE: Call, Text or Chat https://988lifeline.org
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial or text 988, then press 1
- Help for Veterans suffering with CPTSD https://saveawarrior.org/
- https://www.scarsfoundation.org/
*This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local emergency number.
Want to tell your story? Send a DM or an email
Find us on IG @defiance_of_silence_podcast valerie@defianceofsilencepodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defiance_of_silence_podcast?igsh=MWVxMHI3OXY1cm1paA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Podcasts we love
Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.
Human School
Miles Adcox
Dog Tag Diaries
Captain Kim
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Mel Robbins
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Perfect Strangers
Slice of Piefer
Jason Piefer
The Sleeping At Last Podcast
Sleeping At Last
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
Civility Media
That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs
That Sounds Fun Network
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
The Ringer
The Honest Pod
Karrie Garcia
Therapy and Theology
Lysa TerKeurst