Defiance of Silence - A Sacred Witness

Defiance of Silence – A Sacred Witness is a podcast for survivors, healers, and those who walk beside them. Together, we stand against the silence that isolates us, and embrace the silence that allows us to be truly heard.

Hosted by Valerie — a U.S. Army veteran, Nurse, survivor, and trauma-informed witness — the show was born from her own two-decade journey of healing from sexual trauma and the power of being witnessed. Through real and unpolished conversations, guests share stories of courage, grief, resilience, and awakening.

This is not therapy. This is not performance. This is sacred witness. A space where vulnerability becomes strength, and where no one has to carry their story alone.

New episodes release every other week.

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Defiance of Silence - A Sacred Witness

Lia - Write Your Own Story

September 24, 2025 • Valerie • Season 1 • Episode 3

What happens when your very survival depends on disconnecting from your own body? For Paralympic champion and Army veteran Lia Coryell, this wasn't a philosophical question—it was her childhood reality.

Born into extreme poverty in northern Wisconsin with a father in prison and an illiterate mother, Lia learned early that the world could be unimaginably cruel. By age nine, she had developed a profound dissociative response, believing her soul lived outside her physical form. "I was Lisa's soul and I'm like, 'It's okay,'" she explains. "My job as her soul was to love and protect her." What mental health professionals would later identify as a trauma response, young Lia experienced as her superpower.

Despite teachers who dismissed her as "not worth it," Leah developed a rebellious determination that would define her life: "I'm going to know everything." This drive led to multiple academic degrees and accomplishments.

Lia's most powerful achievement might be her perspective on trauma and healing. After rebuilding her foundation "one rock at a time" following devastating setbacks, she now shares a truth both simple and profound: "You are not what happened to you. You get to choose who you are and what you want to be. You get to write your own story."

Whether you're facing your own trauma history or supporting someone through theirs, this conversation offers wisdom on creating sacred space for healing, recognizing when you need boundaries, and transforming rebellion into resilience. As Lia proves through her remarkable journey, sometimes our deepest wounds become our greatest gifts to the world.

See Lia's winning match from the 2022 World Para Championships in Dubai.
https://youtu.be/5DACOWUm4zE?feature=shared

https://www.womensoutdoornews.com/2022/03/lia-coryell-wins-team-usas-first-women-w1-world-para-championship/

Contact Valerie

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: