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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

Jeanine - The Beauty of Self Compassion

November 19, 2025 • Valerie Foglesong • Season 1 • Episode 7

Silence can isolate — but it can also safeguard a story until it’s ready to be spoken.
In this episode, we sit with Jeanine McNeill, CPS—an Army Veteran, Women Veterans Program Certified Peer Specialist, and Women’s Health Liaison at the Sheridan VA. With more than 40 years of lived experience, Jeanine has transformed her own journey through Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) into advocacy, support, and education for her fellow Veterans.

Jeanine’s healing path has led her into national recognition. She is a Daily Points of Light Award recipient for her work with The Pink Berets, was honored with a Quilt of Valor for her dedication to female Veterans, and served as Ms. Senior World Wyoming 2024, using that platform to elevate awareness of MST and IPV on an international stage.

We begin this conversation with a grounding exercise to honor the weight of what follows. Jeanine speaks candidly about how the body often remembers what the mind cannot yet name—the freeze response, intuitive knowing, and the clarity that sometimes emerges years later. She shares a pivotal moment: an unexpected reunion with someone connected to her assault, which became a turning point in her healing and a powerful reminder of what it means to be witnessed.

Jeanine also introduces the SELF Method she teaches to residents:
Silence the noise
Evaluate with a body scan
Listen to your body
Feel what you’re meant to feel, then move forward

We explore what it means to support others while protecting your own energy—through breathwork, grounding walks, mindful drives, and prayer for what cannot be carried alone. Jeanine reframes triggers as information, not setbacks, and speaks to the shift from victim, to survivor, to thriver.

This episode is an invitation to trust your pace, honor your body’s wisdom, and remember that healing is possible—and you are worthy of being witnessed.

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: