Resiliency Within

The chronic illness of a child does not arrive gently. It comes like an asteroid—sudden and life-altering. In this episode, I am honored to be joined by Kelly Cervantes, author of The Luckiest, and her husband Miguel Cervantes, the acclaimed Broadway star of Hamilton, as they share their extraordinary journey through unimaginable loss—and enduring love. Kelly and Miguel open their hearts as they reflect on the life and death of their daughter, Adelaide, who lived with epilepsy and a rare neurodegenerative brain condition. As Adelaide's terminal diagnosis unfolded, Kelly was a full-time caregiver and advocate for her daughter and mother to her older son, Jackson, while Miguel balanced the demands of the stage with the journey of Adelaide's illness unfolding at home. Together, they protected the bond at the center of their family. This episode is about bearing witness, honoring love, and learning how two people can grieve differently yet still reach for one another while caring for their two children with very different needs. This episode is for anyone who has loved deeply, lost profoundly, and wondered whether connection is still possible after everything has changed. A powerful testament to resilience, devotion, and the courage it takes to keep choosing love—amidst the asteroids. _____________________________ About Our Guests: MIGUEL CERVANTES recently wrapped up his time playing Alexander Hamilton in the Broadway and Chicago productions after almost eight years and 2013 performances. Other Broadway credits include IF/THEN, AMERICAN IDIOT, and 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. A few of his TV credits include LAW & ORDER SVU, PERSON OF INTEREST, MADAME SECRETARY, and THE BLACKLIST. Miguel grew up in Dallas, TX, and received a BFA in Musical Theater from Emerson College. His favorite roles have been "Daddy" to Jackson, Anessa, Adelaide, and husband to superhero wife Kelly. ... KELLY CERVANTES is an award-winning writer, speaker, and advocate best known for her blog Inchstones and her USA Today bestselling book, Normal Broken: The Grief Companion for When It's Time to Heal But You're Not Sure You Want To. She has been published in the Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, and Fortune as well as featured by MSNBC, New York Times, and CNN. She sits on the boards of CURE Epilepsy and The Undiagnosed Diseases Network Foundation and hosts CURE Epilepsy's podcast, Seizing Life. Born and raised in the Midwest, Kelly now resides in Maplewood, New Jersey, with her family. Her latest book, The Luckiest: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Motherhood, and the Pursuit of Self, was published in November by Ben Bella Books.

After moving from a conservative Midwestern suburb to New York City to pursue an acting career, Kelly Cervantes never could have imagined what life had in store for her—or how much she would fundamentally change along the way. Now, in her memoir The Luckiest, Kelly shares the experiences that shaped who she is today—the pain of unrealized dreams, navigating her husband Miguel's Broadway spotlight, fighting for their child's life, finding purpose after loss, and rebuilding her life and marriage. Throughout her wildly unpredictable journey, she has reflected on the role luck has played in her life, both good and bad. "Are we lucky if we escape life with soft skin and minimal layers," she asks. "Or are we lucky to have the battle scars that show a life of survival and meaning?"

As we begin 2026, Elaine Miller-Karas, the host of Resiliency Within, airs an encore podcast with Aziza Hasan, Executive Director, and Andrea Hodos, Associate Director of New Ground, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging divides and convening constructive conversations around challenging social issues. New Ground envisions what is possible in a world deeply divided which is as pertinent today as it was when first aired. They will share their wisdom on how New Ground envisions an America where Muslims and Jews are empowered to create lasting partnerships and engage in authentic communication and mutual cooperation. This vibrant model of engagement – not bound by history, theology, or politics – affirms that conflict is inevitable and yet not intractable. NewGround empowers Muslims, Jews, and allies to bridge divisions and leverage shared values to strengthen our communities' well-being and our fragile democracy. NewGround is a community-building organization that creates, connects, and empowers Jewish and Muslim Change-makers in America. Through a professional fellowship, high school leadership council, and public programming, NewGround transforms Muslim-Jewish relations and advances a shared agenda for change. They will share what we need to do differently to bring about lasting change.

On this Christmas Day, Resiliency Within will bring back the episode first aired in 2023 with Rev. Lesley Carroll. We can remember, "what else is true?" as we end 2025, which has been a year that has brought many challenges to our world community. Dr. Carroll is the former Prison Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and the current Assistant Commissioner for Investigations for the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. She has dedicated her life to the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. To her, this mission is a lifelong calling. Her efforts extend beyond Northern Ireland, as she has been instrumental in fostering peace and reconciliation dialogues in Rwanda, Nigeria, Kosovo, and Croatia. In these challenging times for our global community, Rev. Carroll will generously share her insights and the valuable lessons she has gained on her remarkable journey, offering guidance and inspiration for us all on how to bring peace and reconciliation to our communities worldwide. Inspired by her experiences, Rev. Carroll introduced the Community Resiliency Model to Northern Ireland. This initiative has led to the establishment of a group of Community Resiliency Model Teachers who are actively disseminating the healing skills of CRM throughout the NI community.

Carla Cavlcanti and Kim Aasland will share how they help their respective churches live beyond their walls. They both believe in being a compassionate presence woven into the daily life of the neighborhoods they serve. There is the belief that "A truly missional church steps outside its sanctuary and into the streets, homes, and gathering places where people live, work, and struggle." They are called not only to preach love but to embody it—through presence, partnership, and practical support. During a disaster, this calling becomes even more urgent. Churches are often among the first to respond, offering safety, resources, and emotional and spiritual care when the ground beneath a community has literally or figuratively shifted. They both have had the opportunity to stand with survivors in their grief, their uncertainty, and their rebuilding—to be a source of stability, compassion, and hope. Loving people well in a disaster means listening deeply, showing up consistently, and offering whatever they can: food, space, comfort, care, connection, and the assurance that no one walks this road alone. We welcome them to Resiliency Within where they will share their reflections as we approach the holiday season. Carla Cavalcanti is a Community Pastor at Vintage Church Pasadena, devoted to loving people toward Jesus and cultivating meaningful community. A Liberty University graduate with a background in Theater Production, she brings a behind-the-scenes dedication to making things happen. Originally from the East Coast, Carla has lived in California for six years. A survivor of the Eaton Fire—after losing her Altadena home—she stepped into a central leadership role in Vintage's fire-relief efforts and brings deep empathy, strength, and firsthand understanding to those she supports. Fierce, extroverted, and community-minded, Carla is a natural connector, a devoted dog mom to Winston, and someone who thrives in authentic conversation. She values relationships deeply and considers it an honor to walk alongside people with compassion, presence, and hope. Kim Aasland is an Altadena resident, Eaton Fire survivor, and the Fire Response Coordinator at Epicentre Church. Her life has been defined by movement, resilience, and a deep commitment to community. Raised across the Arctic Circle, Turkey, Nigeria, and Italy, Kim developed a global perspective shaped by constant adaptation. She holds a BA in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton College and an MA in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. Kim spent sixteen years in Kazakhstan teaching history and religion while raising her four children. Now rooted in California, she has served as both a history teacher and school administrator. In her role at Epicentre Church, Kim is dedicated to supporting fire survivors and helping her community heal and rebuild with compassion and strength.

For four decades, Ellen Bassuk has navigated the worlds of psychiatry, advocacy, and motherhood—shaped by her son Daniel Schoonover's lifelong struggle with mental illness, especially schizophrenia. Between Two Worlds is their deeply personal memoir, chronicling Daniel's journey through a broken health care system, an ill-equipped educational system, and the parenting challenges that came with it. Ellen Bassuk and Daniel Schoonover, mother and son, will share their journey together. From early childhood, Daniel's developmental milestones were atypical, leading to hospitalizations, rejections from institutions unable to see beyond diagnoses, and even expulsions from school. As a single mother and medical professional, Bassuk fought to protect her son from systems that prioritized efficiency over humanity, forging an alternative path that allowed Daniel to reclaim his life. Drawn from hospital and school reports, first-hand accounts, as well as a graphic description of Daniel's inner experience, Between Two Worlds offers an unflinching look at the impact of systems that marginalize vulnerable people. Bassuk calls for a transformation in mental health care—one that embraces recovery principles and person-centered approaches focused on relationships, empathy, and individual needs. Now close to forty years old, Daniel has found independence, purpose, and community. Their story is a beacon of hope and a call to action—urging a shift from institutionalization to connection, from labels to lived experience, and from stigma to compassion. Between Two Worlds is a powerful memoir for individuals, parents, families, caregivers, professionals, and advocates seeking hope, guidance, and reform in the face of mental illness and systemic injustice.

Dr. Peggy Ward and Sister Peace join Resiliency Within to share the wisdom and poems of Dr. Larry Ward. In this conversation, Dr. Peggy Rowe-Ward reflects on the life and legacy of Dr. Larry Ward and his first poetry collection, Morning Night. She explores how Larry understood poetry—reading it, writing it, and living it—as a powerful form of spiritual practice. As a true great sound and one of the few Black Dharma teachers in his tradition, Larry was a trailblazer who bridged Buddhist and Christian lineages and broke through cultural and spiritual barriers with depth, humor, and clarity. This session invites listeners into the spirit of Morning Night and the way Larry's words continue to guide us home. His book, Morning Night, was his first published collection of poems, where he explored race, nature , and spirit, woven with messages of hope, justice, and belonging. Sister Peace will lend her voice to his eloquent poetry. Dr. Larry Ward transitioned from this life in August 2025. His grounded presence and deep insight helped many people worldwide through challenging moments with compassion and clarity, planting seeds of understanding. Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward, Larry's wife, was in partnership in love and work—two luminous teachers whose shared vision blossomed through their work at the Lotus Institute. Having also trained at the Trauma Resource Institute, Larry's understanding of both trauma healing and mindfulness made him a bridge between worlds—the spiritual and the scientific, the personal and the collective. His life was a testament to compassion in action, and his teachings continue to ripple outward, touching countless hearts with the deep sound of love and wisdom. His poems reflect his deep connection to the wonder within all of us. You can learn more about his work under the leadership of Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward. https://www.thelotusinstitute.org.

Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, will discuss the second edition of her book, Building Resiliency to Trauma, with Dr. Michael Sapp, the CEO of the Trauma Resource Institute. During and after a traumatic experience, survivors experience a cascade of physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, relational, and spiritual responses that can make them feel unbalanced and threatened. The second edition of Building Resilience to Trauma explains common responses from a biological perspective, reframing the human experience from one of shame and pathology to one of hope and biology. Using two evidence-informed models of intervention that are trauma-informed and resiliency-informed—the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) and the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM)—chapters distill complex neuroscience into understandable concepts and lay out a path for fostering short- and long-term healing. CRM develops natural leaders who share wellness skills throughout communities as primary prevention, and TRM focuses on training mental health professionals to reprocess traumatic experiences. Studies have demonstrated that the models' use leads to significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and both models also increase well-being. The models restore balance after traumatic experiences and can be used as tools to cultivate well-being across cultures and abilities throughout the lifespan.

Elaine welcomes guest Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey

Since January 8th, the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) has been actively supporting survivors of the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire. Our team has offered Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® workshops across Los Angeles County for individuals and families impacted by these devastating events, called Disaster Relief Mobilization, Community Resiliency Model (DRM-CRM) Through CRM Workshops, Circles of Connection, the Legacy Project, and other healing and supportive gatherings, TRI has provided spaces for community members to learn wellness skills, share their experiences, and reconnect with hope and resilience. These programs aim to strengthen nervous system regulation, foster collective healing, and help restore a sense of safety and belonging for Angelenos affected by the fire. Michael Sapp will discuss the fire recovery response made by the Trauma Resource Institute with our host, Elaine Miller-Karas.

Dr. Michael Sapp and our host, Elaine Miller Karas will discuss the work of the Trauma Resource Institute as they work with an international team bringing the Community Resiliency Model to our world community. They will discuss the mission and purpose of the Trauma Resource Institute and how, through simple biological skills, they have increased individual and community well-being. How do we nurture compassion, empathy, and kindness in a world so marked by human pain? How do we hold fast to our shared humanity when fear, indifference, or the misuse of power erode it? How do we protect the innocence and empathy of children growing up surrounded by violence and injustice? How do we cultivate compassion within ourselves, our children? The answers to these questions are complex, and they will discuss what they have been privileged to witness worldwide as individuals and communities grapple with these questions.

Dr. Ilene Naomi Rusk shares her trauma-informed and science-based approach to brain health and optimal longevity in this encore episode. During these unprecedented stressful times, her approach is essential in today's world. She’s developed a user-friendly way of using a functional medicine approach to help prevent Alzheimer’s and improve cognitive health. Dr. Rusk focuses mainly on helping her patients build stress resilience, and she focuses on numerous lifestyle pillars of brain health. These lifestyle pillars, like sleep, diet, and movement, and how we engage with them, can directly affect how we think and feel. Learning to tend to our nervous system, healing traumas, and building emotional and behavioral regulation can help expand our capacity to deal with the challenges and hardships we inevitably face. She combines many trauma healing modalities, such as ancestral archaeology, brainspotting, and somatic techniques, into her biological and spiritual model. Feeling greater emotional resilience can help us connect with experiences of greater freedom and joy and improve the health of our relationships regardless of our circumstances. Being a mother has greatly informed her service work as an international humanitarian worker and community health educator.

Across the globe, there exists a pressing demand for effective treatment of complex trauma. While a growing number of trauma-informed mental health professionals dedicate themselves to supporting individuals, relationships, communities, and systems, the daily confrontation with trauma can take a toll, leading to exhaustion and burnout. Who stands ready to provide support to these therapists and aiding professionals along their professional journey? Brad Kammer, a Somatic Psychotherapist, Educator, and NARM® Senior Trainer, serves as the director of the Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC), a professional organization dedicated to offering therapist training, consultation, mentorship, and community for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with Adverse Childhood Experiences and Complex Trauma. Brad will discuss the crucial need mental health professionals have for both continuous professional development and personal support. CTTC is dedicated to empowering therapists and aiding professionals to enhance their effectiveness in working with complex trauma while safeguarding against burnout. The vision is to cultivate a professional community centered on supporting mental health professionals across three dimensions of human experience: personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal. CTTC will offer comprehensive, ongoing professional development and mentorship opportunities for clinicians, including NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist training programs. Grounded in a mentorship framework, CTTC is committed to guiding mental health professionals through their professional voyage of addressing complex trauma, ensuring their sustained growth and well-being. The spirit of CTTC is encapsulated by its three guiding principles: depth, connection and heart. Discover how Brad and the Complex Trauma Training Center team epitomize this spirit and foster a thriving professional community committed to delivering effective, transformative, trauma-informed care.

In this encore presentation, Michael Karlin, one of the creators of Compassionate Integrity Training(CIT), illuminated our listeners about this innovative program that was adopted by UNESCO MGIEP. The UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) is UNESCO's category 1 Research Institute that focuses on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) towards education for building peaceful and sustainable societies across the world.

Resiliency Within welcomes back John Kania and Laura Calderon de la Barca. Join this conversation with the Collective Change Lab team who are at the leading edge of shifting how organizations, movements, and collective system change efforts are evolving towards more healing-centered ways of working. John Kania is the Founder and Executive Director of Collective Change Lab. Laura Calderon de la Barca is a psychotherapist specializing in individual, intergenerational, and collective trauma, as well as a collective healing researcher. The conversation will include thoughts on how, in the years since the massive disruption and unrest triggered by the pandemic, there is greater openness and receptivity to thinking about trauma more expansively than ever before. Engaging with trauma is increasingly vital as polarization worsens and challenges escalate into a poly-crisis - thankfully, a deeper conversation is taking root on how to mainstream trauma healing.

In this encore episode, Elaine Miller-Karas, host of Resiliency Within, welcomes back Kevin McLeod, Director of Business & Community Development at the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI), for a powerful conversation about teens, healing, and hope. In this episode, Kevin addresses the Trauma Resource Institute’s inspiring work bringing the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP) to teens in Georgia’s Juvenile Justice System—and how this innovative program can be brought to schools, teen centers, and community clubs everywhere. YAP has recently been applied to the Disaster Relief Mobilization-Community Resiliency Model Program. YAP empowers teens with simple, science-based wellness skills from the Community Resiliency Model (CRM)—tools that help calm the nervous system and restore well-being after stress or trauma. Through hands-on, experiential training, youth become CRM Teen Ambassadors (CRM-TAs) and learn six easy-to-use skills they can apply for self-care and peer support. What’s more, these young leaders go on to share the skills with their friends and classmates through short, engaging “share-backs” that bring the skills to life in everyday settings—from classrooms to living rooms. YAP is more than a program—it’s a movement to build resilience, foster connection, and inspire hope—one teen at a time.

In a time of deep division, uncertainty, and crisis, Finding Light in the Darkness will explore how we can maintain our well-being, integrity, and hope. Hosted by Elaine Miller-Karas, an internationally recognized trauma expert and resiliency advocate, she will illuminate practical strategies for navigating today’s complex social and political landscape. Elaine hopes this episode will provide a beacon of light—insights on staying grounded, fostering compassion, and building resilience in the face of adversity. Elaine is dedicated to empowering listeners to cultivate inner strength and create ripples of change for themselves, their families and their communities. Join Resiliency Within as Elaine uncovers pathways to healing, unity, and action—because light can be found even in the darkest times. ___________________________________ About Elaine Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, is a social worker, trauma therapist, author, lecturer, consultant, VoiceAmerica podcast host, Psychology Today blogger, and social entrepreneur. She has been called an "ambassador of hope" in the fields of trauma therapy and community resiliency. As a co-founder of the Trauma Resource Institute, Elaine serves as the Director of Innovation. She has led the development of the Trauma and Community Resiliency Models, which have left an indelible global footprint, impacting over 75 countries. Her book, "Building Resiliency to Trauma: The Trauma and Community Resiliency Model, Second Edition (2023)," has been recognized by the United Nations and Taylor and Francis. She is a regular contributor to Psychology Today. She has presented internationally at Oxford University's Skoll World Forum, the United Nations, Resiliency 2024, Medscape, Psychotherapy Networker, the Global Fund, the Carter Center, and the Centers for Disease Control. Elaine believes in a world where every person is treated with dignity and our differences are acknowledged and respected.

This week on Resiliency Within, we present this encore episode in memory of Dr. Larry Ward. Drs. Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe-Ward will address how we are all as a world community are impacted by Racism and how we can heal from the traumas that arise from Racism. Dr. Ward’s book, America’s Racial Karma published in September 2020 addresses how America can begin to heal. They have been teaching and practicing with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. They received the lamp (teacher transmission) from him at Plum Village in 2001. They co-authored Love’s Garden and this book was featured in The Best Buddhist Writing of 2009. Peggy and Larry work with CEOs of Fortune 500 programs to integrate cultural diversity, corporate change and transformation. They will also address the Wisdom School they have created to bring healing to our global community.

Dr. Joy Miller returns to Resiliency Within to share an extraordinary global offering—Resiliency 2025: The Power of Connections. Taking place on September 10, 2025, from 12–4:30 pm EST, this free international event brings together an unprecedented 51 renowned presenters from around the world—our largest gathering yet. Join our host, Elaine Miller-Karas, for a dynamic conversation with Dr. Joy Miller, the creator of the Resiliency Conferences. Dr. Miller will share her perspectives of building resiliency globally and how her guests help people during unprecedented difficult times. Now in its 6th year, Resiliency 2025 celebrates the healing power of connection, with conversations and interactive presentations on: Overcoming adversity Strengthening body, mind, and spirit Enhancing relationships Enriching life with purpose and resilience This year introduces a new format: a dynamic blend of our signature 4-minute power talks and expanded 8-minute in-depth conversations—making the event more interactive and skill-based than ever before. Attendees will also experience special tributes, receive a companion handbook, enjoy free continuing education credits, and have on-demand access for one full month. All speakers generously donate their time and talent, creating a unique opportunity to learn from master clinicians, best-selling authors, influencers, musicians, celebrities, and more. With participants expected from over 70 countries, Resiliency 2025 is a true celebration of global healing and community.

Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, the host of Resiliency Within, will interview Inez Tiger, LMFT, who has over 30 years of experience as an educator, school leader, and mental health professional. They will discuss how educational systems worldwide are increasingly confronted with the impact of natural and human-made crises, including wildfires, immigration enforcement, and community violence, including armed conflicts. These events disrupt the stability of children, families, and educators, with profound implications for learning and psychosocial well-being. Elaine developed the Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® and contributed to the Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning (SEE) of Emory University. Elaine and Inez will discuss how the Community Resiliency Model and its applications can be implemented as a systemic, phased approach to supporting resilience in schools. They will discuss recent empirical findings, pilot projects, and theoretical underpinnings relating to how CRM-aligned self-regulation practices not only stabilize student emotional states but also buffer stress contagion between educators and students. Implementation recommendations will be elaborated upon, emphasizing training adults first (teachers, administration, staff, and parents), followed by age-appropriate applications for children from preschool through high school in programs like the Disaster Relief Management-Community Resiliency Model (DRM-CRM), the Family Resiliency Program-CRM, and programs like SEE Learning. Implications for trauma and resiliency-informed education and systemic recovery will be discussed. _________________________ About Our Guest : Inez Tiger Inez Tiger, LMFT, brings over 30 years of experience as an educator, school leader, and mental health professional. She has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, counselor, principal, and most recently as Director of Wellness at The Pressman Academy. Inez is a certified teacher of the Community Resiliency Model® (CRM), a practitioner of the Trauma Resiliency Model® (TRM), and a longtime facilitator and trainer in the practice of Council. Specializing in self-regulation, trauma healing, and the power of storytelling, Inez recently transitioned from her role as a school-based educator to focus more deeply on healing and wellness. A collector of stories, she finds meaning in listening to the resilience of students, parents, and teachers as they navigate their school journeys. Originally from South Africa, Inez lives in Los Angeles with her partner and their two children. She finds joy in art-making, meaningful collaboration, and long walks with their dog, Chase. One of her guiding mottos comes from Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”