Can trauma be inherited? And if so, can we heal what we didn’t experience directly?

In this powerful and hopeful episode, I’m joined by internationally renowned molecular biologist Dr. Rana Dajani—Chen Yidan Global Fellow at Harvard - whose groundbreaking 2025 study confirms something many of us have long suspected: that trauma can leave a biological imprint not only on us, but on generations to come.

We explore how trauma in our mothers and grandmothers can affect our physical and mental health, longevity, and even how we age—through the emerging science of epigenetics. From Syrian refugee families to the concept of sumud (steadfastness), Dr. Dajani shares her wisdom on inherited resilience, agency, and how we can shift from victimhood to healing.