In this Season 4 opener, Myrna McCallum shares a keynote talk delivered to Canadian judges on how to become not just trauma-informed, but also culturally responsive, humane, and grounded in integrity. She challenges the idea that being trauma-informed is enough — calling it the bare minimum — and invites leaders in law, education, and justice to level up. This episode explores how centering humanity, humility, and self-awareness in our practices is essential to prevent harm and build systems that truly serve people. Listeners will walk away with: A deeper understanding of what trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices look like in judicial and legal contexts. Real-world examples of how emotional intelligence and self-reflection can shift courtroom and workplace culture. A renewed sense of responsibility to lead with integrity, compassion, and courage. This episode is a call to every justice professional: we can no longer claim to serve justice while perpetuating harm. The work begins within. Connect with Myrna: website: www.myrnamccallum.co IG @thetraumainformedlawyer TT: traumainformedlawyer LI: thetraumainformedlawyer

In this episode, Myrna sits down with Angela Sterritt, award-winning journalist and author of the bestselling memoir Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls. Angela shares her powerful personal story of hope, survival, her path into journalism, and the responsibility she carries when amplifying stories from Indigenous communities. Together, they explore the intersections of trauma, colonialism, and healing, as well as the role storytelling plays in truth, accountability, and justice. This conversation is both deeply personal and broadly relevant—it shines a light on systemic issues while also honouring the strength of Indigenous women and girls who continue to rise above violence. attempted erasure and unrelenting racism. You can buy Unbroken here: https://greystonebooks.com/products/unbroken?srsltid=AfmBOoqhuCNYtQusjdLaUrhMK40ubfBurFr4fRpCXe7mfEIpHuc6w42K and to learn more about Angela Sterritt, please visit her website at: https://angelasterritt.com/ To watch the panel with Angela from the 2025 Justice as Trauma Conference, please visit Myrna's video library: https://www.myrnamccallum.co/video-library

In this powerful episode of The Trauma-Informed Lawyer podcast, I share a heartfelt compilation of feedback and testimonials from attendees of the Justice as Trauma Conference. Their reflections capture the profound impact of the conversations, teachings, and community built during our time together. I also offer listeners the keynote I delivered at the conference — a call to action on healing, humility, and humanity in our work. Through my keynote, I challenge legal professionals, organizational leaders, and advocates to reflect deeply on two critical questions: ➡️ If not you, then who? ➡️ If not now, when? This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and step into the transformative work that a relational approach to justice, connection and healing requires. *The keynote begins at 21:40*

In this episode, I speak with Jordan Assaraf, a personal injury lawyer who served as co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the Ukraine Airlines case. Jordan shares how this case has helped him adapt his approach to working with clients experiencing trauma. We discuss the unique challenges of representing victims and their families in high-profile mass litigation, the emotional weight of seeking justice after tragedy, and why a trauma-informed approach is critical in cases involving profound loss. Jordan also reflects on the evolution of his legal practice, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, empathy, emotional intelligence and resilience when advocating for anyone experiencing trauma, grief and loss. Our conversation sheds light on how the legal profession can better support survivors and why the willingness to adapt is essential for trauma-informed advocacy.

In this powerful episode, we welcome the brilliant Nkem Ndefo, founder of Lumos Transforms and creator of The Resilience Toolkit. Nkem is a visionary leader in the fields of trauma-informed care, resilience, and organizational healing. Together, we explore the intersections of compassionate communication, trauma-informed leadership, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), offering insights that can transform not only our personal lives but also the way we lead and build workplaces and communities.

Heather Hart, host of the I'm Human Too podcast and Spokane area therapist stops in to chat with me about psychedelic assisted therapy. For more info on psychedelic assisted therapy or to find a therapist, visit maps.org and https://firesideproject.org/ And be sure to check out Heather's podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/imhumantoo/episodes/Introducing-Im-Human-Too-with-Heather-Hart-e2hgom5 Please also check out: www.myrnamccallum.co/jat2025 for info about my upcoming conference, where Heather will be speaking on how psychedelics are studied and used to heal trauma.

Today's conversation is with Asha Frost, published author, speaker, spiritual mentor and modern day medicine woman. To learn more about Asha, please check out her website: www.ashafrost.com To learn more about the Justice as Trauma Conference, visit: www.myrnamccallum.co/jat2025

Robert Seymour Wright is a queer, African Nova Scotian Social Worker and Sociologist whose 35year career has spanned the fields of education, child welfare, forensic mental health, trauma, sexual violence, and cultural competence. Robert was recently a keynote speaker and panelist at the Justice as Trauma 2024 conference in Vancouver and left an insightful and inspirational impact. Listen now to hear how racial trauma informs the Black experience, the Indigenous experience and the racialized experience - and how stress (namely caused by racism) cannot just be resolved or remedied in one lifetime. For more on Robert and his work, please visit: http://www.robertswright.ca/ AND remember you can see him at our next Justice as Trauma Conference 2025 in Vancouver from March 17-19. See www.myrnamccallum.co for updates or subscribe to email notifications so you can grab an early bird rate when registration opens!

This episode is emotional, raw, real and it isn't my regular content and deals with heavy subject matter including addiction, death, overdose, suicide, self-harm, sexual abuse, residential schools and my Indigenous lived experience. Listen with care. Seek support at 988 if you are in crisis and/or need support. RIP my brother Ty Iron. May the spirit world deliver what your life could never.

Dimple Dhabalia began her career as a lawyer but after a stint at the Attorney General's office in Denver, she found her calling as an asylum officer. Working for almost two decades at the crossroads of the government and humanitarian sectors, Dimple found her job fulfilling, but it also led to vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and burnout. This episode explores mental health issues resulting from workplace demands and the exposure to the trauma of others - and the inspirational work of Dimple Dhabalia.

In 2019, Marlee Liss's sexual assault case became the first in North America to get resolved in a restorative justice process instead of ending up in a criminal trial. Today, Marlee Liss is a restorative justice advocate, award-winning speaker, and embodiment coach. Her story is a testament that restorative justice provides a rare opportunity for survivors to heal in a way that respects their need for boundaries, care, and consent...while also initiating a transformative process for those who cause harm. Marlee’s social media handle is @marleeliss. Find her work at www.marleeliss.com The second edition of her (poetry) book Re-Humanize is just out. This episode discusses sexual violence,suicide and sexual harm. If you need support please call 8-1-1 in Canada or visit https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/ for a list of crisis lines, support services and sexual assault centres in your area.

Today's episode is a special one. I am sharing an episode of Ben Perrin's podcast, Indictment: the Criminal Justice System on Trial which can be found here: https://indictment.simplecast.com/ In the most recent episode of Indictment, Ben shares Harold Johnson's final public talk - and what a gift it is to listen to Harold one more time. For more info on the Justice as Trauma Conference, please check out: www.justiceastrauma.ca Below is a copy of Ben's show notes from the original Indictment episode: Powerful. Unflinching. Visionary. Hear Indigenous lawyer and author Harold Johnson (1957-2022) deliver his final public lecture powerfully indicting the Canadian criminal justice system and making an impassioned case for Indigenous justice. A member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Harold was a Harvard-trained Crown prosecutor and criminal defence lawyer who quit practising law because of the harm it was causing Indigenous people. Instead, he devoted the rest of his life to advocating for Indigenous justice and developing and implementing initiatives to bring healing and restoration in Indigenous communities. This special episode was recorded live on November 8, 2021 at the UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law in Vancouver as Harold spoke to the entire first year class. Harold Johnson passed away three months later on February 9, 2022. His legacy and words live on. Content Note: discussion of trauma, intimate partner violence, violence, suicide, death by impaired driving, substance use, colonial violence against Indigenous people including residential schools and incarceration. There is also mention of sexual violence. Click here for mental health support resources if you need support. Harold's book include: Harold Johnson, Peace and Good Order: The Case for Indigenous Justice in Canada Harold Johnson, Firewater: How Alcohol Is Killing My People (and Yours) Order your copy of Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial (Aevo UTP, 2023). Visit www.benjaminperrin.ca for the latest news and upcoming events. Thank you to Joan Johnson for permission to share this lecture.

Louise Marra is a systems healer and founder of Spirited Leadership and Unity House. By coaching companies and NGOs across sectors in New Zealand, Louise aims to create a space for what she terms "walking restorers." These individuals can foster new relationships and promote practices that help heal historical wounds that creep into today’s workplaces. Louise believes that leaders have the responsibility to bring restoration of past and present trauma into their organizations. Louise’s book is called “ReRoot: The Nature of Change Through the System of Trees”. Watch out for a trauma-informed leadership course with Louise Marra on the pocketproject.org

Natalie Gutierrez, author of The Pain We Carry, Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color, is a critical POC voice in a wellness space dominated by white trauma experts. Through her personal lens and professional lens as a Puerto Rican complex trauma therapist, Natalie explains how historical and cultural trauma is experienced by Black people, Indigenous people and People of Colour - and how cultural burdens and legacies inform our relationships and internal family systems. Natalie is remarkable and you can catch her among a line-up of powerful presenters at the upcoming Justice As Trauma conference, in Vancouver from April 3-5, 2024. Please visit https://www.myrnamccallum.co/justiceastrauma for details - and don’t forget to order her book, The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color.

On today’s episode, Myrna speaks with Benjamin Perrin, who drops some truth about the criminal justice system in his groundbreaking book, Indictment: Criminal Justice System on Trial. Get ready for a podcast interview that'll leave you questioning everything you thought you knew and change your practice forever. Check out Ben's companion podcast at https://indictment.simplecast.com/ and his website for more info: https://benjaminperrin.ca/ and if you want to attend the Justice as Trauma Conference, you can find more details here: https://www.myrnamccallum.co/justiceastrauma

Kisâkihitin, nitanis means "I love you, my daughter" however many of my people also accept the interpretation, "I love you, my girl". This is a personal story about my mom and I. Her name was Judy Marilyn McCallum. This story is my contribution to National Truth and Reconciliation Day, 2023. One day - maybe - this story will be published among other stories in a book. CW: I cover topics including suicide, sexual assault, child abuse, physical violence, residential school, Indian hospitals, medical experimentation and addiction. The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support to former Indian Residential School students and their families toll-free at 1-866-925-4419.

Ret. Police Officer Dan Jones and I discuss the disturbing trend of dehumanizing Indigenous women in Canada. The most recent case in point: the refusal of the Manitoba premiere to search for the remains of Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris. This episode may be triggering for some as we discuss murder, violence, sexual abuse, policing, homelessness, sex workers, and the Pickton murders.

What does it mean to be visible in a job where you need to remain impartial? Today on the show, I speak with Michael Sonberg, a retired NYC judge who was one of the founding members of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges. We talk about Michael’s experiences as an openly gay judge and how the Association is helping to build community for LGBTQ2S+ members of the judiciary all over the world. We may be at the end of Pride Month, but pride and solidarity are a year-round practice.

This truth and reconciliation episode with my daughter, Alicia, and Dr. Judy Jaunzems-Fernuk, is inspired by a recent event which transpired at a local Women of Distinction awards ceremony in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Myrna's conversation with Vina Brown of Copper Canoe Woman Creations will uplift and inspire you. Vina Brown is a force, a healer, a helper, an artist and a successful Indigenous business owner. This conversation explores healing trauma for Indigenous people including the long-silenced/secret many carry: childhood sexual abuse (trigger warning) and the need for communities to heal together. CW: This episode also discusses eating disorders, sexual trauma, grief and loss.