The Truth About Childhood Trauma & How to Finally Heal — With California’s 1st Surgeon General

This episode will change the way you think about your childhood.

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California’s first Surgeon General, pediatrician, and author of The Deepest Well.

Her groundbreaking work on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) has transformed how millions understand health, trauma, and resilience.

She breaks down how childhood experiences can shape your brain, body, and health— and why even subtle moments from the past can leave a lasting mark.

You’ll learn simple, proven tools she uses with patients (and in her own life) to heal, manage stress, and break old patterns.

By the end, you’ll see your past— and your future— in a whole new way.

If you’ve ever wondered why certain challenges keep coming back, this episode is for you.

Chapters
00:00 Trailer
01:05 Intro
02:05 How Dr. Nadine Burke Harris discovered her calling in ACEs research
03:40 The case of a 7-year-old that changed her medical career
06:34 What are ACEs and why they matter for lifelong health
09:47 How toxic stress rewires the brain and body
14:02 Screening for ACEs and what the data reveals
15:27 Protective factors that heal and build resilience
18:03 Recognizing your own ACEs and their impact on relationships
20:22 You’re not broken, but you are vulnerable
21:42 Top healing practices including therapy, mindfulness, and EMDR
27:30 The cumulative health risks of multiple ACEs
35:30 Why ACEs are a public health crisis costing trillions
43:33 How California screened millions for ACEs
47:20 Breaking intergenerational cycles through early intervention
49:07 From TED Talk to bestselling book The Deepest Well
53:19 Final advice: have empathy for yourself and embrace vulnerability
54:33 Outro

Explore more of Dr. Nadine Burke Harris’s work:
Facebook:   / nadineburkeharris  
Instagram:   / drburkeharris  
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@drburkeharris
LinkedIn:   / drburkeharris  
YouTube:    / @drburkeharris  

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