I’m joined by the incredible Ginni Saraswati—Founder and CEO of Ginni Media, award-winning journalist, and podcasting powerhouse. As the driving force behind a thriving production company and host of The Ginni Show, Ginni has dedicated her career to amplifying voices and stories that matter—including her own. In this deeply personal conversation, she opens up about growing up with a mentally ill parent, an experience I know all too well. Together, we reflect on the nonlinear journey of grief, having both lost our mothers in 2021, and the lifelong process of healing.

Ginni shares the trauma of childhood abuse, the cultural stigmas that often silence survivors, and her ongoing journey of self-reclamation. We dive into breaking generational cycles, learning to trust and love again, and the transformative power of therapy and reparenting. Through it all, Ginni reminds us that healing isn’t about erasing the past—it’s about finding the courage to own your story. If you’ve ever felt alone in your journey, this episode is for you.

(00:00:00) Introductions

(00:02:32) Breaking the Silence on Growing Up with Trauma

(00:13:41) Healing Trauma & Relearning Self-Care as a Parentified Child

(00:21:44) Breaking Generational Cycles & Building Healthy Relationships

(00:33:13) Normalizing The Nonlinear Grief Journey

Click here for full show notes

Guest Info:

• Instagram: @theginnishow

• Podcast: The Ginni Show

Resources:

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

• Thank you to our partners! Go to thebigsilence.com/partners for special offers for our listeners

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Producer, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Mentioned in this episode:

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