Emotional Justice, Racial Healing and the Work We Must Do with Esther A. Armah
Esther Armah is a Ghanaian-British journalist, playwright, radio host, and creator of the Emotional Justice framework. She is the author of Emotional Justice: A Roadmap for Racial Healing. She joins this episode from Accra,…
Revolutionary Love: My Conversation with Dr. Samah Jabr
This episode explores the following subject matter: Understanding genocide and its impacts on mental health, Colonial trauma and its intergenerational effects, Torture, humiliation, and brutality as mechanisms of psychological harm, The limits of Western…
Debriefing Justice as Trauma with Ally & Mariana
In this episode, I sit down with my team—Ally and Mariana—for a real, unfiltered debrief following our recent conference. We reflect on the moments that moved us, the parts that challenged us, and everything…
There Is No Healing or Justice Without the Liberation of Children: In Conversation with Leslie Priscilla
In this powerful inter-generational conversation, I am joined by Leslie Priscilla of Latinx Parenting, along with Ally Hrbacek, Mariana Trujillo-Lezama, and Claudia Lezama. Together, we explore parenting, power, and the ways harm toward children…
Love and Healing Through Art and Storytelling with Shain Jackson
In this heartfelt conversation, Myrna is joined by her best friend Shain Jackson to talk about love, life lessons, healing, art, and spirit. Together, they reflect on how relationships and lived experience shape who…
Rest, Repair & Nervous System Regulation with James of Soma Body Health Toronto
In this episode, Myrna sits down with James, the founder of Soma Reset Toronto and the creator behind the widely followed TikTok account Nervous System Care Toronto, where millions have discovered his grounded, accessible…
Leveling Up: Moving Beyond Trauma-Informed Practice
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…
Unbroken: Angela Sterritt on Survival, Storytelling, and Holding onto Hope
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…
Reflections from Justice as Trauma 2025: If Not You, Then Who?
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…
The Willingness to Adapt: Jordan Assaraf and the Ukraine Airlines Case
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…
Resilience, Compassionate Communication & Healing with Nkem Ndefo
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…
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy with Heather Hart
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…
You Are the Medicine: a Conversation with Asha Frost
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…
Racial Trauma and the Rush to Innocence: a Conversation with Robert S. Wright
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…
Once Were Warriors: In Memory of Ty (aka Clovis) Iron
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…
Service Without Sacrifice with Dimple Dhabalia
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…
Healing Sexual Harm Through Restorative Justice: a Conversation with Marlee Liss
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…
[From Indictment: the Criminal Justice System on Trial] Courtroom to Campfire: Harold Johnson’s Final Public Lecture for Indigenous Justice
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…
Unpacking Restorative Leadership and Collective Healing: A Conversation with Louise Marra
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…
Exploring Complex Trauma for People of Colour: A Conversation with Natalie Gutierrez
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…
Putting the Criminal Justice System on Trial: A Conversation with Benjamin Perrin
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…
Kisâkihitin nitanis: Truth & Reconciliation Day 2023
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…
Safety Denied: The Lives of Indigenous Women in Canada
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…
LGBTQ2S+ Visibility on the Bench
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…
What Does Truth & Reconciliation Mean To You?
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.
LoveBack: Healing Indigenous Trauma with Vina Brown
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…
Am I Safe with You?
Myrna discusses why psychological safety is an imperative in all our relationships and invites listeners to prioritize the same.
Retreat, Regulate and Repair with Myrna and Dr. Dhall
Season 3 is here thanks to a generous gift from the BC Law Foundation! Thank you BC Law Foundation. Dr. Amar Dhall is back for round 2 to talk about introception, bio-hacking the nervous…
The Gift of Grief and Gratitude
CW: This episode discusses depression, suicide, mental health, alcohol and grief. Myrna recaps 2022 and highlights holiday depression, suicidal ideation, grief, gratitude, Gabor Mate and the healing we need in the legal profession. Caution:…
How We Teach is How They Will Practice: a Conversation with Natalie Netzel
Natalie Netzel of Mitchell Hamline Law School explains why trauma-informed lawyering is the way forward for law schools, legal educators and future lawyers.
Boundaries: a TLABC Talk Given at Whistler BC
Myrna gave a talk to the women of the Trial Lawyers Association of BC in Whistler, BC on October 22, 2022. She discussed boundaries, self-regulation, the consequence of never saying no and feeling like…
Small Doses at High Frequency: A Conversation with Justice Patrice Band
Ontario Court of Justice Patrice Band discusses trauma in the courtroom and his decision in R. v. Marratt which is the first of its kind to comment on vicarious trauma in the courtroom in…
The Upside Down World of Trauma
CW: This is an emotional episode which discusses Indian Residential Schools, child rape, the memories that haunt us and the hard stories we have to tell.
Community is Key to Healing
This episode discusses the recent collective trauma experienced by the James Smith Cree Nation as a result of the murders of 10 community members and the tendency of justice system participants to demonize and…
From Retribution to Restoration: A Conversation about Restorative Justice with Vanessa Slater
Vanessa Slater discusses the focus and inspiration for her paper which considers the relevancy, advantages and challenges of shifting Canada’s criminal justice system toward emotionally intelligent approaches to law.
Emotional Intelligence & the Art of Living: a Conversation with Dr. Amar Dhall
Dr. Amar Dhall shares his wisdom, insights and data on emotional intelligence and the art of living.
Trauma Informed Justice: The Course
Myrna is delivering her first course on trauma informed justice via Zoom Events in July 2022. Register today at www.myrnamccallum.co This course is for everyone, not just lawyers.
Dan and Nicole: A Story of Hope and Healing in the Criminal Justice System and Beyond
This episode includes a true story of a cop and a criminal finding healing, possibility, family and a deep relationship which overcomes trauma, bias, racism and privilege in the criminal justice system.
Closing Keynote for the Law Society of Ontario’s 16th Family Law Summit
This episode is a reproduction of Myrna’s closing Keynote for the 16th Annual Family Law Summit sponsored by the Law Society of Ontario and their Continuing Professional Development Department, originally delivered via Zoom on…
The Duty to Do Better: The Law Professor Version
This episode reflects on an earlier episode called, The Duty to Do Better: The Law Student Version. Law professors and instructors offer their perspectives on teaching in a trauma-informed way, lawyer and law student…
To Dehumanize is to Traumatize: My Conversation with Fritzi Horstman of the Compassion Prison Project
Fritzi Horstman of the Compassion Prison Project discusses prisoners, policing, trauma, ACES, intergenerational trauma, the justice system, racism, and how our humanity can get lost in our occupations.
The Duty to Decolonize the (Criminal) Justice System: Advice from Chantel Sparklingeyes
Chantel Sparklingeyes offers criminal court actors advice on how to decolonize the unjust system known for its dehumanizing practices when working with Indigenous people as victims, survivors, offenders and witnesses.
Lawyers as Humble Healers: A Solo Episode
This solo episode explores concepts of healing, humility, humanity and collective trauma put forward by Thomas Hubl, Sherri Mitchell, CJ Robert Bauman, US Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger and Nelson Mandela.
A Court of Refuge: Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren of America’s First Mental Health Court
Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren describes her pathway to creating the first Mental Health Court in America and offers compelling insight into how education, understanding, compassion and dignity can transform lives for lawyers, judges and defendants…
Honouring Resilience: A Conversation with Supt. Scott Jones of the Edmonton Police Service
This episode discusses trauma-informed approaches to community engagement and relationship-building which respects and recognizes trauma and resilience in the community and in the Edmonton Police Service.
Ahkameyimok (Don’t Give Up): One Survival Story – A Truth & Reconciliation Day Bonus Episode
In honour of the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, this episode offers some advice for listeners via Thomas Hubl’s book, “Healing Collective Trauma”. Plus, I repeat a talk given in…
Life Interrupted: Maria Mitousis on Survival, Resilience & Mental Health Among Lawyers
In this episode, Maria Mitousis, family law lawyer in Winnipeg MB, shares details about the day she received a bomb at her law office which was meant to end her life. On the same…
Be a Witness
This solo episode serves as a post-summer update, thoughts on Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada, upcoming trauma informed lawyering training opportunities and information about “must listen” upcoming episodes.
Indigenous Women and Girls Continue to Call for Justice: A Conversation with Chief Commissioner Marion Buller
Chief Commissioner Buller offers listeners several pieces of sound advice on how to bring a trauma informed approach into their processes as well as several culturally responsive actions lawyers and judges can take right…
The Duty to Do Better: The Law Student Version
This compelling episode amplifies the voices of privileged and historically oppressed law students in UVic Law 391 (2021 Class) who demand that a trauma informed legal education should be available to law students everywhere…
We Cannot Give What We Do Not Have
Episode 1 of Season 2 invites listeners to consider whether they bring empathy, compassion, patience and humility with them into the legal profession and into their professional relationships – and if not, why it…
Trauma and Transformation In the Judiciary: A Conversation with Judge Kael McKenzie
Judge Kael McKenzie of the Manitoba Provincial Court in Winnipeg shares his authentic self with listeners. Judge McKenzie openly discusses the impacts of vicarious trauma on judges, traumas entering the courtroom via court case…
Residential Schools, Reconciliation & The Indigenous Voice: A Conversation with Elder Garnet Angeconeb
This episode is both a celebration of Lynn Beyak’s departure from the Canadian Senate and an education in the residential school system as well as the origin of the use of the term “reconciliation”…
Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Lawyers in Practice
J. Kim Wright, Helgi Maki, Marjorie Florestal and I share our latest group project with you, a book on trauma-informed law which will be published in the summer of 2021 by the American Bar…
Practicing Smart Justice in Scotland: My Conversation with Iain Smith
In this episode, Iain Smith shares how becoming trauma aware has changed his approach to practice and the way in which he relates to his clients. He also explains why justice systems everywhere need…
Evolving Police Services Through Trauma Informed Practice: A Conversation with Inspector Dan Jones
This episode explores the evolution of the Edmonton Police Service through trauma informed training. Insp. Dan Jones discusses the benefits of a relational, community-based and decolonized approach to public safety and partnership-building.
Courageous Conversations & The Stories We Tell Ourselves
This solo episode focuses on the stories we tell ourselves, a concept I borrowed from a Harold Johnson talk, and how these stories coupled with a lack of self-awareness can cause harm to ourselves…
Re-envisioning the Lawyer’s Role: A Conversation with UCLA Law’s Claudia Pena and Alicia Virani
Claudia Pena and Alicia Virani share their inspiration for co-creating and co-teaching a course on trauma-informed lawyering and restorative/transformative justice at UCLA Law School.
One is the Loneliest Number: Justice Harry LaForme’s Advice for Indigenous Judges and Those Who Appoint Them
Justice Harry LaForme and I discuss the importance of Indigenous lived experiences in the judiciary as he reflects on his judicial career, trauma-informed decision making and his growing concerns about the increasing barriers for…
Practising Cultural Humility in Human Rights Advocacy: A Debrief Session with Amber Prince
Amber Prince and I debrief our experience at the BC Human Rights Tribunal in the Campbell v. Vancouver Police Board hearing as advocates for Deborah Campbell who called on us to prioritize her safety,…
Making Space for Trauma and Diversity in Family Law: A Conversation with Zara Suleman
This episode discusses trauma informed practice from the perspective of family law lawyer, Zara Suleman. She also discusses why diverse, racialized, Black and Indigenous representation and perspectives are necessary and essential in law school,…
Aligning With Your Values: A Conversation with Doron Gold
Former lawyer turned psychotherapist, Doron Gold, shares his insights into how we as lawyers and law students can learn self-awareness, resilience and overcoming personal traumas.
The Harm We Allow: A Call to Action from the Court to Become Trauma-Informed
In this episode, we reflect upon the messages of Justice Band of the ONCJ and (retired) Justice Langston of the ABQB and their acknowledgement of the traumas we unnecessarily or deliberately perpetuate in the…
The Case for Indigenous Justice in Canada: an interview with Harold R. Johnson
In this episode, Harold Johnson and I discuss his inspiration and motivation for writing Peace and Good Order. Our conversation is real, honest and offers an Indigenous assessment of the impacts that the current…
Vulnerability and Vicarious Trauma: a Personal Story
This episode focuses on vicarious trauma and identifies some risk factors and strategies we should employ to safeguard our mental health. This is a critical lesson for law students and lawyers who intend to…
Trauma Shock and Wellness in Law Students, Lawyers & Judges: An Interview with Professor Sarah Katz
Temple University Law Professor Sarah Katz, co-author of the article, “The Pedagogy of Trauma-Informed Lawyering” recalls her introduction to trauma-informed practice as a new lawyer entering Family Law practice and offers some insights into…
Adversity is not Destiny: The Case for Trauma-Informed Policing (an interview with Christopher Howarth)
This episode discusses trauma-informed policing efforts and training in the U.K with a focus on ACES.
Indigenous Intergenerational Trauma: What You Need To Know about Advocating, Adjudicating and Policing in Indigenous Communities
Obtain an education in cultural humility, Indigenous history, systemic racism and other injustices which continue to challenge Indigenous people before taking up the work of advancing their rights, adjudicating their claims or policing within…
Trauma-Informed Law and Creating a Sustainable Legal Practice
This episode explores what it means to build a sustainable law practice using trauma-informed principles which benefit every lawyer’s mental health.
Becoming Trauma-Informed Begins With You
Self-awareness, ego and recognizing the needs of your client or witness are fundamental to trauma-informed lawyering. This episode invites you to reflect on how you show up, what triggers you possess and how you…
Trauma & Compassion: My Interview with Gabor Maté
An interview with Gabor Maté, best-selling, award winning author and leading expert on addiction and trauma. Gabor talks about the criminal justice system and how the system and the lawyers and judges who work…
What I Wish I Would Have Learned in Law School
This episode introduces you to your host Myrna McCallum and what inspired her to transform her approach to lawyering and how she became the trauma-informed lawyer.
Intro to the Trauma-Informed Lawyer Podcast
Introduction to the Trauma-Informed Lawyer Podcast hosted by Myrna McCallum