If you experienced childhood trauma and are still carrying the wound beneath your story, healing your inner child may be less about fixing what's broken and more about remembering who you really are.

In this episode Jessica Rooks, host of Awaken Your Authentic Self a show for empaths and old souls navigating awakening and trauma healing, sits down with John R. Spender, a 45-time international bestselling author, filmmaker, transformational coach, and founder of A Journey of Riches, a global storytelling movement featuring more than 400 co-authors from over 50 countries.

John couldn't read or write until age ten and experienced emotional, physical, and sexual abuse during childhood. Yet a teacher recognized his creativity when he wrote "Sausage Man from Outer Space". That moment became part of a remarkable journey that eventually led him to become a bestselling author, filmmaker, mentor, and advocate for sharing the wisdom found in our stories.

This conversation goes beyond overcoming adversity. Jessica and John explore childhood trauma, identity, healing, belonging, resilience, and authentic self-discovery, and what happens when we begin separating who we are from what happened to us.

In This Conversation, You'll Discover:

✨How childhood trauma can shape identity, beliefs, and the stories we tell ourselves

✨Why rewriting your story isn't the same as healing the wound underneath it

✨What John's travels through more than 75 countries revealed about identity, purpose and belonging

✨What hundreds of personal stories taught him about the blind spots we often cannot see in our own lives

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Follow Awaken Your Authentic Self for conversations about spiritual awakening, emotional healing, nervous system regulation, inner child healing, identity transformation, and conscious living.

Perhaps healing isn't about becoming someone new. Perhaps it's about remembering who you've always been.

About John R. Spender

John R. Spender is an internationally bestselling author, filmmaker, transformational coach, speaker, and writing coach. He founded A Journey of Riches, a global book series and storytelling platform featuring more than 400 co-authors from over 50 countries. Profits support Jewels Children's Home in Bali.

His documentary, The Gift in Adversity, explores how difficult experiences can become catalysts for self-discovery, purpose, and meaningful change.

Continue Your Healing Journey

If you're learning to understand how your past shapes your present...

▶️Still Anxious After Years of Healing? Why Your Nervous System May Be Keeping You Stuck | Martha Wright

https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/42192115

If you're ready to bring healing into your body, not just your mind...

▶️Nervous System Regulation | The 60-Second Reset That Ends Survival Mode | Camilla Calberg

https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/41374965

Connect with John R. Spender

Website: https://ajourneyofriches.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ajourneyofriches3672

Book Series: A Journey of Riches

Documentary: The Gift in Adversity

Connect with Awaken Your Authentic Self

Website: www.UniversityEarth.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessica.rooks.77377/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/1120_livingmybestlife/

Email: awakenyourauthenticself@yahoo.com

Interested in being a guest? www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176184925777844125f8026e4