Fractals of Change

The Unseen: Jerome Elam (Part 2)

What happens when the victims no one talks about begin to speak? In Part 2 of this raw and revealing conversation, Mary Schaub continues her dialogue with Jerome Elam—President and CEO of the Trafficking in America Task Force, U.S. Marine veteran, and child trafficking survivor. This episode turns toward the often-ignored experiences of boys who are trafficked, and the profound silence they’re forced to endure. Jerome opens up about the toxic myths surrounding masculinity, the societal blind spots that fail boys and men, and how easy access to online exploitation and misinformation is creating a generation disconnected from real connection, love, and healing.   ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse, trafficking, suicide, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised. 🔑 Key Takeaways: * Boys are trafficked too—and they’re often uncounted, unseen, and silenced * Male survivors face unique stigma, which delays healing and increases risk of suicide, addiction, and isolation * Pornography and social media are distorting relationships and rewiring expectations for intimacy—especially in young men * Every act of kindness can become a lifeline. Vulnerability is a bridge * Advocacy is healing. When survivors speak, they reclaim what was taken 🎤 Compelling Quotes: “This isn’t a gender issue. It’s a human issue.” – Jerome Elam “Many male survivors never even realize they were trafficked—until they hear someone else’s story.” – Jerome Elam “When you reclaim your story, it stops being the thing that breaks you—and becomes the thing that fuels you.” – Mary Schaub “The most beautiful sound? A survivor breaking their silence after years of silence.” – Jerome Elam “What happened to me will always be part of me—but it no longer defines me.” – Jerome Elam 🔍 Keywords for SEO & Podcast Platforms: Male trafficking survivor, boys and human trafficking, male sexual abuse, child exploitation, human trafficking awareness, trauma-informed podcast, trauma recovery, trauma therapy, pornography addiction, mental health for men, survivor stories, healing masculinity, Shobukai Shift, Mary Schaub, healthy relationship education, social media and trauma, suicide prevention #ShobukaiShift #JeromeElam #MaleSurvivorsMatter #TraumaInformedLeadership #HumanTraffickingAwareness #SurvivorAdvocate #BreakingTheSilence #BoySurvivors #VulnerabilityIsStrength #TraumaHealing #PodcastOnTrauma  🔗Links  * National Center for Missing and Exploited Children [https://www.missingkids.org/footer/contactus]: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678 * Trafficking in America Task Force [https://traffickinginamericataskforce.org/] * Clown and the Candyman documentary [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14031896/] * Safe Harbor Laws  [https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/253244.pdf] Disclaimer: ***The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.*** Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub Contact: FractalsofChange@outlook.com Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA) [https://www.mschaubadvisory.com/]

The Unbreakable: Jerome Elam (Part 1)

"They say the truth will set you free. But first, it will break you open." In this deeply moving episode, Mary speaks with Jerome Elam—USMC vet, child trafficking survivor, and CEO of America's Trafficking in America Task Force. From surviving unspeakable abuse to testifying before Congress and training law enforcement across the world, Jerome’s story is a powerful journey of resilience, transformation, and radical purpose. Part 1 dives into Jerome’s early life, the trauma he endured, the systemic failures, and the importance of trauma-informed leadership. 🎧 Part 2 coming next Wednesday.  ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses child abuse, and self harm. Listener discretion is advised. 🔑 Key Takeaways: * Trauma doesn’t end when it’s over—it echoes until it's witnessed, processed, and healed. * Vulnerability is not weakness—it's the foundation of true leadership. * Every survivor needs a lifeline  * Reclaiming your story is a radical act of power. * Breaking intergenerational trauma requires therapy, accountability, and immense courage. * Public perception of trafficking is still catching up to its modern realities  * Every person has a role to play in protecting the vulnerable  🎤 Compelling Quotes: * “I’ve turned my trauma into something beautiful.” – Jerome Elam * “You don’t heal in spite of your trauma. You lead through it.” — Mary Schaub * “It only takes one person to make a difference.” – Jerome Elam * “We underestimate how a single act of kindness might be someone’s lifeline.” – Mary Schaub 💡Keywords: child trafficking survivor, male survivor of abuse, breaking generational trauma, trauma-informed leadership, trauma healing podcast, podcast on trauma, healing from abuse, leadership after trauma, trauma-informed coaching #JeromeElam #TraumaInformedLeadership #HumanTraffickingAwareness #MaleSurvivor #TraumaHealing #PodcastOnTrauma #SurvivorVoices  🔗Links Mentioned in this Episode: * National Center for Missing and Exploited Children [https://www.missingkids.org/footer/contactus]: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678 * Trafficking in America Task Force [https://traffickinginamericataskforce.org/] * Clown and the Candyman documentary [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14031896/] * App Store Accountability Act [https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364] Disclaimer: ***The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.*** Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub Contact: FractalsofChange@outlook.com Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA) [https://www.mschaubadvisory.com/]

Audience Share: Nature

In this heartfelt follow-up to "The Well-Gardened Self," Mary reads and reflects on powerful listener stories about how nature has supported their personal transformations. From fire escape herb gardens to grief walks through the woods, these stories reveal nature as a quiet but potent ally in healing, connection, and growth.   Topics Covered: 🎯Nature and grief processing 🎯Everyday rituals of reconnection 🎯Community through gardening 🎯Intergenerational healing through outdoor time 🎯Why we’re not machines—we’re ecosystems 🎯Nature as metaphor for identity, care, and change   Key Takeaways: 💡Transformation is less about doing and more about becoming—like seasons, slowly and cyclically. 💡Engaging with nature can help us process grief. 💡Rituals in nature ground us and create stability. 💡Change is a natural part of life, as reflected in nature. 💡Caring for plants can awaken our desire to care for ourselves. 💡Nature fosters community and connection among people. 💡Silent companionship with nature can be deeply healing. 💡We are part of nature, not separate from it. 💡Nature invites us to return to our true selves. 💡Transformation often begins with small, intentional actions.   Compelling Quotes: 🎤“The forest held my grief in a way people couldn’t.”   🎤“Nature doesn’t care about your resume. It cares about rhythm, effort, and patience.”   🎤“You are not a machine. You are an ecosystem.”  🎤“Nature doesn't care about your resume." 🎤"Nature is always inviting us to return."   Keywords:  ✅nature ✅healing stories ✅transformation and nature ✅grief and the outdoors, ✅mindfulness through gardening ✅ecosystem self-care ✅listener story episode ✅Shobukai Shift podcast ✅Mary Schaub ✅personal transformation stories ✅community gardens healing   #NatureHealing #TransformationJourney #GriefAndGrowth #MindfulGardening #ShobukaiShift #ListenerVoices #UrbanNature #EcosystemSelf #CommunityHealing #BeingBecoming Disclaimer: ***The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.*** Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub Contact: FractalsofChange@outlook.com Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA) [https://www.mschaubadvisory.com/]

The Well-Gardened Self

What if the key to navigating chaos isn’t more control—but more connection to nature? In this episode, Mary explores how the natural world—gardening, birdwatching, even groundhogs—can heal us, grow us, and guide us through personal, organizational, and societal transformation. Drawing from Sue Stuart-Smith’s The Well-Gardened Mind, neuroscience, client stories, and her own pandemic experience, Mary unearths a simple but powerful truth: transformation is our nature. Whether you're planting tomatoes, battling burnout, or feeding the birds, this episode will remind you:  Growth is messy. Nature is wise. And healing starts where you are.   Topics: 🎯Nature as a metaphor for personal evolution 🎯The neuroscience of growth and pruning 🎯Grounding, mindfulness, and biophilia 🎯Client stories of finding connection through nature 🎯Carl Jung, Erich Fromm, and the psychology of being   Key Takeaways: 💡Nature provides a living metaphor for change: cycles of death, renewal, and intention. 💡Engaging with nature activates right-brain attention and reduces stress. 💡You don’t have to escape to the woods to experience the healing power of nature—it starts with awareness. 💡Tending to a garden, or even a houseplant, can cultivate mindfulness, purpose, and connection.   Quotes: 🎤“When we sow a seed, we plant a narrative of future possibility. It is an action of hope.” – Sue Stuart-Smith 🎤“You are not a machine. You are an ecosystem.” - Mary Schaub 🎤“Nature meets us where we are—and grows us from there.” 🎤“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Jung   Keywords: ✅nature and healing, ✅the well-gardened mind, ✅Sue Stuart-Smith, ✅gardening and mental health, ✅transformation through nature, ✅grounding, ✅burnout recovery, ✅biophilia, ✅mindfulness and nature, ✅Jung transformation ✅ Fractals of Change   #NatureHeals #TransformationPodcast #MentalHealthMatters #ShobukaiShift #Biophilia #MindfulLiving #PersonalGrowth #SlowLiving #GroundedLeadership #WellGardenedMind #JungianPsychology Links: 🔗The Well Gardened Mind: Rediscovering Nature in the Modern World [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Well-Gardened-Mind/Sue-Stuart-Smith/9781476794488], by Sue Stuart-Smith.  🔗Earthing documentary [https://www.earthingmovie.com/] Disclaimer: ***The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.*** Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub Contact: FractalsofChange@outlook.com Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA) [https://www.mschaubadvisory.com/]

Rewrite Your Story: Penelope Cottrell & Ria Glenn DeMay

In this engaging conversation, Mary Schaub speaks with Penny Cottrell and Ria Glenn DeMay about their journey from working in law and education to creating the Rewrite Workshops, a platform designed to help individuals explore their personal narratives and reclaim their power through writing. They discuss the transformative power of storytelling, the importance of community and connection in healing, and practical writing prompts for self-discovery. The conversation emphasizes the hero's journey in writing, the ripple effect of personal growth, and the significance of human connection in a digital age.   Takeaways: 💡Rewrite your story to reclaim your power. 💡Writing serves as a mirror and doorway to self-discovery. 💡Hurt people hurt people; heal people heal people. 💡You cannot use someone else's fire; you must find your own. 💡Life is too short to not pursue your passions. 💡Everyone is a natural storyteller, regardless of writing skills. 💡Healing is relational; we need each other. 💡Small changes can lead to significant transformations over time. 💡Community outreach is essential for supporting others. 💡Personal growth often comes from unexpected places.   Compelling Quotes: 🎤 "Each of us is both the writer and the protagonist of the story we're writing for ourselves.” — Mary Schaub 🎤“The power of rewriting your story isn’t just in the words—it’s in reclaiming your voice.” — Ria Penny 🎤“Writing gives us a mirror and a doorway. We see ourselves more clearly, and we step into a version of ourselves that is just a little bit more whole.” — Rewrite Workshops Blog 🎤“Healing is relational. Transformation is relational. We need each other for the real work to take root.” — Mary Schaub 🎤“I want to know who I am without the trauma, without the pressure to be perfect—just Ria, as she is.” — Ria Penny 🎤“We’re trying to bring back the fire—to be the mentors we needed when we were lost.” — Penny Cottrell    Show Links: 🔥The Rewrite Workshops [https://www.rewriteworkshops.com/] 🔥 🌟The Rewrite Workshops (Substack) [https://substack.com/@rewriteworkshops] 🌟   Keywords: ✅ Rewrite Workshops, ✅ writing and healing, ✅ personal transformation, ✅ hero’s journey, ✅ shadow work, ✅ creative healing, ✅ journaling, ✅ storytelling for growth, ✅ trauma recovery, ✅ women’s empowerment, ✅ mindfulness, ✅ Joseph Campbell, ✅ narrative therapy, ✅ self-discovery, ✅ purpose-driven change, ✅ relational healing, ✅ raising strong boys ✅ Fractals of Change  Disclaimer: ***The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.*** Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub Contact: FractalsofChange@outlook.com Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA) [https://www.mschaubadvisory.com/]