HEALING CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE SHARE OUR STORIES
Trauma, Trial, and Transformation. Discover true stories from those who were called to sit in the witness chair and their journey through the process and beyond. This podcast brings to light the trauma and stress caused by testifying under oath and offers a different approach one can take to prepare to take the stand and how to heal after the encounter. Your host, Juliet Huck dovetails her 30-year career in the courtroom with her personal healing experience as a breathwork practitioner to create a unique perspective talking with witnesses, key litigators, and mental wellness professionals. As a persuasion strategist working on high profile, high stakes, and billion-dollar litigation, Juliet has assisted in preparing 100s of witnesses to bravely tell their truth and has observed the distress sitting in the witness chair can cause in one’s life and its lasting effects. Trauma, Trial, and Transformation offers a view, through a holistic lens, of ways witnesses are prepared prior to taking the stand as well as being cared for after leaving the courtroom.
Care, Custody and Control
My unique guest is an army veteran and recently retired corrections sergeant with the Pinellas County (FL) Sheriff’s Office. During his 28-year career, Jacob Moon supervised every area of the 3,200-bed facility, including the direct supervision unit, booking, maximum security, and the medical/psychiatric units. Jacob talks about how he has to separate his personal and professional feelings to do his job and how becoming a writer has helped him through the stressful process.
Making a Bad Situation Better
Join me in a rare and honest interview with small community active Police Sargent. Rob Disario who talks with me about his responsibility to make a bad situation better. He describes what it’s like to make crucial decisions within seconds in the middle of chaos. We also discuss the stress of being the very first person to arrive on a dire scene. “It is not like a TV show.” He explains the method of emotional support officers are getting immediately after a traumatic event. After all, “we are human beings.” He also shares how he mentors young officers on how to humanize themselves when taking the stand as well as prosecutors being the unsung heroes of the judicial system.
Not my Time
Meet Gary, a man of courage and enormous strength. Join me as I talk with him about his history as a law enforcement officer and the day he escaped death while chasing a perpetrator, only to have the man turn around and sue him. It doesn’t stop there. This inspirational episode shows what humans can overcome when they have the will to live.
Testifying as an Attorney
In this week’s episode, I talk with Jonathan Steele about the pros and cons of being an attorney when taking the witness stand. We discuss his experience in depositions as well as in court and he gives great advice on what to expect when testifying. We then transition the conversation to cyber security which is his new focus for family law and privacy.
Witness Prep in Emotional Environments
Join me as the tables are turned, and I am a guest on the Ripple Effect of Murder. I interviewed Jan Canty in episodes 35 and 36 of TTT, discussing what it was like to be a homicide victim survivor. Now, on Jan’s podcast, we discuss how homicide survivors may be used in a homicide trial and the emotional stress they come under. We talk about the delicate balance of keeping emotions in check without appearing stoic or removed which may result in looking indifferent. Jan raised the point that fatigue sets in so even focusing on being able to focus on individual questions becomes taxing. We also talk about how we can protect witnesses that have gone through the trauma, pre, during and post testifying.
Psychic Spies
Join me in a fascinating conversation with Marla Frees who has been a pro bono investigative consultant for various law enforcement agencies around the country. She first discusses she got over being a skeptic of mediums and psychics realizing she had the gift. Her natural profiling skills extend to the crime, victim, and perpetrator within each location/condition to assist law enforcement. She talks about an experience with an extraordinary family that took the deceased’s agenda of offering support and encouragement to a broader level, ultimately impacting a federal law.
Going to Jail Saved My Life
Join me in a brutally honest conversation with Lori Miller whose social drinking as a kid turned from innocent fun into a life as a drug addict and time in jail. After multiple arrests for grand theft auto, credit card fraud, living under an alias and being constantly on the run, the law finally caught up to her. She not only surrendered herself but asked the judge to send her to jail because she knew if she were out on parole, she would use again. After serving 4 months of a 6-month sentence, she felt a calling and completely transformed her life.
Emotions vs. Facts
Join me in our first of many interviews in 2024. Kim Williams and I have both experienced bullying and discrimination in the workplace and learned how to stand up for ourselves despite the fear of retaliation. She was advised to “just move on”, but instead chose to show her daughter how to bravely stand up for herself against a large corporation. She discusses how to take a breath, control your emotions and focus on facts.
Lawyers Are People Too
Join me in an educational conversation with Professor Shailini George of Suffolk Law School as she discusses a 2016 study identifying mental wellness issues and addiction in lawyers which led to the American Bar Association National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. Shailini discusses the fact that in some states a lawyer could not admit they got treatment and be admitted to the bar which kept them suffering in silence. Shailini’s approach with her students it is “put on your oxygen mask first”. She explains that if lawyers are taught mindfulness and wellbeing, they will spread that mindset and be better equipped for helping emotionally prepare witnesses to take the stand.
Human Trafficking Could Be Wiped Out
In this week’s episode I talk with Tyler Schwab who explains the hard truth that there are more slaves today than during the transatlantic slave trade BUT never more stoppable with technology. He explains that social media plays a huge part but once someone is arrested, it is hard for them not to plead guilty because it can be traced. He teaches victims techniques on how to protect themselves emotionally when needing to appear in court and walking them through the legal process. Tylers also tells a remarkable story on why authenticity in the courtroom is so important.
First Responder's Emotional Wellness
Join Juliet and former police detective and recovery coach, Mike Koch, in a discussion about invoking positive change and breaking the stigma of mental health issues among first responders. With a “no matter what” mantra, Mike changed his life after being arrested on 47 felony counts of drug possession and turned his life around. He became an advocate to help connect first responders who are suffering in silence, enabling them to ask for help in a confidential environment.
A Horse's Connection to a Human's Authenticity
This episode brings a fresh perspective on healing trauma through nature and horses. Megan Repass, an Equine Therapist, discusses how horses facilitate the healing process. A trained therapist knows how to build trust with the client so they can be matched with the right horse. She also talks about how she facilitates a space of safety and healing.
Trauma Informed DAs are More Effective
Join me for a very educational conversation with Colorado Springs Deputy DA Kelson Castain. He shares how the DA’s office, police department and sheriff’s office got a federal grant to focus on adult sexual assault cases. This has allowed victims to receive trauma-informed education to help minimize additional trauma when going through the court process. The funding also helps his SVU unit when working with children. They are one of the first offices in the country to provide a courtroom model for children to familiarize themselves with this intimidating setting and ease their anxiety.
We Need to Make the System More Humane
Ownership is True Freedom
When Wrongfully Convicted - Make Change
Parenting Parents
No Room Left for Denial
Join me in my conversation with Shelly Edwards Jorgensen who shares her courageous journey through her mothers death at the hands of her father. Left in the dark at the age of 15 on so many issues, she describes walking into the courtroom and being blindsided. She was expected to testify against her father who was sitting in front of her, then having no protection or support from the legal system while staying in the same home with him after her day in court. Her bravery as a teenager is moving. Her path of success moving forward is a story you will want to hear.
You Are Powerless in the Court System
In part two of my conversation with Jan Canty, she talks about the hard truths she learned while trying to heal from the murder of her husband. She describes discovering a modality called the Biopsychosocial Model which lead her to focus on the biological, psychological, and socio-environmental factors in her life. Her story of transformation — from being a murder victim to becoming a triathlete and a psychologist — is truly moving.
We're Not Wanted in the Courtroom
In the mid-1980’s, Jan Canty’s husband was the victim of a brutal murder. During the first part of her interview with host Juliet Huck, she describes the moment the police unceremoniously informed her of the brutality of her husband’s death and the traumatic events to follow. These included her required testimony at the hearing for the alleged murderer — with no support or guidance — the constant media presence at her home, discovering that her husband left their finances in ruin and friends that abandoned her.
Shame is Not Always Yours
Testifying in court can be a traumatic experience. A 12 year old girl testifying in a case involving a father who had also abused her resulted in long term mental and emotional effects along with some positive results. That’s the story Kristin Walker tells to Juliet Huck in this episode of Trauma, Trial and Transformation. She also talks about how the experience led her to begin what is now the Mental Health News Radio Network a collection of more than 80 podcasts dealing with the topic of mental health from multiple perspectives. Trauma, Trial and Transformation is a network member.
Jurors Tell the People in Power the Truth
Jury Consultant Ron Beaton and Juliet talk about the qualities he looks for when helping clients pick a jury –leaders vs. followers, those who speak their mind, and whether or not they have the courage or confidence to speak up. He also shares advice on techniques witnesses can use when prepping for the witness stand.
TTT joins the Mental Health News Radio Network
Redemption is Possible
Disclaimer: Sensitive Subject Matter. In this sensitive conversation, Michael Todd talks with me about how violence was the only way he knew to be loved and accepted. With a 25-year prison sentence, he discusses that after being beaten and almost killed in prison, he surrendered, deciding he wanted a new life. Only after he joined a rehabilitation group in prison did things begin to change. Participants began to humanize each other and Michael’s life took a positive turn. He was released and began his transformation.
Humanizing Mentally Ill Defendants
Join me as I talk to criminal defense lawyer Elizabeth Kelley, whose practice focuses on people with mental disabilities. She discusses how she firmly believes that individuals with mental disabilities should have rehabilitation instead of punishment. Parameters for people with mental illness are so restrictive that they set a very low standard for helping them get a fair trial. We also discuss the benefit of bringing in expert witnesses to explain the science behind different mental and physical challenges, thereby humanizing the defendant.
Birds Became More Important Than Drugs
You don’t want to miss this episode with Master Falconer Rodney Stotts who shares how his love of animals and nature have helped him heal from a life of drugs, guns and crime. After spending time in jail, he describes the peace and tranquility he feels working with raptors, and how sitting silent in nature brings one to a place of healing. One of his many inspiring quotes,”You can only heal if you find what makes you feel better, and don’t let anyone steal away your joy.”
We Should Not Be So Quick To Judge
In a heartfelt conversation with Immigration Attorney Heather Poole, we discuss the need for a balance of more positive immigration stories like the founder of Yahoo, Noble Peace Prize winners, scientists, and scholars that bring over 10 billion dollars to the U.S. economy. Heather also shares amazing stories of resilience and how getting a U.S.green card transforms lives.
Trump Indictment vs. Street Criminal
Join me with “white collar” trial attorney Gail Shifman as she explains the differences and similarities of street criminals vs. white collar criminals and how the process unfolds in the legal system, especially when it is a former President of the United States. In this unprecidented indictment, Gail discusses how the system can work in the favor of someone of such high profile yet how once arrested, the status of the convict is now exactly the same and he is referred to as a “criminal”.
