Dec. 21, 2025

From Silence to Strength: On Trauma, Truth and Gun Reform with Heidi Yewman

Show Notes

In this powerful episode, Candice sits down with Heidi Yewman, an award-winning filmmaker, author, and longtime advocate for trauma survivors and gun violence prevention. Heidi shares her personal journey growing up in an abusive household, navigating deep childhood trauma, and finding her voice through advocacy, storytelling, and community work following the Columbine High School tragedy.

In this episode, they discuss:

How childhood trauma shapes identity, coping, and resilience
Why minimizing pain is often a survival strategy
The role of safety, rules, and accountability in healing
How advocacy can become a pathway to reclaiming your voice
Why asking hard questions about gun safety saves lives
How empathy and dialogue create space for real reform
Turning imposter syndrome into purpose-driven action

This episode is a reminder that healing begins when we tell the truth, listen with compassion, and choose courage over silence. By turning pain into purpose, it is possible to create hope, connection, and lasting change!

About Heidi Yewman:

Heidi Yewman has dedicated 26 years to advocating for trauma survivors, with a passion for gun violence prevention ignited in 1999 when her former basketball coach and teacher, Dave Sanders, was tragically killed alongside 12 students in the Columbine High School massacre.

An award-winning director and producer of the documentary “Behind the Bullet,” Heidi has also authored the book “Beyond the Bullet: Personal Stories of Gun Violence Aftermath” and contributed numerous articles highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence on victims and their families.

As a board member of Brady United Against Gun Violence, Women Donors Network, Develop Africa, and the Trauma Intervention Program, Heidi has combined deep empathy with extensive experience in trauma work and community organizing to foster more meaningful conversations about gun violence. She approaches advocacy with fresh perspectives, aiming to create solutions rooted in compassion and dialogue.

Her writing has appeared in USA Today, Ms. Magazine, The Seattle Times, The Oregonian, and The Huffington Post. Her widely recognized four-part series, "My Month with a Gun," was published in Ms. Magazine, The Daily Beast, and The Denver Post. Her debut memoir, “Dumb Girl,” was published August 2025.

For more, visit HeidiYewman.com

Website - https://heidiyewman.com/
Book trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwgh-FmluQ4
linkedin.com/in/heidi-yewman-aa52ba71
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heidiyewmanauthor/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572729608602
BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/heidiyewmanauthor.bsky.social
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220630538-dumb-girl
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Dumb-Girl-Journey-Childhood-Advocacy/dp/1647429420/

Behind The Bullet Documentary: Can be found on Amazon to rent or buy
Bookshop - https://bookshop.org/p/books/dumb-girl-a-journey-from-childhood-abuse-to-gun-control-advocacy-heidi-yewman/7cc465fa041d5442

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Website: https://www.podpage.com/passion-purpose-and-possibilities-1/