The Big Silence

The Big Silence is a top-rated mental health and self-development podcast for anyone ready to build resilience, heal deeply, and grow with intention. Welcome to The Big Silence podcast. This is a space for real, honest conversations about mental health, resilience, and the things we’re all navigating but don’t always say out loud. I’m your host, Karena Dawn—mental health advocate, wellness entrepreneur, and owner and co-founder of Tone It Up—and each week I’m sitting down with psychologists, wellness experts, and people I deeply admire to talk about what healing actually looks like in real life. You’ll hear personal stories, expert insight, and simple, powerful tools you can apply to your own life. My hope is that you leave every episode feeling supported, understood, and more confident in your ability to move through whatever season you’re in. No more silence. Only healing.</

The Big Silence is a health podcast hosted by Karena Dawn, with 214 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Karena Dawn hosts The Big Silence, a health show with 214 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  The Big Silence

  Psychotherapist Terri Cole on Boundaries, Burnout, and the Cost of &#34;I'm Fine&#34;

  Aug 13, 202651 min

  Psychotherapist and boundary expert Terri Cole joins Karena Dawn to break down High Functioning Codependency (HFC): the pattern where over giving, over functioning, and chronic self sacrifice get mistaken for strength. Terri, author of Too Much: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High Functioning Codependency, explains how childhood conditioning shapes this behavior, the physical and emotional toll of always being &#34;fine,&#34; and why the most capable people are often the least likely to recognize codependency in themselves. Karena shares her own experience navigating these patterns, and Terri offers concrete first steps toward recovery, boundaries, and self consideration. (01:03) The Real Definition of High Functioning Codependency Some of the most capable, high-achieving women reject the word &#34;codependent&#34; the moment it's suggested The subtle sign Terri looks for that has nothing to do with being an enabler or &#34;codependent no more&#34; Karena's gut reaction realizing she fits a pattern she never saw in herself (08:16) Caretaker or Codependent? Where to Draw the Line The uncomfortable question Terri asks clients before they take on anything for someone else Why Karena's childhood memory of her dad picking up hitchhikers says more about safety than kindness The real reason HFCs feel responsible for things that were never theirs to fix (22:07) The Cost Nobody Talks About The physical toll Terri has seen after nearly three decades of treating HFCs, and it's not just burnout Why &#34;existential loneliness&#34; can hit even when you're surrounded by people who love you The pendulum swing Terri sees play out in almost every client's cycle (37:05) Breaking the Pattern Without Losing Yourself The two questions to ask before saying yes to anything, straight from the book Why narcissists and high functioning codependents are drawn to each other like a hand and glove The line Karena's mother told her about receiving help that changed everything What's actually waiting on the other side of recovery, and why Terri calls it liberation Guest Resources Terri's Free High Functioning Codependency toolkit (https://www.terricole.com/hfc/) Follow Terri on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/terricole/) Visit her website (https://terricole.com) Listen to The Terri Cole Show (https://terricole.com/itunes) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners) Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/radiate-rise-2026-summer-challenge) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) TONE IT DOWN PODCAST (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-down-podcast) Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en) Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

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  The Big Silence

  Commune CEO Jeff Krasno on Turning a Diabetes Diagnosis Into Good Stress

  Aug 6, 20261h 4m

  Jeff Krasno is the co-founder of Wanderlust, the founder and CEO of Commune, and the author of Good Stress: The Health Benefits of Doing Hard Things. In this episode, Jeff joins Karena Dawn to discuss his diabetes diagnosis at forty-nine and the intermittent fasting, cold water therapy, and resistance training protocols that helped him lose sixty pounds in three months. He also unpacks the science of circadian rhythm and sleep, the adaptive biology of stress, and his work building a women's health and longevity movement. What if the thing you've spent your life running from is exactly what your body needs to heal? Jeff Krasno's journey from a diabetes diagnosis to a full reversal within months reveals that discomfort, not comfort, might be the missing ingredient in modern wellness. Timestamped Highlights [11:59] The Diagnosis No One Saw Coming What happened the same year he sold his company that Jeff calls &#34;candidly quite connected&#34; The number on a continuous glucose monitor that finally sent him to the doctor The childhood pattern Jeff says built his empire and nearly broke him [19:52] Building Commune, Losing 60 Pounds & Rewriting the Rules of Wellness The humbling way Jeff pitched a global icon on the idea that became Commune Why Jeff says stress &#34;needs a new PR agent,&#34; and the story that explains it The four-protocol stack Jeff says produced changes he could watch happen in real time [48:51] Good Stress, Sleep Science & Building a Women's Health Movement The doctors Jeff credits as more helpful than anyone else on his healing journey Why Jeff says most wellness events, even the biggest ones, are actually built for men Jeff's blunt take on why being in the same room as another person matters more than ever Guest Info & Resources: jeffkrasno.com @jeffkrasno on IG (https://www.instagram.com/jeffkrasno) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners) Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/radiate-rise-2026-summer-challenge) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) TONE IT DOWN PODCAST (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-down-podcast) Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en) Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

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  The Big Silence

  Filmmaker Kelly Noonan Gores on the Placebo Effect, Forgiveness & the Body's Hidden Wisdom

  Jul 30, 202650 min

  Kelly Noonan Gores is the writer, director, and producer of the documentary Heal, author of the companion book by the same name, and host of the Heal with Kelly podcast. In this conversation, Kelly and Karena Dawn explore the placebo and nocebo effects, why 95% of our behavior is run by subconscious programming formed in early childhood, the role of forgiveness in physical and emotional healing, generational trauma, plant medicine, and the gratitude practices Kelly credits with changing the course of her life. [04:44] The Placebo Effect Is Just the Beginning The surprising percentage of people who feel better from a sugar pill alone Why a doctor's words can be as powerful as any diagnosis, for better or worse The subconscious programs written into your brain before you turned seven What &#34;the brain doesn't know the difference between real and imagined&#34; actually means for how you heal [19:25] Trauma, Forgiveness & the Stuff We Avoid Kelly on believing she had a &#34;normal&#34; childhood, until she didn't The difference between &#34;big T&#34; and &#34;little t&#34; trauma, and why it matters Her honest answer to being called a &#34;forgiveness factory&#34; What ancient wisdom says about you breaking a pattern of generational trauma (37:39) Manifestation, Plant Medicine & What Actually Heals Kelly’s gratitude journaling trick that led to an unexpected six-figure job Why her first plant medicine journey went sideways, and what changed the second time Karena's own experiment with the &#34;I remember when&#34; practice The real difference between isolation and connection, and why it matters more than we think Guest Info & Resources: @kellygores on Instagram Listen to the Heal with Kelly podcast Watch the documentary HEAL If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection Subscribe on YouTube Donate to The Big Silence Foundation The Big Silence Resource Guide Find exclusive offers from our supporters Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST TONE IT DOWN PODCAST Tone It Up App Tone It Up YouTube Tone It Up Instagram Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

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  The Big Silence

  The Menopause Gaslighting Problem with Integrative Dietitian Esther Blum’s No BS Guide to Hormones

  Jul 23, 20261h 3m

  Karena Dawn is joined by Esther Blum, an integrative dietitian and menopause expert with nearly three decades of clinical experience, to break down what perimenopause and menopause actually look like, and why so much of mainstream medicine gets it wrong. Esther explains the real symptoms of perimenopause, how to advocate for hormone replacement therapy at the doctor's office, and the research behind HRT and cancer risk. The conversation covers vaginal and pelvic floor health, gut function, the muscle and protein connection, the truth behind the &#34;menopot,&#34; and how alcohol and carbs affect hormones and sleep. Esther and Karena also discuss the link between unresolved trauma, cortisol, and hormonal health, plus practical tools for regulating the nervous system during this life stage. Why is menopause still treated like a footnote in modern medicine even when it affects more than 50% of the population? Esther Blum has spent nearly 30 years helping women get real answers instead of being handed a birth control prescription and sent home. This episode is the education so many of us never got. Timestamped Highlights The Menopause Gaslighting Problem (02:43) 02:43The real story of a doctor's outrageous response to a patient's perimenopause weight gain Exactly what to say to your doctor if you suspect you're in perimenopause and want to be taken seriously Why pelvic floor dysfunction is so normalized, and what almost nobody tells you about it after childbirth Food, Muscle & the Truth About the &#34;Menopot&#34; (18:51) The protein minimum most women are falling drastically short of and why it matters more now than ever Esther's blunt take on plant based versus animal protein for women in midlife Why she spends more time telling clients to eat more, not less, and what carbs at night actually do for you Trauma, Grief & the Nervous System (35:55) A striking mental health statistic tied to the perimenopausal years that doesn't get talked about enough Esther opens up about the connection between early trauma and hormonal health that surprised even her Her honest answer to whether you can slow down or interrupt perimenopause itself Guest Info & Resources: Esther Blum’s website Follow @gorgeousesther on Instagram Books by Esther Blum Listen to Esther Blum’s Midlife Realignment Podcast If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection Subscribe on YouTube Donate to The Big Silence Foundation The Big Silence Resource Guide Find exclusive offers from our supporters Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST TONE IT DOWN PODCAST Tone It Up App Tone It Up YouTube Tone It Up Instagram Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

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  The Big Silence

  Integrative Nutritionist Cara Clark Talks Disordered Eating, Faith & Ditching the Calorie Count

  Jul 16, 202649 min

  Integrative nutritionist, master blood chemistry practitioner, and author Cara Clark joins Karena Dawn to unpack the childhood pattern of performance-based love that shaped her adulthood and the faith-driven journey behind her book. Cara also shares her feel-good food philosophy, her take on protein needs for women over 40, and the daily nervous system practices that keep her grounded as a mother of four running her own business. The Big Question: How can women reclaim their health by tuning into their body, not society’s expectations? From Midwest Chaos to California Calling (00:00:51) Cara grew up as the oldest girl of eight siblings, describing her childhood as “chaos is normal.” Her early environment shaped her mindset—performing well earned love and attention. She reflects on moving from Indiana to California and the culture shock that transformed her health journey. Faith and family were early anchors, but the need for external validation lingered into adulthood. Performance-Based Love & Its Mental Health Cost (00:12:00) Cara discusses how love in her childhood felt conditional—earned through achievements. Therapy helped her realize she wasn’t broken in her marriage, but still healing from her upbringing. She opens up about marrying young, launching her business with her husband’s support, and finding her calling through her clients. Her story of realizing “rejection is protection” redefined her view of failure and success. Eating Disorders, Faith, and the Feel-Good Food Philosophy (00:17:10) After four kids in five years, Cara traded bootcamps for a sustainable nutrition business. Her food philosophy: eat within one hour of waking, all three macros every meal, five colors per day. She's passionate about regulating the nervous system as the foundation of healing. Her latest book blends recipes with prayer, morning rituals, and intuitive nourishment. Menopause, Macros & Meal Timing: Rethinking Women’s Nutrition (00:20:33) Cara busts myths about intermittent fasting and explains why it's often harmful for cycling women. She teaches why digestion is energy-intensive, and how eating earlier supports better sleep and hormone health. Her approach helps women transition through perimenopause and menopause without shame or confusion. “Protein doesn’t spike insulin”—a key tip for managing cortisol and energy in midlife. Healing Through Cooking and Connection (00:27:45) Cara believes you have to earn dessert—not by restriction, but by honoring the process and ingredients. Cooking is a daily meditation and a form of connection for her family. Her favorite part of each day? Building meals around cravings with intention, not guilt. Recipes are more than food—they’re rituals, reflections, and healing tools. This episode was Filmed at the Thompson Nashville. Guest Info & Resources: Order Cara Clark’s Cookbook Follow Cara Clark on Instagram If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection Subscribe on YouTube Donate to The Big Silence Foundation The Big Silence Resource Guide Find exclusive offers from our supporters Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST TONE IT DOWN PODCAST Tone It Up App Tone It Up YouTube Tone It Up Instagram Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air! Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn

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