Healing the Body and Spirit from Trauma with Gabrielle Union

Video Description

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with Gabrielle Union for a conversation that is both deeply personal and profoundly expansive. Gabrielle opens up about her journey through trauma and survival, the ways disassociation shaped her life, and her ongoing work to reclaim peace in her body and spirit. She reflects on the cultural legacy of ‘Bring It On’ twenty-five years later, her pilgrimage to Africa for her 50th birthday, and how listening to ancestors has guided her path forward. Gabrielle also shares the story of surviving sexual assault at 19, the impact it had on her relationships and career, and why she has committed her voice and advocacy to changing how we understand and treat PTSD. Later in the episode, psychiatrist Dr. Sofia Noori joins the conversation to unpack how trauma lives in the body and the tools that can help survivors heal. Together, Gabrielle and Sofia talk about their work with Nema Health, the company they’ve helped build to create new, lasting pathways to trauma recovery. It’s a raw, soulful episode about ancestry, survival, advocacy, and the possibility of a life defined by more than trauma. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction Gabrielle Union 00:26 Sponsor Messages and Announcements 01:45 Heartfelt Welcome and Personal Connections 03:37 Advocacy, Activism, and New Projects 04:47 Reflecting on 'Bring It On' and Cultural Impact 08:05 Journey to 50: A Transformative African Adventure 24:14 Reclaiming Peace and Addressing Trauma 45:52 The Impact of Trauma on Relationships 46:35 Coping Mechanisms and College Life 47:13 Support Systems and Emotional Healing 48:08 Therapeutic Journeys and Personal Growth 55:15 Understanding PTSD and Its Symptoms 59:50 Sofia's Story and Professional Insights 01:03:14 Nema Health and Trauma Recovery 01:05:21 The Role of Therapy in Healing 01:08:15 Challenges of Infertility and Control 01:17:48 Hope and Healing for Trauma Survivors Watch more episodes of Reclaiming: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJUnI6nPG8Em8EZyWhZ_C_2ZFS3T2hnO Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on social: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimingwithmonica https://www.tiktok.com/@reclaimingwithmonica Connect with Monica: https://www.instagram.com/monica_lewinsky https://x.com/monicalewinsky https://www.facebook.com/MonicaLewinsky/ Connect with Wondery: Connect with Wondery https://instagram.com/wonderymedia https://tiktok.com/@wonderymedia https://facebook.com/wonderymedia https://x.com/wonderymedia About the show: If you’re interested in unexpected conversations that go uncharted places, are remotely self-aware and like to laugh, then please join me as I continue to find my public voice on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky. (That’s me.) I will have honest, wide-ranging interviews with all kinds of people – recognizable names, regular folks, experts and friends – about what it means to reclaim what’s been lost or taken in the broadest sense. Every week, I’ll draw from my own unique experiences (like say, surviving a global scandal at 24 years old), and delve into the personal and often messy ways people find their way back to themselves. And because I love a good tangent, we’ll probably also touch on other stuff, too. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky premieres early and ad-free at https://wondery.com/shows/reclaiming-with-monica-lewinsky. #monicalewinsky #podcast