Welcome to “Un-seen Legacies Of Childhood”, a new podcast making serious noise about the importance of self-esteem, and our environment, particularly in the younger years. Hosted by Sonia Seekunto, the 6-part series chews the fat on everything that contributes to self-esteem and our choices later in life, exploring the pain of feeling unseen, ignored and what that does to your sense of self. How our self-esteem moulds our choices, how it shapes our lives and why it’s so damn important! Each episode explores a different piece of the puzzle, from the role of schools on a child’s sense of identity, their sense of their own capacity, to shining a light on those from very different and sometimes challenging backgrounds.

What if your darkest childhood memories could be the key to unlocking your greatest potential? Join us as we sit down with Sandra Stein, MBACP registered humanistic gestalt integrative therapist, who takes us on an emotional journey from her tumultuous beginnings in Brazil to becoming a beacon of hope in the UK. Sandra candidly shares her early experiences with neglect, abuse, and the foster care system, revealing how these adversities shaped her passion for helping others. Her story is a testament to the power of therapy, even in the face of deep-rooted skepticism and cultural stigmas.

In this heartfelt episode, Sandra discuss how unstable childhood environments can leave lasting wounds, impacting self-esteem, and mental health well into adulthood. We hear the significant role of school experiences and how they can influence identity formation. We explore the serious consequences of low self-worth, including perfectionism, body dysmorphia, and conditions like addiction and eating disorders. The discussion extends to the modern pressures of social media on teenagers, revealing how these challenges often resurface in adulthood through codependency and trauma bonding.

We also examine the various coping mechanisms people develop in response to childhood trauma, such as the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses. Sandra provides invaluable insights into healing from inter-generational trauma and the importance of self-regulation, underscoring the need for self-acceptance and kindness. The episode concludes with advice on how to nurture self-belief and find supportive communities to foster a more compassionate future for the next generation..

There's a moment in everyone's life when the world feels like it's collapsing under the weight of our mistakes. For Chris Baker, that moment stretched into years of battling the repercussions of a childhood riddled with trauma and a descent into a life of crime. This episode hears how he broke the cycle of trauma to embraces the power of second chances.

Chris speaks with unwavering honesty about his transformation from a troubled youth to an advocate for change, sharing his deeply personal experiences that underscore the profound impact of mentorship, creative expression, and redemption.

Against a backdrop of hardship, Chris reveals the life-changing consequences of his father's imprisonment and the subsequent spiral that saw him himself entangled with the law. He recounts how engaging with rehabilitation organisations carved a path towards self-improvement and how his work in disability awareness and offender support shines a beacon of hope for others. From the depths of a tragic accident that forever altered his world, Chris emerged with a newfound purpose, channeling his experiences into empowering others.

Chris's story is a testament to human resilience. But it isn’t just about overcoming adversity, it’s about harnessing life's challenges to fuel a passion for making a difference. With the optimism of someone who has seen the darkest nights and now working tirelessly so others might find their own dawn. Chris Baker's journey is a powerful reminder that transformation is within reach, and that each one of us holds the potential for remarkable change.

Episode signposting:

https://www.instagram.com/chris__baker__/

https://koestlerarts.org.uk/

https://www.apfoundation.org.uk/

https://www.forwardtrust.org.uk/support-type/mental-health-support/

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-prison-guide-male-prisoners

https://prisonreformtrust.org.uk/adviceguide/who-can-help/

https://www.childline.org.uk/

https://www.mind.org.uk/