Brandbreaker with Lilia Tarawa

How do you reconcile child abuse with parental love? How do you maintain relationships with family who have harmed you? How do you make sense of family relationships when the people who were meant to keep you safe were also the source of pain? Got a question around healing from childhood trauma, family abuse, religious trauma, or deconstructing faith? Email: ⁠[email protected] ⁠Listener questions are shared anonymously unless otherwise requested. In this episode, Lilia talks about healing after parental abuse from the perspective of someone who grew up with child abuse, childhood trauma, and religious trauma, and who has spent the last 17 years deconstructing religion and deconstructing faith, learning how to live as an adult with autonomy, safety, and choice. This conversation explores what healing actually involves once you’re out of the environment, once you’ve left home, and once you’re no longer under religious control or high-control belief systems. The impact of parental abuse doesn't disappear for adult survivors of childhood trauma, once they are independent, successful, or physically safe. The body remembers. Family dynamics still trigger painful memories. And relationships with parents or caregivers can feel confusing long after the abuse has stopped, especially for those healing after leaving religion. In this conversation, we reflect on what it’s like to grow up inside a high-control religious environment, how religious trauma shapes childhood understanding of love and obedience, and why healing from family abuse often means redefining what love actually is while deconstructing faith. This episode is for anyone who is healing from parental abuse, child abuse by parents, or childhood trauma, and who is trying to make sense of family relationships as an adult. It’s especially for people who are emotionally intelligent, self-aware, and high-functioning, but who still don’t feel safe around certain family members and don’t know how to talk about that without feeling overwhelmed, confused, or guilty, particularly those deconstructing Christianity or raised in religious cults and faith-based belief systems. Disclaimer This podcast explores personal experiences and lessons related to parental abuse, child abuse, childhood trauma, religious trauma, and faith deconstruction. The views shared belong to the host and are offered for insight and reflection. Please consume in a way that feels safe and supportive.

Leaving a religious cult, fundamentalist church, or high-control faith environment doesn’t always bring the relief people expect. Send questions to: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ For many people raised in evangelical, fundamentalist, or authoritarian religious systems, the effects of religious trauma, church harm, and faith-based harm don’t show up right away. They often surface years later, when life finally slows down enough for the body and mind to catch up. In this episode, cult survivor and bestselling author Lilia Tarawa responds to listener questions about religious trauma, belief, and healing after faith-based harm, particularly for those raised in religious cults or rigid church systems. This conversation explores what happens after you leave: How to navigate belief after psychological or psychiatric harm linked to religion Why capable, self-aware people often struggle long after leaving church or faith Why being told to forgive, move on, or have more faith can make healing harder Why church harm and faith-based harm are so difficult to explain to others What happens when harm is acknowledged but there is no pathway for repair or justice Why asking for help can feel complicated after cults or fundamentalist environments How faith, doubt, and curiosity change after harm This episode is for people who: Were raised in religious cults or high-control faith environments Experienced religious trauma, church harm, or faith-based harm Left an evangelical or fundamentalist church but still feel affected Are exploring belief, doubt, or spirituality without wanting to be preached at Feel family or community pressure to conform to religious beliefs Listener care note This episode discusses religious trauma, church harm, and faith-based harm. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you. Lilia is not a medical professional. She shares lived experience and general support only. If you need additional help, please reach out to qualified mental health professionals or local support services. New Zealand National Helplines Need to Talk? Call or text 1737 (24/7) Youthline – 0800 376 63 (24/7) or free text 234, webchat at ⁠youthline.co.nz⁠ Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 (24/7) or free text 4202 Anxiety NZ – 0800 269 4389 (24/7) Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or free text 4357 (HELP) Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (7am–midnight)

If lead generation feels exhausting, inconsistent, or dependent on you constantly showing up, this episode will change how you think about scaling your business. Follow ⁠@liliatarawa⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠@liliatarawa⁠ on Threads Follow ⁠@liliatarawa⁠ on TikTok Follow ⁠@liliatarawa⁠ on YouTube Send questions to: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ In this episode, bestselling author and business coach Lilia Tarawa breaks down why most business owners struggle to generate repeat leads at scale, even when they’re skilled at what they do, and what actually creates sustainable growth without burnout. This training is for coaches, consultants, service providers, creators, founders, and online business owners who are already earning but feel stuck at a plateau. Instead of chasing more visibility or producing endless content, this episode focuses on trust-based marketing, authority positioning, and scalable systems that generate consistent leads over time. You’ll learn: Why repeat lead generation matters more than constantly finding new leads How trust compounds faster than attention The difference between attention-based growth and system-based growth Why messaging, positioning, and structure matter more than volume How to move from manual selling to repeat demand We discuss: Repeat leads and scalable lead generation Business systems for service-based businesses Trust-based marketing and personal brand authority Time leverage for founders and creators Why most growth strategies keep people overworked How to stop being the bottleneck in your business This episode is for online business owners who want: Consistent clients without constant selling Scalable growth without sacrificing wellbeing Clear positioning that builds trust automatically A business that grows through leverage, not exhaustion

A simple, embodied framework for business growth, decision-making, and aligned success so you can build a personal brand you genuinely love without burnout, self-abandonment, or losing yourself. This episode is for coaches, content creators, podcasters, YouTubers, authors, public speakers, and business owners who are done hustling for hustle's sake and ready to grow from a place of nervous system regulation, self-trust, and embodied leadership. Instead of forcing goals or pushing past your limits, this episode introduces a somatic alignment framework grounded in body-based decision-making, identity expansion, and sustainable success to support creative momentum and long-term aligned growth. You'll learn: Use a simple somatic alignment framework for decision-making without overthinking Stay connected to your internal compass while growing your personal brand Create clarity for the year ahead without rigid rules or pressure Build identity-based growth that feels sustainable and regulated Move forward with confidence, embodiment, and intentional growth Six practical anchors that help you: Decide what to say yes and no to without guilt Stay rooted in self-trust and embodied leadership Support creative clarity, momentum, and focus Grow your work and visibility without burnout Build a life that feels light, open, and sustainable You’ll hear: How to trust your body-based signals instead of pushing past them Why play, lightness, and openness are essential for creative growth in trauma-informed business How to stay regulated while pursuing high performance Why being wild doesn’t mean chaotic, but honest, unfiltered, and aligned How identity expansion creates more ease in business and life Two core questions: Who do you want to become? What does that actually mean in how you live, work, and decide? This is your guide to personal growth, nervous system health, and business alignment, staying connected to your body, your values, and the life you are building on your own terms. Follow ⁠@liliatarawa⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠@liliatarawa⁠ on Threads Follow ⁠@liliatarawa⁠ on TikTok Follow ⁠@liliatarawa⁠ on YouTube Send questions to: ⁠[email protected]

The holidays are meant to feel joyful, but for so many people, they bring up grief during the holidays, loss, loneliness, and pain. If walking through the holiday period feels like wading through mud, this episode is a space to hold you and the difficult emotions. We talk about simple ways to navigate grief during the holidays without abandoning yourself. We explore how to hold loss alongside celebration, listen to your nervous system, set boundaries with family, and stay connected without forcing yourself to perform happiness. This conversation is a reminder that you are not broken for feeling this way. Your grief is valid, your rest matters, and you are allowed to move through this season at your own pace. Follow ⁠⁠⁠@liliatarawa⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠⁠@liliatarawa⁠⁠ on Threads Follow ⁠⁠⁠@liliatarawa⁠⁠⁠ on TikTok Follow ⁠⁠@liliatarawa⁠⁠ on YouTube Send questions to: ⁠[email protected]