Ep 33 - Choosing Forgiveness: Madeleine Black on Healing After Sexual Violence

At 13, Madeleine Black was gang-raped. For decades, shame kept her silent, but she came to realise: the shame was never hers to carry. In this powerful episode, Dr Connie is joined by two-time TEDx speaker and author of Unbroken, Madeleine Black, who made the extraordinary decision to forgive the men who raped her – not for them, but for herself. Madeleine shares her journey from trauma, silence, and a psychiatric ward at 14, to writing her book and speaking on global stages about sexual violence and shame. Expect a raw, honest conversation about healing, forgiveness, finding your voice, and why sharing your story is one of the most powerful things you can do. This episode will remind you: it's not what happens to us, it's what we do with it. 00:00 Content Warning 00:39 Meet the Host and Guest 02:43 The Night Everything Changed 03:46 Aftermath and Survival 04:57 The Impact of Shame 06:24 Finding a Voice and Love 10:37 Going Public and Forgiveness 14:23 Ripple Effects and Writing Unbroken 17:46 Advice for Healing 19:17 Resilience and Family Legacy 21:39 Where to Find Madeleine 22:04 Remarkable Woman Inspiration 23:15 Closing and Resources   MADELEINE BLACK ·      Instagram: @madblack65 ·      Website: MadeleineBlack.co.uk   UK SUPPORT SERVICES •      In an emergency, dial 999; for non-emergencies or dial 101 (UK only) •      Find your nearest NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centre •      Find an NHS Talking Therapy service near you or contact your GP surgery •      Charities: Mind, The Samaritans, Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, or Victim Support GET IN TOUCH Join the community: @StoriesWithoutShame on Instagram Sign up for the Stories Without Shame newsletter to join the movement.