
Ep 48. From Trauma to TEDx: How Cristina P. Simmons Turned Grief, Cancer & Infidelity Into a Platform That Heals Other Women
From MOMMAS WHO LEAD by Laura Caroffino
April 30, 2026 · 1h 3m · Season 3 · Episode 48
About this episode
Cristina P. Simmons shares her journey of overcoming trauma and how she helps other women heal.
What does it look like to walk through the fire — and come out restored? In this powerful episode of Mommas Who Lead, host Laura Caroffino sits down with bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and trauma-informed occupational therapist Cristina P. Simmons to talk about the kind of resilience most people never show the world. Cristina opens up about losing four children to a rare genetic syndrome, surviving a tumor in her femur that nearly cost her a leg, navigating infidelity in her marriage, and raising a son on the autism spectrum — all while battling severe anxiety and functioning depression from unprocessed trauma. But this isn't just a story of survival. It's a story of restoration. In this episode, you'll hear: * What "functioning depression" actually feels like from the inside — and why so many moms are living it without knowing it * How Cristina went back to school for her master's degree at 39 — in the middle of all of it * The miracle Christmas night phone call that changed everything * Why people-pleasing costs you more than you think — including yourself * How unhealed wounds become patterns in your leadership, your parenting, and your marriage * The 3 things every mom…
People in this episode
Host: Laura Caroffino
Guest: Cristina P. Simmons
Topics covered
- resilience
- trauma
- self-care
- parenting
- mental health
- leadership
Keywords
- trauma
- resilience
- functioning depression
- self-care
- parenting
- mental health
- TEDx
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Soul Story Collective
Books & works: Eat Your Feelings
More episodes of MOMMAS WHO LEAD
- Ep. 52: Surrender Over Hustle: Faith, Motherhood & Building a Business with Rachel Nelson · June 12, 2026 · 1h 1m
- Ep 51: Don't Let Summer Steal Your Momentum — 5 Ways to Keep Your Business Growing When Life Gets Loud · May 22, 2026 · 23 min
- Ep. 50: Why High-Achieving Moms Feel Stuck — And How to Finally Move Forward · May 14, 2026 · 13 min
- Ep. 49: She's Graduating - but this episode is about YOU! · May 8, 2026 · 11 min
- Ep. 47: The Identity Shift Every Mompreneur Needs Before the Strategy · April 23, 2026 · 18 min
- Ep. 46: Can Handwritten Note Marketing Really Get 99% Open Rates? Rick Elmore Says Yes · April 16, 2026 · 55 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the MOMMAS WHO LEAD podcast page.