Repairing Storytelling Harm with Rachel D'Souza

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of storytelling in nonprofits and how to repair harm caused by poorly shared personal experiences.

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of When Bearing Witness, we step into a conversation that sits at the heart of trauma-informed storytelling: what happens when a story intended to inspire instead causes harm, and how we move toward repair. Storytelling is powerful, but it is never neutral. When nonprofits share personal experiences without care, consent, or curiosity, those choices can leave deep emotional and relational wounds. This episode honors the truth that repair is possible, but on...

People in this episode

Host: Maria Bryan

Guest: Rachel D'Souza

Topics covered

• trauma-informed storytelling
• storytelling harm
• repairing harm
• nonprofit storytelling
• emotional wounds

Keywords

• trauma-informed
• storytelling
• nonprofits
• emotional harm
• repair

More episodes of When Bearing Witness®: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Storyteller

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• How Ethical Storytelling Becomes a Movement With Diana Farias Heinrich · April 14, 2026 · 15 min
• Bringing Nonprofit Storytelling Back to the Campfire with Michael Kass · March 10, 2026 · 35 min
• Joy As A Liberatory Practice with Frank Velásquez Jr. · February 10, 2026 · 26 min
• Five Ways to Build a Trauma-Informed Storytelling Practice In 2026 · January 6, 2026 · 9 min