479. Introducing Jill’s New Podcast, We the Sunlight, with Juls Bindi

What does it really mean to speak up—and what happens when telling the truth comes at a cost?In this special episode of&nbsp;Psychologists Off the Clock, Jill Stoddard and Yael introduce Jill’s powerful new podcast,&nbsp;We the Sunlight, a show about the brave act of speaking up in a culture that too often rewards silence. Then, listeners get an exclusive preview of the first episode, featuring Jules Bindi, one of the first women to publicly share that she was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein before the #MeToo movement began.Jules shares her story—from growing up surrounded by trauma and abuse to building a successful career as a massage therapist to Hollywood’s elite. She describes the grooming, manipulation, and sexual assaults she experienced at the hands of one of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry, as well as the complicated question that haunted her afterward: Why did she go back?Together, Jill and Jules explore the complex survival responses that can make victims blame themselves, including fawning, appeasing, and attempting to maintain safety in the face of overwhelming power. Jules also shares what finally helped her come forward, what she feared would happen if she spoke publicly, and why she ultimately decided that staying silent came at too high a cost.You’ll hear about shame, self-forgiveness, post-traumatic growth, and the complicated reality of speaking truth to power. Most importantly, Jules offers a powerful message to anyone considering whether to come forward—and to those who have already spoken up and are living with the consequences.Join us for this moving introduction to&nbsp;We the Sunlight&nbsp;and the story of one woman who discovered that courage doesn’t mean speaking without fear. Sometimes, it means deciding that something matters more than staying silent.Listen and Learn:The story behind Jill’s new podcast,&nbsp;We the Sunlight, and how her own experience speaking publicly about a family member who caused harm inspired her to create a show centered on truth-tellingWhy speaking up can be both deeply meaningful and incredibly costly—and how people weigh the potential consequences before deciding whether to come forwardJules Bindi’s journey from a childhood shaped by abuse and trauma to becoming a successful massage therapist with high-profile celebrity clientsHow Harvey Weinstein used power, praise, promises, and manipulation to groom Jules and exploit the enormous power imbalance between themWhy survivors may continue contact with or return to someone who has harmed them—and how survival responses such as fawning and appeasing can complicate our understanding of traumaWhy asking, “Why did they go back?” can fuel shame and self-blame when survivors are already struggling to understand their own responsesHow fear of retaliation, public scrutiny, victim-blaming, and professional consequences can make speaking out against a powerful person feel nearly impossibleWhat ultimately motivated Jules to come forward publicly and later participate in the legal case against WeinsteinHow becoming a mother helped Jules reconsider what she would want her own daughter to do if she were ever harmedWhy Jules says she experienced fewer negative consequences from speaking up than she expected—and how speaking publicly allowed her to put down some of the weight she had carried in silenceThe difference between taking responsibility for someone else’s harmful actions and finding meaning in the ways we choose to respond afterwardHow Jules has transformed her experiences into advocacy, supporting other survivors and teaching children about bodily autonomy and personal boundariesWhy self-forgiveness can be one of the most difficult—and meaningful—parts of healingWhat to consider if you are wrestling with whether to speak up, including the question of what it may cost you to stay silentJules’ message to those already living through the difficult aftermath of coming forward: celebrate your courage, care for yourself, and remember that the intensity of the moment will not last foreverWhy all of us can support survivors by resisting the urge to judge, question, or shame them for the ways they responded to traumaResources:We the Sunlight&nbsp;podcastJules Bindey / EQ Kid BooksMy Body, My Rules&nbsp;by Jules BindiThe Harmony Hills&nbsp;children’s book seriesAsk Before Touching MeIt’s Okay for Me to Say NoAbout Jules Bindi:</