Where there is darkness, there is an immense opportunity for light.
The Big Silence aims to normalize conversations around mental health and empower people to turn their challenges into triumphs. Hosted by Karena Dawn – mental health advocate, wellness entrepreneur, co-founder of Tone It Up, and New York Times bestselling author – The Big Silence is creating a safe space to share our story, and for you to share yours.
Like so many, Karena has experienced profound grief and trauma. Growing up with a mother diagnosed with paranoid-schizophrenia, her childhood was filled with traumatic experiences that resulted in repressed emotions of guilt, shame, depression, and eventually, a suicide attempt. Though filled with this darkness, Karena was able to find deep joy. And with The Big Silence, she's creating a space for you to find that joy, too.
This podcast will feature in-depth conversations with psychologists, spiritual leaders, public figures, friends, and anyone who has been impacted by a mental health condition – either themselves, or through a family member or a friend.
Suffering in silence only reinforces the stigma behind mental health issues and builds boundaries that prevent healing. Wherever you are, whatever you're going through, you have a spark of greatness inside of you.
No more embarrassment, no more shame, only healing.
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A non-profit 501(c)3, The Big Silence Foundation provides resources and support to anyone directly or indirectly impacted by mental illness.
'The Big Silence' theme song was written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.
Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.
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What happens when you fight for a year to reclaim the company you built—and finally win?
In this raw, emotional solo episode of The Big Silence, Karena Dawn breaks her silence and shares the news her community has been waiting for: she's bought back Tone It Up. After founding the company in 2009 at age 27, taking on investors in 2018, navigating a complicated acquisition, and spending the last year in intense negotiations, Karena now owns 100% of Tone It Up—with no investors. She opens up about the highs and lows of private equity, the days she wanted to walk away, why she stayed, and what's coming next for the community. From bringing back fan-favorite trainers to launching the new "Tone It Down" podcast, this episode is both a celebration and a masterclass in resilience. If you've ever fought for something you believed in, rebuilt yourself, or wondered what it takes to start over at 44, this one's for you.
How do you hold on when everything feels like it's falling apart—and what does it take to reclaim what's yours?
Fighting through years of uncertainty, negotiation, and emotional exhaustion proves that resilience isn't about never wanting to quit. It's about staying when every part of you wants to walk away.
(00:00) The Big Announcement
Why this moment is both exciting and nerve-wracking for her
The core mission behind Tone It Up: creating a safe, judgment-free community for women
What The Big Silence is really about: breaking stigmas around mental health and self-development
(03:00) What Happened in 2018? The Investor Story & Growing Pains
The reality of working with investors: when good intentions don't lead to good relationships
The emotional toll of the past 7-8 years: days she wanted to walk away vs. days she knew she had to stay
Growing up with the community: from 27 to 44, supporting each other through motherhood, loss, marriage, divorce, and perimenopause
(07:00) The Year-Long Fight to Get Tone It Up Back
Why Karena spent the last year behind the scenes in intense negotiations
The intuition that kept telling her: "I just want it back, big or small."
How she funded the buyback
(09:30) What's Next: The Future of Tone It Up
New fitness challenge launching in the Tone It Up app
The big reunion: Chyna, Stef, and Tori are back and just filmed workouts in Austin, Texas
New content across all platforms: YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram—all socials are back
Building a home studio to create more fitness content for the community
(12:00) Introducing "Tone It Down" Podcast & How to Participate
A new podcast launching in January with episodes featuring Tori, Stef, and Chyna
Solo episodes where Karena will answer community questions
How to participate: leave voicemails at speakpipe.com/karenadawn
The Big Silence will focus on mental health and self-development; Tone It Down will be fitness, nutrition, and womanhood
Reconnect with yourself and your community:
We start the New Year, New TI-YOU Challenge January 5th in the Tone It Up App. Just download the Tone It Up App at ToneItUp.com/app and we will see you January 5th!
If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence...
Why Clean Air Matters | Jaspr’s Wes Greenwood on Mold Illness, Air Quality & Inflammation
Épisode 175
mercredi 26 novembre 2025 • Durée 58:47
Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air!
What if the invisible air around you was quietly impacting your sleep, your energy, and your overall health?
In this eye-opening episode of The Big Silence, Karena sits down with Wes Greenwood, Wellness Director at Jaspr and a former firefighter-turned-air quality expert. From his decade as a first responder exposed to hazardous environments to his personal journey through mold illness and autoimmune challenges, Wes shares why clean air is just as essential as clean water and food. He breaks down the science of air quality, reveals surprising truths about what's floating in your home, and offers practical tools for better sleep, reduced inflammation, and improved mental clarity. Whether you're dealing with allergies, poor sleep, or just want to optimize your health, this conversation will change how you think about the air you breathe.
How do you protect your health when the invisible toxins in your home could be affecting everything from your sleep to your cognitive function?
Understanding air quality and taking control of your environment proves that wellness starts with the basics, including what you breathe.
(05:00) Why Nobody's Talking About Indoor Air Quality
Breaking down particulate matter: the invisible particles floating in your air
Why PM 2.5 (2.5 microns) is the most dangerous size for human health
The link between these particles and inflammation throughout the body
How PM 2.5 affects cognitive decline and overall well-being
Why people are oblivious to indoor air quality issues
(10:00) Testing Air Quality: Inside vs. Outside Your Home
Dr. Nadine Macaluso on Trauma Bonds: How to Spot Love-Bombing, Set Boundaries, and Heal
Épisode 166
mercredi 17 septembre 2025 • Durée 44:30
Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air!
What happens when the “perfect” relationship is powered by control, confusion, and intermittent kindness?
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Nadine Macaluso, somatic psychologist and author of Run Like Hell, breaks down trauma bonds. She explains why love-bombing feels so intoxicating at first, and how to rebuild trust in yourself after leaving a toxic dynamic. We cover red flags, green flags, co-parenting with a difficult ex, and why “boring” can actually mean safe, steady, and good.
How do you recognize when love turns into control, and find the courage to walk away from a trauma bond?
Escaping toxic cycles isn’t just about leaving the situation. It’s about relearning safety, trusting your own signals, and choosing peace over chaos.
(00:26) Origin Story & Reinvention at Any Age
Going back to school at 39 and finishing a doctorate at 45 proves reinvention is possible at any age
How early exposure to feelings and psychology sparked Nadine’s path
Therapy as a lifeline when chaos became overwhelming
(04:03) Love-Bombing & Early Red Flags
The intoxicating “soulmate” language and excessive attention of love-bombing
Why mismatched words and actions are an early signal to notice
Tuning into your body’s warning signs when something feels off
Guest Resources
76. Rewrite Your Inner Story: How To Shift Your Self-Talk & Live Fearlessly with Katie Horwitch
Épisode 76
mercredi 4 octobre 2023 • Durée 52:26
Let’s talk about self-talk. How you speak to yourself sets the tone for everything else in your life. That’s why I’m so excited to welcome Katie Horwitch – passionate writer, mindset coach, and women’s empowerment activist – to The Big Silence podcast today.
Katie is the founder of WANT: Women Against Negative Self-Talk, a platform that gives women tools, motivation, and inspiration to shift their internal conversations in a more positive direction. Her first book, Want Your Self: Shift Your Self-Talk and Unearth The Strength In Who You Were All Along, comes out on October 3rd.
In today’s episode, Katie shares a robust toolkit and tangible tips to transform your self-talk – and these aren’t your typical BS Instagrammable platitudes! Outlining key lessons from her book, we explore the difference between self-love and self-like, how to navigate comparison mode on social media, and insightful ways to face your inner critic.
Katie also shares her personal gratitude practice and why it’s so essential. Plus, she reveals one of my favorite new tricks – how to have a “planned freakout.” She even leaves us with some helpful homework to feel more centered, grateful, and fearless.
After you listen to this episode, tag me and Katie on Instagram and tell us what you’re grateful for today. And be sure to check out her new book!
75. How to Build Unbreakable Confidence & Resilience with Demi-Leigh Tebow
Épisode 75
mercredi 27 septembre 2023 • Durée 44:18
I’m so excited to welcome Demi-Leigh Tebow, a powerhouse entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe to the show today. After a traumatic carjacking experience, Demi dove into learning about gender-based violence and human trafficking. She then founded Unbreakable, a confidence-building conference that educates, empowers, and equips women to overcome challenges and break barriers.
Today, she opens up about the carjacking experience and how she trusted her intuition to fight back. We explore her healing journey through trauma counseling and EMDR therapy. We also talk about ways to tackle our everyday lives with confidence, how a small act can make a big impact, and Demi’s #1 practice for her mental health. Plus, she shares a genius tip for holding yourself accountable and staying motivated in your workout routine.
Demi radiates strength, optimism, and resilience. I know you’ll be inspired by her story and unbreakable mission to uplift women. Make sure to check out the Unbreakable conference October 7th in Jacksonville, Florida.
Remember – for the month of September, in collaboration with National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we're seeking your support to raise $10,000 to help 100 people through our Therapy for All program. Support the fundraiser here.
74. Rewriting 50+ Years of Mental Health Stigma: A Raw Conversation with Rocker Snake Sabo
Épisode 74
mercredi 20 septembre 2023 • Durée 01:23:18
Snake Sabo spent years suffering in silence, afraid to talk about his experiences with severe depression, anxiety, trauma, and self-harm. Now, he speaks openly about his journey and shares our passion for breaking the stigma around mental health.
We’re thrilled to welcome Snake Sabo, a legendary musician and the guitarist of heavy metal band Skid Row. In this vulnerable conversation, Snake opens up about receiving a mental health diagnosis in the 1970s, before any information or support was available to him. He shares stories of overcoming generational trauma, abuse, and self-harm as a teenager. We talk about how he found his calling as a musician, how he got his nickname from Jon Bon Jovi, and the healing power of music. We also explore how he supports his mental health on tour, and the tools he turns to today to manage anxiety and depression.
What stands out to me the most is how the stigmas Snake faced in the 70s and 80s still persist today. “The big silence is what makes this thing become perpetual,” he said. We’re breaking those patterns with conversations like this. Thank you for being a part of our movement!
Remember – for the month of September, in collaboration with National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we're seeking your support to raise $10,000 to help 100 people through our Therapy for All program. Support the fundraiser here.
73. You Can Transform the World: An Unforgettable Conversation with Marianne Williamson
Épisode 73
mercredi 13 septembre 2023 • Durée 47:47
It is a great honor to have bestselling author, spiritual leader, and 2024 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson on the podcast. She has changed millions of lives – including mine, I have been following her work since I started my own spiritual journey in my 20s – and she continues to do so every day with her deep passion and purpose for healing our world.
In this dynamic, thought-provoking conversation, Marianne and I talk about how we as individuals can impact the collective. We explore the intersectionality of mental health, how to protect America’s youth, how to bring less fear into politics, and ways to create a more compassionate society.
Marianne also speaks on the importance of owning your inner light as a means to enlighten others, believing we each have the power, and the responsibility, to bring light into the darkness. “There are forces in the world that would bring you down, and there is a spirit in us all that would lift us up.” That is her message to the community today.
She embodies that spirit and inspires it in all of us. This conversation is truly life changing, and I can’t wait for you to hear it!
Remember – for the month of September, in collaboration with National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we're seeking your support to raise $10,000 to help 100 people through our Therapy for All program. Support the fundraiser here.
72. Connect With Your Inner Knowing: A Revealing Conversation with Kimberly Van Der Beek & Peggy Rometo
Épisode 72
mercredi 6 septembre 2023 • Durée 56:39
I am thrilled to welcome Kimberly Van Der Beek and Peggy Rometo to the show. Recently, I chatted with them on their amazing podcast, Bathroom Chronicles, instantly falling in love with their warm energy, vulnerability, and deep insights. I know you will too!
Peggy is a spiritual teacher and world-renowned energy expert who helps others discover their intuitive gifts. Kimberly was a strategic advisor, producer, and activist before marrying actor James Van Der Beek, having six children, and moving their family to a ranch outside of Austin. From the ranch’s rustic bathroom, Kimberly and Peggy co-host Bathroom Chronicles, which gives a microphone to the honest, hilarious, and revealing conversations women have in the bathroom.
In today’s episode, we have a revealing conversation of our own. We talk about how Peggy and Kimberly met (at the same retreat Kimberly met James) and how they sustain and strengthen their friendship through the ebbs and flows of lived experiences.
Peggy gives advice for tapping into your psychic gifts and explains what Mercury Retrograde really means. Kimberly vulnerably shares her experience with pregnancy loss in the public eye. Then, they both reveal their secrets to staying positive during challenging times. You won’t want to miss this one, and make sure you catch my episode on Bathroom Chronicles, too!
Remember – for the month of September, in collaboration with National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we're seeking your support to raise $10,000 to help 100 people through our Therapy for All program. Support the fundraiser here.
71. Are You Living Like You Mean It? And More Big Questions With Author & Cancer Thriver Kris Carr
Épisode 71
mercredi 30 août 2023 • Durée 50:02
We’re all going to die. But how many of us live along the way?
That is the question that wellness leader, Kris Carr, poses to the community today. After following one another for many years, she finally joins us on the podcast for a deep dive into her journey and mission.
As a New York Times bestselling author, wellness activist, and cancer thriver, Kris leads the charge in the fight against disease, empowering people to take back their physical and mental health. You’ll hear examples of her own strength throughout the conversation; we can all learn from how she lives with perseverance, positivity, and presence.
In this episode, we talk about Kris’s journey with stage 4 cancer. At 31, she was given 10 years to live. 20 years later, she is not only surviving – but thriving. Kris also shares how she coped with grief and survivor’s guilt in the wake of her father’s death.
We talk vulnerably about the hard conversations you face when you’re losing a parent – unpacking the difference between fear and anxiety, not abandoning yourself, and how to support friends who are experiencing loss.
We end on a light note with five fun things you don’t know about Kris Carr. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation. And be sure to pre-order Kris’s latest book, I’m Not a Mourning Person, today!
70. Resilience as a Superpower: Tone It Up Girl Katrina Surdi’s Story of Loss, Love & Community
Épisode 70
mercredi 23 août 2023 • Durée 01:15:39
I’m honored to introduce you to Katrina Surdi, a radiant Tone It Up girl, mental health advocate, devoted kindergarten teacher, and certified yoga instructor. Katrina has been a leader in the Tone It Up community for more than twelve years, where she has forged lifelong friendships and motivated others with her strength, positivity, and vibrant spirit.
You can count me as one of the countless women who Katrina has inspired.
Despite facing tragedy and addiction in her family, Katrina remains a shining light. Resilience is her superpower, and she shares it with everyone in her life. She shows us that resilience doesn’t have to look a certain way, and that overcoming grief is an ongoing process.
In this vulnerable conversation, Katrina talks about her experiences losing family members and friends, tips for resilience, and advice for helping others navigate grief. We also explore how she nurtures her own physical and mental health through exercise, yoga, meditation, and the power of community. Katrina shares how she prioritizes self-care, even as she is a caretaker to her students and family.
I’m excited for you to learn from Katrina’s openness, unwavering dedication to wellness, and her ability to find strength in the face of life’s challenges.
Co-parenting from authenticity instead of rebellion or people-pleasing
How to track emotions somatically—where feelings live in the body
Reframing “boring” as safe, steady, and priceless for long-term peace
Thanks for the support from our partners:
Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit https://betterhelp.com/thebigsilence and enjoy a special discount on your first month.If you have any questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are licensed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation model, check out this FAQ: https://www.betterhelp.com/your-questions-answered/
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