Behind The Mic: World’s Best Trauma Recovery Podcast with Anna Ditchburn

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Hey, amplify your family Michelle Abraham here with another behind the mic interview. Today I get to interview someone I love and I think he's just a most amazing person ever in her name is Anna Ditchburn. So hey, Anna, how are you doing?

I'm Michelle. I'm doing amazing.

Good. Well, Anna's coming to us from customer No, not casa, Playa Del Carmen Mexico, which is so amazing. And, and then we were just talking about how she just changed her last name. She got married just recently, which is amazing. So now she is Anna ditchburn. And she's got the podcast that is already ranked at top 10% on lists and notes. She just launched it not that long ago. And it's called the World's Best Trauma Recovery podcast. And so Anna is doing absolutely amazing things out there in the world. She's inspiring people. She's motivating people, she's at being being vulnerable herself and allowing others to feel comfortable sharing vulnerable things about them. And the magic that is happening and unfolding in Anna's life because of it. And on her podcast and in other's lives is absolutely incredible. So I'm excited for you guys to get to know this woman, she is absolutely incredible. Her and I also run a mastermind together and invited me to co run a mastermind with her. So I'm very honored to be her partner in that. And I just would love the for you guys to get to know her today, just as I do. So Anna, welcome. And thank you for joining us today.

Thank you, Michelle, such a joy to be on your podcast. Thank you for inviting me.

You are welcome. Well, and we've had the honor of helping you launch your show this year. And it's been an incredible journey to watch. So let's take us back to Anna, why do you have a podcast? What What made you want to start a podcast?

Well, Michelle, I think this is my destiny. This is the reason why I'm on this planet to help people to find their voice. Because my voice has been taking away from me when I was a child. And if you don't mind, I would love to share something personal with you. And it's coming with a trigger warning. So everything started for me three years ago, when I was going through my 11th miscarriage. And me and my partner was in emergency department when the doctor pulled me on the side. And he said, Anna, we can't find any physical reasons why you're losing your babies. And this has something to do with your mind. And Michelle, I knew exactly what it was. And then I finally had the courage to tell my partner what was happening to me as a young girl. And it was I grown up with my stepfather an army guy, very strict, very disciplinarian men. For him, kids emotions will nothing. So me and my younger brother, we learn very quick to be quiet and obey His rules without any questions and knowing how physically and verbally abusive he can become. We were such a quiet kids and my mom. She never spoke up or never stopped him from his tyrannical parenting because she was told growing up that do not wash your dirty laundry in public. And I've learned from from to to be quiet. Never tell my story never share what I feel. And when you see that things can get in you even worse than when they just turned 15 My stepfather started sexually abusing me telling me that if I ever revealed his horrible secret, he will kill me and my family. And that's when my My voice was completely taken away from me. And you can listen more about my story on my podcast. But I wanted to tell you that the sexual abuse resulted in two pregnancies, and in two forced illegal abortions, and one abortion damaged my reproductive system. And that's how I started to lose my pregnancies when I wanted to become a mother. And I'm not telling you this story for any empathy. I want to tell you that no matter what's happened to you, you have a power to reclaim your voice. You can do anything you want, you can turn your past experience into your superpower. And Michelle, I've decided to tell when I decided to tell my partner what was happening. That was the best thing ever. He helped me to start my own human journey. And it was three years of emotional roller coaster. But during my healing journey, I forgave my perpetrator for what he's done to me, I forgive my mother for not being able to protect me. I forgot, forget my, I forgive my biological father, for not being there for me when I needed him the most. And most importantly, I forgive myself. And in September 2021, I finally had the courage also to testify against my stepfather. At this point, I was leaving in Australia, and they had to go back to Russia to be present on the court. And when I was in my hometown, I realized that we have no childhood sexual abuse, survivor support, and then wanting to do something about it. So I've contacted the biggest publisher in my hometown. And I've asked them if they would like to share my story. And they did. And the article went viral. And I left my email address saying your URLs if you are in a similar situation, and if you have no one to talk to send me an email, and hundreds and hundreds of emails from women and men

telling their stories, they just felt compelled and safe to share it for the first time. And it just made me realize, Oh, my goodness, how many people out there are still afraid to share their stories. And I want to share one quote with you by young livings and who is now my, my dear friend. When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you. And the story will heal someone else. And this struck me the most. And I decided to become the biggest voice for those people who need help. And that's how my podcast was born.

So amazing. And your story is all about hard and, and emotional. And but what you've done with that story is incredible. And sharing it with the world and sharing it is your gift and oh my gosh, the amount of people just I met you just as your your article was going viral. And you're getting all these hundreds of emails from women and men around the world who saw it in you needed some support to you. And oh my gosh, I just know, like, you're exactly the reason that I do what I do too. Because helping people get their voice out there in the world. So that they can have that impact that you're having there is just that's incredible and not just makes my heart so full. So you are doing such an amazing thing, Anna and I'm so proud of being able to support you on this journey to with your podcasts. And so I would love to hear a little bit more about you know, your dream and your vision for your podcast.

My dream is for people to realize that it's not so scary and shameful to share your story. Because after what's happened to me, I feel it is possible for those children feel responsible to protect them. For for for from what happened to me, because Michelle if perpetrators would know Oh, if they would be revealed for their horrible thing that they do, they wouldn't do this, they would think, once or twice, three times, 10 times. And if our children feel safe to tell their parents or our community what was happening to them, this crime will disappear. So my my dream and my vision is to provide a safe environment where people can share and empower people to reclaim their voice.

And love it and how are you encouraging people to reclaim their voices by sharing their story? Is that what you want them to do?

It's a really, really great question, Michelle. And we'll probably need another podcast for because from my own experience, when you're in such a situation, you might look like you have it all together on the outside. But I know that outside, you are destroyed by crippling fear of judgment, and shame, and guilt, and pain, anger. And it's not an easy thing to tell your story. Because it's really dangerous, it feels really dangerous to be vulnerable, knowing that people can turn your weakness against you. My point is, you don't have to tell it to the whole world at the beginning. First, realize that this, this has happened to you. And find someone who you trust, find someone who will get you who went through this or similar situation, who will understand you to open up, because when I first told my story to my husband, he reacted the way how I was always hoping he would react. And I know this is not the case in every situation. But I felt like the whole weight of the world came off my shoulders. And again, as a young love in Zen said, your story will heal you when you tell it in an empowering way. So telling your story is the most therapeutic and healing way possible. So find someone you can share your story. And then who knows, maybe you will change someone's life. If you tell your story. Further, maybe you will transform someone's life, maybe someone will realize, oh my goodness, what am I doing to my kids?

Powerful. And so I'm gonna share with us a few things that since therming, your podcast has unfolded on your podcasts from guests that have been on I know, You've touched the lives of so many of the guests that you've had on so far. And I forgot to mention earlier but Anna is the work that she does, she's affectionately known as the world's best life optimization coach. So you're really helping others with their courage and to heal their stories in through forgiveness and and you have a you have a program for people to go through to help them with starting to share their story, their messages, start their healing journey, which is really powerful.

Thank you, Michelle. And I think this is a very good moment to share with people. What's world's best means? Because you know, you can you can go like, Oh, what is it? It's an ego thing. So

ego there. We know it's not

exactly not at all. This is my commitment to myself to keep improving myself. Because every every morning I wake up and I asked myself, How would the world's best life optimization coach conduct yourself and this is really a good reminder for for me to keep going to keep going. And, you know, my my guests like some of my guests came on my show off the back of our conversation about my story.

But you're, you're on their show or you had a conversation about your story with

them. I will I would meet a lot of people not just through my podcasting but from from my business what I would do and they they're not necessarily would be my my guess, you know, potential guests. But when I open up and when I share my story, Michelle You won't believe how many people would admit would share with me their childhood, about their childhood about their childhood sexual abuse. Because the power of vulnerability is magical. And then hearing their stories, I would invite them to my podcast. And I'll share some story with you. I wouldn't tell the name of this lady who came to my podcast. But I met her through the Zoom calls from my husband. And we just started to chat. And she asked me, what do you do? What is your podcast about? And I started to tell her what was happening to me as a young girl. And what is my vision for this podcast? And what am I doing? And she said, Ana, can I tell you something? And they said, Yes. And she said, You know, I've never ever thought I would tell it to anyone. But I really would love to share that I was sexually abused as a child. My my father, I didn't expect that. And I've invited her to my podcast to share your story. But she said before I will do this, I want to share this with my family, and most importantly, with my mother. And that was the catalyst for your healing journey. Michelle. She started her own healing journey. It's, it changed the whole world for her. And now she's using your story with your with your clients. You know, it's the connection when you when you become vulnerable. You people resonate with you, people connect with you on a much deeper level. Wow, this is some some of the wonderful experience I was having. With my guest

was that like one of your guests through a conversation with you was able to open up and share her story of abuse? Oh, my gosh, that's crazy. Interesting. And also, I know, one of your first guest was like, an idol of yours, too. Like, how amazing is that, that you get to have someone on your show that you think so highly of too?

I know, right? Honestly, there are so many benefits of starting your own podcast. And I will, I would love to share them with you, if you'd like. But my main benefit was when I just started my healing journey. I was searching on YouTube for similar stories for people who went through this situation to get inspired by them, but by their stories. And I noticed this TED talks with Dr. Bridget Cooper, she was talking about pain. And I clicked on this YouTube video. And I saw this unbelievably confident woman having her power having her voice sharing openly and vulnerably her story about her childhood sexual abuse and I thought I wonder if I would be a such a confident and powerful woman woman one day

not long after that, right? Wow.

When I when I started my podcast and I was looking for my first guest you know, it's when you want something, the everything the university God, like whatever, whoever you believe in, it's not helping you. And one of our friends overheard me that I'm looking for the guest for the podcast. And he said you know what? I know a such a good person for your podcast show name is Dr. Bridget Cooper chair. It was like a dream coming true. You know how you if you have a superhero in your childhood, then suddenly you know that he's gonna come over you you're gonna meet him personally. That was unbelievable. And we set up a poll with your and she said yes. I would love to come on your podcast. And she she, the podcast was so beautifully. I was so nervous. But we became friends since then.

That's so cool. I love that about podcasting. You can literally reach out to anyone and invite them on your show and like how cool is that you get to speak to your seat your idol your suit your your superhero right so cool.

Janie and plus when I was preparing for my podcast, I will follow him on social media, but specifically For the CES for the podcast, I was doing my research like really, really into this. And it made me realize how much knowledge I've got from just researching this person, the knowledge that I would probably never ever get, you know, and I read your books, and I watched your videos on YouTube and I started your journey. It helped me a lot.

That's cool. And I'm sure that your journey and following other people following on your journey to is gonna really help really help them to so, so cool to see that just kind of like pass on the baton passed on to you now to carry that torch to really help share other people's stories and other messages to now. Go ahead.

Michelle, Michelle, you know how many people I had? who reached out to me from listening to my podcast, and who would like to work with me.

That's really cool to have people reach out because sometimes podcasting can be a lonely place, you're like, Hello, is anyone listening? But to have people reach out from listening to reach out to you is really powerful. It shows that you're on the right track, and you're doing the right thing. Yeah, so cool. So and I'd love to know more about about Oh, I'd love to hear more from you about at talking to the people that are in our audience right now. Maybe sitting at home is still thinking about doing a podcast, they've wanted to do one for a while. They're not sure about using their voice. Maybe a little bit shy or a little bit not not feeling very confident. Or maybe that impostor syndrome, who am I to be the expert? What would you say to those people right now?

Where do I start? You know, probably one main thing, I would say, start now optimize later. But then I would probably you will probably think, yeah, it's easier to stay on this. And listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. No, you don't. Because when, when my husband and I started our podcast, we literally had like, 12 years old. Laptop, you know, not a good camera without the microphone. But the most important for us was to get our message out there. And don't worry about when people listen to you or not. Because your first, your first few episodes on Columbia, not great. You wouldn't know this, Michelle, and I'm looking back I really think oh my goodness, I want to I want to re record this. But the most important is to start because the longer you wait, the bigger this imposter syndrome, feeling, feeling of scarcity grow in your the longer you live, you know, the longer you're gonna wait for the podcast to start, you'll never be prepared, you will never be ready for this.

Plus, you have missed out on lots of fun. In the meantime,

absolutely is especially meeting your idols. Because when you have a podcast, that's when you can reach out to those people and invite and you can say Hi, Michelle. My name is Anna. I have an amazing podcast called world's best Trauma Recovery podcast. And I would love to invite you as my special guest. When would you come up? Come up with all you need because people podcasters it's a it's a family. It's a community. They know how it feels they will be able and willing to help you.

Yes, love it. Do you have a favorite episode you've done so far?

That I love them all. Probably my favorite episode would be about Chris Doris. She's a mental toughness coach, mental toughness coach. I've met him in Arizona, in Phoenix, Arizona. And when I looked at him, such a confident such a powerful, mentally tough man. And when we started talking to him or with him, he opened up that he was sexually abused as a child. And I knew straightaway, I need this person on my podcast, right? And his story is So empowering and so encouraging. And he, he would not tell the story very often.

That's awesome. So, so cool. So many great like moments from from podcasting, so many great lessons learned Soniya? Are you learning things from your guests you that you're bringing on? They're inspiring you?

Absolutely. Absolutely. The secret of good podcast is research. Though as much research before you invite someone, before that your guests come on your podcast. As you can. I've read so many books. More than I've read in my whole life, honestly, it's also a really wonderful opportunity to be one on one with x with an expert with someone, you can ask any questions that you are interested in. So use this opportunity, because when you ask questions that you are interested in, someone else will be interested in as well. And it will help to your audience. So don't ask some some generic questions. Specific. And when you when you do when you do your research, you would know the specifics. Yeah, that's,

that's some good advice. Like I think having some variety of topics in variety of different guests has been really cool. You know, in having just the courage to ask people that you find is like your superheroes and people out there, they're always willing to come on your show today. So I love that. So Anna, anything else you want to share with our audience? Before we let you go today, it's been so amazing hearing your story. And like, oh my gosh, just so inspired by you and your courage to share your message with the world. And just the ripple effect you're really making out there is like, so fascinating. And so encouraging, I think to others to see what you're doing and standing up for you what you believe in, in and sharing your message with, with the world and it's giving, giving that permission for other people to do the same. It's just absolutely amazing.

Michelle, I, I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart for helping me to get this podcast out to the world. Because when I wanted to start my podcast, all my fears, judgment, fear. So far, knowns impostor syndrome, as you mentioned before, they all came up

as they do for all of us, right? I was right there with the girl.

I know. Right? So I wanted to tell you listeners, every single person goes through this, find someone you can look up so you can follow you can learn from. And if you are in a position, I would, it's not the marketing, or selling, I would highly recommend to get in contact with you. Because I remember you told me one thing that really prompted me to start my podcast, I will keep it I will keep it a secret. So I want to use I want you to use it for your, for your future customers. But this really made me to start just to jump into the podcasting. And now the impact I have on women's and men's and children's life is magical. And seeing them transforming their lives is so fulfilling for me. And this fulfillment something I was looking for the whole my life. So

you're hardcore, right? So cool. It makes my heart fall to see you out there sharing your message and shining so i This has been so awesome to have you on today. So glad we get to showcase you as a podcaster in this behind the mic interview. And just you know, thank you so much for being you and being out there in the world and shining your bright light because you're giving others permission to do the same. So love you lots and so glad that you're here and guys, go give Anna some love on her podcast, make sure you head on over there. Like it subscribe it leave a review. It's the world's best Trauma Recovery podcast. There's no that at the beginning. It's just the world's best Trauma Recovery podcast by Anna ditchburn. So go out there give her some love and tell her that you heard her amazing message right here I am amplify your podcasts.

Thank you Michelle, thank you so much for this opportunity to share my story

You're welcome Anna. Talk to you soon. Amplifyou family see you again next week.