We all carry stories. Some smooth over the past, making things easier to bear. Others—the truer ones—break us open. Amy Griffin knows what it’s like to hold a secret so tightly, it starts to define you. As a child, she was sexually assaulted by a teacher—a painful truth she buried for years. But eventually, staying silent became harder than telling the truth. So what happens when the person who spends all their time championing others realizes they need to tell their own story?

In this conversation, Kate and Amy talk about:

The relentless churn of perfectionism—and what happens when we finally let some of it go
How psychedelic-assisted therapy helped Amy unlock long-buried trauma
The surprising joy of telling the truth—even when it feels impossible
Why healing isn’t about erasing the past—it’s about learning to carry it differently

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy:

Charles Spencer on Confronting the Past
Rachel Denhollender on The Pursuit of Justice
Our support guide for processing a painful childhood
As well as our episodes with Minka Kelly, Beth Moore, Maggie Smith, and Wilma Derksen

Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here or visiting katebowler.com/podcasts.

Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter)—@katecbowler. Links to social pages and more available at linktr.ee/katecbowler.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Absolute Truth | Spencer W. Kimball | September 1977