Amy Griffin, author of the memoir "The Tell," shares her journey of confronting childhood trauma and the transformative power of storytelling. She discusses how vulnerability can lead to personal freedom, and the importance of sharing one’s narrative. The conversation touches on the complexities of friendships, the impact of therapeutic experiences like MDMA, and the significance of listening to one’s body for emotional growth. As they explore memory and self-acceptance, Amy offers valuable insights into the healing that comes from owning your story.
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Griffin's Journey
Amy Griffin's journey of self-discovery started years into her friendship with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Paltrow observed Griffin's constant movement and giving, sensing something deeper beneath the surface.
insights INSIGHT
Outward Focus as Distraction
Amy Griffin's outward focus, including her interest in Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle, served as a distraction.
She realized that helping others allowed her to avoid self-reflection.
insights INSIGHT
Outsourcing Validation
Women who have experienced abuse often outsource their validation to others.
This stems from the crushing message of not being enough, leading them to seek external proof of their worth.
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Is it possible to bury something so deep within yourself that it becomes unknowable, even to you? An astonishing memoir that explores how far we will go to protect ourselves, and the healing made possible when we face the secrets that terrify us and begin to share our stories.
Amy Griffin
Amy Griffin's memoir, "The Tell," details her journey of confronting a deeply buried secret from her childhood—years of sexual abuse by a teacher. The book explores the complexities of trauma, memory, and the long road to healing. Griffin's narrative intertwines her personal story with reflections on family, relationships, and the societal pressures that often silence victims. Through vulnerability and honesty, she empowers others to confront their own pasts and find freedom in truth. The book serves as a testament to resilience and the transformative power of self-discovery.
The Body Keeps the Score
Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk
In this book, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma reshapes both the body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores various treatments, including neurofeedback, meditation, sports, drama, and yoga, which activate the brain’s natural neuroplasticity to aid in recovery. The book emphasizes the power of relationships in both causing and healing trauma and offers hope through descriptions of novel approaches to treatment. It is based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists in the field[1][2][5].
In this episode of The goop Podcast, Gwyneth sits down with one of her closest friends, Amy Griffin, to talk about her new book, The Tell—a deeply personal memoir about the power of sharing your story and what happens when we finally face the truths we’ve kept buried.
They explore why telling is the simplest, yet hardest thing to do, how holding onto secrets keep us stuck, and what it means to turn inward after years of looking outward for answers. Amy shares how trauma shaped her identity and how embracing vulnerability as a form of strength allowed her to finally speak the hardest truths—and in doing so, find freedom.
Amy’s story is a testament to the profound transformation that comes with owning your narrative, a reminder that healing begins the moment we stop carrying our pain alone. Her wisdom offers permission for anyone holding onto something unspoken to step out of the silence and into their own power.
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