Can a Dog Heal PTSD, Addiction, and Homelessness? — Yishai Ishi Ron

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In this episode

Yishai Ishi Ron is a novelist, former soldier, and survivor of severe PTSD. His book Dog is a raw, haunting, and redemptive story that explores trauma, addiction, homelessness, and the fragile journey back to humanity. Long-listed for Israel’s prestigious Sapir Prize and now translated into English, Dog is also being developed into a feature film.

Drawing on his own experiences with trauma and his background in psychology, Yishai reveals how shame and silence can trap survivors—and how storytelling can set them free. His message is universal: war has no winners, and its scars run deep on all sides.

Key ideas

📖 The power of fiction to reveal hidden truths about trauma and resilience

⚔️ Life in an elite combat unit and the unspoken wounds that follow soldiers home

😔 Shame as the hidden barrier preventing many from confronting PTSD

🐕 The symbolic role of “Dog” as both character and metaphor for memory, innocence, and pain

🧠 Why PTSD isn’t limited to war—it’s also present in survivors of sexual violence, accidents, and everyday tragedies

🎬 How Dog grew from personal writing to an award-nominated book, and now a film adaptation

❤️ The role of family, routine, and community in sustaining resilience during ongoing conflict

🌍 The universal message: trauma has no borders, but neither does healing

Links:

• Website: https://www.madinamerica.com/author/yishiron/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/IshiRon1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yishayishiron/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yishayishiron