What if talk therapy isn’t enough—because your trauma lives in your body? In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, world-record tap dancer turned trauma recovery coach Heather-Ann Ferri shares the raw story behind her work: childhood abuse, brain-level injury, and the long road from “performer with a mask” to a woman who uses her voice without apology. Heather-Ann explains why many survivors don’t remember early trauma, how perfectionism and people-pleasing take root, and the practical protocols that helped her heal when life fell apart: involuntary shaking, breath patterns rooted in Sanskrit, “medical-grade” hydration, and neurologically informed routines designed to calm a dysregulated system.

We also dig into shadow work, boundaries with family, and the difference between forgiving too soon and actually becoming whole. If you’ve ever felt stuck repeating patterns—or you’ve tried everything and nothing seemed to stick—this conversation offers a grounded way forward: simple tools, consistent practice, and the courage to tell the truth.

• [00:00] Becoming “spiritual people in physical bodies”; why language and behavior matter

• [03:00] Early home life, generational trauma, and the first cracks in the system

• [08:00] Abuse, dissociation, and how the body keeps score

• [12:30] Tap as first voice; when performance becomes protection

• [15:00] Why talk isn’t enough: shaking, breath, hydration, neurological protocols

• [19:00] Shadow work, ego death, and rebuilding discipline

• [22:00] Culture, religion, and the limits of “forgive and forget”

• [24:30] Addiction as unaddressed trauma; pioneers and influences

• [28:30] Kids, play, and screens: what the next generation needs

• [33:00] Past lives, programming, and widening the healing lens

• [40:00] PTSD in the body: feet, calves, and designing better protocols

• [42:00] The Guinness record—and when the healing made things look worse

• [47:00] No guru phase: listening within, then coaching others

• [49:00] Who shows up: common ages, patterns, and readiness

• [51:00] Boundaries vs. early forgiveness; becoming your own mother/father

• [58:00] Where to start: first-chapter download and next steps

• Website: Home - Heather Ann Ferri (first chapter download available)

• Books (upcoming): Three-part series on trauma healing with guided practices

• Influences mentioned: Alice Miller; Gabor Maté; body-based trauma modalities

What happens when the secret holding you back is one you’ve been keeping from yourself? In this raw, unguarded conversation, writer–producer Alan Katz (HBO’s Tales from the Crypt) traces the arc from early Hollywood wins to a two-decade spiral—then the moment truth became non-negotiable. We dig into the creative birth of the Crypt Keeper, how Tales helped change HBO’s culture, and the studio politics that turned a thriving franchise into the feature fiasco Bordello of Blood. Alan shares the near-suicide that forced him to confront a childhood trauma, the mood-stabilizer that “put the darkness in a box,” and how telling the truth—to himself first—unlocked a second act.

Today, he runs Costard & Touchstone Productions and makes story podcasts as activism: How NOT to Make a Movie, The Donor: A DNA Horror Story, The Hall Closet, and Just the Photographer. This episode is a masterclass in creative integrity, personal recovery, and building work that answers to your soul—not the system.

• [00:00] “The truth will set you free” — telling your story to yourself first

• [03:00] Early wins, New York to LA, and meeting producer Gil Adler

• [08:00] Tales from the Crypt: franchise building and the birth of the Crypt Keeper

• [16:30] “It’s not TV, it’s HBO” — culture shift and creative freedom

• [19:30] Feature deal at Universal; Demon Knight lands, Dead Easy dies

• [22:00] The Bordello of Blood pivot: impossible timelines, miscasting, and studio politics

• [31:00] Fallout: a burned-out crew, shelved integrity, and a friendship broken

• [33:00] Two decades of depression and the secret underneath it

• [34:30] Mood stabilizer, therapy, and the moment the rage “clicked off”

• [35:30] Naming childhood abuse; why truth changes everything

• [37:00] Podcasting as catharsis: How NOT to Make a Movie reunites old partners

• [41:00] Owning IP and flipping the Hollywood dynamic

• [44:00] The slate: The Donor, The Hall Closet, Just the Photographer

• [56:00] “How to Live Bullshit Free”: purpose, bliss, and helping others

• Costard & Touchstone Productions: Home

• Podcasts: How NOT to Make a Movie • The Donor: A DNA Horror Story • The Hall Closet • Just the Photographer

• Blog/Book: How to Live Bullshit Free (in progress)

Jack Kammer has spent over four decades asking the uncomfortable questions about gender, power, and fairness—and he’s not done yet. In this episode, the former social worker, parole officer, and longtime advocate for men’s issues joins A Joyful Rebellion to unpack what he calls a “Vitamin M deficiency” in modern life.

From stories of fatherlessness and male dropout to the overlooked emotional needs of boys, Kammer offers a perspective that challenges dominant gender narratives—without rejecting the value of feminism. We explore the male and female “power structures,” the cost of being excluded from emotional spaces, and how society might benefit from men reinventing their roles—not with rebellion, but with reintegration.

If you’ve ever questioned how we got here—or how we get out—this conversation might just shift your lens.

[00:00:00] Introduction to Jack Kammer and his lifelong work [00:03:00] Challenging the myth of universal male privilege [00:05:30] American vs. French Revolutions as metaphors for gender progress [00:07:00] Jack’s origin story: co-ed softball and aha moments [00:10:30] “The Misfortune 5 Million” and redefining power [00:16:00] The invisible female power structure and the Big Red Heart [00:21:00] The original radio show and what men called in about [00:24:00] Divorce, fatherlessness, and societal bias [00:30:00] Are we struggling because we’ve lost purpose? [00:34:00] Men’s opportunity to reinvent themselves (IBM analogy) [00:39:00] Raising kids, deserving vs. needing, and Vitamin M [00:46:00] Responsible motherhood and fatherhood—what’s missing [00:50:00] Reclaiming the value of masculinity and presence [00:55:00] The need for balance, not backlash [01:00:00] What men and boys are facing today [01:02:00] Final thoughts and the call for shared respect

• Male Friendly Media: Jack Kammer’s platform

• National Fatherhood Initiative: https://www.fatherhood.org

• Book: No More Mr. Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Glover

• Book references: The End of Men, Are Men Even Necessary?