Stop Hurting People Podcast

In this second episode, Maya and Sam take on one of the most repeated sayings in healing spaces: that hurt people hurt people. While the phrase carries real truth about how pain can travel from one person to another, treating it as an unavoidable law of human nature does more harm than good. The hosts unpack where this idea comes from, why it can quietly excuse harmful behaviour, and what the research actually says about who passes their pain on and who does not. They share stories of people who broke the pattern, explore the difference between accountability and blame, and offer a more hopeful framework for understanding trauma, choice, and repair.

In this powerful debut episode of the Stop Hurting People Podcast, Maya and Sam unpack the science behind how childhood exposure to violence literally changes the developing brain and body. They explore groundbreaking research on toxic stress, epigenetic markers, and the long-term health consequences of early adversity from altered immune function to increased risk of chronic disease. Through compassionate dialogue and evidence-based insights, they examine why understanding these biological impacts is critical for breaking cycles of harm and how communities can support healing at the deepest level.