Sanity Sessions: Real Talk is your go-to podcast for all things mental health and trauma . Hosted by your favorite Philly girl, Dr. Dawn Crosson — licensed psychologist and certified trauma therapist — this show delivers grounded, real-world strategies for growing, healing and living fully. Whether you're navigating stress, stress, burnout, trauma or just trying to keep it together, Dr. Dawn’s got your back. It’s the podcast that keeps you sane through all the madness… and always keeps it real
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From Survival to Systems: Building What Survivors Deserve-w/ Aswad Thomas (VP of the ASJ and National Director of CSSJ)-Real Talk Special Edition Series Finale
This episode is the series finale of the Sanity Sessions: Real Talk — Special Edition series with Aswad Thomas, Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice and National Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. In Part 3, Dr. Dawn Crosson and Aswad bring the conversation full circle—focusing on responsibility, power, and the work that lies ahead. This episode centers on what…
Healing, Accountability, and Power-w/ Aswad Thomas (VP of the ASJ and National Director of CSSJ)-Real Talk Special Edition Pt 2 of the 3 Part Series
This episode is Part 2 of the 3-Part Sanity Sessions: Real Talk – Special Edition featuring Aswad Thomas, Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice and National Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. In Part 2, Dr. Dawn Crosson and Aswad move beyond the origin story and into the work of healing—what it actually takes to move from surviving trauma to becoming grounded,…
Sesh 8.8-Doing the Work: Trauma, Resilience, and Intentional Healing Part 2-w/ Rhonda Parker-Taylor
In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Dr. Dawn Crosson continues her dialogue with Rhonda Parker-Taylor on what it really means to heal after trauma. Together, they explore resilience as a lived practice—not a buzzword—highlighting the importance of self-awareness, mentorship, and intentional joy. Rhonda shares how writing became a therapeutic outlet in her healing journey and why building a…
The Story Behind the Advocate-w/ Aswad Thomas (VP of the ASJ and National Director of CSSJ)-Real Talk Special Edition Pt 1 of the 3 Part Series
This episode marks Part 1 of a 3-Part Sanity Sessions: Real Talk – Special Edition featuring Aswad Thomas, Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice and National Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. In this opening conversation, Dr. Dawn Crosson and Aswad begin by grounding the series in lived experience. Aswad shares his personal journey through trauma, loss, and…
Sesh 8.7-Doing the Work: Trauma, Resilience, and Intentional Healing Part 1-w/ Rhonda Parker-Taylor
In this conversation, Dr. Dawn and Rhonda Parker-Taylor explore the themes of resilience, trauma, and healing. Rhonda shares her personal journey of overcoming trauma, the importance of mentorship, and how writing has served as a therapeutic outlet. They discuss the significance of finding joy amidst life's challenges and the necessity of building a resilience toolkit to navigate through difficult…
Sesh 8.6-Healing or Just High?: Mushrooms, Myths & Mental Health-Part 2 w/ Tara Portelli
In Part 2 of Healing or Just High?, Dr. Dawn continues the conversation with Tara Portelli on psilocybin therapy and trauma recovery. Building on Part 1, this episode goes deeper into the real work —integration, accessibility, and what healing actually requires beyond the experience itself. This is an honest, respectful dialogue between two different perspectives, grounded in truth, clinical…
Sesh 8.5-Healing or Just High?: Mushrooms, Myths & Mental Health Part 1-w/ Tara Portelli
In Part 1 of this conversation, Dr. Dawn sits down with Tara Portelli to talk about something that’s stirring a lot of conversation: psilocybin therapy as a treatment for trauma and mental health. Tara takes us on her journey from working as a paramedic to becoming a psilocybin therapist, and how one experience with the therapy changed the way she understood her own trauma. We dig into the science…
SNAP Episode-More Pressure on Kimmel Than the White House?
In this 5-minute SNAP Session, Dr. Dawn calls out the nonsense behind Jimmy Kimmel’s firing after comments about the Charlie Kirk shooting while the White House politicians misspeak daily with no real consequences. It’s a Real Talk check on free speech, double standards, and why comedians get canceled faster than leaders get corrected. Support the show Support the show BuyMeaCoffee Follow Dr. Dawn…
SNAP Session-Epstein Files, Cousin Richard and Me, Minding My Business
In this 5-minute SNAP Session, Dr. Dawn gets real about redemption vs. reputation through three lenses: her cousin Richard’s redemption story, the mess of the Epstein files, and her own sometimes-funny, sometimes-hard journey of “growing up.” This isn’t about gossip...it’s about how our stories, our scandals, and our struggles shape the way we show up in the world. Support the show Support the…
Sanity Sesh 8.4-Freedom, Failure, and Faith: Life After Life feat. Richard Crosson-Part 2
In part two of this powerful conversation, Dr. Dawn and her cousin, Richard go deeper—unpacking the ongoing process of healing, rebuilding trust, and redefining purpose after incarceration. They talk about what accountability looks like, how faith and family played a role in his recovery, and the daily fight to stay grounded when old wounds and old patterns try to resurface. This episode isn’t…
