Episode 37: Tori Hope Petersen on trauma, generational patterns & beating the odds

Tori Hope Petersen is an author and speaker who has been featured on TEDx, ABC News and Good Morning America.

Originally conceived through s*xual abuse, Tori’s chances of succeeding in life were slim to none. She grew up in a household marked by prostitution and drug abuse, was physically and s*xually abused, she was placed in foster care at 4 years old, and then again from 12 to 18 years old. 

She has lived in far too many homes to count, and also spent time in juvenile detention. And yet she stands here to talk about it. Against all odds, Tori not only graduated from college but also authored two books, including her latest release, Breaking the Patterns That Break You. 

So in this conversation, we dive deep into that experience. We discuss the circumstances surrounding her birth, growing up in an abusive household, and the gross injustices she faced while inside the foster care system. Discussing themes like trauma and spirituality, we discover how and why she succeeded, despite every obstacle standing in her way.

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:07 - The story behind Tori’s birth
5:28 - When S.W.A.T. broke down her door
18:16 - Going into foster care at age 4
23:00 - Schizophrenia, bipolar & psych ward visits
37:41 - Being placed in juvenile detention
43:29 - Living in 12 different foster homes
57:08 - The feces, urine & bathtub incident
1:13:55 - “I hated God”
1:22:20 - How Tori beat the odds
1:26:01 - Wrestling with her trauma
1:40:58 - Does time heal all wounds?
1:45:27 - Forgiveness & closure
1:54:22 - The power of sharing your story

Grab a copy of Tori's books:
Breaking the Patterns That Break You: https://shorturl.at/pmg0M
Fostered: https://shorturl.at/lF9kt

Follow Tori on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torihopepetersen
TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/torihopepetersen

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