Foreward Podcast

24/03/2021

I’ve been struggling to find the right words to say after the shooting in Boulder. I recorded this yesterday after watching a very graphic video of dead bodies lying outside the King Soopers where I shopped for groceries for 5 years. I had my first flashback in many years when I heard the gunshots.

Yes, the video is triggering, and it absolutely should be. As a shooting survivor I am terrified every time I’m in a public space, even 15 years later. It’s not reasonable to be afraid to go to a grocery store, a school, a church, or a festival, but it’s reality for Americans. When will enough be enough? When is someone in a position of power or influence going to put their foot down?

I made a podcast in an attempt to bring attention to the long term consequences of gun violence, but my voice isn’t enough. Who’s going to step up?

https://www.forewardpodcast.com/

13/03/2021

We are currently streaming in over 30 countries, including:⁠⁠
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Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Costa Rica, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Ireland, India, Japan, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia. The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Moldova, Oman, Poland, Portugal, The Philippines, Spain, South Korea, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, The United Kingdom, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, The United States, and Zimbabwe.⁠⁠
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Have you heard the Foreward podcast?⁠⁠ Where are you listening from?
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

12/03/2021

♥️ OK everybody - hive mind... ⁠⁠
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The process of creating a pitch deck (the document that networks use to decide if they want to put your project on TV) has begun. ⁠⁠
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Over the coming weeks I have some brainstorming questions for you. Here's today's question... ⁠⁠
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📺 What actress should play Taylor in the TV version of Foreward? She'd need to be between 14 and 17 years old, feisty, and super cute, of course ;) Who comes to mind? ⁠⁠
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⭐ If you haven't binged Foreward, the whole first season is online NOW: ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381?fbclid=IwAR1XuZ_CQ_f1C2g5Fd2RSja6Vkn20-nkO4zvnwj6hstBXR7dQr3KOlMi9RY⁠⁠

07/03/2021

⭐ The season finale of the Foreward podcast is LIVE, which means the entire first season is now binge-able! ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

05/03/2021

⭐ The season finale of the Foreward podcast is LIVE, which means the entire first season is now binge-able! ⁠
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In Episode 11 I refer to a speech that I wrote soon after the shooting about what happened. It was eerie to find that speech so many years later and realize that so many of the memories I have today are the same things I wrote all those years ago. ⁠
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Trauma sticks with you. Feelings change and evolve, but they don't disappear. My speech may have been the wrong way to vocalize what I was feeling, but it does tell me how desperate I was to talk about it... to say out loud that I wasn't OK. ⁠
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Foreward is my way of saying it out loud. I'm saying it out loud in hopes it will let others say it out loud too. ⁠
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Congratulations to the team who made Foreward possible. Thanks to you, an important story is making waves. ⁠
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Share Foreward with a friend or two today. Say it out loud with us.⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

04/03/2021

Well, here we go. The final episode of Season 1 of the Foreward podcast launches tomorrow. The whole season is about to be binge-able!⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

03/03/2021

Meet musician Charlie Ryan⁠! Charlie contributed music to Episode 4 of the Foreward podcast, one of the most intense episodes of the season. ⁠⁠
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A film editor with a background as a Rock and Folk composer and performer, Charlie Ryan gives his soundtracks a personal edge with his own defined storytelling style. His album Hiemal is titled after one of his own short film productions, giving him the opportunity to score the project, which ultimately launched a creative career in music composition and production.⁠⁠
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The last episode of Season 1 premieres Friday. Are you caught up?⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

02/03/2021

🌲 Last night I listened to the last episode of Season 1 of the Foreward podcast. It premieres Friday.⁠⁠
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💫 Season 1 ends on a cliff hanger. Throughout Season 1 I've delved out secrets under fake names and fictionalized characters. This last episode reveals one of my secrets. ⁠⁠
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So much of Foreward revolves around shame. What is it we are afraid to admit or say out loud? ⁠⁠
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It was important to me to write about more than just the funny, happy memories. There's so much dark stuff we keep inside, and I think that's a disservice to others who might also be suffering. ⁠⁠
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🍃 Thank you for following the character's journeys through Season 1. Join me Friday for the last episode of the season.⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

02/03/2021

🎵 Meet musician Tomer Katz, aka D Fine US. Tomer's music is featured in Episode 8 of Foreward.⁠⁠
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Tomer is a Producer, guitarist and harmonica player whose unique signature sound results from blending old traditional Blues and Soul with fresh cutting edge beats and futuristic textures. Mixing raw field recordings with polished studio work, the music of D Fine US draws lines and connects the dots between different musical worlds.⁠⁠
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🌲 There's only one episode left of Season 1 of Foreward. Are you caught up?⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

26/02/2021

Today Episode 10 went live. That means there is only one episode left of Season 1. What a wild ride! ⁠⁠
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This picture was taken a lifetime ago (by our friend Ann Best) when my brother and I lived in the mountains. Now my brother and I live right across the street from each other. We just went on a walk on our lunch breaks, which is such a cool thing. We've been best friends our whole lives, through thick and thin, and I am so grateful for that.⁠⁠
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If you're not caught up on Foreward, Episode 10 is ready! ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

24/02/2021

Meet musician Thomas Geelens who joined the Foreward team all the way from the 😀 Netherlands to bring us a piece of his fantastic music in Episode 8!⁠⁠
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Thomas Geelens feels passionate about playing guitar and singing Pop music. He wants to portray life through his lyrics and music in a truthful way with a sense of hope. ⁠⁠
From the multicultural town of Maastrich, Netherlands, Thomas has always been involved in music and the performing arts, but a 10-day visit to New York inspired him to write and perform his own music. Thomas is drawn to strong male vocals and soulful lyrics, inspired by American Singer-Songwriters and Rock singers.⁠⁠
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🎵 Listen to the work of Thomas Geelens and dozens of other performers in Season 1 of Foreward!⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

21/02/2021

Remember the early mentions of the "make-out list" in the Foreward podcast? Well... it was a real thing, and I found it today in an old journal. A group of high school friends and I would compete to make-out with our boyfriends in various odd places. ⁠⁠
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There's not a lot to do in a small town. This is apparently how we made the most of it!⁠⁠
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Episode 9 is live. There are only 2 episodes left of Season 1. Are you caught up? Link in Bio. ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

19/02/2021

Episode 9 of the Foreward podcast dropped today. It tells the story of what the one year anniversary of the school shooting felt like. ⁠⁠
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The anniversary emotions change every year, but it's always a significant day for me. In the early years the anniversaries brought flash backs, panic attacks, and nightmares. In recent years, the anniversaries still sting, but in a very different way. Generally, my family and I start noticing each other behaving strangely before we even notice it in ourselves... usually a few weeks prior to the anniversary, as if our bodies or our minds are trying to prepare us for what's coming.⁠⁠
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There are only two more episodes in Season 1. Listen to Episode 9 today.⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

18/02/2021

OMG! OMG! OMG!⁠⁠
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Y'all, we are in the top 2.5% of ALL PODCASTS GLOBALLY!⁠⁠
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Well, that's a reason to celebrate! ⁠⁠
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Unbelievable. ♥️⁠⁠
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If you haven't listened yet, make sure you join us 2.5%ers! Link in Bio. ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

17/02/2021

Thank you to everyone who has written a review for the Foreward podcast. This is one of my favorites:⁠⁠
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"A captivating journey through how a community copes with unspeakable tragedy, Taylor Fraser has created a masterpiece here and manages to encompass the full gamut of human emotion as she weaves multiple narratives together seamlessly into an amazing and engaging story. Frank and forthcoming, Foreward is an unapologetic look at how we move on from such a horrific experience and violation of our collective sense of security and home."⁠⁠
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You can leave a review today (Link in Bio):⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

16/02/2021

Meet musician Duce Williams, who contributed music to Episode 1 of the Foreward podcast! ⁠⁠
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Duce is a multi-talented Singer-Songwriter and composer from Miami, Florida, with an international background. Having roots in the Bahamas, growing up in Miami, and studying in Sydney, Australia, Duce Williams combines the vibes, experience and flavor of living around the world!⁠⁠
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What an honor it is to feature Duce in Season 1! If you're not caught up, you can binge episodes 1-8 today! Episode 9 comes out Friday!⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

12/02/2021

Let's see who's keeping up on episodes of the Foreward podcast... who knows what item in this picture was stolen? ⁠⁠
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After weeks of announcements, that included a cash reward, no one ever reported the culprit. No one knew where the principal's name plate went... except for yours truly!
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Happy Valentines Day Principal Abe Pindelton (played by actor Gregg Bieri). Sending my love all these years later ;)⁠⁠
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Episode 8 is live! Listen today ❤️ ⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381?i=1000508689697

12/02/2021

In tomorrow's episode of the Foreward podcast you'll hear a team of actors all from one family! The Pitacco family recorded from their home in France. They are originally from Italy, which made them perfect to perform as Valentina's family!⁠⁠
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Recording with them made me laugh, because they kept saying, "Italians would never do that!" Maybe this Italian family wouldn't do that, but the stories Episode 8 are true! ⁠⁠
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Tune in tomorrow to hear the latest episode in Season 1! ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381⁠⁠

10/02/2021

In the next episode of the Foreward podcast the Fallows and Valentina's family from Italy attend the rodeo. ⁠⁠
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When they visited, the idea of a rodeo seemed extremely foreign to them. Valentina's father was intrigued by the idea of cowboys, to the point that when his child had a heat stroke he didn't immediately notice. Can you blame him? Rodeos are pretty exciting! ⁠⁠
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Have you ever been to a rodeo? ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

08/02/2021

When I was a teenager I had very few female friends, and I desperately wanted some. At the end of Episode 8 (which will be released later this week), my character meets a young woman who is still one of my dearest friends 15 years later. ⁠⁠
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In the podcast we call her Ellie Mae. We used to get dressed up in our pearls and go to Taco Bell. Sometimes we still do. ⁠⁠
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Right before I met the real Ellie Mae I'd made a list of characteristic I wanted in a best friend. I was very into "manifesting" at the time. Here's what I asked for (taken from an old journal), and here's what I got: ⁠⁠
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1. Carefree 2. Not judgmental 3. Outgoing 4. Random 5. Into music 6. Not afraid to be bold 7. Wants to try new things 8. Not easily embarrassed 9. Night person, not a morning person 10. Into style 11. Unique 12. Creative 13. Special 14. Supportive 15. Energetic 16. Trustworthy 17. Talkative 18. Fun 19. Strange 20. Likes to laugh 21. Appreciative 22. Likes to chill in the hot tub 23. Loyal 24. LOUD⁠⁠
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Well, boy did I get get lucky.

Make sure you’re caught up on episodes before you meet Ellie Mae:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

08/02/2021

Growing up in the mountains wasn't always easy, but the part I always enjoyed was watching the stars from the hot tub. My brother and I would sit out there for hours and think about all of life's unanswerable questions as we looked up at the Milky Way.⁠⁠
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Hot water has always been my happy place. Where's your happy place?⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

06/02/2021

♥️ Meet Actress Kimberly Matthews who plays Stewart's boss in the next episode of the Foreward podcast. ⁠⁠
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🎥 Kimberly is a professionally trained actress, and she did a great job playing a very assertive, in charge woman! She also hosts a podcast called Inebriate Input!
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😀 Tune in to hear Kimberly in Episode 8 next week! In the meantime, catch up on episodes 1-7 today!⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

05/02/2021

Episode 7 of the Foreward podcast is live!

Join the Fallows as the girls head to New York City and the boys stay home to build Pine Wood Derby cars in Blue River.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

04/02/2021

🗽 Tomorrow's episode takes place in New York City. ⁠⁠
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📖 When I was about 15 I started a Bucket List. One of the first items on that list was going to New York City. At the time, that was an incredibly unrealistic goal... and then it happened! ⁠⁠
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⭐ I believed that I could "manifest" anything on that list. I maintain that same list today, and it's 461 items strong. I've checked most of them off. You'll hear some of those stories in later seasons ;)⁠⁠
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🌼 Not only did I get the opportunity to visit NY in high school, I've been able to travel there many times for my career! I've even walked a few red carpets. I remember on that trip my mom telling me, "try to remember as much as you can, because this might be the only time in your life you get to see this incredible city." Let's manifest that someday I'll be back there for the debut of Foreward on the big screen :) ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

03/02/2021

On the eve of the Foreward podcast's release, my partner and I drove up to Lookout Mountain late at night. As we weaved up the mountain roads, I shared my podcast with him. We listened together in the dark. ⁠⁠
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As the story of Foreward unfolds, foxes begin to show up when big changes are coming. As we sat silently and listened, a fox ran past our car. On our way down the mountain, another fox crossed our path. ⁠⁠
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I don't know what Foreward will grow up to be, but already it has brought change into my life. Growth. Interesting conversations with strangers and people from a lifetime ago. My gut tells me lots more change is coming. We hope you'll come along for the ride.⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

01/02/2021

Hope115 won the drawing for a free Zoom dinner with the Director of the Foreward podcast! Congrats!

You will be entered to win in our next drawing if you leave a review this month (or if you’ve left one already) on iTunes (Apple Podcasts). Link in Bio.

What sounds good for dinner for our Zoom dinner date Hope?

Catch up on new episodes of Foreward. Link in Bio.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

01/02/2021

✨ Yesterday I got a message from my dad. He had stopped by the local gas station and as he was leaving a man opened the door to his truck and he heard the following words coming from the radio:⁠⁠
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"This is the Foreward podcast." ⁠⁠
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How surreal! ⁠⁠
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🌎 Foreward has traveled to over 30 counties and back to the town where I grew up. In my wildest dreams I could not have predicted its success. We're only one month in, and GUESS WHAT?⁠⁠
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🥂 We're in the TOP 5% OF ALL PODCASTS IN THE WORLD! Congratulations to our cast, crew, and our brand new fans. You made this possible! ⁠⁠
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Episode 7 drops Friday. In the meantime, catch up on the rest of our episodes. Link in Bio. ⁠⁠
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

30/01/2021

🌲 Today is the last day of the Foreward podcast's "first 30 days" in the world. In that time, we've hit the top 8% of all podcasts globally, and today we may even exceed that. ⁠⁠
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☀️ Thank you all for your incredible support! ⁠⁠
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📷 This is a picture of my brother and I at our home in the mountains. My parents moved us their to raise us somewhere safe. Unfortunately, bad things can happen anywhere.⁠. The mountains can be a strange place, filled with strange people (including my brother and me). ⁠⁠
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😀 We're 6 episodes into the 11 episodes of Season 1, and there are lots of interesting characters to meet - for better or for worse. ⁠⁠
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👋 Have you heard Episode 6?
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381?fbclid=IwAR3Ehco1z0LHC7Cy-k-c9JZU9VXmOtsOZPwEO4pnghIMv5oSClwhzal42jc⁠⁠
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Photograph by our friend Ann Best.

29/01/2021

🌲 Episode 6 of the Foreward podcast is live! ⁠⁠
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Going back into the high school was hard, and we all processed it in different ways. All of the same high school drama still existed, but suddenly many of us also had PTSD. I've been told that there are two types:⁠⁠
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1. You've experience a one time trauma (this type of PTSD can often be overcome).⁠⁠
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2. You've experienced a trauma that is reoccurring (this type of PTSD often lasts a lifetime). I've been told that this if often the case for school shooting survivors, because we have to re-enter the building for years after the incident, similar to the psychology of a soldier returning to battle over and over again.⁠⁠
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I spent 3 more years in that building after the shooting. ⁠That's Grace's office in the background of this picture. It was tough every day. ⁠⁠
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⛰️ Join us for Episode 6. Link in Bio. ⁠⁠
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foreward-podcast/id1546928381

27/01/2021

❤ We've been featured in the Thought Catalog today! That's kind of a big deal!

"On February 14th, 2019, I listened to a podcast published by The Daily (The Parkland Students, 1 Year Later), in which 4 teenage girls were interviewed after their school shooting in Parkland, Florida. They were 15 years old. I was also 15 when it happened to me."

On February 14th, 2019, I listened to a podcast published by The Daily (The Parkland Students, 1 Year Later), in which 4 teenage girls were interviewed after their school shooting in Parkland, Flor…