Don’t Be Caught Dead Podcast: Death, DNA, and Family Secrets: How Trauma Lives in Our Genes

“What if the unexplained feelings of grief, anxiety, or disconnection you carry aren't entirely your own?

In this compelling episode, I sit down with Michelle Scheibner, author of 'Hush', to explore how the secrets and trauma of our family history can echo through generations, impacting our lives in ways we never imagined. Michelle's journey of discovery began when she found an old leather suitcase filled with documents after her mother's death. These papers revealed her father's hidden Jewish heritage and his harrowing escape from Nazi Germany - a history that had been carefully concealed throughout her life.

Through her work in epigenetics and inherited family trauma, Michelle explains how traumatic experiences can actually modify our DNA, affecting future generations. Her research, backed by groundbreaking studies from Dr Rachel Yehuda at Mount Sinai School, demonstrates how children of Holocaust survivors and mothers present at Ground Zero show identical anxiety markers and cortisol levels as their traumatised parents.

As an adult orphan who lost both parents and later her significant other, Chris, to cancer, Michelle's personal story illustrates how unresolved family trauma can manifest in our lives. Through narrative therapy and deep personal work, she transformed her understanding of grief and identity, moving from a place of blame to one of appreciation for the resilience she inherited from her parents. Her journey offers hope and practical guidance for anyone seeking to understand their own unexplained feelings or recurring patterns.”