Panel: The Wisdom of Trauma

With Anoop Kumar, MD & Maurizio Benazzo & Rabbi Dr. Tirzah Firestone & Tommy Rosen & Zaya Benazzo
Hosted by Téana David

The film’s directing duo are joined by esteemed professionals in the trauma healing space to discuss the evolutionary steps humanity can take to create a healthier, more equitable world. We take a deep dive into the documentary’s themes: What exactly is trauma? What is the relationship of addiction to deep suffering, and how can we work together to create a trauma-informed society?

Anoop Kumar, MD

Author and Consciousness Explorer

Anoop Kumar, MD, enjoys exploring (and communicating about) the intersection of consciousness and everything else. He is an emergency physician, public speaker, columnist for Emergency Medicine News, and author of Michelangelo’s Medicine and Is This a Dream?

By spending time both in India and the U.S. as a child, Anoop grew to appreciate the differences between these cultures. He inadvertently began developing a framework for these differences when his parents exposed him to the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, which became his playground as he explored consciousness and its relationship with identity and the world. Against this backdrop, school seemed to be lacking something critical — in-depth knowledge of the nature of being human. This was the seed of Anoop’s desire to acquire and communicate this knowledge publicly.

To communicate insights into the nature of consciousness as comprehensively as possible, Anoop developed the three minds framework — a trans-disciplinary approach that integrates consciousness, identity, and the subjective and objective worlds. He applies the three minds framework to identify the specific changes needed in such fields as healthcare, education, and spirituality, to further advance our society.

By training, Anoop is board-certified in emergency medicine and holds a master’s degree in management with a focus in health leadership.

Maurizio Benazzo

Founder of Science and Nonduality (SAND) and Co-director of "The Wisdom of Trauma"

Maurizio Benazzo grew up in Genova, Italy. At an early age he began actively traveling the spiritual path, exploring the practices of Zen Buddhism, Transcendental Meditation, Yogic philosophy, Catholicism and Philosophy. He has experience in all aspects of production both in front of and behind the camera, including acting, directing, cinematography, and distribution. Once they met in 2008, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo founded Science and nonduality and lately they co-directed the film The Wisdom of Trauma. Once they met in 2008, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo founded Science and nonduality and lately they co-directed the film The Wisdom of Trauma.

Rabbi Dr. Tirzah Firestone

Jungian Psychotherapist & Award-Winning Author

Rabbi Dr. Tirzah Firestone is an author, Jungian psychotherapist, and renowned Jewish scholar and teacher. Widely known for her groundbreaking work on Kabbalah, depth psychology, intergenerational trauma healing, and the re-integration of the feminine wisdom tradition within Judaism, Rabbi Tirzah lectures and teaches globally about spiritual and ancient wisdom practices that are honed to assist us at this critical time in world history.

Rabbi Tirzah’s publications include With Roots in Heaven: One Woman's Passionate Journey into the Heart of Her Faith and The Receiving: Reclaiming Jewish Women’s Wisdom

Her latest work, combining research on depth psychology, neuroscience, and the field of collective traumatology, is highlighted in the award-winning book Wounds Into Wisdom: Healing intergenerational Jewish Trauma. In it, she shares the remarkable life stories of people around the world who have healed from profound tragedy and trauma. The book provides directives for the transformation of all of our injuries — both personal and inherited — into moral wisdom, courage, and compassion. 

Tommy Rosen

Yoga Teacher and Founder, Recovery 2.0

Tommy Rosen is a yoga teacher and addiction recovery expert who has spent the last two decades immersed in yoga, recovery and wellness. He holds certifications in both Kundalini and Hatha Yoga and has 24 years of continuous recovery from drug addiction.

Tommy is one of the pioneers in the field of Yoga and Recovery assisting others to holistically transcend addictions of all kinds. Tommy is the founder and host of the Recovery 2.0: Beyond Addiction Online Conference series and the #MoveBeyond Group Coaching Program. He leads Recovery 2.0 retreats and workshops internationally and presents regularly at yoga conferences and festivals.

Tommy’s first book, Recovery 2.0: Move Beyond Addiction and Upgrade Your Life, was published by Hay House in October 2014. Tommy and his wife, yoga teacher, Kia Miller, live in Venice, California, where they teach yoga and grow organic vegetables in their backyard.

Zaya Benazzo

Founder of Science and Nonduality (SAND) and Co-director of "The Wisdom of Trauma"

Zaya Benazzo has degrees in Engineering, Environmental Science, and Film. Born in Bulgaria, she produced and directed several award wining documentaries in Europe and the USA, including Energy for Survival, Hunger Gathering, Airwaves, Wings and Strings, Screaming Queens, America's Chemical Angels and more. Once they met in 2008, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo founded Science and nonduality and lately they co-directed the film The Wisdom of Trauma.

Hosted by Téana David

Festival Co-Producer

With a passion for creating at the intersection of ecology, spirituality, and social justice, Téana David served as the director of Deepak HomeBase in New York City where she designed, curated, and produced a year-round transformational event series. Currently the co-director of Circle of Wisdom, she conducts video interviews with wisdom-keepers from different cultures to make their wisdom available to the next generations. She co-wrote her first TV pilot at age 19 for Canadian Television and has written numerous plays, including The Wonders (Spielberg Righteous Person’s Award), and Scars (Tonya Pinkin's Truth & Reconciliation Project), as well as numerous environmental messaging campaigns. Recent producing credits include Artists United for Amazonia and No Vote Left Behind, livestream events that garnered a combined viewership of 33 million. Téana holds an MFA in Contemporary Performance from Naropa University, an interdisciplinary degree comprised of performance, somatic studies, playwriting, and producing. She serves on the board of The Tribal Trust Foundation, The Evolutionary Leaders Circle, and is a founding member of Artists For Amazonia.

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Anoop Kumar, MD & Maurizio Benazzo & Rabbi Dr. Tirzah Firestone & Tommy Rosen & Zaya Benazzo
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