Description

In this episode of In Her Words, Jess explores the deep, sometimes misunderstood concept of bearing witness—what it means, why it matters, and how it sits at the very heart of memoir. She explains that witnessing is more than simply remembering; it’s the act of honoring your own experience, holding space for your truth, and affirming that what you lived through matters and is worth telling.

Jess breaks down five reasons bearing witness is essential for memoir writers:

1. It reveals what your story is really about—how you felt and what it meant.
2. It restores your dignity and integrity by reminding you that you are more than what happened to you.
3. It helps you navigate emotional landmines with clarity and care.
4. It creates the intimacy readers crave and connects them to your emotional world.
5. It transforms your story into a gift rather than a confession—turning pain into meaningful purpose.

Jess also shares practical prompts to help writers cultivate witnessing in their writing process, offering gentle guidance on how to honor your story without becoming overwhelmed by it.

Ultimately, this episode reminds us that memoir is not just writing—it’s connection, courage, and healing, for both author and reader.

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.