What does a deeply embarrassing, traumatic childhood moment have to do with your strength today? In this profoundly vulnerable and powerful episode of "It Begins Here," host Jillian Johnson shares a story she's rarely told: the day in 4th grade she got her first period in front of her entire class, bled through her white pants, and was cruelly nicknamed "Period Woman" for years.
Jillian recounts the pain of the bullying, the isolation, and the unexpected role it forced her into as the school's unofficial cycle expert. With raw honesty, she reframes this trauma as the forge that built her remarkable resiliency and ability to withstand negativity. This episode is more than a personal story; it's a urgent call to action for parents to educate their children with kindness, to destigmatize natural bodily functions, and to teach the power of defending others.
If you've ever felt marked by a childhood moment or want to raise a more empathetic generation, this conversation will move and empower you. Your journey to understanding the roots of resilience and the necessity of compassion begins here.
Where love creates movement, and movement creates change.
