All Episodes

June 25, 2025 42 mins

"I celebrate life every day." - Koya Bakare


In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom Podcast, host Janet Sandberg speaks with Koya Bakare, a model, pageant queen, and survivor of trauma. Koya shares her journey of overcoming sexual assault, bulimia, and suicide attempts, emphasizing the importance of therapy, self-love, and empowerment. She discusses how her mother's support and her experiences in pageantry helped her find her voice and advocate for others. Koya encourages listeners to embrace their unique stories and reminds them that healing is possible, urging them to take control of their narratives and celebrate life.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Koya's Journey

01:43 Overcoming Childhood Trauma

06:56 The Role of Therapy in Healing

14:04 Finding Self-Love and Empowerment

19:31 Embracing Pageantry and Advocacy

23:42 The Journey of Self-Discovery

26:51 Healing Through Vulnerability

29:10 Creating Your Own Narrative

31:58 The Power of Words and Self-Expression

35:41 Embracing Your Unique Story

38:35 Finding Joy in the Present Moment


Subscribe to hear more and share with those who might need to hear these inspiring stories.


Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


*****

In Crisis?

Canada:

Talk Suicide Canada call 1-833-456-4566 available 24/7. Between the hours of 4pm-midnight (Eastern time) you can text 45645 or text 988

In Quebec call 1-866-277-3553. Contactez un intervenant par texto au 535353. Service offert 24/7 partout au Québec

If you are under 18, call Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868. They offer 24/7 text service. You don’t need a data plan, internet connection or an app to use it.

If you’re in imminent danger call 911 or go to Emergency.


USA:

Call or text 988 (para ayuda en español, llame al 988). The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Call 911 in life-threatening situations.

Keywords: trauma, healing, self-love, empowerment, pageantry, mental health, resilience, therapy, personal growth, advocacy, suicidal ideation, suicide prevention, bulimia, eating disorder, trauma



Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.