Amanda Carrasco

Hi Kevin, Amanda Carrasco is the author of a new book that revisits personal trauma and challenges how we, as a society, define justice, survivorship, and healing.

At a time when more survivors are speaking out and many are questioning whether our justice system truly protects or heals, Amanda is sparking a bold, necessary conversation. As a child, Amanda endured the unimaginable: sexual abuse by her brother and the violent murder of loved ones. But rather than bury her pain, she chose a path few dare to take -- sitting face-to-face with both her abuser and the man who killed her family. Not for vengeance. But for truth, accountability, and the chance at healing.

This act of radical empathy and courage is at the core of her new memoir, "Becoming the Brave One," releasing on Aug. 26.

In an interview, Amanda can discuss:
Why she chose restorative justice over retribution
The moment she reclaimed her voice as a survivor
Why true compassion requires boundaries
Systematic failure
How early betrayals shaped her identity
Her journey through complex PTSD
The emotional labor of revisiting trauma while writing her book
What she learned about empathy and justice in the restorative process
Raising daughters to feel safe, loved, and free
The myth of the breakthrough
Why community is the cornerstone of justice
What bravery means to her now

Thanks Kevin, and I look forward to hearing from Behind Beautiful Things!