How Generational Trauma Is Secretly Running Your Life | Dr. Mariel Buqué - The School of Greatness Recap
Podcast: The School of Greatness
Published: 2026-03-20
Duration: 4087
Guests: Dr. Mariel Buqué
What Happened
Dr. Mariel Buqué introduces the idea that trauma is not only an individual experience but is also inherited at the genetic level, beginning from conception. This inherited trauma influences people's ability to manage stress and may predispose them to conditions like depression and anxiety. Buqué explains that most people live in a low-grade survival state, reacting to triggers that are linked to unresolved emotional burdens carried from previous generations.
Dr. Buqué provides guidance on how to regulate the nervous system daily through three practices: breath work, humming, and rocking. She emphasizes the importance of these techniques in helping to interrupt stress responses. Breath work, in particular, requires at least five minutes to effectively promote relaxation of the nervous system.
The episode highlights the distinction between managing mental health symptoms and genuinely healing the underlying trauma. Dr. Buqué illustrates how tracing limiting beliefs back to their roots and engaging in both mental and body-centered work can challenge these beliefs. This holistic approach is crucial for shifting from a survival mode to a state where creativity and meaningful connections are possible.
Dr. Buqué shares personal stories of overcoming trauma through therapy and self-reflection, underscoring the idea that healing is a continuous process. She argues that the chronic fight-or-flight response impairs creativity and prevents individuals from thriving. Overcoming trauma involves finding meaningful purpose and reframing negative events to reduce mental health challenges.
The discussion touches on the intersection of nature and nurture in intergenerational trauma, where genetic predispositions interact with social and environmental factors. Dr. Buqué explains how the epigenetic transmission of stress can perpetuate cycles of trauma, making systemic change and daily holistic practices essential for breaking these cycles.
Dr. Buqué also addresses common fears and the scarcity mindset developed in childhood, often exacerbated by experiences of poverty. She highlights the role of implicit memory in trauma, where sensory-based memories linger even when explicit memories are not recalled. This understanding is vital for addressing memory gaps in trauma survivors.
The episode concludes with Dr. Buqué's encouragement to challenge feelings of imposter syndrome, which she has personally experienced as a black Latina in elite educational settings. She stresses the importance of vulnerability and courage in fostering curiosity and harmony in relationships, as well as the significance of starting the healing process today.
Dr. Buqué's book, 'Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma,' and her online course, BTC™ Generational Trauma Therapy Training, provide further resources for those interested in her approach to trauma healing. She actively uses social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to make these conversations more accessible.
Key Insights
- Dr. Mariel Buqué describes trauma as something that can be genetically inherited and is not restricted to individual experiences. This concept emphasizes the biological transmission of trauma, which can lead to stress responses and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
- Dr. Buqué recommends three accessible techniques for nervous system regulation: breath work, humming, and rocking. Each technique helps to interrupt stress responses, with breath work requiring at least five minutes to be effective.
- Intergenerational trauma involves both genetic and environmental factors, necessitating a holistic approach to healing. Dr. Buqué explains how epigenetic transmission can perpetuate trauma across generations, highlighting the need for systemic change and daily practices.
- Dr. Buqué shares her experiences with imposter syndrome, challenging feelings of not belonging. She emphasizes vulnerability and courage as keys to overcoming self-doubt and fostering meaningful connections and personal growth.