Stronger Than You Think - An Interview with Sherry Hamby

Stronger Than You Think - An Interview with Sherry Hamby

Author: Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona May 12, 2026 Duration: 53:42
What if everything we thought we knew about resilience was only part of the story? In this episode of Canvas of the Heart, host Matt Sandoval sits down with Dr. Sherry Hamby — distinguished research professor, clinical psychologist, and author of the forthcoming book Stronger Than You Think (May 26, 2026) — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to heal from trauma and adversity. Dr. Hamby shares how her work in rural Appalachia, on the San Carlos Apache reservation, and with survivors of domestic violence taught her that the people our systems most often underestimate are frequently the ones working hardest to find a way forward. Drawing on decades of research, she walks us through the resilience portfolio model — a framework built around four domains of strength: meaning making, regulatory skills, interpersonal relationships, and physical environment — and explains why real healing rarely looks like toughing it out alone. Together, Matt and Dr. Hamby explore the concept of poly-victimization (why cumulative trauma exposure matters more than any single event), why creative expression belongs at the center of trauma recovery rather than on its margins, and what "trauma-informed care" actually requires of organizations that claim it. This conversation touches the heart of what Art Heals Arizona does every day — meeting people where they are, building on what they already bring, and trusting that a good life is possible. Topics covered: Resilience portfolio model · Deficit lens vs. strengths-based approaches · Poly-victimization and cumulative trauma · Art, music, and creative expression as healing tools · Trauma-informed vs. healing-centered systems · Institutional betrayal · Access to healing outside formal services Connect with Dr. Hamby: Life Paths Research Center or her Book: Stronger Than You Think — available May 26, 2026 Sherry Hamby's website: https://lifepathsresearch.org/ Substack: https://substack.com/@sherryhamby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-hamby/      

Canvas of the Heart is a quiet space where stories of healing and creativity intersect. Produced by Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, this podcast explores the profound impact of artistic expression on young lives marked by trauma, abuse, neglect, and homelessness. From its home in Phoenix, the organization pairs trained adult mentors with children and teens, using creative work as a steady path from pain toward resilience. Each episode offers a genuine look into this process, sharing voices and experiences that might otherwise go unheard. You'll hear about the legacy of this work not as a simple success story, but as a complex, human journey. The conversations within this podcast naturally unfold to reveal how a brushstroke, a written line, or a performed moment can begin to rebuild a sense of safety and self. It’s about the tangible ways art functions as a language for emotions that are too difficult to speak aloud. Tuning in, you become part of a wider conversation on mental well-being, the necessity of human connection, and the quiet strength found in making something new. This is more than a series about a program; it’s an auditory window into the transformation that happens when a caring community provides the tools and the space for creativity to flourish. The Canvas of the Heart podcast documents these subtle, powerful shifts, emphasizing that healing is not a solitary act but a collaborative masterpiece in progress.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 27

Canvas of the Heart
Podcast Episodes
FAQs from Volunteer Mentors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:25
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program…
How Volunteer Mentors Transform Lives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:00
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program…
Symposium Hype - Sneak Peek with New Pathways for Youth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:55
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program…
Symposium Hype Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:45
Today, we are visiting with partner agencies that helping to produced the Inspiring Creativity in Mentoring Sympoisum to be held on April 20, 2024 in Phoenix. More information here: Inspiring Creativity in Mentoring Symp…
2023 Favorite Things and 2024 Awesome Things [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:48
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program…
Helping Families Navigate the Holidays and Set Goals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:56
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program…
Supporting Free Arts with Justin Stewart and Bea Bohannon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:06
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program…
Growing Resilient Roots with Erina Sanchez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:50
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program…
A Chat with Matt the New Executive Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program…