My Relationship with Oprah
My OWN Evolution of Restorative Justice
My Relationship with Oprah
Podcast interviews with Lisa Jaynes Johnson, PhD, LMFT
Episode 1:Introduction
Reporter Jill Nicolini Interviews Lisa Johnson, a family therapist in private practice, regarding her upcoming memoir My Relationship with Oprah: My Own Evolution of Restorative Justice. In this episode, Lisa describes how after establishing her career, and starting to write her memoirs, she would be again called to testify against the men who assaulted her back when she was a freshman in college. She speaks about how she has worked to change the conditions that cause people to harm others, and how she was repeatedly called back to examine the miscarriages of justice involved in her own case.
Episode 2: What happened on 10/5/1980?
A freshman in college, Lisa was working at a gas station when two armed robbers decided the money wasn’t enough and took her, too. She describes what happened as she testified throughout her college career in multiple criminal hearings until the assailants went to prison. She describes how she took her experience and education and used them to begin her career helping others recover from trauma. She thought this chapter of her life was over, but the story would go on for 40 more years. Note: This interview includes discussion of a sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
Episode #3: What Lead to Lisa’s Appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show
Lisa explains why she and her team from the Child Sexual Abuse program were in the audience on The Oprah Winfrey show and how their work aligned with Oprah’s message. She describes the work they did to help families negotiate the legal system with child sexual abuse cases and what she learned about the failures of the justice system.
Episode # 4: How Lisa Learned about Restorative Justice?
This episode describes how Lisa and Oprah both found purpose in helping others as a way to move past their own trauma. Both women focused on their careers to create a healthier world. She wanted to change the family structure from within, to create a healthier foundation, while she used her public platform to effect change on a broader, more public scale. In the end, Lisa and Oprah both found a way to use their experiences to make a difference, even if their methods were different. Lisa found recovery with the 12 steps and applied this process to how she helped others repair the damage done by relationship trauma.
Episode # 5: How Did Lisa's Family Help Her Learn About Restorative Justice?
This episode describes how Lisa’s family provided some of the healthy—and less-healthy—coping skills that helped her heal from her own trauma, as well as how she uses that understanding to help others and works towards restorative justice.
Episode #6: How Lisa Used the Recovery Principles With Her Own Struggles?
Lisa describes how she relied on the support of the 12-step program to manage her response to the challenges in her own life As she struggled with infertility on her way to New Mexico. The fellowship of the 12-step program was there to support her until she found her home in Albuquerque as she practiced the principles in her own life.
How Lisa Used Recovery Principles to Create Her OWN Family
Lisa describes how she used the 12 step recovery principles to help her manage her own struggles with infertility losses and her husband depression. She found solace in the UNM community in her career, and her coursework toward PhD in Family Studies programuntil she returned to working as a family therapist continuing her work for restorative justice.
Episode #8: How Lisa’s Work for Restorative Justice Prepared Her for the Innocence Project
Lisa reports ongoing recovery from a traumatic sexual assault in 1980, using hypnosis and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to recall details (e.g., license plate numbers, assailant’s gold tooth) and relieve physical symptoms. She describes being hypnotized by detectives, which aided the investigation and legal process. Years later, she was subpoenaed by the Innocence Project lawyers to testify in the wrongful conviction case of Larry Mayes, whose DNA evidence led to his exoneration and compensation. She highlights the emotional burden of revisiting these events. Lisa reflects on her work in restorative justice, family therapy, and support programs for youth, while balancing career, healing, and motherhood, including being pregnant during the 9-11 attacks. EMDR helped her separate physical sensations from trauma, improving communication about her experiences. She expresses pride in advocacy, truth-telling, and social justice, and plans to share more of her story in future sessions.
Episode #9: How Lisa’s Work Impacted Her Involvement with the Innocence Project
Lisa reports ongoing efforts to process trauma stemming from a sexual assault in 1980 and the complex legal aftermath, including her pivotal role in exonerating a previously convicted individual through DNA evidence and the use of hypnosis to aid memory recall. She describes the emotional toll of participating in legal proceedings, reconciling her belief in the justice system with the outcome of the case, and the support provided by her father during hypnosis sessions and testimony. Lisa reflects on her professional path, including work in restorative justice at Amy Biehl High School, supporting students in crisis (such as suicidality and self-harm), and fostering inclusivity through initiatives like the Gay-Straight Alliance. She discusses her transition to private practice after job changes and the loss of her childcare provider, emphasizing the autonomy and improved work-life balance this shift provided, as well as the resilience developed through these experiences. Lisa notes the healing impact of EMDR training on her own trauma and expresses a desire to help others overcome similar challenges. She continues to question her role in the legal process and the broader implications of justice and responsibility.
Episode #10: How the Losses in Lisa’s Life Impacted Her Evolution of Restorative Justice
Lisa continues the story of her ongoing evolution of restorative justice as she is again called to relive her 1980 assault in court. She describes continued involvement with the justice system, including feelings of disappointment and uncertainty about justice being served, especially after learning of wrongful convictions. She describes the continued support from her sister Edie but the remaining estrangement from two other sisters due to past substance use and setting boundaries. She discusses her regret for using cannabis to connect with them, which led to exclusion from family events. Lisa continued her focus on healing and recovery from compulsive overeating and substance use by participating in the Hoffman process to address family issues. She notes personal growth, weight loss, renewed dedication to her marriage, and building supportive networks through her church and advocacy, highlighting her resilience and ability to create community beyond her family.
Episode #11: Lisa Describes the Recovery Process to Create Her OWN Story of Restorative Justice
Lisa reported her struggles with cannabis use, which strained relationships with her middle sisters and led to estrangement after she requested substance-free gatherings. She regretted using cannabis to connect with family, realizing it created isolation. Lisa reflected on her mother’s emotional disengagement and declining health, which motivated her to seek recovery and focus on self-care, including intensive exercise like training for a 75-mile bike ride. The Hoffman process helped her shift from prioritizing others to her own personal growth. She describes marital dissatisfaction while taking conscious steps to improve her relationship, such as renewing vows and altering her wedding dress. Lisa continued by building community connections, moving from despair to a sense of abundance, and uses spiritual fitness practices like IntenSati’s “Love in Action” videos to support her recovery.
Episode #12: How Lisa Applied Principles of Restorative Justice to the 2018 Murder Trial
Lisa reports ongoing emotional challenges related to a legal trial about her past trauma, describing it as emotionally exhausting and requiring self-restoration. She was compelled to testify in a murder case connected to her decades-old assault and feels the justice system emphasizes retribution over healing. Lisa uses self-care and spiritual practices, including IntenSati, Overeaters Anonymous, and the Hoffman process, for resilience. She feels abandoned by her husband and his family during the trial, leading to isolation and disappointment, but found support from her friend Jackie and her Unitarian church. A pivotal moment was choosing an open relationship after persistent emotional and sexual disconnect in her marriage, leading to divorce and solo polyamory. She now feels empowered, happy, and self-determined, and is able to forgive those involved in her trauma while advocating for restorative justice, stating, “I had to build a vessel strong enough to hold on to my trauma.”