Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Fraser

Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

My story begins with a workplace bullying crisis. Watching the broken system go into action surprised and disoriented me. I thought that we had zero tolerance for bullying, harassing, and abusing others. I thought that perpetrators were held accountable and victims were protected. I was wrong.

I saw first-hand perpetrators be protected and targets get re-victimized! Why?

Because the employer had been informed a year earlier and if indeed abuse was occurring then he – his board and other administrators – were complicit and negligent. I have now learned this is textbook and it explains why repeat abuse gets covered up not for days, or months, but for years and even decades. Think producer Harvey Weinstein, Dr. Larry Nassar, coach Jerry Sandusky and their endless facilitated abuse.

I’m an academic by training so when I was told by my employer that my reaction was excessive, I was not swayed. Then the regulator ruled that the targets of systemic abuse were “too sensitive.” Again, I was not convinced and went straight to the research. What I discovered was so shocking that I have been working double time ever since to get the information out into the world because we all need it. Our health, our sanity, and our very lives can be protected by the knowledge brain scientists have on how all forms of bullying and abuse impact our brains.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

I stumbled onto the path of being a whistleblower. I am not one of those morally clear, heroically driven, powerfully courageous whistleblowers. My path was one of extreme anxiety, even panic attacks, self-doubt, moments of despair, but underlying it all was a sense of fury that so much harm could be done to innocent victims and those that did it walked away with impunity.

I have now learned that I fit the pattern of the typical whistleblower. I tried hard to work with my employer to address the bullying crisis. I took testimonies from victims at his request. I submitted them to him in support of the work he needed to do to stop the abusive behaviour and protect future victims while also repairing the damage done to the at least 14 victims who reported to him. It took me months to realize my employer was not going to protect victims or halt the abuse. During this phase of being gaslit, I became aware of how much manipulation can de-stabilize you. Without this lived experience, I do not think I could truly understand just how much lying from those in positions of prestige, power, and credibility can shatter the brain and one of its key roles which is to make sense of reality.

Once I recognized my employer and those who worked closely with him were corrupt, I agreed to speak to an investigative journalist for national news and I agreed to be interviewed by national TV. I am an introvert and a private person and this decision was extremely difficult for me; however, I strongly believe we must speak up when injustice occurs and this belief fuelled my commitment to shining a spotlight on the abuses being covered up. My goal is for all of us to become whistleblowers. Extensive research out of Harvard reveals that organizations that encourage and protect whistleblowers have higher productivity and profitability.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

The name of my company comes from my 2022 book “The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health.” This book was 10 years in the making, 10 years from the day I heard that in my workplace vulnerable individuals were being targeted and harmed by four employees in positions of trust and power. It took me 10 years because I wanted to know what the experts understood about all forms of bullying and abuse. I read the research of doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, neurobiologists and neuroscientists.

I asked one of the world’s most highly awarded neuroscientist’s to read the manuscript to ensure I was quoting the science properly. Dr. Michael Merzenich, known to his colleagues as “The Father of Neuroplasticity” said that “The Bullied Brain” is “THE most completely scientifically thorough treatment of the subject on planet earth.” His endorsement galvanized me to work even harder at using brain science to debunk the myths we have about bullying and abuse in our culture.

In my business, I spend every day working to get the world to learn that ALL forms of bullying and abuse – including those that do not touch the body – has the capacity to do physical damage to the brain and the neurological scars are visible on brain scans. I consult with individuals and organizations. I speak in front of lawmakers internationally. I present regularly in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. on this pressing issue. I also strive to educate organizations on brain health and brain fitness. Our society tends to ignore the brain, but learning about how to keep it healthy, happy and high-performing is a game-changer. We care about wellness, but not many people know that the brain is a key component of our wellness journey.

I write a series for Psychology Today called “The Bullied Brain” that informs all those who seek to know what bullying and abuse do to our brains. I have been asked to present at the Health and Trauma conference in September 2024 at the University of Oxford and I am hoping the recorded Masters Series of my presentation will reach a wide audience. We are on the tipping point of a scientific revolution and we are long overdue to learn that the brain is utterly critical to our health and wellness goals. At present, the brain is too often ignored. My business is all about changing that.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?

I am a textual learner and reading is how my brain processes information. For those interested in brain health, Dr. Michael Merzenich’s book “Soft-Wired” is a must read. Books that have greatly enriched my thinking and work are Dr. Stan Rodski’s “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” and Dr. John Ratey’s “Spark” and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s “The Body Keeps the Score.”

I have been interviewed on many podcasts and am always impressed by the hosts and their interview skills. We have rich discussions and I learn a great deal. For those interested in the brain, I would recommend Dr. Krystal Culler’s Brain Health podcast in the U.S. For those interested in bullying and abuse in our society, I recommend the Femcast podcast out of Ireland. For those motivated to recover from trauma and fulfill their potential, a game-changer podcast is the Mark Divine Show.

Pricing:

• The Bullied Brain in hard cover is $18.79 on Amazon
• The Bullied Brain on kindle is $17.85
• The Bullied Brain in audio is free right now with an Amazon membership trial
• Speaking prices depend on travel etc.
• Consulting prices vary depending on multiple factors

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bulliedbrain.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bulliedbrain/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BulliedBrain/
• Twitter: https://x.com/bulliedbrain
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-bullied-brain