He held a knife to his father’s throat and felt, in that same moment, something he could only call love. That paradox — and the lifelong journey it set in motion — is what this conversation is about.

Jaime Encinas is an entrepreneur, author, and spiritual leader whose life has been shaped by trauma, healing, and the hard work of breaking cycles. Founder of Wheeling to Healing and a fellow with WEAVE: The Social Fabric Project, Jaime brings a rare combination of personal testimony and practical framework to the question of how we repair — ourselves, our families, and our communities. In this conversation, we explore Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the science of trauma, the meaning of forgiveness, and why the most powerful thing we can offer another person is simply to see them.

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Key Takeaways

From “what’s wrong with you” to “what happened to you.” The ACEs framework — developed through research on adverse childhood experiences — reframes dysfunction not as a character flaw but as a response to trauma. That shift in question changes everything about how we approach healing.

Cycles of violence are made to be broken. Jaime traces his father’s cruelty to his grandfather’s — and to the deeper legacy of colonization. Understanding the origin of pain doesn’t excuse it. But it opens the door to compassion, and ultimately to forgiveness.

Presence is a practice. From Meisner technique to contemplative prayer, Jaime has spent a lifetime learning to be still — and argues that our capacity to truly see one another depends on it.

“See me” is the deepest human ask. Whether it’s a child to a parent, a neighbor to a stranger, or a person experiencing homelessness to a passerby — the need to be truly seen cuts across every divide we face.

Heaven might be here. Jaime’s theology is grounded and immediate: the sacred shows up in moments of genuine encounter — washing a father’s feet, walking beside a daughter in recovery, hugging someone on the street.

About Our Guest

Jaime Encinas is the founder of Wheeling to Healing, an organization dedicated to educating communities about the science of trauma and offering practical pathways toward healing. He is the author of two books drawn from that work and has spent decades as an educator, activist, and spiritual leader working with vulnerable communities. Jaime is a fellow with WEAVE: The Social Fabric Project, an Aspen Institute initiative that supports local leaders working to repair social trust.

Links and Resources

• Wheeling to Healing – www.amazon.com/Wheeling-Healing-Broken-Heart-Bicycle/dp/194605402X
• Take the ACEs Quiz – www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean
• WEAVE: The Social Fabric Project – weavers.org

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Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners

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