What Kaila Yu's Story Teaches Us About Silence, Survival, and Self-Worth

After her trauma was made public without consent, Kaila chose something else: truth, healing, and a powerful new path.

Author

Matt Gilhooly
August 27, 2025

She didn't tell anyone for years.

In her early 20s, Kaila Yu went to a modeling shoot that changed her life in a way she never could have imagined. What happened next (coercion, dissociation, and public exposure) pushed her into silence for a long time. But in this episode, Kaila finally tells her story with honesty and power.

🎧 Listen to the episode → www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/201

📺 Watch on YouTube → youtube.com/@thelifeshiftpodcast

Sometimes, survival means keeping quiet. But healing almost always begins with telling the truth. Kaila's story is a reminder that we don't owe anyone perfection, and we're not defined by what was done to us. This conversation explores cultural silence, coerced consent, and the long journey toward reclaiming your voice one small decision at a time.

3 things to think about

  • Silence might feel like safety at first, but it can slowly shrink the space where we live

  • Dissociation is not weakness it is protection, especially when the mind cannot fully process trauma

  • Validation from others can't replace the steady self-love that comes from within

2 things to ask yourself

  • Where have I been pretending something didn't hurt me as much as it did?

  • What version of me deserves more compassion than I've been giving?

1 thing to try this week

  • Write a short letter to a younger version of you who needed more love or safety. Keep it private, but honest.

Thank you for being part of this space. If Kaila's story touched something in you, I'd love to hear about it. Just hit reply or share this episode with someone who might feel less alone after listening.

Warmly,

Matt

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PS: During a long weekend trip in May, I created a short-form podcast, “It’s Okay If…” Each episode is under three minutes long and provides a permission slip to simply be human. I’d be honored if you subscribed to the show. New episodes are released every Wednesday at noon ET.