Surviving a Terrorist Bombing, FBI Interrogation, and Flashbacks with Christiane Scarpino
A cup of coffee saved her life.
On an unsuspecting summer morning in 1977, Christiane Scarpino was saved by the three steps she took away from her desk to get a cup of coffee- at the precise moment that a bomb in her office went off.
Did you just get chills? Well, just wait until you here the rest of this story.
In this Friday’s with Friends episode, we’re talking directly with 70 year-old Christiane Scarpino about the trauma she faced at the age of 21 when she survived a terrorist bombing attack at her job (from a woman only six months older than her).
She walks us through the moments leading up to the explosion, the immediate aftermath, and how for years afterwards, she was treated like a criminal by the FBI who believed that she could be a suspect.
She explains how she was never evaluated medically, that PTSD wasn’t known like it is today, and how she suffered for years with flashbacks and memory loss that she felt like she had to hide.
She’s now reclaiming her voice with her memoir (a book she wrote to help others heal), and she’s not holding back in this interview at all.
Are you ready to hear a wild story?
Here’s A Little About Christiane + Her Journey:
Christiane Scarpino is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and retired Massage Therapist who now devotes her life to raising awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A graduate of Rutgers University and Purdue University, she lives in New Jersey with her husband and their cherished Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, whom she trains and competes with in various performance events.
A survivor of a terrorist bombing in 1977, Christiane’s life took a dramatic turn as she grappled with the long-lasting effects of PTSD. Her memoir, Missing Pieces, shares her deeply personal journey of resilience, highlighting the hidden struggles of trauma survivors and the importance of understanding the condition’s impact on daily life. Through her story, she provides a powerful message of hope for fellow survivors and advocates for greater awareness, empathy, and support for those living with invisible wounds.
Christiane’s mission is to educate others about PTSD, emphasizing the need for accommodations and understanding- even for those who may appear “normal” on the outside. By sharing her experiences, she aims to inspire trauma survivors and foster a greater sense of compassion and connection in society.
Find + Connect With Christiane Here:
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK
Let’s dive in, shall we?
LISTEN NOW ON SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCASTS OR YOUTUBE.
CHECK OUT THE EXCLUSIVE GUEST DEEP-DIVE ON SUBSTACK.
We'll never share your email, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
If you've been looking for a podcast that goes deeper than anything else out there- you're in the right place. Every episode is like a mix of tequila shots and therapy where we're calling out the BS, taking responsibility for our sh*t, and discussing the taboo things that others won't.
By joining the pod list you'll be the first to know when a new episode drops- and if we ever have an offer to share, you'll be notified of those too. Ready to be sworn in, Reg Babe?
