In this episode of Soul Decodes, Dr. Tia Jolie Phillips and Sarah Tirri are joined by special guest from England Zhenya—Sarah’s niece—for a moving, unscripted conversation spanning bullying, bravery, and the true nature of friendship. The trio reflects on Zhenya’s early experience with peer bullying and adult negligence, sparking a larger examination of complicity and courage. When a classroom teacher removes a bullied child rather than confronting the bullies, Tia Jolie names the harm: silence is tantamount to participation. Her own story of walking out of a toxic band, and later writing a poem titled You're the Bully Too, drives this point home!

The episode is equally heartfelt and philosophical, with vivid stories about growing up "feral" and unsupervised—highlighting both freedom and emotional neglect. Sarah and Tia Jo ...