3 Women 3 Ways

More than 100 indiginous people are missing in Washington State; other states are also plagued with high numbers. The Washington State Patrol has created a task force specifically to help locate and get answers to the epidemic of missing men and women.More than 100 indiginous people are missing in Washington State; other states are also plagued with high numbers. The Washington State Patrol has created a task force specifically to help locate and get answers to the epidemic of missing men and women. Join us as members of the task force describe the problems, the obstacles and the stories of the efforts to locate the many missing.  Available online at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways. Available on demand after 04/01/2022.     

Women make up 51% of the US population, yet only 31% of elected officials are women. So why the disparity?   Well, as any woman who has run for office can tell you, there are a number of barriers and obstacles standing in the way for women who throw their hats in the ring. Money, support, personal obligations, campaigning, exposure...the list goes on and on. A number of organizations have formed in the last couple of years to help  One of them is League of Our Own Washington. Executive Director Kaitlin Vintertun heads up the relatively new League based just north of Seattle, WA. She explains the supports the group offers women who not only want to run now, but who are contemplating it in the future. During their first year they had 70 potential candidates participate in trainings, coaching sessions, and educational programs with supporters and experienced candidates, with most running for school boards, city councils, an dother critical local positions. Most educational experiences are provided by volunteer coaches, former candidates and supporters from speech experts to empathetic listeners to someone to just cook a dinner for the candidate as she goes through the experience.  Join us as we talk about women in government and what is to be learned and gained from running for office .

TEN MEN: A RHODE ISLAND ENGAGEMENT GROUP The domestic violence movement has grown and changed over the last 30 years, and perhaps one of the more interesting developments over that time, has been the efforts to engage men in the fight against the violence. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RIADV) has found one way to encourage this is to annually recruit men in the community to advocate for the Coalition and against domestic violence. The Ten Men program combines education, media, and ongoing engagement to create a continually growing, dedicated cadre of men. Krista D'Amico is the Director of Prevention at the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV), and Lucy Rios, is deputy director there. D'Amico coordinates initiatives to prevent intimate partner violence before it starts while Rios coordinates prevention-focused strategies funded through various iterations of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention DELTA Programs, creating notable initiatives to mobilize bystanders such as Ten Men. Join us as both women talk about the Ten Men program and the success it has achieved in Rhode Island.

  WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH PERPETRATOR TREATMENT? After a domestic violence arrest, perpetrators are often ordered into treatment by the courts. Treatment? That implies there is a cure. Or does it? Turns out treatment is not the panacea we would hope it is, but it may do some good. The discussion around the effectiveness of intimate partner abuser treatment is one that has been going on for a while. Does treatment help or not? The answer isn’t so simple. Just as there are different types of perpetrators, there are also different types of and approaches to treatment. Christopher Murphy, PhD, psychology professor at University of Maryland Baltimore County, and director of a counselling program for domestic violence offenders, has spent most of his career studying perpetrators and the strategies and programs used to treat them. Join us as we discuss the benefits and failures of treatment, who goes to treatment, and some of the innovative approaches to treating these perpetrators. Airing for the first time, Saturday, March 20, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

HOW ONE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE You’ve seen it on the news, perhaps heard of friends or even experienced it yourself – the domestic incident call to police. We know bits and pieces, but chances are, unless you’ve experienced it personally, you don’t really know what happens after that call. What happens when police arrive? Is it really as dangerous as they say? How do the police figure out what really happened in the midst of “he-said-she-said?” Jennifer Bartak is a police sergeant for the Town of Deerfield, Massachusetts who specializes in sexual assault investigations. She is the liaison to the High-Risk Domestic Violence Offender Team with the Northwestern District Attorney’s office. She holds a BA degree in Social-Services in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She knows very intimately what goes on when the police arrive. She shares with us, step by step, the actions, the questions and the concerns of police who handle domestic violence calls. Join us as we talk about the police response to intimate partner violence. Airing for the first time, Saturday, March 13, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

COERCIVE CONTROL: NO BROKEN BONES BUT VIOLENCE, NEVERTHELESS Isolation, entrapment, stalking, mind games, withholding, degrading…all are the strategies and the weapons of the perpetrator in debilitating and controlling relationships. The coercive control the abuser uses can create as much damage and victimization as the physical assaults often experienced in domestic violence. Lisa Aronson Fontes PhD is a senior lecturer at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is published in PsychologyToday.com and DomesticShelters.org. She is the author of four popular books including one on coercive control: “Invisible Chains, Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship.” Join us as she describes the types of coercive control, the severity and frequency of its use, and why abusers inflict this type of violence on victims. Airing for the first time, Saturday, March 6, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

MURDER CHARGES AFTER A STILL BIRTH: A FIGHT ON BEHALF OF WOMEN How terrible to deliver a still born, full term baby. Imagine the grief. Now imagine that immediately after, police arrest you and you spend the next 15 months jailed and charged with murder of that child. That is what happened to a California woman, and she isn’t the first who has been persecuted for losing a child. Women all across the country are facing such a threat, and one organization, the National Advocates for Pregnant Women, is working to provide legal advocacy for them. Samantha Lee is a staff attorney for the NAPW. She earned a degree in International Human rights and then graduated from NYU law school, served as a public defender representing parents accused of neglect or abuse and his working on cases like that of the California women. Join us as we discuss particular cases, what motivates a prosecutor to pursue such charges, and what the implications are for not only pregnant women, but for all of us. Airing for the first time, Saturday, February 27, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

When a victime has to leave a domestic violence situation, that departure is often hindered because of abusers' threats to animals, or because the victim doesn't want to leave pets behind. It's a real problem. But one organization, Redrover, is working with that problem and creating safe solutions all across the US and Canada. Nicole Forsyth is President and CEO of RedRover, a nonprofit that helps bring animals from crisis to care, including in domestic violence cases. The three main programs of RedRover help people and animals in crisis, whether that is a natural disaster or a DV problem. This includes working with shelters to learn how to accommodate animals and the humans who need help. The organization also has a program for children designed to reinforce the human-animal bond and emotions. The group also helps with resources for animal medical care.  Forsythe authored an interactive digital book and game as part of the RedRover Readers program. She has a Master of Science in Animal Biology and Welfaree, and another masters in Communication and she shares he experience helping animals and their people in this episode of 3 Women 3 Ways.

SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION OVER DECADES COVID is causing upswings in domestic violence and sexual assault. True or false?  How has the response to sexual assault changed? How do we view prevention and what does that mean today? Mary Ellen Stone, Executive Director who has headed Washington State’s King County Sexual Assault Resource Center        has worked as a leader in changing the landscape of sexual assault prevention, education and victim advocacy for nearly 40 years. Who better to talk about effective and innovative services for victims of sexual and domestic assault? Join us as we look at how perceptions of sexual assault and advocacy have changed and where they are headed in the future. And learn whether  COVID has played a part in that change. Join us as we talk family courts, abusers, child custody and the reality of domestic violence and the courts. Airing for the first time, Saturday, November 7, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

The horror stories about domestic violence, divorce, child custody and the too- often devastating decisions handed down in family court abound. This week's show features a retired judge who advocates and teaches about how abusers use the court system, and many of his insignts and experiences shed some light on what happens in courts when abusers use the courts to further abuse their victims.   Judge Eugene Hyman served 20 years on the Superior court in the Criminal, Family, Juvenile, and Probate divisions of the Court. The Juvenile Domestic and Family Violence Court began in 1999 and is believed to be the first such court in the US. It received the United Nations Public Service Award in 2008. Assitionally, he has taught Domestic Violence related subjects in Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, besides in the US.  Join us as we talk family courts, abusers, child custody and the reality of domestic violence and the courts.

Human trafficking is a problem affecting women and girls throughout the world, but it is a woman right here in the United States who shares her experiences, her trauma and, significantly, her recovery. Siobhan Bennett has been CEO of a national political advancement organization, is the former head of a Washington DC organization working to get women elected to office and is currently chief strategic officer for a legal defense and education nonprofit. That’s her professional background. Her personal background includes having been trafficked, getting out of that experience, and her life-long recovery. She sees her role today as one of educating and giving hope to others Join us as we look at human trafficking, its prevalence, and its repercussions.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM A POLICE PERSPECTIVE We hear from lawyers, judges, victims, advocates and even ministers about domestic violence, but how often do we hear from police officers about their understanding of domestic violence, it's perpetrators and victims, and its prosecution? Lt. Mark Wynn (ret), a former police officer and member of a SWAT team for 15 years, author of police Officer Standards and Training curriculum, and key creator of the largest police domestic violence investigative unit in the US joiins us to talk about the history of police response in the US, how current dissatisfaction with police culture in general may affect domestic violence response, whether changes will impact women of color more negatively, and how US police treatment of domestic violence compares with responses in other countries. Wynn, a Fulbright Specialist for the Department of State and a survivor of DV himself, has spent the last 20 years teaching police forces around the world about handling DV and he has done so with personal experience, sensitivity, enthusiasm and the support of researchers, advocates and founders of the battered women's movement.  

ABUSED MOTHERS AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES It is no surprise that children suffer in intimate partner abuse situations. Neither is it a surprise that some of those children are taken into care by child protective services. One group of researchers decided to take a look at the mothers in some of these situations and compare those who had children taken away, either temporarily or permanently, with those who did not. The results were revealing, to say the least. Leslie M. Tutty, PhD, professor emerita from the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, shares some of the findings from the study that looked at more than 600 women over four years and discovered some commonalities when children were taken away. Dr. Tutty has done extensive research into services for domestic violence, not only for abused women, but also treatment for adult and child victims of sexual abuse, and even groups for men who are perpetrators. She is widely published and has authored and edited textbooks for social workers as well as journal articles. Join us as we look at abused mothers’ mental health, how they protect their children, and what stands out among those who have had their children taken into care by CPS. Airing for the first time, Saturday, June 20, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

CYBER VIOLENCE: MANY WAYS, MANY MOTIVES We have all heard of cyber bullying, but that is just one way trolls, misogynists, criminals and crazies can use the internet to target, harass, threaten, shame and terrorize their unfortunate victims. Who are the perpetrators and who do they target? What are the negative effects of these assaults? And what are we doing about it? Emma Louise Backe is a PhD candidate at George Washington University who is doing research into the politics and nature of care and justice for survivors. She has been a rape crisis advocate and community educator, and she is a gender consultant in the international community. Join us as we discuss the research into cyber violence, the reactions to it, and the impacts on victims and society. Airing for the first time, Saturday, May 23, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

VICTIMS’ ADVOCATES: WHO, WHERE AND WHAT? Relatively unnoticed by the general population during the pandemic news and focus was the April observation of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Among those who paid attention to the event were crime victim advocates, especially Anne Seymour, an advocate for 36 years. So what does a crime victim advocate do? And when did that become a thing, anyway? Seymour, who practically invented the job, started by becoming involved at a grass roots level with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and when she found herself in the White House watching then President Regan as he began the focus on victim’s rights, she decided this was the path she would take. And taken it she has. She Director of the Fairness, Dignity And Respect for Crime Victims and Survivors Project and is the consultant to the Pew Charitable Trusts Public Safety Performance Project. She’s developed training and assistance programs, authored books and studies and even helped develop curricula for training advocates. Join us as we discuss the concept of victims’ rights, the creation of task forces and agencies to help those affected by crime, the implementation of policy at all levels to see such help is available, and the people who have stepped forward to assist such victims. Airing for the first time, Saturday, May 6, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

“SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HER” IS A RED FLAG FOR BRAIN DAMAGE Those who work with intimate partner violence victims know how frequently strangulation shows up as an issue. What has not been as well known is how often that strangulation results in long-term brain damage. A recent study by researchers at Ohio State University revealed the prevalence of such brain damage, how often that damage is not recognized, and how frequently the results are interpreted as unrelated mental health issues. Rachel Ramirez, founder and director of The Center on Partner Inflicted Brain Injury, talks about the study and what it means for providing help for victims of domestic violence. Ramirez co-authored “Trauma-Informed Approaches: Promising Practices and Protocols for Ohio’s Domestic Violence Programs,” as well as several academic journal articles. She is a bilingual licensed independent social worker with graduate degrees and is a registered advocate with senior standing in Ohio. Join us as we discuss the prevalence and long-term brain damage resulting from domestic violence. Airing for the first time, Saturday, May 9, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

A SURVIVOR, A MOTHER, AND A WOMEN’S COALITION Cindy Dumas and her son Damon went through hell when Damon was court ordered into the custody of his father who was sexually abusing him. After fighting for years, Damon finally was able to gain his emancipation at age 16. But that didn’t end the fight for either Cindy or Damon. They have continued the battle to save kids from bad court decisions. They have created the Women’s Coalition International. The Coalition educates and lobbies about the conditions for children in US family courts, and is working to enact the Child Custody Act. Join us as we discuss courts, custody, how we got this way and how a new system needs to provide due process for parents as well as uphold the best interests of children. Airing for the first time, Saturday, April 18, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

WHAT’S A SHELTER TO DO? HELPING DURING A HEALTH CRISIS Everyone is inconvenienced by the restrictions due to the COVID-19 situation but there’s inconvenience and then there’s danger. When abuse is already there, confinement with an abuser escalates all danger and trauma. DC Safe, a Washington, DC service for abuse victims, has had to ratchet up support, create new ways to help and do it all with limited funds and challenged staff. So how are they, and hundreds of other organizations, helping victims? Kylie Hogan, Crisis Intervention Team Director, supervises a staff of 11 including response line and on call programming. She also covers the Lethality Assessment Project. Over the last few weeks, she and her staff have had to adapt to new demands, remote counseling, and serving even more people than they were serving before. Join us as Kylie discusses how she and her 11 staff members are coping, how things have changed, and how they are making it work despite pandemics and cancelled fundraisers. Airing for the first time, Saturday, April 11, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

  GENDERED VIOLENCE IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC Intimate partner violence and abuse are bad enough but made so much worse by the world-wide pandemic and the restrictions everyone faces now. What is going on and how are we coping? Seattle’s Susan Segall, director of New Beginnings, a multi-service organization dedicated to helping survivors, explains what’d different now for victims and survivors, and how her organization is working to help those in need despite viruses and restrictions. Segall has more than 35 years of experience in organizations that focus on gender-based violence, reproductive rights, peace and social justice. Join us as we talk about the effect of COVID-19 on isolation, custody and court issues, support services and more.           Airing for the first time, Saturday, April 4, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

UC DENVER’S PROGRAM ON GENDERED VIOLENCE Once upon a time, a small group of women had a vision about how to change the world to make women safe from domestic violence so they got a grant and they set about convincing a university that such a course of study was worthy and necessary. It wasn’t easy, but they did it. And this year the program that developed from that vision celebrates 20 years and dozens of graduates and developing programs to fit an even broader vision. Join originator and Director of the Center on Domestic Violence at the School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver, Barbara Paradiso, as we talk about the beginnings of the innovative department, it’s progression over two decades, and what lays ahead for the program and its graduates, and its mission to serve victims and survivors of gender-based violence by supporting solid leadership, advancing innovative research, and nurturing community collaboration. Airing for the first time, Saturday, February 8, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

REFORMING FAMILY COURTS There are too many stories about dangerous and ridiculous custody determinations that occur in America’s family courts. From children who are sent to live with abusers to children who are killed because the courts determine their killer should not be kept from seeing the child—the stories abound. So what are we doing about it? And who is doing it? Meet Danielle Pollack, Ambasador, Child USA, Family Court Reform, author of Kayden’s Law, and tireless worker to change what happens to children in family court, and Marcie Hamilton, CEO of Child USA, attorney, and constitutional law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.   Whether drafting and promoting new laws in states, to educating judges, to speaking out about legal and systemic changes that are necessary in courts, Pollack is dedicated to making things safer for kids. Join us as Pollack details cases and potential laws, shares the latest thinking about educating judges and other decision makers, and advocates for protective mothers. Airing for the first time, Saturday, January 25, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

KAYDEN’S LAW: EFFORTS TO STOP CUSTODY DECISION DEATHS Seven-year-old Kayden died at her father’s hands because a judge disregarded the father’s threats of violence against her mother. As is the case too many times, the justice system failed this child because the judge created a false equivalency between parents, one of whom was violent. And Kayden paid the price of that. So where is the uproar and public demand that the legal system get smarter? Efforts in Pennsylvania are centered around Kayden’s Law- proposed legislation that would prohibit custody decisions likely to lead to tragic outcomes like Kayden’s. Melanie Blow, with the Stop Abuse Campaign, joins us to explain what Kayden’s Law would mean, how it will improve custody decisions, and how similar efforts are going on all around the country. Airing for the first time, Saturday, December 28, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

  DOES THE U.S. JUSTICE SYSTEM FAVOR OF RAPISTS? According to a recent article being widely circulated on the internet, all signs point to the US response to sexual abuse as being dramatically leaning in favor of sex offenders. That is according to Barry Goldstein, advocate, author, and champion of fighting gender bias in the courts. Goldstein reports in www.stopabusecampaign.org that the flawed practices of the US justice system result in that justice treating victims unfairly and allowing privilege to perpetrators. He argues that the requirement for corroboration, the mistaken idea that women falsely report sexual crimes, and lack of using expert witnesses, among other problems, creates injustice, bias and contributes to the great and escalating costs of sexual crimes to our society. Join Barry as we discuss gendered crimes, prosecutor misconceptions and more that lead to a system that favors rapists. Airing for the first time, Saturday, December 7, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

US Response to Sexual Abuse

CALIFORNIA PROTECTIVE PARENTS ASSOCIATION: EDUCATING AND ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES What started as a park bench conversation about protective parents losing their children to abusers in family courts has evolved into an organization that is making nationally renowned progress in working to eliminate the problem. Catherine Campbell is the Executive Director of the California Protective Parent Association (CPPA), a group which has created awareness through research and education and is holding court officials accountable for decisions and behaviors that are harming children. As a protective parent with a marketing & communications background Campbell is at the forefront of the movement. She has worked with congressional members on both sides of the aisles to help pass this child safety resolution in 2018 in the U.S. House of Representatives. In California she has helped build awareness to see the passing of Piqui’s Resolution (HR113), worked with Center for Judicial Excellence to bring an audit forward for the California Commission on Judicial Performance which is the first ever audit in their nearly 60 year history and meet with CA legislatures to update laws for DV and child safety.  Join us as Campbell explains the organization, what necessitated its development, and how it is making an impact across the country. Airing for the first time, Saturday, November 9, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

SAFE AND TOGETHER INSTITUTE: The intersection of domestic violence and child maltreatment is easy to see for anyone who works with families, yet often judges or child protective services seem to ignore the connections. But not the Safe and Together Institute. The organization is dedicated to educating agencies about the creating domestic-violence informed child welfare systems and agencies, all to support the safety and well-being of survivors. And a crucial component of the program is being specific about abusive behaviors and perpetrators. Find out how judges, family courts, and child protection organizations react to such education, and how it may be changing the way courts operate all across the United States. Join Heidi Rankin, an Associate Director with the Safe & Together Institute, as we examine how this approach could be helping all victims. Airing for the first time, Saturday, November 2, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

GUNS AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: THE FACTS A million women alive today have been shot or shot at in intimate partner violence situations. Gun ownership, gun rights, gun violence…all are different when we are talking domestic violence.           Rachel Graber, Director of Public Policy for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, shares the statistics, the research, and the background about guns and DV. Laws vary from state to state about gun confiscation, criminal background checks, and protective orders, but the facts are staggering: more than four million women have been threatened by guns by abusers. An equally staggering number of women and children have been killed.           Join us for the conversation about gun violence and DV. Airing Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11 AM Pacific time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

When a mother flees her homeland for another country trying to escape abuse and ensure safety, the journey is not easy. Amid the pain of escaping home, friends, family and hopefully, danger, is the fear of the unknown, the uncertainty of the future, and in many cases, the discovery and further victimization the mother was trying to get away from. In a return interview, Suzanne Lichau gives an update on her daughter and grandson who fled the US after family courts here refused to protect the child from the father. The two sought asylum in Costa Rica, and although they were granted asylum, and the courts there took the sexual assault accusations seriously, they are still dragging their feet on the case. And worst of all, mother and child have been separated for months. Join us as we get an update of this case and the safety of the child.

COERCIVE CONTROL: ONE WOMAN’S JOURNEY We hear the term “coercive control” but how many of us really understand what it means? How pervasive is it? How damaging is it to the victims? Min Grob is a resident of Bristol, England, and she not only lived with coercive control, she also came to understand it, escape it, and develop programs to educate about it and fight it. But she still struggles with the residue of the experience even as she works to do something positive about the problem. Join us as we talk about one woman’s journey through this insidious form of intimate partner abuse. Airing for the first time Saturday, August 17 at 11 AM Pacific time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

ABUSIVE DADS: HOW THEY PERCEIVE THEIR FATHERING When we talk about abusive dads, we talk about them in relation to how they treat their partners, how they make excuses, how the courts treat them. Rarely do we talk about how they actually perceive themselves as fathers. Turns out there are some real twists there. Henning Mohaupt, clinical psychologist, researcher, and PhD Candidate at Oslo University, did a study of physically abusive men and how they think of themselves as dads. You might be surprised at what Mohaupt found out, not only about how they see themselves, but also about how they come to think that way. Join us as we discuss how men who abuse experience their parenting.  

GENDER AND THE LAW Do you think of women and law only when it comes to family law, reproductive rights, domestic violence and employment? Most folks always have thought that these are the only areas of law of particular interest to women. But Katherine Bartlett, professor of law at Duke, thinks otherwise. She says that genderedness affects all areas of the law, and that the way it is structured legitimatizes inequality and oppression. Bartlett teaches family law, employment discrimination law, gender and law, and contracts; and publishes widely in the fields of family law, gender theory, employment law, theories of social change, and legal education. She is coauthor of the leading casebook in the area of gender law. Find out what she has to say about the law, where it’s been, where it is going, and what gender has to do with it all.  

JUDGE ORDERS BOY INTO FATHER'S CUSTODY DESPITE "PENIS GAMES"           If you were the one making the decision, would you order a small boy who told authorities that daddy played the “penis game” with him, and who then went on to sexually act out with is playmates and school friends, to live with his abuser?           Because it happens a lot. And in the case of Suzanne Lichau’s grandson, it led to her daughter’s fleeing to another country with the child. But that can’t even guarantee safety. What’s going on here?           Join Suzanne and domestic violence expert and advocate Barry Goldstein as we discuss her grandson’s specific case, and the system that allows this to happen. Airing for the first time Saturday, July 13 at 11 AM Pacific time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT, ONE IDIOT FAMILY, AND ONE WOMAN WHO TOLD THE TALE Kathy Picard was pleased when her step father started showing her some special attention – until that attention became twisted and threatening. She lived with a nightmare with no help from the family members she told, no relief from the burden of what was happening to her. Even when she grew up and got away, there was no relief to be had from the law, because the statute of limitations was up. So she fought to change they law. Then she fought to get justice. And then she wrote a book about it. Picard is the author of “Life with My Idiot Family: A True Story of Survival, Courage and Justice over Childhood Sexual Abuse,” and she tells her story with grace, humor, and a conviction that it all led to a good life today. Join us as we talk with Kathy about the book, her life, the law and the way she turned a horrific experience into a story of strength, hope and happiness. Airing Saturday, June 29, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

GUNS AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: THE FACTS A million women alive today have been shot or shot at in intimate partner violence situations. Gun ownership, gun rights, gun violence…all are different when we are talking domestic violence.           Rachel Graber, Director of Public Policy for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, shares the statistics, the research, and the background about guns and DV. Laws vary from state to state about gun confiscation, criminal background checks, and protective orders, but the facts are staggering: more than four million women have been threatened by guns by abusers. An equally staggering number of women and children have been killed.           Join us for the conversation about gun violence and DV. Airing for the first time Saturday, June 22 at 11 AM Pacific time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

Guns are evil and should be heavily controlled. US citizens have a constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Young people’s greatest fears right now are school shootings. No one needs a gun. Domestic violence perpetrators must have their guns confiscated for safety of the victims. All the arguments, all the laws, all the rhetoric. Is it possible to have a rational, unbiased conversation about guns? Dave Workman, writer, journalist and advocate for several guns rights organizations, including the Second Amendment Foundation, joins us as we discuss litigation, education, misconceptions and the state of the world in general. Airing for the first time Saturday, June 1 at 11 AM Pacific time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

SAY SHE’S CRAZY AND WATCH THE COURTS IGNORE VIOLENCE AGAINST HER “She’s crazy, delusional, mentally ill (now that she’s divorcing me, but before she was just fine).” Funny how that seems to be the song abusers, judges, psychologists and other experts sing in divorce and custody battles. What’s with the gendered language, the pop psychology and, yes, let’s call it like it is – the ridiculous sexism that rears their ugly heads with regularity in our family courts? And why are so many people buying it? Suzanne Zaccour is a feminist author, activist and researcher doing a PhD in law at Oxford University. Her research interests include family law, rape law, domestic violence and non-sexist language. Her latest book, La fabrique du viol (Leméac 2019) tackles the social and political issues with rape culture after #MeToo. She’s made it her business to look at the language and the prejudices in the language that is used in family courts, and she joins us to discuss how language is used to discredit, vilify, and penalize women in divorce and custody cases.

WHY DO PEOPLE BLAME THE VICTIM? We hear the expression. “blaming the victim,” but do we really know what that means? Or why we do it?  Sherry Hamby, PhD, has made it her business to study victim blaming. Hamby is Director of the Life Paths Research Center and founder of ResilienceCon. She’s also a professor of Psychology at the University of the South, and has written more than 200 articles and books. Her research into poly-victimization, measuring violence and resilience earned her the 2017 Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Science of Trauma Psychology from the American Psychological Association. Join us as we discuss blaming the victim. Airing for the first time Saturday, May 4, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

A CRITIQUE OF CNN COVERAGE OF FAMILY COURT           What’s worse than judges and guardians ad litem who don’t understand domestic violence and child custody? How about a major national media reporter who purports to cover custody and abuse issues without ever doing an investigation into both sides of the issue?            When CNN features a show about fathers and custody, how can they ignore the experts, the research and the real victims and instead broadcast a show that perpetrates myths, misleads millions, and potentially damages children and protective parents?             That’s the issue Barry Goldstein, author and former attorney, and Maralee Mclean, author and victim advocate hash out on this latest show. Join us as we discuss journalism, objectivity, reliable research, court trends and supposedly objective reporting that is anything buy. Airing Saturday, April 27, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways

WORKPLACE PESTS: IDIOPATHIC MUTUAL IRRITANTS You probably know about those pesky people at work, but do you know about Idiopathic Mutual Irritation. Louise Penberthy does, and she can give advice to all of us on how to deal with both. Penberthy started mediating in 2002, and over the years since then, she's observed many things about people, their needs, what gets them into conflict, and what helps get them out. Sometimes there's no obvious reason why two people don't get along; sometimes, it's what she calls Idiopathic Mutual Irritation, which is the subject and jumping off point for this podcast. Since 2018, Louise has been working as a program coordinator at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle. She's also a speaker and software developer. Airing for the first time Saturday, February 2, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

FAMILY COURT FROM A SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE’S VIEW So how do family courts work and why are they often such a mess? What constitutional issues do they raise? Who’s to blame when the system runs roughshod over the best interests of children?  Who knows?  Well, long-term attorney and candidate for the Louisiana Supreme Court Richard Ducote has a pretty good idea. Ducote has dedicated his professional and his personal life to advocating for women and children who have been abused by domestic violence and sexual assault, and then been further abused by the courts. Listen as this legal veteran discusses what’s wrong with family courts, what we can do about it, and how a position on the Supreme Court of Louisiana could effect improvement in the system. Airing for the first time Saturday, March 30, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

THE TRUTHS ABOUT CUSTODY AND FATHERS’ RIGHTS What are the truths about child custody, fathers’ rights, and how did we get here? Guest Doreen Ludwig, author, advocate and researcher, focuses on the impact of federal fatherhood initiatives on custody determinations.  Has the situation changed from past decades, and if so, how? And Why? And where did the funding come from?  So many questions, but research is available and Ludwig shares it with us. Learn about the money, the studies, the government actions that have led to custody outcomes in family courts around the country. You might be surprised. Airing for the first time Saturday, March 16, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT, ONE IDIOT FAMILY, AND ONE WOMAN WHO TOLD THE TALE Kathy Picard was pleased when her step father started showing her some special attention – until that attention became twisted and threatening. She lived with a nightmare with no help from the family members she told, no relief from the burden of what was happening to her. Even when she grew up and got away, there was no relief to be had from the law, because the statute of limitations was up. So she fought to change they law. Then she fought to get justice. And then she wrote a book about it. Picard is the author of “Life with My Idiot Family: A True Story of Survival, Courage and Justice over Childhood Sexual Abuse,” and she tells her story with grace, humor, and a conviction that it all led to a good life today. Join us as we talk with Kathy about the book, her life, the law and the way she turned a horrific experience into a story of strength, hope and happiness. Airing for the first time Saturday, March 9, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

AMBITIOUS OR TRAUMATIZED: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OVERWORK AND PAST TRAUMA Experiencing trauma can lead to all sorts of negative consequences but did you realize that it might lead to work addiction? Research is sparse, but anecdotal evidence is there, and some therapists see a connection. Could a workaholic – someone who overworks to the detriment of all other areas of life – really be self-medicating to deal with the bad stuff he or she has lived with? Tanya Paperny is a writer, artist, and editor living in Washington, D.C., and she explored that connection in an article that appeared in the Atlantic. Her work also appears in The Washington Post, Washington City Paper, The Literary Review, VICE, PANK, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Public Pool, Pacific Standard, and elsewhere. Tanya is the recipient of fellowships from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Vermont Studio Center, and OMI International Arts Center. She is at work on a collection about violence, trauma, and resilience. Join us as we talk about what she discovered in writing the article, “Do Some Trauma Survivors Cope by Overworking?” Airing Saturday, January 5, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.  

RESEARCH, GOEGRAPHY AND IPV Research is important, but so is perfecting research. Especially in the areas of Intimate Partner Violence. We usually see geographic differences (if addressed at all) as reflecting urban, suburban and rural areas. But two IPV researchers started seeing some problems with that and decided to get to the bottom of it. They sifted through the National Crime Victimization Survey data to better understand how settlement types impacts the type of violence against women. What they found is that using three geographic designations only gives a very imperfect reflection of violence against women. Kathryn DuBois is an Associate Professor at Washington State University Vancouver.  Beginning with research toward a Ph.D. in Criminology from Simon Fraser University on alcohol and violence among the Inuit of the eastern Canadian arctic, and has developed expertise in several areas including victimology, violence against women, rural violence, and public health approaches to alcohol regulation.  Callie Marie Rennison earned her Ph.D. in 1997 in political science from the University of Houston, University Park, where she also received a B.S. in psychology, M.A. in sociology, and M.A. in political science. In 2016, she was awarded the Bonnie S. Fisher Victimology Career Award from the Division of Victimology in the American Society of Criminology. She has also served on a National Academies Committee examining domestic sex trafficking of minors in the United States and was a Senior Researcher at the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics. Join us as Rennison and DuBois share the findings from their research and how those findings can change our understanding of violence against women.  

WORKPLACE PESTS: IDIOPATHIC MUTUAL IRRITANTS You probably know about those pesky people at work, but do you know about Idiopathic Mutual Irritation? Louise Penberthy does, and she can give advice to all of us on how to deal with both. Penberthy started mediating in 2002, and over the years since then, she's observed many things about people, their needs, what gets them into conflict, and what helps get them out. Sometimes there's no obvious reason why two people don't get along; sometimes, it's what she calls Idiopathic Mutual Irritation, which is the subject and jumping off point for this podcast. Since 2018, Louise has been working as a program coordinator at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle. She's also a speaker and software developer. Airing for the first time Saturday, February 2, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

ZEN TALK AND TRAUMA: DOES IT HELP? Is Buddhism a philosophy? A religion? A way of life? Well, yes and no. But the bigger question is, does it have anything to offer victims of traumatic life events? And if it’s supposed to be so peaceful and Zen, why is it called the Warrior’s Path? Guest Mark Winwood is a Buddhist teacher, student and practitioner in rural Washington State who has traveled the world pursuing his peace and knowledge. For 15 years he has worked to perfect his understanding and his instruction as everything from college professor to grief counsellor. He helps explain what the tenets mean, who they may benefit, and how we can find out. Join us as we explore how we can react to life’s events and scars, and whether beliefs and practices Airing for the first time Saturday, January 26, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

RURAL WOMEN AND VIOLENCE Is there a difference between the violence women in urban areas suffer and the violence that rural women encounter? Well, in a nutshell, Yes. There is a difference. Rural women are victims more often, of more depth of violence, and with fewer resources and ways to get help. Emerging research, although sparse, shows that country women are at risk, that funding and support are less for them, and that resources are harder to some by for rural victims. Dr. Walter DeKeseredy, professor of Sociology at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, has focused his research on the plight of rural females compared to their urban and suburban counterparts, and has found some shocking information. Join us as we discuss the causes of violence against women, the problems with rural victims, and even the role of male support systems and ography when it comes to women victimized by intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and even separation and divorce. Airing for the first time Saturday, January19, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

EXPERT WITNESSES: HOW BIAS AND UNRELIABILITY CAN AFFECT YOUR COURT CASE Anyone who watches TV, or goes through a custody battle, or knows someone who has tangled with the courts, knows what an expert witness is. Called forensic experts, they are the ones who tell the court the deep-seated truth about the parties, right? Well, turns out they disagree, can be biased, and are generally unreliable, according to a recent study of psychologists. Lucy Guarnera, ABD, is one author of the research that found that training and standards are lacking, and bias toward the side that is paying them is a serious problem. Guarnera is a PhD candidate at University of Virginia, and has received grants from the American Psychology-Law Association, The American Academy of Forensic Psychology, The National Science Foundation and others to conduct her research. Join us as we talk about expert witnesses and the courts. First airing Saturday, September 2, at 11 AM Pacific Time and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

  AMBITIOUS OR TRAUMATIZED: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OVERWORK AND PAST TRAUMA Experiencing trauma can lead to all sorts of negative consequences but did you realize that it might lead to work addiction? Research is sparse, but anecdotal evidence is there, and some therapists see a connection. Could a workaholic – someone who overworks to the detriment of all other areas of life – really be self-medicating to deal with the bad stuff he or she has lived with? Tanya Paperny is a writer, artist, and editor living in Washington, D.C., and she explored that connection in an article that appeared in the Atlantic. Her work also appears in The Washington Post, Washington City Paper, The Literary Review, VICE, PANK, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Public Pool, Pacific Standard, and elsewhere. Tanya is the recipient of fellowships from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Vermont Studio Center, and OMI International Arts Center. She is at work on a collection about violence, trauma, and resilience. Join us as we talk about what she discovered in writing the article, “Do Some Trauma Survivors Cope by Overworking?” Airing Saturday, January 5, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways.

HOPE: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO YOU MEASURE IT? If you hope the weather is better tomorrow, is it really hope? Or is it wishful thinking? What really makes hope what it is, and what makes up hope? Casey Gwinn, former long term prosecutor and founder of Camp HOPE America, and advocate, speaker and educator for victims of violence, particularly domestic violence. He has authored numerous books about children and trauma. His latest, Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life takes a look at not only what hope is, but how it can be measured and how it can impact the future of victims. Join us as we discuss hope, trauma, resilience, and motivation and what it means for all of us. Airing for the first time Saturday, December 22, at 11 AM Pacific Time, and available thereafter through the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/3women3ways

HOPE: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO YOU MEASURE IT? If you hope the weather is better tomorrow, is it really hope? Or is it wishful thinking? What really makes hope what it is, and what makes up hope? Casey Gwinn, former long term prosecutor and founder of Camp HOPE America, and advocate, speaker and educator for victims of violence, particularly domestic violence. He has authored numerous books about children and trauma. His latest, Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life takes a look at not only what hope is, but how it can be measured and how it can impact the future of victims. Join us as we discuss hope, trauma, resilience, and motivation and what it means for all of us.