Dear Katie: Survivor Stories

"'I don't think you should be around him, he seems very forceful.' ... I didn't listen, of course." Navigating visceral physical reactions, self-blame, and denial in the wake of extreme violation, Amy becomes a ghost of her former self, pushing through stories circling about her experience. Supported by her family, she reports her assaulter to the police, and he disappears. After years of numbing herself, she begins to heal with therapy and leans heavily on her support system, sharing her lessons and journey with us today.  Amy McKiernan is the author of the powerful book, More Than A Survivor: Eight Keys to Overcoming Sexual Assault and Finding a Path to Living a Fulfilled Life. In her book, Amy draws on her personal experience to outline the eight keys she discovered for not just surviving but truly flourishing after trauma. Combining a reflective journal with perspectives from her own support system, she provides a rare and valuable resource that survivors, family, and friends can connect with and learn from. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

"'I don't think you should be around him, he seems very forceful.' ... I didn't listen, of course." Navigating visceral physical reactions, self-blame, and denial in the wake of extreme violation, Amy becomes a ghost of her former self, pushing through stories circling about her experience. Supported by her family, she reports her assaulter to the police, and he disappears. After years of numbing herself, she begins to heal with therapy and leans heavily on her support system, sharing her lessons and journey with us today.  Amy McKiernan is the author of the powerful book, More Than A Survivor: Eight Keys to Overcoming Sexual Assault and Finding a Path to Living a Fulfilled Life. In her book, Amy draws on her personal experience to outline the eight keys she discovered for not just surviving but truly flourishing after trauma. Combining a reflective journal with perspectives from her own support system, she provides a rare and valuable resource that survivors, family, and friends can connect with and learn from. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Desensitized to sexualization, young Marina is dazzled by Jeffrey Epstein's collection of Victoria's Secret Bottles and models for him, topless. Later testifying as Minor Victim #1 in the case against him, she shares a journey of exploitation, survival, escape, and ultimately, healing.  Marina is a girl from Brazil who survived abuse and is now determined to make a change. She uses her voice to help other women break their silence because she knows how powerful speaking out can be. Her hope is that by sharing her story, she inspires others to stand tall, so we can build a future where no one stays silent. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Desensitized to sexualization, young Marina is dazzled by Jeffrey Epstein's collection of Victoria's Secret Bottles and models for him, topless. Later testifying as Minor Victim #1 in the case against him, she shares a journey of exploitation, survival, escape, and ultimately, healing.  Marina is a girl from Brazil who survived abuse and is now determined to make a change. She uses her voice to help other women break their silence because she knows how powerful speaking out can be. Her hope is that by sharing her story, she inspires others to stand tall, so we can build a future where no one stays silent. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Find new insights from our incredible guest, Rachael Denhollander.  "How much is a little girl worth?" Guided by a strong sense of justice since she was young, Rachael decided at ten that she wanted to be an attorney. However, her experience reporting abuse in her church comes with a terrible lesson: don't report unless you can prove it. Taking this to heart, when her gymnastics coach Larry Nassar sexually assaults her, she stays silent.  16 years later, supported by investigative journalists and public outrage, she reports her abuse, becoming the first whistleblower and rallying an army of survivors to bring Larry Nassar to justice. Today, Rachael Denhollander speaks across the country to make change in institutions ranging from the government to religious organizations, pursuing survivor healing and institutional transformation.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Benter Oluoch Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Living amongst a backdrop of great racial upheaval in South Africa, Nonku is brutally attacked in the backseat of a taxi and left for dead. Sharing lessons about survivorship and joy, she brings laughter and light into a story of overcoming violence and triumphing against all odds.  Nonku Shuping is an author and the founder of The Love Centre and Radiant Community nonprofit organizations. Beyond her writing, Nonku is a dynamic facilitator and speaker. She offers power-skills training, workshops, and keynote engagements designed to equip individuals and communities with tools for resilience.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Living amongst a backdrop of great racial upheaval in South Africa, Nonku is brutally attacked in the backseat of a taxi and left for dead. Sharing lessons about survivorship and joy, she brings laughter and light into a story of overcoming violence and triumphing against all odds.  Nonku Shuping is an author and the founder of The Love Centre and Radiant Community nonprofit organizations. Beyond her writing, Nonku is a dynamic facilitator and speaker. She offers power-skills training, workshops, and keynote engagements designed to equip individuals and communities with tools for resilience.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Dr. Winnie M Li is an author, activist, and educator. A former filmmaker, Winnie's life and career trajectory were severely disrupted at the age of 29, when she became the victim of a violent stranger rape in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her debut novel Dark Chapter (2017) is a fictional re-imagining of that assault and its aftermath, from the perspectives of both victim and perpetrator. Her subsequent novels Complicit (2022) and What We Left Unsaid (2025) also address the legacy of trauma, in workplaces and in families.  Winnie's doctoral research at the London School of Economics explored the emotional labour of ‘public' rape survivors, and she is now an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Dr. Winnie M Li is an author, activist, and educator. A former filmmaker, Winnie's life and career trajectory were severely disrupted at the age of 29, when she became the victim of a violent stranger rape in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her debut novel Dark Chapter (2017) is a fictional re-imagining of that assault and its aftermath, from the perspectives of both victim and perpetrator. Her subsequent novels Complicit (2022) and What We Left Unsaid (2025) also address the legacy of trauma, in workplaces and in families.  Winnie's doctoral research at the London School of Economics explored the emotional labour of ‘public' rape survivors, and she is now an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

'There are people who want to create change, and there are people who don't want to create change.' This week, we are joined by the incredible Scott Berkowitz for an engaging and timely conversation on sexual violence advocacy. Listen in as Scott and Katie discuss the formative moments of over 30 years of activism, current resources available to survivors, and visions for hope.  Scott Berkowitz is the founder and president of RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Under his leadership, RAINN has become a transformative national force; the organization has supported more than 5 million survivors and their loved ones since its start in 1994, and helped pass legislation that has taken thousands of rapists off the streets and prevented countless rapes. RAINN is dedicated to stopping sexual violence by supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and creating safer communities.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

'There are people who want to create change, and there are people who don't want to create change.' This week, we are joined by the incredible Scott Berkowitz for an engaging and timely conversation on sexual violence advocacy. Listen in as Scott and Katie discuss the formative moments of over 30 years of activism, current resources available to survivors, and visions for hope.  Scott Berkowitz is the founder and president of RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Under his leadership, RAINN has become a transformative national force; the organization has supported more than 5 million survivors and their loved ones since its start in 1994, and helped pass legislation that has taken thousands of rapists off the streets and prevented countless rapes. RAINN is dedicated to stopping sexual violence by supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and creating safer communities.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Thordis Elva is a writer, speaker, and activist from Iceland who specializes in violence prevention and has shaped national and international policy on digital rights and gender equality. In 2017, she gained worldwide recognition for her book South of Forgiveness, a memoir about her sexual assault and subsequent journey to healing in which Thordis collaborated with her perpetrator, making her the first rape survivor in the world to publicly do so. It has since been published across four continents, with the accompanying TED talk having been viewed over 10 million times. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang Image Credit: Eva Schram

Thordis Elva is a writer, speaker, and activist from Iceland who specializes in violence prevention and has shaped national and international policy on digital rights and gender equality. In 2017, she gained worldwide recognition for her book South of Forgiveness, a memoir about her sexual assault and subsequent journey to healing in which Thordis collaborated with her perpetrator, making her the first rape survivor in the world to publicly do so. It has since been published across four continents, with the accompanying TED talk having been viewed over 10 million times. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang Image Credit: Eva Schram

This week, we sit down with three more incredible activists from across the country, who share their experiences and expertise in advocacy.  Gia Lanteri is a recent graduate of Fordham University, where she studied Communications and Culture with a minor in Creative Writing. At Fordham, she served as the President of The Women's Network, leading initiatives on professional development, equality, and mental health. She's built professional experience in public relations, supporting technology and venture capital clients with media strategy and storytelling, and is now preparing to apply to law school. Nicholas Bloodworth currently serves as the Director of Counseling Services at Campbellsville University while maintaining an active clinical practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. He is in the final year of his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in children and adolescents, which has been a defining step in his professional journey. Throughout his career, he's worked in trauma care, crisis intervention, group therapy, and clinical supervision. He is passionate about advancing the field through evidence-based practice, leadership, and training the next generation of clinicians. Molly Harris received a Bachelor of Arts from Juniata College where she worked as a Student Advocate and Peer Educator in the Office for the Prevention of Interpersonal Violence. She has worked in several roles at a domestic violence agency, including Shelter Advocate, Legal Advocate, and Director for Coordinated Community Response. While advocating for domestic violence survivors, she also earned a Master of Science in Victimology from the University of Portsmouth (UK). Currently, she is the Director of Interpersonal Violence Prevention & Advocacy at Bucknell University. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

This week, we sit down with three more incredible activists from across the country, who share their experiences and expertise in advocacy.  Gia Lanteri is a recent graduate of Fordham University, where she studied Communications and Culture with a minor in Creative Writing. At Fordham, she served as the President of The Women's Network, leading initiatives on professional development, equality, and mental health. She's built professional experience in public relations, supporting technology and venture capital clients with media strategy and storytelling, and is now preparing to apply to law school. Nicholas Bloodworth currently serves as the Director of Counseling Services at Campbellsville University while maintaining an active clinical practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. He is in the final year of his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in children and adolescents, which has been a defining step in his professional journey. Throughout his career, he's worked in trauma care, crisis intervention, group therapy, and clinical supervision. He is passionate about advancing the field through evidence-based practice, leadership, and training the next generation of clinicians. Molly Harris received a Bachelor of Arts from Juniata College where she worked as a Student Advocate and Peer Educator in the Office for the Prevention of Interpersonal Violence. She has worked in several roles at a domestic violence agency, including Shelter Advocate, Legal Advocate, and Director for Coordinated Community Response. While advocating for domestic violence survivors, she also earned a Master of Science in Victimology from the University of Portsmouth (UK). Currently, she is the Director of Interpersonal Violence Prevention & Advocacy at Bucknell University. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Sydney Tiller Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Kristina Haight is a passionate advocate, healer, and mother who brings deep compassion and authenticity to her work. Her life was forever changed after surviving a random act of violence, a home invasion in which a stranger broke in and committed a robbery and sexual assault. That traumatic event marked the beginning of a long and courageous healing journey, ultimately leading her to become a hospital and hotline advocate for other survivors, holding space during some of their most vulnerable moments. Most importantly, Kristina's journey led her back to herself—one that has led her to a life she is now fully living, enjoying, and proud of. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

"How do you forgive without an apology?"  Vulnerable due to neglected parenting, Becky is targeted by bullies and abusers. Falling victim to a powerful school superintendent, her journey seeking safety and connection takes her through trials and tribulations. She finally finds healing through a technique called brainspotting; hear more about her story and her healing in her book Anger, Alcohol, and Healing through Brainspotting.  Becky Nulle is a full-time student and published author. She lives in a rural area in Wisconsin with her Doberman and eight ducks, as well as the best husband in the world. She spends each day waking up thinking of something to be grateful for. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Faced with sexual violence at 10, Farhan used personal reflection and healing to push past societal stigmas and cultural barriers to break his silence, consciously committing to living bravely and authentically. Today, Farhan Manjiyani is a compassionate, relentless, brave leader living his vision of ending sexual assault in the world by being the permission slip for others to begin their own healing. Proudly identifying as an Ismaili Muslim with deep roots in the South Asian community, he leverages his personal and cultural experience to engage audiences with vital conversations around male sexual trauma. His latest short-term goal is to perfect his butter-chicken recipe. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

For Donna Besel, words are her life. A dynamic writer, storyteller, and educator, she shares incredible insights from a lifetime of survivorship and reckoning, and how her truth rocked her small hometown. Donna's best-selling memoir, The Unravelling: Incest and the Destruction of a Family, provides an honest glimpse into the tolls of sexual violence on survivors and communities.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Leaving a successful football career for a new calling, Don McPherson has spent the last few decades challenging classic notions of masculinity. Giving us the ins and outs of 'locker room talk' and male-only spaces, he shares insights from years of lived experience and activism.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Leaving a successful football career for a new calling, Don McPherson has spent the last few decades challenging classic notions of masculinity. Giving us the ins and outs of 'locker room talk' and male-only spaces, he shares insights from years of lived experience and activism.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Fighting to be believed in the face of a famous abuser, Stacey Pinkerton left her entire life to put her experiences behind her. But as news of Bill Cosby's arrest reaches her decades later, she knows she must speak her truth. Now an advocate fighting tirelessly to make sure abusers are held accountable, she has been featured in several award-winning documentaries such as "We Need To Talk About Cosby" and "The Case Against Cosby".  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Fighting to be believed in the face of a famous abuser, Stacey Pinkerton left her entire life to put her experiences behind her. But as news of Bill Cosby's arrest reaches her decades later, she knows she must speak her truth. Now an advocate fighting tirelessly to make sure abusers are held accountable, she has been featured in several award-winning documentaries such as "We Need To Talk About Cosby" and "The Case Against Cosby".  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Our guest today is Danika, a Canadian author, traveler, and dance instructor who traded a conventional career path in sciences for a life of exploration and creativity. Moving abroad to teach internationally led her to unexpected opportunities—like teaching ballet in Iraq. Her travel memoir, 'One Year and a One-Way Ticket', shares her journey of self-discovery through solo travel and breaking expectations. Her work has been featured in Intrepid Times, Go World Travel Magazine, and more. Today, she's here to share her insights on solo female travel safety, adventure, and making space for authenticity—welcome, Danika! Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Clare Awada is a survivor of childhood grooming and sexual abuse. Now a wife, mother of 3 boys, and forensic/SANE RN, Clare is working on spreading awareness of childhood sexual abuse and the red flags of grooming by sharing her story. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Growing up disconnected from her culture, Cher Obediah details her path to reconnect with the missing part of her indigenous background. She reflects on how colonialism and generational trauma affected her in an abusive relationship. Now, she helps others turn their “pain into purpose.” Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Tammy Valicenti, LICSW, is an international psychotherapist and speaker. With expertise in trauma recovery, she has achieved remarkable success in co-transforming various forms of trauma and has developed Transformation Soulution™, a cutting-edge synthesis of Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and other evidence-based therapies. This approach accomplishes in weeks or months what traditional psychotherapy achieves in years. Tammy practices modalities of healing she has personally benefited from, and invites you to do the same. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Tammy Valicenti, LICSW, is an international psychotherapist and speaker. With expertise in trauma recovery, she has achieved remarkable success in co-transforming various forms of trauma and has developed Transformation Soulution™, a cutting-edge synthesis of Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and other evidence-based therapies. This approach accomplishes in weeks or months what traditional psychotherapy achieves in years. Tammy practices modalities of healing she has personally benefited from, and invites you to do the same. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

"I feel that the glass is both half full and half empty." Rowena Chiu is a former assistant to Harvey Weinstein. In 1998, she was sexually assaulted by him at the Venice Film Festival and was coerced into signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which silenced her for over twenty years. In 2017, a New York Times journalist came to her home and doorstepped her husband of over a decade, revealing information about the assault and NDA. Rowena was featured in the subsequent NYT investigation, but she insisted on remaining anonymous. In 2019, she finally broke her story on the NBC Today Show, live in front of three million viewers. Rowena's story was featured in both the book and the movie, SHE SAID. She has given over 700 media interviews across four continents, for international news outlets such as ABC, BBC, CBS, and NBC, and has testified at the House of Commons, the Massachusetts State House, and the State Of The Union. Rowena is writing a memoir, a novel, and a screenplay, in addition to working as a global #MeToo activist, advocating for the rights of those who are oppressed or voiceless, in churches, schools, universities, and workplaces around the world. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

"I feel that the glass is both half full and half empty." Rowena Chiu is a former assistant to Harvey Weinstein. In 1998, she was sexually assaulted by him at the Venice Film Festival and was coerced into signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which silenced her for over twenty years. In 2017, a New York Times journalist came to her home and doorstepped her husband of over a decade, revealing information about the assault and NDA. Rowena was featured in the subsequent NYT investigation, but she insisted on remaining anonymous. In 2019, she finally broke her story on the NBC Today Show, live in front of three million viewers. Rowena's story was featured in both the book and the movie, SHE SAID. She has given over 700 media interviews across four continents, for international news outlets such as ABC, BBC, CBS, and NBC, and has testified at the House of Commons, the Massachusetts State House, and the State Of The Union. Rowena is writing a memoir, a novel, and a screenplay, in addition to working as a global #MeToo activist, advocating for the rights of those who are oppressed or voiceless, in churches, schools, universities, and workplaces around the world. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Brutally raped by a stranger in a hotel parking garage, Kira Wahlstrom was faced with a choice: remain nameless or speak her truth. Choosing the path of justice, she sues the hotel for failing to protect her from this man, who had raped an employee just 11 days prior. Kira elects to have her face and name associated with the case, and after 6 years of fighting, she wins, setting an incredible precedent in the state of Massachusetts. Now a survivor advocate, Kira continues to share her story and fight for survivors, and is currently working on a film about her case.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Sydney Searchwell-Simpson is a writer, artist, yogi, permaculture practitioner, and lover of Life whose work (and embodied life) merges spirituality and social action. Inspired by insights on her spiritual journey, her experience of sexual and domestic violence, and a lifetime of activism, Sydney's upcoming books and podcast explore how we can love and be free through and beyond what she calls “domination consciousness”. She walks a path of the Heart and is intentionally exploring how she can live, build, love, and create new ways of being and relating that are conducive to Life. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Sydney Searchwell-Simpson is a writer, artist, yogi, permaculture practitioner, and lover of Life whose work (and embodied life) merges spirituality and social action. Inspired by insights on her spiritual journey, her experience of sexual and domestic violence, and a lifetime of activism, Sydney's upcoming books and podcast explore how we can love and be free through and beyond what she calls “domination consciousness”. She walks a path of the Heart and is intentionally exploring how she can live, build, love, and create new ways of being and relating that are conducive to Life. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Missing her uniform jacket after a long work day, Kelly runs back into the bar where she works to grab it. Ready to go home, she gets ready to unlock her car when a strange man appears from the darkness. Running for her life through a parking lot, Kelly screams for help when her assailant grabs her ponytail and beats her into the pavement. Dismissed by the police and blaming herself, she finds herself continually trying to prove her own worth. Continually challenging herself to physical extremes, Kelly begins to find balance and healing, becoming an advocate for other women in the health and fitness space.  Dr. Kelly Barron is a dedicated advocate for women's health, specializing in empowering women to navigate menopause and other key life transitions with confidence and strength. She is a licensed chiropractor, menopause specialist, founder of Tempesta and host of The KellFire Show. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producer: Emily Wang

'I also understand and see that the experiences that I have survived are the same experiences that many members of our community continue to experience today, particularly young people.' Bamby Salcedo is a prominent and celebrated transgender Latina activist, known all over the world for her passionate and productive social, political, and economic influence. As the President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, Bamby steadily leads this nationally recognized organization that advocates for and addresses the issues of transgender Latinas throughout the United States. She received her Master's Degree in Mexican and Latin@ Studies from California State University, Los Angeles, and also developed the Center for Violence Prevention & Transgender Wellness, a multimillion-dollar, multipurpose, multiservice space for Trans people in Los Angeles. Her life story has been the subject of two documentary films, TransVisible: Bamby Salcedo's Story and LA QueenCiañera. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang  

As a high school teacher, Sophie Maddocks first noticed her students engaging with technology in novel, dark ways. Determined to protect the young people around her, she went on to study how technology has shaped the landscape of sexual abuse. Today, Sophie is an expert on digital abuse with 12 years of experience working across schools, universities, and non-profits. She is passionate about collaborating with young people to navigate the challenges of growing up online. Hosts: Katie Koestner and Catrina Aglubat Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Reuploaded for Spotify Making waves across the country, three activists discuss their experiences organizing Take Back the Night, sharing insights into safety, survivorship, and making a difference.  Kori Koschalk-Newmister is a higher education professional focusing on eradicating interpersonal violence. Her 20+ years in prevention education have allowed her to educate, empower, and support thousands of individuals in her community. She is currently the Assistant Director of Interpersonal Relations at Bowling Green State University and pursuing her Masters in Popular Culture. When she's not on campus, you can find her with her wonderful partner, Mike, pups, Lily and Marvin, watching reality TV (specifically on Bravo). Rebecca Pacheco (she/her) is the Development & Education Manager at Embrave: Agency to End Violence and the Coordinator of the Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA). She is driven by her passion for gender equity, intersectional feminism and ending gender-based violence. She is a strong advocate for the policy and system-level change that is necessary to prevent gender-based violence and properly support survivors of violence. Faith Fluker is a 22-year-old reproductive justice and sexual health advocate pursuing a degree at Auburn University. She started as a curvy and confused preteen, but has recently become a confident young woman who believes in sticking up for herself and those around her. Faith has worn many hats in the past, including President of her college's Planned Parenthood chapter, where she hosted a Take Back the Night March. She is also a Spring ‘25 initiate of the Kappa Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Sydney Tiller Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Making waves across the country, three activists discuss their experiences organizing Take Back the Night, sharing insights into safety, survivorship, and making a difference.  Kori Koschalk-Newmister is a higher education professional focusing on eradicating interpersonal violence. Her 20+ years in prevention education have allowed her to educate, empower, and support thousands of individuals in her community. She is currently the Assistant Director of Interpersonal Relations at Bowling Green State University and pursuing her Masters in Popular Culture. When she's not on campus, you can find her with her wonderful partner, Mike, pups, Lily and Marvin, watching reality TV (specifically on Bravo). Rebecca Pacheco (she/her) is the Development & Education Manager at Embrave: Agency to End Violence and the Coordinator of the Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA). She is driven by her passion for gender equity, intersectional feminism and ending gender-based violence. She is a strong advocate for the policy and system-level change that is necessary to prevent gender-based violence and properly support survivors of violence. Faith Fluker is a 22-year-old reproductive justice and sexual health advocate pursuing a degree at Auburn University. She started as a curvy and confused preteen, but has recently become a confident young woman who believes in sticking up for herself and those around her. Faith has worn many hats in the past, including President of her college's Planned Parenthood chapter, where she hosted a Take Back the Night March. She is also a Spring ‘25 initiate of the Kappa Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Sydney Tiller Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

'I remember Mark being a really good friend to me.' Coping with grief after the loss of her father, Jeannie finds support among a small gathering of friends. Feeling safe enough to drink, one of her closest high school friends assaults her when she is unconscious in his bed. Recalling her sense of betrayal, Jeannie shares her journey through denial and doubt to owning her story and healing. Pouring her truth into her writing, she is the author of multiple nonfiction works, including Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

In today's throwback episode, Zahabiyah Yamasaki, founder of “Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga”, gives us a glimpse of her work with trauma survivors. Due to her college stranger rape at the University of California - Irvine, Zahabiyah has dedicated herself to helping others who have also experienced trauma explore their mind body connection, feeling safe in their body, and healing. In her work, she emphasizes the importance of community through survivorship, where resilience and tenderness shine through. Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producer: Emily Wang

With over four decades of experience,  Ann Simonton has dedicated herself to teaching media literacy, with a particular focus on exposing everyday sexism and promoting awareness of sexual abuse prevention. She has fearlessly engaged in nonviolent civil disobedience — resulting in 11 arrests — to highlight social hypocrisy, racism, corporate greed, and the perpetuation of misogyny under patriarchy and capitalism. Simonton has spoken globally on the various ways mainstream media encourages and invites harm to women and children using examples from advertising, film, pornography, radio, television, popular beauty pageants, and more. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

'It doesn't go away.' 'It's there forever.' Sharing her experiences in an industry known for superficiality, actor Sarah Hodkinson navigates trust, violence, and betrayal throughout her personal journey. She brings to light the ways that denial and dismissal rob survivors of justice in the face of sexual violence, using her voice and her story to push for change.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

'I had a decision point of: either I am going to live or I am going to die.' Speaking on the internal battles survivors face, the dynamic Jean Ibanez Payne shares hidden troubles with suicidal ideation and darkness while living the seemingly perfect life. Today, Jean stands as a powerful advocate for survivors of abuse, using her voice and her story to ignite hope in others. In 2014, she left her successful corporate career to start TI Verbatim Consulting (TIVC), with a mission to help people work better together. Through her speaking engagements and personal coaching services, she encourages women, particularly those who have faced similar battles, to embrace their vulnerabilities and see them as gateways to strength. Host: Kate Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Speak truth to power with the incredible Jon Vaugh and Josh Rubin in this 2024 episode of Dear Katie.  This week we share the powerful voices of Jon Vaughn and Josh Rubin. Jon Vaughn made waves around the world as one of the few to publicly speak out against the abuse of University of Michigan doctor Robert Anderson in 2020, leading over 1000 survivors in a lawsuit against the university that settled in 2022. Today, he is a testament to the power of speaking out and advocating for what is right against all odds.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producer: Emily Wang

Rashan Legard is an International Motivational Speaker, Veteran, Storyteller, Poet, and Credentialed Survivor Advocate who strongly desires to create change in individuals and organizations. Through his company, Rashan Legard Speaks LLC, Rashan shares his message to a broader audience by providing powerful presentations and coaching infused with his personal experience to organizations around the world. By focusing on Resiliency Programs, Emasculation, Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention, Rashan helps organizations improve their training and effectiveness while bringing awareness to these critical issues.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Stephanie Mangan has been a Trauma Expert/Consultant for the past 16 years. Working with individuals who have experienced the highest levels of abuse and trauma, including but not limited to sexual violence, complex PTSD, sex trafficking, and substance abuse, Stephanie is passionate about helping individuals lead a life of healing and resiliency through a trauma-informed lens. More recently, she has also worked at the macro level through the non-profit Healing TREE, providing consulting services to film and arts professionals, ensuring their projects are trauma-informed and appropriate for their audiences/viewers. She also provides consulting for organizations seeking to bring in a Trauma Expert who identifies ways to apply trauma-informed business practices.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

'When you look at it, in the bigger spectrum, we can talk about this [...] I mean, fifteen years ago, a high-schooler wouldn't be talking to you about consent.' Pamela Zaballa has dedicated over 20 years to advancing support systems for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Her career spans various roles in the US and UK, including frontline services, shelter development, advocacy, children's services, and setting up programs for human trafficking victims. Pamela's work also encompasses policy and communications, where she has developed multiple successful action-based campaigns. As the Global Chief Executive of NO MORE, a foundation dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence, Pamela has been a trailblazer in finding comprehensive solutions to gender-based violence. She has fostered strategic partnerships such as the development of Commonwealth Says NO MORE and consultancy services for various governments, international organizations, and global corporations, aiming to unify efforts against domestic and sexual violence. Notably, Pamela developed the NO MORE Global Directory—the first global directory providing contacts for domestic and sexual violence support in over 200 countries—and has worked on award-winning public awareness campaigns like #listeningfromhome, which gained extensive exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out about NO MORE here.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Review this classic episode featuring Salamishah and Scheherazade Tillet on making black survivors visible.  Sisters can either be torn apart or drawn together due to sexual violence. Rutgers professor and Pulitzer Prize winner Salamishah Tillet and her sister, artist and curator Scheherazade Tillet, drew together after Salamishah shared her rape story. Together they co-founded "A Long Walk Home" to help Black women and girls share their own stories of shame, dysmorphia, injustice, recognizing trigger issues, survival, managing memories, finding community, and locating resources for recovering. Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner Editor: Craig Stanton Producer: Emily Wang

Journalist Amanda Eisenberg shares her experiences reporting on sexual violence, informing us about her obligations as a journalist as well as her practices to ensure the safety of survivor interviewees. A Manhattan-based writer, her debut novel, People Are Talking, was released in April. She was inspired to write her book, which deals with sexual misconduct on a college campus, from her journalistic experience. Amanda hopes her novel will spark conversation among young adults around consent and how to critically engage men who have committed sexual misconduct, while also entertaining readers. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Emily Wang and Catrina Aglubat

'If I feel awful and disgusting, then I'm going to put on a mask.' Exploring the psychological depths of sexual shame, Dr. Tina Sellers shares cutting-edge research on the cycles of guilt that inhibit our relationships. Bringing to light how our judgements can prevent us from living freely, she provides insight into how to heal from this shame and raise children who feel confident and assertive for their safety.  Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers is a licensed sex and gender feminist psychotherapist, best-selling author, researcher, emeritus professor, and media personality whose expertise spans sex therapy, spiritual intimacy, parenting, medicine, and social justice. Her revolutionary perspectives have been expressed on platforms such as Spirituality & Health, Refinery 29, Vocal, Medium, and Bust Magazines, along with many podcasts, radio, news, and TV outlets. Known for exposing the impact of patriarchy and sexual shame on our ability to securely attach to our partners, and instruct our children to attach to theirs, Dr. Sellers' book Sex, God, & the Conservative Church – Erasing Shame from Sexual Intimacy has had a global impact. Her latest book, Shameless Parenting – Everything You Need to Raise Shame-free, Confident Kids and Heal Your Shame Too! was a New Release Bestseller in eight categories. She speaks worldwide on healing and raising shame-free, relationally confident children. In 2015, Dr. Sellers founded the Northwest Institute on Intimacy, a post-graduate institute to train psychotherapists, educators, clergy, and physicians in sexual health, healing sexual shame and trauma, and understanding their sexual biases. In 2023, Tina founded InannaRising.org: a private membership community for psychedelic-assisted therapists and medical providers to get ongoing clinical consultation, collaboration, training, and support in creating scholarships for the under-resourced, and participation in an indigenous reparation fund. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

'Most people are good people... [they] most of the time have just been through horrific trauma.' Dr. Renee Rosiecki is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in trauma-informed care. She has worked in various settings, including non-profits, correctional facilities, outpatient behavioral health, a hospital system, and a medication-assisted treatment facility. Her work has focused on survivors, from responding to college crises as an RA to serving as a Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate for a community Sexual Assault Response Team. Renee believes in justice for all victims of violence, including those who are incarcerated, and she continues to fight to make this justice a reality.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang