We Believe You

The We Believe You team returns to shed some light on sensitive issues such as DACA, the DREAM Act, and recent policies that are trying to shut out new immigrants to the United States. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content, check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate, please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

On this season five debut episode, Victoria, Jenna, Casey and her kiddos let you know what their most recent recommendation's are. This season also kicks off remote recording due to COVID-19. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content, check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate, please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

Recorded as a live presentation at CSU’s Diversity Symposium. Casey walks the audience through a few tips for Secondary Survivors followed by a time for Q & A from the audience. Resources discussed in the show: Trauma Stewardship and Trust After TraumaWe love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content, check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate, please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

Interpersonal violence is, without question, an extremely difficult situation for a survivor. However, little acknowledgement is given to the support people of primary survivors and the challenges they experience after a loved one is abused. In this episode, Victoria speaks directly to the parents and caregivers of college-aged survivors and outlines ways that their child's experiences may impact parents' lives and emotions. She also offers tips for how parents can best support their children after abuse, as well as the importance of self-care for support people during these trying times.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content, check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate, please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In the Spring of 2019 CSU was able to host Sonya Renee Taylor (author of The Body is Not An Apology and Celebrate Your Body) She took some time to sit down in the studio with one of the WGAC staff members, Angelica Murray Olsen. This episode is a recording of their conversation. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content, check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate, please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In this episode, Casey and Jenna discuss housing resources for survivors, including on Housing and Dining Services at CSU. There are several factors that need to be considered when safety planning around housing, such as orders of protection, shelter guidelines, and security resources like the Colorado Address Confidentiality Program. Every person’s situation is unique and if possible, we encourage you to meet with an advocate to plan around your individual needs. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content, check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate, please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In this episode we will be talking about the different types of support groups that are offered not only here at the WGAC but also in general. Support groups can be a great way for survivors to be in community with one another, to be around folks who “get it.” There are a tons of support groups out there listen to this episode to see if a particular style of group sounds right for you. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content, check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate, please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

This is the kick off for season 4 and our seasonal recommendation show. We have some great recommendations for you yet again, including Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body, Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins, Fierce Fairy Tales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul, Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, and finally, Asking For It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content, check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate, please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

Many survivors we work with name forgiveness as a complicated and challenging journey with a whole bunch of questions attached to it. It is important to talk about this idea because of how often it comes up for survivors. Throughout this episode, you will hear voices of real survivors and their personal experiences with forgiveness, and Victoria will talk you through some considerations of forgiveness and its role in the healing process. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242. 

This episode discusses some of the challenges and barriers male survivors face when seeking support and coming to terms with their traumatic experiences, as well as some of the ways that men tend to cope with their experiences of abuse. Resources named in this episode: Victims No Longer by Mike Lew,  1in6.org,  Men in the Movement.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242. 

In this episode Casey explores the topic of stalking. We talk about some foundational pieces, like, definitions and statistics. We explore some warning signs to pay attention to. And finally we provide some tips for what to do if you think this is happening to you or a friend of yours. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242. 

This episode will be dedicated in its entirety to survivor’s experiences of reporting. Remember, each survivors experience in different and unique. If you are thinking about reporting, the issues discussed here are just some of the things that you might consider, but it doesn’t mean that your experience will be better or worse than what these individuals describe. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242. 

This episode is part 2 of our 3 part discussion on reporting options. In this episode Jessica discusses what to know about reporting to the university, which is an option when your abuser is a student or employee at your institution. Resources named in this episode: Colorado State University Student Code of Conduct, Support & Safety Assessment, Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242. 

This is part one of our discussion on reporting options, and in this episode you’ll hear Victoria getting into what you should know about reporting to law enforcement. We will walk you through some of the barriers and common questions about this type of reporting. And this episode includes an interview with from Britta Clay, a Victim Advocate for the Fort Collins Police Department.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242. 

This is the kick off for season 3 and our seasonal recommendation show. And we have some great recommendations for you this time around including Victims No Longer, The Urgency of Intersectionality, Not That Bad, Live Awake App. We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242. 

In this episode Casey will be discussing some foundational understanding, history that and some strategies in navigating roadblocks trans survivors face. Joining her for this discussion is a fellow colleague, Tyrell Allen, to help lend their perspective on some of the barriers for trans survivors. Some resources discussed in this episode are: Janet Mock, QTPOC Colorado, 2015 Transgender Survey Report, and PRIDE CSU.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

Casey and Jessica spend this episode talking all about sensory grounding – how to engage with your five senses to bring you back to the present moment. If you’ve ever found yourself triggered and are unsure of how to cope, you may find some of the exercises or ideas shared in this episode helpful. We also discuss the use of distracting and comfort techniques in coping, and share a little about their own personal go-to practices when life becomes challenging.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In this podcast, Marie talks about the definitions of virginity, what society has taught us about virginity, and why those lessons are problematic. We will also be discussing how this idea of virginity affects survivors of interpersonal violence. And will be joined by a recent CSU grad, Whitney Gustafson, who works her thesis on this topic. Also referenced in the show are the V card diaries and the TedTalk: The Virginity Fraud.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In this episode, Casey will explore the importance and healing nature of storytelling. We begin with a brief history of oral storytelling and how this idea can be a powerful reclamation for survivors experiences. The WGAC offers several ways for survivors to engage in storytelling which are discussed and explored throughout this episode.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In this episode, Marie and Jessica talk about trust and intimacy after an experience of interpersonal trauma. We discuss the impact that trauma can have on your relationships with others, as well as ways to rebuild trust and navigate sexual intimacy in safe and healthy ways.Resources mentioned in the show: The Sexual Healing Journey, The Body Keeps the Score, What You Really Really Want, and CERTS Healthy Sexuality.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

This is the kick off for season 2 and our seasonal recommendation show. And we have some great recs for you this time around including We Believe You, Wreck This Journal, What you really, really want. We also explore two websites: FORGE and Incite. Also mentioned in the episode are a few other resources: End Rape on Campus and This is not an App/ Wreck This AppWe love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

This is a special edition of the podcast. It is a conversation between Tiffani Kelly, a CSU alum and the Assistant Director of the Native American Cultural Center at CSU and Lauren Chief Elk, an organizer, prison abolitionist, and educator who aims her work at reimagining violence against women and justice. They spend the episode exploring the ways in which violence against women affect the indigenous community and words of support.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

Through our work we are often asked to provide recommendations about books and resources so survivors can practice self-empowerment in learning more about how to heal and cope with their experience. We hope to dedicate one episode in each season to making some suggestions. Casey, Jessica, and Marie will each share some of their favorite resources.Resources mentioned in the show:Yes Mean Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power edited by Jacklyn Friedman and Jessica ValentiThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der KolkSpeak by Laurie Hals Anderson“Body Sovereignty and Kids: How we cultivate a culture of consent” by Monica Rivera“A queer vision of Love and Marriage” by Tiq Milan and Kim Katrin MilanWe love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In therapy, you may learn new coping skills, ways to deal with your feelings, and strategies for managing stress. Not everyone who has a trauma history needs therapy. This is about personal choice, so if it is one you are thinking about here are some things to ruminate upon. In this episode Casey interview Theo, a survivor and CSU student who has experience in seeking therapy. She will also speak with Jennifer Brandsma, a counselor at the CSU Health Network, about her work with survivors.Resources mentioned in the show:The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der KolkCSU Health NetworkSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)  at 1.800.662.HELP (4357) search for a local treatment center using their locator tool.We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In this episode, Marie will be exploring barriers that survivors of color face when trying to access services such as advocacy centers, university or police reporting. The barriers covered in the episode are mistrusting systems, a history of violence, stereotypes, and dynamics within communities.Resources mentioned in the show:http://www.naacp.org/criminal-justice-fact-sheet/https://mappingpoliceviolence.org/https://www.sentencingproject.org/issues/racial-disparity/The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America  by Sarah DeerFreeQuency –  “I’m Sorry”Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometo – Interview with founders of BLMWe love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

In this episode we will be talking about self-care and self-love, and what it means to truly cultivate an experience of well-being in our lives. Later in the podcast Jessica interviews Emily Ambrose who is the Assistant Director of the Pride resource Center at CSU and they will talk about how we engage in self-care and self-love.Resources mentioned in the show:Screaming goats video: https://youtu.be/nlYlNF30bVg Self-Care Wheel: http://www.olgaphoenix.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SelfCare-Wheel-Final.pdfBrene Brown TED Talk “Listening to Shame”: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shameWe love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242. 

In this episode we address how our bodies physically react to trauma. Knowing how you reacted to a trauma and what is going on in our brains and nervous systems can help survivors release guilt and can help our support systems be more understanding about the vastly different ways people react to traumatic experiences.  Casey is joined in this episode by Dr. Deana Davalos, a neuropsychologist, who will talk about the impact trauma has on our brains.Resources mentioned in the show:FBI stat 2%: https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2016/crime-in-the-u.s.-2016/We love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.

Welcome to the 1st episode of We Believe You: Advocacy, Resources, and Healing around interpersonal trauma. The goal of this podcast is to talk about healing and resources around sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking. In this episode, we are going to be introducing you to the advocacy team (Casey, Marie, and Jessica), going over some definitions and talking about our center’s philosophy. Pretty much, we want you to know who we are and what we do.Resources mentioned in the show:RAINN 1-800-656-4673 www.rainn.orgWe love feedback! Please reach out to us and let us know what you think about the podcast. Our email is wgac@colostate.edu. For more of our content check out our website at www.wgac.colostate.edu. And if you need to talk to an advocate please call our VAT Hotline (24/7) at (970) 492-4242.