Dear Katie: Survivor Stories

S3E9 Venomous Irish Jig

From farmer’s country to rich New England town, 13-year-old Rae Beth was the new kid at her middle school. As an outcast, she found friendship in a classmate who did not share the privileges of their peers. At her new best friend’s birthday party, Rae Beth is sexually assaulted for the first time by her friend’s father, the beginning of a series of repeated, chilling instances. After six years of silence, she is now a year away from a master’s degree in social work, and a career in advocacy for sexual assault prevention. 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S3E8 80% Cacao with Lavender

While learning to heal others in medical school, young Larisa found herself targeted by a teacher, someone she was supposed to admire and trust. Her experiences led her to turn away from traditional medicine and toward holistic healing, with her understanding of sexual trauma propelling her to create The Evolving Story of Women, an advocacy group dedicated to ending sexual violence. 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S3E7 5ft Sensei Towering Over Eiffel (Expert Episode: Patti Giggans)

This week, we sit down with Patti Giggans, legendary activist and Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, a non profit dedicated to ending interpersonal violence. She shares stories of one on one intervention, and how speaking with even a single individual can change minds and initiate global change. 

For more information on Peace Over Violence and the amazing work led by Patti and other groundbreaking activists, got to www.peaceoverviolence.org

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S3E6 Maraschino Cherry Manhattan

Inspirational and empowering, Stephanie Olson speaks to leaders around the globe to share lessons on resilience; however, her journey to the present comes with lived experiences of domestic and sexual violence. From victim to powerful survivor and advocate, Stephanie shares her triumph over trauma and how to heal into success. 

To find out more about Stephanie Olson and her work, visit stephanieolson.com

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S3E5 Rounded Sandstone Lake Rock

When 70’s high school lovebirds decide to go the distance in college, Shannon finds a manipulative side of her then-boyfriend. Post-breakup, in hopes of reconciliation, she visits his dorm, only to be propositioned with sex. When she says no multiple times, Shannon discovers the word doesn’t hold as much weight as she had once believed. After growing up as an Evangelical Christian, she must learn to navigate a world where impurity is sinister. Fast forward to 2022, Shannon has found hope in her husband and the resources accessible to victims today.

 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editors: Craig Stanton and Bob Kanygin

Producer: Emily Wang

S3E4 Wah-Wah Trumpet Unmuted

When a young Rachel falls for a fellow trumpeter at a concert, their meet-cute takes a violent and coercive turn. After he assaults her in her childhood bedroom, with nowhere to escape, Rachel develops a fear of being trapped; she scans each new room she enters for a second door. Once she discloses to her mother, Rachel finds a beacon of hope and comfort, bringing her out of the darkness and leading her toward healing. 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Criag Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

 

S3E3 Architect Brandishing Samurai Sword

Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Martha Lluch has dedicated her life to creativity. Throughout the course of the years, it has become evident to her that the creative process, translates directly into how she navigates life altogether. She is currently exploring new ways to share the benefits of creativity and the design approach with others through art, yoga and her ongoing workshop: The Art of Cultivating Joy.

Aside from being passionate about creativity, she is a big advocate for mental health and healing trauma - the core of the Little Raging Warrior Project. Find more about her work and this project here: https://www.littleragingwarrior.com/

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S3E2 Sweaty Skin Exhaustion

A favorite shirt becomes a memory of violence. A playful tickle triggers memories of shame and trauma. A shower leads to lies to family and friends. The scent of cologne incites terror and anxiety. An experience of trauma is shoved down and personally denied even as others come for succor and solace. Unconscious awareness leads to bizarre behaviors. Carly  shares her spiral into despair and the long climb back to health.

Hosts: Sandra Miles and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S3E1 Pen and Press

After hearing Angela's story and writing an article for the Tulane Hullabaloo, Lily shared her own story in this interview with Sandra and Katie. Her journalism focuses on sexual violence on college campuses, an experience she knows all too well. In a shift from observer to subject, she shares the trauma she experienced to bring to light the ways we are all impacted by sexual violence, and how we can work together to stop it. 

 

*Announcement: for season 3, our upload schedule has shifted to once every two weeks to accomodate more work on Take Back the Night initiatives.

 

Hosts: Sandra Miles and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S2E20 Kaleidoscope in Black

Betrayed by her best friend and shunned by the people who should have supported her the most, Karoline shares her gut-wrenching experience with violence as a young teen. Join us as we discuss her journey from abuse and isolation to self-love and acceptance. 

 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang