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The Dear Katie Podcast features survivors of sexual assault, rape, and abuse; supporters; authors; celebrities; and agents of change about their survivorship and support. Learn how their journeys can help all survivors and their supporters. Delve into backlash, legal systems, campus reactions, family and friends, mental health, PTSD, substance use, body image, and the journey from hurt to healing and thriving.
After Katie Koestner appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine at age 18 as the first person to speak out nationally and publicly as the victim of “date” rape, she received 100+ letters from others who had never told anyone about their own story. Katie wrote back to all of them, and some of them have now been guests on her Podcast 30+ years later to share their story with the world. The name “Dear Katie” honors all survivors in the power of sharing their story. Silence changes nothing.
Episodes
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
On the first day of class, Laura sits in the back of the room, distracted by the summer heat, when her ex-boyfriend saunters in. Still friends, they hang out until the last day of class, when he invites her to celebrate with a cup of wine. Within 2 sips, she falls back and the hem of her pink skirt is seared into her mind as the last memory of the night, still present now 35 years later. Today, Laura shares her story of survivorship, her conflict with her mother, and ultimately, forgiveness.
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editor: Craig Stanton
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
At thirteen, Ray meets a new boy in her class, bumbling into her first awkward tween relationship. Her inexperience quickly becomes a vulnerability, and her new beau takes advantage of her naïveté to manipulate her into sexual activity. Blindsided by these new experiences, Ray's encounters with her young abuser become the subject of scrutiny as her school questions her story. Today, she shares her turbulent journey into adolescence, testifying to the resilience and strength of survivors as she fights the narrative of the lying victim and finds healing.
Hosts: Katie Koestner and Claire Kaplan
Editors: Craig Stanton and Bob Kanygin
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
A frog thrown in boiling water will jump out. But a frog put in a pot of water and heated to boiling will die. Author Kelly Sundberg describes her relationship with her husband, and how an initially innocent relationship slowly morphs into a storm of fear and violence. At first, her strength masks her suffering, but in the end, it saves her. Today, Kelly shares her story of abuse, survival, and liberation.
To find out more about Kelly and her work, go to: https://kellysundberg.com/
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editors: Craig Stanton and Bob Kanygin
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Trauma often causes a disconnect between the body and mind; to protect ourselves from the horrors of the present, we inhibit our ability to feel. However, this can prevent us from developing the emotional resilience to find our way out of our place of pain. A survivor of suicide, Matthew Green has created a path to healing from this inner discord. In this episode, he discusses his work with 5th Place, guiding students to a place of emotional safety and stability. To find out more about 5th Place, visit https://5th.place/
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editors: Craig Stanton and Bob Kanygin
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Sleeping in the hallway at 12, Ken remembers mysteriously waking without pajamas, finding a family friend touching him. Threatened by the perpetrator to keep his silence, he suffers years of violence, finding golf as a refuge while isolated in a foreign country.
Now, as a professional golfer, he shares his journey climbing his way out from pain, triumphing over the mental health challenges throughout his life to find his way to healing and success.
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editor: Craig Stanton
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
From homeless to hero, Michael Unbroken is the author of the best-selling book Think Unbroken and is a coach, mentor, and educator for adult survivors of child abuse. He spends his time helping other survivors get out of "The Vortex" to become the HERO of their story! Michael hosts The Think Unbroken podcast and is on a mission to end generational trauma in his lifetime through education and information. Find more about Michael at https://www.thinkunbroken.com/
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editor: Craig Stanton
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
New to the college dating scene, Sarah is excited to experience all of hookup culture and lose her virginity. They find themselves in a casual relationship with a frat boy who pushes their boundaries over and over again. Sarah runs those moments through her mind, doubting whether it was her fault, and quickly finds herself experiencing the darker sides of fraternity brotherhood and a sexually charged party scene. Pushing beyond the abuse, they become an advocate for the survivors in their community, triumphing over trauma and finding solace in the sisterhood of survivorship.
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editor: Craig Stanton
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Barely old enough to form memories, Beth lies in fear in her bed, night after night. Her seemingly perfect family hides a dark core, burying her in psychological and sexual trauma. She emerges from her childhood a survivor, poet, and advocate, writing a path to strength and healing.
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editor: Craig Stanton
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
This week, our episode features Anita Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, a Nigerian physician who is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through medical practice, social activism and public advocacy against gender-based violence.
Professionally, Dr. DaSilva-Ibru is a consultant specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as a public health physician, with over 20 years’ experience in private practice. She is also the founder of the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), a non-profit organization that addresses the prevalence of gender-based violence, rape and the trafficking of young girls and women across Nigeria.
For more information on WARIF, visit https://warifng.org/
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editor: Craig Stanton
Producer: Emily Wang
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Wielding his degree in public health as a preventative weapon, Shawn shares how he navigates empathizing with intersectionally disadvantaged communities. Shawn delves into one of his processes of prevention: working with those who perpetuate hateful rhetoric. He explains the power of tracing hate back to its root, and learning what brought perpetrators to their beliefs, to better understand, and better assist the restoration of violent or hateful individuals contributing to rape culture.
To hear more from Shawn Schutt, tune into the Touchy Subjects Podcast here: https://www.touchysubjectspodcast.com/
Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner
Editor: Craig Stanton
Producer: Emily Wang