Dear Katie: Survivor Stories

S9E10 1 US Coast Guardsman and 2 Navy Men with 1 Blue Cup (Uploaded for Spotify)

Trying to keep his head down after breaking the rules as a new Coast Guard officer, Julian is on his best behavior when he is invited to drink with some other officers. Trusting his new friends, he is drugged and raped, floating back to his room in a haze. Julian represses these memories for years, until a class brings old memories to the surface, and he shares his story openly with the instructor, beginning his healing journey. 

Julian Bell is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer with 23 years of service and the founder of Safe Waters, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault and harassment in military communities. During his career, he served as a victim advocate and worked to elevate survivor voices and push for greater accountability within institutional systems. After witnessing the gaps in support for many survivors, he helped build Safe Waters to provide peer connection, resources, and community-centered healing. Julian is now preparing to pursue a graduate degree in counseling psychology so he can continue supporting survivors through trauma-informed care. He lives in California with his wife and children and remains deeply committed to advocacy, healing, and cultural change.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

S9E9 Seatbelt in the Home Depot Parking Lot (Uploaded for Spotify)

'What good would it do? I heard that over and over.'

Today’s guest is Leslie Crowe, a writer, advocate, and survivor who brings honesty and compassion to difficult conversations. Leslie is the proud mom of two sons and a longtime autism advocate who founded NeedQuest to help families navigate resources for children with special needs. She is also a breast cancer survivor and a fierce advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. After many years of silence, Leslie found the courage to release her shame and speak openly about her experiences, using her voice to challenge silence and create space for healing, truth, and accountability.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

S9E8 25 Years in Prison for Killing My Perpetrator (Uploaded for Spotify)

'This is the only purpose I have.' 

Dawn Jackson is a justice-impacted advocate, public speaker, and survivor whose life is a testament to resilience and transformation. After serving more than 25 years in prison, she received clemency in 2024 and now uses her voice to uplift survivors of sexual and domestic violence. A wife, mother of 11, and grandmother of 22, Dawn combines lived experience, education, healing, and faith to inspire others to reclaim their power. She is the founder of From Darkness to Dawn, LLC, and the author of the forthcoming memoir Suppressed Secrets. Dawn speaks nationally, reminding audiences that their past chapters do not define their future.

Host: Katie Koestner 

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

S9E7 A CIA Agent, a Scarf, and a Stairwell (Uploaded for Spotify)

Inheriting a familial military legacy, Rachel joined the CIA after working a career in male-dominated spaces such as startups and as a military contractor. Discussing her experiences as a military family member, to living through a war in service, she shares a rare perspective on military life, culture, and survivorship.

Rachel Cuda made history as the first-ever CIA officer to approach Congress about the Agency’s treatment of sexual assault victims, advocating for systemic change. Leading generations of other survivors, she helped share their stories and was the first of only two CIA officers selected to testify before Congress under oath in closed-door hearings. In just eleven months, her efforts culminated in landmark legislation being passed as part of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that mandated reforms such as requiring the CIA establish a dedicated Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention office, improving reporting mechanisms, enhancing victim support, and ensuring independent investigations to address sexual misconduct more effectively. Previously anonymous to the public, Rachel came forward in Fall 2024, sharing her name and story with the world.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

S9E6 Fetishized Photos Become Viral Video (Uploaded for Spotify)

Pursuing her dreams of becoming an actress, Kaila takes many auditions that expose her to the dark exploitation of Hollywood. Unsure of what's normal and living a double life, she's pushed beyond the point of comfort and videotaped in a vulnerable position. Kaila spends years feeling like damaged goods, breaking through the shame with therapy and finding a path to healing.

Kaila Yu is an author based in Los Angeles. Her debut memoir, ‘Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty,’ was published in August 2025. She is also a luxury travel and culture writer and on-camera correspondent with bylines in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, Bon Appétit, Conde Nast Traveler, and many more.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader 

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

S9E5 Pastor's Kid at the Golden Corral Buffet (Uploaded for Spotify)

"My grandfather had abused 13 of the 14 kids [...] you see a lot of repeated cycles."

Forced to lie for her family at 14, Priscilla spends her adolescent years living in turmoil and terror. Clawing her way toward forgiveness through faith, she draws on lessons from her own story to fight for justice and healing for both victims and perpetrators.

Priscilla Bordayo is a Michigan-based sexual abuse advocate. She has been sought out as a motivational speaker by numerous community organizations, such as law enforcement, the National Guard, prisons across the United States, and both public and private schools, to discuss her story of overcoming incest and bring awareness to familial abuse. Priscilla has been invited to speak before the Senate and House of Representatives and led the creation of the “Clean Slate Bill”, signed by Governor Whitmer in 2020. Her mission is to end the cycle of abuse, following the motto 'hurt people, hurt people'. 

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

S9E4 High School Vodka Party Black Out (Uploaded for Spotify)

"'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

S9E3 Minor Victim #1 in Jeffrey Epstein Case (Uploaded for Spotify)

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

Re:Wind to Re:Process Track S6E15 Splitting the Law

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

S9E2 Back Seat of a Taxi in South Africa (Uploaded for Spotify)

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