Dear Katie: Survivor Stories

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

S2E19 Gel, Ink, and Rollerball

Joseph Carrabis has been everything from a long-haul trucker to a Chief Research Scientist and holds patents covering mathematics, anthropology, neuroscience, and linguistics. Now, he spends his time writing fiction based on his childhood experiences with trauma, violence, and abuse. Told in the guise of military science fiction, his novel The Augmented Man is the story of Nick Trailer, sexually and physically abused in childhood, discovering his humanity and finding love as an adult. The pen has become his instrument for advocacy, connection, and ultimately, healing. 

Hosts: Katie Koestner and Claire Kaplan

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S2E18 Red Velvet Cake

Leah Michelle Forney survived teenage sexual assault, abuse, and violation. Growing from a belief she wasn't worthy of sharing her story, she's become an established author, team leader at crisis response centers, and marriage and family therapist. She took her rapist to court where her victimization continued by the judge, the defense counsel, and the police. These experiences and others led her to create Leahmforney.com and become an advocate and speaker to help others survive their experiences.

Hosts: Katie Koestner and Sandra Miles

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

S2E17 Hazelnut Entremet

Tennie Eppenger survived several assaults on different occasions and decided no one else would suffer as she did. From the violation of the assaults to the violation of police interviews and beyond, she grew beyond her experiences with a determination to help others. She shares her journey and tells the story of how her trauma drove her to create the non-profit Sisterhood of Survival, Inc. (https://www.sisterhoodofsurvival.org/) dedicated to empowering survivors of sexual assault.

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Sandra Miles

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang