Dear Katie: Survivor Stories

S5E8 Angel in the Legal Heavens for Victims

A lawyer focusing on institutional accountability for child sexual assault, Hansen Dirani shares his soul-shaking passion and energy with us to advocate for survivors of violence. His beliefs, while unconventional, reveal a deep care and unwavering strength in the face of a culture of complicity and silence.

If you or a person you know needs an advocate, please make use of our free legal hotline, 567-SHATTER (567-742-8837), or visit our website here: https://takebackthenight.org/legal-assistance/. 

Hosts: Katie Koestner and Emily Wang

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite

S5B1 Learning, Art, and Healing

In this bonus segment, we introduce two new cohosts taking on our interviews! 

Emily Wang is the Senior Producer for the Dear Katie Podcast and is currently a graduate student in cell biology. She has an academic interest in sexual violence prevention and started the Dear Katie Podcast alongside Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner. 

Luiza Leite is the Associate Producer for the Dear Katie Podcast and is currently biological sciences and art history. She has been working with the Dear Katie Podcast for a year and is interested in art and healing. 

Editor: Evan Mader

S5E7 Hot Matcha Latte

Walking away from his anger and jealousy, Isabella breaks it off with her college boyfriend. However, his abuse and manipulation follow her, and he assaults her in her home. Following a journey of healing and justice, she shares her story with us today. 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Benter Oluoch

Producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite

S5E6 Total Body Badass

New college student Kiley does her best to deal with the Covid outbreak on campus, spending time with her boyfriend and his roommates. In love for the first time, she finds herself in uncomfortable situations with this group, until one of his roommates attacks her. She walks away, in shock, living in silence until months later. Kiley shares her journey from breaking her silence and dealing with the backlash to self-care and helping survivors today. 

Hosts: Katie Koestner and Claire Kaplan

Editor: Benter Oluoch

Producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite

S5E5 Mermaids Walking on Their Toes

Author and ally Michael Emberger shares his voice and knowledge, advocating for men to take charge and act as true supporters for survivors of sexual assault. His book, Believed, focuses on the suffering of mermaid and college student Kelsea, who stands on a tail and two fins to fight the most painful trial of her life. Despite her trauma and a crisis of faith, she speaks the truth of what her rapist did, but will she be believed?

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite

S5E4 Jane Doe is a Monster

In today's episode, filmmaker and actress Emma Fitzpatrick discusses the the importance of telling stories that give a voice to the voiceless. As a writer, she has contributed to the success of multiple social media campaigns highlighting women’s issues and gender equality including #SHEPLAYSWEWIN which garnered media attention for its positive portrayal and message to young women in athletics. She most recently wrote and produced the feature film “Take Back the Night,” a monster movie that plays out as an allegory for the horrors of victim blaming in rape culture. The film was released in March of 2022 and has become a platform to launch conversations about the misconceptions and dangers surrounding victims of violent crimes, especially sexual assault. 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Benter Oluoch

Producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite

S5E3 Re-Membering for Healing

Deb Grassman and Jo Jones share their vision of a world free of sexual violence and a path to healing from 'soul injury'. Often, trauma separates us from ourselves, and the process of healing reconnects us with the self, 're-membering'. 

Deborah Grassman is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and author of two books, Peace at Last and The Hero Within. . She discovered a phenomenon that has become identified as “Soul Injury” – a wound that separates you from your own sense of self. Deborah then founded a non-profit organization called Opus Peace to bring the Soul Injury message to others. 

Dr. Jo Wakeela Boston Jones, DHED, is a sexual violence survivor. She is a Registered Nurse with a Doctorate in Health Education from A.T. Still University and an Opus Peace Ambassador and Educator. Dr. Jones believes sexual violence is a Hidden, Unheard, and Unseen world-wide public health crisis that often leads to a Soul Injury. She lends her powerful voice, history, and presence to providing sexual violence awareness education to communities throughout the US.

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Tyler Thomas

Producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite

S5E2 Blue Gingham with Purple Ribbons

Sandy shares a harrowing personal tale of the end of 17-year relationship; their ex displays a violent temper, lashing out at everyone in her path. They find themselves living in fear, seeking justice and searching for community, transforming their story into one of hope and friendship. 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Benter Oluoch

Producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite

S5E1 Rain Droplets

Graduating high school with her first child, Schenika misses the first signs of her partner's abuse. After years of living subject to his violence, she is finally pushed to free her family from his terror when her children begin sleeping with knives under their pillows. In a daring exodus, Schenika plans meticulously and finally paves the way to her family's freedom, breaking away from her abuser. Years of hardship and silence later, she finds herself sharing her story and speaking her truth to help other survivors. 

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite

S4E25 Hot for Bachata and Cha Cha

stephani candelaria (she/her/ella) is a musician/activist and trauma-informed, decolonization-focused educator from San Juan Bautista, California (Amah Mutsun tribal land). They hold a Masters degree in Education from Mills College in Oakland, CA (Ohlone tribal land), and has more than 10 years experience in education spaces, from gender-based workshop development and implementation, to social justice-centered curriculum development and classroom teaching, to community engagement via her musical platform. Her work is centered around indigenous-informed healing for folks who identify as BIPOC, queer, women, and/or survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Tyler Thomas

producers: Emily Wang and Luiza Leite