61. Ashleyann Garcia: Struggling, but Winning!
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Release Date: 12/05/2023
87. Caroline Markel: She’s Back This Month; "Big, Bold, and Unapologetic!"
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Because Caroline was traveling so much of last month, I wasn't able to record an April episode with her. But now, she’s back home and busy at work. But not so busy as to miss another episode with me! This month, Caroline talks about where she was these past several weeks, who she was traveling with, what they were doing on this extended trip, and the many insights and lessons she learned along the way. That discussion, in and of itself, was intriguing…but wait ‘til you hear what else she’s been working on, in terms of her healing journey! Caroline is transparent and honest in how...
info_outline
86. Kelly Justus: Embracing Her Own Healing Through Action—Promoting Project Callisto's Mission
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Kelly and I have a few things in common: our admiration and support of the mission of Project Callisto, and our belief that normalizing the converstation around rape and sexual assault will help reduce the prevalence of rape culture. With regard to Callisto: I won’t go into the full explanation of how Callisto works, you can find out that information on their website; but suffice it to say that Callisto is a platform built for victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault to anonymously provide information about their perpetrator into an encrypted vault system to match victims to a...
info_outline
85. Roger Canaff: A Former Sexual Assault Prosecutor and Highly Qualified Expert Gives Us His Insights!
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Having Roger Canaff join me on this show has long been a goal, and I finally was able to reconnect with this former colleague. I met Roger when I was working for the US Army in a position known as a Highly Qualified Expert for the Criminal Investigation Command (known as CID-Criminal Investigation Division). Part of my job was co-managing a 2-week Special Victims Unit Investigation Course (SVUIC), conducted at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Brunswick, GA. Roger was also hired by the Army as an HQE, with the Judge Advocate...
info_outline
Bonus Episode: Cassie Nicholas Needs Our Help!
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Hey there SASS listeners…this is a special edition episode of SASS to ask for your help… If ever there was someone in need of our financial help, one of our own SASS family members, Cassie Nicholas, is currently that one! Most of you have heard Cassie's two episodes here on SASS and know of the horrific circumstances she has endured throughout her life—not only regarding the rapes and sexual assaults she has endured, but also the immense psychological and physical abuses of being trafficked. Cassie now faces even more trauma!...in the middle of April, Cassie’s car overheated and caught...
info_outline
84. Jessica Michaels: Raped by Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, Jess is Now Promoting Sexual Assault First Aid-PART 2
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
When it came to healing from her rape by Jeffrey Epstein there first had to be a realization by Jess Michaels that she was raped. Because, Jess had been taught by society and the culture of the 90’s that what had happened to her must not have really been rape…she hadn’t screamed, she didn’t try to fight him, she hadn’t even tried to push him off her—she didn’t do anything that would, in her mind, have been the response of someone who was being raped; she just froze. But she knew something was wrong. She felt it. Her life routines, her world view, and her new, misunderstood...
info_outline
83. Jessica Michaels: Raped by Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, Jess is Now Promoting Sexual Assault First Aid; Part 1
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
It’s difficult to imagine having a bright future with a life full of promise, fame, and prestige, living that life doing exactly what you were wanting to do: dancing, modeling, acting, singing, and a career trajectory that was leading to Broadway and world travel and fame on July 8, 1991…and then on July 9, 1991, having it all stomped out in just a few minutes by a man whose only goal was to rape. That’s what Jeffrey Epstein did to Jessica Michaels. Jessica barely knew Jeffrey Epstein. She had only met him briefly to talk about the possibility of working for him doing massage; when he...
info_outline
82. Dr. Lori Pitts: From Childhood Sexual Assault to Founder of Still Whole Wellness, Dr. Lori Recognizes Her Gift of Healing
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
It was only two weeks ago that I had Anne Winslow on this show to talk about her new role as Co-Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Advocacy Network, SAAN, an online community of advocates, victims, and survivors of rape and sexual assault. During our discussion, Anne mentioned that the former Executive Director of SAAN was Dr. Lori Pitts, who is now Anne’s life coach and healing guide, and someone about whom Anne couldn’t say enough good things. (Dr. Lori is the founder and Executive Director of .) After our recording session, before Anne could even tell me that I should consider...
info_outline
81. Cassie Nicholas Returns: New Trauma Memories Lead to New Ways to Heal!
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Recording this episode was a fantastic experience...I was fortunate to have my guest, Cassie Nicholas, join me in the studio! It’s not often that this occurs, as most of my guests are long distances from St. George, UT. But Cassie is staying in a nearby city and was willing to drive into town to record this episode. It was a real delight that we got to see each other in the sense that it was awesome to get caught up on our almost year-long friendship; a friendship that started when Cassie emailed me in June of 2023, asking to be a part of this podcast. (Listening to her previous episode...
info_outline
80. Anne Winslow: A Gentle Yet Powerful Voice for Survivors
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
The last time Anne was on this show was just over a year ago. She shared with us her harrowing story of enduring almost 30 years of intrafamilial rape as well as marital domestic violence and rape. Yet, despite all of that, Anne managed to become one the most softspoken advocates for others who’ve endured similar experiences as she advocated and guided others through her outreach with the Sexual Assault Advocacy Network (SAAN). She continues to work with that amazing organization, except that now, she does so in the position of Co-Director! Anne also explains in this episode that she is...
info_outline
79. Ray Epstein: The New Kid in Class Brings Hidden Terrors
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Some communities are safe harbors of individuals who identify as an assemblage who have known each other for a long time…grown together, supported each other, learned together…who have the common denominator of having gone through the same things together, particularly school. Such was the case for Ray Epstein as she progressed through a very small elementary school and middle school. Her friends and classmates were people with whom she grew up…she knew all of them and they all knew her. And while she never considered herself part of the popular group because, as she saw it, she was a...
info_outlineOne of the most difficult components of the sexual assault/rape healing journey is mustering the courage and strength to tell someone else your story. It can be formidable. Daunting even. But many psychologists and sociologists agree that talking about ones own sexual assault or rape experience can help in processing one’s emotions, provide a community of survivors that support each other, and create a sense of accomplishment and self-encouragement that provides a strong foundation for ones healing journey.
Through my own anecdotal experiences and education I’ve acquired through formal scholastic channels as well as through professional trainings, I’ve come to recognize that those victims and survivors of rape and/or sexual assault who choose to talk about a sexual assault or rape experience with someone who is empathic and supportive can lead to some very strong and beneficial outcomes, not the least of which include:
1. Emotional Validation: Sharing the experience with a supportive person can validate the survivor's feelings and emotions, helping them feel understood and acknowledged.
2. Reduced Isolation: Discussing the experience can alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness that often accompany trauma, as the survivor realizes they're not alone and have support.
3. Healing and Coping: Talking about the experience can be a step toward healing. It allows the survivor to begin processing their emotions, which can be a crucial part of coping and moving forward.
“Moving forward”—this is where Ashleyann is: she’s struggling, but winning. And her winning is providing the ongoing platform she needs for that continued forward drive. Her decision to come on the Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast was the result of months of self-reflection, weighing options, and much contemplation. Ultimately, Ashleyann decided to come on the show, and at the end of her episode experience, Ashleyann said, “I am always, forever going to be so grateful for this.” Ashleyann joins many, many other SASS family members who have expressed very similar sentiments.
Don’t forget to Start By Believing…because we all know someone whose life has been affected by rape or sexual assault.
#thrivivors #thejanbrobergfoundation #janbroberg #safeinharmsway #epizonstrategy #intentionallyfearless #thelastimsorry #feelingsmall #sasspodcast #retiredcop #traumainformed #traumainformedexpert #sexassaultvictim #survivorsunite #rapevictim #sexualassaultsurvivorstories #podcast #markelconsulting #jessicapridelawfirm #awareness #boundaries #gettraumainformed #safeinharmsway #projectbeloved #saan #irishangel #crimevictimsassistancecenter #coloradoassociationofsexcrimeinvestigators #girlsfightback #outdoordefense #worthfightingfor #supportsurvivors #mysurvivorstory #confidence #violenceprevention #awareness #boundaries #empowerment #speaker #trainer #thejanbrobergshow #thrivivors #thejanbrobergfoundation #internationalspeaker #genderequality #equality #selfdefense #selfdefence #safety #youreworthfightingfor #sassyselfdefenseguide #badassselfdefense #imworthfightingfor #vawa #ashforduniversity #amandacoleman #remembermolly #fightrapeculture #forcescience