71. Tiffany Thomson: Doing Her Part to Bring Justice to Victims and Survivors of Trauma
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Release Date: 02/06/2024
154. Caroline Markel: Big Changes Are Coming! What’s Next for Safe in Harm’s Way
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
It’s finally happened!!--I’m honored to welcome back Caroline Markel, Founder and CEO of Safe in Harm’s Way, for an in-depth conversation that’s both exciting and, yes!...exclusive! Over the past two-and-a-half years, Caroline and her organization have been evolving in significant ways, and this episode offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the changes, developments, and forward-thinking initiatives that few people outside her immediate circle have been privy to. In this episode, Caroline shares her perspectives with openness and transparency, discussing not only what has changed...
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153. Pastor Michael Neely: ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ Almost Killed Him—Now He Fights for Survivors
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
This week I had the privilege and pleasure of talking with Pastor Michael Neely, a man whose faith, courage, and resilience were tested in living his own personal marriage; that 15-year marriage nearly cost him his life. Michael now channels his pain into advocacy and works to turn churches into safe spaces and mentoring victims who once felt voiceless. And the really awesome part of all of this to me, is that his story is real, raw, gripping, and completely relevant to everything this podcast is about—and it will challenge everything you think you know about abuse, faith, and healing. I’m...
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152. Johnny Braun: What the World Refuses to See About Male Survivors
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
It was an amazing day for me when Johnny Braun sent me a DM on Instagram. It was short, it was succinct, and it made me want to talk to him. Here’s what he said: “Hey there Dave, if you’re looking for another person to be on your podcast, I’d like to be on an episode. I experienced childhood sexual abuse.” That was it…that’s what started an amazing conversation, and my decision to have him as a guest today. I could go on and on about how amazing I know Johnny is. But I think he would rather I tell you about what I know about male sexual assault as a “thing” that needs to be...
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151. C Kimberly Toms: From Victimization to Voice—Changing the System
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
151. C Kimberly Toms: From Victimization to Voice—Changing the System C Kimberly Toms. She’s a survivor of rape and attempted murder, a filmmaker, writer, and business consultant. In 2013, a hopeful job move to Milwaukee turned into a harrowing ordeal when she was raped and stalked by a U.S. Department of State special agent who eventually also attempted to murder her. For the last 12 years, Kimberly has endured relentless trauma, systemic failures, and intimidation. The absolutely worst experiences, however, inspired advocacy; Kimberly created her documentary Escaping Fed and founded...
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150. Whitney Vergés: Breaking Barriers in the Sex Industry
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
The importance of this podcast includes the critical component of continuing to amplify the voices of those who've survived the unimaginable. This week, the show marks a significant milestone—Episode 150—and it’s only fitting that I have a truly monumental guest, Whitney Vergés. Whitney’s story is one of incredible courage as she bravely shares her experience of being drugged and raped. But what makes her journey even more powerful is the context surrounding her assault. Whitney, who has worked in the adult entertainment industry as both a stripper and the manager of the strip club,...
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149. Ariel Sorensen: Surviving Sexual Assault and Navigating Justice Abroad
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Ariel Sorensen reached deep inside herself to muster the strength and fortitude to reach out to me to find out if she could share her gripping and harrowing tale of her rape and sexual assault during what was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime to South Africa. Ariel and her male companion, strangers in a foreign land, were offered nightly accommodations by an elderly couple they had just met. The couple’s generous offer seemed harmless at first, but as Ariel recounts, it was part of a carefully orchestrated manipulation. Things got worse when she was invited to stay in a separate bedroom...
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148. Dave Markel: Reflections and Impacts
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
148. Dave Markel: Reflections and Impacts This week, since there’s not guest again, I want to take a moment to reflect on the growth and impact of the podcast. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support from all my listeners, whose commitment has fueled the show's success and exponential growth. Whether long-time listeners or relatively new to the show, your passion and dedication are what have made SASS what it is today. I also want to emphasize the importance of normalizing the conversation around rape and sexual assault. By creating a safe space for survivors to share their...
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147. A Repeat of Episode 43: Cashaye Barrera—An Episode Worth Hearing Again!
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
147. A Repeat of Episode 43: Cashaye Barrera—An Episode Worth Hearing Again! Sometimes life throws us a curve ball when we least expect it, and it changes the trajectory of the path we were on. That’s what happened this week when a guest who was scheduled to record with me had some unexpected events thwart our scheduled appointment and we weren’t able to record. So, I made the decision to do something I have yet to do on this podcast, and that is to repeat a past episode. It didn’t take me anytime at all to decide which one: you are about to hear Episode 43 again: my adopted...
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146. Jessica Pride & Verna Griffin-Tabor: Co-Founders of Sirona Healing Center
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Welcome to Episode 146. It’s an honor and pleasure to introduce you to Sirona Healing Center of San Diego, CA. This episode features the two co-founders of Sirona, Jessica (Jess) Pride and Verna (Vee) Griffin-Tabor. Jess’s name may sound familiar to some of you who’ve been long-time listeners to SASS…she was my guest on Episode 44, in August, 2023. The reason I’m featuring Sirona Healing Center this week is two-fold: first, it’s a pleasure to have Jessica Pride back as a guest this week. Secondly, I am always pleased to present avenues of support and healing that my audience may...
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145. Summer Heat: A Strength Compilation
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Welcome to Episode 145 of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories. It’s hard to believe, but the year is already half gone!...WoW! By way of celebrating this half-way point of this year’s shows, I wanted to provide a compilation of a few of the powerful, brave, survivors who have guested on this show. I picked out some of the more gripping and impressionable portions of these lady’s interviews as a reminder of how powerful these women are, and as a prod to nudge you to go listen to the episodes if you haven’t already, or to re-listen if you have! These are worth your time! An important side...
info_outlineSome might find this episode and think, “This is a shameless plug for Dave’s wife’s cousin.” But the honest truth is, that is not my intention at all! I ran across my wife’s cousin’s Facebook page and saw that she had started a new business. “She” is Tiffany Thomson. The thing that caught my eye was that Tiffany, who I haven’t seen since about 2005 or so, had updated her Instagram profile picture and I noticed that she had recently started a conflict coaching/mediation/public speaking/meditation/training practice called Create Peaceful Solutions…all based on being trauma informed. When I read more about her business, I noticed that she specifically worked with trauma victims and survivors. I was stunned! The only things I remembered from my last contact with her was that she was a fantastic photographer at family reunions, and that she worked in the social services field…in some capacity.
So, I reached out to Tiffany on Instagram Messenger and asked her if she might be interested in being on my podcast and asked her to listen to an episode or two, to see if she might be a fit for the show; then we talked by phone, and it became obvious that she was! I was elated that she could be a strong source of information and support for you, my audience. And she was excited about the prospect of providing some information that may be of some help to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault! It was settled, and we recorded this episode just a couple of weeks ago.
I’m quite proud of this episode because Tiffany does exactly what I thought she would: provide some great insights about trauma and help to those of you who listen. And, as it works out, I’m not ashamed to push Tiffany’s services of coaching, instructing, providing a keynote, or just offering support to victims and survivors…of any type of trauma. So, I’m providing her email address, phone number, and her website address. She would love to hear from you. And I believe she can help any of you who reach out to her.
Thank you all for listening to this episode. Please let me know what you think. Email me with your thoughts about Tiffany’s comments and her coaching service, and about the Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast. I’d appreciate you following me and rating the show. And, if you’re a victim or survivor of rape or sexual assault, and you feel like you are ready to share your story to help further your healing journey, or help someone else on theirs, email me and we’ll discuss the possibility. It would be an honor to talk to you!
As always, please do your part to help bring justice to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault…the best way to do this is to Start By Believing (EVAWI’s campaign!). And please tune in again next week!
Here’s how to get a hold of Tiffany:
https://www.createpeacefulsolutions.com
@create_peaceful_solutions (Tiffany’s Instagram username)
Ph. 1-615-863-3101
Some other websites I hope you’ll check out: