135. Lauren King and Shannon Porter: What They Don’t Say Podcast Meets Sexual Assault Survivor Stories for a Power Episode
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Release Date: 04/30/2025
164. Rita Smith: The Voice That Changed the National Conversation
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
In this week’s episode of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories, I’m honored to welcome someone whose name has become synonymous with advocacy, leadership, and meaningful systemic change. Rita Smith has spent more than four decades reshaping how this country understands, responds to, and prevents violence against women. From her grassroots beginnings to her national-level impact, Rita has consistently shown up for survivors with a rare blend of humility, strength, and deep psychological insight. Rita’s work reaches across some of the largest platforms in the nation. She has served as Senior...
info_outline
163. Anne Marie Hauben: The Truth About Non-consent, Trauma, and Speaking Up
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast with Dave Markel Guest: Anne Marie Hauben I’m honored to share this week’s episode of The SASS Podcast with someone whose courage doesn’t just echo across a microphone—it reverberates across decades of silence, retaliation, and survival: Anne Marie Hauben. Anne Marie isn’t just a guest. She is a truth-teller, an advocate, and a woman who refused to let a lifetime of dismissal define her story. After more than 30 years of carrying the weight of an assault she endured at 18 years old, she decided she would not stay silent any...
info_outline
162. Dr. David Lisak, PhD: The Man Who Shaped My Work — Sharing Science, Wisdom, and Hope
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
I’m so honored to share this week’s episode of The SASS Podcast with someone who is far more than a guest—he’s a mentor, a guiding light, and a dear friend: Dr. David Lisak, PhD. I’ve personally known David since 1992, when I met him at a training conference where we were both teaching on rape and sexual assault investigations. From those early days of my journey into trauma-informed investigations, inspired by David, he set the bar for what rigorous, compassionate, science-based work looks like. I’m grateful every day that our paths crossed. Who is David Lisak? David is a...
info_outline
161. Diane: Fighting for Justice for Almost 50 Years…Because It’s That Important!
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
I had a SASS listener reach out to me a few months ago via email. It was a short email, but it sure got my attention. The writer, Diane, told me that she had been listening to SASS for a while, and that she was very appreciative of the show, as she is a survivor of military sexual assault (MSA) from almost 50 years ago. She also told me she had sent me a large envelope of important information about her case…certified, return receipt. That’ll peak you’re curiosity! I did get a large envelope a few days later. It was a pretty full, 9x12 , mailing envelope, full of documents—letters, law...
info_outline
160. Inside The Epstein Era: An Important Re-airing From The Jan Broberg Show
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
This week’s episode of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories is a powerful replay of Episode 223 from The Jan Broberg Show — an episode that I was honored to join alongside Beth Magnetic, host of the Mormon True Crime Podcast. In this deeply important conversation, Jan, Beth, and I confront one of the most disturbing and misunderstood realities of our time: how a trafficking operation like Jeffrey Epstein’s could remain functional, protected, and operational for more than four decades — despite countless victims, despite obvious warning signs, despite so many people “knowing” something...
info_outline
159. David Wood: Searching for Answers—Finding Courage and Clarity; Part 2
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
This is the concluding episode of David Wood’s horrific story and search for answers to his life-long confusion and turmoil. David is an Australian journalist and copywriter now based in Darwin, Northern Territory. He reached out to me by email after listening to several SASS episodes and recognizing his own story in the voices of others. I was immediately captivated by David’s email…which turned into several emails through our ongoing efforts to make this episode happen. The bumps in the road as we struggled to put this together were well worth it for me. And I think you’ll also...
info_outline
158. David Wood: Searching for Answers—Finding Courage and Clarity; Part 1
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
David Wood—an Australian journalist and copywriter now based in Darwin—reached out to me after listening to SASS and recognizing his own story in the voices of others. I was immediately captivated by David’s email…which turned into several emails through our ongoing efforts to make this episode happen. The bumps in the road as we struggled to put this together were well worth it for me. And, I think you’ll also find it well worth it to listen to David’s episodes. As you’ll hear, David, with his ample talent articulating his experiences (which I attribute this to his...
info_outline
157. Dr. Kirsten Harrison: I, Sean/a and Perspectives That Break the Silence
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
I had an instant connection with Kirsten Harrison…we had a “vetting” phone call several weeks before we recorded her episode, and I truly wish I had recorded that conversation and made it a part of this weeks’ episode so that you could actually hear that connection! Kirsten and her work are truly inspiring and captivating. Read on, if you would: Dr. Kirsten Harrison has dedicated her career to understanding trauma and guiding survivors through some of life’s most difficult psychological and spiritual transitions. With research experience at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and...
info_outline
156. Kennedy Alley: A 100 Mile Journey
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
156. Kennedy Alley: A 100 Mile Journey This says it all:
info_outline
155. Amanda Carrasco: Losing Everything, Finding Strength, and Becoming the Brave One
Sexual Assault Survivor Stories Podcast - SASS
This captivating episode features Amanda Carrasco, also known as Amanda The Brave One, author of Becoming the Brave One; My Journey to Justice. Amanda’s story is one of unimaginable trauma and extraordinary resilience. She endured horrific sexual assaults and, while out of her home, suffered the devastating loss of her immediate family at the hands of another family member. Yet rather than allowing her trauma to define her, Amanda transformed her experiences into a platform for healing, education, and advocacy—helping survivors and professionals alike understand the realities of trauma...
info_outlineIn this powerful crossover episode, I had the fantastic fortune to join forces with the hosts of the What They Don't Say: Sexual Assault and Everything in Between podcast for a special pod-share episode. It was an incredible opportunity for all of us to come together and share our unique perspectives on the journey of healing and justice after sexual assault. I’ve been following Shannon and Lauren’s work for a while, and it was great to finally connect and collaborate. Their podcast offers such an unfiltered, raw approach to discussing trauma and healing, and this episode felt like the perfect chance to amplify that conversation.
Shannon and Lauren dive deep into the realities that survivors face, from the emotional weight of trauma to the exhausting process of navigating the court system. They tackle what it really feels like to live with the aftermath of these experiences every day, and they aren’t afraid to pull back the curtain on the messy, unglamorous parts of healing. Their no-holds-barred approach makes it clear that this isn’t about sugarcoating anything—it’s about talking honestly, without filters, and giving people the space to relate to the tough moments.
In this episode, we come together for a candid conversation about the challenges we’ve faced and how important it is to keep sharing these stories, even when it’s uncomfortable. We touch on the toll trauma can take on our lives and relationships, how the legal system can sometimes fail to offer the justice that survivors deserve, and the importance of community as a part of the healing process. It was truly an honor to share this unique episode with Shannon and Lauren, and I think you’ll find it’s a conversation that’s real, heartfelt, and incredibly important.
Whether you're a survivor, a supporter, or someone seeking to understand more about the realities of sexual assault and healing, this episode offers valuable insights and a reminder that you're not alone.
An important side note: if you’re finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform. AND, please send me a note of support. I can’t tell you how much your emails mean to me—they fuel my passion to keep this podcast going. Here’s my email address: dave@sasstories.com I truly look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you again for being part of this journey with me. Don’t miss next week’s episode as I bring you a new, compelling episode —right here on Sexual Assault Survivor Stories, the SASS Podcast. See you next week. In the meantime, we encourage you to share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues. Spread the word about Sexual Assault Survivor Stories, as we continue to amplify the voices of survivors and educate the public and professionals on the importance of trauma-informed care. Together, we
Subscribe and Support: Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories; and, give us a five-star rating! Your support helps us continue to provide this important platform for survivors and advocates alike. I hope you will also do your part to bring justice to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault. You can do that by sharing this episode with others. Also, please follow the Instagram page of sexualassaultsurvivorstories. It also helps the show grow, which is what I hope to accomplish to help lessen the prevalence of rape and sexual assault, as well as the prevalence of rape culture that surrounds us all. It only takes a minute, and I truly appreciate your support.
On another note: I am a strong advocate and supporter of Survivor School (SS), founded and directed by CEO Arci Grey. In fact, Arci has made me a consultant to SS as she maneuvers the intricacies of directing and managing the content and growth of her amazing organization. I encourage you to strongly consider becoming a member of SS, and as an affiliate would appreciate it, if you do decide to become a member, to use this link:
https://www.survivor-school.com/?ref=DAVEMARKEL
Thanks again for listening! And as always, listed below are some additional important and meaningful websites I hope you’ll take a look at and learn more about.
https://www.whattheydontsay.com
https://www.survivor-school.com/?ref=DAVEMARKEL
https://thejanbrobergfoundation.org
My email address: