For the first time in quite a while, I found myself without a guest interview ready to release. Between family visits, personal responsibilities, and the realities of life occasionally getting ahead of all of us, I simply ran out of runway this week. Rather than leave you with silence, I decided to sit down behind the microphone and spend a few minutes talking directly with you. As Sexual Assault Survivor Stories approaches its 200th episode, I've been reflecting on what this journey has meant to me. When I started this podcast, I had no idea where it would lead. I simply believed there was value in creating a space where survivors could tell their stories in their own words, without interruption, judgment, or pressure to fit someone else's narrative. Nearly two hundred episodes later, that belief remains unchanged. In this brief episode, I share some thoughts about listening, storytelling, and the lessons I've learned from spending years in conversation with survivors. We often talk about awareness, education, and advocacy, all of which are important. But one of the things this podcast has continually reminded me is that genuine understanding usually begins when we're willing to listen long enough to hear another person's experience as they lived it. Most of all, this episode is simply a thank you. Thank you for listening, for supporting the show, for sharing these conversations with others, and for helping create a community where survivors know their voices matter. I have some outstanding guests scheduled in the weeks ahead, and I'm looking forward to bringing those conversations to you very soon. An important side note: if you're finding value in this show and these conversations, please consider leaving a 5-star rating on your podcast platform—it truly helps more people find these stories. You can also follow Sexual Assault Survivor Stories on Instagram and 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. And if you're a victim or survivor and you feel like you might be ready to share your story—whether for your own healing or to help someone else—reach out to me. We can start a conversation, with no pressure and no expectations. You can email me directly at [email protected]. Please include a phone number where I can reach you, because I genuinely prefer to talk with people who are considering guesting. Thank you to everyone who has already reached out—and please keep those emails coming. I truly look forward to hearing from you. Here are some critically important links that I hope you'll take the time to explore. Where a contribution is requested, please consider doing so. Thank you—for listening, for believing survivors, and for being part of this community. Instagram handle: victorious_voices24 https://placesnowhere.com/victorious-voices https://the network studios https://www.stillwholewellness.com/ https://www.projectcallisto.org/https://documenttheabuse.org/ https://hassl.uk/ https://saprea.org/ https://1in6.org/ https://time.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/09/repeat_rape.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://safeinharmsway.org https://startbybelieving.org https://evawintl.org/ As mentioned, and emphasized, it's time to Normalize the Conversation.™ And please remember to Start by Believing…because we all know someone whose life has been impacted by rape or sexual assault. (Check out https://evawintl.org/ & https://startbybelieving.org for more information on "Start By Believing"!) Thank you for tuning in. --Dave