Dear Katie: Survivor Stories

Pursuing her dreams of becoming an actress, Kaila takes many auditions that expose her to the dark exploitation of Hollywood. Unsure of what's normal and living a double life, she's pushed beyond the point of comfort and videotaped in a vulnerable position. Kaila spends years feeling like damaged goods, breaking through the shame with therapy and finding a path to healing.

Kaila Yu is an author based in Los Angeles. Her debut memoir, ‘Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty,’ was published in August 2025. She is also a luxury travel and culture writer and on-camera correspondent with bylines in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, Bon Appétit, Conde Nast Traveler, and many more.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader 

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

"My grandfather had abused 13 of the 14 kids [...] you see a lot of repeated cycles."

Forced to lie for her family at 14, Priscilla spends her adolescent years living in turmoil and terror. Clawing her way toward forgiveness through faith, she draws on lessons from her own story to fight for justice and healing for both victims and perpetrators.

Priscilla Bordayo is a Michigan-based sexual abuse advocate. She has been sought out as a motivational speaker by numerous community organizations, such as law enforcement, the National Guard, prisons across the United States, and both public and private schools, to discuss her story of overcoming incest and bring awareness to familial abuse. Priscilla has been invited to speak before the Senate and House of Representatives and led the creation of the “Clean Slate Bill”, signed by Governor Whitmer in 2020. Her mission is to end the cycle of abuse, following the motto 'hurt people, hurt people'. 

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

"My grandfather had abused 13 of the 14 kids [...] you see a lot of repeated cycles."

Forced to lie for her family at 14, Priscilla spends her adolescent years living in turmoil and terror. Clawing her way toward forgiveness through faith, she draws on lessons from her own story to fight for justice and healing for both victims and perpetrators.

Priscilla Bordayo is a Michigan-based sexual abuse advocate. She has been sought out as a motivational speaker by numerous community organizations, such as law enforcement, the National Guard, prisons across the United States, and both public and private schools, to discuss her story of overcoming incest and bring awareness to familial abuse. Priscilla has been invited to speak before the Senate and House of Representatives and led the creation of the “Clean Slate Bill”, signed by Governor Whitmer in 2020. Her mission is to end the cycle of abuse, following the motto 'hurt people, hurt people'. 

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

"'I don't think you should be around him, he seems very forceful.' ... I didn't listen, of course."

Navigating visceral physical reactions, self-blame, and denial in the wake of extreme violation, Amy becomes a ghost of her former self, pushing through stories circling about her experience. Supported by her family, she reports her assaulter to the police, and he disappears. After years of numbing herself, she begins to heal with therapy and leans heavily on her support system, sharing her lessons and journey with us today. 

Amy McKiernan is the author of the powerful book, More Than A Survivor: Eight Keys to Overcoming Sexual Assault and Finding a Path to Living a Fulfilled Life. In her book, Amy draws on her personal experience to outline the eight keys she discovered for not just surviving but truly flourishing after trauma. Combining a reflective journal with perspectives from her own support system, she provides a rare and valuable resource that survivors, family, and friends can connect with and learn from.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

"'I don't think you should be around him, he seems very forceful.' ... I didn't listen, of course."

Navigating visceral physical reactions, self-blame, and denial in the wake of extreme violation, Amy becomes a ghost of her former self, pushing through stories circling about her experience. Supported by her family, she reports her assaulter to the police, and he disappears. After years of numbing herself, she begins to heal with therapy and leans heavily on her support system, sharing her lessons and journey with us today. 

Amy McKiernan is the author of the powerful book, More Than A Survivor: Eight Keys to Overcoming Sexual Assault and Finding a Path to Living a Fulfilled Life. In her book, Amy draws on her personal experience to outline the eight keys she discovered for not just surviving but truly flourishing after trauma. Combining a reflective journal with perspectives from her own support system, she provides a rare and valuable resource that survivors, family, and friends can connect with and learn from.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Desensitized to sexualization, young Marina is dazzled by Jeffrey Epstein's collection of Victoria's Secret Bottles and models for him, topless. Later testifying as Minor Victim #1 in the case against him, she shares a journey of exploitation, survival, escape, and ultimately, healing. 

Marina is a girl from Brazil who survived abuse and is now determined to make a change. She uses her voice to help other women break their silence because she knows how powerful speaking out can be. Her hope is that by sharing her story, she inspires others to stand tall, so we can build a future where no one stays silent.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Desensitized to sexualization, young Marina is dazzled by Jeffrey Epstein's collection of Victoria's Secret Bottles and models for him, topless. Later testifying as Minor Victim #1 in the case against him, she shares a journey of exploitation, survival, escape, and ultimately, healing. 

Marina is a girl from Brazil who survived abuse and is now determined to make a change. She uses her voice to help other women break their silence because she knows how powerful speaking out can be. Her hope is that by sharing her story, she inspires others to stand tall, so we can build a future where no one stays silent.

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Find new insights from our incredible guest, Rachael Denhollander. 

"How much is a little girl worth?"

Guided by a strong sense of justice since she was young, Rachael decided at ten that she wanted to be an attorney. However, her experience reporting abuse in her church comes with a terrible lesson: don't report unless you can prove it. Taking this to heart, when her gymnastics coach Larry Nassar sexually assaults her, she stays silent. 

16 years later, supported by investigative journalists and public outrage, she reports her abuse, becoming the first whistleblower and rallying an army of survivors to bring Larry Nassar to justice. Today, Rachael Denhollander speaks across the country to make change in institutions ranging from the government to religious organizations, pursuing survivor healing and institutional transformation. 

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Benter Oluoch

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Living amongst a backdrop of great racial upheaval in South Africa, Nonku is brutally attacked in the backseat of a taxi and left for dead. Sharing lessons about survivorship and joy, she brings laughter and light into a story of overcoming violence and triumphing against all odds. 

Nonku Shuping is an author and the founder of The Love Centre and Radiant Community nonprofit organizations. Beyond her writing, Nonku is a dynamic facilitator and speaker. She offers power-skills training, workshops, and keynote engagements designed to equip individuals and communities with tools for resilience. 

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

Living amongst a backdrop of great racial upheaval in South Africa, Nonku is brutally attacked in the backseat of a taxi and left for dead. Sharing lessons about survivorship and joy, she brings laughter and light into a story of overcoming violence and triumphing against all odds. 

Nonku Shuping is an author and the founder of The Love Centre and Radiant Community nonprofit organizations. Beyond her writing, Nonku is a dynamic facilitator and speaker. She offers power-skills training, workshops, and keynote engagements designed to equip individuals and communities with tools for resilience. 

Host: Katie Koestner

Editor: Evan Mader

Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang