We are joined by wonderful co-workers Erika Reyna-Brodhag and Diane Bocklage to discuss BIPPs—Batterer Intervention and Prevention Programs; we break down what they are, the purpose they serve, and how they’re facilitated. Erika and Diane are on the Support to Services Providers team at TCFV, specifically the Family Violence Services sub-team, which supports BIPP services and other programs in a variety of services. Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning; the focus is on offender services and batterer intervention programs, thus we mention domestic violence. The goal of BIPPs is behavior change and accountability, that’s a given, but the true goal is safety in communities and survivor safety. In our conversation with Erika and Diane, we discuss the importance of BIPPs, who the programs are designed for, and how they’re structured in Texas, specifically. Tune in to find out more about the society-driven factors that lead to violence and why getting to the root of anger is far more valuable than anger management in putting an end to domestic violence.

There’s a common dichotomy in the way society thinks about domestic violence and financial independence: survivors are simultaneously expected to “just leave” and are also somehow expected to avoid poverty. Joining us today to discuss economic justice is Mona Muro! Please note that this episode comes with a trigger warning about economic abuse, domestic violence, white supremacy, and colonialism. Feel free to take a break as needed, but we hope you can join us to learn about what defines economic justice, how we develop our concepts and contexts of economics and finances, and how our movement can challenge the systems in place that perpetuate economic abuse. We delve into the money messages that we have been exposed to throughout our lives, and how what we have internalized about finances can impact our responses to economic abuse. Mona describes the importance of having the conversation about economic justice in bringing the movement to those who most need it and why she is driving for a shift in the narrative from a place of scarcity to that of abundance. We wrap up the episode with Mona’s view of where the movement is going and the changes that need to be implemented to both the tax and the credit systems. For all this and so much more, tune in today.

All too often, the people making the rules on survivor care and policy don't have personal experience in this area. This week William and cohost Samantha are joined by Liz Bailey to talk about her journey to advocacy and the importance of diverse survivors' voices in this space. A speech therapist by trade, she is a survivor, an advocate, and the host of a podcast herself, The Pretty Truth, and she is currently writing a book about her experiences. In this episode, Liz shares the steps she found most useful in the lifelong process of regaining self-trust after leaving an abusive relationship, before shedding light on the value of getting quiet inside and how this action helps build a solid relationship with yourself, from the inside out. We then dive into her passion for advocacy in order to address a system that is broken, and the need for diverse and inclusive survivor voices to fully inform policy and care that is supportive. We also discuss the opportunity to address systemic change and prevention with the next generation, and discuss some all-too-familiar scenarios where education of officers of the law and court is crucial in creating a trauma-informed lens. Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for domestic abuse. We hope you can join us to hear Liz's vision for the future, plus the perceptive and realistic advice from a friend that allowed her to take the first steps toward empowerment!

On today’s episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, William and Kate are joined by Jennifer Mudge and Mohini Lal to discuss reproductive justice and how it intersects with intimate partner violence. Serving as a TCFV Public Policy Coordinator and Public Policy Manager respectively, Jen and Mohini have many years of demonstrated experience in the gender-based violence and reproductive justice movements between them. Listen in as we reflect on the intersectional nature of reproductive justice and how it encompasses not just the right to choose if, when, and how to have children, but also broader social issues such as environmental justice, domestic violence, and gender-affirming care. We also touch on common taboos and misconceptions, how reproductive coercion is rooted in systems of oppression, and Jen and Mohini share some helpful resources for survivors and listeners in Texas and beyond. Reproductive justice is a complex topic that can be difficult to talk about. As such, please be aware that today’s episode carries a trigger warning for trauma related to reproductive justice, reproductive coercion, and abortion, as well as domestic and sexual violence. We hope that you find this conversation insightful and informative, but please feel free to take a break should any of today’s content be triggering for you.

PATH Framework (path-framework.com)

Jane’s Due Process (janesdueprocess.org)

Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity (URGE) (urge.org)

Avow Texas (avowtexas.org)

All-Options (all-options.org)

Center for Reproductive Rights (reproductiverights.org)

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) (napawf.org)

Black Women’s Health Imperative (bwhi.org)

Sister Song (sistersong.net)

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (latinainstitute.org)

Reproductive Abuse and Coercion- WomensLaw (womenslaw.org)

Power to Decide's Once Key Question Campaign (powertodecide.org/one-key-question) [previously mentioned in the "Pregnancy & DV" episode]

Every Body Texas (everybodytexas.org)

Claire and Samantha join William on the podcast today to explore the theme of how masculinity is represented in popular media. Please be aware that this episode includes references to abusive and violent behavior towards women and this may be triggering and upsetting for certain listeners, we advise that if you want to skip certain portions to go ahead and do that. We start off the chat by getting some background from our co-hosts and how they became involved in TCFV before diving into the topic of toxic masculinity and how it crops up in some of the most popular TV shows. Another warning: we will be discussing content and events in a few different TV shows and movies, and there are some spoilers! The majority of today's discussion is centered on the contemporary series, You, and the problematic nature of the antagonist in the show. We talk about the mixed feelings this brings up for us, and how to best approach this ambivalence. Our conversation also covers themes of money and guilt, outdated elements to our favorite old shows, and how media influences young people and their idea of societal standards and norms. So to hear it all on this important subject, listen in with us as we go Down the Rabbit Hole!

If you have any questions about this episode, please email us at [email protected].

This week, in continued recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), three youth leaders take over our podcast to discuss youth leadership advocacy and activism. Tune in to hear about the challenges each of our guests have faced as teenagers advocating for themselves, and what their experience of backlash has looked like. You’ll hear how they have fought back and inspired others to do the same, and why they believe that teens are uniquely positioned to support other teens. Tune in to hear what they recommend if you want to get involved in youth leadership and how they have been affected by mentorship in their lives. We hope you join us to hear some more insights from these inspiring young people today and that you feel inspired with new ways to engage youth during the rest of TDVAM and beyond.

Today's episode of Down The Rabbit Hole is about the intersection between traumatic brain injury (TBI) in people who have experienced domestic abuse, and an invaluable healing modality called neurofeedback. Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for domestic violence. Joining us we have two experts who are widely experienced in the field of helping survivors heal: Josh Brown from Fort Bend Women's Center and Abeer Monem from the Harris Country Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. We start by learning that neurofeedback (also known as neurotherapy) teaches self-control of brain functions to develop healthier emotional patterns, before diving into the program that Abeer and Josh created that is pushing neurotherapy to the frontline of survivor care and support. You'll hear Abeer describe the lightbulb moment when she realized the missing neurological information necessary for her patients' healing, how she teamed up with Josh Brown, and the long road that led to the creation of the program. We also touch on issues of transport and hear some visionary steps to create much-needed mobile advocacy services. Finally, you'll hear some moving testimonies of the truly transformational impact that neurofeedback has! Join us for another inspiring conversation highlighting the incredible work that's driving healing care.

It's a new year, and Sarah is back to visit! You can tell none of us are feeling our best, but we were still excited to be together again. Sarah talks about bringing Prevention into new places and spaces. She shares the challenges that she has faced through transitioning from the macro-scale prevention work she did at TCFV to the micro-scale counseling space, some of the enlightening experiences she has had during this journey, and the invaluable lessons she has learned about privilege, self-care and wellness, and creating safe spaces for people who have never had one before. We're so thankful Sarah was able to come back and hope this isn't the last time she jumps down a rabbit hole with us!

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander;

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston;

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes;

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson;

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood;

the mermaid gets her voice back in this one by Amanda Lovelace (William said the wrong title in the episode--oops!);

Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson;

Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements by Charlene Carruthers

This week on Down the Rabbit Hole we are joined by one of our star young people, Santino Camacho, who has been engaged with TCFV on multiple levels, to talk about the important topic of youth advocacy and engagement. As adults, we often lose touch with how busy young people can be and the immense pressure they are under. Not only are they occupied with school work, socializing, and getting ready for college, but they’re also figuring out what they’d like to do with their lives. In our conversation, we discuss why you should never pigeonhole yourself, no matter your age, and unpack some of the important benefits of becoming involved with advocacy. We explore the many ways that young people can get involved, like leadership and volunteering, and reflect on some of the challenges that can come with advocacy work. Santino also speaks to his experience as a young man who has never experienced domestic violence, how he came to be involved in advocacy, and ways to encourage young people to engage with movements that aren’t directly related to their experiences. To learn more about youth advocacy, how to nurture engagement, and Santino’s insights on collaboration and coaching, tune in today! Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for dating and domestic violence.