Down the Rabbit Hole

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 Our conversation also covers themes of money and guilt, outdated elements to our favorite old shows, and how media influences young people and their idea of societal standards and norms.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.

Today, we are going to be talking about a housing report that Texas Council on Family Violence has produced. Joining us for this very important topic is Molly Thibodeaux, Public Policy Coordinator at the TCFV. Molly was responsible for spearheading the report titled “Regaining Balance: Safe & Stable Housing for Survivors of Domestic Violence.” In this episode, she sheds light on why it’s so important that we explore the intersection of housing and domestic violence and the impact of homelessness on survivors. She also explains how the report came about through interviews with transitional housing grantees funded through VOCA funding. We talk about the five different housing assistance options that are covered in the report, what is working in the Texas programs, and Molly’s recommendations to funders. You’ll hear about why services should be survivor-driven and survivor-centered, the importance of using a trauma-informed approach, and the challenge of providing the right blend of independence and support. To understand how housing is actually a form of prevention and what you can do to get involved or lend support to domestic violence survivors, tune in today! Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for domestic violence.

If you'd like more information on fee waivers for driver's licenses, ID's, and/or birth certificates, you can email Molly at [email protected].

Today we are very excited to share an amazing and hope-inspiring conversation with all of our listeners! We are joined by Dr. Leila Wood and Dr. Jeff Temple from The University of Texas Medical Branch Center for Violence Prevention to talk about the latest research on domestic violence and how this can help us all make meaningful progress in improving people's lives! We get into some of the impactful findings that Leila and Jeff have been working with, as well as some of the academic work on the horizon, as we situate the most notable developments in prevention strategies and practices for children, emerging adults, and adults too. Leila and Jeff unpack the important idea of a broader prism of prevention, noting the various prongs of economic and structural actions that can make a difference in homes. We also hear about how opening the lens through which we view preventative action can have immediate effects and underlines the importance of accessible research. The conversation touches on the five goals of prevention, a hugely important framework that deserves its own episode entirely! So, to hear it all, be sure to listen in with us and our great guests! Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning, as we refer to child abuse, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.

Arlene Vassell joins the podcast this week with Roy and William. Together they discuss the importance of understanding and living out that survivor justice is inextricably linked to racial justice. From the personal to the systemic, racial injustice impacts survivors. Listen along and answer some of these questions for yourself and consider which of the calls to action you are able to take on.

Here are the resources mentioned in this episode:

Fall 2021 PreventIPV Newsletter: No Survivor Justice Without Racial Justice

Here and There: An open letter to white women in the movement to end gender-based violence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7QB6pB8-8s No Survivor Justice Without Racial Justice beyond DVAM

And of course you can always email us at [email protected].

Down the Rabbit Hole welcomes Sarah and Mikisha back this year to discuss the most recent Honoring Texas Victims (HTV) report--TCFV's annual intimate partner violence (IPV) fatality report--which was released October 2021. The report identifies the IPV homicides in 2020 in Texas and provides statistics, analysis, and commentary on the victims, the perpetrators, risk and protective factors, and trends in the data. In addition to discussing the report, Sarah and Mikisha talk about the challenges COVID continues to present for domestic violence services and research.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when anti-violence advocates work hard to bring attention to an issue that continues to affect our communities; but it’s also an important opportunity to understand how systems of oppression are interconnected. For the first episode in season two of Down the Rabbit Hole, William and guest host, Rita, are joined by Brenda Sykes, Executive Director of Bay Area Turning Point (BATP), to discuss the intersection between racial (in)equity and domestic violence. Listen in as Brenda reflects on the importance of bringing a racial justice framework to our efforts to end domestic violence, highlighting the inherent violence associated with elevating the voices of BIPOC communities, who are disproportionately impacted by DV, and the importance of examining the relationship that the anti-violence movement has with law enforcement. We also touch on the importance of self-reflection, collective action, and collaboration, and why being honest about the history of the movement and your organizations is critical. Brenda leaves non-BIPOC advocates with some words of advice: just because you inherit less risk by elevating your voice, it doesn’t mean you need to step in as a savior! For more on the importance of examining our roles within systems of power and oppression, tune in today for this informative and candid discussion with Brenda Sykes, a true leader in the anti-violence space!