When Leah Parsons lost her daughter Rehteah to suicide as a result of a sexual assault and an ensuing photograph that was spread throughout her school, she refused to sit by idly and let it happen again. Instead, her initiatives pushed local authorities to pass wide-sweeping reforms on the dissemination of sensitive and personal images, leading to long-lasting change. [TW: SA, r*pe, violent and sensitive imagery]

HOST: Kelly Lewis | @gokellylewis

GUEST: Leah Parsons

Rehtaeh Parsons Society | http://rehtaehparsons.ca/

For more inspiring stories of women around the globe, check out the book Tell Her She Can't

https://tellhershecant.com/

NOTES:

(01:45) Meet Leah Parsons, mom of three, as she tells the story of the night that would change her daughter’s life forever.

(04:45) Leah describes the trauma that she experienced as a child and how the birth of her daughter turned her life in a positive direction. She recalls watching her daughter deteriorate and how familiar the feeling was.

(07:29) Grief and rage boiled over in Leah. The systems that were supposed to keep har daughter healthy and alive failed them at every turn. Hear how Leah used anger to propel her to action and put her in the spotlight of an international stage.

(11:38) Rage could only take Leah so far. Hear how she learned to open her heart back up and work from a loving space with firm boundaries.

(13:09) Leah’s daughter’s story is gaining traction, even nearly a decade after her passing. Hear how far her story has gone and how pain can transform to peace.

Podcast Producer: Elise Fitzsimmons | [email protected]