Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

In this podcast, Christina alongside co-host Miranda Encina, will continue to dive into a discussion filled with honesty, heart, and hope. They will explore life-saving tools of self-care and community care. They will venture into ways organizational culture can play a pivotal role in either nurturing healing or perpetuating harm for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Miranda & Christina’s unique identities, experiences, and cultural insights add depth to this conversation, bridging diverse perspectives.

This episode promises stories of resilience and practical strategies for self-empowerment and community healing for those who provide service and care to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Tools that providers can utilize for themselves and for those they work with. Listeners will walk away with actionable recommendations, reflective practices, and perhaps even a newfound sense of humor to face the challenges experienced while working in this field responding to survivors of sexual violence. Join Christina and Miranda in this engaging and heartfelt dialogue that is more than a podcast – it’s a lifeline to anyone seeking light in times of darkness.

Presenter Bios:
Christina Love is an Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Egegik village tribal member and survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking. Christina’s story of transformation – from battling addiction, homelessness, and incarceration to emerging as a pillar of strength – offers a testament to the power of the human spirit and the importance of self-care and community care.

Miranda Encina is a survivor of domestic violence, proud Two-Spirit Indigenous, Chicanx activist, with a profound understanding of the importance of cultural relationships, intergenerational resistance and meaningful connections – Miranda’s lived experience with complex trauma and resilience helps form the work they do to identify, create and implement shifts that validate, humanize, and minimize (re)traumatization within communities.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-03969-INDI awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses. 

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

In this podcast, Christina alongside co-host Miranda Encina, will dive into a discussion filled with honesty, heart, and hope. They will explore life-saving tools of self-care and community care. They will venture into ways organizational culture can play a pivotal role in either nurturing healing or perpetuating harm for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Miranda & Christina’s unique identities, experiences, and cultural insights add depth to this conversation, bridging diverse perspectives.

This episode promises stories of resilience and practical strategies for self-empowerment and community healing for those who provide service and care to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Tools that providers can utilize for themselves and for those they work with. Listeners will walk away with actionable recommendations, reflective practices, and perhaps even a newfound sense of humor to face the challenges experienced while working in this field responding to survivors of sexual violence. Join Christina and Miranda in this engaging and heartfelt dialogue that is more than a podcast – it’s a lifeline to anyone seeking light in times of darkness.

Presenter Bios:
Christina Love is an Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Egegik village tribal member and survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking. Christina’s story of transformation – from battling addiction, homelessness, and incarceration to emerging as a pillar of strength – offers a testament to the power of the human spirit and the importance of self-care and community care.

Miranda Encina is a survivor of domestic violence, proud Two-Spirit Indigenous, Chicanx activist, with a profound understanding of the importance of cultural relationships, intergenerational resistance and meaningful connections – Miranda’s lived experience with complex trauma and resilience helps form the work they do to identify, create and implement shifts that validate, humanize, and minimize (re)traumatization within communities.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-03969-INDI awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses. 

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

Access the transcript for this episode.

In this episode, Kim Day shares moments from her career that give us insight to how we can better serve our patients and our community.

Presenter Bio:
Kim Day, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, retired as the Forensic Nursing Director at the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) in 2021. In this position, she provided oversight of Forensic Nursing content experts, provided technical assistance, and education around the U.S. Department of Justice’s National SAFE Protocol for adults and adolescents. She holds dual certification as a SANE-A and SANE-P by the IAFN. Ms. Day coordinated hospital SANE program and the county wide Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) for 8 years before beginning her current position. She has been a SANE, caring for victims across the lifespan for 21 years and a registered nurse specializing in critical care and emergency care for over 41 years.

Interviewer Bio:
Blaze Bell is a lifelong Alaskan, Speaker, Singer, and Transformational Coach, who has turned her pain into her purpose. She is on a mission to help others heal, in the ways that she has, from trauma and addiction. Blaze has a popular podcast highlighting healing tools and a new video series interviewing leaders in the healing industry. She is the Board President of Victims for Justice and also frequently works with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a rape crisis intervention service in Anchorage, Alaska. As a certified holistic health coach and award-winning singer, Blaze combines her unique skill set to bring the world healing through mindfulness, health, music, and joy.

This project was supported by Grant No.2019-SA-AX-K001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses. 

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

Access the transcript for this episode.

In this conversation, Chris shares in depth about the role of law enforcement in a SVU case.

Presenter Bio:
Christopher Thomas is a detective with the Special Victims Unit at the Anchorage Police Department. He has been employed as a police officer for over 18 years. He has spent about 13 years as a detective between the Crimes Against Children Unit and the Special Victims Unit. Since 2009, he has investigated (either as the primary case detective or in some other role) over 1200 cases involving sexual abuse and sexual assault. He has received extensive training around interviewing victims of sexual violence, and around interviewing and interrogating offenders.

Interviewer Bio:
Blaze Bell is a lifelong Alaskan, Speaker, Singer, and Transformational Coach, who has turned her pain into her purpose. She is on a mission to help others heal, in the ways that she has, from trauma and addiction. Blaze has a popular podcast highlighting healing tools and a new video series interviewing leaders in the healing industry. She is the Board President of Victims for Justice and also frequently works with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a rape crisis intervention service in Anchorage, Alaska. As a certified holistic health coach and award-winning singer, Blaze combines her unique skill set to bring the world healing through mindfulness, health, music, and joy.

This project was supported by Grant No.2019-SA-AX-K001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

Access the transcript for this episode.

This episode provides a brief insight on what a forensic examiner is and the service they provide in the multifaceted case of survivors.

Presenter Bio:
Lesley Hammer is a Forensic Examiner from Anchorage Alaska, currently in private practice, with experience in forensic casework, laboratory supervision and examination instruction.  She has performed analyses, reported and testified in latent print, footwear and tire track, crime scene and controlled substance disciplines, for the past decade she has focused specifically on the disciplines of footwear and tire track evidence.   Ms. Hammer has published articles, performed research and provided forensic evidence related instruction to law enforcement, crime laboratory personnel and others throughout the United States and in Canada.  She holds a BA in Environmental Science from Alaska Pacific University, an MA in Teaching from the University of Alaska, and an MSc in Forensics from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, and is a Certified Footwear Examiner with the International Association for Identification. She is the current Education Planner and a past President of the International Association for Identification and a member of the US DOJ Forensic Laboratory Needs Technical Working Group.

Interviewer Bio:
Blaze Bell is a lifelong Alaskan, Speaker, Singer, and Transformational Coach, who has turned her pain into her purpose. She is on a mission to help others heal, in the ways that she has, from trauma and addiction. Blaze has a popular podcast highlighting healing tools and a new video series interviewing leaders in the healing industry. She is the Board President of Victims for Justice and also frequently works with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a rape crisis intervention service in Anchorage, Alaska. As a certified holistic health coach and award-winning singer, Blaze combines her unique skill set to bring the world healing through mindfulness, health, music, and joy.

This project was supported by Grant No.2019-SA-AX-K001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses. 

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

Access the transcript for this episode.

This episode provides insight on what a forensic nurse is and the important role they play in the overall service provided to survivors. 

Presenter Bio:
Tammy Scarlett serves as a Forensic Nursing Specialist, providing training and technical assistance at the International Association of Forensic Nurses. Tammy has been working as a registered nurse since 2010 and received her Master in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health in 2020. Initially receiving a position as a forensic nurse in Newport News, Virginia, providing care to patients in an on-call capacity while working in the Emergency Department. Eventually Tammy became a Principal Investigator on two research projects.

Currently she holds her certification in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner- Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A) and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner- Pediatric (SANE-P). She has provided training for the Colorado SANE/SAFE Project and Indian Health Services skills labs. She is a member of IAFN and the Colorado chapter. Tammy continues to practice clinically, providing care to patients and precepting forensic nurses to better care for our patient populations.

Interviewer Bio:
Blaze Bell is a lifelong Alaskan, Speaker, Singer, and Transformational Coach, who has turned her pain into her purpose. She is on a mission to help others heal, in the ways that she has, from trauma and addiction. Blaze has a popular podcast highlighting healing tools and a new video series interviewing leaders in the healing industry. She is the Board President of Victims for Justice and also frequently works with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a rape crisis intervention service in Anchorage, Alaska. As a certified holistic health coach and award-winning singer, Blaze combines her unique skill set to bring the world healing through mindfulness, health, music, and joy.

This project was supported by Grant No.2019-SA-AX-K001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses. 

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

In this episode, Blaze Bell shares her story of sexual assault. She and Christina both deliver intimate details regarding their experiences with health care providers and law enforcement officers when seeking services after trauma.

Guest Bio:
Christina Love is an Alaska Native from Egegik village who was raised in Chitina, Alaska. She is a consultant, Recovery Coach and civil and human rights activist, while dedicating the last 7 years to systems change for targeted and marginalized populations in Alaska. She is a formerly incarcerated person in long term recovery who currently works as a Specialist for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), the state’s coalition of domestic and sexual violence programs. Christina's role focuses on intersectionality with an emphasis on trauma and substance use at ANDVSA. Christina works with programs, agencies, and communities state and nationwide to address the continuum of care for support services through strategic initiatives, substance use screening, training and technical assistance, community-based organization, integrated services, curriculum development, evaluation, assessment, and organizational and community healing. Christina is part of a collective movement that works to end violence, oppression, shame, and stigma through the liberation of education and community healing.

Interviewer Bio:
Blaze Bell is a lifelong Alaskan, Speaker, Singer, and Transformational Coach, who has turned her pain into her purpose. She is on a mission to help others heal, in the ways that she has, from trauma and addiction. Blaze has a popular podcast highlighting healing tools and a new video series interviewing leaders in the healing industry. She is the Board President of Victims for Justice and also frequently works with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a rape crisis intervention service in Anchorage, Alaska. As a certified holistic health coach and award-winning singer, Blaze combines her unique skill set to bring the world healing through mindfulness, health, music, and joy.

This project was supported by Grant No.2019-SA-AX-K001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and  recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

Access the transcript for this episode.

In this episode, Lenny shares his story of enduring a childhood of parental abuse, foster care and sexual assault.  He relates how what could have destroyed him became his passion and life’s work, as a therapist, consultant and public speaker focusing on the unique issues of the Native LGBTQ community. 

Presenter Bio:
Lenny Hayes, MA, is a citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the northeast corner of South Dakota. Lenny is owner and operator of Tate Topa Consulting, LLC and currently in private practice specializing in Marriage Family Therapy.  He has extensive training in mental and chemical health issues that impact the Two-Spirit/Native LGBTQ and Native community.  Lenny has traveled nationally and locally training and presenting on the issues that impact both the Two-Spirit/Native LGBTQ individual and community. These issues include the Impact of Historical and Intergenerational Trauma on this population, violence of all forms, child welfare issues, and the Impact of Sexual Violence on Men and Boys which is a topic that is rarely discussed. Lenny is the former Missing and Murdered Two-Spirit Project Assistant for Sovereign Bodies Institute. Lenny is also a 2020 graduate of the Human Trafficking Leadership Academy Cohort 5.

Lenny is former Chairman of the Board of the MN Two-Spirit Society.  As Chairman he assisted Native organizations in developing policies in the protection, safety, and non-discrimination of Two-Spirit/Native LGBTQ people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  Lenny is a Board member of StrongHearts Native Helpline, Board member of Wac’ ang’a (Sweet Grass) Inc. Victim Services,  Board Member to the First Nations Repatriation Institute,  Advisory Committee Member with Capacity Building Center for Tribes, LGBTQ Advisory Co-Chair Council Member for the Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition, Advisory Board Member for the National Quality Improvement Center (QIC) on Tailored Services, Placement Stability and Permanency for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Two-Spirit Children and Youth in Foster Care,  Committee Member for ACE-DV Leadership Forum with the National Resource Center for Domestic Violence. and a former Council Member for the MN HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Council, and a former Two-Spirit/Native LGBTQ Advisory Committee Member for the Center for Native American Youth, Washington, D.C.  Lenny was selected to be a recipient of the 2018 Bonnie Heavy Runner Advocacy Award at the 16th National Indian Nations Conference “Justice for Victims of Crime.” 

Interviewer Bio:
Blaze Bell is a lifelong Alaskan, Speaker, Singer, and Transformational Coach, who has turned her pain into her purpose. She is on a mission to help others heal, in the ways that she has, from trauma and addiction. Blaze has a popular podcast highlighting healing tools and a new video series interviewing leaders in the healing industry. She is the Board President of Victims for Justice and also frequently works with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a rape crisis intervention service in Anchorage, Alaska. As a certified holistic health coach and award-winning singer, Blaze combines her unique skill set to bring the world healing through mindfulness, health, music, and joy.

This project was supported by Grant No.2019-SA-AX-K001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

Access the transcript for this episode.

In this episode, Blaze Bell shares her story of sexual assault. She and Christina both deliver intimate details regarding their experiences with health care providers and law enforcement officers when seeking services after trauma.

Guest Bio:
Christina Love is an Alaska Native from Egegik village who was raised in Chitina, Alaska. She is a consultant, Recovery Coach and civil and human rights activist, while dedicating the last 7 years to systems change for targeted and marginalized populations in Alaska. She is a formerly incarcerated person in long term recovery who currently works as a Specialist for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), the state’s coalition of domestic and sexual violence programs. Christina's role focuses on intersectionality with an emphasis on trauma and substance use at ANDVSA. Christina works with programs, agencies, and communities state and nationwide to address the continuum of care for support services through strategic initiatives, substance use screening, training and technical assistance, community-based organization, integrated services, curriculum development, evaluation, assessment, and organizational and community healing. Christina is part of a collective movement that works to end violence, oppression, shame, and stigma through the liberation of education and community healing.

Interviewer Bio:
Blaze Bell is a lifelong Alaskan, Speaker, Singer, and Transformational Coach, who has turned her pain into her purpose. She is on a mission to help others heal, in the ways that she has, from trauma and addiction. Blaze has a popular podcast highlighting healing tools and a new video series interviewing leaders in the healing industry. She is the Board President of Victims for Justice and also frequently works with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a rape crisis intervention service in Anchorage, Alaska. As a certified holistic health coach and award-winning singer, Blaze combines her unique skill set to bring the world healing through mindfulness, health, music, and joy.

This project was supported by Grant No.2019-SA-AX-K001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and  recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Due to the nature of this podcast, please know the content may be difficult to hear and can be triggering to those listening. Please take all necessary precautions and care while listening to this podcast.

Access the transcript for this episode.

In this episode, Blaze Bell shares her story of sexual assault. She and Christina Love both deliver intimate details regarding their experiences with health care providers and law enforcement officers when seeking services after trauma.

Guest Bio:
Christina Love is an Alaska Native from Egegik village who was raised in Chitina, Alaska. She is a consultant, Recovery Coach and civil and human rights activist, while dedicating the last 7 years to systems change for targeted and marginalized populations in Alaska. She is a formerly incarcerated person in long term recovery who currently works as a Specialist for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), the state’s coalition of domestic and sexual violence programs. Christina's role focuses on intersectionality with an emphasis on trauma and substance use at ANDVSA. Christina works with programs, agencies, and communities state and nationwide to address the continuum of care for support services through strategic initiatives, substance use screening, training and technical assistance, community-based organization, integrated services, curriculum development, evaluation, assessment, and organizational and community healing. Christina is part of a collective movement that works to end violence, oppression, shame, and stigma through the liberation of education and community healing.

Interviewer Bio:
Blaze Bell is a lifelong Alaskan, Speaker, Singer, and Transformational Coach, who has turned her pain into her purpose. She is on a mission to help others heal, in the ways that she has, from trauma and addiction. Blaze has a popular podcast highlighting healing tools and a new video series interviewing leaders in the healing industry. She is the Board President of Victims for Justice and also frequently works with Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a rape crisis intervention service in Anchorage, Alaska. As a certified holistic health coach and award-winning singer, Blaze combines her unique skill set to bring the world healing through mindfulness, health, music, and joy.

This project was supported by Grant No.2019-SA-AX-K001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and  recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women or the International Association of Forensic Nurses.