Phoenix Cast

Meet our newest survivor advocate, Leslie Carvalho (she/her)! Hear more about what brought her to the PCA, how she got into this work, her passions, her hobbies, and what topic she would pick to discuss for a Ted Talk!

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

In part 2 of this episode of The Phoenix Cast, Violence Prevention Educator Cassandra Carmona-Wayman (she/hers/ella) and Survivor Advocates Jenae McCall (they/them) and Marissa Moreno (she/hers) take a deeper look at Love Island through a survivor-centered lens. Their conversation explores the difference between unhealthy behavior and patterns of abuse, the role of gender and cultural expectations in how contestants are judged, and the ways reality-TV production can intensify already vulnerable relationship dynamics. They also discuss victim-blaming, survivor autonomy, the importance of responding to disclosures without judgment, and what meaningful support can look like. Finally, they highlight the advocacy services available through the Phoenix Center at Auraria and why creating safe, empowering spaces for survivors matters.

Content warnings: This episode includes discussions of interpersonal violence such as: intimate partner violence, emotional abuse, manipulation, victim-blaming, sexual violence, trauma, and survivor experiences. It also includes discussion of specific Love Island relationship dynamics and potentially distressing examples of specific Islanders' behaviors. Strong language is also used.

Sources and Further Information:

• Love Island USA — Peacock
• Love Island USA Season 7 — Peacock
• Love Island USA Season 8 — Peacock
• Ullman et al. (2014), “Social Reactions to Sexual Assault Disclosure, Coping, Perceived Control and PTSD Symptoms in Sexual Assault Victims.”
  Full article — PubMed Central
• CDC — Intimate Partner Violence Surveillance Definitions

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

In part 1 of this episode of The Phoenix Cast, Violence Prevention Educator Cassandra Carmona-Wayman (she/hers/ella) is joined by Survivor Advocates Jenae McCall (they/them) and Marissa Moreno (she/hers) for a spirited conversation about Love Island USA and the relationship dynamics playing out on and off screen. Using examples from recent seasons, they explore issues including forced intimacy, consent, boundaries, and power and control.

Content warnings: This episode includes discussions of interpersonal violence such as: intimate partner violence, emotional and psychological abuse, manipulation and coercive control, sexual violence and assault, sexual coercion and pressured intimacy. There are also themes addresses around victim-blaming, survivor experiences, trauma, mental health, sex work and survival sex work, and sexualized/kink-related content. Strong language is also used.

Sources and Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Is Love Island USA Filmed in Real Time? What to Know About Production (DETAILS)
• Love Island USA Season 7 Week 1 Recap: Episodes 1-7
• A Guide to Love Island USA Season 8, Week 1: Dumpings, Bombshells, Voting, and More! (RECAP)
• ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Power Rankings: Casa Amor’s Winners, Losers and Surprises
• ‘Love Island USA’ Season 7 Secrets: Missed Connections, Life in the Villa and More of What You Didn’t See on TV (Exclusive)
• Behind-the-scenes of Love Island: former winners dish all on the villa's best-kept secrets
• Are ‘Love Island USA’ Stars Allowed to Have Phones in the Villa? Behind-the-Scenes Rule Explained
• Can I Pull You for a Chat? A Look Into Love Island USA’s Mental Health Team 
• Leah Kateb Says Love Island Producers BRIBED Her With Wine in Podcast: "Leah Kateb: Life After Love Island." Not Skinny But Not Fat, August 11, 2026.
• ‘Love Island USA’ winners are using their $100,000 prize money to pay bills and student loans. Many Americans can relate.
• Leah Kateb Claims ‘Love Island USA’ Producer Lied to Her About Miguel to Create a ‘Reality TV Moment’ (Exclusive)

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

In part 2 of this episode of The Phoenix Cast, Violence Prevention Educator Cassandra Carmona-Wayman (she/hers/ella) continues her conversation with reproductive health advocate Cristina Ponce (she/hers) about Abortion Access, Reproductive Coercion, and Survivor Autonomy. Cristina shares her abortion story and shares her lived experiences with these topics. We also unpack how shifting laws, financial barriers, and crisis pregnancy centers impact survivor autonomy and safety. We highlight practical resources like abortion funds, doulas, travel support, and trusted clinic locators. We also break down myths about medication abortion and centering abortion as both healthcare and a crucial safety option for survivors of violence.

Content warnings: discussion of abortion (including personal and self-managed abortion stories), reproductive coercion, intimate partner and interpersonal violence, sexual violence (including rape and sexual coercion), pregnancy-related homicide risk, and anti-abortion harassment/misinformation.

Additionally:

We discuss healthcare clinics and abortion providers near the Denver Metro area. Please be aware of clinics that misrepresent their services and can appear misleading to patients in need of care. Some “crisis pregnancy centers” near campus and in Denver are not medical clinics and may offer misleading or incomplete information about abortion and pregnancy options. When you can, seek licensed providers or clinics that clearly offer full-spectrum reproductive healthcare, and remember you can reach out to the Phoenix Center at Auraria for confidential support and accurate referrals.

Sources and Resources mentioned in the episode:

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion No. 554: Reproductive and Sexual Coercion. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2013.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Reproductive and Sexual Coercion.” ACOG, Feb. 2013,  https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/02/reproductive-and-sexual-coercion.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Violence and Pregnancy.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/violence-and-pregnancy.html.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Pregnancy Resulting from Sexual Violence.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/about/pregnancy-resulting-from-sexualviolence.html.
• Cobalt Abortion Fund. Cobalt Abortion Fund,  https://cobaltaf.org/.
• Colorado Doula Project. Colorado Doula Project,  https://www.coloradodoulaproject.org/.
• Foster, Diana Greene. The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion. Scribner, 2020.
• Grace, Kelsey T., and Julie C. Anderson. “Reproductive Coercion: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, vol. 63, no. 4, 2018, pp. 371–84.
• Guttmacher Institute. U.S. Abortion Patient and Policy Reports. Guttmacher Institute, https://www.guttmacher.org.
• Miller, Elizabeth, et al. “Pregnancy Coercion, Intimate Partner Violence and Unintended Pregnancy.” Contraception, vol. 81, no. 4, 2010, pp. 316–22.
• National Abortion Federation. National Abortion Federation,  https://prochoice.org/.
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States. National Academies Press, 2018.
• “North Carolina Bill Would Authorize Deadly Force for Women Seeking Abortions.” WCNC Charlotte,  https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-bill-would-authorize-deadly-force-for-women-seeking-abortions/275-353d54a3-9231-4341-ae44-a127546db76f.
• Raymond, Elizabeth G., and David A. Grimes. “The Comparative Safety of Legal Induced Abortion and Childbirth in the United States.” Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 119, no. 2, 2012, pp. 215–19.
• “Reproductive Coercion.” The National Domestic Violence Hotline,  https://www.thehotline.org/resources/reproductive-coercion/.
• “Reproductive Coercion: What Is It?” Teen Vogue,  https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-is-reproductive-coercion.
• Sexual Assault Awareness Fund. “Bisexual Women Are More Likely to Have Abortions.” Sexual Assault Awareness Fund, https://saafund.org/bisexual-women-are-more-likely-to-have-abortions/.
• Society of Family Planning. #WeCount Reports on Abortion Access After Dobbs.Society of Family Planning,  https://societyfp.org/.
• Tarzia, Laura, et al. “Reproductive Coercion and Abuse: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5819992/.
• Van Parys, An-Sofie, et al. “Prevalence and Evolution of Intimate Partner Violence before and during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 14, 2014, article 294,  https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-294.
• Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Pregnancy and Domestic Violence Issue Brief. Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2013,  https://wscadv.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pregnancy-dvfr-issue-brief-12-2013.pdf.
• World Health Organization. Abortion Care Guideline. World Health Organization, 2022.

You can learn more about your options with healthcare service providers like Just the Pill. They can provide vital information and assistance with abortion, contraception, and other sexual and reproductive health services. We provide efficient and equitable access to health care by telemedicine. https://justthepill.com/about-us/

You can also look into resources like Elevated Access. They are a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation through a network of volunteer pilots, helping people travel to essential healthcare services they might not otherwise be able to reach. Their services primarily support access to abortion care and gender-affirming care by coordinating safe, confidential flights in partnership with healthcare and advocacy organizations across the United States.

Be aware of Denver Metro Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs):

• The AVI Project https://www.theaviproject.com/
• Alternatives Pregnancy Center (Alternatives Colorado) https://youhavealternatives.org/
• Bella Health and Wellness. Bella Health and Wellness.  https://bellahealthandwellness.com/.
• Alternatives Pregnancy Center. Alternatives Pregnancy Center.  https://youhavealternatives.org/.
• Marisol Health. Marisol Health.  https://marisolhealth.com/.
• Life Choices. Life Choices.  https://lifechoices.org/.

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

In part 1 of this episode of The Phoenix Cast, Violence Prevention Educator Cassandra Carmona-Wayman (she/hers/ella) talks with reproductive health advocate Cristina Ponce (she/hers) about how abortion care works, common myths about abortion, and the impact of post‑Dobbs restrictions. They also explore reproductive coercion as a form of abuse, its connections to interpersonal violence, and why protecting survivors’ bodily autonomy and access to abortion is essential.

Content warnings: discussion of intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, sexual and physical violence, abortion (including later‑term), pregnancy loss, legal and systemic barriers to care, and brief mention of hospitalization due to assault.

Additionally:

We discuss healthcare clinics and abortion providers near the Denver Metro area. Please be aware of clinics that misrepresent their services and can appear misleading to patients in need of care. Some “crisis pregnancy centers” near campus and in Denver are not medical clinics and may offer misleading or incomplete information about abortion and pregnancy options. When you can, seek licensed providers or clinics that clearly offer full-spectrum reproductive healthcare, and remember you can reach out to the Phoenix Center at Auraria for confidential support and accurate referrals.

Sources and Resources mentioned in the episode:

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion No. 554: Reproductive and Sexual Coercion. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2013.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Reproductive and Sexual Coercion.” ACOG, Feb. 2013,  https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/02/reproductive-and-sexual-coercion.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Violence and Pregnancy.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/violence-and-pregnancy.html.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Pregnancy Resulting from Sexual Violence.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/about/pregnancy-resulting-from-sexualviolence.html.
• Cobalt Abortion Fund. Cobalt Abortion Fund,  https://cobaltaf.org/.
• Colorado Doula Project. Colorado Doula Project,  https://www.coloradodoulaproject.org/.
• Foster, Diana Greene. The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion. Scribner, 2020.
• Grace, Kelsey T., and Julie C. Anderson. “Reproductive Coercion: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, vol. 63, no. 4, 2018, pp. 371–84.
• Guttmacher Institute. U.S. Abortion Patient and Policy Reports. Guttmacher Institute, https://www.guttmacher.org.
• Miller, Elizabeth, et al. “Pregnancy Coercion, Intimate Partner Violence and Unintended Pregnancy.” Contraception, vol. 81, no. 4, 2010, pp. 316–22.
• National Abortion Federation. National Abortion Federation,  https://prochoice.org/.
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States. National Academies Press, 2018.
• “North Carolina Bill Would Authorize Deadly Force for Women Seeking Abortions.” WCNC Charlotte,  https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-bill-would-authorize-deadly-force-for-women-seeking-abortions/275-353d54a3-9231-4341-ae44-a127546db76f.
• Raymond, Elizabeth G., and David A. Grimes. “The Comparative Safety of Legal Induced Abortion and Childbirth in the United States.” Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 119, no. 2, 2012, pp. 215–19.
• “Reproductive Coercion.” The National Domestic Violence Hotline,  https://www.thehotline.org/resources/reproductive-coercion/.
• “Reproductive Coercion: What Is It?” Teen Vogue,  https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-is-reproductive-coercion.
• Sexual Assault Awareness Fund. “Bisexual Women Are More Likely to Have Abortions.” Sexual Assault Awareness Fund, https://saafund.org/bisexual-women-are-more-likely-to-have-abortions/.
• Society of Family Planning. #WeCount Reports on Abortion Access After Dobbs. Society of Family Planning,  https://societyfp.org/.
• Tarzia, Laura, et al. “Reproductive Coercion and Abuse: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5819992/.
• Van Parys, An-Sofie, et al. “Prevalence and Evolution of Intimate Partner Violence before and during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 14, 2014, article 294,  https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-294.
• Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Pregnancy and Domestic Violence Issue Brief. Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2013,  https://wscadv.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pregnancy-dvfr-issue-brief-12-2013.pdf.
• World Health Organization. Abortion Care Guideline. World Health Organization, 2022.

You can learn more about your options with healthcare service providers like Just the Pill. They can provide vital information and assistance with abortion, contraception, and other sexual and reproductive health services. We provide efficient and equitable access to health care by telemedicine. https://justthepill.com/about-us/

You can also look into resources like Elevated Access. They are a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation through a network of volunteer pilots, helping people travel to essential healthcare services they might not otherwise be able to reach. Their services primarily support access to abortion care and gender-affirming care by coordinating safe, confidential flights in partnership with healthcare and advocacy organizations across the United States.

Be aware of Denver Metro Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs):

• The AVI Project https://www.theaviproject.com/
• Alternatives Pregnancy Center (Alternatives Colorado) https://youhavealternatives.org/
• Bella Health and Wellness. Bella Health and Wellness.  https://bellahealthandwellness.com/.
• Alternatives Pregnancy Center. Alternatives Pregnancy Center.  https://youhavealternatives.org/.
• Marisol Health. Marisol Health.  https://marisolhealth.com/.
• Life Choices. Life Choices.  https://lifechoices.org/.

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

Join Megan Price (she/her) and Cassandra Carmona-Wayman (she/ella) as they introduce themselves as full-time Violence Prevention Educators with the PCA! Learn more about what brought them to the PCA, their life experiences, and which fruit they would eliminate from the world.

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

PCA Violence Prevention Educators (VPEs) Emily Grant and Alyson Doty discuss how the children's show "Bluey" models healthy relationships, boundary setting, and emotional intelligence. They highlight how Bluey's parents exemplify empathetic, patient, and emotionally regulated parenting for their children, Bluey and Bingo. The show teaches children the importance of repairing conflicts, setting boundaries, and respecting each other's feelings. It also challenges traditional gender roles by portraying both parents as active caregivers. Reflecting on episodes like "Yoga Ball," "Wagon Ride," and "Stick Bird," the hosts highlight how the show demonstrates practical ways to navigate boundary setting and emotions. Emily and Alyson emphasize the show's relevance to adults seeking to improve their emotional intelligence and parenting skills. Lastly, they focus on the importance of having fun as parents, educators, and adults through watching shows like "Bluey"!

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

In this episode of the Phoenix Cast's series on restorative justice, Megan speaks with Netty Rodriguez Arauz and Elise Krumholz, founding members of MSU Denver's Restorative Justice Coalition. We discuss the work with youth Netty and Elise did that inspired their passion for RJ, the origins of the MSU RJ Coalition, and how they envision RJ can be used to transform the ways we address harm both on campus and on larger community scales.

Check out the Coalition's website for more information about their mission and how to get involved: https://www.msudenver.edu/dean-of-students/student-conflict-resolution-services/restorative-justice-coalition/

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

Megan talks with Larry Jefferson, Lucy Prout, and Jamelah Zidan from Restorative Approaches to Intimate Violence (RAIV), a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing interpersonal violence through restorative practices. They discuss what brought them all to doing restorative justice work to address interpersonal violence, how restorative justice provides options for holistic, person-centered responses to harm outside of the criminal legal system, and how RJ as a social movement offers a path toward a world that embodies community, dignity, and liberation.

Connect with RAIV (including information on opportunities to join as a community member or circle keeper) through their website and their LinkedIn

Texts referenced in this episode:

Undoing the First Harm: Settlers in Restorative Justice by Edward C Valandra

Until We Reckon by Danielle Sered

The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice by Fania E. Davis

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

On the first episode of the Phoenix Cast's series on restorative justice (RJ), Megan and Racheal discuss what RJ is and how it can be used not just to respond to interpersonal violence on college campuses, but how it can transform the entire campus culture. They discuss the insights they gained from The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Campus Sexual Harms by Mikayla McCray and Rachel Roth Sawatzky, their thoughts on punitive systems like the criminal legal system and Title IX, and the benefits of using RJ to address conduct violations, including sexual misconduct. 

For more information about restorative justice, check out the National Center on Restorative Justice's website: https://ncorj.org/what-is-restorative-justice/

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria