Phoenix Cast

Alyson Doty and Shanae Adams, Violence Prevention Educators at the Phoenix Center at Auraria, discuss the importance of de-stigmatizing sex talk and the impact of societal taboos on self-disclosure. 

Through a reference to a "New Girl" clip where Jess, the main character of the show, struggles to say "penis," they highlight societal issues around discussing body part names. They emphasize that children often find it easier to use correct anatomical terms until influenced by negative associations or by being taught to use euphemisms. 

They discuss the significance of teaching children about their bodies and consent from a young age. Alyson and Shanae then shift to reflect on the impact of social media algorithms on language and the need for media literacy. The importance of using accurate terminology to prevent sexual assault and promote healthy sexual education is stressed all throughout the podcast as they examine the need to demystify the terminology used when discussing sex and sexual assault. 

Sources: 

Play New Girl Scene- Jess Can't Say The Word Penis | New Girl 

Words Matter — First Light SC 

I feel genuine rage when I see words like “unalive or grape” in an attempt to get past tiktok guidelines filters : r/offmychest 

Resources - Sex Positive Families 

Sex-positive parenting: What you need to know - ParentsTogether
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvGyo1NrzTY 

How social media is changing how you talk | Adam Aleksic | TEDxPenn 

Is Social Media Censorship Unaliving Language? | Otherwords 

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

Will you be watching the Twilight Saga series in theaters this week?

Before heading to the theater, join Racheal Reed-Maloney (she/her) and Marissa Moreno (she/her) as they talk about the first movie in the Twilight Saga, Twilight, and the forms of interpersonal violence that arise in the film including stalking, the cycle of violence, victim blaming, power and control, and more.

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

Today is the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (A.K.A. Relationship Violence Awareness Month).

Join host Racheal Reed-Maloney (she/her) as she speaks with the Rose Andom Center's Fatality Review Program Manager, Keisha Sarpong (she/her), about domestic violence fatality in Colorado, Denver's Domestic Violence Fatality Team, and review the 2024 annual domestic violence fatality report. We will conclude this podcast talking about how to talk to a loved one who you are concerned is at risk of being murdered by their partner and you will hear the three stories of Auraria Campus members who have been murdered by their partners.

You can contact Keisha at [email protected]. 

Learn more about The Rose Andom Center at https://roseandomcenter.org/. 

Content Warning: Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Fatality

Sources

• Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board https://roseandomcenter.org/domestic-violence-fatality-review/ 
• 2024 DVFR https://coag.gov/app/uploads/2024/10/DomesticViolenceReport2024-FINAL.pdf
• Notes from the Field: Intimate Partner Homicide Among Women — United States, 2018–2021https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7334a4.htm
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-games/202312/domestic-violence-some-us-states-residents-at-higher-risk
• https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/gun-violence-data/state-gun-violence-data/texas
• ​​https://violencefreecolorado.org/find-help/survivor-resources/
• https://www.cawc.org/news/the-history-of-domestic-violence-awareness-month/
• https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/toxic-latina-girlfriend-stereotype
• https://zcenter.org/blog/machismo-in-latino-culture/

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

We found a lost tape from Women's History Month!

Join our host, Shanae Adams (they/them), as they receive voicemails from their femme peers, Dr. Clarissa Francis, Noel Bennett, and Al answering the following questions: what does it mean for them to identify as femme and how does being femme interact with their other identities , what has changed their perspectives or lives as femme folks, and what is the current state of femme sexuality? 

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 Racheal Reed-Maloney (she/her) as she speaks with Auraria Campus student, Devyn Dewey (she/her), about research they are doing focused on neurobiology and aggression, how our current systems fail to support survivors who have been charged as offenders of domestic violence, and how mandatory arrest laws harm survivors.

Sources 

• Mandatory Arrest Laws https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-18-criminal-code/co-rev-st-sect-18-6-803-6/
• POST Training https://post.colorado.gov/sites/post/files/Manual%20-%20Program%20and%20Instructor%20Programs%20Jan%202024%20%282%29.pdf
• DV Colorado law https://www.denverda.org/domestic-violence/
• Black Women & Mandatory Arrest Laws https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/926631/dl?inline
• Same Sex Couples & Dual Arrest https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1077801220920378
• https://survivedandpunished.org/quick-statistics/ 

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

Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Sexual Violence

It’s our first episode of the 2025-2026 academic year! 

Join Racheal Reed-Maloney (she/her) as she connects with representatives from The Blue Bench, Community Education Director Kaity Gray (she/her) and Executive Director Becca Tiell-Krekeler (she/her), to talk about sexual violence on college campuses, The Red Zone, the impact sexual violence has on college students, and how you can intervene if you are witnessing something that may lead to sexual violence. 

Learn more about the free and low-cost services The Blue Bench has to offer to the Denver Metro Community below.

The Blue Bench

24/7 Hotline (available in English & Spanish)  303-322-7273

Live Chat 

Sources for this podcast episode 

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 Racheal Reed-Maloney (she/her) and Jenae McCall (they/she) as they continue their conversation about MTV’s gendered responses to relationship violence and how this can impact viewers perceptions of relationship violence. They will also conclude this final episode of Season 6 discussing the importance of media literacy.

Fun Note: Your silly host is terrible with numbers. When you hear her say “Season 7” she means “Season 6”. When you hear her say “see you in Season 8!” She means “See you in Season 7!”

Sources

• Papp, L. J., Ward, M. L., & Marshall, R. A. (2022). Contributions of Reality TV Consumption to College Women’s Endorsement of the Heterosexual Script and Acceptance of Sexualized Aggression. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46(50-65), https://doi-org.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/03616843211044686 
• Rodenhizer, K. A. E., Siller, L., MacPherson, A. R., & Edwards, K. M. (2021). Reality Check! Perceptions of MTV’s Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom and Dating Violence Attitudes and Experiences. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(15–16), NP8538–NP8566. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519844776 
• Scharrer, E. & Blackburn, G. (2017). Cultivating Conceptions of Masculinity: Television and Perceptions of Masculine Gender Norms. Mass Communication and Society, 21(144-177), https://doi-org.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/15205436.2017.1406118
• Wright, P. J., & Tokunaga, R. S. (2016). Men’s Objectificating Media Consumption, Objectification of Women, and Attitudes Supportive of Violence Against Women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(955-964), 10.1007/s10508-015-0644-8
• https://www.thehotline.org/news/the-national-domestic-violence-hotline-mtv-launch-survivor-gotv-initiative/
• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-mtv-was-right-to-show_b_755839
• https://vocal.media/geeks/all-of-the-times-mtv-should-have-fired-teen-mom-star-amber-portwood
• https://people.com/tv/jersey-shore-ronnie-ortiz-magro-physical-altercation-girlfriend-livestream/
• https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-1/mtv-launches

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 Racheal Reed-Maloney (she/her) and Jenae McCall (they/she) as they review MTV’s gendered responses to relationship violence on their reality TV shows.

Fun Note: Your silly host is terrible with numbers. When you hear her say “Season 7” she means “Season 6”. When you hear her say “see you in Season 8!” She means “See you in Season 7!”

Sources

• Papp, L. J., Ward, M. L., & Marshall, R. A. (2022). Contributions of Reality TV Consumption to College Women’s Endorsement of the Heterosexual Script and Acceptance of Sexualized Aggression. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46(50-65), https://doi-org.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/03616843211044686 
• Rodenhizer, K. A. E., Siller, L., MacPherson, A. R., & Edwards, K. M. (2021). Reality Check! Perceptions of MTV’s Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom and Dating Violence Attitudes and Experiences. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(15–16), NP8538–NP8566. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519844776 
• Scharrer, E. & Blackburn, G. (2017). Cultivating Conceptions of Masculinity: Television and Perceptions of Masculine Gender Norms. Mass Communication and Society, 21(144-177), https://doi-org.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/15205436.2017.1406118
• Wright, P. J., & Tokunaga, R. S. (2016). Men’s Objectificating Media Consumption, Objectification of Women, and Attitudes Supportive of Violence Against Women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(955-964), 10.1007/s10508-015-0644-8
• https://www.thehotline.org/news/the-national-domestic-violence-hotline-mtv-launch-survivor-gotv-initiative/
• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-mtv-was-right-to-show_b_755839
• https://vocal.media/geeks/all-of-the-times-mtv-should-have-fired-teen-mom-star-amber-portwood
• https://people.com/tv/jersey-shore-ronnie-ortiz-magro-physical-altercation-girlfriend-livestream/
• https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-1/mtv-launches

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 Racheal Reed-Maloney (she/her) and Jenae McCall (they/she) as they discuss what it means for someone to go low or no contact with a loved one, and, how this is depicted on the most recent season of Teen Mom: Next Chapter. 

Sources

• Clip of Leah preparing to send text message https://www.facebook.com/reel/1007144334510624
• Clip of Amber’s response to text message https://www.facebook.com/reel/1147765093775812
• https://www.eonline.com/news/1417931/amber-portwoods-daughter-leah-details-estrangement-on-teen-mom 
• https://www.charliehealth.com/post/going-no-contact-with-parents
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BXOm9X0V94 
• https://www.blackburncenter.org/post/understanding-grooming
• https://people.com/teen-mom-catelynn-lowell-tyler-baltierra-reveal-why-their-daughters-adoptive-parents-blocked-them-11705827

Resources for folks considering no/low contact:

• Together Estranged https://www.togetherestranged.org
• Books:
  • Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson
  • Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

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

We are recruiting volunteers for our 24/7 helpline!

Hear from some of our current helpline volunteers Megan (she/her), Brooklynn (she/her), and Cole (he/him) about the helpline training process, what it is like to be a helpline volunteer, and how volunteering on the helpline as developed their knowledge and skills in interpersonal and crisis work!

You can also learn more and apply to be a helpline volunteer by heading to the following link: https://www.thepca.org/helpline-advocates.

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