Radical Healing

In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here.



In this episode, Paul Corwin (class of 1970) shares about his experience being at CAJ during the Vietnam War, registering as a conscientious objector and reading Betty Friedan as a high-schooler, the psychological difficulties of leaving the faith of one's parents, life in New Zealand and more.  

Note: We recorded this episode in January, 2022

Recommended in this episode:

God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens

Expatriate Heart by Janet James Sasaki (CAJ alum)

Ghosts of the Tsunami by Richard Lloyd Parry

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here. 

In this episode, Jan Engholm, a CAJ abuse survivor and advocate, shares her story. We also discuss issues with the Telios investigation, reflect on healing, and more. See here for the CAJ Survivor Resource LIst mentioned by Jan. 

Also mentioned in this episode:

Sent: Reflections on Missions, Boarding Schools and Childhood

The Blood of the Martyrs and Legal Liability by Theresa Sidebotham

Since we recorded the episode, CAJ and Telios Law have posted progress updates on the Action Steps listed in the Summary Report.

They can be found here on the CAJ website.



Note: We will be gradually wrapping up Season 2 of this podcast. If you are a CAJ abuse survivor and/or survivor advocate and would like to be interviewed on the podcast, please reach out to us at [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here.
PART 2/2
Content warning: description of sexual assault of a minor. In this two part episode, we hear from Simon Riis Christensen, one of the first survivors to speak out about his abuse at CAJ. We had technical difficulties during the interview, so we cut out at the end of Part 1 and resume the conversation in Part 2.

P.S At the time that we recorded the episode, the Final Report of the Telios Law Investigation into abuse at CAJ had not been uploaded to the CAJ website. Since then, it has been added to the "CAJ News" section, under "Alumni" https://caj.ac.jp/news/chronicle/index.php

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here. 

PART 1/2

In this two part episode, we hear from Simon Riis Christensen, one of the first survivors to speak out about his abuse at CAJ. We had technical difficulties during the interview, so we cut out at the end of Part 1 and resume the conversation in Part 2. 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

In Season 2, we’re interviewing some members of a group of CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes.

In this episode, we spoke with Janet Pape Oates ('63) who has spent the last several years reaching out to survivors, helping share their stories and advocating on their behalf.

In our conversations with Janet, she shared that a tangible way for alumni to show support for CAJ abuse survivors is to write emails to CAJ and to the founding missions, encouraging them to take seriously the recommendations of the Telios investigative report. While the report has not yet been released, it's a great time to start mobilizing and showing support for the survivors by sending emails now. We've drafted an example letter, with guidance from Janet, which can be used as a template. Read the example email here and start writing! 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

PART 2/2

In Season 2, we are doing something a little different. We’re interviewing some members of a group of CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes

Here’s a quote from a 2019 statement from the CAJ Concerned Alumni Committee:

"On February 6, 2019, a steering committee representing concerned alumni sent a letter to CAJ and its six founding missions (SEND, Resonate Global Mission, Serve Globally, TEAM, World Venture, OMS) calling for resolution of an alleged history of sexual, physical and psychological abuse that occurred at the school as well as in its dorms and hostels. They asked for an investigation into the alleged abuse via a reputable, independent and mutually agreed-upon agency."



We will be hearing from survivors and supporters about where this investigation is at today, what we can expect from it, and how they’ve been building a community focused on truth telling and healing. If you’d like to learn more about the investigation or context surrounding it, we have more information on our website here.

To start things off, we spoke with Debbie Rhoads ('72) and Brenda Seat ('76). Debbie and Brenda, who are admins of the CAJ Abuse Survivors Support FB group, have been instrumental in the investigation and are working hard to advocate for the many alumni who experienced abuse.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

PART 1/2

In Season 2, we are doing something a little different. We’re interviewing some members of a group of CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes

Here’s a quote from a 2019 statement from the CAJ Concerned Alumni Committee:

"On February 6, 2019, a steering committee representing concerned alumni sent a letter to CAJ and its six founding missions (SEND, Resonate Global Mission, Serve Globally, TEAM, World Venture, OMS) calling for resolution of an alleged history of sexual, physical and psychological abuse that occurred at the school as well as in its dorms and hostels. They asked for an investigation into the alleged abuse via a reputable, independent and mutually agreed-upon agency."



We will be hearing from survivors and supporters about where this investigation is at today, what we can expect from it, and how they’ve been building a community focused on truth telling and healing. If you’d like to learn more about the investigation or context surrounding it, we have more information on our website here.

To start things off, we spoke with Debbie Rhoads ('72) and Brenda Seat ('76). Debbie and Brenda, who are admins of the CAJ Abuse Survivors Support FB group, have been instrumental in the investigation and are working hard to advocate for the many alumni who experienced abuse.  

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

WE DIDI IT! WE FINISHED 10 EPISODES! 

P.S Be sure to subscribe to the podcast if you don't want to miss future episodes. For more of Radical Healing, follow us on Instagram, @radicalhealingpod

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

The one where we interview Trace, who was in the grade above us at CAJ. Although Trace was at CAJ for only two years, he made a lasting impression on both of us. Trace talks about navigating different cultures as a mixed Japanese+Brooklyn Jewish American kid, about the impact of Christian homophobia, in both casual comments and direct attacks, and healing from toxic beliefs. We unpack the paternalism of evangelicals in Japan (drawing from first-hand experience with HiBA Gospel Team!) and also talk about mutual aid and attachment theory. 

Recommended resources from Trace:

• How to Be an Adult: A Handbook on Psychological and Spiritual Integration by David Richo
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/978759.How_to_Be_an_Adult
  
  


• Leaving the Fold by Marlene Winell
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/964147.Leaving_the_Fold
  
  


• Attachment in Psychotherapy by David J. Wallin
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/224832.Attachment_in_Psychotherapy
  
  


• Mutual Aid by Dean Spade
  
  http://www.deanspade.net/mutual-aid-building-solidarity-during-this-crisis-and-the-next/
  
  

P.S Be sure to subscribe to the podcast if you don't want to miss future episodes. For more of Radical Healing, follow us on Instagram, @radicalhealingpod

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com

A special episode because we got to talk with two of our very own classmates from the CAJ class of 2010, George and Ryosuke! 
We chat about Chicago and activism, cultural identity, American competitiveness, the benefits of Biblical literacy in studying western civilization, unlearning toxic beliefs, Ryosuke's love for Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series (and how they were a no-no at CAJ) and more...!

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Spotify
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Google Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalhealingpod.substack.com