The Ugly Truth About The Girl Next Door

In this episode, we explore a reality far too many women know firsthand: the heartbreak of nonconsensual sexual contact and the pain of walking alongside others who have experienced it. For many of us, these experiences—and the repeated failures to respond with care and accountability—have moved us toward activism. While sexual violence affects people of all genders, we examine the patterns in our culture that leave so many women facing this harm.

In the second half of our conversation with Abby Wade, we discuss the impact of lack of knowledge about the neuroscience of trauma and family controlled trafficking on victims.....and celebrate the the transformative experience of connection and knowledge.

In this first of two episodes, we explore the neuroscience of developmental trauma with survivor-leader Abby Wade who is a neuroscientist specializing in child maltreatment and institutional responses to trauma. Abby is also a survivor of family controlled sex trafficking.

In this episode we share more about what we've been up to over the last three years and our plans for the podcast. We also share about our experiences advocating for the passage of an anti-trafficking bill in Albany including our excellent experience with Assemblymember George Alvarez.....and we encourage every one to #beaGEORGE!!

In this episode, we continue our discussion of the Epstein case, focusing on what it may signal to victims about what to expect when seeking accountability through the court system. We explore the many ways systems can—and too often do—fail victims, and the lasting impact of those failures.

In this episode we continue to explore how the Epstein case shines a light on the painful journey victims/survivors are on when they make the desperate choice to engage with the systems that are meant to help.

In this episode, we consider the role of parents in the Epstein exploitation ring. We know that children as young as 4 or 5 have been identified as victims but yet we are not hearing about family-controlled sex trafficking. How could a child that young....or even 9 or 10....possibly be victimized in these extreme ways and a parent not be involved or at least criminally neglectful?

In this episode we take a deeper look at some of the systemic failures both in the Epstein case and our experience. We celebrate the ways that victims and their advocates have been struggling and persisting to bring the reality to light. We will rage....and celebrate....in equal measures (sort of)....

This series of episodes about the Epstein case will draw parallels between the experiences of victims in every community and Epstein's victims.

In this episode, we will share a general overview and some of our thoughts. Future episodes will include systemic responses, considering the role of parents, how victims are experiencing this process, the power of journalism and community outrage and, most importantly, how victims have bravely persisted for each other and with each other to be heard.

In this episode, we have a conversation with Stephen Mills, author of Chosen: A Memoir of Stolen Boyhood and actor, producer and director Anthony Edwards who some will remember as Goose from the movie Top Gun or Dr. Greene from the television show ER.

We are grateful for the authenticity and courage of these men as they share their experiences of sexual abuse as boys.

Please join us as we discuss the long term impact of childhood sexual abuse, institutional coverups and the unwillingness of "bystanders" to take a stand.