Truth and Consequences

Christa Brown, Author of Baptistland

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Named as one of the “top 10 religion newsmakers” of 2022, Christa Brown has persisted for two decades in working to peel back the truth about clergy sex abuse and coverups in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention. As one of the first to go public with substantiated child molestation allegations against a Baptist minister—and documentation that others knew—she has consistently demanded reforms to make other kids and congregants safer. Kathryn Robb and I talk with Christa about her poignant new memoir, Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal, and Transformation.

Show Notes

Christa’s website

Purchase Baptistland

Follow Christa on Twitter @ChristaBrown777

Subscribe to In Solidarity on Substack

Christa created the site Stop Baptist Predators

Enough Abuse Campaign of which Kathryn Robb is the National Director of the Children’s Justice Campaign

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

Find the Truth & Consequences website, Facebook page, Instagram & Twitter accounts. Find the Second Wound website, Facebook page, Instagram & Twitter accounts. Learn about personal coaching with host Miranda Pacchiana, MSW on the Second Wound website coaching page.

Trapped In Treatment Podcast Hosts Caroline Cole and Rebecca Mellinger Grone

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The docu-series podcast Trapped In Treatment, from Paris Hilton, returns for a second season to expose the dark underbelly of the “Troubled Teen Industry”. We talk with Caroline Cole and Rebecca Mellinger Grone, hosts of the podcast and passionate advocates for legislative change to help protect kids from institutional abuse and mass incarceration. You’ll hear Kathryn Robb propose and discuss innovative ideas for reforming this industry with our guests in real-time.

Show Notes
The Trapped In Treatment Podcast on iHeart Radio
Stop Institutional Child Abuse Website
Paris Hilton’s Testimony regarding Child Welfare Programs on C-Span
Caroline Cole on Instagram speaking at the press conference: “Warehouses of Neglect: How Taxpayers Are Funding Systemic Abuse in Youth Residential Treatment Facilities”
Teen Vogue Article
Rise Justice Labs
Enough Abuse Campaign of which Kathryn Robb is the National Director of the Children’s Justice Campaign

Sibling Sexual Abuse: What the Research Reveals, with Dr. Peter Yates

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Sibling sexual abuse is revealed to be every bit as harmful as sexual abuse by a parent and affects the entire family. Yet, it’s not adequately understood or addressed, even by authorities and professionals.

Show Notes
CSA Centre 2021 SSA Report by Yates and Allardyce
Link to report supporting working with families professionals
Enough Abuse

Michelle Horton, Author of Dear Sister: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Michelle Horton is the author of Dear Sister, “A breathtaking memoir about two sisters and a high-profile case: Nikki Addimando, incarcerated for killing her abuser; and the author, Michelle Horton, left in the devastating fall-out to raise Nikki's young children and to battle the criminal justice system.”

Show Notes

We Stand With Nikki Website
Donate to Nikki’s Go Fund Me
Survived and Punished
Sanctuary for families
Danger Assessment Tool
Puppies behind bars

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

Asian Discrimination in Hollywood & Beyond with Rowena Chiu, Ashley Chiu & Angela Yeoh

Fri, 31 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

It’s hard enough trying to make it in the entertainment industry. When you factor in discrimination against non-White actors the obstacles and challenges multiply. In today’s conversation we examine the barriers faced by Asian actors in Hollywood with my former guest, Rowena Chiu and her friends Angela Yeoh and Ashley Chiu who played her in the movie, She Said. From the lack of Asian roles and the phenomenon of White actors being cast as Asians, to decades of highly offensive portrayals and the commonplace dehumanizing of Asian women in entertainmentIt’s a fascinating and and important discussion because, as Rowena points out, these obstacles are a reflection of the wider context of living in a racist world.

Show Notes
https://ashleychiu.com/

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

Lacy Crawford, Author of Notes On A Silencing

Fri, 10 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Lacy Crawford, author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Notes On A Silencing, talks about the devastating revictimization and institutional betrayal she experienced after being sexually assaulted at an elite New England boarding school as a teenager.

Show Notes
Lacy Crawford’s website
Kathryn Robb is Executive Director of CHILD USAdvocacy
Miranda Pacchiana’s website The Second Wound

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

Donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Trauma-Aware Yoga with Newtown Instructor Aline Marie

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Newtown Yoga Center instructor Aline Marie explains the fundamentals of trauma-aware yoga. We talk about the power of choice, maintaining boundaries, an easy technique to calm your nervous system, and Aline’s remarkable path to becoming a yoga teacher.

The Newtown Yoga Center Website

Peace on Demand App Use code PEACE WITHIN

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

You can donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Julie L. Hall, Author of The Narcissist In Your Life: Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Julie Hall walks us through the dehumanizing effects of being in relationship with a narcissist. We take a look at the experience of growing up in a narcissistic family and discuss common family roles such as the golden child, the lost child, and the scapegoat. Also discussed are the origins of narcissism and how narcissistic traits show up in our larger culture.

Julie’s book The Narcissist in Your Life: Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free

The Narcissist Family Files website

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

You can donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Talking Family-Controlled Trafficking with the Hosts of The Ugly Truth About the Girl Next Door podcast

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Family-controlled sex trafficking survivor Kait Gannon and licensed clinical social worker Laurie Krull started a podcast together as a last-ditch effort to keep Kait safe. They also sounded an alarm about offenders living in their region of western New York. Kait and Laurie's unique journey from patient and therapist to hosts of the groundbreaking podcast The Ugly Truth About the Girl Next Door is the story of two women determined to bring about change against all odds.

Find The Ugly Truth About the Girl Next Door website and podcast.

Massachusetts Citizens for Children

Somatic Therapy for Trauma Survivors with Carol Hodson

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Somatic Experiencing therapist Carol Hodson returns to talk about “stealth mental health”; simple practices to help us get unstuck from trauma symptoms, especially in the early weeks, days, and even hours after an event. Carol was part of a crisis team dispatched to Florida to help victims of the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian. She also helped me apply stealth mental health with a friend who suffered a sudden trauma. I’ll tell you about that too.

Show Notes

Visit the Somatic Experiencing Institute’s website and view Carol’s page in the directory. Also check out the handy poster illustrating the SCOPE method which is offered in English, Spanish, and other languages.

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

If you appreciate this podcast, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Dr. Judith Herman on Truth and Repair

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

What would true justice look like for survivors of interpersonal trauma? Acknowledgement, validation, accountability for offenders, support from their communities, and offender rehabilitation. The renowned and beloved author, psychiatrist, and researcher Dr. Judith Herman has an invigorating discussion with us about her new book, Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice.

Show Notes
Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records

If you appreciate this podcast, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1.

Breaking the Silence: An Interview with Rowena Chiu

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We have the privilege of speaking with Rowena Chiu, a former assistant of Harvey Weinstein whom he silenced for decades, along with her colleague Zelda Perkins. Chiu shares a range of valuable insights as a survivor, and describes the unusual experience of being portrayed in the recent movie "She Said," based on the book by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey.

Chiu talks about the difficult decision to go public with her story and the years of being pursued by journalists before she became a source for Kantor and Twohey's reporting. We also discuss NDAs, the many survivors who cannot come forward, barriers to justice in the legal system, and destructive stereotypes about Asian women. We’ll also tell you about the uncanny coincidence that brought us together.

Join us for a powerful conversation with a woman of exceptional character, strength, and a healthy dose of humor.

Show Notes
Follow Rowena Chiu on Instagram and Twitter, read her 2019 New York Times Op-Ed, and check out She Said and Catch and Kill.

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Investigative Journalist Nicki Weisensee Egan, Chasing Cosby since 2005

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Investigative journalist, podcast creator & author Nicki Weisensee Egan is dropping truth bombs and setting the record straight on the twists and turns in the Cosby case. Nicki has covered the allegations against Cosby since 2005 when no other media outlets would touch it. Listen to our compelling discussion with Kathryn Robb, Esq. as co-host.

Visit Nicki’s website for more information and links to her projects including the Chasing Cosby podcast and book, and sign up for her Substack.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

The ‘Troubled Teen’ Industry with Survivors Chelsea Maldonado and Amanda Simmons, Part 2

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Kathryn Robb and I continue speaking with highly knowledgeable survivor/advocates, Chelsea Maldonado and Amanda Simmons who educate us on the so-called ‘troubled teen’ industry, an under-regulated system of residential youth treatment facilities that use behavior modification and abusive tactics on minors. Last week, Chelsea told us her story. This week, it’s Amanda’s turn.

Show Notes

Donate to CHILD USAdvocacy and CHILD USA. They could use your support for their highly targeted work preventing child abuse and neglect.

Sign the petition to close Provo Canyon School launched by Paris Hilton.

Learn more about the TTI. Listen to the Trapped In Treatment podcast, explore the organized movement’s website Breaking Code Silence, and plug in the hashtag #BreakingCodeSilence. I also recommend the full documentary, This is Paris.

Find Amanda Simmons on Twitter @aosimmons_law

Find Chelsea Maldonado on Twitter @yep4rights

Find Kathryn Robb’s non-profit organization at the CHILD USAdvocacy website, and their sister organization is CHILD USA, headed by the esteemed UPenn professor Marci Hamilton.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

The ‘Troubled Teen’ Industry with Survivors Chelsea Maldonado and Amanda Simmons, Part 1

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Our guests on this episode are survivor/advocates, Chelsea Maldonado and Amanda Simmons who educate us on the so-called ‘troubled teen’ industry, a system of residential youth treatment facilities & programs. Many of these facilities operate more like prisons where children as young as nine are routinely abused in an extreme system of behavior modification, prevented from telling their parents what’s going on, and kept for unnecessarily long stretches while reaping enormous revenue for the facilities. Thousands of minors are in these places today, in America and abroad.

Paris Hilton recently came forward about the traumatic experiences she endured at Provo Canyon School (and several wilderness programs), and her voice helped spark an interest in the movement known as #Breaking Code Silence.

Sign the petition to close Provo Canyon School launched by Paris Hilton.
Learn more about the TTI. Listen to the Trapped In Treatment podcast, explore the organized movement’s website Breaking Code Silence, and plug in the hashtag #BreakingCodeSilence. I also recommend the full documentary, This is Paris.
Find Amanda Simmons on Twitter @aosimmons_law
Find Chelsea Maldonado on Twitter @yep4rights

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

Find the Second Wound website, Facebook page, Instagram & Twitter accounts. Learn about personal coaching with host Miranda Pacchiana, MSW on the Second Wound website coaching page.

Donate to help cover my production costs though Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Andrew Pledger: Recovering from A Christian Cult

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Andrew Pledger is 22 years old and on a mission to spread the word about religious trauma after being raised in a fundamentalist Christian cult. He has a gripping story to tell about coming to terms with the harm his family’s religion caused him and the extra layers of shame and fear he carried due to his LGBTQ+ status. He’ll tell us about the controversial interview he gave to podcaster Josh Harris that got him expelled from Bob Jones University, and his mission to better understand religious trauma in order to heal himself and offer help to other survivors of cults and toxic religions. Andrew Pledger is an influencer, podcaster, activist, writer, and religion recovery coach using social media to share his story and inspire others.

Show Notes
Andrew’s podcast is Speaking Up with Andrew Pledger. Follow him on Instagram at 4ndrewpledger, Twitter @4ndrewpledger, and Facebook @4ndrewpledger.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Sexual Abuse Lawsuits: Your Legal Questions Answered with Kathryn Robb, Esq. Part 3

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 11:00:00 -0500

In this last episode of our 3-part special series all about civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse, attorney Kathryn Robb and I discuss depositions (what they’re for, who’s present, advice on being deposed), defense tactics and strategies, impeachment of witnesses (casting doubt on plaintiff’s credibility, trauma and memory, dissociation, abuse disclosure), legal abuse, trial preference provisions, chances of going to trial, Chapter 11 bankruptcies, settlements, NDAs, collecting on awards, the trial experience, pros and cons of mediation, taxable versus non-taxable jury awards, and counterclaims.

We end with a list of thoughtful tips on how to care for yourself suggested by Kathryn who is currently suing her older brother for sexual abuse under the NY Child Victims Act.

Kathryn Robb is the Executive Director of CHILD USAdvocacy.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

Sexual Abuse Lawsuits: Your Legal Questions Answered with Kathryn Robb, Esq. Part 2

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 01:00:00 -0500

In this second installment of the series, we discuss who you can sue and for what, how to get started, finding the right attorney, going public, legal terms, federal versus state court, detailed steps along the way, possible outcomes, and most importantly, what the experience feels like for survivors.

Kathryn Robb is the Executive Director of CHILD USAdvocacy.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

Sexual Abuse Lawsuits: Your Legal Questions Answered with Kathryn Robb, Esq. Part 1

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode is the first in a special series with attorney/survivor Kathryn Robb all about civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse. Today we will get an update on Kathryn’s own case under the New York Child Victims Act, talk a bunch about defamation including ways for survivors to protect themselves from being sued, statute of limitations revival legislation, anti-SLAPP laws, NDAs and non-disparagement clauses, the Speak Up Act, responsibilities of youth-serving organizations, and how insurance companies can help protect children. Next week, we’ll get into the how-to’s and procedures of filing a lawsuit starting with finding and hiring an attorney.

Show Notes
Check out the Interactive map and the Gold Standard at the CHILD USA website.

Stay up to date with CHILD USAdvocacy.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

Leigh Corfman, Silence Breaker

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Leigh Corfman went public with sexual abuse allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore in 2017. She was 14 when she says Asst. DA Moore, age 32, groomed and abused her. Nine other women also came forward with stories of their own. It’s been a difficult road for Leigh, but she says she would do it all over again.

In a case that wrapped up earlier this year, Leigh sued Roy Moore for defamation, saying he painted her as a liar while denying her accusations of child sexual abuse. Moore countersued, claiming that Leigh’s allegations were false and designed to damage him politically.

Show Notes
Read the Washington Post piece that broke the story of sexual allegations against Roy Moore

Read the Time Magazine Person of the Year Silence Breakers issue

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Our beautiful theme song is written & performed by Maddie Morris and produced by Pete Ord at Haystack Records.

The Brave Women Behind The Keepers

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0400

If you have watched the Netflix documentary series The Keepers you will recognize our three guests today: Gemma Hoskins, Abbie Schaub, and Teresa Lancaster. Each of these brave, determined, morally upstanding women played a vital role in uncovering the horrific crimes and coverups at the heart of the documentary. If you haven’t seen The Keepers, the episode intro will fill you in. And our guests will inspire you with their strength and unending fight for justice.

Show Notes

Read updates from The Keepers story on the Facebook group “The Keepers Official Group - Justice for Catherine Cesnik and Joyce Malecki”.

Learn about the legislative strategy to reform Maryland’s statute of limitation laws and sign up for news notifications. (It will be updated soon as they prep for the 2023 legislative term.)

Consider contributing to The Sister Cathy Cesnik Fund for Survivors, Inc.

Read Gemma Hoskins’ memoir, Keeping On: How I Came to Know Why I Was Born

Read Teresa Lancaster’s memoir, Safe in Socks

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Sarah Klein, Attorney, Advocate, & Larry Nassar Survivor

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Sarah Klein is an attorney for the California law firm Manly, Stewart and Finaldi and a leading voice on sexual abuse and other legal issues in the media. She is also the first known victim of former Olympic Women’s Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Sarah was an elite gymnast who trained from the age of 8 under Coach John Geddert, the head coach for the 2012 U.S. women's Olympic gymnastics team whose gym she describes as highly abusive, cult-like, and even worse than the sexual abuse she suffered by Nassar. We talk about all of this plus updates on the Larry Nassar fallout and the brave gymnasts who have fought to hold him and the other institutions involved accountable.

Show Notes

Check out Sarah’s website and her podcast Bar Fights
Follow Sarah Klein on social media: Twitter Instagram Facebook

Read Sarah’s Op-ed in the Guardian

Sarah works at Manly Stewart & Finaldi

Sarah is on the board of ChildUSAdvocacy

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Stephen Mills, Author of CHOSEN: A Memoir of Stolen Boyhood

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 16:00:00 -0400

Stephen Mills is the author of CHOSEN: A Memoir of Stolen Boyhood published by Henry Holt & Company. In this first of many interviews I will be co-hosting with my friend, attorney, and advocate Kathryn Robb, we three survivors of child sexual abuse share a moving discussion about the emotional impact of abuse, challenges specific to male survivors, how predators operate, parents who missed the signs, correcting misconceptions, the lawsuit Stephen filed, and so much more.

Read my blog piece about CHOSEN here.

Enter to win a hardcover copy of CHOSEN at Truth & Consequences Instagram
Stephen Mills’ website
CHILD USA
Child USAdvocacy
1in6
Darkness to Light
Male Survivor
Link to CHILD USA’s “Gold Standard”

About CHOSEN:

At thirteen years old, Stephen Mills is chosen for special attention by the director of his Jewish summer camp, a charismatic social worker intent on becoming his friend. Stephen, whose father died when he was four, places his trust in this authority figure, who first grooms and then molests him for two years. Stephen tells no one, but the aftershocks rip through his adult life, as intense as his denial: self-loathing, drug abuse, petty crime, and horrific nightmares, all made worse by the discovery that his abuser is moving from camp to camp, state to state, molesting other boys. Only physical and mental collapse brings Stephen to confront the truth of his boyhood and begin the painful process of recovery--as well as a decades-long crusade to stop a serial predator, find justice, and hold to account those who failed the children in their care.

The trauma of sexual abuse is shared by one out of every six men, yet very few have broken their silence. Unflinching and compulsively readable, CHOSEN eloquently speaks for those countless others and their families. It is a rare act of consummate courage and generosity--the indelible story of a man who faces his torment and his tormentor and, in the process, is made whole.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Chandra Moyer on Flashbacks, Fragments & Facing Trauma

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Chandra Moyer was 37 years old when her high-functioning life was disrupted by frightening flashbacks. Chandra set out to piece together the fragments of her emerging memories and, when she put two and two together, it added up to child sexual abuse.

Chandra’s story helps illuminate the intense and bewildering experience of being overwhelmed by flashbacks and how to make sense of the information they can bring. We also discuss family estrangement, Chandra’s contribution to the fight against child sex trafficking, the comfort she gained from her religious faith, and the fiction book she wrote based on her own experiences.

Show Notes
Read my blog post about Chandra Moyer
Chandra Moyer website

Chandra’s book, based on the experiences she describes is I Met Her Before.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Suicide Prevention Advocate Kevin Hines

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 07:00:00 -0500

Kevin Hines tells the story of his attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge at age 19, his traumatic infancy, and his struggles with mental illness. We talk about suicidal ideation, suicide prevention, and the rewards and challenges of advocacy work in this emotional and poignant conversation.

Countries & regions outside the U.S, find a crisis center in your area at the International Association for Suicide Prevention website

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://www.befrienders.org/

Fact sheets from the National Institute of Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2019/suicide-how-you-can-make-a-difference.shtml

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-faq/index.shtml

Treatment Services Locator https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

http://www.kevinhinesstory.com/

Kevin’s documentary https://www.kevinhinesstory.com/suicide-the-ripple-effect

Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Deterrent Net Project Update https://www.goldengate.org/golden-gate-bridge-suicide-deterrent-net-project-update/

The Avielle Initiative https://www.cuanschutz.edu/centers/national-mental-health-innovation/the-avielle-initiative/projects

The Power of Music with Singer Songwriter Maddie Morris

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 01:00:00 -0400

Maddie Morris is a contemporary folk musician who won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2019 and has been described as "leading the next generation of socially conscious songwriters." Maddie’s music uses personal storytelling to embody political ideas, and their music tackles issues ranging from LGBTQIA identities to poverty, sexual violence, and voting to name a few. Maddie's first EP, Purgatory was described as being the “manifesto for survivors of abuse forced to self-isolate in the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

Maddie Morris wrote our beautiful theme song which you can hear in full at the end of each episode.

Watch Maddie perform their award-winning song Where Do We Go From Here.

Read my blog post about Maddie here.

Learn more about Maddie on their website.

The book Maddie references is Scars by Cheryl Rainfield.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Ryan Soscia: Creator of the JDoe App to Track Sexual Offenders

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 01:00:00 -0400

Ryan Soscia is the Founder & CEO of JDoe, a reporting app for survivors of sexual assault that identifies repeat offenders. Ryan explains the app's intriguing origin story in which a group of his friends identified a mutual abuser and the stunning events that followed. Ryan's firsthand experience inspired him to create the app as a way to reduce sexual violence by solving the problem of underreported repeat offenders. Learn how the app work, then help increase its effectiveness simply by spreading the word.

Show Notes
Download the app and learn more on the JDoe website.

Read about Ryan and JDoe in The Day

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Trauma and Addiction with Jen Elizabeth

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 01:00:00 -0400

Jen Elizabeth speaks openly about her addiction recovery and the trauma she lived through. We talk about the fact that trauma frequently underlies addiction and discuss the emotional work required to stop using, develop new coping mechanisms, and begin to heal from trauma.

Jen was raised in a cult where she was sexually abused by her pastor and neglected by her parents. She became addicted to alcohol and drugs at a young age, ended up homeless, and in and out of prison. Today Jen is a respected speaker, a mom of two young children, and the author of the book Shape of a Woman. She is the creator of Ressurektion of me and leads the Sober Moms recovery group. Jen is an outspoken survivor with a passion for helping others.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

My Moment of Truth

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 01:00:00 -0400

It's me, Miranda, on the first episode since I filed a sexual assault lawsuit. I talk about what's happened in my life since. I also discuss statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, the NY Child Victims Act, my first tattoo, and more.

The Trauma of Gun Violence with Newtown Action Alliance Leader Po Murray

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 01:00:00 -0400

Po Murray Chairs the grassroots non-profit organization, Newtown Action Alliance which formed in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy--and which I helped found. Po explains the grassroots group's efforts to stem gun violence through legislation and cultural change. We talk about activism as a means of addressing trauma, and the widespread effects of gun violence in America.

Visit the Newtown Action Alliance website and sign up for newsletters with action alerts and updates, or volunteer from anywhere in the country.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

EMDR: What it is and How it Works with Barbara Heffernan, LCSW

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 01:00:00 -0400

Psychotherapist and EMDR consultant Barbara Heffernan, LCSW explains how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing works and walks listeners through the application of this effective trauma treatment. Barbara discusses the positive outcomes she sees as a trauma specialist when treating patients with a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and EMDR. Miranda describes her own brief experience as an EMDR patient and asks Barbara for her take on the results.

Show Notes
Learn about Barbara Heffernan’s psychotherapy practice and coaching courses and YouTube channel including her video on EMDR.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Two Survivors Talk Justice with Attorney & Advocate Kathryn Robb

Fri, 29 May 2020 01:00:00 -0400

My first returning guest Kathryn Robb talks with me about changes to Title IX (put in place by Betsy DeVos) that make it harder for victims of sexual assault to get justice, as well as updates in child sexual abuse statute of limitations laws and the added risk posed by the pandemic for current victims of child abuse.

Show Notes
Child USA website statute of limitations information
Child USA website laws around the country
Child USAdvocacy website

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Bikers Against Child Abuse

Fri, 15 May 2020 01:00:00 -0400

My guests Irish and Kenaz describe their work as volunteer members of Bikers Against Child Abuse, or BACA. The group’s mission is to create a safer environment for abused children. They do this by working in conjunction with local and state officials when it has been determined that the child is frightened by their environment and could benefit from BACA’s protective services. These include emotional support and a physical presence when appropriate, including during court proceedings and as a countermeasure against intimidation from abusers and their backers.

Visit their website Bacaworld.org and read the journal article evaluating BACA's effectiveness. Donate to the organization.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

The Nervous System Keeps the Score with Somatic Therapist Carol Hodson

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Somatic Experiencing taps into the science of the autonomic nervous system to treat trauma in a non-invasive manner. Expressive art therapist Carol Hodson explains this intriguing treatment modality and also discusses the power of art as a healing tool.

Video: What Israeli Schoolchildren Sing to Deal With Rockets
https://youtu.be/1LG2Qkcn7iM

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Fear, Loss and the Grocery Store

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Miranda shares her thoughts about the ways trauma and loss in the present tend to bring up trauma and loss from our past. And how it happened to her on a trip to the grocery store at the height of the pandemic.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Sandy Hook Mom Francine Wheeler: You Can Still Have Joy

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 01:00:00 -0400

Francine Wheeler is a singer, songwriter, playwright, and actress whose 6 year-old-son Ben Wheeler died in the 2012 Sandy Hook School shooting. Francine talks with Miranda about coping with her grief, living differently in the aftermath of immense loss, and how she continues to create meaning and find joy.

Learn about the Wheelers’ non-profit organization, Ben’s Lighthouse whose mission drives them “to foster all children’s potential to build a more compassionate and connected world”. Explore the website and see videos of Francine performing excerpts from The Isle of Skoo™ program she created for children to learn about their feelings.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Trauma-Informed Treatment with Counselor La Shanda Sugg

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

La Shanda Sugg is a licensed professional counselor, trainer, and consultant specializing in trauma therapies. We discuss the ways our past trauma shows up in everyday lives and relationships and how this knowledge can lead to healthier thinking and behaviors, including specific advice for coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

La Shanda owns Labors of Love Counseling and Consulting LLC in Ohio and is the host of the Labors of Love podcast.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Complicated Grief with Podcaster Nicole Potter

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 06:00:00 -0500

Nicole Potter was devastated when her best friend Kimberly died suddenly and under confusing circumstances. At first, Nicole was told it was suicide but the case was never officially resolved. In this interview, we learn about the ways Kimberly and Nicole supported each other through life's challenges and how Nicole is navigating life after her friend's death--which includes carrying on Kimberly's wise, compassionate and giving approach to people.

Nicole hosts The Nomadic Traveler podcast, "a show about getting out of your house, off technology and experiencing life."

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Fighting for Fairness in Statutes of Limitations with Kathryn Robb, Esq.

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 06:00:00 -0500

Kathryn Robb is an attorney, advocate, and survivor. She tells Miranda about the recent and rapid improvements in statutes of limitations for sex crimes in states across the country, and why these changes are so sorely needed.

Kathryn is the Executive Director of Child USAdvocacy. You can follow them on Twitter @CHILDUSAdvocacy and Instagram @childusadvocacy.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Protected & Paying it Forward with Survivor Jamie Sivrais

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 06:00:00 -0500

Jamie Sivrais, founder of the non-profit A Voice for the Innocent survived sexual abuse as a child at the hands of his father. When he spoke up, his mother took action to protect him and help him seek justice. Jamie talks about his organization's unique storytelling platform for sexual violence survivors and the desire to pay it forward which inspired him.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Shedding the Shame with Survivor Emanuella Israel

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 06:00:00 -0400

Artist & writer Emanuella Israel created an honest, healthy life for herself despite growing up stifled by domestic violence. She explains why she's determined to speak her truth, shed the shame she once carried, and empower other women to join her in loving their bodies and themselves.

See Emanuella's gorgeous artwork on her website, Etsy store, and Instagram account.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Digging up the past with Survivor Erica Dziedzic

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Erica Dziedzic is an anthropologist and a survivor of both domestic violence and child sexual abuse. Erica realized only recently that the emotional and physical pain that has plagued her for years are symptoms of PTSD. She now writes and speaks openly about her work to heal from two abusive relationships and the family of origin who failed to support her, as well as the healthy life she ended up creating for herself.

Read Erica's work and learn more about her story on her website, Writing Out Loud.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Dear Truth and Consequences

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 14:00:00 -0400

Miranda reads a letter from a listener whose brothers sexually abused her when she was a child. "Silenced" details her experience of the second wound: hurtful responses from church and family members when she revealed the abuse. Miranda responds with advice, information, and words of support.

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Taking on Child Trafficking with Steve Martin

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 06:00:00 -0400

Steve Martin talks with Miranda about his work as CEO of Love146, a non-profit that combats child trafficking & exploitation and provides care for survivors around the globe.

Learn more about the exciting work Love146 is accomplishing worldwide.

Find out about Steve's innovative new non-profit organization, Infused Impact, which is dedicated to helping "launch and develop businesses in developing nations that create jobs and new local income streams, empowering individuals, families, and communities".

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

Lessons in Loss from Sandy Hook Dad David Wheeler

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0400

A frank conversation with my insightful and honest My friend David Wheeler whose 6-year-old son, Ben was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. David has a lot to say about grief, navigating life after loss, and how our own personal reactions sometimes prevent us from truly supporting others in the wake of trauma and sadness.

Learn about the Wheelers' non-profit organization Ben's Lighthouse whose mission drives them "to foster all children’s potential to build a more compassionate and connected world".

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1

The Second Wound

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 17:00:00 -0400

Host Miranda Pacchiana, MSW talks about the aftermath of trauma from several perspectives--as a sexual abuse survivor, personal coach, and resident of Sandy Hook, Connecticut, site of the 2012 school shooting. The podcast will offer information, compassion, and hope to trauma survivors, emphasizing the ways we grow when we face our truth, take care of ourselves, and become stronger, better people in the process.

Miranda describes The Second Wound, a website and social media platform she created to support sexual violence survivors and others who experience painful backlash, including victim-blaming, rejection, and minimization of their trauma. Finally, she also shares personal anecdotes about the hardest year in her healing process, and a touching celebration of her "chosen family".

If you appreciate this content, please donate to help cover my production costs through Paypal @Miranda-Pacchiana or Venmo @mirandapacchiana1