In this powerful and unflinching conversation, award-winning photojournalist turned filmmaker Amanda Mustard joins host Rosalia Rivera to discuss her deeply personal HBO documentary “Great Photo, Lovely Life.” This groundbreaking film examines eight years of Amanda’s journey to confront generational trauma within her family following decades of sexual abuse committed by her grandfather. Amanda’s courageous work doesn’t just expose family secrets; it reveals the devastating ripple effects of abuse, complicity, and the complex dynamics that protect perpetrators while silencing survivors. Through her investigative lens turned inward, she explores how families protect abusers, how silence becomes a survival mechanism, and how breaking cycles of generational trauma requires confronting the most uncomfortable truths. This conversation illuminates the nuanced reality of how incest and family abuse operate, why speaking up becomes dangerous, and how healing can begin with understanding rather than judgment. Whether you’re a survivor seeking validation, supporting a loved one who’s experienced trauma, or trying to understand how these cycles perpetuate, this episode offers profound insights into one of society’s most challenging issues.

Content Warning: This episode contains frank discussions about sexual abuse, incest, and family trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening.

Key Topics Discussed

• The complexity of family abuse: Moving beyond black-and-white narratives to understand the messy reality of being abused by someone you love
• Normalization within families: How abuse becomes normalized when no one knows how to address it
• Breaking generational cycles: The courage required to be the first person in a family to speak up
• The role of religion: How spiritual bypassing can both harm and help survivors
• Complicity vs. survivorship: Understanding the difference between enabling and surviving
• The power of acknowledgment: Why being seen and heard can be more healing than criminal justice
• Prevention perspectives: How speaking up earlier could protect more children
• Therapeutic journey: The importance of professional mental health support throughout the healing process

Key Takeaways with Timestamps

[00:00-02:00] Introduction and film trailer audio

• Amanda’s background as a photojournalist turned filmmaker
• The personal nature of exposing family trauma

[02:00-08:20] Film Overview and Purpose

• What “Great Photo, Lovely Life” is about
• Who the film was made for: survivors and those impacted by child sexual abuse
• Moving beyond simplified narratives of abuse

[08:20-13:15] The Decision to Document

• Why Amanda chose to film such personal family trauma
• Using journalism tools to investigate her own family
• The power of having the perpetrator acknowledge his actions

[13:15-21:11] The Normalization Process

• How abuse became normalized in Amanda’s family
• Leaving home and gaining perspective on her childhood
• Using photojournalism skills to seek truth within her family

[21:11-28:37] Family Dynamics and Relationships

• The impact on Amanda’s relationship with her mother
• Navigating co-dependency and the desire to “fix” family members
• The role of survival mode in preventing healing

[28:37-35:53] Religion and Spiritual Bypassing

• How evangelical faith both helped and hindered healing
• The problematic nature of forced forgiveness
• Understanding religion as both toxic and helpful for coping

[35:53-42:19] The Complexity of Perpetrators

• Why people who abuse can still be charming and loved
• How this complexity makes prevention more difficult
• The importance of understanding grooming behaviors

[42:19-47:19] Justice and Healing Options

• Why criminal justice isn’t always what survivors want
• The power of acknowledgment over prosecution
• Introduction to restorative justice alternatives

[47:19-52:34] Resources and Next Steps

• Discussion guide created with Johns Hopkins Moore Center
• Upcoming projects addressing cultural reactions to the film
• The importance of professional therapeutic support

[52:34-End] Closing Thoughts

• Practicing compassion while maintaining boundaries
• Understanding that everyone is carrying unseen trauma
• The ongoing work of breaking generational cycles

About Amanda Mustard

Amanda Mustard is an award-winning photojournalist turned filmmaker, born and raised on a Christmas tree farm in rural Pennsylvania. She spent over a decade as a photojournalist based between Cairo and Bangkok, working for prestigious outlets including The New York Times, National Geographic, and the Associated Press. Her HBO documentary “Great Photo, Lovely Life” represents an eight-year journey examining decades of sexual abuse within her own family.

Connect with Amanda:

• Website: amandamustard.com
• Film Website: greatphotolovelylife.com

Resources Mentioned

Film and Discussion Guide

• “Great Photo, Lovely Life” – Available on HBO Max
• Extended Discussion Guide – Available through Johns Hopkins Moore Center

Crisis and Support Resources

• National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online.rainn.org
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 or crisistextline.org
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 or samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Adult Survivor Resources

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): rainn.org – comprehensive resources for adult survivors
• 1in6: 1in6.org – support specifically for men who experienced sexual abuse as children
• National Center for Victims: victimsofcrime.org – trauma recovery resources
• Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP): snapnetwork.org – support for institutional abuse survivors
• Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA): ascasupport.org – peer support and healing resources

Therapy and Healing Resources

• Psychology Today Therapist Directory: psychologytoday.com/us/therapists – find trauma-specialized therapists
• EMDR International Association: emdria.org – find EMDR therapists for trauma treatment
• The Body Keeps the Score Resources: besselvanderkolk.com – trauma-informed healing approaches
• Trauma Recovery Network: traumarecoverynetwork.org – comprehensive trauma treatment resources

Family and Relationship Support

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or thehotline.org – for family violence situations
• Al-Anon Family Groups: al-anon.org – support for families affected by trauma and dysfunction
• Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families: adultchildren.org – healing from family trauma

Prevention and Education Organizations

• Johns Hopkins Moore Center for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse: publichealth.jhu.edu/moore-center
• Moore Center Response to Great Photo, Lovely Life
• Darkness to Light: d2l.org – prevention education and training
• Stop It Now:  stopitnow.org  – prevention resources for families and communities

Host Information

Rosalia Rivera hosts AboutCONSENT Podcast, which sparks conversations about prevention, healing, and justice to end child sexual abuse while creating consent culture for current and future generations. The podcast provides a safe, shame-free, and judgment-free space for both survivors and those who support them.

Connect with the Show:

• Instagram: @consentparenting
• Podcast: @aboutconsentpodcast

Next Steps for Listeners

1. Watch “Great Photo, Lovely Life” on HBO Max
2. Access the discussion guide through the Moore Center
3. Share responsibly – Consider content warnings when sharing
4. Seek support if the content brings up personal trauma
5. Consider professional help for your own healing journey
6. Practice compassion in your own family dynamics

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with others who might benefit. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and tag @consentparenting and @aboutconsentpodcast on social media with your biggest takeaways. Let’s keep building safer spaces—one conversation at a time.

The post Episode 57: Breaking The Frame- Exposing Family Secrets While Healing Generational Trauma appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

In this eye-opening episode, I discuss Meta’s platforms and their impact on young users’ safety and wellbeing. Despite public messaging about prioritizing safety, internal research and whistleblower testimonies reveal alarming gaps in protection that expose children to sexual predators, harmful content, and dangerous interactions. I examine Meta’s business decisions when faced with implementing life-saving safety features, how their algorithms can create harmful content “bubbles,” and most importantly, what parents and advocates can do to demand accountability and change!

Key Takeaways with Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction

• The reality behind Meta’s safety promises
• The personal impact on families and young users

[04:15] The Statistics vs. Public Messaging

• Internal research findings Meta tried to hide
• Disturbing statistics about unwanted sexual advances and discrimination

[10:30] Real-World Consequences

• Stories of suicide following online harassment
• Impact on mental health, eating disorders, and substance abuse

[17:45] The Algorithmic Problem

• How engagement-focused algorithms promote harmful content
• Meta’s research on content “bubbles” and escalating harm

[23:30] Predator Playground

• Internal acknowledgments of safety gaps
• Results of investigations and test accounts

[32:15] Profit Over Protection

• Business decisions that prioritized engagement over safety
• Rejected safety features that could save lives

[40:00] Taking Action as Parents and Citizens

• The multi-organization petition to Mark Zuckerberg
• Three key demands for platform safety

[48:30] What Parents Can Do Now

• Immediate steps to protect your children online
• Resources for families affected by online harm

[54:45] Final Thoughts & Call to Action

• How to support the Design It For Us campaign
• Resources for those affected by online harassment

Instagram is Full of Openly Available AI Generated Child Abuse Content: Pulitzer Center Article

SIGN THE PETITION HERE!

Learn More About:

Heat Initiative

Design It For Us

Parents Together Action

Online Safety Resources:

Child Online Protection Resources:

• https://www.commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-online-safety
• https://www.connectsafely.org/resources-for-parents/

Mental Health Support:

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf

Report Online Exploitation:

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children CyberTipline: https://report.cybertip.org/
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: https://www.ic3.gov

Parent Education:

• https://www.waituntil8th.org/
• https://digitalwellnesslab.org

The post EP 56 False Promises That Gamble With Your Kids Lives appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Episode Notes

The post Ep 55 [Part 2] The Cost of Silence: The Le Scouarnec Case with guest Mié Kohiyama appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

???? Listen now to uncover the truth behind The Cost of Silence.

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with others. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and tag me @consentparenting and @aboutconsentpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, or X with your biggest takeaways. Let’s keep building consent culture—one conversation at a time!

In this gripping episode, we dive into the harrowing case of surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec, one of France’s most notorious serial child sex abusers. His decades-long history of abuse was shrouded in silence, concealed by institutions that failed to act. We examine the systemic failures that enabled his crimes, the courageous survivors who broke their silence, and the larger implications for child protection laws and medical accountability.

Through expert insights and survivor testimonies, this episode sheds light on how abuse thrives in secrecy—and what must change to prevent future tragedies.

Key Takeaways with Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction

• Overview of the case and its significance
• Why this story needs to be told

[03:15] Who Was Joël Le Scouarnec?

• Background on the surgeon
• His career and how he gained access to victims

[08:42] The First Red Flags: Early Complaints Ignored

• Accounts of early warning signs
• How institutions protected him instead of victims

[15:30] The Victims Speak Out

• The first survivor to break the silence
• How others came forward and the impact of their testimonies

[21:10] The Investigation Unfolds

• How police uncovered the shocking extent of his crimes
• The discovery of his private journals and what they revealed

[27:45] The Trial and Verdict

• What happened in court
• The justice survivors received—and what was left unanswered

[33:20] Institutional Silence: How Systems Enable Abuse

• Why hospitals and institutions failed to act
• The larger implications for medical and legal accountability

[40:00] What Needs to Change?

• Policy changes that could prevent similar cases
• The role of public awareness and survivor advocacy

[46:55] Final Thoughts & Call to Action

• How listeners can support survivors
• Resources for those affected by abuse

Survivor Resources:

Global Help Lines:

• https://www.bravemovement.org/get-help

U.S. Healing Resources + Survivor Support:

• https://metoomvmt.org/explore-healing/
• https://metoomvmt.org/how-can-we-help-you/

U.S. Victims Advocacy

• https://trynova.org/

About Child Trauma

• https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/about-child-trauma

The post Ep 54 [Part 1] The Cost of Silence: The Le Scouarnec Case appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

We also discuss the rising concerns around peer-on-peer abuse and why it’s more important than ever for parents to be proactive. Anna gives actionable strategies to recognize red flags, protect our kids, and create safer communities. If you’ve ever wondered how to sharpen your awareness and take meaningful steps to prevent child abuse, this is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways

[00:00] Welcome & Introduction
I introduce my guest, Anna Sonoda, and share why her book, Duck Duck Groom, is an essential read for parents.

[02:22] Anna’s Background & How She Started This Work
Anna talks about her journey as a clinical social worker and what led her to work with sex offenders. She explains how sitting face-to-face with offenders gave her insights into their thought processes and behaviors.

[04:34] What Grooming Really Looks Like
Anna breaks down the four stages of grooming—flattery, favoritism, forbidden fruits, and fear—and explains why most predators don’t fit the “creepy stranger” stereotype.

[07:11] The Limitations of the Sex Offender Registry
We discuss why relying on the sex offender registry isn’t enough and why most predators never end up on it.

[12:31] How Groomers Target Parents First
Predators don’t just groom children—they groom adults too. Anna explains the tactics offenders use to build trust with caregivers to gain access to kids.

[20:13] How Offenders Groom Entire Communities
We talk about the ways predators manipulate entire social circles, making it difficult for people to believe allegations when they arise.

[26:55] Red Flags & Early Warning Signs
Anna shares key behaviors to watch for, both in adults and children, that could indicate grooming.

[32:46] The Power of Showing Up
We discuss why parental presence is one of the strongest protective factors against abuse and why being the “unpredictable parent” can deter predators.

[36:08] Peer-on-Peer Abuse is Rising—Here’s What You Need to Know
Anna highlights the alarming rise in peer-on-peer abuse and how easy access to pornography is shaping harmful behaviors among kids.

[41:44] How to Talk to Kids About Grooming & Body Safety
We go over practical ways to start age-appropriate conversations with kids about staying safe, recognizing red flags, and setting boundaries.

[46:34] Where to Find Anna’s Book & Final Thoughts
Anna shares where listeners can find Duck Duck Groom and her additional resources for parents and survivors.

Anna Sonoda’s Book:

• Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target is available on Amazon.

Anna Sonoda’s Website:

• For more resources and information, visit Anna Sonoda’s official website.

Additional Resources:

• Anna has been featured in various interviews and podcasts discussing child safety and grooming prevention. You can find these appearances on her “Listen and Watch Here” page.

annasonoda.com

annasonoda.com

amazon.com

ABOUT ANNA SONODA:

Anna Sonoda is a graduate of Emory University, where she double-majored in Anthropology and French Studies, and earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia in 2006. She obtained her clinical license in 2009.

Anna’s diverse clinical experience includes counseling convicted sexual offenders, working in residential mental health, providing outpatient anger management and domestic violence treatment, and supporting individuals with dual diagnoses in both residential and outpatient settings.

Her extensive counseling work, combined with her personal journey as a mother, deepened her understanding of the critical importance of recognizing grooming behaviors. This realization led to the creation of Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target (2022), a resource designed to help parents and professionals protect children from sexual abuse.

Anna’s latest work, Duck Duck Groom: A Guided Journal, provides survivors of childhood sexual abuse with a safe space to reflect on how grooming played a role in their experiences, empowering them on their healing journey.

The post Ep 53 Grooming Uncovered: What Every Parent Needs to Know appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

I asked if online safety had improved or worsened since their last discussion. Topics discussed in this episode are Parental controls, mental health impacts, early access arguments, inappropriate content, sextortion trends, parent responsibility, and tech responsibility.

Some parents give young kids smartphones without restrictions, while others delay access.

Titania recommends delaying smartphones as long as possible and using locked-down phones like BARKs’ if needed.

We address arguments that early access prepares kids for college or helps them avoid social exclusion.

We discuss mental health issues, and Titania explains impacts like lack of sleep, sedentary behavior, social comparison, and FOMO. She recommends limiting social media time if kids already have accounts.

We talk about inappropriate content and how algorithms expose kids to inappropriate content tailored to their interests.

We discussed how popular children are now targets of sextortion to inflict maximum shame, not just vulnerable kids.

In discussing a parents responsibility, Titania stresses open communication with kids and educating all parents on risks

Our conversation emphasized parental control and responsibility to protect children, but that tech companies have a duty of care.

—

TIME STAMPS:

00:00:00 Talking to Your Child About Online Sexual Predators

00:03:48 Bark on Parents and Online Safety

00:08:26 Parents Giving Kids Smartphones at Younger and Younger Ages

00:14:57 The Growing Problem of Child Sexual Abuse

00:21:49 Bark on How To Educate Parents About Algorithms

00:28:06 Are Sex Offenders Targeting the Most Popular Kids?

00:31:24 Mental Health on Social Media

00:34:39 How to Limit Screen Time for Kids

00:38:06 Don’t Want Your Child Left Out of Tech

00:44:15 Bark Parenting: In the Know! 

—

Links mentioned in this episode:

BARK Technologies

Titania Jordan on Instagram

About Titania Jordan:

Titania Jordan is the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parent Officer of Bark Technologies, an online safety company that helps keep kids safe online and in real life.

A renowned thought leader on digital parenting, Titania has contributed to pieces in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Huffington Post, Fox Business, Daily Mail, USA Today, Vogue, and more. Her first book, Parenting in a Tech World, was published in 2020 and quickly became a bestseller on Amazon. Titania was also featured in the 2020 documentary Childhood 2.0. She also frequently appears as a subject matter expert on nationally broadcasted programs such as the TODAY Show, Steve Harvey, The Doctors, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Fox News, Sirius XM Radio, and CNBC.

In 2017, Titania founded a Facebook group where parents could come together and get advice on raising kids in the digital age, share stories, and learn the latest news about social media. It now has more than 300,000 members and is growing rapidly.

One of her favorite childhood memories is her dad asking her to “figure out this new computer thing” (i.e., read the Microsoft Windows 3.0 user manual) in the early ‘90s and later teaching him to navigate the wild west of the early internet that would eventually turn into the online world we know today.

When she’s not busy trying to make the world a safer place for kids, Titania enjoys painting with her son.

For the latest news regarding parenting in a tech world, you can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and yes, TikTok as well. For a link to Titania’s recent media appearances, visit Bark in the News.

The post Ep 52 Online Safety For ALL Ages in 2024 appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Rosalia Rivera and Sarah Gardner discuss the need to hold tech giants accountable for child safety, particularly in the context of Apple’s failure to detect and remove child sexual abuse material from its platforms.

They emphasize the urgency of this issue and the need for collective action to ensure the safety of children online. Rivera and Sarah Gardner also discuss Apple’s role in addressing child sexual abuse, the tension between privacy and child safety, and the importance of holding companies accountable for their actions or lack of action.

Action Items

[ ] Share the heat campaign and podcast with one other person to spread awareness

[ ] Sign the heat petition on their website calling on Apple to make requested safety changes

[ ] Support passage of the Kids Online Safety Act and contact members of Congress

[ ] Share HEAT’s social media content and sign the open letter supporting their demands along with other organizations

[ ] Continue coalition-building and campaigning efforts against Apple

Here are the links from the show:

• Take Action link (emails to Apple and the petition): https://protectchildrennotabuse.org/take-action/ 
• Follow and Engage with the HEAT Initiative (and sign up for their newsletter)
  • Heat Website
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
• THORN blog explaining KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act)

The post Ep 51 How HEAT is Pushing Apple to Prioritize Child Protection appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

That includes talking about the Brave Movement’s online safety campaign, Safer Internet, through an exciting new series. She’s also releasing episodes about the growing influence of the pedophile movement in society.

She emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health, exposing red flags, and creating a consent culture to prevent child sexual abuse and promote healing and justice. Rivera highlighted the need for collective action to address this complex issue and ensure a safer world for all children and adolescents.

She’ll also be addressing issues around Indigenous abuse and school safety.

Learn more about the Brave Movement here!

The post Ep 50 Season 3 REBOOT Launch appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is an organization based in the United Kingdom that works to combat the distribution of online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and other illegal content. Established in 1996, the IWF operates as an independent, self-regulatory body supported by the internet industry, law enforcement agencies, and the government.

The main objective of the IWF is to minimize the availability of CSAM on the internet and protect children from online exploitation. They achieve this by actively searching for and removing illegal content hosted on websites worldwide. When the IWF identifies explicit or abusive material, they work closely with internet service providers (ISPs) to have the content blocked or taken down.

The IWF also operates a hotline that allows members of the public to report suspected instances of CSAM found online. These reports are assessed by the IWF’s analysts, who then take appropriate action to have the illegal content removed and ensure that the relevant authorities are notified.

Additionally, the IWF plays a vital role in providing support and guidance to internet industry partners, helping them establish policies and practices to prevent the distribution of illegal content on their platforms. They collaborate with law enforcement agencies both nationally and internationally, sharing information and intelligence to aid in investigations and prosecution of offenders.

Learn more about the foundation here.

Read the blog post I review in the episode here.

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting.

Learn more about CONSENTparenting here.

TIME STAMPS:

Introduction of the episode. (0:00)

The Internet Watch Foundation’s report. (2:02)

What are the categories of indecent images? (3:44)

Explaining the definition of child sexual abuse. (6:08)

The results of the investigation. (10:44)

What objects were being used for penetration? (12:03)

A global crisis of our era. (14:06)

Is child sexual abuse on the rise? (18:02)

The rise of online abuse. (19:57)

What is online safety? (22:15)

The post Ep 49 Category A Child Sexual Abuse Material Is Rising appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Jane, Hope and Maria, along with Brandy Black and Fiona Ward joined forces to create the non profit organization 5waves.org to help other families affected by SSA.

In this episode, we talked about:

• The prevalence of child sexual abuse in the home
• Why this type of abuse is so often NOT discovered
• Acknowledging those who have been harmed
• The stigma of disclosing a child’s abuse
• The importance of communication
• Hope’s story of discovering the abuse between her children
• The challenges of finding help and information
• How children determine what’s inappropriate/unsafe
• The importance of teaching body safety and specifics
• Vigilance and conversations in the home
• What are the next steps if abuse is discovered
• The emotional toll on all family members
• The need for therapy and treatment for children & parents
• How to get support as a parent when people judge you

Learn more about 5 Waves and other organizations working together to fight this issue.

• www.siblingsexualtrauma.com
• www.5waves.org
• www.siblingstoo.com
• www.ssarc.co.uk/
• Parents Coping With Sibling Sexual Abuse and Trauma https://www.facebook.com/groups/siblingtrauma
• Peer Support Group For Survivors of Childhood Sibling Sexual Abuse https://www.facebook.com/groups/646423866554980

Social Media Links:

5WAVES IG: https://www.instagram.com/5wavesorg/

Maria IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariasocolofauthor/

Hope IG: https://www.instagram.com/hopesittler/

Jane IG:https://www.instagram.com/jane_complicatedcourage/

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting

Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post Ep 48 Sibling Sexual Abuse and 5Waves.org appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Erin Merryn joins me to talk about Erin’s Law that mandates schools to provide body safety education for grades K-12 in the United States. 38 states have passed the law and in this episode we talk about why she became a champion for schools to teach this education and what the results have been since passing the law in those states. She shares her own personal story of survival, and leadership.

Time Stamps:

0:02 Intro

2:30 What Is Erin’s Law

7:10 Erin’s Story of Abuse

9:33 Erin’s diary as an outlet for anger

14:13 When predators are getting away with abusing one child

16:45 Children’s advocacy centers

23:20 What did his sister do?

30:14 Erin’s Law in Ohio

33:26 What’s the fear of Planned Parenthood

38:16 What can parents do to advocate for this law

41:18 The importance of writing a letter to your legislator

46:53 Principals’ lunch buddies program

49:56 If the law is not passed, this is what needs to be talked about in schools

56:24 What parents can do to reduce the risk of sexual abuse

Links Mentioned:

Erin’s Law Website

Erin Merryn’s Website

—

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting

Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post Ep 47 Body Safety Education in All U.S. Schools appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners. Please check the show notes for more detailed descriptions and take care of yourself.

What would you do if you witnessed a family member being sexually abused?

Yamisel Pence found her calling when she had to answer that very question.

In this episode, Yami shares with us her journey as a police officer, ICAC, SVU detective, and then as an educator to parents.

Some cases have a positive outcome where the abused child can receive the support they need. It is never too late to report, just like in the Josh Duggar case. However negative outcome cases happen too often.

Why is that? Sometimes it has to do with how the parent responds to a child’s accusation. Yami’s goal is to teach parents on how to respond, pick up on grooming signs, and what questions to ask so their child can feel safe.

About Yami Pence:

Yami Pence is a former Internet Crimes Against Children, Child Exploitation, and Special Victims Unit Detective from South Florida, who currently educates parents, schools, and churches on how to Keep Our Kids Safe from abuse on the internet and in real life.

Links Mentioned: 

Staysafewithyami.com

consentwear.com

Instagram @YamiPence

TikTok StaySafewithYami

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting

Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post EP45 What To Do After Disclosure with Yami Pence appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

In this episode we talked about:

• What EFT, aka Tapping, is.
• Pam and Maria Elena explain its roots, the scient behind it and why it works.
• We all shared our stories of how we started using tapping.
• And we discussed why it’s so powerful for those with trauma and experience triggers.
• And we talked bout the safe ways to practice it and learn about it.

Links for Pam Covarrubias:

https://www.spreadideasmovepeople.com/tapping

https://www.instagram.com/cobiux/

Links for Maria Elena Perez:

https://www.instagram.com/maria.elenaperez/

Pam Covarrubias: 

Pam is dynamically skilled as a Liberation Business Coach, EFT Practitioner, Podcaster, and Recovering Procrastinator. She primarily spends her time elevating first-generation business owners by helping them remove the shame around making money and connecting to their inner voice so they can create liberated business practices.
She dreams of co-creating a future where work supports everyone without glorifying productivity and by honoring our inner energy seasons. Pam’s approach is a dance between practical success strategy and intuitive personal discovery that helps humans stay true to their unique story as we decolonize business practices.

Pam’s goal is to remove the damages Calladita Culture has instilled in first-generation humans in the United States. A topic she explores in her weekly podcast Cafe con Pam, staying quiet and submissive is not a stance she supports.

Pam guides her clients to honor their heritage while leveraging the resiliency they’ve built as they’ve navigated existing in two cultures.

Pam is grounded in the teachings of mother earth, her mother and grandmothers’ wisdom, as well as technically trained in Clinical EFT. She holds a Life Coaching Certification, Crystal Healing Practitioner Certification. Pam is also rooted in practical knowledge from her BFA, certificate in Women in Entrepreneurship by Cornell University, and additional business trainings she’s attended.

She is honored to have been named one of the best Latinx Podcast to listen to by Oprah in 2020 and 2021. When Pam isn’t guiding her clients to create liberated business models, you can find her drawing, getting lost in the woods with her partner David and dog Thor.

Maria Elena Pérez:

Maria Elena Pérez has 15 years of experience in social justice organizations, including ten years in executive leadership.

She is the founder of HealSana, LLC and an organizational consultant and trauma-informed healing practitioner with Strategies for Social Change.

Maria Elena worked at both local and national organizations including the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, the National Institute for Reproductive Health, and Make the Road New York. During her career, she’s been a bilingual spokesperson on social and reproductive justice issues, led during critical leadership transitions, and has played key roles in facilitating organizational development and change management processes internally.

Maria Elena is also a Certified Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Practitioner and works 1:1 and in group programs with women of color to heal generational patterns, wounds, and traumas.

A Licensed Master Social Worker in the State of New York, Maria Elena holds an M.S.W. from the City University of New York, Hunter College, and a B.S. from New York University. She is a first-generation Latina born to Dominican and Puerto Rican parents.

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting 

Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post EP 44: Tapping And Trauma with Pam Covarrubias and Maria Elena Perez appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

0:02 Welcome

0:37 Introduction of Dr. Rosenna Bakari. 

3:45 Share your journey of getting where you are, and how you’re able to help others. 

4:23 Dr. Bakari sharing her story. 

13:26 Unpacking survivorship of child sexual assault.  

17:23 Finding community after experiencing trauma. 

26:22 For anyone who’s listening, can you share about ACE’s and shed some light on what it is for listeners who may not know. 

30:07 What do you say to those survivors who are afraid or feel like they’re beyond that help? 

36:31 Talking about Dr. Bakari’s community and how people are engaging in it.

46:57 Is that a program that you do regularly, like your eight week program that you were talking about?  

51:50 How can people connect with Dr. Bakari? 

53:01 Wrap up. 

53:49 Outro 

Links Mentioned: 

https://www.instagram.com/rosennabakari/?hl=en

https://linktr.ee/rosennabakari

https://rosennabakari.com

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting 

Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post EP 43: Your Healing Your Way with Rosenna Bakari appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Known as “America’s Joy Magnet”, Shari Alyse is an International Motivational Speaker, #1 Best Selling Author, and Joy Coach. Shari has built a community of over 150k+ followers and has reached over 10 million people.

Shari’s deep commitment to others is motivated by her own journey through childhood sexual abuse and other childhood traumas. At seven-years-old, Shari found herself having to use her voice on a witness stand to testify against the man who had abused her.

She now uses her voice to speak around the world on self-worth, mindset, overcoming obstacles, and how to live a joy-filled life.

In 2013, Shari co-founded one of the first online holistic wellness directories and communities. She has been featured on numerous media outlets including ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS radio, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, to name a few. She has gone on to Executive produce and host multiple online TV and radio shows, most recently, the talk show – Heart to Heart.

Over the last 15 years, Shari has reached thousands of people with her inspirational videos, speaking engagements, coaching and writings. Shari’s book, Love Yourself Happy, quickly became a #1 New Release and International Best Seller.

Shari believes that in the radical acceptance and connection to ourselves, we truly can live a joy-filled life.

0:02 Welcome

0:37 Intro of Shari Alyse

3:30 What does radical acceptance mean to you?

5:19 Shari shares the experience of finding radical self acceptance.

9:23 What have you done to support yourself through that memory/experience and maybe trigger?

12:54 Can you share what the impact was of speaking up about your SA experience?

15:34 Response

17:46 How did that lead to your journey of becoming a joy magnet and then writing your book?

26:44 AD Consent Wear

29:25 What helped inspire you to then write the book to really create this movement to help others recognize that they can also find joy?

32:23 Who is it meant for? What will they learn when they read it?

35:00 Is there anything that you’d like to share before we wrap up ?

38:44 How can people connect with you and how can they find you?

39:41 Outro

Links Mentioned:

Home

https://www.facebook.com/sharingwithshari

https://www.instagram.com/sharialyse/

https://www.linkedin.com/insharialyse

https://www.youtube.com/user/sharig74

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post EP 42: Love Yourself Happy To Find Joy with Shari Alyse appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

In this episode, I speak with Kim Guerra, writer, advocate, and entrepreneur. She is the creator of “Badass x Bonita”, a brand and movement that she considers to be a work of self-love and her love for her community.

Kim Guerra is a queer woman of color. A butterfly woman who has given herself wings. She is a writer, advocate, and entrepreneur. She is the creator of “Badass x Bonita”, a brand and movement that she considers to be a work of self-love and her love for her community. She wants each person to wear “Badass x Bonita” products as a statement and shield– a living revolution. Guerra is the author of “Mariposa” and “Mija”: collections of bilingual poems, affirmations, and revolutionary love letters. “Badass x Bonita” is for all humans who are giving themselves and their community wings through revolutionary love.  Guerra is a TEDx Speaker and received the “Agent of Change” award from Univision’s Premios Juventud and has been recognized for her work in various publications including Oprah Magazine, Today, People, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Univision, Televisa, Remezcla, R29Somos, and FiercebyMitu. Kim Guerra continues to use her voice and platform to advocate for the immigrant, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, survivors, mujeres, and oppressed communities.

:02 Welcome!

:40 Introducing Kim Guerra.

3:07 Kim’s story about how brown, badass bonita came to be.

7:52 What was it inside of you that you think helped you to stand tall and begin living your own life?

14:31 What would be your advice for people who are afraid to go against the norm, but want to speak up?

21:27 AD break- Consent Wear

22:13 What would it look like if I loved myself? What would that look like in terms of action?

26:31 What did I need to hear growing up? What are the messages that I wish I received as a child?

34:18 What is on the horizon for you this year? What can we expect from you? How can we support you? Where can we find you?

40:30 Wrap up

42:22 Outro

Links Mentioned:

https://brownbadassbonita.com

https://brownbadassbonita.com/collections

https://brownbadassbonita.com/collections/books

https://www.instagram.com/badassxbonita/

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post EP41 Being The Revolution & Giving Yourself Wings with Kim Guerra appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

In this episode, I speak with Christine Gutierrez about her book, ‘I am Diosa: A Journey to Healing Deep, Loving Yourself, and Coming Back Home to Soul.’

The post EP40 The Journey to Healing, Self Love, and Coming Back Home to Soul with Christine Gutierrez appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Links Mentioned:

Love146: https://love146.org

The post EP39 Stopping Child Sex Trafficking & Supporting Survivors with LOVE146 appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Zanah’s Website: http://www.zanahthirus.com/

Zanah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__zanah/

The post EP38 Activism + Healing from Trauma Through Narrative Storytelling with Zanah Thirus appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

We talked about:

– Her new book Sorry Not Sorry, and its raw truthtelling… (which I highly recommend)

– Her new Netflix movie Brazen (and its storyline of parallels to violence against OnlyFans ‘influencers’)

– Her role as executive producer of the new documentary by the filmmakers of Stopping Traffic: The Movement to End Sex Trafficking

– And her activism and how her work supports and empowers survivors and consent culture!

Links Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.instagram.com/milano_alyssa/

https://sorrynotsorrypod.com/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647098/sorry-not-sorry-by-alyssa-milano/

https://survivingsextraffickingfilm.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJPSSL2lSjU

This Episode is Sponsored by CONSENTwear

The post EP37 Unapologetic Activism + Authenticity with Alyssa Milano appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

I’ve received many requests to talk about coping with the anxiety and fears and sometimes even paranoia around teaching our children about body safety boundaries and consent. Most of the parents that have reached out about this are parents who are survivors themselves. So this episode is dedicated to you- the survivor parent that is dedicated to this cycle-breaking work.

In this episode, I share the 5 key tools I used to help reduce my anxiety so I can do the needed research and work I do to teach abuse prevention and consent education, both to parents and my own children.

These tools have helped me heal, reclaim my power, my sexuality and stay focused on my commitment to my family and the community of parents who depend on this work.

Below are links to the resources I mention in the episode.

I hope it helps you find your path to calm, healing and empowerment!

If you find this episode helpful, please tag me and let me know what your biggest takeaway was and please share it with others!

With gratitude,

Rosalia~

LINKS MENTIONED:

Previous Podcast Episodes To Support This Episode:

Mindfulness Hypnosis for Healing + Resilience Building

How Our Anger Can Be Transformative Instead of Toxic

Dismantling Child Sexual Abuse Taboos Through Support

How Sleep Impacts Mental Wellness & Healing

How Devoting Ourselves To Ourselves Heals

The Healing Medicine Inside of Ourselves

Beyond Trauma and Into Resilience

Survivor To Thriver Via Intuition and Support

Additional Resources

Guided Breathwork 

8 Breathing Exercises To Try When You Feel Anxious

Guided Meditation: Peaceful, Easy Feeling

Guided Meditation: Yoga Nidra for Healthy Boundaries

EFT Tapping

Tapping for Stress & Worry

Dance Movement Therapy

A Lesson in Therapeutic Dance Movement

My Flo App (Period Tracker)

How to Work With Your Period, Not Against It

This Episode is Brought to You By CONSENTparenting

The post EP 36 Coping with Anxiety As A Survivor Parent appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

In this episode we talked about:

• How they got started and why it was important to teach consent principles to their kids
• What their ‘freedoms’ model is all about
• How their parenting practices intersect with consent parenting and feminism
• How parents can enjoy these practices and let go of the guilt of not always getting it right
• And more!

You’ll enjoy this episode if you’re a parent, and even if you’re not, you’ll see how the way you were raised may not have given you all the freedoms to fully express yourself and how you can change that now! It’s never too late to heal those parenting wounds and liberate yourself now!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions and encourage you to leave a rating and review if you enjoyed the episode so others can find us!

ABOUT HANNAH + KELTY OF UPBRINGING:

Hannah & Kelty are twins, coaches and speakers behind the parenting movement Upbringing. Certified in Simplicity Parenting, Positive Discipline and trained in Foundations of the respectful parenting approach, RIE (pronounced “rye”), Upbringing empowers parents in over 100 countries to show up + grow up alongside their kids when it comes to daily discipline.

Hannah & Kelty’s top-ranked podcast, Q&A videos and research-informed Guides call parents in with humor and honesty, giving them permission to align their personal values with their parenting practices in the name of sanity + social change. Hannah & Kelty co-parent on an organic veggie farm outside Portland, OR that they share with their partners and kids, ages 5, 6, 8 and 8.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Website: http://www.Upbringing.co

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/upbringing.co

Shop: http://www.Upbringing.co/shop  [used code CONSENT to download their Consent Culture Mini Guide] 

This Episode Was Brought To You By CONSENTparenting

Website: https://www.consentparenting.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consentparenting/

The post EP 35 Upbringing by Power With Vs Power Over Parenting appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

TRIGGER WARNING that this episode contains content discussing child sexual abuse and pedophiles. 

Episode Time Stamp:

0:00 – Intro

0:38 – Introduction of guest

0:54 –  Can you give a quick synopsis of what Hunting Warhead is?

3:04 – Synopsis of Hunting Warhead

6:24 – Daemon’s experience in the field of studying violent men and CSAM

8:24 – what do you think parents should know about this issue?

11:53- Daemon’s response

16:25 – Can you talk a bit about what you learned in terms of these communities and how they operate and why should parents know about this?

18:17 – Daemon’s response

22:02 – The importance of parents understanding the reality of these places on the dark web and how they operate.

23:21 – Child Rescue Coalition

24:46 – Daemon’s take on CSA/SAM Investigations

30:02- Could someone who is doing work to protect against SAM actually be influenced in the same way? 

34:58- Can you share where people can find your book? 

38:56 – Closing

Links Mentioned:

Daemon’s Book- https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01JN52W0I/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Daemon’s Website- https://www.daemonfairless.com

Hunting Warhead CBC 4-Part Podcast – https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/387-hunting-warhead

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting

Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post EP 34 Offending Pedophile Communities + What You Should Know appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

In this episode, I speak with Directors Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti about their movie Stopping Traffic. They share their own personal experiences and their non-profit of the same name supporting survivors of human trafficking.

Episode Notes

The post EP 33 Stopping & Helping Those Surviving Trafficking in 2022 appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Episode Notes:

0:00 – Intro

0:38 – Introduction of guest

4:05 – Importance of parents teaching and practicing consent

8:54 – Nuances of consent

13:39 – Helping parents feel more at ease teaching consent

19:37 – Teaching adults consent/setting boundaries

26:06 – AD

26:55 – Starting practicing consent early

29:06 – Consent and the media

36:23 – Learning to communicate

39:26 – Communicating consent in relationships

48:19 – Connecting with Comprehensive Consent

51:24 – Closing

Links Mentioned:

Sarah’s IG: @comprehensiveconsent

comprehensiveconsent.com

This episode was brought to you by CONSENTparenting

Learn more at consentparenting.com

The post EP 32 How Teaching Consent Is About More Than A ‘I Said No’ appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Children are at growing risk for CSA because the world remains silent on this issue. But I believe that 2022 is the year that we can break ground and finally bring this issue to the forefront.

We cannot be silent as a society, within different cultures, in our communities, with our families, and with our kids.

If we are to truly solve this issue we MUST TALK ABOUT IT.

We must address this and tack the issue HEAD ON!

Are you with me? If you said yes, then this episode will give you the first clues about how to get started.

Episode Notes

In this episode, this call to arms even, I invite you to get brave and talk about this global issue with the people in your child’s life, and if you don’t have kids, to talk to the adults in your life who DO have kids.

We discuss my 50/50 rule to help solve this problem as a parent.

And I share some sobering statistics so that you can share them with your communities. AND I also talk about why it’s SO IMPORTANT that you prioritize your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health, today more than ever- and how that relates to the safety of the children in your life.

I also share some exciting news about an organization I’m honored to be part of that is creating a movement that will help create the change and the impact that I talk about in this episode.

I invite you to tune in, get inspired, motivated, and determined to join forces with me so we can FINALLY end child sexual abuse.

It may sound like a big goal, but WE CAN DO THIS- if we do it TOGETHER!

Are you with me?

Below you can find the links to the articles and statistics that I reference in the episode.

I also invite you to reach out with any questions you might have if you’d like to do more.

Here’s to a groundbreaking 2022!

Links Mentioned In Episode:

WeProtect Global Alliance https://www.weprotect.org/

NewsHub New Zealand https://www.newshub.co.nz

Epidemeologist Katelyn Jetelina report https://watermark.silverchair.com

Canadian Centre for Child Protection July Report https://protectchildren.ca

This Episode is Brought to You By:

CONSENTparenting

Learn more at https://www.consentparenting.com/

The post EP 31: Getting Brave in 2022 appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Hypnosis is still widely misunderstood, and although people are waking up to it, many don’t realize how it can help us develop the resilience we need to face and heal from our past traumas.

In this last episode of 2021 (and yes, it’s been a minute since I released an episode, but we’re back!), I wanted to share what has helped me get through this challenging year, so it can help you find yet another way to develop the resilience you need to step into 2022 with hope and confidence that you can do this!

In this episode, I interview Monique Chenier, my hypnotherapist, to talk about:

• What hypnosis can be used for
• My experience with hypnotherapy
• How we can tap into the unconscious to help us process and heal traumas/wounds from our past
• Methods that can be used in tandem with hypnotherapy
• How we can use writing practice to reclaim our narrative
• How we can lovingly discipline our mind so we can create resilient outlets for challenging feelings

I hope you walk away feeling empowered by this interview, and I would love to hear your thoughts!

Links Mentioned:

Monique’s Website: https://www.moniquechenierhypnosis.com/

The Mindful Hypnotist Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/TheMindfulHypnotist

Gathering of Moons Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/agatheringofmoons

The Mindful Hypnotist Instagram Account:

https://www.instagram.com/moniquechenierhypnosis/

This Episode is Brought to You By:

CONSENTparenting

Learn more at https://www.consentparenting.com/

About Monique Chenier:

Monique Chenier is a registered consulting hypnotist, a certified yoga teacher, published poet and writer.

She helps her clients take control of their lives through transformational approaches such as hypnosis, lifestyle coaching, mindfulness meditation, guided relaxation, energy healing techniques and Buddhist psychology. Her work aims to bring people back to that open space within themselves so that they can meet life’s challenges in the healthiest, most fulfilling way.

Monique is currently a registered Consulting Hypnotist with the National Guild of Hypnotists which is the oldest and largest hypnosis organization of its kind.

She finished her initial hypnosis certification in 2012. She has advanced training in age regression, imprints removal, pediatric hypnosis, and smoke cessation.

Monique received her Certification in Clinical Hypnotism, and completed her training in HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method in 2015. She’s also an official THINNER BAND HYPNOSIS® practitioner.

Monique has hypnosis training in Coping with Cancer and Care for the Caregivers through the NGH, and Pain Management through the American School of Clinical Hypnotism.

In 2021, she completed her Certification in Complementary Medical Hypnotism with Dr, Scot Giles through the NGH.

The post EP 30: Mindfulness + Hypnosis for Healing & Resilience Building appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Katelyn N. Brewer, CEO of Darkness To Light, joins me to talk about how we can all take action to prevent child sexual abuse and why it’s so important, NOW, more than ever to address this silent epidemic. COVID-19 lockdowns have made the problem worse, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t solutions.

Episode Notes

The post EP 29 Ending the Secondary Silent COVID-19 Epidemic appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

SHOW NOTES

This episode is sponsored by CONSENTparenting

The post EP 28: Confronting An Abuser + Being A Male Survivor appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

It’s Women’s History Month and March 8th is International Women’s Day and I can’t think of a better person to highlight than Dr. Daniela Ligiero, the CEO and co-founder of Together For Girls. She is a leader in the fight against violence against children and dismantling the taboos around the topic of sexual abuse against girls.

Episode Notes

The post EP 27 Ending Sexual Violence For All appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

EPISODE SHOW NOTES:

The post EP 26: Porn Literacy + Parenting appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Episode Summary

Today is the last day of January, and the end of Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention month, but it’s certainly not the last time I’ll be talking about this issue this year.

The post EP 25: Sex Trafficking And Your Family appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Are you willing to feel a little uncomfortable, so your children don’t have to. Because when we turn our backs to this crime, children pay the price.

-Feather Berkower

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• How abuse prevention has changed over the last 30 years and what it looks like now

• Feather shared her story for how she got started and why she’s so passionate about this work

• We talked about child and parent grooming and what parents need to know from a predator/offender perspective

• What parents who’s children have been abuse should do to help empower their children and prevent revictimization

• What she has learned from offenders and what parents should know and do

• How parents should respond to a disclosure from a child 

• Feather also shared what is coming up for her in 2021 and how you can work with her to protect your family

ABOUT FEATHER

Feather Berkower, Founder of Parenting Safe Children, is a licensed clinical social worker and holds a Master’s of Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. Feather is one of the nation’s leading experts in child sexual assault prevention. She has dedicated her career — which now spans over three decades — to educating parents and youth professionals on how to make their communities “off limits” to child sexual assault.

Using her community-based approach, she has trained over 150,000 schoolchildren, parents, and youth professionals across the United States.

Feather presents her well-regarded workshop, Parenting Safe Children, in schools, youth organizations, parenting groups, and businesses nation-wide. Now, Feather offers her workshop live via Zoom so people around the world can participate.

Feather co-authored Off Limits: A Parent’s Guide to Keeping Children Safe from Sexual Abuse, a parenting book that will change the way you think about keeping children safe. She also authored Conversation-Starter Cards that accompany Off Limits to help parents get conversations about body safety started with caregivers. They are both available on her website at parentingsafechildren.com.

Feather makes a difficult and sensitive topic less scary, and consistently impresses audiences with her knowledge, commitment, and warmth.

Feather is also available for private consultation at an hourly rate.

CONNECT WITH FEATHER

http://www.parentingsafechildren.com

https://www.instagram.com/parentingsafechildren/

https://www.facebook.com/parentingsafechildren/

https://twitter.com/FeatherBerkower

The post EP 24: Abuse Prevention By Way of Grooming Prevention appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

This episode is jam-packed with valuable lessons, guidance, love, and wisdom! You may get wrapped up in empowerment and revel in what Quentin shares! We talked about so many topics that truly impact our quality of life.

If you’re a parent or not, this will help you reflect on how toxic masculinity has shaped your views and how you can break the cycle of toxic masculinity, mental health stigmas and reclaim your power as a child sexual abuse survivor.

Quentin shared on how he manages anxiety, what it can look like for others, and why it’s important to get to the root of anxiety and not deal with it as a surface symptom.

We also talked about equity in communities of color and how this impacts mental health services and more!

Shout out to Rebekah Borucki for making the connection for Quentin and me!

ABOUT QUENTIN:

The post EP 23 Breaking From + Healing The Cycle of Toxic Masculinity, Stigma and Sexual Abuse appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

SHOWNOTES

Please note there is a TRIGGER WARNING with this episode, so please be sure to take care of your mental health and if you need to pause the video and come back to it later, please do what is best for you!
But I do want to let you know that this is an important episode to listen to, not just for the warning that online dangers are real, but because it also sheds light on how it happens, who can do it and what parents can do to be proactive and preventative.

ABOUT CARA CHACE:

Cara Chace is a former Special Agent having conducted countless investigations of internet crimes against children, child exploitation, and child pornography. While she is now an online entrepreneur specializing in Pinterest marketing, her in-depth and unique experience in criminal law enforcement gives her a perspective and dose of real-world knowledge that is so needed.

CONNECT WITH CARA:

Website:

www.carachace.com

www.onlinesafetyabc.ck.page/pdf

Social Media:

www.instagram.com/carachace

SPONSORS LINKS:

www.aboutconsent.com/online-safety

www.aboutconsent.com/guide

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding Spanish bonus episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you’re loving the podcast and want to express your love for it, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! Your review helps other people find my podcast and they also fuel me. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. I appreciate you!

The post EP 22 Former Special Agent on What Parents Need To Know About Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Abuse appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

It can be hard for ANY parent to teach something that wasn’t taught to them when growing up. You have few models of how it’s done AND if you add your own negative experiences around the topic, it can make it FEEL that much harder. This is why I’m so grateful for experts who can guide us, and show us how much easier it actually IS!

SHOWNOTES

CONNECT WITH NADINE:

The post EP 21 Sex-Ed As Part Of Abuse Prevention Education appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

SHOWNOTES

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by psychotherapist Nicole Schiener to talk about the power of anger and how we can use it as transformative energy instead of a toxic one that depletes us.

We talked about:

• The conflicted relationship that many survivors and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour have with anger because of their trauma.
• Why is it so important for people with trauma to process their anger and not just ‘get over it’.
• What survivors who are afraid of their anger can do, particularly if they’re not sure how to express it.
• What reclaiming and transforming anger into healing looks like on a personal and collective level.
• How most survivors are told to get over things that happened a long time ago and how one can respond to these kinds of comments?
• What a humble warrior means and how we can all be a warrior for others.

This was most definitely an empowering episode and I can’t wait for you to hear it!

ABOUT NICOLE SCHIENER:

Nicole Schiener is a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, Canada, and a published author. Her writing has been featured in the Gottman Blog and Elephant Journal.

She provides counseling and supervision at a non-profit organization and sees clients privately at a wellness clinic in St. George, Ontario.

Nicole is a member of her region’s Sexual Assault Response Team and a mama to a teen son and 10-year-old daughter.

Nicole loves helping people connect to their inner expert and learn to dance with their emotions, embracing and celebrating their authentic self and the power of the human spirit to heal and thrive.

Currently, she’s completing a compilation of short stories, poetry, and reflective questions on the awakening journey for highly sensitive mothers. Nicole believes, “World peace begins with inner peace.”

CONNECT WITH NICOLE:

Website: https://peaceandpossibility.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeaceandPossiblity

Instagram: @peaceandpossibility

Linktree with a collection of writing and free offers: http://www.linktr.ee/mindfulmama_nsm

FCC: http://www.fcccnd.com

STG FB for booking: https://www.facebook.com/stghealthandwellness

Other mentions in the episode is Asha Frost.

Find her at www.ashafrost.com

SPONSORS:

Learn more about CONSENTparenting by visiting www.consentparenting.com

To sign up for the Child Predator Protection Masterclass mentioned in the episode, go to www.aboutconsent.com/protect WITHOUT A CODE to get the special quarantine price for this class.

The post EP 20 How Our Anger Can be transformative instead of toxic appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Being better equipped makes us all more ethical and responsible adults that can help support and guide a child during a critical time where they need to feel safe and secure that they will get the help they need.

SHOWNOTES

It is for this reason that I invited Trauma Psychotherapist Adriana Alejandre to the podcast.

In this episode we talk about the taboo that continues to surround therapy and why it matters that we all shift our perspectives, now more than ever.

We also discussed why parents, particularly in the Latinx community, are still reluctant to seek mental health support, and also, how they can take steps to become more receptive to the idea.

We dived into what parents, caregivers or any adult can do when a child discloses abuse so that they don’t re-traumatize the child, including themselves if they are survivors.

We also talked about why it’s so important for kids to get the right mental health support after a disclosure so that they can lessen the long term negative effects that abuse can have and begin to heal sooner, which can dramatically improve their ability to live a happier life.

There were so many little gems as well that will make you take pause and think about how you can support those in your life who are survivors or if you’re a parent and never thought about these topics.

I hope you take steps consistently to care for your mental health in these times of crisis so that you can be well, stay well and support your family through this time.

ABOUT ADRIANA ALENJANDRE:

Adriana Alejandre is a Trauma Psychotherapist and Speaker from Los Angeles, California. She specializes in adults who struggle with PTSD and severe traumas at her own private practice. She has done disaster relief work for Hurricane Harvey and Las Vegas shooting survivors. Adriana’s clinical work has been featured in Univision, LA Times, the New York Times and Buzzfeed.

Adriana is also the founder of the internationally recognized, Latinx Therapy, directory and bilingual podcast that destigmatizes mental health & provides education to combat the stigma through technology and actual mental health services. In 2019, she won Hispanizice’s Best Social Good Content award. Her podcast has been featured in iTunes’ Top 200, Spotify’s Top 30 Latin shows, Fierce by Mitu , and has been heard in 112 countries. Adriana’s mission is to create spaces to spark dialogue about mental health struggles and strengths in the Latinx community.

CONNECT WITH ADRIANA:

Website: https://latinxtherapy.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latinxtherapy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/latinxtherapy

Instagram (Latinx Therapy): https://www.instagram.com/latinxtherapy/

Instagram (Adriana): https://www.instagram.com/latinxtherapist/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSEQTK3ijZJDTcXb2KsOz5Q

SPONSORS:

Learn more about CONSENTparenting by visiting www.consentparenting.com

To sign up for the Child Predator Protection Masterclass mentioned in the episode, go to www.aboutconsent.com/protect WITHOUT A CODE to get the special quarantine price for this class.

The post EP 19 Dismantling Child Sexual Abuse Taboos Through Support appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

The post EP 18 From Trauma to Empowerment: Achieving Health & Wellness appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

This week, in this special bonus episode, I’m excited to share the collaboration project!

Denise Soler Cox, host of the Self-ish Latina Podcast and co-founder of Project Eñye, plus Rita Bautista, host of the Empowerment and All That Podcast and Nicole Hernandez of The Daring Kind Podcast, joined forces to bring this conversation to the forefront. They invited Linda Garcia, Brenda Gonzales and myself to contribute to the conversation and share our perspectives on this controversy.

For me, this was timely, as I am in the process of beginning to write my own book. In fact, I recently was selected as a scholarship winner for the Hay House Diverse Wisdom Initiative Program, which is actively working to support and nurture writers of color.

So this issue is very close to home for me because the publishing industry has taken note. In fact, Hay House is in its second round of this initiative now, and it gives me hope.

To me, this issue of diversity, and representation is very important on many levels. And I think these deep-dive conversations are necessary so that we can move the needle in the right direction.

This podcast was recorded a few weeks ago, before the craziness of COVID-19, and we had hoped to release this episode last week, but waited. We felt it was ok now because we know people are in need of some positivity, reflection, and direction to go somewhere from here.

In this episode, we talk about: 

● Linda (Luz Warrior) discusses what relationships were dampened by this book and how she used her work in journalism to investigate and evaluate the novel.

● Brenda touches on the ways American Dirt is a wake-up call for publishers, book lovers, and allies.

● Rosalia dives into the misrepresented narrative of Latinx culture and exaggerated characters within the novel.

● Rita shares a personal story about how American Dirt had an effect on her own life and speaks on what the controversy will do for Jeanine as an artist.

● As a group we discuss our own Latinidad and feelings of “enoughness” within the Latinx community.

● Finally, Denise Soler Cox gives you a sneak peek into her next film and how American Dirt raises questions and fears for her during the process.

Follow these amazing women on their podcasts here:

• Denise Soler Cox – The Self-ish Latina
• Rita Bautista – Empowerment and All That
• Nicole Hernandez – The Daring Kind
• Brenda Gonzales – Tamarindo Podcast
• Linda Garcia aka Luz Warrior – Let There Be Luz Podcast

The post BONUS EPISODE: American Dirt Collaboration Project appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Sleep is more valuable than we give credit for. In particular, when it comes to healing our traumas, sleep has the power to restore our mental wellness as a part of our healing process.

This is one of the reasons I invited my guest Meredith Louden on to the show. Meredith helps people with insomnia learn how to fall asleep without the use of drugs or tricks. She is the founder of Healing Insomnia from Within. She’s developed an effective strategy for regaining the ability to fall asleep easily, quickly, and consistently, using the fundamental understandings of how the brain actually works.

I know this episode seems oddly related to CONSENT, but you’ll understand the connections when you listen! Enjoy and be sure to share your feedback on your favorite takeaways!
You can connect with Meredith  and her work at:

WEBSITE :

https://www.healinsomniafromwithin.com/

https://www.healinsomniafromwithin.com/aboutconsent

INSTAGRAM:

@meredithlouden

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/healinsomniafromwithin/

YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/Meredith Louden

PINTEREST:

https://www.pinterest.com/loudenmeredith/

EPISODE SPONSOR:

CONSENTparenting

Free Guide: 7 Ways To Teach Body Safety, Boundaries and Consent 

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding Spanish bonus episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you’re loving the podcast and want to express your love for it, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! Your review helps other people find my podcast and they also fuel me. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. I appreciate you!

Listener Spotlight of The Week

Thank you Maritere for your review! I really appreciate that you took the time to review and rate the podcast. I’m grateful that you’re finding value even after your kids are grown up and you can still create consent culture in your world!

The post EP 17 How Sleep Impacts Mental Wellness & Healing appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

We’re talking all about internet safety solutions and all of the aspects of how to keep kids safe including what to do if your kids have already been exposed to explicit materials as well as predators.

This is a topic that gets overlooked and shy’d away from because it feels overwhelming.

But the good news is that there are ways to help our kids navigate the online space safety.

This is why I’m so excited about this week’s guest! I had the pleasure of interviewing Titania Joran who is the CMO and Chief Parent Officer of Bark.us, an internet safety solution that helps parents and schools keep children safer across social media, text messaging, and email. As the former host of NBC Atlanta affiliate WXIA’s weekly television show Atlanta Tech Edge, Titania has the honor of covering the latest in tech news and talent across both the city and the globe. Past roles also include serving as the CMO of KidsLink, co-founder and CMO of PRIVET, and Executive Director of Band of Coders Girls Academy. Titania travels the country serving as a tech expert and was named a tech innovator and a mother of invention by The Atlantan in 2015. Titania is mom to a tween son.

Here’s a breakdown of what we discuss in this powerful episode:

• The dangers that kids face today online and what parents should know
• What parents need to teach their kids if they have online access and social media apps
• How parents can talk to kids about online safety
• The accessibility that predators have to kids and what parents can do
• What steps a parent can/should take if a child has already been exposed to a predator

CONNECT with Bark.us by going to:

WEBSITE :

www.bark.us

INSTAGRAM:

@barktechnologies

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/barktechnologies

TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/barktechco

YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/Bark

The post EP 16 Online Abuse & What Parents Need To Know appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Parenting becomes a layer of extraordinary relief as well as pain. It can be a wonderful experience as well as a triggering, anxiety-producing experience.

In this episode I talk about the experience of parenting through the PTSD lens; specifically when dealing with the issue of abuse prevention.

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, I’m talking about how PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and CPTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder) affect our parenting and the difficulties that survivors find themselves in.

I also discuss how it is compounded when it stems from or becomes an intergenerational issue.

I shared some of my own stories and struggle with anxiety and fear with my oldest child about the possibility of him being abused. And I talked about a specific experience, how I dealt with it, and what the resolution was at the end.

In this episode, I share the things and ways that I was able to navigate that specific issue and what I recommend for you, my listeners, who have battled with a similar experience.

This episode is not a prescription for what to do, but instead a motivation and inspiration for what is possible when you begin to realize that you are worthy of support.

If you’d like to learn more about how my resources can help you, I invite you to check out the links below:

CONSENTparenting:

http://www.consentparenting.com

CHILD PREDATOR PROTECTION MASTERCLASS:

http://www.aboutconsent.com/protect

(use code PODCAST to receive 50% off this class)

FREE GUIDE: 7 WAYS TO TEACH BODY SAFETY, BOUNDARIES & CONSENT:

http://www.aboutconsent.com/guide

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding Spanish bonus episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you’re loving the podcast and want to express your love for it, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! Your review helps other people find my podcast and they also fuel me. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. I appreciate you!

Listener Spotlight of The Week

Thank you, Laura De Paz, for your wonderful review! I most definitely agree that it’s time to change the taboo around these topics! I’m here for it and will continue to do so with each episode! Thanks for your support and for tuning in to be a part of the change!

The post EP 15 Parenting with PTSD appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

That’s why I invited Kayla Nedza to the podcast. Kayla is a certified International Health Coach and Holistic Nutritionist who is dedicated to helping high performing women create lasting calm with food, movement, and lifestyle through her company, Women Creating Calm. Drawing heavily from both her clients’ and personal experiences as well as her studies, Kayla presents a practical and realistic approach to stress management and performance optimization. She hosts the Wellness Glow Up Podcast, a weekly show devoted to helping women of color become their healthiest selves by providing the tools and knowledge to be their own health advocates.

In this episode we cover:

• Why a natural and holistic approach is important for physical healing
• How Ayuvera can help you customize your healing
• How hormones and working with your cycles helps your healing
• How health and wellness is still very male influenced in studies and how that affects WOC
• Dealing with harassment and stress and how it affects our physical and mental wellness

I know you’ll learn so much about how achieving calm, especially if you’re a high achiever, can help you reach all your goals faster and with more zen in your life.

You can connect with Kayla Nedza and her work at:

WEBSITE :

https://www.kaylanedza.com/

INSTAGRAM:

@kaylanedza

@wellnessglowuppodcas

FACEBOOK:

http://facebook.com/kayla.nedza

LINKEDIN:

http://linkedin.com/in/kaylanedza

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding Spanish bonus episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you’re loving the podcast and want to express your love for it, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! Your review helps other people find my podcast and they also fuel me. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. I appreciate you!

Listener Spotlight of The Week

juli822 thank you thank you!!! I’m thrilled to know that this resonates with you and the important work you’re doing! Thank you for showing up and helping me spread the message by having the conversations in your world as well! Cheers to your empowerment!

The post EP 14 How Devoting Ourselves To Ourselves Heals appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

In this episode we cover:

• How kids learn about body safety
• How parents can put their fears aside and dive into teaching their kids
• How to help our kids become more assertive when needed
• Why and how gender stereotypes need to be broken down
• Why teaching/educating the adults in our kids lives is just as important

We talked about how Jayneed started her publishing company and all the resources it now offers (in many languages!!!).

You can connect with Jayneen and her work at:

WEBSITE (free resources):

https://e2epublishing.info/

PURCHASE HER BOOKS IN THE U.S./CANADA:

https://amzn.to/3azEg7B

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/SomeSecretsShouldNeverBeKept/

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/jayneensandersauthor/

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding Spanish bonus episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you’re loving the podcast and want to express your love for it, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! Your review helps other people find my podcast and they also fuel me. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. I appreciate you!

Listener Spotlight of The Week

The post EP 13 How Kids Can Learn Body Safety And Why It Matters To Start Early appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Generational trauma can go undetected by those who continue to pass it on, not realizing that they are passing on negative patterns.

When it comes to sexual abuse, these patterns can be passed on because of fear and lack of information or education to change those patterns to positive ones.

When we become educated about how to recognize the patterns we can learn how to become self aware and then take the steps to break the patterns that are destructive, not just for ourselves, but for the generations that came before us and the ones ahead of us.

I invite you to listen to hear all the ways that you can break the cycles of abuse and create empowering patterns in your life, your family and your community!

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding Spanish bonus episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you’re loving the podcast and want to express your love for it, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! Your review helps other people find my podcast and they also fuel me. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. I appreciate you!

Listener Spotlight of The Week

Thank you Warrench for your review! I’m so happy to hear that you find it informative and that it helps you grow your knowledge on this topic! I appreciate you a million times right back!

TRANSCRIPT:

Speaker 1: those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana

Speaker 2: Welcom e vm Benny Those two about consent. The podcast that sparks conversations about creating consent, culture, boundary repair, sexual empowerment, orgasm, equality and raising a new, sexually conscious and consent empowered generation. This is a safe shame. Free judgment Free zone. We’re both survivors, and those who support survivors are welcome. I’m your host, Russell Rivera.

Speaker 1: This episode is brought to you by consent Parenting My online platform for Survivor parents to learn how to keep their kids safe from abuse. Did you know that Children of Survivor parents have a five times higher chance of being abused? Because survivor parents don’t know or learn the tools needed to prevent abuse, they tend to over protect instead of empower and prepare. You can change the statistics by becoming an educated parent. Get started by downloading my free guide seven ways to teach your kids about body safety, boundaries and consent by going to about consent dot com forward slash guide. The link will be in the show notes to get your free copy today. Now let’s get back to the show. Welcome back to another episode of the about consent podcast. I’m really excited you’re here today listening to another episode. I just want to extend my gratitude to you again because getting your feedback is always so amazing for me. It gives me life. It gives me fuel. And I can’t say enough about how important it is, really? To hear the feedback to know what are the things that you are truly resonating with? What you want to hear more about all of that is really just amazing. And so I want to thank you for all of that amazing feedback reviews. And so I wanted to start a weekly shout out of, you know, review spotlight. So if you are the kind of person that loves to give back when you receive something amazing like a review for the podcast, I want to shout you out and thank you and just let others know that it is actually resonating with other people, right? So that Ah, yeah, if you want to post review and a ratings on iTunes, I would most appreciate it, But I also want to shut you out. So I wanted to kick it off with this week, starting off with MelissaMoo87 hosted a five star ratings, and this is her review. Amazing Resource. Rosalia is such a great host and interviewer, and I love that she’s willing to provide language. And resource is around a topic that is so often not talked about. More education is needed in this realm for both adults and parents and our Children, and I love that she is fearlessly leading the charge. It must listen for anyone wanting to empower themselves and the Children in their lives. MelissaMoo87 Thank you so much for that review. I truly, truly made me so happy. It made my heart smile because I absolutely agree with you. More education is needed in this realm, and I’m here for it. And I know so many other amazing educators are. So I want to thank everyone who is doing this kind of work in the space and for all of you who are supporting it. So thank you so much. Please keep the reviews coming. So today I’m talking about generational trauma. So what is generational trauma? Well, according to Tamar A. Hill, a licensed therapist and certified trauma professional, she defines intergenerational trauma as a traumatic event that begins years prior to the current generation and has impacted the ways in which individuals within a family understand, cope with and heal from trauma. For example, the patriarch of a family may suffer from an untreated severe mental health disorder, which causes him to engage in harmful behaviors towards his daughter. This daughter, having endured years of emotional and psychological abuse, now has her own family but has not been able to release herself psychologically and emotionally from the torture she endured. And as a result, she begins to exhibit many of the same behaviors of the patriarch, which leads to her own Children exhibiting similar behaviors. These behaviors, including dysfunctional ways of coping, continue for generations. Thes unhealthy behaviors become a quote unquote normal way of raising Children within the family, and that is directly from Tamara Hill explaining how she defines intergenerational trauma. Now, before we dive into this episode, this solo episode, I want to let you know that I will be talking about child sexual abuse and rape trauma. So if at any point this feels too heavy, please stop the episode and take care of your mental wellness. If you need to just take a break and come back to it. That’s definitely okay. Or if you feel this is not for you at this time, that’s also okay. Please, just make sure that your mental health is the most important thing that you need to care for and come back to this when and if you feel ready. I’m not diving into specific details, but I will be mentioning incidents. And so I just wanted you to be aware of it so that it’s a heads up. But with all of that said and done, this episode may also be deeply eye opening and motivational, which is really what my hope is. So why am I talking about this topic? Well, if you heard Episode two of the podcast where I talk about my story and my why of creating this podcast. Well, then you know that as a survivor it didn’t just start with me. And unfortunately, everyone in my family has been deeply impacted by trauma to the point that one of the members of my family has CPTSD, which if you’re not familiar with that term, that acronym, it stands for complex, post traumatic stress disorder. Most people would know PTSD. That’s a more familiar one. But see, PTSD is complex, and essentially what that means is that it was a number of events with different levels of intensity or severity of that particular trauma or of other kinds of traumas, which were all compact ID over a series of time. Now, Michael, on taking on the issues of abuse awareness and prevention. My goal with this is to break generational patterns in cycles. And so I wanted to open up a bit more and share more aspects of my own history with you in Hopes Sig, you may be able to relate you. It may resonate with you in different ways on different levels, Maybe help you connect the dots for yourself. And of course, more importantly for me is for you to find ways to also begin breaking your own generational traumas. So perhaps you are maybe the first in your family to experience sexual violence. You have the ability to end it there instead of it now continuing to become a cycle where passes on so it would end with you where you would not have to pass it down. And that is my hope, really, for everyone listening, no matter what level or type of trauma, no matter if it happened generations before you, maybe many multiple, long, deep generational trauma, which is probably more of a likelihood. Unfortunately, when you look at the statistics, there is a beautiful saying that yes, trauma can be passed down through generations, but healing can also be passed down. So with that, I said the intention for this episode. So it wasn’t until about five or six years ago that I found out that my mother had been violently raped at 14 by her teacher, and she had never told anyone except her husband after they had been married. But beyond him, she felt too ashamed to tell anyone else for fear that she would be either ostracised or worse, not believed so. She kept the secret to herself until years ago, and it explained so much when I found out when I heard the news and it wasn’t even something that I found out directly, it was through my sibling and they also had a really big eye opening moment of understanding our mother so much better, so much more clarity in an explanation of you know why she couldn’t talk about sex, why she was so afraid of her Children looking too, quote unquote provocative, even though it probably wasn’t at all because she was afraid of inviting unwanted attention. It explained why she was so overprotective and never let us do things like sleepovers, Which for me was something I always wanted to do because I saw all of my other American friends constantly having sleepovers. It ultimately explained why she was always so strict, especially because she was an immigrant in a new culture that she also considered to be way too liberal. Compared to the way that she grew up and with the religious background that she grew up with, which also demonized sex and sexuality. She was afraid to tell us the deep down reason that she feared boys and men even looking at us once it all explained her anxiety. She had no idea what had happened to my siblings and I because she was very worried about what could happen out in the world, so much so that she couldn’t see what was happening in our home, but also because she couldn’t talk to us about how to protect ourselves or that we had rights to our bodies because she didn’t realize that she had rights to her own body, particularly because they were violated when she was so young. And also the culture that she grew up in, which I think we still have in our culture, is one that our bodies ultimately don’t belong to us. So we went out into the world as we got older, without the understanding, without the language or the tools to know how to navigate the rape culture filled world that we live in. So I don’t blame her. I understand her. I have compassion much more even now, knowing about her history about her past. I understand her and all the parents like her, who went through similar experiences and lived out their lives in similar ways. For example, this year I met a woman who had not experienced sexual violence. However, her mother is a survivor and exhibited the same kinds of behaviors that my mom did over protectiveness and strictness that almost borders on paranoia and in turn. Although this woman herself was not abused, she now has Children and finds herself exhibiting the same kind of over protectiveness and anxiety about her child’s safety. So even if it doesn’t get passed on directly through that experience of assault, it can be passed on through psychological and emotional experiences. Most survivors, in fact, live with even higher levels of anxiety when they become parents, especially when their child is nearing the age when the parent had begun to be abused, if it was child sexual abuse or when they had an experience of rape, even if it was just once, which is more than it should ever be. And it becomes a very taxing experience. The child, however, is the one that becomes the bearer of the anxiety until they grow up and have their own. And so the cycle repeats in one way or another. So what do we do? How can we break the cycles? And that’s really what it comes down to at the end of the day. How can we stop this from repeating and happening forward? Right? And there are very many ways, and there are so many that it can almost feel overwhelming because you don’t know where to begin. How do you even start but it really begins with us learning how to heal ourselves. And when I talk about healing, he can be really scary to think about it. If you are the type who has PTSD or C P T s d. Because it can feel like you’ve been carrying this really heavy load all your life that you haven’t wanted to really look at. But it’s really heavy, so you really want to put it down. But you’re afraid if you put it down, you now have to look at it. And if you have to look at it, it means that you probably have to examine it. And if you have to examine it, it means that you have to unpack what’s there. And that could be a really scary proposition, because what you’ve been trying to not look at your whole life, you are now being told to look at now. Here’s the thing, though, as I’ve been learning about healing and as I’ve been going through my own healing journey, there are ups and downs. There are waves that ebb and flow. There are moments that feel really intense and others where it feels like Maybe I’m done healing. Maybe this is it. This is where I can breathe and just take it all in and enjoy life. But to be honest, healing is messy. It’s not linear, and it can feel really heavy at times. But when you get through that muck through that heaviness, you feel like you’ve let go of a piece of it. Finally, and things start to feel later. Now healing is only one part of how we can break the cycles. Healing is a very important part, and it is probably at the foundation of all of the other parts that I’m going to recommend based on my own experience and what I’ve seen work for others. The next piece that’s really important is learning to develop the courage. Two. Ask for support to Ask for help. To Take back your voice and share your story. Now that doesn’t mean to get on a podcast like I’m doing and share your story with the world. It simply means to find the person or group or therapist that you feel comfortable enough to share your story with, because when we can voice and vocalize, we can finally give less power to the thing that we’re so afraid of. And then we realized it’s a lot lighter and that’s part of the healing. The next part is that once you’ve developed that courage and you start to realize that you have a lot more strength and courage than you ever believed you had, you can now start to empower others. And by that I mean specifically the offspring, the children in your lives, the child that you are now responsible to care for, who you don’t want to pass down the trauma two and you may feel like, Well, my child is now 12 and is it too late? Have I already done damage? The truth is that it’s never too late. We always have an opportunity every single day, every single hour, every single moment is an opportunity and an invitation to break the cycle. So no, it’s never too late. And more importantly, it’s always important to step into that role of empowering and educating, because not only are we breaking the cycle by empowering and helping our child learn all of the things that we didn’t get to learn when we were children, but now they’re going to be carrying on that healing and that empowerment forward, and that is truly exciting. So the ways that we can start is by one realizing that intergenerational trauma is a thing. It is something that we have experienced ourselves potentially, that we don’t want to pass on, so that awareness is really important. To become aware of it and make it part of our mindfulness is the first step. The second step is to determine a path towards healing, to determine how we want to step into that. And when I say that I’m not telling you to rush to a therapist and sign up for 12 sessions with someone or figure out how you’re going to, you know, do you buy books or do you take courses or do you do this or do you do that? But it may start with something a simple as learning how to be kinder to yourself, to be more loving towards yourself, to talk kindly to yourself, to take more time, to take care of your whole self. Mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, physically and two make it a priority. And from there, when you gain strength as you gain momentum towards self love, you can then truly move into that next phase of healing, and that can look very different for everyone. It may be at that point that you were willing to share with someone. Maybe at that point you’re willing to finally seek a therapist or someone who is specializing in healing of some kind. Maybe it’s holistic. Maybe it’s energy. Maybe it’s some other kind of somatic healing, right? So there are so many different ways that we can step into that. But simultaneously, as we’re doing that, as we are starting to care for ourselves as we’re starting to heal, that through osmosis starts to affect our relationship with our Children. Because as we’re kinder and more loving to ourselves, we have more compassion, and we begin to see our relationship with our children differently. And as we become more empowered ourselves, we realize how much more we need to do that for them as well. How much we need to step into that role of educator and protector, not toe over, protect the to empower right, too. Give our Children the tools, and so that is how we ultimately break the cycle. The more we educate ourselves on prevention, education and radically empowering our relationship as a parent and child, the more that we can truly help our Children become their highest Selves and break the cycles. So those are the ways that I would recommend to begin breaking the generational cycles of trauma that have come from abuse in our culture in our family lineage. Maybe we don’t have any of that, and we’re the first ones. So let’s break it right there and not past that forward. So I hope that those ideas those recommendations, those suggestions give you some pause for thought and help you realize the ways that you can start empowering yourself and your family and break the cycles. My name is Rosario Rivera, and it is always my honor, too. Share this time with you. I thank you for spending it with me, and I hope to have you back next week for another amazing episode. Next week I have the joy of interviewing Janeane Sanders. She is an author and publisher of Children’s books that are all about helping kids learn about body safety, boundaries, consent, diversity, tolerance, love, compassion and she’s just simply amazing. I know you’re gonna love the episode, so if you’re a parent. You most definitely want to tune in. So thank you again. I look forward to seeing you. And again if you enjoyed this, please do share it with those that you love and tag me screen Share it. Tag me on Instagram so I can shout you out Thanks so much. And I will see you next time.

Speaker 2: Don’t miss the next episode. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast. And I would be so grateful if you took one minute to post a five star rating and reviews on iTunes so that others can also find this information. I will be shouting you out and thanking you on the next episode. If you found this useful, be sure to share it with others as well. Let’s continue to create consent Culture One conversation at a time. Stay empowered.

The post EP 12 How To Break Cycles Of Generational Trauma appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

It is a human need to be seen and heard, to be acknowledged as a valuable and worthy being for our simple act of being. But trauma can make us feel and think that we don’t have worth, and that we should not be seen and that our voice should not be heard. This is where the power of sharing your story, speaking up and voicing your questions, concerns and yes, sometimes, even traumas, can have a profoundly positive impact.

Through story telling we can help others connect and realize that they’re not alone, that we have common experiences that we thought were ‘it’s just me’ perspectives.

Diana, founder of The RAWW Network and Your Story To Tell Academy joins me to talk about:

– How we can shift our conversations about mental health in the Latinx community

– How anxiety, depression and other expressions of our mental health can be rooted in trauma

– How RAWW got started and has evolved to support women through it’s 5 pillars

– Motherhood and postpartum challenges, including triggers, and how talking about the struggles is important

– How cracking open tough taboo topics lead to supportive community + healing

– How storytelling can help us reclaim our voice

– How public speaking allows women to represent and become more visible, particularly for BIPOC, to be seen and heard in the mainstream.

– How support comes from the most unlikely of places.

– What it takes to go after your dreams.

I hope this episode inspires and motivates you to take action in your life to step into your healing and to begin thriving through reclaiming your VOICE!

Links Mentioned In The Episode

Website:

https://www.rawwnetwork.com/

https://www.yourstorytotell.org/

Social Media:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/therawwnetwork/

https://www.instagram.com/ysttacademy/

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding Spanish bonus episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you’re loving the podcast and want to express your love for it, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! Your review helps other people find my podcast and they also fuel me. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. I appreciate you!

Listener Spotlight of The Week

Thank you mmemurpont for your rating and review! I love the way you describe the podcast as a great way for parents to tool-up in a SAFE and OPEN platform! YESSSS! That is most definitely one of my biggest goals here and I’m thrilled to hear that it’s how you are receiving it! Thanks so much for showing up and empowering yourself!

The post EP 11 Taboos & Storytelling To Reclaim Your Voice appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Show Notes

The post EP 10 Decolonizing Rape Culture appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Although the spotlight of truth keeps shining it’s light on injustices, we can be comforted by the fact that we are bringing these hidden secrets to light.

When light shines, there is no where for injustice to hide.

I invite you to tune in to learn about how YOU can create consent culture in 2020 and beyond!

Remember to give the podcast a rating and review on iTunes to help spread the word about how to create consent culture!

Screenshot your review and tag me in your IG stories for a shout out in the next episode!

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss any episodes. I’m adding Spanish episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you love any of the episodes, I would be super grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! your review helps others find my podcast (plus reading them gives me life!). Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part or takeaway of the podcast is. Thank you y gracias!

The post EP 09 How To Create Consent Culture in 2020 appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

Asha Frost, is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) Medicine Woman, Healer and Spiritual Mentor. She is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. As a Soul Seer and Visionary, Asha believes that we can all reclaim our roots and deepest medicines. Asha has facilitated healing with thousands of people through the use of Indigenous Based Ceremony, teachings and sacred circle. As a teacher and leader, her purpose is to help women connect to the magic of spirit within their lives so they can root down and be of service to the world.

In this episode we talked about how Asha’s own journey with chronic illness helped her discover her own internal medicine.

We discussed how we all have the power to tap into our own medicine and heal, and about the ways that we can do that.

Asha and I also talked about indigenous medicine and practice appropriation and how it can be honoured and used.

We discussed decolonizing and generational trauma and how we can begin to heal it.

We talked about chronic illness and how to step into healing in a compassionate way that works for you and your stage in life.

There is so much goodness in this episode. I know you’re going to love it!

Find Asha Frost at the following places on the internet:

www.ashafrost.com

https://www.instagram.com/asha.frost/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicineWomanAshaFrost/

If you’d like to read the post that we talked about (appropriation):

https://ashafrost.com/appreciate/

Asha’s Indigenous Healing Journey Gift:

https://ashafrost.com/activation/

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to the AboutCONSENT podcast? If you’re not, I invite you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss any episodes. I’m adding Spanish episodes to the mix this year and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

If you love any of the episodes, I would be super grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too! your review helps others find my podcast (plus reading them gives me life!). Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part or takeaway of the podcast is. Thank you y gracias!

The post EP 08 The Healing Medicine Inside Of Ourselves appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

In this episode, I had the great pleasure of connecting with Melissa Carnagey of Sex Positive Families. Melissa is one of the first educators I found when I started on my own journey of educating my kids on the topics of consent and sexual health. Her comprehensive resources and style of educating (straight forward, shame free and sex positive) were so refreshing and empowering! So I am thrilled to introduce you to her work if you don’t already know her! In this episode we talked about a number of things including: – Her WHY of becoming a sex educator – How Sex Positive Families came to be and it’s mission – Why sex positive education in the BIPOC community is so important (as well as the representation of POC in the education space) – How sex ed for those with trauma history is so important, particularly when educating our kids about these, sometimes triggering, topics.

The post EP 07 Why Sex Positivity Matters When Teaching Consent appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

If you don’t know Pam Covarrubias of the Cafe Con Pam podcast, you’re about to! ⁠ ⁠

She’s an amazing human being and spreads goodness everywhere she goes. If you know her, I know you’ll agree.⁠ ⁠ I was thrilled when Pam agreed to come on the podcast to talk about her journey from survivor to thriver.⁠ ⁠

Many survivors shy away from telling their story (for many valid reasons). They may have never disclosed, they may feel shame (unjustified- shame should solely be on the shoulders of the offender), they don’t want to be re-traumatized by retelling it publicly or they are afraid other’s won’t believe them and ostracize them.⁠ ⁠

In Pam’s case, she was able to tell her story and find the help and support she needed to overcome the assault that she experienced. And I’m so grateful she could share it with you on the podcast. ⁠ ⁠

I believe that the more we tell our stories, the more we share our journeys, the more we can talk about our healing processes- which include struggles and wins, the more we can help others rise up and reclaim their power too!⁠ ⁠

I look forward to hearing your takeaways from the episode!⁠ ⁠

And as always, I invite you to share it and/or post about it (and tag me!)!⁠ ⁠ If you listen on iTunes, and enjoyed any of my AboutCONSENT podcast episodes, I invite you to leave a rating and review! This helps others easily find the podcast and reach a wider audience who can benefit from hearing this kind of content.

Let’s spread more #consentculture⁠ ⁠

The post EP 06 Survivor to Thriver via Intuition and Support appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

October has many things to celebrate or bring awareness to.⁠ ⁠ There is the second half of Hispanic Heritage month, Breast Cancer/Health Awareness month, and National Bullying Awareness month.⁠ ⁠

If you didn’t know about that last one, don’t worry, just because the month is over doesn’t mean you have to stop learning or creating aware about it. ⁠ ⁠

So, although the month is closing, I wanted to create awareness for the topic by inviting Dali Rivera of DaliTalks, Diversity & Anti-Bullying Coach, to be a guest on the podcast.⁠ ⁠

Why would I talk about bullying on a platform that is about consent culture and sexual empowerment? Because they’re related. Bullying is all about breaking physical, mental and social boundaries- it’s about power dynamics.⁠ Bullying is also the “younger” version of harassment that adults experience- many times for women, being sexual harassment.⁠ ⁠ If we don’t deal with, and help our kids through, bullying situations (on either side of the situation), we are setting them up for it later in life. So this topic has so much to do with my platform, that I had to bring Dali on!

Here’s what went down!⁠ ⁠

In this episode, we talk about:⁠ ⁠

• Bullying and how we can be better advocates for our kids⁠ ⁠

• What types of bullying we should be aware of ⁠ ⁠

• What signs to look for from our kids⁠ ⁠

• What we can do about it if it is happening⁠ ⁠

• What it means to be a bystander vs an up-stander and⁠ ⁠

• How bullying ties into sexual harassment.⁠ ⁠

This is such an important episode for all parents!⁠ ⁠ Tune in!

And let me know what your takeaways were and how you’re going to apply them in your life!⁠

The post EP 05 The Links Between Bullying and Harassment appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Lydiana Garcia. This episode was full of so much gold! We talked about how trauma can be experienced differently and why it’s important to not discount our own.

She also shared some wonderful advice for survivors looking to step into their healing journey and select the path of therapy and how to go about finding the right one.

We talked about how motherhood can trigger trauma history and what survivors can do to find their path to resiliency, including healing the inner child.

The post EP 04 Beyond Trauma And Into Resilience appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

The #MeToo movement has been a catalyst to where we are now- openly discussing rape culture and calling it out for what it is.

But what’s next?

We are at a tipping point and in order for us to move forward and being able to say #NeverAgain, we need to actively and PROactively take measures to create #consentculture. In this episode I talk about how we can do that- ALL of us!

I would love to know your takeaways. You can support the podcast by subscribing to the podcast here on Anchor, iTunes, Spotify and Google Play! And if you enjoy the content, I’d truly appreciate you heading over to iTunes and giving the podcast a 5 star rating and review!

Your review and rating will help others find the podcast and become educated and inspired about all things consent! If you’d like to become a PATREON member, head on over to www.patreon.com/aboutconsent And remember you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook

The post EP 03 From #MeToo to #NeverAgain appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

*TRIGGER WARNING: I discuss topics of sexual assault and sexual abuse in this episode, please listen at your discretion and pause if you need time to process. Your mental wellness is my priority. I would love to know your takeaways.

You can support the podcast by subscribing to the podcast here on Anchor, iTunes, Spotify and Google Play! And if you enjoy the content, I’d truly appreciate you heading over to iTunes and giving the podcast a 5 star rating and review!

Your review and rating will help others find the podcast and become educated and inspired about all things consent!

If you’d like to become a PATREON member, head on over to www.patreon.com/aboutconsent

And connect with me on social. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

The post EP 02 My Story & My Why appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.

You can support the podcast by subscribing to the podcast here on Anchor, iTunes, Spotify and Google Play! And if you enjoy the content, I’d truly appreciate you heading over to iTunes and giving the podcast a 5 star rating and review! Your review and rating will help others find the podcast and become educated and inspired about all things consent!

If you’d like to become a PATREON member, head on over to www.patreon.com/aboutconsent

And remember you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook!

Learn more at www.aboutconsent.com/learn

The post EP 01 What is About Consent All About? appeared first on ABOUT CONSENT.