Down the Rabbit Hole

This episode includes discussions of domestic violence, sexual violence, hate crimes, anti-LGBTQ+ violence, and homicide. Please take care of yourself as you listen, and feel free to pause and return when you are ready.  How can survivors feel safe asking for help when the systems meant to support them do not reflect who they are? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, we welcome Johnny Argumedo...

This episode contains discussions of domestic violence and its impact on children and families. Listeners are encouraged to pause and care for themselves as needed. In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole , the Prevention team is joined once again by a favorite returning guest, Barbara, for an honest conversation about the realities domestic violence survivors and families face. Together, they exp...

Content Warning - This episode discusses themes of domestic violence. Please listen with care. In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, William is joined by Tracie and Samantha from the prevention team at TCFV to unpack their guiding belief: “prevention is everything, and everything is prevention.” They explore why any point of contact, from parks to public libraries, can be an opportunity for pre...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual violence, survivor experiences, and navigating the reporting and legal system. Please listen with care.    What keeps you going when you’re young, feeling overwhelmed, and trying to be heard in a system that seems bigger than you? In this episode, we begin with an open letter from young survivor Vivian Sanchez and then delve into her expe...

What does it look like to hold youth accountable for violent behavior? Today on Down the Rabbit Hole, Samantha, Tracie, Diane, and Amanda join us to discuss youth accountability. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about Amanda’s career and what led her to TCFV, what BIPP is, why we need teen-specific interventions, and so much more! We delve into how the Family Peace Initiative intervenes in yo...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, trauma, and homicide. Please listen with care and step away if you need a break. Behind every statistic is a life. In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, William sits down with Tracie and Samantha, and guest Wendy Arias, Coordinated Community Response Coordinator for the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), to discuss th...

All the political and social changes that have happened this year have created challenges that have impacted prevention work. In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, most of the prevention team, William, Tracie, Samantha, and Vivian, reflect on 2025 and discuss what we’re looking forward to for next year. Tuning in, you’ll hear what foods are nostalgic and meaningful for us over the holidays, how...

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, trauma, and healing from abuse. Please listen with care and step away if you need a break.     What does healing look like beyond the therapy room? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, William and Samantha sit down with their colleague and public policy coordinator, Krista Varney, to explore how nature, community, and non-...

It is the Season SIX premiere of Down the Rabbit Hole ! For this special premiere we explore the question "What does coalition leadership look like during political, cultural, and financial changes, and how do we lead without leaving anyone behind?" To open DVAM (Domestic Violence Awareness Month), William and Samantha convene a roundtable of state coalition leaders to explore why coalit...

We're getting ready for our annual Town Hall! Join William and Roy, along with special guests Gloria Aguilera Terry, our CEO, and Tommi Vincent, a thought leader and passionate advocate, to hear more about this year's Town Hall. We will talk about some of the journeys we've been on with this work, what kitchen gadgets are a must-have, we'll hear about the incredible initiatives Tom...

There are 140 days in every Texas Legislative Session, and it goes fast! Jennifer Mudge is the Public Policy Manager, and Molly Voyles is our Director of Public Policy at Texas Council on Family Violence. During this conversation, they join us to share what our policy team focuses on during the session, the systems that support their work, and how they measure the success of each legislative sessi...

Artificial intelligence is changing how we experience relationships, and not always for the better. In this episode, we are joined by guest Adam Dodge, founder of EndTAB (End Tech-Enabled Abuse), to unpack the growing role of AI and digital tools in gender-based violence and intimate relationships. EndTAB works with victim service providers and community organizations to help them confidently addr...

This episode explores topics of homophobia and identity-based violence. Please listen with care. Happy Pride! Today is all about being an LGBTQIA+ parent and parenting LGBTQIA+ kids. We are joined by Sam, a father of two, and an advocate at Safer Path Family Violence Shelter and by Lucas, the Director of Development for The Delores Project and father of three. Join us as we get into our main discu...

This episode involves discussions of sensitive topics, including domestic violence. Please take care of yourself as you listen. If you need to take a break, please do so. What does it mean to be a protective parent, especially while navigating trauma, abuse, or the child welfare system? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, Samantha and Tracie are joined by Barbra Grimmer, a policy coordinator...

What happens when healthcare and the criminal justice system intersect? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, William, Samantha, and Tracie dive into the world of forensic nursing in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Joined by forensic nursing specialists Karen Carroll and Kalen Knight from the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN), they explore the critical role tha...

This episode explores the many ways that coercive control is used by unpacking scenarios of intimate partner violence and other forms of abuse. Please listen with care and take breaks as needed. Coercive control is a destructive force that’s embedded in all aspects of relationship violence, but many do not understand what it is and how their lives are impacted by it. To help expose the inner worki...

Young people are essential to the future of advocacy and social justice, but how do we create meaningful opportunities for them to engage? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, Samantha, William, and Tracie are joined by TCFV interns Mishal Ali and Veronika Croan to explore youth involvement in the movement to end domestic violence and promote social change. They dive into the challenges young...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including sex trafficking, child abuse, labor trafficking, and domestic violence. Please listen with care.      What does human trafficking really look like in our communities and how can we play a role in prevention? In this powerful episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, we are joined by Ada McCloud, a prevention practitioner with the Texas Dep...

As the holiday season approaches, creating trauma-informed spaces is more important than ever. In this episode, William and Tracie are joined by Diane Bocklage, Family Violence Services Manager at TCFV, to discuss how the ReCentered Project helps domestic violence organizations prioritize wellness for survivors and staff alike. By fostering environments of trust, support, and emotional care, ReCen...

This podcast contains discussions of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, homicide, and harm to adults, children, and families. Please listen with care. If you need to pause or step away, feel free to do so and return when you’re ready.     When leaving doesn’t guarantee safety, how do we protect survivors? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, we’re joined by our TCFV colleague Tabeth...

It’s incredibly powerful when a survivor begins to see their true selves again and separate from the trauma they’ve experienced, and occupational therapy is an underrated lifeboat that brings calm and clarity to the tumultuous sea of domestic violence. Today, we are joined by two incredible women from Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support in Dallas – CEO Jan Langbein and Occupational Therapist Saida...

DVAM, IPV, DVHRT, PPC, SANE – If you’re not entrenched in the domestic violence movement, or if you're new to the movement, you might struggle to decode some of these acronyms. And even if you’re already playing your part in the movement, the learning curve can be real! Today, as we begin a new season, in Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), we will be taking a closer look at all the language...

This podcast explores topics of intimate partner violence, abuse, and other forms of trauma. If you have the strength to listen, please do so with care.     The United States v. Rahimi brought about a telling ruling that could have a widespread impact on the policing of domestic and family violence cases involving firearms. To help unpack the Rahimi decision and its consequences, William and Saman...

Texas State Representative, Christian Manuel, has been involved in politics for over two decades, and today, we are chatting about how his family's background in education and leadership influenced his passion for serving others to make the world a better place. Rep. Manuel begins today's conversation by explaining the significance of Juneteenth for Americans before detailing his early ent...

In 2024, Pride is a movement, but it originated as a collection of moments when brave LGBTQ people who were experiencing severe hardships stood up for their identities. In celebration of Pride month, we are joined by the CEO of The Montrose Center, Avery Belyeu to discuss the LGBTQ+ community, their resilience, the intersection between the community and domestic violence, and the challenges of bei...