Finding OK - Healing After Sexual Assault and Abuse

In this episode my friend Sage and I listen to audio we recorded two years ago during lockdown and reflect on it. We talk about (and feel our way through) some of the very intense systemic issues we're facing in America and in the world. We talk about self-care, finding ways to keep moving forward, staying resilient, and finding ways to engage and stay hopeful. Sage is the creator of Real Hum...

We're back! In this episode I'll be sharing what I've been up to on my break, what I have planned for this season of the podcast, and I'll be talking about a really rough day I had last week in the wake of Roe vs Wade being overturned. Letters for the Fire is back in Season 4! This is a listener participation project. I am inviting survivors to write a letter to their r*pist or...

This is the last episode of Season 3! Today I'll be taking some time to thank everyone who made this season possible, updating you about my plans and exciting new content during my break, as well as letting you know about some changes moving forward with Season 4! New episodes will resume 7/5/22. Just because there aren't new episodes doesn't mean there isn't new content! I&apo...

Earlier in Season 3 I invited listeners to participate in a project called Letters for the Fire. It was an invitation for communal catharsis and healing. I invited listeners to write a letter to their rapist or abuser, and I would read it in an episode, and then burn all of them in a ritual. Here are the letters I received from listeners. Thank you so much everyone who has made this powerful proje...

In this episode I share my experience of anal rape, discuss the dangerous myth that boys/men/AMAB people can't control themselves, discuss consent, and talk about some of the reasons why it was so difficult for me to identify this particular assault as valid and as a rape. Sexual Assault can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Women and AFAB people experience anal ra...

Vanessa is a veteran and a survivor of sexual assault within the military. Vanessa shares her story of trauma, her feelings of shame and lack of self-worth, and her spiral into depression which nearly ended in suicide. She found strength and she has moved into a place of growth, empowerment, self-love, and healing. Vanessa is sharing her story in the hope that it will help others find their own st...

Kelly Thiel exited the notorious NXIVM cult and shares her journey with healing and deprogramming in the aftermath of indoctrination. She has taken her power back and is helping others to do the same. Kelly is an accomplished voice actress, author, speaker, consultant, and the driving force behind her new platform, Be Glorious. Kelly was a member of the NXIVM cult and after exiting she appeared in...

Denise Bossarte is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and now she is helping others heal.  Join us for a conversation about Denise's healing journey as well as her beautiful book, "Thriving After Sexual Abuse: Break Your Bondage to the Past and Live a Life You Love".    Denise Bossarte is an award-winning writer, poet, photographer, and artist. Denise is a certified meditation fac...

 Anna grew up in a fundamentalist Christian family as part of the Quiverfull movement. She and her six siblings were not allowed to attend school and were very isolated from the outside world. Everything about her childhood was strictly controlled, from the clothes she wore to the media she had access to. She was expected to teach herself from primarily religious texts as well as teaching and cari...

We all experience Death/Rebirth Cycles in our lives, periods of profound transformation and growth. These cycles are often painful and difficult. In this episode I share something that has helped me to better keep my balance and move more gracefully through these times in my own life. Finding OK has a Patreon! Join for access to exclusive posts, pics, clips, and even the occasional video episode!...

This is a personal and raw episode where I share the story of one of my assaults. Coercion isn't consent. Two Hundred "No's" and one "Yes" is still "No".  If you have a similar story, you are not alone and it wasn't your fault. It was rape. Your trauma is valid. Episode Notes: Consent: https://www.rainn.org/articles/what-is-consent Guest Interview with...

Join me for a beautiful talk with Sandra Cooze. Sandra is an intuitive mentor and coach, spiritual advisor, advanced soul realignment practitioner, jewelry designer, loving wife and mother, and the author of, “Journey to Your Self, How to Heal from Trauma, Written by Someone Who Did”. We discuss her book, her healing journey, her coaching practice, crystal healing, reiki, TIR trigger release, ance...

Sage rejoins me for this episode as we laugh and cover some pretty intense subjects. We discuss post-trauma kink shaming, sex, sexuality, and physical responses. We are sexual beings and trauma can affect us all in very different ways! You are valid and however you get down is valid as long as you're not harming others without their consent! Episode Note: Bailey Sarian - who we mentioned in t...

Letters for the Fire is an invitation for survivors to write a letter to their rapist or abuser and send it to me. It is one of the deepest honors of my life to hold this space. I want to find more ways to help facilitate healing, to help survivors find their strength, and to help them feel connected, seen, and held. Letters for the fire feels like a part of that and if it feels right for you I ho...

Cara Elizabeth is the creator of the Animal Pharmacy Deck. Cara is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and when she couldn't find the healing tools that worked for her she created her own. . Cara Elizabeth is an artist who resides in Brooklyn. She received her Bachelor's degree from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a focus in Painting and her MFA in Experimental Animation fr...

NJ Lechnir joins me to discuss his book, "Addiction, Loss and Recovery: How to Deeply Understand the Mindset of Addictive Behavior and Win the Battle".  NJ shares the difficulties of growing up with an alcoholic father, his struggles with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, and how he has transformed former areas of insecurity into strengths that he shares with others.  NJ is the...

Welcome to Season 3! In today's episode I thank everyone who has made Finding OK possible, I share what I got up to on my break, and let you know about some changes with the podcast moving forward. I'm back! Ramshackle Glory https://ramshackleglory.bandcamp.com/ Talk Shit With P - guest episodes https://open.spotify.com/episode/6RkdAR4VdWydlhdSU5yBEx https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Rkd...

Jackie Roby shares her healing journey and the work she does in the world with healing and wellness travel. Jackie and I discuss the importance of asking for help, showing up authentically in personal and professional spaces, secret keeping and communication in families, healing from childhood sexual abuse, diversity, and anti-racism work. She shares how healing and wellness travel has transformed...

Santéresa shares her story of trauma and healing, her experience reporting rape and going through the justice system, and she discusses her beautiful book, "Releasing My Secret: A 30 Day Devotional to Support Your Healing Process". She talks about her work at the Rape Crisis Center and how she created Inspired By U to help people become their full and whole selves. She also shares the im...

Eliot returns to the show to chat with me about various ways that the pandemic is affecting us. While chatting the other day we discovered each of us was putting the other up on a pedestal as a person who had been "productive" during the pandemic, and then devaluing our own accomplishments. We talk about video games, virtual community, social issues, mental health, productivity, neurodiv...

Terri Kozlowski joins me to discuss her new book, "Raven Transcending Fear". Terri is a writer, educator, leader, artist, life coach, podcaster, blogger, and a proud Native American of the Athabaskan, Gwich'in Tribe - Raven Clan. Terri is a survivor of childhood sexual assault and trauma. She shares her healing journey, her reclamation of authentic self, her decision to be a survivo...

Finding OK will be finishing Season 2 at the end of this month and I will be taking a break before returning with Season 3 in late May! There are lots of new and exciting things happening with the podcast and new ways you can connect with me! Finding OK is now the #1 Mental Health Podcast in Jamaica! Support the show

Cailin returns to share new aspects of their healing journey! Cailin has started Equine Therapy and we also discuss the important role that Yoga plays in their life and healing. Join us for a conversation about somatic alternatives or additions to talk therapy.  Support the show

Jacquelyn Weis is the author of, "Healing the Survivors - 8 Steps to Whole-Self Healing". She is a member of the Northwestern Band Shoshone Nation, a Certified Emotion Code Practitioner, Body Code Practitioner, T3 Therapist, Native Herbalist, Native Holistic Healer, mother, and wife. Jacquelyn shares how strong women, community support, cultural practices, and holistic healing modalities...

Lily Sage and I discuss the ways that our current punitive judicial system fails all of us, especially the marginalized and survivors of sexual assault, and we discuss Restorative Justice as a potential alternative. Lily and I continue our discussion about Restorative Justice, what it is, what it has to offer, how it challenges us, and some of the issues and obstacles to implementing some form of...