VSC Podcast

You may have heard the term Rape Culture before but what exactly is it? On the 60th Episode of the VSC Podcast Join Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell who chats with UCF Victim Services Victim Advocate Jessica Baker and Rollins College Violence Prevention Educator Heather Surrency about examples of Rape Culture on College Campuses and ways we can combat it. Heather Surrency uses she/her pronoun...

It’s Denim Day and to finish off Sexual Assault Awareness Month we are so excited to share our newest Podcast Episode featuring Olympic swimmer Margaret Hoelzer! Join Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell and VSC Program Director JoEllen Revell as we chat with Margaret about her experience with Childhood Sexual Abuse, the common effects childhood trauma and minimization can have on survivors, and...

It’s Victims’ Rights Week and on the new episode of the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute Meg Garvin and Executive Director from the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence Jennifer Dritt to talk about what rights victims have, some common misconceptions regarding these rights, and what we could be doing be...

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to uplift survivor voices and raise awareness to this very prevalent and important issue. On this week’s episode VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with VSC Speakers Bureau Member Molly Kennedy and VSC LGBTQ+ Crisis Counselor and Victim Advocate Kevin Fox to chat about common reactions survivors have in regards to trust after assault,...

On the 56th episode of the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with VSC Speakers Bureau Member Rachel Sines and VSC Lead Advocate Rhonda Wilson to chat about Sexual Assault Anniversaries, common reactions survivors can have during these anniversaries, and ways survivors and their supporters can help prepare and heal during these moments in their healing journeys. Rachel Sine...

One of the free services VSC provides to survivors of trauma are therapy groups. On the 55th episode of the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with VSC Advocate Monique Bennett and VSC Therapy Intern Suzanne Higbie-Long to chat about the DBT Skills group they are leading and why these skills are particularly useful for survivors of trauma. Monique Bennett uses she/her prono...

Spreading Positivity can be great, but when can it become toxic? On the new episode of the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with UCF’s Dr. Kim Spence and VSC Advocate Jocelyn Rayas to chat about toxic statements well-intentioned people may be saying to the survivors in their lives, the effects Toxic Positivity and suppressing emotions can have on individuals, and how we c...

On the 53rd episode of the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with two incredible survivors, Karla Molina and Kelly, to chat about their healing journeys and the VSC. Come learn about barriers survivors could face when coming forward, the different ways people can heal, and how we can be better supporters for the people in our lives whom have been affected by trauma. Karla...

March is Social Work Month! Come listen to the new episode of the VSC Podcast to learn about the profession! Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with two Social Work VSC Interns Danielle Uhran and Marlene Isma to talk about why they chose to pursue a degree in Social Work, stigmas and misconceptions about the field, and why Social Workers are essential to the community. Danielle Uhran u...

Spring is just around the corner and the new episode of the VSC Podcast is all about Gardening and Healing! Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with VSC Intern Danielle Uhran and VSC Victim Advocate Steven Wilson to talk about a VSC Therapy Group for survivors: The Passion Flower Project. Come learn how Gardening can be therapeutic and how plants can be used as metaphors for survivors o...

February is National Eating Disorders Awareness Month and on the 50th episode of the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with two amazing people from The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness (@allianceforeda), Director of Education and Resources Liz Motta and Education and Resources Manager Dr. Allie Weiser, to talk about different types of Eating Disorders, harmful myths...

On the final episode of this mini-series, VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with The Deputy Chief Probation Officer of the Department of Juvenile Justice Omar M. Bohler and the Undersheriff of Orange County’s Sheriff Office Mark Canty to chat about Implicit Bias. Learn about the difference between implicit and explicit bias, how implicit bias can affect BIPOC individuals, and how...

As we continue celebrating Black History Month, today the third episode of our 4-part mini-podcasting series came out! On the third episode of this mini-series, VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with two amazing Mental Health Counselors: Tamara Nelson and Michelle Ilugbusi, to chat about Racial Trauma. Tune in as we discuss what Race is, the difference between Racial Trauma and Tr...

For Black History Month, the VSC, as part of their table talk grant award from the Central Florida Foundation, is launching a mini-podcasting series this month: the Healing Begins Here Series! This series will have 4 episodes focusing on issues affecting Black and African American Communities and ways we can advocate for Black survivors of Trauma and Sexual Violence. On the second episode of this...

For Black History Month, the VSC, as part of their table talk grant award from the Central Florida Foundation, is launching a mini-podcasting series this month: the Healing Begins Here Series! This series will have 4 episodes focusing on issues affecting Black and African American Communities and ways we can advocate for Black survivors of Trauma and Sexual Violence. On the first episode of this m...

On episode 45 of the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with Children’s Advocacy Center’s Ann Pimentel-Kerr and VSC’s Speaker’s Bureau Member Tracy Kelly to chat about Childhood Sexual Abuse. Come learn about the definition of sexual abuse and grooming, the effects it can have on a survivor, signs that a child could be experiencing sexual abuse, things that can help survivo...

On episode 44 of the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with VIBS Family Violence and Rape Crisis Center’s Community Education Manager Taryn Kutujian and current VSC Social Justice Intern Megan Asmussen to chat about abuse in the media. Come listen as we analyze different popular shows and movies, such as Game of Thrones, American History X, Sweeney Todd, Shameless, and mor...

This week on the VSC Podcast Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with Help Now’s Trauma Informed Care Program Coordinator Jaqueline Padilla and VSC Victim Advocate Rosa Abraham to chat about caregiver identity and burnout, the different signs that someone may be experiencing burnout, vicarious trauma, and ways we can be proactive in addressing burnout. Jacqueline Padilla uses she/her pr...

January 11th, 2021 was Human Trafficking Awareness Day and in an effort to uplift education and discussion around this important topic, the VSC hosted a live panel discussion with 4 amazing experts and professionals in the field. Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with USF’s Dr. Sandra Stone, VSC speaker’s bureau member Savannah Parvu, United Abolitionists’ Tomas J. Lares, and VSC’s Jo...

It’s a new year and with it we all may have new goals and aspirations. Come listen to the new episode of the VSC Podcast to hear why practicing Mindfulness might be a great resolution to add to your list! Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with two amazing Mental Health Professionals: Jordan Steckler and Orialis Sosa to talk about Mindfulness techniques for beginners and more experienc...

Episode 40 of the VSC Podcast is out and it’s all about Toxic Masculinity. Come listen to Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell chat with The Center’s Director Joél Junior Morales and VSC LGBTQ+ Advocate Kevin Fox about gender norms and Toxic Masculinity, how to can look across different cultures and groups as well as perpetuate violence, and how to embrace masculinity in a non-toxic way. Joél Mor...

On Episode 39 of the VSC Podcast VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with two amazing men from the Trans community, Aaron Mungin and Zander Keig, to talk about the erasure of the Transmasculine identity. Come learn about what that erasure looks like, why it is happening, different aspects of transitioning, and resources for Transmasculine survivors of sexual violence. Zander Keig us...

The Holidays can be a stressful time, especially for survivors of Sexual Violence. That is why this week we are talking about Surviving the Holidays. Join VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell as she sits down with VSC Therapy Intern Suzanne Higbie-Long and VSC Victim Advocate Kevin Fox to talk about their workshop on how to survive the holidays, ways to set boundaries with family and loved on...

A new episode of the VSC Podcast is out and it’s all about Sexual Assault in the Justice System. VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with the head of the Sex Crimes Unit at the State Attorney’s Office Jenny Rossman and VSC’s Program Director JoEllen Revell to talk about what sexual assault victims and survivors can expect when pursuing sex crime charges and how a Victim Advocate can...

On the 36th episode of the VSC Podcast, VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with a UCF professor Dr. Amber Norman and a UCF Master’s student Danielle Simpson-Baker to talk about the BDSM community and Consent. Come learn how partners ensure each other’s safety before, during, and after sexual intimacy. Dr. Amber Norman uses she/her pronouns and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor...