Podcast on Crimes Against Women

We Need More Harmony in the Home: A Muslim Imam Responds to Domestic Violence

Episode seventeen of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women continues our four-part series on faith responses to domestic violence and sexual assault with Imam Omar Suleiman, Founder and President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and a professor of Islamic Studies at Southern Methodist University. Imam Suleiman examines the Islamic faith’s view of domestic violence and how this has changed over time, how Islam speaks about domestic violence in its teachings, and wha...

When I Call for Help: A Roman Catholic Priest Responds to Domestic Violence

Episode 16 of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women welcomes Father Charles Dahm (Fr. Chuck), a Dominican priest and the Director of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Domestic Violence Outreach, launching a 4-part series on faith responses to domestic violence and sexual assault. For over 20 years, Fr. Chuck has worked with Catholic parishes, congregations, seminarians, faith leaders, community organizations and many others on the importance of awareness about domestic violence and...

When You're in It, You Don't Realize that You're in It: How a Military Officer Overcame Domestic Violence and Persevered to Pursue Advocating Against Violence Against Women in Our Military

Episode fifteen of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women welcomes Major Hali Picciano. In this standalone episode, Major Picciano discusses her work as an advocate for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, shares her own personal story about being a survivor of domestic violence, and delves into the subject of domestic violence in our military. Major Picciano then explores how she hopes our current presidential administration will arise to prevent and address sexual...

My Living Is Not in Vain: How a Rape Survivor Found Hope and Empowerment After Trauma, and How She Persevered to Create Change Through Advocacy and Legislation

Episode fourteen of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women welcomes advocate, author, life coach, and motivational speaker, Lavinia Masters. In this standalone episode, Lavinia shares her emotional journey dealing with childhood sexual abuse and rape, eventually discovering and implementing seven steps to her true empowerment after sexual trauma through prayer and supplication. Lavinia then discusses the important piece of legislation that bears her name, House Bill 8, the Lavi...

Representing People Where the Law Meets Their Life: How Many Abusers Attempt to Weaponize the Legal System and How Their Victims Can Circumvent the Tactics of Courtroom Abuse

Episode thirteen of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women wraps up our domestic violence series with the Honorable Roberto Cañas, currently in private practice at the law firm of Lisa E. McKnight P.C., and former presiding judge of County Criminal Court #10 in Dallas County. In this episode, Judge Cañas discusses the many different types of abuse that occur in the courtroom, shares previous experiences he has had where abusers have attempted to weaponize the legal system, expl...

Without Escape from the Chains of Intimate Partner Violence, No Other Equity Can Exist: Examining the Model of Emergency Response for Victims of Domestic Violence and How the Model Can Be Improved

Episode twelve of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women continues our domestic violence series with the second of two episodes from Jan Langbein, Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Women's Shelter and Support. In this episode, Jan discusses the current model of emergency response for victims of domestic violence, possible alternatives to emergency shelter for victims, new innovations around emergent responses to domestic violence and how she reimagines the ideal response model...

For the Offender, Abuse Is a Choice: Exploring the Mindset of Domestic Violence Offenders and the Concept of Rehabilitating Offenders Through BIPP and Other Programs

Episode eleven of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women continues our domestic violence series with Dr. Scott Hampton, Director of Ending the Violence. In this episode, Dr. Hampton delves into his work on BIPP (Battering Intervention and Protection Programs). Dr. Hampton explains what attracted him to work with offenders of domestic violence, how he focuses on offenders taking accountability for their actions, and why it can also be important to learn about the offender despit...

Get Those Scissors Out, and Cut the Sandbags off the Balloon: Navigating the Mind of a Narcissist and How to Spot and Avoid the Red Flags of Narcissistic Behavior

Episode ten of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women continues our domestic violence series with Dr. Ramani Durvasula, licensed clinical psychologist, professor of psychology, and founder of LUNA (Learning/Understanding Narcissistic Abuse) Education, Training & Consulting, LLC. In this episode, Dr. Ramani expounds on the epidemic of narcissism. Dr. Ramani walks us through the mind of a narcissist and how to spot the red flags of narcissistic behavior, explains how narcissi...

Why Would We Accept Any Kind of Excuse for Abuse: How an Industry Leader Continues to Inspire Change 30 Years into a Career of Advocating for Women

Episode nine of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women kicks off our domestic violence series with one of two episodes with Jan Langbein, Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Women's Shelter and Support. In this episode, Jan expounds on her 30-year career as a national expert and advocate in efforts to end violence against women. Jan discusses the evolution of Genesis and its programs, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence and Genesis, and how the recent winter...

Survivors Will Be Heard and Will Be Seen: The Powerful Story of How Personal Trauma Transformed into Action for an Industry Leader

Episode eight of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women wraps up our human trafficking series with Janet Jensen, Founder and Executive Director of The Jensen Project. In this episode, Janet shares her personal story and how she channeled horrific events into a passion to seek justice against sexual violence. Janet delves into The Jensen Project's current focus on human trafficking, how recent legislation supports the anti-trafficking movement, and how The Jensen Project's Grant...

True Justice Will Be Unique: Working Toward Justice in the Ever-Changing World of Human Trafficking

Episode seven of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women continues our human trafficking series with Kirsta Melton, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute to Combat Trafficking and the Deputy Criminal Chief of the Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime Section of the Attorney General of Texas. In this episode, Kirsta explores the evolution of human trafficking and its scope worldwide, how technology has both helped and hindered efforts to stop human trafficking, h...

Lean on Each Other: Combining Efforts to Eradicate Human Trafficking

Episode six of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women kicks off our human trafficking series with Rochelle Keyhan, Chief Executive Officer of Collective Liberty. In this first episode, Rochelle sheds light on labor trafficking in the U.S. and how it differs from sex trafficking, provides a better understanding of how illicit massage businesses perpetuate labor trafficking, and shares how Collective Liberty is working to decrease labor trafficking around the country through its ...

Transcending Language Barriers: Providing Clinical Services to Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Who Speak a Non-Dominant Language

Episode five of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women welcomes Ruth Guerreiro, Senior Director of Clinical and Non-Residential Services at Genesis Women's Shelter and Support. In this final episode of the addressing barriers series, we explore how language both hinders and helps to heal trauma, we discuss alternative approaches, including interpreters and culturally specific services for people who are non-English speaking or are blind or deaf, and we examine how Genesis Women...

On Eagle's Wings: Elevating Survivors Through Indigenous Solutions

Episode four of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women welcomes Victoria Ybanez, Executive Director of Red Wind Consulting, Inc., who is a survivor of domestic violence with 30 years of experience serving Indigenous women. In this fourth episode of the addressing barriers series, we explore the alarming rate of domestic violence and sexual assault committed against Indigenous women, the role of historical trauma within their experiences, and how Red Wind and similar organizatio...

Moving the Needle: Violence Against Transgender Women and the Work to Create Inclusive Services and Solutions for the Transgender Community

Episode three of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women welcomes Dr. Paige Baker-Braxton, Director of In Power Services for Howard Brown Health Center. Paige sheds light on the barriers unique to transgender women, the extremely high rates of violence toward transgender women, and what In Power is doing to move the needle in the right direction for a more holistic approach to harm reduction and trauma-informed care. In this third episode in a series about addressing barriers of...

Bring Your Folding Chair: Showing Up to Encourage & Create Diversity in Leadership

Episode two of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women welcomes Megan Simmons, Sr. Policy Attorney for Ujima, Inc., The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community. Megan discusses the importance and benefits of having diverse leadership in both appearance and philosophy, how minority groups are continuing to strive for a seat at the proverbial table, and how Ujima, Inc. continues to work to diversify leadership in the provision of services to victims of dom...

Beyond the Hashtag: The Transformation of 'me too.' from Movement to Systemic Change

Season 2 of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women launches with a timely conversation about two of the most well-known words of our time: 'me too.' Dani Ayers, CEO of the 'me too.' Movement breaks down the hashtag, the movement and the transformational power 'me too.' offers survivors of sexual violence. In this first episode of a series addressing barriers to access of services for survivors of sexual violence, we explore the public health crisis of sexual violence, the complications to seeking a...

Season 2 Trailer

Episode 14 - Navigating Justice for Women in Indian Country

It is well-documented that women in tribal communities experience a significantly higher rate of domestic violence and human trafficking throughout the United States. To confront that reality, tribal communities have established organizations dedicated to understanding and implementing the law to better protect women and prevent these criminal acts. Another approach to supporting and empowering tribal women is through advocacy organizations like the Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalit...

Episode 13 - Survivor Leadership

Survivors of abuse, exploitation and human trafficking are beginning to find their voices as public speakers, authors, advocates and experts in the field. An emerging role with increasing benefits to healing and survival is that of the survivor leader. Historically, survivors of other tragic experiences have often made the best teachers and also the most effective healers, so it stands to reason that the model of survivor as coach, counselor, educator or advocate is a valuable approach for the h...

Episode 12 - Why Labels Matter: The Dangers of Casual Diagnoses in Abusive Relationships

Labeling is the act of identifying and naming a person’s behavior based loosely on information obtained by unreliable sources, usually those found on social media rather than through evaluation and diagnosis from mental health clinicians. When labeling intersects with behaviors from abusers in cases of domestic violence, a pseudo-diagnosis can follow, leaving victims of domestic violence to sacrifice their own safety for the presumed mental health needs of their abuser. Terms such as narcissist ...

Episode 11 - Bringing Justice to the Community: A Holistic Approach

Coordinated Community Response (CCR) is a systemic, multi-layered approach to domestic violence that employs collaborative and integrated service delivery. In recent years, more and more agencies and states have adopted the CCR approach in order to improve outcomes in cases of domestic violence and sexual assault.It seems like a basic idea—communities who work together to close gaps in their systemic response to domestic violence will see greater justice for victims and accountability for offend...

Episode 10 - Why Doesn't She Leave? An Officer's Perspective on Domestic Violence

Often the first responders to domestic violence scenes that range from puzzling to tragic, the job of law enforcement requires a range of skills to implement a spectrum of responses. We talk today with a veteran officer who specializes in domestic violence investigation and has dedicated his life’s work to confronting the crime that influenced his own life. Our guest today is Mark Wynn, 21-year member of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department who served as Lieutenant to the Domestic Violen...

Episode 9 - Working With Teens

Domestic violence affects 1-in-3 women in the United States. While we have come to understand that forms of intimate partner violence can range from the physical to the lesser recognized forms of verbal, financial, and spiritual abuse, the impact of any form of domestic violence on children in the household is sometimes overlooked. Today we discuss that impact, specifically among teens, and how domestic violence can disrupt their home life, physical, and cognitive development. Our guest today is...

Episode 8 - Rape Culture in the Time of #MeToo

Amy Jones is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and the CEO of the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center- an organization that provides counseling, crisis intervention and advocacy for those whose lives have been affected by sexual violence. Our conversation today focuses on Rape Culture, a concept that first surfaced in the 1970s, notably in the publication of the work “ Rape: The First Sourcebook for Women ,” put forth by the New York Radical Feminists Collective in 1974, and then further e...

Episode 7 - The Intersection of Guns and Domestic Violence

Research shows that abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners than abusers who don’t have that same access to a gun, yet Federal law prohibits convicted domestic violence abusers, as well as those subject to certain protective orders, from possessing guns. Our guest today is United States Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. Sworn into office in November 2017, Ms. Nealy Cox is the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Northern District of Texas, which covers 100...

Episode 6 - Embracing Technology in a COVID-19 World

With the advent of a COVID-19 pandemic, the gap between technology and humanity has narrowed further as we now find technology to be one of our few lifelines to the world outside of our own homes. We are quickly learning that, while technology can provide immediate access to lifesaving information and opportunities of all kinds, it can also confuse, confound, and concern. Today’s episode focuses on safely integrating technology into our lives as we simultaneously navigate the trauma of living th...

Episode 5 - Intersectionality and Working with Survivors of Color

Gretta Gordy Gardner is the Deputy Director for Ujima., Inc.: a project of the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence at The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community. An attorney, Ms. Gardner’s career as a legal advisor for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking was inspired by her early work as a prosecutor in the Domestic Violence Unit of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. She has worked for over two decades to help shape guidelines, pol...

Episode 4 - Aquatic Abuse Homicide

Andrea Zaferes is a medicolegal death investigator who specializes in the handling of aquatic cases from the crime scene to the courtroom. Recognized in multiple jurisdictions and by the U.S. Army as an expert witness in bodies-found-in-water and aquatic death investigations, Zaferes has trained dive teams, law enforcement, medical examiners, and many others for over 30 years. A member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, Andrea is also an author, public speaker, and a regular presenter at the Conf...

Episode 3 - Why Strangulation Matters

Kelsey McKay is a nationally recognized expert on strangulation who developed a critical protocol for strangulation and domestic violence response and treatment. A former prosecutor from Travis County Texas, McKay founded McKay Training & Consulting to collaborate with leaders in fields of law enforcement in order to strengthen how communities collaborate, investigate, treat and prosecute strangulation and intimate partner cases. Her protocol - The Asphyxiation Assessment - is transforming t...