Dear Katie: Survivor Stories

Katie Koestner
  • 4.7 (27)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Dear Katie Podcast features survivors of sexual assault, rape, and abuse; supporters; authors; celebrities; and agents of change about their survivorship and support. Learn how their journeys can help all survivors and their supporters. Delve into backlash, legal systems, campus reactions, family and friends, mental health, PTSD, substance use, body image, and the journey from hurt to healing and thriving. After Katie Koestner appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine at age 18 as the first person to speak out nationally and publicly as the victim of “date” rape, she received 100+ letters from others who had never told anyone about their own story.  Katie wrote back to all of them, and some of them have now been guests on her Podcast 30+ years later to share their story with the world. The name “Dear Katie” honors all survivors in the power of sharing their story. Silence changes nothing.

  1. 2D AGO

    S9E1 Harvard Grad on a 10 Mile Hike in Northern Ireland Part 1 (Uploaded for Spotify)

    Dr. Winnie M Li is an author, activist, and educator. A former filmmaker, Winnie’s life and career trajectory were severely disrupted at the age of 29, when she became the victim of a violent stranger rape in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her debut novel Dark Chapter (2017) is a fictional re-imagining of that assault and its aftermath, from the perspectives of both victim and perpetrator. Her subsequent novels Complicit (2022) and What We Left Unsaid (2025) also address the legacy of trauma, in workplaces and in families.  Winnie’s doctoral research at the London School of Economics explored the emotional labour of ‘public’ rape survivors, and she is now an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

    54 min

  2. 2D AGO · VIDEO

    S9E1 Harvard Grad on a 10 Mile Hike in Northern Ireland Part 1

    Dr. Winnie M Li is an author, activist, and educator. A former filmmaker, Winnie’s life and career trajectory were severely disrupted at the age of 29, when she became the victim of a violent stranger rape in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her debut novel Dark Chapter (2017) is a fictional re-imagining of that assault and its aftermath, from the perspectives of both victim and perpetrator. Her subsequent novels Complicit (2022) and What We Left Unsaid (2025) also address the legacy of trauma, in workplaces and in families.  Winnie’s doctoral research at the London School of Economics explored the emotional labour of ‘public’ rape survivors, and she is now an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

    54 min

  3. FEB 12

    S8E25 Meet the Founder of RAINN: Scott Berkowitz (Uploaded for Spotify)

    'There are people who want to create change, and there are people who don't want to create change.' This week, we are joined by the incredible Scott Berkowitz for an engaging and timely conversation on sexual violence advocacy. Listen in as Scott and Katie discuss the formative moments of over 30 years of activism, current resources available to survivors, and visions for hope.  Scott Berkowitz is the founder and president of RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Under his leadership, RAINN has become a transformative national force; the organization has supported more than 5 million survivors and their loved ones since its start in 1994, and helped pass legislation that has taken thousands of rapists off the streets and prevented countless rapes. RAINN is dedicated to stopping sexual violence by supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and creating safer communities.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

    1h 1m

  4. FEB 12 · VIDEO

    S8E25 Meet the Founder of RAINN: Scott Berkowitz

    'There are people who want to create change, and there are people who don't want to create change.' This week, we are joined by the incredible Scott Berkowitz for an engaging and timely conversation on sexual violence advocacy. Listen in as Scott and Katie discuss the formative moments of over 30 years of activism, current resources available to survivors, and visions for hope.  Scott Berkowitz is the founder and president of RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Under his leadership, RAINN has become a transformative national force; the organization has supported more than 5 million survivors and their loved ones since its start in 1994, and helped pass legislation that has taken thousands of rapists off the streets and prevented countless rapes. RAINN is dedicated to stopping sexual violence by supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and creating safer communities.  Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

    1h 1m

  5. FEB 5

    S8E24 8 Years of Emails with My Perpetrator (Uploaded for Spotify)

    Thordis Elva is a writer, speaker, and activist from Iceland who specializes in violence prevention and has shaped national and international policy on digital rights and gender equality. In 2017, she gained worldwide recognition for her book South of Forgiveness, a memoir about her sexual assault and subsequent journey to healing in which Thordis collaborated with her perpetrator, making her the first rape survivor in the world to publicly do so. It has since been published across four continents, with the accompanying TED talk having been viewed over 10 million times. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang Image Credit: Eva Schram

    1h 4m

  6. FEB 5 · VIDEO

    S8E24 8 Years of Emails with My Perpetrator

    Thordis Elva is a writer, speaker, and activist from Iceland who specializes in violence prevention and has shaped national and international policy on digital rights and gender equality. In 2017, she gained worldwide recognition for her book South of Forgiveness, a memoir about her sexual assault and subsequent journey to healing in which Thordis collaborated with her perpetrator, making her the first rape survivor in the world to publicly do so. It has since been published across four continents, with the accompanying TED talk having been viewed over 10 million times. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang Image Credit: Eva Schram

    1h 4m

  7. JAN 29

    S8E23 Take Back The Night Roundtable: Fordham, Bucknell, and Campbellsville (Uploaded for Spotify)

    This week, we sit down with three more incredible activists from across the country, who share their experiences and expertise in advocacy.  Gia Lanteri is a recent graduate of Fordham University, where she studied Communications and Culture with a minor in Creative Writing. At Fordham, she served as the President of The Women’s Network, leading initiatives on professional development, equality, and mental health. She’s built professional experience in public relations, supporting technology and venture capital clients with media strategy and storytelling, and is now preparing to apply to law school. Nicholas Bloodworth currently serves as the Director of Counseling Services at Campbellsville University while maintaining an active clinical practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. He is in the final year of his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in children and adolescents, which has been a defining step in his professional journey. Throughout his career, he's worked in trauma care, crisis intervention, group therapy, and clinical supervision. He is passionate about advancing the field through evidence-based practice, leadership, and training the next generation of clinicians. Molly Harris received a Bachelor of Arts from Juniata College where she worked as a Student Advocate and Peer Educator in the Office for the Prevention of Interpersonal Violence. She has worked in several roles at a domestic violence agency, including Shelter Advocate, Legal Advocate, and Director for Coordinated Community Response. While advocating for domestic violence survivors, she also earned a Master of Science in Victimology from the University of Portsmouth (UK). Currently, she is the Director of Interpersonal Violence Prevention & Advocacy at Bucknell University. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Evan Mader Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

    52 min

  8. JAN 29 · VIDEO

    S8E23 Take Back The Night Roundtable: Fordham, Bucknell, and Campbellsville

    This week, we sit down with three more incredible activists from across the country, who share their experiences and expertise in advocacy.  Gia Lanteri is a recent graduate of Fordham University, where she studied Communications and Culture with a minor in Creative Writing. At Fordham, she served as the President of The Women’s Network, leading initiatives on professional development, equality, and mental health. She’s built professional experience in public relations, supporting technology and venture capital clients with media strategy and storytelling, and is now preparing to apply to law school. Nicholas Bloodworth currently serves as the Director of Counseling Services at Campbellsville University while maintaining an active clinical practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. He is in the final year of his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in children and adolescents, which has been a defining step in his professional journey. Throughout his career, he's worked in trauma care, crisis intervention, group therapy, and clinical supervision. He is passionate about advancing the field through evidence-based practice, leadership, and training the next generation of clinicians. Molly Harris received a Bachelor of Arts from Juniata College where she worked as a Student Advocate and Peer Educator in the Office for the Prevention of Interpersonal Violence. She has worked in several roles at a domestic violence agency, including Shelter Advocate, Legal Advocate, and Director for Coordinated Community Response. While advocating for domestic violence survivors, she also earned a Master of Science in Victimology from the University of Portsmouth (UK). Currently, she is the Director of Interpersonal Violence Prevention & Advocacy at Bucknell University. Host: Katie Koestner Editor: Sydney Tiller Producers: Catrina Aglubat and Emily Wang

    52 min
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4.7
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

The Dear Katie Podcast features survivors of sexual assault, rape, and abuse; supporters; authors; celebrities; and agents of change about their survivorship and support. Learn how their journeys can help all survivors and their supporters. Delve into backlash, legal systems, campus reactions, family and friends, mental health, PTSD, substance use, body image, and the journey from hurt to healing and thriving. After Katie Koestner appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine at age 18 as the first person to speak out nationally and publicly as the victim of “date” rape, she received 100+ letters from others who had never told anyone about their own story.  Katie wrote back to all of them, and some of them have now been guests on her Podcast 30+ years later to share their story with the world. The name “Dear Katie” honors all survivors in the power of sharing their story. Silence changes nothing.

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Koestner
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Dear Katie: Survivor Stories