Rights and Remedies

Allison Mahoney
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Rights and Remedies is your go-to podcast for survivors, advocates, and those wanting to explore the legal and human dimensions of sexual abuse, cyber abuse, domestic violence, and child welfare. Each episode unpacks the complexities of these issues, examines the civil rights challenges affecting vulnerable populations, and highlights the innovative approaches to making a difference. Tune in for expert insights, powerful stories, and a roadmap to healing and justice. Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this interview belong solely to the participants and do not represent the official stance of any affiliated organizations or partners. Discussions are dynamic and may cover a wide range of topics, including spontaneous or evolving ideas. This content is provided for general information and inspiration only and should not be taken as specific advice. For tailored advice, please consult a relevant professional.

  1. Jan 1

    Healing after Child Sexual Abuse with Chris Yadon, Managing Director of Saprea | Ep 31

    This week on Rights and Remedies, I sit down with Chris Yadon, Chief Impact Officer of The Derek and Shelaine Maxfield Family Foundation and Managing Director of Saprea, an organization dedicated to liberating individuals and society from child sexual abuse and its lasting impacts. As a thought leader and strategist, Chris is committed to increasing awareness and educating the public on both prevention and healing. He’s a powerful advocate for change and firmly believes we can collectively create a better future for our children. Chris shares his personal journey into advocacy, the founding story behind Saprea, and how they’re helping survivors heal while preventing future abuse. We explore staggering stats (like how 1 in 8 children experience abuse by age 18), and dive into the long-term impacts like mental health struggles, substance use, incarceration that too often stem from untreated trauma. We also talk about: The power of community in trauma healingSaprea’s in-person and online programs (including retreats, webinars, and survivor-led support groups)How parents can protect kids with principle-based prevention (not just outdated “tactics”)Why survivor-led prevention could be the key to ending the cycleThis episode is both heartbreaking and hopeful—if you’re a survivor, parent, professional, or advocate, you’ll walk away with insight, tools, and renewed energy to create change. To access Saprea’s free resources or get involved, visit saprea.org. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn Follow Saprea on TikTok

    28 min

  2. 12/11/2025

    What Really Happens in Wilderness Therapy with Spencer King, Director of “The Wilderness" | Ep 30

    In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker Spencer King to expose the dark underbelly of the troubled teen industry through his latest feature, The Wilderness. We dive into the brutal realities of wilderness therapy programs and therapeutic boarding schools - where survival, not healing, often becomes the goal. Spencer shares what inspired the film, starring lead actor Hunter Doohan, built the story around true events, and the grueling conditions they faced while shooting in Southern Utah. But this conversation goes way beyond filmmaking - we talk about the thin line between rehabilitation and abuse, the power dynamics at play in these “treatment” programs, and the very real consequences for the young people trapped inside them. We also discuss what parents need to know before they consider sending their child to one of these camps, and highlight organizations like Unsilenced that are pushing for transparency and accountability in an industry with over 300 reported deaths to date. This episode is a must-listen for advocates, survivors, and anyone questioning the real cost of “tough love.” "The Wilderness" is out now, and available for digital release in December 2025.  Connect with Spencer King on Instagram

    26 min

  3. 11/27/2025

    Domestic Violence in Family Courts, High-Conflict Divorce & The Realities of Family Law with Michele Locke | Ep 29

    This week on Rights and Remedies, Allison speaks with Texas-based family law attorney and former judge Michele Locke.  With over 22 years in the courtroom, including time presiding over a domestic violence court, Michelle brings both fierce advocacy and lived insight into what really happens in high-conflict family law cases. They discuss: What it’s like running a dedicated domestic violence courtThe shift in family law post-COVID and rising case hostilityHow jury trials work in Texas divorce and custody casesThe personal cost of doing this work, and the burnout many lawyers silently carryGender dynamics in law, emotional labour, and finding boundaries in the courtroomHow courts can retraumatize survivors, and how to do betterFrom abuse allegations to parenting plans, and the emotional toll behind every legal battle, this conversation is essential listening for legal professionals, survivors, and anyone navigating the family court system. Connect with Michele Michele’s Website Connect on Instagram

    29 min

  4. 11/13/2025

    How the Abby Honold Act is Changing Police Response to Survivors | Ep 28

    Abby Honold reported her rape in 2014. But instead of receiving support, she was met with disbelief, threats of being charged for false reporting, and a justice system that failed her at every turn. She didn’t stop there. Abby went on to fight for systemic change, and helped pass The Abby Honold Act, a federal bill aimed at training law enforcement in trauma-informed response to survivors of sexual violence. In this episode, Abby shares: What happened when she reported, and how she finally got justiceWhy trauma-informed police response matters so deeply for victimsHow the bill was written, passed, and what it means for survivors across the U.S.What she wants every advocate, attorney, and survivor to knowThis conversation is a must-listen for anyone working in law, policy, victim services - or anyone who believes survivors deserve better. Connect with Abby: 🔗 Facebook 🔗 X 🔗 Instagram 🔗 Website (for media enquiries)

    30 min

  5. 10/30/2025

    What Happens When Child Welfare Leads With Humanity and a "We" Approach with Renee Bernhard | Ep 27

    In this episode of Rights and Remedies, I speak with Renee Bernhard, co-founder and executive director of Be The Source, a nonprofit transforming child welfare support across Colorado.  Renee is a former foster parent with a deep commitment to supporting families and children experiencing child welfare. She co-founded Be The Source (formerly Foster Source) to improve foster parent retention and advocate for the needs of foster and kinship families. Renee also speaks nationally and internationally about vital caregiver supports and believes lived experience should be the biggest influence in policy and practice. We explore the emotional complexity of foster care, including what happened when Renee’s foster child’s biological mother broke protocol and handed her a bouquet of flowers on Mother’s Day. That single moment became the foundation for Renee’s vulnerable, relationship-first philosophy, and the core of her organization’s work. Be The Source now offers trauma-informed training, tangible support like car seats and rent assistance, equine therapy, and mental health care for foster and kinship families, including biological children of foster parents.  And for the first time, they're expanding these same services to birth parents, creating a model of shared support where everyone shows up for the child. If you work in family law, child advocacy, or the broader legal ecosystem, this episode offers a powerful look at what’s possible when the system embraces we over us versus them. Learn more or donate:  🔗 bethesourceco.org Follow Be The Source on Facebook, Instagram and X. (or the Spanish Facebook Page)

    28 min

  6. 10/16/2025

    How Smart Devices Are Being Weaponized in Domestic Abuse: Inside the Madison Tech Clinic with Sophie Stephenson | Ep 26

    In this episode of Rights and Remedies, I sit down with Sophie Stephenson, Director of Operations at the Madison Tech Clinic and a PhD candidate in computer sciences at UW-Madison.  Her research focuses on understanding and combating modern forms of technology-facilitated abuse - work that is not only groundbreaking but urgently needed. The Madison Tech Clinic provides direct, trauma-informed services to survivors of tech-based abuse across Wisconsin. Sophie shares how her team helps survivors investigate concerns like phone hacking, spyware, and online harassment, and how they’re training tech experts to respond with both technical skill and care. We discuss how the clinic helps survivors investigate these concerns and build credible, court-ready evidence, something lawyers and advocates are increasingly being asked to support. Sophie also shares insight into their outreach with Indigenous communities and the tech dynamics driving the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis, plus the impact of AI-generated imagery in escalating abuse. This conversation is essential for legal professionals navigating modern abuse dynamics, and for anyone committed to supporting survivors in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Learn more or refer clients to the clinic: 🔗 techclinic.cs.wisc.edu Connect with Sophie: 🔗 LinkedIn Resources recommended by Sophie: Safety Net Project Refuge - What is Technology-Facilitated Abuse? Take It Down Stop NCII Without My Consent Right To Be End Tech-Enabled Abuse References: Naman Gupta, Sanchari Das, Kate Walsh, and Rahul Chatterjee. 2024. A Critical Analysis of the Prevalence of Technology-Facilitated Abuse in US College Students. In Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA ’24), May 11–16, 2024, Honolulu, HI, USA. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 12 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613905.

    27 min

  7. 10/02/2025

    Inside the Foster System: Dr. John DeGarmo’s Mission to Reform | Ep 25

    Content Warning: This episode discusses child abuse, neglect, and child welfare. What does it take to be a foster parent - and why are so many leaving the system? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. John DeGarmo, founder of The Foster Care Institute, who has welcomed over 60 children into his home.  From the heartbreak of child loss to the systemic issues plaguing foster care, including burnout, compassion fatigue, and lack of placements, Dr. DeGarmo offers a frank and compassionate look at what’s really happening inside the system. We also discuss why teens are the hardest group to place, how foster parents can better support each other, and what needs to change to keep children safe and stable. Visit Dr John DeGarmo's website Connect with him on LinkedIn and Facebook

    28 min

  8. 09/18/2025

    Two-Time Weinstein Witness Speaks of Testifying Against Power with Liz Entin | Ep 24

    In this episode of Rights and Remedies, I speak with Liz Entin - entrepreneur, podcast host, and a secondary witness in both New York trials against Harvey Weinstein.  Liz shares her experience testifying in one of the most high-profile sexual assault cases in recent history and offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on what it’s like to be part of the legal process as a witness. We explore the emotional, mental, and legal challenges of testifying, the unexpected empowerment she found in cross-examination, and the viral moment involving her Chihuahua and Weinstein. Liz also opens up about how this experience deepened her respect for the legal system and inspired her to consider pursuing law herself. If you're curious about courtroom dynamics, the role of secondary witnesses, or what it truly means to show up for justice, Liz’s account provides powerful insight into the weight and privilege of bearing witness. We cover: What it means to be a secondary witnessBehind the scenes of preparing for a criminal trialLiz’s viral moment that involved Harvey Weinstein and a ChihuahuaThe mindset shift that made cross-examination empoweringWhy she believes every witness holds real powerTune in for a deeply personal and uplifting look at what happens when someone says, “You don’t get to get away with this.” Find out about Liz: WTF Just Happened?! on YouTube, Instagram, and their website Why Get Wasted: Instagram and website

    28 min
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About

Rights and Remedies is your go-to podcast for survivors, advocates, and those wanting to explore the legal and human dimensions of sexual abuse, cyber abuse, domestic violence, and child welfare. Each episode unpacks the complexities of these issues, examines the civil rights challenges affecting vulnerable populations, and highlights the innovative approaches to making a difference. Tune in for expert insights, powerful stories, and a roadmap to healing and justice. Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this interview belong solely to the participants and do not represent the official stance of any affiliated organizations or partners. Discussions are dynamic and may cover a wide range of topics, including spontaneous or evolving ideas. This content is provided for general information and inspiration only and should not be taken as specific advice. For tailored advice, please consult a relevant professional.

Information

  • Creator
    Allison Mahoney
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rights and Remedies
  • Show Website
    Rights and Remedies