Raising Our Voices

Our Voice
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Sexuality
  • Updated Monthly

Breaking Silence and amplifying change through education, advocacy, and hope for survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking.

Episodes

  1. Sep 21

    Exploring the Sexual Violence Movement in the Latine Community

    In this episode of Raising Our Voices, Rita sits down with Diana Sierra, former CEO of the YWCA, to discuss sexual violence prevention and advocacy within Latine communities. We explore how values like resilience and a strong work ethic can be sources of strength while sometimes making it harder to reach out for support. Diana also discusses barriers facing Latine survivors, including the challenges created by today’s social and political climate. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we also celebrate the strength, culture, and contributions of Latine communities while considering how the sexual violence movement can better support Latine survivors.

    Exploring the Sexual Violence Movement in the Latine Community

  2. Aug 7

    The Red Zone: Understanding Campus Sexual Violence

    Season 2 kicks off with a conversation between Our Voice Executive Director Rita Nugent and Deanna Harrington, Coordinator of Statewide Capacity at the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA). Together they unpack the "Red Zone," the high-risk period between move-in day and Thanksgiving when first-year college students face elevated rates of sexual violence, and why prevention efforts need to focus on the people who cause harm rather than the people who experience it. Rita and Deanna cover authentic bystander intervention, what enthusiastic consent really looks like, sexual coercion, and how parents and students can prepare before week one on campus.

    The Red Zone: Understanding Campus Sexual Violence

  3. Jul 8

    Disability, Isolation, and the Roots of Sexual Violence in the IDD Community

    Rita talks with disability advocate Ray Hemachandra about why people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face such steep risk for sexual violence and trafficking and why the threat almost never comes from a stranger. They dig into how compliance training backfires, what real consent education looks like within the IDD community, and why seeing disabled people as full, sexual human beings is where prevention actually starts. For a full Transcript of this Episode, click HERE.

    Disability, Isolation, and the Roots of Sexual Violence in the IDD Community

  4. Jun 8

    Seen and Supported: LGBTQ+ Survivors and the Work That Connects Us

    In this episode of Raising Our Voices, host and Our Voice Executive Director Rita Nugent sits down with Josie Seay, Executive Director of Blue Ridge Pride, to explore the intersection of queer advocacy and sexual violence work. Together they discuss why LGBTQ+ individuals experience sexual violence at higher rates, how individuals can support the movement, and why collaboration between organizations like theirs is essential to building safer, more inclusive communities for everyone.

    Seen and Supported: LGBTQ+ Survivors and the Work That Connects Us

  5. May 11

    Digital Safety, Grooming, and Online Exploitation

    In this episode of Raising Our Voices, Rita sits down with Chase Moss, Community Advocate at Our Voice, for a conversation about digital safety, online exploitation, and how technology can both increase risk and support prevention. Together, they explore grooming, stalking behaviors, AI-related harms, and practical ways to stay safer online without living in fear.

    Digital Safety, Grooming, and Online Exploitation

  6. Apr 15

    Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness: Understanding the Full Spectrum of Abuse

    In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, this episode explores the intersection of these movements and the full spectrum of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual harm. Featuring Claudia Burke from Mountain Child Advocacy Center, we discuss why understanding these connections is essential to prevention and how communities can better support children and survivors.

    Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness: Understanding the Full Spectrum of Abuse

  7. Feb 23

    What Trauma Does to the Body and Brain: Understanding Our Survival Responses

    In this episode of Raising Our Voices, Rita speaks with Our Voice Counseling Director Natalie Breit about the deep impacts of trauma and how experiences of harm can live in the body as physical sensations, emotional shifts, and neurological responses. Together, they explore why these reactions happen and how survivors can begin to gently recenter and regulate when feeling elevated or activated.

    What Trauma Does to the Body and Brain: Understanding Our Survival Responses

  8. Jan 12

    Survival, Not Weakness: Understanding Trauma After Trafficking

    In this episode, Rita speaks with Amanda Gopal, Executive Director of The Hundred Movement, for a trauma-informed conversation centered on the lived realities of human trafficking survivors. Together, they explore why survivors often respond the way they do after exploitation, examining trauma responses and survival behaviors through a compassionate, non-judgmental lens. The discussion challenges harmful myths by reframing these responses as adaptive strategies shaped by prolonged coercion and harm, while also unpacking how trauma impacts the brain and body, disrupts safety and trust, and makes healing non-linear. Rita and Amanda reflect on what survivor-centered healing can look like, emphasizing patience, autonomy, and support systems that honor survivors’ experiences.

    Survival, Not Weakness: Understanding Trauma After Trafficking

  9. 12/17/2025

    What We Get Wrong About Human Trafficking

    Human trafficking is often misunderstood. In this episode of Raising Our Voices, we break down common myths about trafficking and talk about what it actually looks like in our community. We explore the difference between sex and labor trafficking, challenge the idea that trafficking always involves kidnapping or extreme violence, and explain why many survivors are trafficked by people they know, often close to home. We also discuss the important distinction between consensual sex work and trafficking, and how communities can play a role in prevention and awareness. Disclaimer: We want to acknowledge some audio quality issues in this episode and apologize for any distractions. Thank you for sticking with us!

    What We Get Wrong About Human Trafficking

  10. 11/07/2025

    Prevention as Culture Change: Reimagining the Future of the Movement

    Rita and Mercy dive into what prevention really looks like when we center culture change in the movement to end sexual violence and human trafficking. This episode explores the conversations our society rarely has about healthy relationships, consent and boundaries, and why prevention must start long before harm occurs. Mercy brings powerful insight from her work with young people, and together they break down everyday ways to practice consent culture, challenge norms and step in as active bystanders. They also share how Our Voice approaches prevention across ages and communities, ending with an important look at human trafficking and the role we all play in building a safer future. Tune in for an inspiring and thought provoking discussion about the world we can create together.

    Prevention as Culture Change: Reimagining the Future of the Movement

  11. 10/14/2025

    Connected Struggles: The Overlap of Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence

    In this episode of Raising Our Voices, Outreach Coordinator Caitrin Doyle from Helpmate joins Our Voice for a deep and thoughtful conversation about how sexual and intimate partner violence often intersect. Together, we unpack the shared roots of power and control, explore the overlapping realities of trauma and survivorship, and highlight how collaboration between advocacy organizations strengthens community response.

    Connected Struggles: The Overlap of Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence

  12. 09/04/2025

    What Is Sexual Violence, and What Can We Do About It?

    In this powerful opening episode of Raising Our Voices, Executive Director Rita Nugent lays the foundation for an honest conversation about sexual violence. From breaking down what it really means and challenging common myths, to exploring how individuals and communities can take action, this episode invites listeners to reflect, learn, and step into prevention together. Tune in to be inspired, informed, and reminded that everyone has a role in creating change.

  • 12 Episodes

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Breaking Silence and amplifying change through education, advocacy, and hope for survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking.

Information

  • Creator
    Our Voice
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Our Voice
  • Show Website
    Raising Our Voices