Episodes
How Protectors Help Us Heal from Sexual Abuse
Feb. 10, 2021
I lost my brother last month, and as a result, my fiercest protector. In his honor, this episode of Survivor Sanctuary is dedicated to "protectors" like him, and their role in helping us heal from sexual abuse. Support Survi…
From Surviving to Advocating: Four Things You Should Know
Jan. 13, 2021
For many survivors of sexual abuse, finding their voice leads to speaking out and advocating for victims of abuse. But before you dive head-first into the world of advocacy, there are four things Kelly would like you to know…
Lessons on Sexual Abuse Prevention from a Covid-19 Scare
Dec. 2, 2020
Sometimes life throws curveballs that teach unexpected lessons. The last three weeks have been crazy, scary and riddled with anxiety, but the silver lining is a lesson in protecting the vulnerable that is invaluable for pare…
What an Oversized Fish Can Teach the Church About Dealing with Sex Offenders
Nov. 4, 2020
I read two articles this week about institutions dealing with "offenders" in their midst. One was about a church in Florida that hosts a ministry of love and acceptance to sex offenders. The other was about how an aquarium i…
Speaking Out on Sex Abuse: A Chat With Jimmy Hinton (Part 2)
Oct. 28, 2020
On today's episode, I continue my chat with advocate and predator expert Jimmy Hinton. After turning in his own father for sexually abusing children more than a decade ago, Jimmy has dedicated much of his time to speaking ou…
Speaking Out on Sex Abuse: A Chat With Jimmy Hinton (Part 1)
Oct. 21, 2020
On today's episode of Survivor Sanctuary, I'm chatting with advocate and predator expert Jimmy Hinton. After turning in his own father for sexually abusing children more than a decade ago, Jimmy has dedicated much of his tim…
Shining Light on Sexual Abuse Within Your Church: A Beginner's Guide
Oct. 14, 2020
We talk a lot about what churches are doing wrong when it comes to preventing and responding to sexual abuse (and with good reason). But there are actually several ways that you can begin to open your church's eyes about abu…
Sexual Abuse Actually Does Leave A Mark
Oct. 8, 2020
You may have heard it said that the effects of sexual abuse can't be physically seen. We focus a lot, and rightfully so, on the mental, emotional and psychological effects of abuse. But while there are many "unseen" effects …
The Damage Done By "Grooming"
Sept. 23, 2020
Whatever you call it--grooming, testing, preparing--the process by which a predator selects and readies his victims for abuse can be just as damaging as the acts of abuse themselves. Today on the podcast we talk about the da…
When Our Theology Protects Predators Over Victims
Sept. 16, 2020
On episode 47 of the podcast, we'll take a look at why it is so difficult for victims of sexual abuse to find healing from their trauma within the church. When a church's theology preaches freedom for the predator while pili…
When Church is a Trauma Trigger
Sept. 2, 2020
Sitting in a church service watching a worship pastor with skinny jeans and perfectly disheveled hair croon the latest Hillsong chorus might seem perfectly peaceful to many churchgoers. To a survivor of abuse, though, it can…
Do You *Really* Want to #SavetheChildren?
Aug. 26, 2020
The SavetheChildren hashtag has become mighty popular on social media over the last few months. Awesome news for abused and trafficked children, right?! Not really, as it turns out. On this episode of Survivor Sanctuary, we'…
Happy Anniversary, Survivor Sanctuary!
Aug. 19, 2020
Today on the podcast we're celebrating Survivor Sanctuary's one year podcastversary (totally a word, right?). We'll take a look back at the past year, and chat about what's in store for season two of the podcast. Grab your p…
Megan and Dom Benninger: Cancelling the Culture of Silence
Aug. 12, 2020
On today's episode of Survivor Sanctuary we're chatting with Dom and Megan Benninger, the founders of BaptistAccountability.org, about their journey into advocacy for the vulnerable in churches. When they learned that a conv…
Exposing An Abuser: How Do You Know If You've Done Enough?
July 29, 2020
You've found your voice and reported your abuser. So why is there a niggling feeling in the back of your head that your work isn't done? On episode 42 of the podcast, we'll chat about the instinct to protect that drives many…
Confronting Your Abuser: Expectation vs. Reality
July 15, 2020
Maybe you've thought about it a million times--the exact words you would say to the person who abused you. Maybe you've written them out, word for word, or rehearsed them in front of a mirror. While the opportunity to actual…
The Only Thing More Dangerous Than A Predator
July 2, 2020
Predators are going to prey; it's what they do. But the truth is that predators need help from an even more dangerous animal in order to successfully produce victims for the long haul. On this episode of Survivor Sanctuary, …
Dear Churches: How About We Stop Funding Molestionaries? Thanks.
June 24, 2020
Yet another infuriating story in the news this week sparked this episode of Survivor Sanctuary. What is the deal with churches financially supporting credibly accused child molesters who "feel led" to travel to foreign land…
10 Reasons It's Totally Worth it to Heal from Sexual Abuse
June 10, 2020
I don't want to talk about my feelings. I don't want to think about what happened. I just want to leave the past in the past. There are so many reasons we rationalize our choice to bury the trauma of sexual abuse. What is fa…
Why Survivors Struggle to Ask for Help
May 28, 2020
Asking for help can be tough no matter what your life experiences. For survivors of sexual abuse, though, there can be a tendency to see "help" as a four-letter word (which, incidentally, it actually is. :). On this episode …
Trauma and Healing Aren't One-Size-Fits-All
May 20, 2020
Why is it that some people seem to be crushed by sexual abuse, and others seem to bounce back resiliently? Why do some survivors struggle in ways that others don't? On this episode of Survivor Sanctuary, we're chatting about…
If Anxiety Is A Sin, My Amygdala Is Going to Burn In Hell
May 7, 2020
Why do so many Christians struggle to understand that the brain is an organ that can malfunction like all the rest of them? When any other organ gives us trouble, we have no problem believing that illness is at play. When it…
Hope for Survivors of Sexual Abuse
April 29, 2020
Every day, survivors of sexual abuse are faced with realities that can leave them burdened by the weight of abuse. The news is full of stories of abusers evading justice, our facebook feeds are flooded with triggers and igno…
You Are Enough (Really)
April 15, 2020
On this episode of Survivor Sanctuary, we are tackling one of the big fat lies sexual abuse tells us: That we need to be crushing the healing game, advocating for other survivors, doing big things to prevent sexual abuse or …