Shows
Breaking SilenceBreaking Cycles of Silence: The Power of Finding Your Voice and Being BelievedSend us a textIn this episode, we explore how the words “I believe you” open doors, not only to healing for someone who has carried a story, but also for the person who chooses to listen. Author Chanchal Garg invites us to walk alongside her as she shares her journey of healing, exploration, and cycle-breaking. Through her reflections, she helps us understand the power of what vibrates beneath the surface of our lives.When we become connected to those deeper vibrations, transformation begins. Garg reminds us that there is always a path forward, even when...
2025-11-1938 minBreaking SilenceFinding Stillness In Facing Past Abuse, Cancer and LossSend us a textListening to Lisa's story you cannot help but to feel inspired and more connected to your own truth. Her purpose is to allow us all to discover a side of ourselves that we may have silenced long ago and to give us the space to understand that even when the cards continue to stack up against you, there is still a choice to be made. A choice between hope, gratitude and love or loss and despair. She is here to walk along side all of us so that we know that we can...
2025-07-3034 minBreaking SilenceKeeping Faith Through Love, Acceptance and AccountabilitySend us a textEach person's journey with acceptance, spirituality, and finding their path is unique and one that is often realized when we lean in with love. That is exactly what Dr. Glenn Miles teaches us. As a queer man who has journeyed all over the world, he is an explorer of what it means to stay true to yourself even when society, religion, and community may be telling you to turn away from it. His book Embracing Me, God and Others , is a guide into what it means to hold space and allow our experiences to...
2025-07-1634 minBreaking SilencePART 2: Competing, Surviving, and Changing the Game with SheneaSend us a textAs we continue our conversation with Shenea, we get to dive deeper into her experience with USA Gymnastics, the intense role that silence played in her journey, and how one of the greatest displays of love we can give is our willingness to hold people accountable.Part 2 offers up even more roads for advocacy, what questions we can ask those who are interacting with our kids, and how she defines safety for those actively in competition. To learn more about Shenea and the incredible work she’s doing, visit her...
2025-05-2146 minBreaking SilenceCompeting, Surviving, and Changing the Game with SheneaSend us a textIn this episode of the Breaking Silence podcast, we sit down with Shenea for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about what it truly takes to create safe spaces in sports and performance. Drawing from her journey as a former gold medal gymnast and professional Cirque performer, Shenea speaks to the importance of prevention, the power that language has in creating space for cycles of harm to exist, and what advocacy looks like on stage, in the gym, and beyond.Shenea is a force—an advocate, truth-teller, and educator—offering us the t...
2025-05-0731 minBreaking SilenceThe Power of Advocacy: Fighting for Survivors with RAINNSend us a textWelcome back to another season of the Breaking Silence Podcast! In our first episode of 2025, we were able to connect with Zoey, the Policy and Grassroots Coordinator at RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Zoey shares insights into RAINN's multifaceted efforts to support survivors of sexual violence, including their operation of the National Sexual Assault Hotline and their advocacy work throughout the country on both local and federal policies. The discussion brings us into critical issues such as the backlog of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) tests, the impact of deepfake...
2025-04-1644 minBreaking SilenceThe Army of Survivors: Creating Safe Spaces for AthletesSend us a text**Trigger Warning: Sexual violence and abuse are discussed in this episode** Throughout this episode we hear from Julie Ann, Executive Director of The Army of Survivors (TAOS), and Dani, a Co-Founder and Board Member of TAOS. We discuss how being an organization created by athletes who have survived sexual violence for athletes allows them to bring awareness to the systemic problem of sexual abuse of athletes and to ultimately end this culture of abuse by ensuring all parties are held accountable. The vulnerability, honesty and heart that they bring t...
2024-10-3044 minBreaking SilenceAccountability: The Post Conviction Process for SurvivorsSend us a textThe post conviction process for a survivor of sexual violence can be a very lonely, overwhelming and confusing moment in their journey. In this episode, we have the amazing opportunity to learn more about what that is like for folks, what support is out there and how putting the survivors voice and story first is a major step in getting some of the power back. Casey, walks us through what it is like to walk along survivors and be the liaison between them and the offender, connecting bridges and helping bring as much...
2024-07-3055 minBreaking SilenceDiving into the Harm of Being Catcalled w/ Terra LopezSend us a textCatcalling has been so normalized in our society that we often dismiss it and assume that it does not do any harm. Terra Lopez, host and creator of "This is What it Feels Like", joins us as she talks us through the often untold consequences that come from catcalling such as harassment, sexual assault and even murder. We walk through the power of learning and owning what our words and actions may be doing to others and how being curious can often open doors that were closed in our hearts. Her p...
2024-06-1841 minBreaking SilencePrevious Owner of Prairie Artisan Ales Brewpub on What it Means to Drink KindlySend us a textCreating change and safe spaces in the beer industry takes time, commitment, maturity and a desire to always listen to what those working within it are telling us. Throughout the episode Ryan Stack and I talk through what his time at Prairie Artisan Ales was like and how they created a culture based on believing staff, showing up for one another as a team and the need to be constantly working at a culture. If you are anyone you know may be interested in hosting one of our trainings, please reach...
2024-05-2830 minBreaking SilenceCreating Space for Healing in the Juvenile Justice SystemSend us a textTalking with Sonya, a Clinical Director and Sex Offender Management Board Clinical Supervisor for Juveniles, is a window into empathy for juveniles who are currently in the Youthful Offender System in Colorado. She shares with us not only her years of experience as a therapist, but the way in which her life and philosophies have helped shape her approach. She has centered herself and her work around bringing your full self to the table, using humor even in times or moments when that seems impossible, and how we can give the children in o...
2024-04-3052 min
Louder Than SilenceEpisode 57: Breaking the Silence On Sexual Assault with Alli MeyerhardtIn this episode, Lori Poland is joined by Alli Meyerhardt, the founder and executive director of Breaking Silence, a national organization designed to give a voice to survivors of abuse. As a survivor herself, Alli knew that the story many had to share would pave the way to ending sexual assault and domestic violence. She followed this vision and began a nonprofit that focuses on teaching people about the consequences of sexual assault, ways in which they can prevent it, and the realities of consent. The Louder than Silence podcast is brought to you by the National F...
2024-01-1938 minBreaking SilenceLearning to Cope with Camil MartinezSend us a textCamil invites us into her story in a way that encapsulates what it means to face our stories. To face some of the hardest moments of our lives and those who acted within our world. It is not easy to give people the vulnerability that Camil does, and we know that her words will bring healing and understanding to so many.Please know that this episode does go into detail about sexual abuse, drug use, and domestic violence so listener discretion is advised.Learning to Cope Book
2023-10-2449 minBreaking SilenceThe Elephant in the Room: DEI and Violence Prevention with MayaSend us a textMaya is a diversity, equity, and inclusion facilitator, who has joined us to talk through her expertise, how we can all continue the conversation around equity and inclusion, and what it means to be a true ally to others.The journey of finding your power and privilege is not an easy one, and we hope the tools laid out in the episode will help in whatever DEI and violence prevention journey you may be onBooks and Resources:How to be an Anti-Racist and Other Work from Author...
2023-10-1146 minBreaking SilenceFinding Love for Our Inner Child with Jana WilsonSend us a textConnecting to ourselves is not always a straight line. How we find our journey through healing is immensely personal, which is why we are so grateful for the honesty and vulnerability that Jenna brings. Jenna is an emotional healing educator, meditation teacher, retreat leader, hypnotherapist, HeartMath Facilitator, and founder of the Emotional Healing System. For the past two decades she has taught thousands internationally in group and private retreats. We never know what might show up when we start to find infinite kindness towards ourselves.Resources Mentioned:Wise L...
2023-09-1847 minBreaking Silence100 Million Strong: The Incredible Work of the I Have The Right To OrganizationSend us a textSusan and Alexander Prout are the founders of the I Have The Right To organization, which is committed to creating an ecosystem of respect and support for students and survivors of sexual assault. Throughout our conversation we discuss the bravery of their daughter Chessy, the walls of silence and shame that institutions systemically create, healing as an act of communion, and how we can disrupt the power of toxic masculinity and rape culture as it currently exists.We encourage you to join the pledge on their website, follow the conversation through t...
2023-09-0554 minBreaking SilenceSergeant Mike Harris of the Special Investigations Unit Discusses Internet Sex Crimes on ChildrenSend us a textSergeant Mike Harris sits down to guide us through how online sex crimes against children has changed over the years, ways in which we can start having honest and prevention based conversations with the kids in our lives, and the impact that time and space has on how our stories develop. Believing a survivor is not just about believing their first out cry, it is knowing that their story will change and over time. It is our duty as the listener to continue to believe them through every adaptation, and Mike is here...
2023-08-2944 minBreaking SilenceThe Influence of Empathy, Empowerment and Hard Conversations in the Beer SpaceSend us a textTo kickoff season 3, we sit down with Morgan from Highland Park Brewery (HPB) and walk through what is like to do one of our trainings, the impacts it has had and continues to have with staff, and how our work together is helping disrupt some of the previous standards within the beer industry.We started our work in the beer space in 2020 as women within the industry started to come forward to share their stories of abuse, harassment and assault. It was a catalyst for us to become a more active p...
2023-08-2143 min
CULTURE goodr#67: Breaking Silence with Alli MeyerhardtIn episode #67 of CULTURE goodr, Stephen interviews Alli Meyerhardt, the executive director of Breaking Silence.
Breaking Silence is a nonprofit that inspires communities to take action against interpersonal violence through the power of empathy, healing, and open dialogue.
Stephen and Alli discuss:
how a childhood experience at a McDonald's PlayPlace made Alli openhearted and unafraid to approach people
how she created Breaking Silence 10 years ago and fostered its growth while working other jobs (including head of sales at goodr!!!)
how to create safe spaces at businesses to have...
2023-04-1234 minBreaking SilenceInterview with Author Dave PelzerSend us a textDave Pelzer is a New York Times best selling author, a survivor, and someone that has helped countless people through the power of his story. Alli and Dave talk through the process of writing his new book Return to the River, how he has moved through life holding space for his abuse and for his adult self to heal, and what he sees now, 50 years after his rescue.
2023-04-0341 minBreaking SilenceFrom Hurt to Heard and Dave Pelzer TeaseSend us a textYou can hear the "From Heart To Heard" talk on our website! We are so excited to have Dave Pelzer here next week as we continue our journey through this season. Please share with us your why and reactions to our video .
2023-03-2701 minBreaking SilenceFinding Grace: Surviving Intrafamilial Abuse and the Silencing Power of ReligionSend us a textThis week, we talk with Karen about her story of surviving abuse at the hands of her stepfather. The idea of that to be loved means to experience abuse was a common story told to her not only by her abusive stepfather but by religious leaders. Karen has had to reframe her story to become one about love for herself, how the abuse is not her shame to carry and the work she is doing in finding self love and grace.
2023-03-2037 minBreaking SilenceWalking Through Shame and Finding the Power in Our Survival StorySend us a textIn this episode we are joined by Amanda as she talks us through her stories of survival, why she has kept her stories silent and how she ended up in litigation against a powerful ride share company. This episode is a wonderful example of how we can still be in our pain and going through it and know that when we talk to safe people they will believe and see us, not shame and silence us. There is no perfection or finished when it comes to processing an assault, so sometimes we just ha...
2023-03-131h 07Breaking SilenceProcessing Our Stories as Secondary SurvivorsSend us a textIt is never easy to find your voice or feelings when a story feels outside of you. We talk with Will, a secondary survivor who is on a journey of understanding the impact that abuse has had on his mother's life and their relationship. As he feels his own pain through knowing what she want through, he is finding new ways to connect with her, empower her and help her break her silence even further. The biggest thing we can do as secondary survivors is to create the space for ourselves and the s...
2023-03-0643 minBreaking SilenceSharing Ownership of Our Stories: The Good and Bad of it AllSend us a textThis week we chat with Lori Poland, Executive Director of EndCAN and author of I Live Here: learning to heal through embracing your own storyWhen Lori was kidnapped at the age of 3, her world and the world of others turned upside down. Her journey has been one of finding her voice in a tragedy that was mostly told to her and trying to understand what it means to have "joint custody" of your story. We don't always get to choose what our story means to others or even to ourselves...
2023-02-1346 minBreaking SilenceAllowing Our Stories to Wash Over UsSend us a textAuthor Lynn Forney shares with us her journey of survival and healing which she details in her book: Choosing Survival: How I Endured a Brutal Attack and a Lifetime of Trauma through the Power of Action, Choice, and Self Expression. We move through the power of art and imagination as a way to make friends with our past, how we can show kindness to our inner child and how a little bit of silly can go a long way in the healing journey.Lynn is a true light in th...
2023-02-0337 min2023-01-3002 minBreaking SilenceUnchecked Violence Inside the Restaurant IndustrySend us a textAlli sits down with Samantha, as she guides us through what happened one night at the hands of her boss, a man many considered to be a brilliant chef. The need to believe in his mastery over his actions and treatment of people leads to Samantha being violently attacked in the place they worked. She not only guides us through that moment but through the very real consequences of giving people sympathy over empathy and harm that comes from "not wanting to get involved."Throughout the episode she walks us through he...
2023-01-2855 min
Breaking SilenceBreaking Silence on Breaking SilenceSend us a textIn this episode, we change things up as Alli gets interviewed for the first time. Brittany, Alli's wife, helps Alli explore her stories and how they have influenced her in creating Breaking Silence. We walk through how Alli sees her stories of abuse today, what she continues to struggle with and what she hopes this podcast and Breaking Silence brings each of you!
2022-07-1853 min
Breaking SilenceBreaking Silence on the Queer Male Survivor ExperienceSend us a textAlli sits down with Cody to learn about his experience of surviving a sexual assault at a pivotal time; when he was defining his identity and sexuality. Cody guides us through his experience of meeting an older man online who violated his sense of safety, his sense of community and his sense of self. We talk through believing in the power of his words and how this moment sent him on a journey of healing and growth
2022-07-1335 min
Breaking SilenceBreaking Silence on Partner Sexual Assault and Abortion as a Part of HealingSend us a textIn this episode we talk with Anaya who walks through his story of being sexually assaulted by his partner, in which the assault ends in a pregnancy. At 16, Anaya knew that having a child that resulted from a rape was not what he wanted so he sought abortion as a step in his healing process. We talk through this process, the significance of inclusive language especially in the abortion space for those that identify as trans and how being a little kinder with our words and energy changes the world.
2022-06-1338 min
Breaking SilenceBreaking Silence on a Male Escort ExperienceSend us a textAlli and Max, a gay male who worked in the escort sex work industry sit down to debunk the stereotypes of the industry, how access to safe sex can strip down our shame, and the power of consent. We hope this vulnerable and honest conversation will start the conversation around the sex work industry so that we can all be better informed and more empathetic
2022-06-0631 minBreaking SilenceAccountability, Healing and Working with The Other SideSend us a textIn this episode, Tanya, a treatment provider for those who have committed sex offense sits down with us to talk through what that treatment looks like, the roll that accountability plays in her work and how we can all be a part of the healing process for those in our lives.
2022-05-3149 minBreaking SilenceBreaking Silence on Sexual Assault on a College CampusSend us a textIn this episode, Alli sits down with Katie a survivor of rape. Katie tells us her story of surviving the assault at the hands of a friend, the price of healing, and how she is working to build a community where all survivors are heard and supported.If you or anyone you know needs further support please visit our resources page or reach out to the rape crisis hotline directly at 1-800-656-4673
2022-05-2451 minBreaking SilenceBreaking Silence on The Other SideSend us a textIn this episode, Alli talks with someone who chose to commit a sex offense on an incapacitated female in college. Hearing from this side of the story gives us the tools to understand prevention, and permission to feel things more deeply no matter what those feelings may be. Lean in as we explore what it mean\s to go from a hurt person hurting people to a more healed person hoping to heal people We hope you will continue this conversation on our instagram @breakingsilence_org
2022-05-1651 minBreaking SilenceBreaking Silence on Suicide and Suicide PreventionSend us a textIn this episode, Alli is joined with Sam, an expert in the field of suicide prevention and awareness. Sam gives us tools for starting conversations around suicide, how to show up for someone and ourselves, and how suicide and interpersonal violence tend to intersect. If you or anyone you know is in need of support please call 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741-741
2022-05-0928 minBreaking SilenceBreaking Silence on Abusive RelationshipsSend us a textToday's episode we hear Dino walk us through his relationship in which power over and control creates an unsafe and impossible space to exist within. His journey is one of finding his voice, his power and moving on from the grips of his partner at the time.
2022-05-0254 minBreaking SilenceBreaking Silence on Abusive RelationshipsIn this episode we follow the story of Dino as he talks us through how his relationship with his former partner turned from one of passion to one of control and power over. We hope you will listen, believe him and hear the ways that abuse can show up not just physically but through our words, through our need to control and through our actions.
2022-05-0201 min
Breaking SilenceBreaking Silence on Workplace Sexual HarassmentSend us a textIn this episode, we hear Ashley's story of sexual harassment, her journey towards healing and the fears that come with being forced out of a job. She walks us through the culture that existed at work, the ways in which her abusers behavior was allowed to persist and what we can do now to disrupt environments like this so that women are not forced out of their careers.You will hear audio from a past recording intermixed with our conversation, as we reflect on what it was like for her to s...
2022-04-2536 min
Breaking SilenceBreaking Silence Podcast Season 1 IntroSend us a textWelcome to the first season of the Breaking Silence Podcast. Throughout this podcast, the Executive Director, Alli Meyerhardt, interviews those that are impacted by interpersonal violence so that we can build a community of advocates. In this space, we hope that you will find healing and join our community of breakers.
2022-04-2500 min