Ep.15 Survivors of Sexual Violence, Silent No Longer

Q: What is the one thing you want our listeners to know? A: If you've been impacted by sexual assault, it was NOT. YOUR. FAULT.    —Greta McClain, founder of Silent No Longer This episode focuses on gender-based sexual violence. Our guest is Greta McClain, founder of Silent No Longer, an organization which empowers survivors of sexual violence to transform their stories into powerful forces for education and inspiration. Greta served as a Nashville police officer for more than a decade, then was the Victims of Crime Coordinator with the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. On a June night in 2017, in the parking lot of a truck stop, Greta was raped. She found herself sinking in despair after the attack, unable to come to grips with what had happened, and started planning to end her life. As she was writing her final good-byes to family and friends, a news story caught her eye. Something about ... "me too." Greta says that the hashtag #metoo saved her life. She realized that if the #metoo survivors could go, so could she. And not only could she go on, she could help others go on, too. Silent No Longer was born. Our conversation covers Greta’s work using creative expression to support survivors, available resources, and practical ways listeners can offer support. But Kelli and Sue also have to touch base with each other about Neighborhood Notes—Sue was in a music video! Kelli's new Australian friends love the pod! There's a Grass Roots & Nudie Suits Festival coming to Madison!—and of course, their Drinks of the Day (hint: Kelli's contains the word "Miller" and Sue channels her Grandma Linnie's alcohol preferences). There's also Aunt Janet's "Hillbilly Dew"—yes, the recipe is on the website. Please join Kelli and Sue on their audio front porch for this and more—and together we can solve ... all the problems of the world. More lots more, visit FrontPorchAF.com.