146. Jessica Pride & Verna Griffin-Tabor: Co-Founders of Sirona Healing Center

146. Jessica Pride & Verna Griffin-Tabor: Co-Founders of Sirona Healing Center

Author: Dave Markel July 15, 2025 Duration: 38:03
Welcome to Episode 146. It's an honor and pleasure to introduce you to Sirona Healing Center of San Diego, CA. This episode features the two co-founders of Sirona, Jessica (Jess) Pride and Verna (Vee) Griffin-Tabor. Jess's name may sound familiar to some of you who've been long-time listeners to SASS…she was my guest on Episode 44, in August, 2023. The reason I'm featuring Sirona Healing Center this week is two-fold: first, it's a pleasure to have Jessica Pride back as a guest this week. Secondly, I am always pleased to present avenues of support and healing that my audience may be able to access to help them on their healing journey. And, after talking with Jessica about her plan to open this type of facility, even 2 years aga when I met up with Jess at the End Violence Against Women-International annual conference in San Diego, I was excited to hear that she had accomplished this dream of hers. So, I wanted to make you aware of this avenue of potential support and healing. This episode is an additional avenue for you to learn about Sirona, what they offer, and what they plan to offer in the future. To contact Sirona Healing Center, check out their website at: https://sironahealing.com/ Or, call them direct at: 858-304-HEAL (4325) Thank you for tuning in to this very important episode. Please share it with everyone you know…it's important enough to get the word out, because we all know someone whose life has been impacted by rape or sexual assault. And, that's also a good reason to Start by Believing! (Check out the EVAWI website!) An important side note: if you're finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform. AND, please send me a note of support. I can't tell you how much your emails mean to me—they fuel my passion to keep this podcast going. Here's my email address: dave@sasstories.com Thank you to all of you who have reached out to me already!! Please keep those emails and texts coming…I truly look forward to hearing from you! On another note: I am a strong advocate and supporter of Survivor School (SS), founded and directed by CEO Arci Grey (another former guest on SASS). In fact, Arci has made me a consultant to SS as she maneuvers the intricacies of directing and managing the content and growth of her amazing organization. I encourage you to strongly consider becoming a member of SS, and as an affiliate would appreciate it, if you do decide to become a member, to use this link: https://www.survivor-school.com/free?ref=SASS Thanks again for listening! As always, listed below are some additional important and meaningful websites I hope you'll take a look at and learn more about. https://sironahealing.com/ https://www.whattheydontsay.com https://www.survivor-school.com/?ref=DAVEMARKEL www.arcigrey.com https://thejanbrobergfoundation.org https://www.napanews.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/invisible-no-more-lady-veterans-stories-of-military/id1754061590 https://startbybelieving.org https://evawintl.org/ https://safeinharmsway.org My email address: dave@sasstories.com It's time to Normalize the Conversation.™ And please remember to Start by Believing…because we all know someone whose life has been impacted by rape or sexual assault. Here's just a small portion of the Sirona Healing Center launch announcement.

Hosted by Dave Markel, Sexual Assault Survivor Stories creates a necessary and nuanced space centered on personal narratives and expert understanding. Each week, this podcast shares firsthand accounts from individuals who have experienced sexual assault, offering a raw and respectful look at the journey from victim to survivor. These stories aren't just about the trauma itself; they delve into the complex path of healing, highlighting both the profound adversities faced and the hard-won victories, large and small. Listening provides a window into the emotional and psychological dynamics that define survival, moving beyond simplistic narratives to honor the full, often messy, human experience. Crucially, this isn't a resource only for those directly affected. The podcast deliberately expands the conversation to educate a broader audience. Episodes explore the principles of trauma-informed communication and break down the neuroscience of trauma and memory, explaining how these factors impact a survivor's recall and testimony. This approach fosters deeper empathy and insight, whether you're a supporter, a professional, or anyone seeking to comprehend these issues on a more informed level. By weaving together personal truth and psychological context, this podcast serves as both a sanctuary for shared experience and a vital tool for collective learning.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Sexual Assault Survivor Stories
Podcast Episodes
186. Joseph Born: The Hidden Reality of Child-on-Child Harm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:15
Joseph Born grew up surrounded by the raw, untamed beauty of Alaska—a childhood filled with exploration, curiosity, and the kind of freedom that most people would associate with innocence. But beneath that backdrop was s…
185. Sara Perry: This Changes How You Think About Healing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:56
This week's episode takes us into a part of the healing conversation that doesn't get talked about nearly enough. I sit down with Sara Perry, founder of Haven Space (https://havenspacecoaching.com/) in Houston, Texas, to…
184. Emily: I Was Living My Life Like Nothing Happened [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:55
This week, Emily joins the show to share a story that has lived quietly beneath the surface while life continued to move forward around it. As a young woman navigating the early stages of adulthood, she opens up about wh…
182. Cassie Nicholas: When Help Was a Setup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:53
Cassie Nicholas returns to the podcast with a story that is as urgent as it is revealing. After everything she has already survived, Cassie found herself in a situation that looked—on the surface—like support and stabili…
181. MJ: A Few Minutes That Changed Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:49
In this powerful interview, MJ shares her journey through sexual assault, dissociation, and healing. We explore trauma's impact on the body and mind, the importance of support systems, and pathways to recovery. Discover…
179. Dr. Asher: Survivor-Led, System-Changing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:35
Let me introduce you to this week's guest, Dr. Asher. I wanted her here on the show because she is someone whose work sits at the intersection of lived experience, rigorous research, and embodied understanding of trauma.…
178. Norma Peterson: The Power of the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:16
This week I sit down with Norma Peterson, Executive Director of Document the Abuse, to talk about the lasting impact of the Stacy Peterson case and the broader importance of documenting abuse when systems fail survivors.…
177. Daniel: Courage Doesn't Always Feel Brave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:04
In this episode of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories, I sit down with Daniel—a listener who became a storyteller. Like many of the voices you hear on this podcast, Daniel didn't come to the microphone because he was certai…