152. Johnny Braun: What the World Refuses to See About Male Survivors

It was an amazing day for me when Johnny Braun sent me a DM on Instagram. It was short, it was succinct, and it made me want to talk to him. Here's what he said: "Hey there Dave, if you're looking for another person to be on your podcast, I'd like to be on an episode. I experienced childhood sexual abuse." That was it…that's what started an amazing conversation, and my decision to have him as a guest today. I could go on and on about how amazing I know Johnny is. But I think he would rather I tell you about what I know about male sexual assault as a "thing" that needs to be talked about more; because Johnny agrees with me: we need to normalize this conversation. So, here's my short version of what needs to be said, and read, and heard, about male sexual assault and rape: Sexual assault is often framed in most public discourse as an experience primarily affecting women, which is good and appropriate in a certain lens. But the reality is that men and boys are also profoundly impacted by these crimes—unfortunately, their stories remain drastically underreported and underrecognized. Here's a stat that should shock you: according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), approximately 1 in 6 men in the United States have experienced some form of sexual assault in their lifetime. While female victims often receive the bulk of media attention and resources, male survivors face unique challenges, including societal stigma, shame, and cultural expectations about masculinity that can discourage reporting or seeking help. Johnny knows this personally…all too well. You'll hear him talk about it. When we focus specifically on childhood sexual assault, the numbers are equally sobering…or better put: shocking. Studies indicate that roughly 1 in 6 boys will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. These assaults frequently occur in settings where trust is expected—by family members, coaches, teachers, or other authority figures—and often go unreported for years. Male survivors of childhood sexual abuse are at increased risk of long-term emotional, psychological, and physical consequences, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, substance misuse, and difficulties with relationships and sexual identity. All of which, again, Johnny talks about. Despite these alarming statistics, male victims—especially boys—remain largely invisible in conversations about sexual violence. Cultural myths that men cannot be victims, or that male survivors should "tough it out," do nothing to help, but actually add to the systemic underreporting dilemma. Data from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center shows that only about 1 in 10 male survivors report their assault to law enforcement, compared with 1 in 3 female survivors. This silence is not a reflection of their experiences being less real or less impactful—it is a reflection of societal barriers that must be dismantled. By acknowledging, amplifying, and normalizing male survivors' voices, we can create a safer, more trauma-informed space where all survivors—regardless of gender—are believed, supported, and empowered to heal. And that's another step toward crushing rape culture in our society. Johnny wants his story to be a part of that step. Don't skip this episode. Thank you, Johnny, for your strength in reaching out to me, and for being a guest with me on this show. For those of you who want to take Johnny up on his invitation to reach out to him and start a connection, DM him on Instagram. He's at: itsjohnnybraun 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; and, if you're interested in guesting on the show, please mention that in your email or text, and provide me with a phone number where I can reach you. 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://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 As mentioned and emphasized, 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. Thank you for tuning in.