160. Inside The Epstein Era: An Important Re-airing From The Jan Broberg Show

160. Inside The Epstein Era: An Important Re-airing From The Jan Broberg Show

Author: Dave Markel October 21, 2025 Duration: 1:10:58
This week's episode of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories is a powerful replay of Episode 223 from The Jan Broberg Show — an episode that I was honored to join alongside Beth Magnetic, host of the Mormon True Crime Podcast. In this deeply important conversation, Jan, Beth, and I confront one of the most disturbing and misunderstood realities of our time: how a trafficking operation like Jeffrey Epstein's could remain functional, protected, and operational for more than four decades — despite countless victims, despite obvious warning signs, despite so many people "knowing" something was wrong. What unfolds in this conversation is not just about Epstein. It's about the dangerous intersections of wealth, privilege, and political radicalization. It's about the systems that hold more allegiance to influence than to justice. It's about a culture that is quicker to protect a powerful perpetrator than to believe a terrified teenage girl. And at its center — it's about the neuroscience of trauma. We talk honestly about why victims don't "just come forward," how the brain reacts to betrayal by high-trust offenders, how dissociation and freeze responses still get interpreted as "consent," and how our culture repeatedly re-traumatizes survivors the moment they dare to speak. Jan, Beth, and I push directly into the root of this: society still does not want to look at the truth of sexual violence. Not in churches. Not in elite institutions. Not when the perpetrator has a famous last name. And that refusal to confront the truth is exactly what keeps the next Epstein alive. If we are ever going to break the cycle, we have to normalize these conversations — not in whisper rooms, not in back channels — but openly, nationally, relentlessly. That is the core mission of this podcast — to elevate the survivor's voice, to educate the public with the neuroscience of trauma, and to help ignite a cultural change where victims are believed the first time they speak. If this episode moves you, please share it. That is how change begins — one shared truth at a time. 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! Here are some critically important links that I hope you'll take the time to explore, and where a contribution is requested, please consider doing so!—Thank you!! https://soulwisesolutions.com https://safeinharmsway.org 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/ 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.

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: 50

Sexual Assault Survivor Stories
Podcast Episodes
206. Cat Wilson: Unapologetic, Unafraid, and Finally Heard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:42
After a week off, I'm joined by Cat Wilson, a survivor, advocate, and outspoken voice in the movement to end violence against women. Cat is a HASSL Pro Ambassador and serves as the organization's country representative f…
205. Vanessa Wulff: No One Knew What She Was Surviving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:53
Vanessa Wulff was working toward a future in chiropractic care when she became the victim of multiple sexual assaults and rape. In this episode, she shares what happened during that period of her life and the effects tho…
204. Jeff Kohler: The Courage to Become The Vocal Minority [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:19
Jeff Kohler enlisted in the United States Navy immediately after graduating from high school in 2005. Two years later, he received orders attaching him to the Army's 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Infantry Divis…
203. Dr. Peter Verdin: "Gold in the Cracks" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:45
For twenty-five years, Dr. Peter Verdin carried the truth of his childhood sexual abuse largely in silence. During those years, he became an accomplished athlete, playing four seasons for the University of Georgia and be…
202. The Betrayal Was Intimate: Understanding Coercive Sexual Assault [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:27
Several of my recent guests have described sexual assault that occurred within an intimate relationship and was accomplished through coercion rather than immediately recognizable physical force. Some of the responses I r…
201. Hannah King (Part 3): Still Hurting. Still Healing. Still Here. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:28
This week I conclude my three-part conversation with Hannah King. What began with the night she was drugged and violently sexually assaulted has become a much larger story about everything rape can leave behind. Hannah s…
199. Hannah King (Part 1): The Long Road Begins Here [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:38
Some stories simply can't be told in a single conversation. This week begins a special three-part series with Hannah King, whose life changed forever after she was drugged and violently sexually assaulted while traveling…
198. Lyndsey Hackford: The Abuse I Thought Was Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:52
Domestic violence doesn't usually begin with violence. It often begins with what appears to be love. Small compromises become expectations. Isolation is disguised as protection. Control masquerades as concern. Little by…