164. Rita Smith: The Voice That Changed the National Conversation

In this week's episode of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories, I'm honored to welcome someone whose name has become synonymous with advocacy, leadership, and meaningful systemic change. Rita Smith has spent more than four decades reshaping how this country understands, responds to, and prevents violence against women. From her grassroots beginnings to her national-level impact, Rita has consistently shown up for survivors with a rare blend of humility, strength, and deep psychological insight. Rita's work reaches across some of the largest platforms in the nation. She has served as Senior Advisor to the National Football League for more than 11 years, guiding the NFL's policies, training, and cultural shifts around domestic violence and sexual assault. As Vice President of External Relations for DomesticShelters.org, she strengthens community programs around the country, builds partnerships, supports frontline advocates, and provides a steady, trusted voice to the national media. She's also spent years consulting for organizations nationwide and serves on the board of Restoration Project International, supporting victims of sex trafficking with compassion and expertise. But what stands out most in our conversation today isn't just Rita's résumé—it's the heart behind the work. She brings decades of crisis intervention experience, conflict-resolution skill, and trauma-informed understanding into this discussion. You'll hear the wisdom of someone who has sat with survivors, challenged institutions, trained leaders, and refused to accept the status quo when it harms those who need protection most. Rita's clarity, steadiness, and lived commitment to justice remind us that change doesn't come from policy alone—it comes from people willing to keep showing up, year after year. This episode is a powerful reminder of what it looks like when advocacy meets integrity. Whether you're a survivor, a professional in this field, or someone trying to understand how we build safer communities, Rita Smith's voice will leave you thinking differently about the systems around us—and inspired to push them toward something better. An important side note: if you're finding value in this show and these amazing episodes, please take a moment to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform. AND, follow SexualAssaultSurvivorStories on Instagram, then, 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. And if you're a victim or survivor and are ready to tell your story in order to help yourself or someone else heal, let me know, and we can start a conversation about the possibility of you being on the show. Here's my email address: dave@sasstories.com Thank you to all of you who have reached out to me already. Just provide me with a phone number where I can reach back out to you…because I like to talk to people who are interested in guesting. And 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://womensmediacenter.com/profile/rita-smith https://1in6.org/ https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/repeat_rape.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com 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/ 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.