203. Dr. Peter Verdin: "Gold in the Cracks"

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 being drafted by the Washington Nationals. He later earned a doctorate in human and sport performance and worked as a coach and educator. His achievements were real, but they could not protect him from the trauma that continued to affect his mental health, physical well being, relationships, and sense of identity. In this episode, Peter speaks candidly about grooming, manipulation, fragmented memory, complex PTSD, and the toll of trying to keep painful experiences contained. He describes entering EMDR therapy, reconnecting with the detective who helped bring his abuser to justice, and beginning difficult but necessary conversations with his parents. He also explains why writing became an essential part of his recovery and allowed him to look at his life with greater understanding and far less shame. That writing became Peter's forthcoming memoir, Gold in the Cracks: A Memoir of Silence, Performance, and Repair. Inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, the book does not present healing as the erasure of damage. It recognizes the possibility of rebuilding a life while allowing its history to remain visible. Peter's story is deeply personal, but his decision to tell it offers recognition to survivors who have spent years appearing strong while privately carrying far more than anyone knew. Learn more at Gold in the Cracks. 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 and hearing your input on the stories and guests featured on this show. 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! https://goldinthecracksofficial.com https://1in6.org/ https://soulwisesolutions.com https://safeinharmsway.org https://sironahealing.com/ https://www.whattheydontsay.com www.arcigrey.com 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. -Dave