Episodes

  • How Families and Communities Can Better Protect and Support Survivors

    How Families and Communities Can Better Protect and Support Survivors
    Dec 19 2025
    This is the second of a two-part episode featuring Dr. Veronica Valliere, focusing on victim behavior, healing, and the role families, professionals, and communities play in prevention and recovery.About Dr. Veronique Valliere: Dr. Veronique Valliere is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience in clinical and forensic psychology, recognized nationally and internationally as an expert witness, author, and educator in the field of interpersonal violence. She has trained the military, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and other major agencies, and has presented and testified both across the country and abroad, including before the U.S. Congress and in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial. As the President and Clinical & Forensic Psychologist at Valliere & Counseling Associates, Inc., she specializes in behavioral analysis, risk assessment, domestic violence, and the treatment of violent offenders and their victims. Her work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, PBS NewsHour, and CBS This Morning, and she is the author of multiple books, including Understanding Victims of Interpersonal Violence and Unmasking the Sexual Offender.In this episode, Ben, Jennifer, and Dr. Veronique Valliere discuss:Behavioral indicators and warning signs of child sexual abuseCommunication, language, and consent in protecting childrenTrauma, healing, and the role of relationships in recoveryCommunity responsibility, victim behavior, and systemic responses to abuseKey Takeaways:Children who have been sexually abused may show physical, emotional, or behavioral changes, but many show no outward signs at all, making open communication and education far more protective than relying solely on red flags.Using accurate anatomical language, teaching bodily autonomy, and distinguishing healthy versus unhealthy secrets equips children to recognize boundary violations and reduces offenders’ ability to exploit shame and silence.Healing from abuse is not linear and often resurfaces at different life stages, with relationships serving as both the original vehicle for harm and the most powerful pathway to recovery.Victim behavior that appears confusing or counterintuitive is typically a rational survival response shaped by trauma, offender influence, and social context, which is why community support and informed decision-making matter so deeply. "And it's important to understand that in this journey, trauma is not a static thing, like I said. It's fluid, and it changed its form, its nature, its flavor changes as we emotionally, cognitively, and socially develop." — Dr. Veronique ValliereConnect with Dr. Veronique Valliere: Website: https://www.vallierecounseling.com/Email: drvalliere@vallierecounseling.comBook: Unmasking the Sexual Offender: www.routledge.com/Unmasking-the-Sexual-Offender/Valliere/p/book/9780367741242LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/veronique-valliere-b088a73aFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063498971252Connect with Ben Andreozzi: Website: https://www.victimscivilattorneys.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreozziandFoote/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andreozziandfoote/X/Twitter: https://x.com/AndreozziFooteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreozziFoote/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreozziandfoote/Connect with Jennifer Storm:Website: https://jenniferstorm.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackoutgirlauthor/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStormAuthor/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAP8AOfFrlRq-DYCLBSYbAAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    47 mins
  • Understanding How Sexual Offenders Manipulate Victims, Families, and Communities

    Understanding How Sexual Offenders Manipulate Victims, Families, and Communities
    Dec 12 2025
    This is the first of a two-part episode featuring Dr. Veronique Valliere, unpacking the behavioral patterns behind interpersonal violence and the mindset offenders rely on to avoid detection.About Dr. Veronique Valliere: Dr. Veronique Valliere is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience in clinical and forensic psychology, recognized nationally and internationally as an expert witness, author, and educator in the field of interpersonal violence. She has trained the military, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and other major agencies, and has presented and testified both across the country and abroad, including before the U.S. Congress and in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial. As the President and Clinical & Forensic Psychologist at Valliere & Counseling Associates, Inc., she specializes in behavioral analysis, risk assessment, domestic violence, and the treatment of violent offenders and their victims. Her work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, PBS NewsHour, and CBS This Morning, and she is the author of multiple books, including Understanding Victims of Interpersonal Violence and Unmasking the Sexual Offender.In this episode, Ben, Jennifer, and Dr. Veronique Valliere discuss:Offender dynamics and the covert nature of sexual violenceGrooming patterns that manipulate victims, families, and entire communitiesPsychological distortions that offenders rely on to justify abuseBarriers to accountability and why juries and systems often misunderstand victim behaviorKey Takeaways:Sexual abuse typically occurs within trusted relationships, where offenders leverage emotional access, secrecy, and intimate knowledge of a victim’s vulnerabilities to facilitate covert offending.Grooming involves far more than kindness or gifts—offenders systematically violate boundaries, manipulate family dynamics, and even shape community narratives to pre-discredit the child.Many offenders derive sexual gratification not from the act itself but from control, manipulation, fantasy, and the ability to maintain a self-image of being “a good person,” which makes dismantling these distortions essential in treatment.Victims’ reactions—such as loyalty, affection, silence, or returning to the abuser—are predictable results of grooming, yet juries still expect “real victims” to behave in unrealistic ways, often harming legitimate cases. "When the allegations do come out, they’re not believed….[because] there's a grooming of not only the victim but the community that we often overlook." — Dr. Veronique ValliereConnect with Dr. Veronique Valliere: Website: https://www.vallierecounseling.com/Email: drvalliere@vallierecounseling.comBook: Unmasking the Sexual Offender: www.routledge.com/Unmasking-the-Sexual-Offender/Valliere/p/book/9780367741242LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/veronique-valliere-b088a73aFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063498971252Connect with Ben Andreozzi: Website: https://www.victimscivilattorneys.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreozziandFoote/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andreozziandfoote/X/Twitter: https://x.com/AndreozziFooteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreozziFoote/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreozziandfoote/Connect with Jennifer Storm:Website: https://jenniferstorm.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackoutgirlauthor/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStormAuthor/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAP8AOfFrlRq-DYCLBSYbAAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    48 mins
  • How Legal Strategy, Compassion, and Accountability Intersect in Sexual Abuse Cases

    How Legal Strategy, Compassion, and Accountability Intersect in Sexual Abuse Cases
    Dec 5 2025
    About Nathaniel Foote: Nate is a crime victim, personal injury, and wrongful death lawyer who litigates cases on behalf of assault, murder, rape, and child sexual abuse victims. Nate has represented survivors in lawsuits against churches, schools, hotels, bars, and other institutions that enable sexual and violent crime. Nate also represents families in wrongful death cases and those who have been catastrophically injured due to another's carelessness. Based in Pennsylvania, Nate is licensed in Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania, and takes cases across the US.In the last few years, Nate served as co-counsel in several trials that resulted in significant jury verdicts for crime victims, including a $1.53 million verdict in a child sex abuse case and a $1.75 million verdict in a wrongful death/negligent security homicide case. Nate was co-counsel in a case that resulted in an $88 million verdict for a child sex abuse victim, one of the largest such verdicts in the United States.In this episode, Ben, Jennifer, and Nathaniel Foote discuss:Navigating the civil justice system in cases of child sexual abuseUnderstanding how institutions contribute to abuse and legal accountabilityChallenges attorneys face when building cases involving trauma and historic evidenceEvolving societal awareness of grooming, trusted-authority abuse, and legal trendsKey Takeaways:Survivors often seek justice, answers, and reclaimed power far more than financial compensation, and the civil system allows them to uncover what institutions knew and failed to stop.Historic abuse cases are difficult because evidence, records, and insurance may no longer exist, forcing attorneys to investigate decades-old institutional failures under active resistance from defense counsel.Civil cases frequently uncover information missed or overlooked in criminal investigations, and can even reignite stalled prosecutions when new evidence surfaces through discovery.Many survivors are still turned away because intra-familial abuse rarely provides a viable pool of recovery, making honest, difficult “no” conversations a painful but necessary part of the work. "Almost nobody calls us and says, ‘You know, I want money.’ They want, you know, a sense of justice. They want answers. They want to…take back the power that was taken from them." — Nathaniel FooteConnect with Nathaniel Foote: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-l-foote-esq-56abb5b/Connect with Ben Andreozzi: Website: https://www.victimscivilattorneys.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreozziandFoote/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andreozziandfoote/X/Twitter: https://x.com/AndreozziFooteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreozziFoote/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreozziandfoote/Connect with Jennifer Storm:Website: https://jenniferstorm.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackoutgirlauthor/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStormAuthor/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAP8AOfFrlRq-DYCLBSYbAAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    52 mins
  • How Victims’ Rights and Trauma-Informed Lawyering Strengthen Justice

    How Victims’ Rights and Trauma-Informed Lawyering Strengthen Justice
    Nov 14 2025
    About Meg Garvin: Meg Garvin, MA, JD, MSt, is the Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) and a Clinical Professor of Law at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on victims’ rights. She has testified before Congress, state legislatures, and the Judicial Proceedings Panel on Sexual Assault in the Military, and currently serves on the Council on Criminal Justice. From 2017 to 2025, she was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces, and has served on multiple state and federal advisory groups focused on victims’ rights and justice reform. A recipient of numerous national awards for leadership and advocacy, she holds degrees from the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Oxford.In this episode, Ben, Jennifer, and Meg Garvin discuss:Evolving approaches to recognizing and enforcing victims’ rights in the justice systemIntegrating trauma awareness into legal practice and client advocacyThe role of collaboration among attorneys, advocates, and prosecutors in achieving balanced justiceOngoing challenges and reforms are shaping how survivors experience the legal processKey Takeaways:When attorneys integrate trauma awareness into every stage of their work, survivors gain the understanding and confidence needed to participate meaningfully and make informed choices throughout their cases.Justice feels most complete when survivors are consistently included, informed, and treated with dignity—ensuring their voices are central rather than peripheral to the legal process.The most effective outcomes emerge when victims’ rights lawyers, civil attorneys, and prosecutors collaborate closely, combining expertise to ensure survivors are represented both ethically and compassionately.Although most states now have victims’ rights statutes, genuine justice requires continued advocacy, education, and enforcement mechanisms to transform those rights from symbolic promises into practical realities. "I’m still here because of vicarious resilience—I learn every day from survivors how to be in this world and have hope." — Meg Garvin Connect with Meg Garvin: Website: https://ncvli.org/ & https://law.lclark.edu/live/profiles/266-meg-garvinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-garvin-547b831/Connect with Ben Andreozzi: Website: https://www.victimscivilattorneys.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreozziandFoote/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andreozziandfoote/X/Twitter: https://x.com/AndreozziFooteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreozziFoote/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreozziandfoote/Connect with Jennifer Storm:Website: https://jenniferstorm.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackoutgirlauthor/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStormAuthor/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAP8AOfFrlRq-DYCLBSYbAAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    35 mins
  • The Movement to End Institutional Secrecy and Expand Justice for Survivors

    The Movement to End Institutional Secrecy and Expand Justice for Survivors
    Nov 7 2025
    About Marci Hamilton: Marci A. Hamilton, JD, is a leading legal scholar, child protection advocate, and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CHILD USA, a nonprofit think tank dedicated to ending child abuse and neglect through legal reform and research. She is also a Professor of Practice in Political Science and a Fox Family Pavilion Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the Program for Research on Religion at the University of Pennsylvania. A nationally recognized expert on child sex abuse statutes of limitations, Hamilton has advised legislators in nearly every state and successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in Boerne v. Flores. She is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children and God vs. the Gavel: The Perils of Extreme Religious Liberty, and continues to shape policy and public understanding of child protection, constitutional law, and institutional accountability.In this episode, Ben, Jennifer, and Marci Hamilton discuss:Statutes of limitations and their impact on survivor justiceCivil legislation as a tool for truth and accountabilityInstitutional and political resistance to reform effortsPrevention, education, and cultural change in child protectionKey Takeaways:Statutes of limitations prevent thousands of survivors from seeking justice, silencing their voices and allowing abusers and institutions to avoid accountability long after the harm is done.Civil window laws that reopen expired claims not only empower survivors but also expose the hidden scope of abuse, forcing institutions to reform and communities to confront uncomfortable truths.The cost of inaction is immense, as untreated trauma leads to lifelong emotional, physical, and financial consequences that are often shouldered by families, taxpayers, and society at large.Despite lobbying from religious institutions, insurance companies, and unions to maintain secrecy and limit liability, bipartisan reform efforts and survivor advocacy continue to drive national and international progress in access to justice and prevention. "When survivors don’t come forward until they’re middle-aged or elderly, why are you shutting them up? They’re the ones who know." — Marci Hamilton Connect with Marci Hamilton: Website: https://childusa.org/Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marci-Hamilton/author/B001HCZUPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marci-hamilton-8bb3087Twitter: https://twitter.com/Marci_HamiltonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/professormarciahamilton/Connect with Ben Andreozzi: Website: https://www.victimscivilattorneys.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreozziandFoote/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andreozziandfoote/X/Twitter: https://x.com/AndreozziFooteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreozziFoote/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreozziandfoote/Connect with Jennifer Storm:Website: https://jenniferstorm.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackoutgirlauthor/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStormAuthor/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAP8AOfFrlRq-DYCLBSYbAAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    49 mins
  • The Power of Trauma-Informed Forensic Interviews in Child Protection

    The Power of Trauma-Informed Forensic Interviews in Child Protection
    Oct 31 2025
    About Jackie Block Goldstein: Jackie Block Goldstein, MSW, LSW, is a nationally recognized forensic interviewer and victim specialist with over 20 years of experience in child advocacy, trauma-informed investigation, and victim assistance. She currently works as a private consultant, providing expert training, testimony, and guidance to law enforcement, multidisciplinary teams, and legal professionals nationwide. Previously, she served as a Supervisory Child/Adolescent Forensic Interviewer with the FBI and a Forensic Interview Specialist and Victim Assistance Specialist with Homeland Security Investigations. Ms. Goldstein holds a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Practice from the University of Pennsylvania and is a licensed social worker in Pennsylvania.In this episode, Ben, Jennifer, and Jackie Block Goldstein discuss:The evolution and purpose of forensic interviewing in child sexual abuse casesHow trauma-informed, multidisciplinary approaches protect and support victimsThe psychological and emotional dynamics of child sexual abuse disclosureThe critical role of adults in prevention, response, and advocacyKey Takeaways:Modern forensic interviewing relies on one specially trained, trauma-informed interviewer working within a coordinated multidisciplinary team to protect the child from repeated questioning, reduce emotional harm, and ensure that evidence is gathered in a reliable, neutral way.Parents should focus on supporting and calming their child before a forensic interview—avoiding investigative questions or rehearsal—by keeping their language neutral, reassuring them that the interviewers are safe adults, and trusting the process to unfold naturally.The disclosure of child sexual abuse is rarely immediate or complete; it unfolds gradually as children balance fear, shame, and trust, which means that delayed or partial disclosures are common and must be met with patience, compassion, and belief.Trauma-informed, survivor-centered approaches—whether in law, advocacy, or education—are essential to create spaces where victims feel safe and respected, helping them share their experiences without retraumatization or blame. "Not talking about it doesn’t make it go away—all it does is allow it to thrive, because we’re not having a conversation about it." — Jackie Block GoldsteinConnect with Jackie Block Goldstein: Website: https://traumatrialexperts.com/Email: jacquelineblock@hotmail.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackieblockgoldstein/Connect with Ben Andreozzi: Website: https://www.victimscivilattorneys.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreozziandFoote/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andreozziandfoote/X/Twitter: https://x.com/AndreozziFooteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreozziFoote/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreozziandfoote/Connect with Jennifer Storm:Website: https://jenniferstorm.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackoutgirlauthor/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStormAuthor/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAP8AOfFrlRq-DYCLBSYbAAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    52 mins
  • Chris Kirchner: Breaking Silence and Building Safer Futures for Children

    Chris Kirchner: Breaking Silence and Building Safer Futures for Children
    Oct 24 2025
    About Chris Kirchner: Chris Kirchner, MSW, is the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania and has worked in the field of child welfare for thirty-four years. For twenty-eight of those years, she served as Executive Director of the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance, an accredited children’s advocacy center where she oversaw collaborative investigations of an average of 160 child sexual abuse cases per month. She also led a federal project funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to provide training and technical assistance to northeastern communities working to improve their response to child abuse cases. In her statewide role, Chris continues to support existing and developing programs across Pennsylvania, bringing her passion for child advocacy and her commitment to ensuring children and families receive the coordinated care and resources they need to heal after abuse.In this episode, Ben, Jennifer, and Chris Kirchner discuss:The evolution and purpose of Children’s Advocacy Centers in responding to child abuseHow multidisciplinary teams coordinate across child welfare, law enforcement, medical, and mental health providersTrauma-informed practices in forensic interviewing and child-centered investigationsThe growing focus on prevention, awareness, and long-term healing support for survivorsKey Takeaways:By videotaping forensic interviews, Children’s Advocacy Centers reduce the need for children to repeat their stories in court, sparing them retraumatization while also strengthening the integrity of evidence used in both criminal and civil proceedings.Extended forensic interview protocols were developed to meet the needs of children who are too fearful or hesitant to disclose abuse in one sitting, allowing trust to build gradually over multiple sessions at the child’s pace.Pennsylvania’s investment in CACs, supported through birth certificate fee revenue and the Penn State Sandusky settlement, has expanded access to telehealth, evidence-based mental health treatment, and prevention initiatives that would otherwise be underfunded.With over 10,900 children interviewed in Pennsylvania’s CACs in 2024—nearly 8,000 for sexual abuse—data underscores both the scope of abuse and the critical role CACs play in coordinating investigations and connecting survivors to long-term healing resources. "When there’s an allegation of sexual abuse, kids have to be interviewed by child welfare, law enforcement, prosecution, medical, mental health, and those agencies inadvertently might cause more harm than good if they’re not collaborating on these cases." — Chris Kirchner Connect with Chris Kirchner: Website: https://penncac.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildAdvocacyPA/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childadvocacypa/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/penncac/ Connect with Ben Andreozzi: Website: https://www.victimscivilattorneys.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreozziandFoote/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andreozziandfoote/X/Twitter: https://x.com/AndreozziFooteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreozziFoote/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreozziandfoote/Connect with Jennifer Storm:Website: https://jenniferstorm.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackoutgirlauthor/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStormAuthor/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAP8AOfFrlRq-DYCLBSYbAAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    42 mins
  • Welcome to Justice Interrupted

    Welcome to Justice Interrupted
    Oct 8 2025

    Justice Interrupted is a podcast for anyone who believes children deserve better—and survivors deserve justice. Hosted by Ben Andreozzi, a prominent victim's attorney, and nationally recognized victim advocate Jennifer Storm, this show confronts the failures of systems meant to protect children and amplifies the voices of those working to change them.


    Each episode explores the realities of child sexual abuse, institutional cover-ups, and the power of civil litigation as a tool for healing and accountability. Through interviews with survivors, attorneys, advocates, and experts, Justice Interrupted offers unflinching conversations, real-world strategies, and hope for change.


    Drawing on decades of experience in the legal system and trauma-informed advocacy, Ben and Jen cut through legal jargon and media noise to deliver compassionate, practical insights for survivors and those who support them.


    Whether you're a survivor, an advocate, or someone who wants to be part of the solution, Justice Interrupted invites you to listen, learn, and take action.

    Because justice delayed is justice interrupted—and it's time we changed that.


    Connect with Ben Andreozzi:

    Website: https://www.victimscivilattorneys.com/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreozziandFoote/videos

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andreozziandfoote/

    X/Twitter: https://x.com/AndreozziFoote

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreozziFoote/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreozziandfoote/


    Connect with Jennifer Storm:

    Website: https://jenniferstorm.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackoutgirlauthor/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStormAuthor/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAP8AOfFrlRq-DYCLBSYbA



    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

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    26 mins