In this episode of Another Bloody Podcast, we talk with Sharon Walker Epps, CEO of the Rowan Center, about the long-lasting impact of sexual violence, why so many survivors wait decades to disclose abuse, and what healing can look like when support comes early.

Sharon shares her own path from Wall Street to advocacy, shaped in part by her daughter’s experience as a survivor, and explains how sexual assault resource centers help people in the immediate aftermath of trauma and years later. We talk about delayed disclosure, the overlap between midlife and first-time disclosure, the hidden financial and emotional costs of getting help, and the services survivors may not realize are available, from crisis counseling and hospital advocacy to long-term therapy, prevention education, and help navigating the legal system.

We also discuss male survivors, victim-blaming, the realities of underreporting, the rise in online exploitation, and why prevention and education matter more than ever. This is a hard but important conversation about trauma, recovery, and the community resources that can help survivors find a way forward.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, 24/7 confidential support, crisis counseling, and connection to local services across the U.S.: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673); https://www.rainn.org

The Rowan Center
Sexual assault resource agency serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut.
24/7 Hotline: 203-329-2929;
https://www.therowancenter.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24/7 confidential support for anyone experiencing intimate partner violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233);
Text: START to 88788; https://www.thehotline.org/

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
CyberTipline to report child exploitation, online enticement, trafficking, or abuse imagery: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678);
https://report.cybertip.org;
https://www.missingkids.org

Thorn
Works to combat online child sexual exploitation: https://www.thorn.org

KidSafe HQ
Digital safety resource created by the Rowan Center to help parents protect children online and offline: https://www.therowancenter.org

National Human Trafficking Hotline, 24/7 confidential support and reporting: 1-888-373-7888;
Text: 233733 (BEFREE); https://humantraffickinghotline.org

Connecticut Office of Victim Services
May provide financial assistance to eligible crime victims: 1-800-822-8428;
https://jud.ct.gov/crimevictim/

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline support for emotional distress or mental health crisis:
Call or text 988
24/7; https://988lifeline.org

CDC: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, statistics on the frequency of sexual violence: https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/media/pdfs/sexualviolence-brief.pdf

National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org/

The Grateful Garment (Go shopping for supplies to support SA survivors!): https://gratefulgarment.org/

Find Local Help Anywhere in the U.S. Remember, local rape crisis centers, domestic violence agencies, and child advocacy organizations exist in most communities. RAINN and the National Domestic Violence Hotline can connect you.

This week, inspired by Casey Johnston's 2025 book A Physical Education, Heather and Lisa talk about the diets they've tried and despised, body image, and what fitness means for them. Is there a workable way for women over 50 to conserve bone mass, build muscle tone, and feel fit and healthy? Heather thinks she may have found the answer and Lisa is ready to give it a try.

Here are links to some of the sources we used to frame this conversation:

A Physical Education by Casey Johnston

https://www.caseyjohnston.website/my-work/a-physical-education

Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe https://aasgaardco.com/store/books-posters-dvd/books/starting-strength-basic-barbell-training/

National Eating Disorders Association

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/body-image-and-eating-disorders/

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/weight-stigma/

Researchers from Penn State weigh in on weight-bearing exercise and bone health

https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2025/04/the-medical-minute-keep-your-bones-strong-during-menopause-and-beyond/

Researchers from UC Davis on the role weight-bearing exercise plays in preventing GLP1-related muscle loss

https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/health-wellness/glp-1-and-health-beyond-weight-loss-in-the-ozempic-era/2025/11

A study on why it can be difficult for autistic people to navigate hellos and goodbyes

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1026088531558

This week, we are doing something new. Heather is having a 1:1 sit down with Lili Zarghami, founder of the online magazine Jenny, for a candid, unfiltered conversation about GLP-1 drugs, weight, and the complicated realities of living in a woman's body.

From illness and aging to body shaming and the quiet mental load of trying to do everything exactly "right"—and still gaining weight—we unpack the promises and pitfalls of GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro.

This isn’t a before-and-after story tied up in a pink bow. It’s about what happens when weight loss works, when it doesn’t, and why both outcomes can mess with your head. Show notes: You can read Lili Zarghami's essay series, "A Month of Mounjaro" at Jenny Magazine, https://jennymag.com/2024/01/14/mounjaro-diary-part-1/ You can read Heather O'Neill's essay, "Out for Blood" at Jenny Magazine, https://jennymag.com/2024/02/07/endometriosis-hysterectomy-gaslighting/ You can buy Johann Hari's book, "Magic Pill," here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743989/magic-pill-by-johann-hari/