Teal Talk

In this New Year’s episode, we sit down with Meg and Rachel, two OAESV team members who just completed their first year with the coalition. Together, we reflect on their transition from local programs to statewide advocacy, the moments that shaped their first year, and the wins, lessons, and challenges of 2025. We also look ahead to 2026: from new initiatives and big projects to hopes for the movement and the continued work of supp...

As we head into colder months and a busy holiday season, many advocates tell us the same thing: even when there’s time to relax, actually relaxing feels impossible. In this episode, we’re joined by Hope and Cassandra of Abide Yoga, two yoga and mindfulness instructors. Together, we talk about why our bodies stay alert, how rest can look different for each of us, and simple grounding practices that meet you where you are. This conve...

What does nonprofit sustainability really mean in the world of sexual violence advocacy? In this episode, we talk with Nikki, OAESV’s former Funding & Grants Manager, about the challenges of sustaining prevention and advocacy work, how to build trust with funders, and creative strategies for long-term support. She shares insights on donor relationships, trends in fundraising, and why investing in people—not just programs—is ess...

Stories can inspire change, but when shared unethically, they can also cause harm. In this episode, Elliott Fullenkamp, OAESV’s Manager of Training and Technical Assistance, talks about what ethical storytelling means in survivor advocacy. We explore consent, survivor readiness, and how to share stories in ways that honor and empower survivors.

Read Elliott's blog: Ethical Storytelling for Education, Awareness, & Outreach. C...

What happens when a former rape crisis volunteer becomes a state lawmaker? In this episode, Representative Michele Grim shares her journey from answering hotline calls as a teenager to shaping laws in the Ohio Statehouse. She discusses the challenges and opportunities of passing meaningful legislation on sexual violence, the role survivor stories play in influencing policy, and why stigma and silence remain barriers to justice.

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Join us for a rich, powerful conversation that highlights the complexity of legal advocacy for survivors of human trafficking. In this episode, we speak with Emily Dunlap, Managing Attorney at Advocating Opportunity, about the complexities of expungement, immigration protections, and the systemic barriers survivors face even after escaping exploitation. She challenges myths about trafficking—including who is affected and how it hap...

We can't stop reminiscing about what a success our 2025 Voices of Change Conference was! Between opening statements, to workshop sessions, toindividual community groups, voices were encouraged to come together now morethan ever and rise up. On day 3, we had a panel discussion with survivors about their healing journeys. This episode is a recording of that panel discussion with members of OAESV’s Survivor Empowerment & Advisory ...

What if our data systems reflected the realities and needs of survivors—not just funders? In this episode, we talk with UBUNTU, our partners in Ohio’s statewide data transformation project. Together, we explore the challenges of fragmented data collection, the need for standardization, and what it takes to build a system that centers survivors, supports advocates, and drives change.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

What does advocacy look like when it's not tied to one community, but an entire state? In this episode, we’re joined by Shelby Lieber, our Survivor Coordinator, for an inside look at what it means to do advocacy across an entire state. Together, we explore the key differences between local and statewide advocacy, the importance of staying connected to on-the-ground work, and the unique challenges that come with influencing syst...

Kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a conversation about survivor-led advocacy and community engagement. Hosts Laurie Hamame and Taylr Ucker-Lauderman are joined by JaQue Galloway, a dedicated advocate working in rural Ohio, who shares insights on the power of survivor voices, creative outreach efforts, and the importance of collaboration in the movement to end sexual violence.

Tune in for an inspiring discussion on buildin...

In today’s episode of Teal Talk, host Laurie Hamame invites you to take a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect. As sexual violence advocates, we often carry immense emotional and physical labor. With the weight of the world heavy on our shoulders, this episode offers a space for restoration and affirmation. Take a break from the chaos and join us for a meditation that will ground and center you. You deserve this moment of peace.

Calm, pleasure and satisfaction are what most people experience after eating. But for people with eating disorders, food brings anxiety, disturbance and noise. In today's episode, host Laurie Hamame sits down with Sarah Bergen, Regional Medical Director of Ohio for The Emily Program eating disorder recovery center, to explore the intersection of sexual violence and eating disorders. This episode provides a powerful discussion on th...

Welcome to 2025! Teal Talk hosts Laurie Hamame and Taylr Ucker-Lauderman are joined by members of OAESV's leadership team to take a deep dive into the highs and lows of their work tackling sexual violence in Ohio, with plenty of real talk, big ideas, and a dash of humor! We open up about the challenges of fighting such a massive issue while juggling self-care and avoiding burnout. But it’s not all heavy – we're also celebrating exc...

In this episode of Teal Talk, hosts Laurie Hamame and Taylr Ucker-Lauderman welcome back Natasha Larson, the Director of Training and Member Engagement, to discuss the intricacies of coalition membership within the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. We discuss the various membership tiers and the unique roles each plays in the collective effort to end sexual violence. Our conversation delves into our biannual program visits, the...

In this special episode of Teal Talk, hosts Laurie and Taylr take a break from interviews to have a heartfelt discussion on navigating election season as advocates for survivors. They explore how the political climate impacts survivors’ experiences and mental health, offering tips on self-care and resources for those feeling overwhelmed by the season's intensity. Join them for a compassionate chat on balancing civic engagement with...

In today’s episode, we’ll explore some important developments in supporting our rape crisis advocates. With funding from the Attorney General’s office, OAESV was able to provide 104 advocates the opportunity to attend statewide and national conferences. As Ohio's training and technical assistance provider, we understand that ongoing training is essential for advocates! It not only fosters innovation and best practices but also ...

In this episode of Teal Talk, host Laurie Hamame dives into the world of self-care and collective care with two special guests, Natasha Larson and Tecca Thompson. Join us as we chat about the recent OAESV self-care retreat, the importance of taking time to recharge, and how embracing collective care can transform both personal and professional lives. Whether you're an advocate in the anti-violence movement or just someone looki...

In part two of our conversation about the docuseries Quiet on Set, we are joined by OAESV Manager of Sexual Violence Prevention & Public Health Initiatives, Sarah Ferrato. In this episode, we dive even deeper into the issues we raised in part one, and explore the role of this documentary through a prevention lens. We discuss the complexities of the perfect victim myth; practical steps for challenging harmful beliefs and behavio...

What do gender role stereotypes, sex education, consent, and bears have to do with one another? In this Be The One Youth Ambassador Takeover, Essie Cornett and Willow Shannon explore the importance of primary prevention education, consent, and bystander intervention to address the increase in rape culture attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors Gen Z is facing.

This episode was edited by Essie Cornett! To learn more about OAESV’s yo...