Handing the Shame Back
This channel is dedicated to all those brave fellow 'adult survivors of child sexual abuse'. You are not alone out there, you are believed and supported in finding your voice & handing the shame back to the abusers - where it belongs.
Handing the Shame Back is a New Zealand based charity, focused on preventing child sexual abuse through education and supporting adult survivors. Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.handingtheshameback.org
Each week, Handing the Shame Back will add a Survivor Interview, Tip for Survivors, or Blog to help support our community in finding their way to truth and freedom. Please feel free to reach out if you would also like to be a guest on the show.
Together, we can provide support and protect...
The children of yesterday, whose pain was silenced.
The children of today, who need our protection.
The children of tomorrow, who deserve a safer world.
From silence to action. From shame to strength.
Episodes
462 episodes
Survivor Interview: John
Meet JohnSRA Survivor. Spiritual War Fighter. Philosopher.John suppressed his childhood sexual abuse for 24 years. He is now 6 years into his healing, and currently works with police on exposing one of the facilities he was abused at...
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Survivor Interview: Shereen Simmonds
Meet Shereen SimmondsAdvocate. Founder of Phoenix FiveShereen grew up in a family where attention was not directed her way. Her uncle provided that through grooming her with gifts and allowing her to spend time with his ...
Survivor Interview: Rob Balfour
Meet Rob BalfourSurvivor. Just Me. ActivistAt the age of 4, Rob was found wandering around the streets and said he would rather die than ‘go home’. Both parents had mental health issues, with his mother having violent episodes. This ...
Survivor Interview: Caroline Hunt
Meet Caroline HuntAdvocate. Survivor. AuthorShe was brought up in a strict Mormon home in a large Samoan family, where her parents were devout followers, and worked very hard. She was abused by her uncle from 4 - 8 years...
Survivor Interview: Dave Lukins
Meet Dave LukinsSurvivor. Father of twins.Dave first experienced abuse at the age of 7 in the toilets at school. Then again at 11 - 13 from a sports coach. He got so used to it happening, he expected it. He believes other boys were a...
Tips for Survivors: Feeling Off
We Survivors are allowed to have off days. Healing isn’t linear, and some days will feel heavier than others. It’s okay to rest, to feel, and to take time for yourself without guilt. Every step, even the quiet or difficult ones, is part of your...
Survivor Interview: Staci Reay
Meet Staci ReaySurvivor. AdvocateStaci was abused between 3-17 years of age by her father, who she later discovered was NOT her biological father. Her brothers were also abused by this man. Her twin brother became an alc...
Survivor Interview: Damien Diver
Meet Damien DiverSurvivor. Married father of 3. Primary School Teacher.Damien was abused in 2003 at age of 16 by a family friend while working with him in the school holidays. This was to continue over 2 summers, with th...
2025 Xmas Message from the Board
It’s Christmas.Getting through Christmas, can be an overwhelming ask for us as survivors. While many people experience joy and celebration during this time, we can feel the opposite through difficult emotions, painful memories, and feeli...
Survivor Interview: Alyssa Milligan
Meet Alyssa MilliganAdvocate for School Student Survivors. Article Writer. High School Student.Alyssa is an incredible 16-year-old advocate who is wanting to help other students. She was abused when she was 13 years old by a family f...
2025 Xmas Panel Discussion
It's that time of year again and we have an exciting panel discussion lined up for you. Meet Ali Mau, Survivor, recent Author and Co-founder of Tika charity. Please welcome Dean Clarkson, Survivor and Founder of the charity Wana, the first male...
Survivor Interview: John Comerford
Meet John ComerfordSurvivor. Mental Health Ambassador. AuthorJohn was abused in a catholic school beginning when he was 11 years old. His abuser was a catholic brother who was later found to have been moved by the church...
Blog: Telling Someone
When is the right time to disclose what happened to you as a child? There is no one answer to this. Disclosing childhood sexual abuse is deeply personal, and the “right time” should not be determined by a calendar or someone else's expectations...
Q&A Session: November 2025
Every month we provide answers to YOUR questions. Yes we do read them, so please reach out to contactus@handingtheshameback.org, we want to help you! If you have a burning question, we may ...
Survivor Interview: Dean Clarkson
Meet Dean ClarksonSurvivor. Trail Blazer. Founder. Father.Dean was 6 years old when he was first abused by an older boy who isolated him while playing a game. He never saw him again after that, but his coping mechanism became one of ...
Tips for Survivors: Survivors and Sleep
It is beyond important for everyone to get enough sleep. For survivors it is essential. Sleep is where the mind can relax, unwind and rest. We keep our minds busy with unresolved trauma and anxiety, so a good 8 hours of sleep is es...
Survivor Interview: Tracy Lee
Tracy LeeAuthor. Activist. Lived experience CSA victim.Tracy was the eldest of 4 children and the only girl. Her mother was 17 years old when she had her. She was abused by her father from the age of 4. She was abused by...
Blog: Overthinking
I believe that overthinking is connected to hypervigilance and is part of a post trauma response. For many survivors, overthinking became second nature, as you had no control over what was happening to you, and you began to think a...
Survivor Interview: Keith Williams
Keith WilliamsSurvivorKeith was 7 years old when the abuse began by an older brother, this went on till he was 12 years of age, at which point Keith believes he aged out. The coercive control and manipulation was powerful and ensured...
Q&A Session: October 2025
Please reach out to contactus@handingtheshameback.org, we want to help you! If you have questions, we may have some answers, each month we provide a Q&A forum for you to help educate an...
Tips for Survivors: Overthinking
Do you ever find yourself overthinking and wondering why you do it?This can stem from anxiety, fear, and even feelings of not being seen, heard or understood. This was because during the time the abuse occurred, you had no way of overcom...
Survivor Interview: Lisa Mannina
Lisa ManninaSurvivor. Pilot. Metastatic Breast Cancer WarriorLisa was abused by her mother's 3rd husband's son who was in his mid to late 20’s. She was 10 years old, this abuse carried on for 4 years and occurred at her ...
Blog: Possibilities
For most of us possibilities are not something we ever seriously consider. We tend to live with thoughts of things not working out for us as opposed to the opposite: things working out well. Did you know that if you think you can or think you c...
