Episode 3 Preview: Rewriting the Conversation Around Sexual Assault
In the next episode of Mental Health Rewritten, we venture into one of the most difficult and necessary conversations—sexual assault. With empathy and unflinching honesty, this episode challenges listeners to reconsider the quiet spaces where harm resides, often unspoken, unnamed, and misunderstood.
Listener Discretion Advised
This episode contains descriptions and discussions of sexual trauma and may be triggering for some listeners. Please care for your emotional well-being as you listen.
At the heart of this episode is Maria's narrative—a story that begins with routine silence and unfolds into a haunting question: Is this sexual assault? Through Maria's lens, we confront harm that lacks the hallmarks of violence, yet leaves deep psychological scars.
Joining host Dominic Lawson are a range of voices who bring depth, nuance, and expertise to the conversation:
-
Ashley-Lauren Elrod, who bravely shares her lived experience of surviving and reclaiming her voice.
-
Dan Woerheide, a former military victim advocate, offers insight into institutional dynamics and the complexities of support in systems designed to suppress.
-
Dr. Justin Dodson, Dr. Alexandra Katehakis, and Havi Kang, clinical experts who unpack the emotional and neurobiological aftermath of sexual harm, exploring trauma beyond physical evidence.
This episode also tackles the mythology of the “ideal victim,” the cost of silence, and the subtle erasure of consent in intimate and institutional spaces. It's not just a story—it’s a reckoning. A reminder that visibility, while painful, is the first step toward systemic change and healing.
In Rewriting the Conversation Around Sexual Assault, we don't just examine what happened—we expose the societal scripts that keep it hidden.
Debuts 6/17/2025
Take care of yourself
Dominic Lawson
Dominic Lawson is a 24x award-winning podcast host, producer, and editor based in Memphis,
Tennessee. A U.S. Army veteran, he studied business administration at National American
University before discovering his passion for podcasting in 2016. That year, he launched "The
Startup Life Podcast," providing listeners with insights into building businesses and advancing in
their careers. Throughout the show's run, Lawson interviewed notable figures such as Marc
Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, and Tom Golisano, founder and chairman of
Paychex.
In 2021, Lawson joined Meadows Behavioral Healthcare as a podcast producer, editor, and
host. He took the helm of the "Beyond Theory" podcast, facilitating in-depth conversations with
experts in mental health and addiction recovery. His innovative approach led to the launch of
"Recovery Replay" in April 2022, a groundbreaking podcast that chronicles personal recovery
stories from three distinct perspectives.
Demonstrating his versatility, Lawson introduced the "Black Is America" podcast on February 1,
2022, shedding light on lesser-known African American figures and narratives. The podcast
garnered significant acclaim, earning multiple awards, including the 2023 Webby Award for Best
Podcast-Individual Episode.
Episode 2 Preview: Rewriting the Conversation Around Pornography
