FITSNews director of research Jennifer Wood sits with cheer abuse survivor Victoria.  Hear her reflect on the abuse she suffered, how it's changed her life, and why she decided to come forward with her story.

This episode marks the end of season one of the Cheer Incorporated podcast, which will return following FITSNews' coverage of Alex Murdaugh's murder trial.  We have more great interviews and episodes in production and look forward to season two.  Thank you for your support. 

EP1: Shattered Trust
EP 2: A Secret Culture
EP 3: Building The Empire
EP 4: The Last to Know
EP 5: Zero Consequences
EP 6: The Groomer's Playbook
EP 7: Standing Up Alone - Twins' Mom Kristen Shares Her Story
EP 8: Silenced
EP 9: The Village
EP 10: The Why
EP 11: Army of Enablers
EP 12: Our Hands Are Tied
EP 13: Twins' Mom Interview Pt 2: A Path Forward
EP 14: Cheer Attorney Amy Gaffney Interview
EP 15: Carolina to California: More Allegations of Abuse

The Cheer Incorporated scandal landed on the west coast following the filing of a federal lawsuit in the central district of California – the latest formal allegations tied to the culture of sex abuse within the American cheerleading industry.

This episode of Cheer Incorporated breaks the latest allegations down - and delves into the inner working of cheer industry governing bodies which have been alleged to have failed to prevent the abuse of minor athletes in a growing number of states.

EP1: Shattered Trust
EP 2: A Secret Culture
EP 3: Building The Empire
EP 4: The Last to Know
EP 5: Zero Consequences
EP 6: The Groomer's Playbook
EP 7: Standing Up Alone - Twins' Mom Kristen Shares Her Story
EP 8: Silenced
EP 9: The Village
EP 10: The Why
EP 11: Army of Enablers
EP 12: Our Hands Are Tied
EP 13: Twins' Mom Interview Pt 2: A Path Forward
Ep 14: Cheer Attorney Amy Gaffney Interview

The Cheer Incorporated team traveled to Charleston S.C. to speak with employment attorney Amy Gaffney about her role in  recent  Cheer sexual abuse lawsuits.  

Gaffney's insights into the Ohio suit, as well as her ability to provide a defense attorney's perspective on the pending litigation, make this conversation one you won't want to miss. 

The Cheer Incorporated podcast production team had the pleasure of speaking with “The Twins’ Mom” Kristen in late October, 2022. Kristen’s sons are victims of so-called “cheerlebrity,” Jerry Harris. 

In our first conversation with Kristen  she recounted her and her son's story of standing up - even when that meant standing up alone.  In this episode she shares advice for current survivors, as well as her opinion on where the cheerleading industry must go to right its systemic wrongs. 

Kristen has generously offered her support to survivors and their loved ones.  She can be reached on Twitter @_kristenerika_

Previous Episodes:
EP1: Shattered Trust
EP 2: A Secret Culture
EP 3: Building The Empire
EP 4: The Last to Know
EP 5: Zero Consequences
EP 6: The Groomer's Playbook
EP 7: Standing Up Alone - Twins' Mom Kristen Shares Her Story
EP 8: Silenced
EP 9: The Village
EP 10: The Why
EP 11: Army of Enablers

In this episode of Cheer Incorporated host Jennifer Wood and producer Dylan Nolan dig into the recently filed Ohio lawsuit, detailing both the allegations of abuse that follow the pattern set forth in previous suits, as well as cheer industry governing body USASF's response, which initially seemed appropriate - but devolved when attorneys were brought into the mix.

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement at the end of this week's show. 

Please Note: This episode contains graphic content that may be disturbing or traumatizing to some audiences.  Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode the we dig further into the enabling culture exemplified by the harrowing stories of new victims in new states.  

Sound familiar? Almost formulaic? This is one of the key dynamics of the Cheer Incorporated scandal … a culture which refuses to take credible allegations of abuse seriously and then refuses to hold abusers accountable even when there is clear and compelling evidence of their conduct.

This is why my ongoing conversation with Professor Amos Guiora is so vital. Because when you hear the phrase, “No action was taken”, that is the definition of enabling behavior.

I recently read the book Armies of Enablers: Survivor Stories of Complicity and Betrayal in Sexual Assaults by Professor Amos Guiora. Professor Guiora teaches law at the University of Utah. Armies of Enablers encompasses his extensive research on institutional complicity, enabling culture, and sexual assaults. 

What I loved the most about this book is that it was written from the perspective of the survivors of sexual assault. 

I was elated when Professor Guiora agreed to be a guest on Cheer Incorporated. Because after reading his book and learning about his groundbreaking research, I strongly believe he may have found that common factor — or maybe more aptly the fatal flaw– that we are missing as a society to better protect our child athletes.  He may have found the “why” - which is the key to finally stopping the cycle of abuse. Or at least slowing it down.

“It takes a village.” 

As a parent, I developed a greater understanding of the implied trust we place in other parents - a truly sacred trust which holds that they are watching out for your kids as much as you are watching out for their kids.
The systemic failures of the cheerleading industry have shaken my trust.
Does the industry just not care?  Or is enabling abusers simply too profitable? 

In this episode we delve into who the USASF hired to  "minimize the risk of child sexual abuse and misconduct."