Silence the Shame Not the Survivor

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse, trauma, and the legal challenges survivors face. Please listen with care.

There are conversations that shake you—and this is one of them. In this raw and deeply human episode, Lyndsay Soprano sits down with Kath Essing to talk about the kind of trauma that often lives in silence: childhood sexual abuse, the long road to justice, and what it really takes to reclaim your voice after it's been stolen.

Kath shares her personal story—how writing became a lifeline, how speaking up started her healing, and how the legal system, while necessary, can feel like a second wound. Together, she and Lyndsay unpack the weight survivors carry, the power of naming the truth, and the cultural shifts we need to make consent and safety the norm—not the exception.

This conversation also pulls in the bigger picture: the role men can play in advocacy, the need for corporations to step up, and how even small changes in how we talk to kids can shift entire futures. It’s not easy. It’s not tidy. But it’s necessary.

If you’ve ever felt alone in your trauma, unheard in your truth, or unsure how to speak up—this episode is here for you.

Tune in if you’re ready for a conversation that doesn’t flinch. Your story matters. Your voice matters.

Find Kath Essing Online Here:
Website: www.bespeak.au
Instagram: @kath_essing
Facebook: Be Speak Consultancy
LinkedIn: Kath Essing
YouTube: Kath Essing
Book: The Courage to Speak Your Truth

Find The Pain Game Podcast Online Here:
Website: thepaingamepodcast.com
Instagram: @thepaingamepodcast
Facebook: The Pain Game Podcast
LinkedIn: Lyndsay Soprano
YouTube: The Pain Game Podcast

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Introduction to Chronic Pain and Trauma
(02:51) The Impact of Sexual Abuse and Trauma
(05:26) The Journey of Remembering and Healing
(08:27) The Role of Silence and Speaking Out
(11:11) The Complexity of Pain and Trauma
(13:49) Writing as a Tool for Healing
(17:00) The Connection Between Body and Mind
(19:41) Navigating Relationships After Trauma
(22:15) Advocacy and Change in the Workplace
(25:14) Cultural Shifts and Future Generations
(28:17) Empowering Voices and the Role of Men
(30:50) Final Thoughts on Healing and Kindness