Ep. 9: The Hidden Risks of International Exchange Programs: What Families Aren’t Told

Ep. 11: Making Noise Before #MeToo: Joelle Casteix on Truth, Advocacy, and Institutional Accountability

NOTE: This episode is audio only. What does it take to speak truth to power when no one wants to listen? In this special crossover episode of Crossing the Line and Blooming After Grooming, host Joelle Casteix shares her personal journey from survivor advocate to nationally recognized voice for accountability, child protection, and institutional reform. Long before the #MeToo movement, Joelle was challenging powerful institutions, exposing abuse cover-ups, and advocating for survivors at great personal and professional cost. In this candid conversation, she discusses what it was like to be labeled "difficult," the realities of speaking out against the Catholic Church, and the lessons she has learned from decades of advocacy. Together, we explore survivor healing, resilience, whistleblowing, institutional betrayal, and the importance of continuing to make noise—even when change feels impossible. Whether you're a survivor, advocate, educator, parent, journalist, or simply someone interested in how social change happens, this conversation offers insight, hope, and a powerful reminder that one voice can make a difference. Topics discussed: • Survivor advocacy and healing • Grooming, abuse, and institutional accountability • The Catholic Church abuse crisis • Whistleblowing and speaking truth to power • Life before and after #MeToo • Resilience, hope, and creating systemic change • Child protection and prevention Subscribe to Blooming After Grooming and Crossing the Line wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.bloomingafterpod.com/

Ep. 10: “You Wanted This”: The Lies Predators Tell | Michelle Denault on Grooming and Educator Sexual Abuse

Before it’s abuse, it’s grooming. In this deeply powerful episode of Crossing the Line, Joelle Casteix speaks with survivor, advocate, and national speaker Michelle Denault about how educator sexual abuse often begins—not with force, but with manipulation, attention, secrecy, and emotional dependency. Michelle shares the devastating story of how, at just 14 years old, she was groomed by a popular teacher and coach who convinced her for years that their abusive relationship was “love.” What followed was nearly a decade of manipulation, secrecy, victim-blaming, and institutional failure. Together, Joelle and Michelle unpack: * How grooming actually works * Why “good kids” and loving families are still vulnerable * The dangerous myths society still believes about educator abuse * How shame keeps survivors silent for decades * The lifelong psychological impact of coercive relationships * The role schools and communities play in enabling abuse * Why prevention requires adults to recognize the warning signs before abuse escalates Michelle also discusses the national prevention and training work she now does with schools, law enforcement, and educators across the country—helping adults understand the realities of grooming, power, coercion, and survivor support. This conversation is emotional, candid, and essential listening for parents, educators, policymakers, and anyone committed to protecting children. Resources: * Michelle Denault: MichelleDenault.com [https://michelledenault.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * National Center to Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct, and Exploitation (NCSESAME) [https://www.ncsesame.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Crossing the Line Podcast [https://www.ncsesame.org/podcasts?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

Ep. 9: The Hidden Risks of International Exchange Programs: What Families Aren’t Told

International student exchange programs promise opportunity, cultural immersion, and safety. But what happens when oversight fails? In this episode of Crossing the Line, host Joelle Casteix speaks with Danielle Grijalva, founder of the Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students, who has spent nearly two decades documenting cases of abuse, exploitation, and systemic failure within the international exchange industry. Drawing on thousands of reported cases, this conversation exposes critical gaps in oversight—from inadequate background checks and lack of accountability to the silencing of vulnerable students far from home. This episode is essential listening for parents, educators, and policymakers navigating student exchange programs. In this episode: * The reality behind international exchange program safety * Patterns of abuse and exploitation in host placements * Why reporting systems often fail students * Key questions every parent should ask before sending a child abroad * What educators can do when something doesn’t seem right If you’re considering a student exchange program—or working with exchange students—this conversation may change how you think about safety and oversight. Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students: https://csfes.org/

Ep. 8: The Moment Before Misconduct with Dr. Jeffrey Haverland

What does it actually take to prepare educators to recognize — and prevent — sexual misconduct in schools? In this episode, host Joelle Casteix talks with Dr. Jeffrey Haverland, professor of teacher education at the University of Dubuque and member of the NC SESAME Board of Directors, about his groundbreaking work integrating ethics and risk-based decision-making into teacher preparation programs. Dr. Haverland argues that most educator misconduct doesn't start with bad intent — it starts with poor training, blurred boundaries, and a profession that has never given teachers the tools to assess risk in gray-area situations. Drawing on years of grant-funded research, work with Iowa's licensure board, and collaboration with NC SESAME, he shares how scenario-based ethics education is changing how future teachers think — and how that change can protect both students and educators. Topics include: why ethics training must be live and in-person, how to use "vantage point" thinking in complex situations, the intent vs. impact framework, why ethics education creates a natural barrier to predators, and what every teacher, veteran or new, needs to hear about professional responsibility. If you work in education — or care about protecting kids in schools — this is a must-listen. 🌐 ncsesame.org | 📧 jhaverland@dbq.edu [jhaverland@dbq.edu]

EP 7: They knew. They hid it . A discussion with the filmmakers of In Loco Parentis

What happens when powerful institutions protect themselves instead of children? In this episode of Crossing the Line, Joelle Casteix interviews the filmmakers behind In Loco Parentis, a searing documentary exposing decades of sexual abuse and cover-ups at two elite boarding schools. This film goes beyond a single survivor story. It reveals how systems of power, wealth, and legacy can silence victims, protect perpetrators, and shape public narratives. Featuring: * Joel Fendelman (award-winning filmmaker) * James Chase Sanchez (scholar, filmmaker) and his cat, Lila In this episode, we discuss: * Boarding school abuse and institutional cover-ups * The impact of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) on survivors * How power and privilege influence accountability * Why abuse is often minimized or ignored 🎬 Watch the Film (Limited Screening) NCSESAME is hosting an exclusive fundraiser pre-release screening of In Loco Parentis, including a live panel discussion with the filmmakers and survivor Hilary Mullins. Buy tickets here: https://kinema.com/films/in-loco-parentis-di8tcr [https://kinema.com/films/in-loco-parentis-di8tcr] About NCSESAME The National Center to Stop Educator Sexual Misconduct (NCSESAME) works to expose abuse, support survivors, and strengthen accountability in schools nationwide. Learn more about the film: https://www.inlocofilm.com/ Learn more about the filmmakers: https://www.poundofsnow.com/about