Podcast Summary

Podcast: Something Was Wrong
Episode: S24 Ep25: Case & Community Updates
Host: Broken Cycle Media
Guests: Amy B. Chesler (Associate Producer, What Came Next Host, Season 7 Survivor) and Lauren Barkman (Social Media Manager, Season 20)
Date: December 18, 2025

Overview

This episode is a heartfelt year-end recap featuring the core Something Was Wrong team. They reflect on recent community events, share insights from Seasons 23 and 24, provide important case updates (notably the Kaitlin Braun case), discuss the forthcoming Season 25, and celebrate their growing impact. The conversation is enriched by candid discussion of personal challenges, gratitude, the emotional labor of advocacy work, and the ongoing fight for survivor voices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening and Team Gratitude (01:51–04:13)

• The team gathers post-Thanksgiving, expressing mutual gratitude and reflecting on the support they give and receive from one another and the audience.
  • Amy: “...the ability to do the work that we do...for the ability to be part of this small but mighty team, we're always working.” (02:40)
  • Lauren: “I feel like this team is just absolutely incredible in so many ways. Gratefulness is just the reoccurring word right now...” (03:27)
• Balancing grief and gratitude, acknowledging 2025 was unexpectedly turbulent and emotionally heavy for all.

Event Recaps: Home for the Holidays & Community Connections (04:40–13:38)

• Reflection on the December "Home for the Holidays" Sacramento event:
  • Importance of meeting listeners in person, recognizing their impact, and celebrating support for local nonprofits.
  • Host: “As soon as people started arriving, I was just like, oh, my God, this is why we do this, because this is the best.” (08:20)
  • Amy: Spotlighted a listener, Brittany, who traveled for her birthday, highlighting the show’s personal impact. (09:08)
• New ideas for future smaller events and calls for listener feedback on locations.
• Trivia and karaoke fostered connection and joy, providing relief amid heavier advocacy discussions.
  • Amy: “Another thing that struck me about the attendees is a few husbands said to me...My wife has converted me into becoming a listener, but also is your number one supporter, which is always really sweet.” (12:23)

Season 23 & 24 Reflections: Heavy Topics & Advocacy (19:09–35:02)

• Noteworthy events included South by Southwest, an LA gathering, and raising funds/awareness for organizations helping housing-insecure communities and addressing domestic violence.
• The personal and broad social impact of political unrest, war, and the criminal justice system in 2025 was deeply felt:
  • Host: “It's really hard, especially survivors of sexual assault, to make peace with the fact that our president is an accused rapist...There’s no real way to leave politics out of criminal justice.” (24:19)
• On survivors’ rights and the Troubled Teen Industry:
  • Large wave of submissions from survivors indicated the “troubled teen” experience is pervasive and continues to have devastating effects.
  • Amy: “...the sheer number of programs, survivors that have so many similarities, but also as all survivors are different, all their stories are different..." (29:13)
  • Lauren: “The amount of people that got sent away. I was really, really surprised by that. You don't really hear about these programs and you definitely don't hear about the abuse that happens...” (30:34)
• Reflection on the cultural influence of media like Dr. Phil, contributing to the normalization of abusive institutions.
  • Host: “The way that public figures like someone like Dr. Phil had instilled so much trust within his following and a lot of these parents...was eye opening to me.” (31:21)
• The importance of parent voices, especially those with tragic outcomes, and the need for more effective oversight, research, and legislation.

Upcoming Season 25 Preview: Sexual Violence and Systemic Betrayal in Higher Ed (36:34–38:12)

• Amy reads the Season 25 summary:
  • Focus on sexual violence, the failures of Title IX in schools and universities, the chilling effect of the 2022 Supreme Court ruling (Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller), and institutional betrayal.
  • Analysis of how reputation and finances often matter more to universities than student safety.
  • Amy: “Survivors share their experiences navigating institutional betrayal, gaslighting and harmful policies that too often shield and enable perpetrators rather than protect victims.” (36:45–38:12)

Case Update: Kaitlin Braun (38:12–45:33)

• Amy delivers a comprehensive case update on Kaitlin Braun (covered in Season 18):
  • Braun pled guilty to charges of fraud, harassment, and indecent acts involving doulas, initially receiving house arrest.
  • Later reoffended while under house arrest; a psychiatric evaluation led to a revised sentence of three years and eight months’ incarceration.
  • The judge recognized the severe, ongoing harm to victims and the high risk of reoffense.
  • Amy: “...Judge Fiucci pointed out...‘it would be a danger to the safety of the community’...to allow Braun to continue to serve her sentence under house arrest.” (44:57)
  • Reflects on the necessity for proactive—not just reactive—justice to prevent repeat perpetration.

Spotlight: “What Came Next” Podcast and Survivor Stories (45:33–49:56)

• Amy talks about hosting the “What Came Next” podcast, reaching 152 episodes, and highlights memorable interviews.
  • Notable: An 18-years-in-waiting interview with Jen Holman, Amy’s brother’s ex-girlfriend and survivor of familial harm.
  • The podcast’s Instagram is a space for connection, recommendations, and ongoing survivor outreach.
  • Amy: “Every survivor just leaves me so floored...It just blows my mind that I get to meet all these incredible people and share them with our platform...” (48:22)

Gratitude, Closing Reflections, and How to Support (49:56–end)

• Host expresses deep thanks to team members, survivors, contributors, supporters, and the audience.
• Encouragement to support via podcast memberships, reviews, sponsor engagement, or directly via their sticker shop or website.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:51 | Team introductions, gratitude, and holiday recap | | 04:40 | Reflections on Sacramento event, community-building | | 09:08 | Listener Brittany’s birthday story, community connections | | 11:28 | Sacramento trivia and social dynamics at events | | 19:09 | Recap of LA/SXSW events, support for survivors, reflections on political climate | | 24:19 | Political challenges and survivor perspectives | | 29:13 | Season 24: Troubled teen industry, survivor submissions | | 31:21 | Influence of popular media figures (Dr. Phil) | | 36:34 | Season 25 summary – sexual violence and Title IX failures in higher education | | 38:12 | Kaitlin Braun case update (full legal timeline and outcomes) | | 45:33 | Introduction to “What Came Next,” milestone episodes with survivor narratives | | 49:56 | Final words, gratitude, calls to action |

Notable Quotes

• On gratitude and teamwork:
  “Gratefulness is just the recurring word right now because it’s all hit me at once just how amazing it all is.” — Lauren Barkman (03:27)

• On advocacy’s emotional toll:
  "2025, I don't think was what any of us were expecting... Season 24 has been really compelling and interesting, but also heartbreaking and heavy." — Amy B. Chesler (04:13)

• On the community’s power:
  “It’s so wild to meet people, especially listeners who have supported the show... finally getting to meet them... this is why we do this, because this is the best.” — Host (08:20)

• On the troubled teen industry:
  “You don't really hear about these programs and you definitely don't hear about the abuse that happens in these programs. And also the amount of money that these programs are making behind closed doors is absolutely disgusting.” — Lauren Barkman (30:34)

• On survivor voices:
  “The resilience and strength of the survivors... the immense work that the survivors have had to do to shed this trauma that was forced on them.” — Amy B. Chesler (29:13)

• On politics and criminal justice:
  “There’s no real way to leave politics out of the work that we do. There's no real way to leave politics out of criminal justice.” — Host (24:19)

• On the need for action:
  “With every season, we hope the right people hear it and overall that we'll continue to be able to share ways that we can help contribute to changing these laws and removing these institutions.” — Host (32:46)

• On the Braun case’s implications:
  “In Braun's case. We've seen a lot of delayed reactive justice, which is in deep contrast to the proactiveness that's required to keep her from perpetrating more crimes.” — Amy B. Chesler (45:29)

Tone and Style

The conversation is candid, supportive, and empathetic. The hosts and guests openly discuss emotional challenges and the complexities of advocating for survivors, balancing heaviness with humor and mutual encouragement.

Closing

The episode encapsulates the heart of Something Was Wrong—honoring survivors, growing a supportive community, grappling with systemic failures, and committing to persistent, compassionate advocacy. As 2025 closes, the team looks ahead to deeper reporting on sexual violence in higher education, ongoing case coverage, and continued audience engagement.

How to support: Leave reviews, join community memberships on Apple Podcasts, support show sponsors, or buy from the sticker shop at brokencyclemedia.com.