Podcast Summary: Something Was Wrong

Season 25, Episode 10: Connected Some Dots
Release Date: February 25, 2026
Produced by: Broken Cycle Media

Episode Overview

This episode continues the ongoing docuseries examining the aftermath of abuse and institutional failures at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), focusing on multiple survivors’ experiences with reporting sexual misconduct by theater professor Cato Buss. The episode details the personal journeys of Miranda, Olivia, Rihanna, Morgan, and others, tracing the fallout from filing Title IX complaints, the emotionally taxing process of pursuing legal action, the effects of a Supreme Court ruling that altered the possibilities for justice, and the complicated reality of healing and seeking closure without institutional accountability.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Filing Title IX and Lawsuit Against UCO

• Miranda’s Decision to File (03:16): After graduating, Miranda, emboldened by a network of fellow survivors, decides to file a Title IX complaint against Cato Buss.

  “The veil had been completely lifted...I then decided that I wanted to file a Title IX complaint against him.” — Miranda (02:47)

• Formation of Plaintiffs’ Group (04:09-05:54):
  • Seven plaintiffs, including Olivia, Miranda, Morgan, their faculty advocate, and several others, joined together after feeling failed by the university’s Title IX process.
  • Media coverage was sudden, overwhelming, and deeply isolating, exposing them and their traumatic experiences publicly.
• Peer and Departmental Response:
  • While students and some faculty expressed support and held protests, the survivors felt unprotected and exposed, especially as names and details went public.

2. Legal Setbacks and Supreme Court Decision

• Process of Legal Action (08:12-14:27):
  • Plaintiffs recounted drafting statements, holding legal meetings, and the university’s eventual move to dismiss the case.
  • Rihanna and Morgan shared how unifying it felt for survivors to come together, but also the terror and vulnerability of public exposure.
• A Pivotal Supreme Court Ruling (18:43-21:55):
  • The 2022 Supreme Court decision eliminated the possibility of seeking emotional distress damages under Title IX. This was a devastating blow to the case.
  • After months of case limbo, the case was reportedly “jointly dismissed”—without the knowledge or consent of the plaintiffs.

3. Endings Without Closure

• Notification and Aftermath (26:15-30:26):
  • Plaintiffs discovered the lawsuit had been dismissed through external articles or blogs, not their lawyer or the court.

  “Did y’all know our case had been dismissed? ...finding out that it had been dismissed and that we weren’t even notified was frustrating, but not surprising.” — Morgan (27:49)

  • Plaintiffs were left with a sense of powerlessness and a lack of closure, with some faculty shifting their support only after public outcry.
• Institutional Patterns and Systemic Issues:
  • Morgan reflects on institutional loyalty to problematic staff and failures to prioritize student safety and voices.

  “I can’t understand why universities, why specifically UCO, would go through so much heartache...and for what? ...it’s important to listen to individuals and their experiences because if I hadn’t been open to listening to other people and what was happening to them, I never would have felt comfortable reporting in the first place.” — Morgan (31:18, 33:14)

4. Personal Impact, Trust, and Recovery

• Loss of Trust (35:23):
  • Rihanna describes a complete erosion of trust in institutions and the arts, stating she is unable to return to theater or education due to fear of further harm.
  • EMDR therapy is credited by Rihanna as life-saving in her healing journey.
• The Value of Supportive Friendship (44:17–47:45):
  • Olivia and Miranda’s friendship is held up as a vital source of strength through ongoing trauma.

  “Our friendship is the best thing to come out of this. ...She’s always been my biggest support system and I can’t imagine doing any of this without her.” — Miranda (47:02)

• Moving Forward (47:49–51:22):
  • Miranda discusses relocating to NYC, pursuing therapy, and gradually reaching a place where past trauma doesn’t dominate her daily life.
  • Sharing her story on the podcast is an act of reclaiming her narrative and finding self-supplied closure.

  “Silence is the opposite of shame. ...the more it feels like I am able to really overcome and feel healed.” — Miranda (50:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Institutional Betrayal:

  “After multiple Title IX cases, after several women came forward...I feel like it shouldn’t have to be said that students should be the center of their priorities and their policy making.” — Morgan (31:18)

• Personal Fallout:

  “I don’t trust myself not to fall prey to a situation like this again...it has completely eroded my sense of trust and my love for something that was like a crucial part of me and such a big dream and goal.” — Rihanna (35:23)

• On Female Friendship:

  “Love your girlfriends more than anything, because that is the most ride or die relationship that will ever happen in your life.” — Olivia (44:03)

• Finding Strength in Speaking:

  “I find that every time that I tell this story and am able to talk about it, the lighter I feel and the more it feels like I am able to really overcome and feel healed.” — Miranda (50:19)

Key Timestamps

• 03:16: Miranda describes the decision to file Title IX
• 04:09: Olivia details how the lawsuit came together
• 05:54-06:44: Olivia on intense public exposure and its cost
• 08:10-08:51: Rihanna’s account of becoming involved in the lawsuit
• 14:27–17:11: Morgan recalls being invited into joint action
• 18:43: Miranda reads from the lawyer’s email about the Supreme Court ruling
• 22:16: Discovery that the case was “jointly dismissed” without plaintiffs being informed
• 26:15-30:26: Morgan on discovering the dismissal indirectly
• 31:18-33:14: Morgan’s reflections on institutional accountability
• 35:23: Rihanna explains lost trust in institutions & healing via EMDR
• 44:03–47:02: Olivia and Miranda on their friendship and mutual support
• 50:19: Miranda on sharing her story and releasing shame

Concluding Thoughts

This episode candidly exposes how survivors of abuse often face immense institutional obstacles, community silence, and systemic failures, even after coming forward together. Legal barriers and bureaucratic inertia can render even the most public cases powerless, leaving those who speak out to find their own closure. Yet, amidst the disappointments, the episode finds hope—particularly in the enduring strength of female friendship, solidarity among survivors, and the gradual reclamation of one’s narrative through storytelling and therapy.

For more on the stories and additional survivor resources, visit the episode notes or Something Was Wrong.