Episode Summary: "S25 Ep11: Long Term Impact"

Podcast: Something Was Wrong
Host: Tiffany Reese (Broken Cycle Media)
Date: February 27, 2026

Overview

This episode of Something Was Wrong continues to explore the long-term effects of abuse, institutional betrayal, and silence at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) by focusing on the testimony of Survivor Amy. Through her candid conversation with host Tiffany Reese, Amy recounts her teenage experience being groomed by Cato Buss, a theater director, and how this early relationship shaped her sense of self, relationships, and understanding of power dynamics for decades following the abuse. The episode also reflects on the systemic failures that allowed Buss to remain in power at UCO, shining a light on how patterns of abuse persist when institutions protect perpetrators.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Context

• Amy, a longtime listener, reached out after recognizing Cato Buss’s name in earlier episodes, realizing her own story connected to the broader pattern of abuse at UCO.
• The team underscores the emotional intensity of this season and the validation that comes from hearing Amy’s story, not only for her own healing but for other survivors.
• Quote:

  "It was also gut wrenching and eye opening to see just how long he's been at this."
  — ABC (Amy B. Chesler), [08:11]

2. Amy’s Experience with Cato Buss (1998)

• Meeting Cato: Amy met Cato during her senior year musical ("Chess") after her usual theater teacher was out due to injury. Cato, and his then-partner, entered as respected and charismatic directors.

  • "He just seemed like a friendly, funny guy who commanded the space." – Amy, [11:14]

• Developing Access and 'Special' Attention:

  • Amy, cast as a lead, experienced Cato singling her out—private rehearsals, personal drives, and emotional intimacy developed.
  • "The one on one personal attention started to grow. Soon we were going on rides together around town..." – Amy, [14:06]
  • He created a personalized Leonard Cohen mixtape for her.

• Boundary Crossing & Grooming:

  • Their relationship escalated subtly, culminating in Cato kissing Amy backstage during the last night of the musical.
    • "He led me into the men's dressing room where he kissed me. It felt really exciting and exhilarating and just kind of crazy." — Amy, [19:11]
  • He later made inappropriate overtures, calling her on prom night to say he wished he could take her—a moment she now recognizes as crossing boundaries.
    • "I thought that was a really lame thing for a 28 year old to tell an 18 year old..." — Amy, [16:57]

• Immediate Aftermath:

  • Amy describes feeling both excited and burdened by secrecy and confusion, hiding the interactions from her family and friends.

3. Long-Term Impact & Processing

• Lack of Awareness of Power Imbalance:

  • At 18, Amy didn’t recognize she was being groomed or that Cato was abusing his power.
    • "I was thrilled just to have attention... people wouldn’t have maybe called that an abuse of power." — Amy, [23:48]

• Evolving Perspective and the Role of #MeToo:

  • With maturity—and social shifts during #MeToo—Amy eventually identified the dynamics as manipulative and wrong.
    • "Certainly when me too kind of blew up, the framing changed... Even though my story... was relatively pg, I can see it for what it is now." — Amy, [24:36]

• Shame and Secrecy:

  • Shame and self-blame followed Amy for years—feeling "gross" about being singled out, and internalizing guilt around Cato’s relationship with his partner.
    • "I felt a lot of shame...he told me that he's not with his partner. So I wanted to believe that, but...it was not quite right." — Amy, [24:36]
  • Therapy and time helped her release self-blame and recognize the impact of these early experiences.
    • "Time has given me perspective and I’m grateful to see things for what they are. That I was just a convenient young girl there at the right time at the right place." — Amy, [24:36]

4. Institutional Betrayal & Systemic Issues

• Despite multiple women coming forward, UCO continued to promote Cato Buss—even amidst ongoing Title IX investigations.
• The episode closes on the notion of “institutional betrayal,” reinforcing the sense of powerlessness and voicelessness many survivors experience.
  • "Not just grooming, not just retaliation, but institutional betrayal. And as research continues to show, their experience is sadly not uncommon."
    — Tiffany Reese, [29:41]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Long-Term Impact:
  "There is more to be said about the long term impact...while I've talked about how exciting that time felt, there was also the side of shame to it and secrecy." — Amy, [24:36]

• On Institutional Betrayal:
  "Despite multiple women coming forward over the course of several years, the University moved forward with promotion. For the survivors ... that decision reinforces what they have already experienced. Not just grooming, not just retaliation, but institutional betrayal."
  — Tiffany Reese, [29:41]

• On Perspective & Healing:
  "Now I recognize shame is not a helpful feeling to have. Now I can see I’m not needing to put that blame on me... time and therapy and all of that has helped me come to a much more reasonable stance on it." — Amy, [24:36]

Important Timestamps

• [06:04] Amy explains how she became connected to the podcast and recognized Cato’s name.
• [09:03] Amy recalls her first interaction with Cato and the environment around their musical production.
• [14:06] Amy describes how Cato began singling her out, leading to personal attention.
• [16:57] The prom night phone call—boundary crossing becomes clear to Amy in hindsight.
• [19:11] Cato kisses Amy backstage, the first physical boundary crossed.
• [23:48] Amy reflects on her lack of understanding of power imbalances at the time.
• [24:36] Amy processes her experience in adulthood, identifying shame and shifting perspectives through time and therapy.
• [29:41] Host summarizes UCO’s continued institutional betrayal and its reinforcement of survivor trauma.

Episode Tone

The tone throughout the episode is compassionate, reflective, and unflinching. Amy’s story is told with emotional nuance and honesty. Host Tiffany Reese and co-producer ABC offer support, validation, and contextual insight, emphasizing the importance of survivor voices and institutional accountability.

Conclusion

The episode offers a striking account of how abuse of power can manifest in subtle, gradual ways—and how the emotional “long-term impact” can follow survivors for decades. It exposes both individual and systemic failures, calling for greater awareness, institutional change, and collective support for survivors. Amy’s journey from secrecy and shame to perspective and self-forgiveness serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of telling these stories—both for individual healing and cultural change.

Next Episode Preview:
The episode teases the story of Marissa, a college student who reports sexual assault and must navigate a lengthy, arduous institutional process.