Something Was Wrong – S25 Ep2: In Shock (January 15, 2026)
Podcast by Broken Cycle Media

Episode Overview

This episode of Something Was Wrong continues Luna's story as she navigates the immediate aftermath of being sexually assaulted during her first month at college. It explores Luna’s harrowing journey—from disclosing the assault to her roommate, family, and authorities, to managing institutional responses from her college, campus safety, and law enforcement. The episode captures her emotional struggles, the complexities of the reporting process, and the failures and small reassurances in the systems meant to support survivors. Luna’s parents also share their perspectives, illustrating the overwhelming challenges families face alongside victims. The episode concludes as Luna begins to pursue formal action against her assailant.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Immediate Aftermath (02:12–10:20)

• Luna’s Disclosure to Her Roommate and the RA
  • Luna recounts the immediate impact of her assault by a fellow student, Kody, and her initial hesitation and fear.
  • Her roommate encourages her to report, reminding Luna:

    “...it wasn't my fault and that I should get help, and that my mom would understand and that parents are supposed to be there and protect you and make sure that you're safe.” (11:36)

2. The Emotional Toll of Seeking Help (10:20–15:22)

• Gymnastics of Telling Her Mom

  • Luna struggles with guilt and shame before disclosing to her mother. She describes having to recount her experience “in between sobs.” (02:12)
  • Her mother, a nurse, immediately prioritizes medical attention.

• Parental Perspective

  • Luna’s mother details her own shock and instinctive need to act quickly to protect her daughter:

    “As a nurse, I know how important it is to have someone look at you immediately.” (15:21)

3. Medical Response and Hospital Experience (19:02–22:47)

• Hospital and Forensic Exam
  • Luna describes the alienation and denial she felt entering the ER, and the surreal nature of undergoing a rape kit—made more uncomfortable by staff inexperience.

    “It was humiliating, but I felt safe...I was just doing my part, doing whatever they told me to do.” (19:02)

  • Due to a lack of a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner), a general staff nurse follows the protocol by the book, resulting in a lengthy, impersonal process.
  • Her mother stays with her but recognizes Luna is “in shock. I think a lot of her was kind of a front.” (22:19)

4. Navigating Academic and Institutional Systems (22:47–29:21)

• Returning Home and Academic Accommodation

  • Luna contacts her dean after leaving campus; her school provides necessary accommodations so she won’t fall behind academically.

    “I think in the academic regard of this whole thing, I was really well supported.” (22:47)

• Reporting to Title IX

  • Due to the RA’s mandatory reporting, the Title IX office is notified.
  • Luna describes her intimidating meeting with the Title IX Director, the confusing options between “informal” and “formal” resolutions, and feeling discouraged from pursuing the formal hearing, suspecting institutional reluctance.

    “She just kept saying, well, remember, you can always do an informal resolution. She kept saying how common it was for people to do an informal resolution. But...I just feel like you don't want me to move forward.” (26:39)

• Re-encounter with Her Assailant

  • After the meeting, Luna finds herself face-to-face with Kody, further compounding her trauma and anxiety about her own safety.

    “He should have at least been temporarily removed while the investigation was going on. ...the dean of students just kept telling me, oh, well, you guys are both entitled to due process.” (28:45)

5. Legal Process and Protective Order (29:21–34:14)

• Acquiring a No Contact/Harassment Prevention Order

  • Luna and her parents pursue a protective order through the local courthouse.
  • A supportive judge provides reassurance:

    “He looked me in the face and he said, I'm so sorry that this happened to you. ...I'm absolutely granting this order. I am ensuring you that now you're going to be safe.” (31:11)

  • Luna’s father assists her in court, highlighting the overwhelming and intimidating environment.

• School’s Failure to Enforce Orders

  • The college does little to ensure Luna's safety, enforcing only minimal restrictions.

    “The school said is he couldn't go to her floor and that was it.” (33:41)

  • Luna’s parents express frustration and anger at the institution’s lack of action and support.

6. Ongoing Safety Concerns and Institutional Failures (34:14–45:55)

• Formal Title IX Complaint and Remaining on Campus

  • Luna presses for a formal hearing, motivated to prevent Kody from doing harm to others.
  • She is advised by the public safety director to contact the local police, leading to a difficult police interview.
  • Luna describes the experience as cold, unsupportive, and dehumanizing:

    “She asked me so many questions that I know are standard procedure, But I never realized how they make the victim feel. Dirty. ...She was so hyper fixated on what I was wearing...She just kind of looked at them like, okay.” (38:03–39:40)

  • She provides evidence and is forced through repeated exposures—photos, clothing, and emotionally draining testimony.

• Continued Harassment and Ignored Calls for Help

  • Despite the protection order, Kody violates the terms by seeking Luna out on campus, but campus safety fails to respond:

    “I called the public safety office, and they didn't answer. Then I called them again, and I left a voicemail..., please call me back. Nobody ever called me back.” (44:06)

  • Luna’s parents’ emails finally prompt an apology, but the damage to her sense of security is clear.

• Systemic Frustration

  • Luna’s parents share their disbelief at the institution’s inaction, especially after discovering other victims.

    “After the accusation was made and after we learned that there were other victims that were reported to the school and he was still remaining on campus and she still was running into him…we decided we need to, like, really do something about this.” (45:55)

7. Closing & Foreshadowing (46:13–46:28)

• Next Steps
  • The episode ends with the promise of developments in Luna’s case:

    “My phone rings and it’s the number of the police department. And then they told me, Kody has been arrested this morning.” (46:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On self-blame:
  “For a really long time, I felt like it was something that I did that allowed that to happen to me. And maybe if I had done things differently, then it wouldn't have happened to me.”
  —Luna (11:36)

• On the inadequacy of institutional response:
  “All the school said is he couldn’t go to her floor and that was it.”
  —Luna’s Father (33:41)

  “It was infuriating for me.”
  —Luna’s Father (34:12)

• On the power of support:
  “That was the first time that I had a little bit of hope that it was gonna be okay. Everything else had been so scary and bleak and unknown before that, but that was my guaranteed safety. So that made me feel so much better.”
  —Luna, on the judge’s words (32:02)

• On reporting to police:
  “She just kind of looked at (the evidence) like, okay. ...If I say it out loud, then I give it power because it was only an audio recording. She's like, could you use your words?... So it was just a really negative experience.”
  —Luna (38:03–39:40)

• On seeking compassion:
  “I just wish she smiled at me. I think a smile goes such a long way. There was no warmth. The lighting was fluorescent. The room was cold... Just a little bit more compassion, I think, would have gone a longer way.”
  —Luna (40:47)

Important Timestamps

• [02:12] Luna’s initial disclosure after the assault
• [08:08] Luna reflects on not being truly known by others
• [15:22] Luna and her mother drive to the hospital
• [19:02] Hospital rape kit experience
• [22:47] Academic accommodations and returning home
• [25:29] Title IX meeting and decision process
• [29:55] First steps toward legal protection and no contact order
• [32:02] Judge approves order & offers Luna support
• [33:41] Parental frustrations with campus safety
• [38:03] Police questioning and evidence collection
• [40:47] Luna wishes for more victim-centered support from police
• [44:06] Campus safety does not respond when Kody violates the order
• [46:17] Cliffhanger: Kody’s arrest

Tone & Style

The episode balances straightforward, compassionate narration with painful, honest testimony from Luna and her family. The tone is urgent yet sensitive, giving space to Luna’s emotional processing and the tangible failures of the systems around her. It encourages listeners to witness, understand, and critically question institutional responses to sexual assault.

Quick Reference:

• Main Theme: College sexual assault, survivor reporting, and institutional failures
• Central Survivor: Luna
• Focus: Reporting journey, family support, university/legal/campus safety response, and ongoing trauma
• Final Note: The next episode will address the aftermath of Kody’s arrest