Podcast Summary: Tech Matters

Episode: Breaking the Silence: Helping Survivors of Assault with Tracy DeTomasi of Callisto
Host: Jim Fruchterman
Guest: Tracy DeTomasi, CEO of Callisto
Date: November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Tech Matters dives deep into the intersection of technology and justice for survivors of sexual assault, focusing on the innovative work of Callisto— a nonprofit platform designed to help survivors safely connect, identify serial perpetrators, and regain agency. Host Jim Fruchterman interviews Tracy DeTomasi, Callisto’s CEO, about her journey, the mechanics of Callisto’s tech, the barriers of funding and adoption, and the ongoing challenges and rewards of building tech for social good.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tracy DeTomasi’s Journey to Tech for Good

• Background:
  • Tracy is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience in gender-based violence, having worked as a therapist for adolescent sex offenders, domestic violence shelters, and in developing VR training for antisexual harassment.
  • Frustrated by traditional systems that only helped survivors heal but didn’t stop the cycle of violence, Tracy became interested in leveraging technology for deeper impact.
• Notable Quote:
  • “I started to realize that we needed to do more to help survivors... It wasn’t stopping domestic violence, it wasn’t stopping sexual assault.” (02:13)

2. How Callisto Empowers Survivors

• Technology and Process:
  • End-to-end encryption protects highly sensitive data.
  • Survivors can enter details (e.g., state, unique perpetrator identifiers like social handles or emails) into the platform.
  • If two users input matching identifiers, a secure, anonymized “match” is flagged.
  • Survivors are contacted individually by confidential, trauma-informed advocates for support and to discuss potential paths (criminal, civil, Title IX).
• Survivor Agency:
  • Survivors are never forced to take action; all choices are theirs.
  • The process is not a report to authorities or an investigation, but an opportunity for survivors to find mutual support and potentially make a stronger case together.
• Notable Quote:
  • “We are not reporting to Police, Title IX, or HR. We are really connecting those survivors to know that they’re not the only ones and they have a potentially... stronger case if they come forward together.” (06:12)

3. The Importance of Addressing Serial Perpetrators

• Statistics & Theory of Change:
  • 90% of sexual assaults on U.S. college campuses are committed by serial perpetrators— who typically offend six times during college.
  • Callisto’s matching can disrupt this pattern, potentially reducing assaults by 59%.
• Impact on Reporting:
  • Survivors often don’t report due to distrust in the system, trauma, or feeling isolated.
  • Knowing others have similar experiences can prompt action for personal healing and community protection.
• Notable Quote:
  • “One of the key lines... is these survivors are not going to jump unless they jump together.” (10:32, referencing ‘She Said’ about the Weinstein case)

4. Healing Through Connection

• Testimonial:
  • Tracy shares the story of Jess Michaels, who only found healing decades after her assault upon learning she was not Epstein’s sole victim.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Even knowing there’s a match... can be extremely healing for survivors to know that they’re not the only one.” (12:51)

5. Barriers to Funding and Sustainability

• Systemic Underfunding:
  • Less than 2% of U.S. philanthropic funding goes to women and girls; sexual assault gets a fraction of this.
  • Survivors’ resources face continuous cuts, and technology for sensitive issues is hard to pitch.
  • Stigma, triggers, and the confidential nature of the tech hinder awareness and “viral” funding.
• Failed Revenue Model:
  • Attempts to sell the technology to Title IX offices failed; offices either lacked budget or didn’t want to identify serial perpetrators for reputational/legal reasons.
• Platform Model Shift:
  • Callisto now offers the tool free to anyone with a .edu email address, shifting focus from institutions (B2B) to direct survivor outreach (B2C).
• Notable Quotes:
  • “It is not easy to fund this for several reasons. First of all, gender based violence is difficult to fund in philanthropy... Sexual assault is just a small sliver of that 2%.” (15:23)
  • “They didn’t actually want to identify serial perpetrators because it costs them money, it makes their school look bad, it makes enrollment different, not to mention it causes lawsuits.” (17:44)

6. Challenges of Impact Measurement & Donor Expectations

• Long-term vs. Short-term Impact:
  • Donors and institutions often seek immediate outcomes, but change in sexual assault and justice is slow and systemic.
  • Confidentiality limits the ability to share impact data publicly.
  • Survivors and their advocates care about social impact more than technical details.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Tech for good startups aren’t allowed to fail... It looks very differently if we fail. We’re looking for that quick impact. But this is a long term solution.” (28:13)

7. Wellbeing, Resilience, and Advice for Tech for Good Leaders

• Need for Support:
  • Leaders and staff in tech for social change face immense stress, risk burnout, and require intentional wellbeing practices and support networks (e.g., Wellbeing Project).
• Equity Issues:
  • The “mission equity” of working for social good doesn’t pay bills and adds extra emotional labor.
• Advice:
  • Seek support networks, be candid about exhaustion, and remember the importance of long-term vision and resilience.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “Mission equity doesn’t pay my mortgage... there is also exhaustion in convincing people that this is the right thing to do.” (32:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Technology and Survivor Agency:

  • Tracy: “We are not investigating what happened. We are really connecting those survivors... so they potentially have more of a case if they come forward together, which we’ve seen in the MeToo movement.” (06:12)

• On Serial Perpetrators:

  • Tracy: “90% of sexual assaults on college campuses in the US are committed by serial perpetrators who on average, offend six times while in college.” (08:54)

• On the Importance of Matching:

  • Tracy: “The only reason those journalists were able to connect with all these survivors... was because it was Harvey Weinstein and he was worth reporting on. ... They can have their identities hidden and they can find each other...” (10:41)
  • Tracy: “One assault should be enough for accountability. And yet that is very rarely the case. 99% of perpetrators walk free.” (11:46)

• On Emotional Healing:

  • Tracy: “Even knowing that there’s a match, regardless of if you do anything with it, that can be extremely healing for survivors to know that they’re not the only one.” (12:51)

• On Funding Realities:

  • Tracy: “In philanthropy in the US less than 2% of all philanthropic funding goes to women and girls issues. ... Sexual assault is just a small sliver of that 2%.” (15:23)

• On Donor Expectations:

  • Jim: “No donor says, or almost no donors, I’m going to go fund tech for good... it’s hard to fund human rights technology.” (26:40)

• On Burnout and Wellbeing:

  • Tracy: “It’s not easy. ... Having your support network is really key.” (33:00)
  • “Mission equity doesn’t pay my mortgage... It makes me feel better about what I do, but there is also exhaustion in convincing people that this is the right thing to do.” (32:32)

Important Segments (with Timestamps)

• [00:40] - Introduction to Callisto & Context (Encryption to protect survivors)
• [01:58] - Tracy’s personal journey into tech for good
• [04:31] - Detailed explanation of Callisto’s technology and process
• [08:51] - Discussion on serial perpetrators and impact potential
• [10:09] - Lessons from MeToo and the power of collective survivor action
• [12:22] - Emotional healing from discovering others share one’s experience
• [13:21] - Reflections on the recent Epstein survivor gathering
• [15:19] - The challenge of funding gender-based violence tech
• [17:38] - Why selling this tech to institutions failed
• [20:29] - Technology vs. messaging: explaining the platform to survivors/donors
• [21:54] - The pitfalls of chasing tech fads (AI, crypto)
• [23:05] - The near-closure of Callisto due to funding crisis— and what saved them
• [27:46] - The struggle to provide “impact data” and satisfy donors’ desire for quick wins
• [30:19] - Advice on self-care and leadership in tech for good
• [32:32] - The reality of “mission equity” and the importance of mental health for social impact leaders

Conclusion

Jim Fruchterman and Tracy DeTomasi offer a sobering and inspiring look at the real-world challenges of innovating for social justice through technology. From confronting the failures of institutions to fostering survivor agency, battling for every dollar, and advocating for more empathetic, long-term investment in tech for good, their conversation is a vital listen for changemakers and allies alike.

For more information about Callisto:
Visit their official website to learn about their technology and survivor-centered approach.

For more on Tech Matters and Jim Fruchterman’s work:
Find the new book "Technology for Good: How Nonprofit Leaders Are Using Software and Data to Solve Our Most Pressing Social Problems" wherever books are sold.