Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, Katie Shipp and Chessy Prout welcome Erica Thompson, Assistant Head of School for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, and her seventh-grade student Annalise. Erica shares how she uses hair, a public, personal, and changeable part of identity, as an approachable way to teach young students about boundaries, respect, and consent. Through stories, literature, and real-life examples, Erica’s workshops help students conne...
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Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, Katie Shipp and Chessy Prout welcome Erica Thompson, Assistant Head of School for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, and her seventh-grade student Annalise. Erica shares how she uses hair, a public, personal, and changeable part of identity, as an approachable way to teach young students about boundaries, respect, and consent. Through stories, literature, and real-life examples, Erica’s workshops help students conne...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, Katie Shipp and Chessy Prout welcome Erica Thompson, Assistant Head of School for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, and her seventh-grade student Annalise. Erica shares how she uses hair, a public, personal, and changeable part of identity, as an approachable way to teach young students about boundaries, respect, and consent. Through stories, literature, and real-life examples, Erica’s workshops help students conne...
Send us a text In this week’s episode of Aspire, co-hosts Alex Prout and Hugh Eastman sit down with three juniors from Georgetown Day School (GDS) in Washington, D.C., Eli, Nathan, and Aaron, who are actively challenging outdated views of masculinity and building healthier school cultures. The group shares stories of how key experiences and educational initiatives helped them move from passive listeners to proactive leaders on issues like consent, identity, and social pressure. The conversa...
Send us a text This week’s impactful episode of Aspire features keynote speaker and resilience expert Trish Kendall, who shares her journey from childhood abuse and addiction to healing and redefining success. Hosts Katie Shipp and Chessy Prout speak with Trish about surviving the trauma and addiction that nearly ended her life by age 20. Through her story, Trish explains the five critical choices that brought her hope, trust, and a life centered on love and belonging. Trish highlights the ...
Send us a text In this week’s episode of Aspire, former NFL defensive end James Smith Williams joins Gabriel Viscogliosi and Hugh Eastman for a powerful discussion about masculinity, accountability, and what it means to be a "good man" on and off the field. Known for his advocacy work through Set the Expectation and partnerships with survivor advocate Brenda Tracy, James has made it his mission to challenge the culture of silence and complacency around sexual and domestic violence. James sha...
Send us a text Violence prevention expert and author Meg Stone joins hosts Katie Shipp, Chessy Prout, and Gabriel Viscogliosi for an unforgettable conversation about reclaiming safety, autonomy, and resistance. Drawing from her new book The Cost of Fear, Meg exposes how traditional “safety” advice, rooted in fear, control, and sexism, has changed little since the 1970s, and why it continues to harm more than it helps. Meg challenges outdated, compliance-based models of personal safety that ...
Send us a text On this week’s episode of Aspire, hosts Alex Prout, Hugh Eastman, and Gabriel Viscogliosi welcome Jack Spiegel, a recent graduate of Quinnipiac’s media and journalism program, accomplished photographer, and new podcast producer, for an inspiring conversation about storytelling and advocacy. Jack shares how his upbringing and core value of “repairing the world” led him to a career centered around truth-telling, accountability, and using media for positive impact. Reflecting on h...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, Katie Shipp and Chessy Prout sit down with Meghan Boudreau, a recent Allegheny College graduate and youth advocacy leader, for an insightful discussion about supporting young people through major life transitions. Meghan recounts her journey, sharing practical advice on navigating college, building supportive networks, and discovering her passion for advocacy through real-world experiences. Meghan reflects honestly on finding her voice, embracing dis...
Send us a text Guy Adami, CNBC’s Fast Money veteran and Wall Street trader, joins co-hosts Alex Prout, Gabriel Viscogliosi, and Hugh Eastman for a candid exploration of masculinity, money, and cultural change on Wall Street. Guy shares personal reflections on the pressures and rewards of working in a male-dominated trading culture, from bold risk-taking and stoicism to the slow evolution away from “bro culture.” The conversation dives into Guy’s formative years at home and in the industry, th...
Send us a text Karen Udall, program director and facilitator at I Have the Right To, joins Susan Prout and Katie Shipp to share her journey from parent to prevention advocate. After her daughter’s assault, Karen faced challenges with institutional support and healing, inspiring her to shape programs that have reached over 30,000 students, educators, and parents nationwide. Karen shares how her experience as a mom both challenged and motivated her to change the way schools and communities res...
Send us a text In today’s episode of Aspire, Co-hosts Chessy Prout and Katie Shipp welcome new Co-host Charlotte Lee, a senior at Georgetown Day School interning with I Have the Right To. They sit down with Ray Epstein, a recent Temple University grad, survivor, and campus leader. Ray recounts her experience founding Student Activists Against Sexual Assault at Temple, and creating a supportive community on campus for survivors and allies. The group discusses the importance of early con...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, Katie M. Shipp, Chessy Prout, and student co-host Meghan Boudreau sit down with Jess Michaels, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, an outspoken advocate, and the founder of the #WithYouToo app. Jess shares the deeply personal story that brought her from dancer and performer to sexual assault prevention advocate. She opens up about the often-misunderstood freeze response, what it meant for her self-identity, and how reframing that experience helped her rec...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, co-hosts Katie M. Shipp and Chessy Prout sit down with Renee Williams, Executive Director of the National Crime Victims Bar Association, the nation’s first and only professional association dedicated to supporting attorneys who represent survivors of crime in civil cases. Together, they discuss the challenges survivors face in navigating both the criminal and civil justice systems, as well as the importance of building trauma-informed practices across...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, Co-Hosts Katie M. Shipp and Chessy Prout sit down with Dr. Mona, a board-certified pediatrician and founder of Peds Doc Talk. They explore critical issues surrounding body autonomy, emotional intelligence, and the importance of early education on consent and boundaries for children. Dr. Mona shares practical advice for parents on how to create an environment that promotes body autonomy at home and in the doctor's office. The conversation undersc...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, hosts Katie M. Ship and Chessy Prout sit down with Jean Ruggiero, a passionate advocate against sexual violence and an aspiring social worker. Jean opens up about her journey from surviving sexual assault in high school to becoming a powerful voice for other survivors. Following her trauma, Jean found unexpected comfort and support from her dog, Boo Boo. That bond sparked her interest in the healing power of animals, a passion that continues to shape ...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, hosts Alex Prout, Gabriel V., and Hugh E. are joined by production head Ben Hudak for a powerful one-year follow-up to their original “Aspire to Lead” conversation. They discuss stepping into leadership as high school seniors, the ongoing impact of their school’s consent and sexual assault summit, and the value of showing up as empathetic, genuine members of their community. Ben shares a story about his recent encounter with a survivor, highlighting t...
Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of Aspire, host Katie M. Shipp welcomes co-host Karen Udall and special guest Dr. Stacey Hettes, professor of biology and neuroscience at Wofford College and author of the memoir Dispatches from the Couch. Stacey shares her courageous journey as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and her path to healing through therapy. The discussion touches on critical themes such as the importance of supportive responses to disclosures, understanding trauma trigge...
Send us a text In today’s episode of Aspire, hosts Alex Prout, Gabriel V., and Hugh E. are joined by Sherrie Westin, CEO of Sesame Workshop. Sherrie discusses the far-reaching impact and mission of Sesame Street, emphasizing its foundational goal: helping children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. The conversation explores Sesame Street's origins during the Civil Rights Movement and its groundbreaking use of television to educate children—particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. L...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, co-hosts Katie M. Shipp, Executive Director of I Have the Right To, and Chessy Prout, Co-Founder of I Have the Right To, engage in a compelling conversation with Melissa Hoppmeyer, an experienced prosecutor and policy advocate with a strong background in criminal law, violence prevention, and legislative initiatives. She currently supports the development of the U.S. Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel. Melissa’s career encompasses significant cont...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, host and Co-Founder of I Have The Right To, Alex Prout, and co-hosts and high school seniors, Gabriel V. and Hugh E., return with an impactful and emotional discussion featuring Chris McGhee. Chris shares his family's harrowing experience after his daughter was sexually assaulted by a school resource officer. He narrates his journey from dealing with PTSD and trauma to taking legal action, ultimately leading to a new law in Pennsylvania aimed at...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, Host and Co-Founder of I Have The Right To, Alex Prout, alongside Co-Hosts Gabriel V. and Hugh E., delve into the intricate topics of student safety, institutional accountability, and survivor empowerment. They are joined for the first time by Aspire’s producer, Ben Hudak, who is usually behind the scenes. Highlighting the challenges surrounding traditional notions of masculinity, they discuss emotional vulnerability, the stigma around feelings...
Send us a text In this episode of Aspire, Katie Shipp and Chessy Prout welcome Erica Thompson, Assistant Head of School for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, and her seventh-grade student Annalise. Erica shares how she uses hair, a public, personal, and changeable part of identity, as an approachable way to teach young students about boundaries, respect, and consent. Through stories, literature, and real-life examples, Erica’s workshops help students conne...
