Tuesday Dec 08, 2020

Overcoming Survivor’s Shame: As Told Through Song

We still live in a world where the survivors of abuse and sexual assault have trouble being believed and are shamed in many ways, a dynamic that makes dealing with something so painful, that much more difficult. Joining us on the WhoTheF*ck Podcast today is singer-songwriter and podcast host, Rae du Soleil! She is here to share her message of strength and hope as well as some of her own story of dealing with trauma and shaming. Rae has managed to take very heavy experiences and themes and channel them into her creative life, writing beautiful songs of hope and empowerment, while addressing some of the pain she and others have experienced. In our conversation, we cover Rae's background, her passion for music and the connection it creates, and some of her thoughts on striking a balance between serious subjects and playfulness. We spend some time diving into the story of her recent song, Nice Guy, about complicit and enabling behavior, something that Rae believes is central to the issues of abuse that communities experience. We also talk about the rippling effect of trauma and shaming, and how Rae's outspoken approach has affected her family and friends. With such an inspiring message and magnetic quality, Rae is a guest you are not going to want to miss, so tune in to get it all.

Key Points From This Episode:

Rae's lifelong love of music, performance, and all things creative!
Maturing at a young age and the positive and negative sides to this.
The goal of connection through creativity and Rae's strength in vulnerability.
Balancing playfulness with the heaviness that is a part of life.
The story behind Rae's song Nice Guy, and the impetus for the message.
Considering the use of language and the terms 'survivor' and 'victim'.
Getting over the hurdles of shame and isolation through connection and communication.
The messages of truth and self-worth that Rae hopes come through in her music.
Failures of the legal system and finding more space for community support.
Rae's family's response to the attacks they all faced.
The process that Rae has gone through and the effect it has had on her music.
A message from Rae to anyone out there dealing with some of these challenges.
Rae's thoughts on the future of her music and creativity and the continuing themes of vulnerability and transparency.