Our special guests, Ashley & Mandee, owners of Booktenders, a local bookstore in downtown Barboursville, join Branches advocates to discuss the incredible story that unfolds in Barbara Kingsolver's Pultizer Prize winning novel, Demon Copperhead.  Ahead of a very special visit from the author, our friends at Booktenders sat down to discuss how Demon Copperhead explores a variety of societal ills, including the impact of domestic violence on children and families.  If you're a fan of Barbara Kingsolver and her incredible work in this field--you won't want to miss this very special ..read more

Join us as we interview our friend, Laurel Thornton (MA, LPC, NCC, EMDR-C, ALPS), owner of Whole Brain Solutions & The Whole Brain Institute to explore the intersection of domestic violence trauma and neurodivergence. Laurel brings powerful insight to the issue, with her discussion of best practices for working with survivors with all kinds of brains.    ..read more

This very special episode is a celebration of the incredible work that is being done at the state level to alleviate barriers for LGBTQ+ and BiPOC survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.  For the first time in history, through the efforts of the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a cohort of concerned advocates across the state, the formation and newly appointed 501c3 status of Shoulder to Shoulder solidified a program that is designed to work toward a more inclusive, safer state for survivors.   Join us as we sit dow ..read more

Join us for this unique episode of Root for Each Other that amplifies the voices of some of the incredible women of color that have inspired, educated, and led us as we navigate the difficult work of advocacy.  This episode is a kick-off for work to come--so join us in July for an in-depth look at WV's first ever culturally specific program, Shoulder to Shoulder!   ..read more

Join us for this incredible benchmark in Root For Each Other history,  our first ever live recording, from the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence Shelter's 2024 Advocate Retreat  This special episode takes the opportunity to check in with three advocates across the state, Katie Spriggs, Executive Director of the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center,  Ashley Carpenter, Executive Director of Sexual Assault Help Center, Inc and Sara Blevins O'Toole, Director of Development, Branches Domestic Violence Shelter on the way that advocacy movement has changed and been shaped over tim ..read more

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Legislative session is in full swing here in the Mountain State, and we are honored this month to bring you the story of Celena Roby Henry in celebration of her story of survival and the positive change she made for survivors in West Virginia. Public policy can often be confusing or even disheartening, and it can be daunting for both survivors and advocates to try and communicate needs to lawmakers. Join us as we talk to Celena about her journey of empowerment and what she sees as emerging needs for people experiencing domestic violence in our communities. Branches Domestic Violence Shelter h ..read more

Domestic Violence services are not often thought of in the realm of "homeless service providers," but it's actually one of the most important things we do, given fleeing abuse is federally-recognized as a leading cause for people to experience homelessness. In this episode, we're highlighting our place within the local homeless service collaborative, The Cabell-Wayne Continuum of Care, as we speak with Brittany Ochoa, the Executive Director of Harmony House and the C-W CoC. Join us as we talk barriers to services, the Housing First model, and how our work together strengthens the community. F ..read more

It's officially spooky season! Here at Branches, we're united in our love for Halloween but somewhat divided on how spooky culture makes us feel. For some, it's a wondrous, magical time of our favorite decorations and nostalgic movies, while, for others, it can be just one more way the world seems scary. What do you think? Join us for a conversation about how to prioritize self-care during spooky season, whether that's diving head first into the holiday or changing up your emotional safety plan for yourself and the survivors in your life. Available wherever you stream your podcasts or at branc ..read more

On a new episode of Root for Each Other, our advocates Sara and Emily are discussing the recent sentencing of convicted rapist, Danny Masterson, and the implications of both character reference letters of support submitted by famous friends of the actor and the powerful Victim Impact Statement read by his former partner at sentencing. As always, this is a difficult topic, so please take care of yourself as you listen and know that you can reach us for support 24/7 at 304.529.2382 and our local partner sexual assault agency, CONTACT Rape Crisis Center at 866.399.7273. Branches Domestic Violenc ..read more