Partnered with a Survivor: David Mandel and Ruth Reymundo Mandel
Partnered with a Survivor is a professional-focused podcast created and produced by Ruth Reymundo and hosted by the Safe & Together Institute. What began as intimate conversations between Ruth and David Mandel—founder of the Institute and creator of the Safe & Together Model—about violence, relationships, abuse, and the systems that respond to them has grown into a global conversation about systems and culture change.
Hosted by Ruth and co-hosted by David, the podcast features in-depth, professionally grounded discussions about how institutions respond to domestic abuse, gender-based violence, and child maltreatment. Many episodes also feature global leaders working across fields such as child safety, men and masculinity, perpetrator accountability, fatherhood, and partnering with survivors.
Together, these conversations examine how systems often fail adult and child survivors, how societal narratives about masculinity and violence shape professional practice, and how intersectional realities—including cultural and religious beliefs, racialised identities, LGBTQ+ experiences, immigration status, disability, and other structural vulnerabilities—shape responses to abuse and violence.
The podcast offers an insider lens into how professionals navigate systems not only as practitioners, but also as parents and partners. Through candid dialogue and critical reflection, Ruth and David challenge the assumptions and structures that limit meaningful accountability, safety, and healing. The goal is collective movement across systems, cultures, and families toward greater safety, nurturance, and sustained change.
Disclaimer: Episodes contain sensitive topics and occasional mature language that may be difficult for some listeners. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Safe & Together Institute or its staff.
Partnered with a Survivor: David Mandel and Ruth Reymundo Mandel
Season 3 Episode 8: Understanding Reproductive Coercion: An Interview with Dr. Heather McCauley
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In this episode, David and Ruth interview Dr. Heather McCauley from the Consortium on Gender-Based Violence at Michigan State University. Dr. McCauley discusses the newest research on reproductive coercion and the correlations to intimate partner violence, unwanted pregnancy, STIs, and health issues.
Ruth, David, and Dr. McCauley address:
- How important it is to identify common acts of resistance to reproductive coercion so we accurately assess survivors’ protective and safety strategies
- How resistance to reproductive coercion often elicits violence, as does any form of resistance to a perpetrator of intimate partner violence
- How a lack of professional awareness of the patterns and strategies of reproductive coercion is a danger to survivors and their safety and well-being
- How reproductive coercion is much like the wartime strategy of rape to enforce compliance, frighten, and control
- The need for men to be part of the discussion around consent, family planning, reproductive health, and the need for further engagement and accountability for perpetrators
With some governments moving to remove reproductive rights, bodily self-determination, and access to abortion and birth control, it is vital to have a discussion of what reproductive coercion is, how it most often manifests as behaviors, and what the impact is for survivors. Diving down into how reproductive coercion is supported by our societal attitudes, laws, and institutional practices is key to addressing the systemic nature of reproductive coercion.
The podcast also includes positive statements on the dignity and autonomy of women and addresses the prevalence of attitudes that support and normalize reproductive coercion.
Now available! Mapping the Perpetrator’s Pattern: A Practitioner’s Tool for Improving Assessment, Intervention, and Outcomes The web-based Perpetrator Pattern Mapping Tool is a virtual practice tool for improving assessment, intervention, and outcomes through a perpetrator pattern-based approach. The tool allows practitioners to apply the Model’s critical concepts and principles to their current case load in real
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