What happens when we stop viewing survivors as broken and start celebrating their resilience, creativity, and power?
In part two, Lisa continues her conversation with Sonya Passi, founder of FreeFrom and the subject of the powerful documentary SURVIVOR MADE. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 2 trans people in the U.S. will experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), and the #1 obstacle to a survivor’s safety is financial insecurity. SURVIVOR MADE follows a group of survivors as they defy the odds - building their own thriving businesses in Los Angeles, lobbying for change in Washington DC, and fighting to prove that investing in survivors saves lives.
This episode delves into the documentary’s mission to redefine how society views survivors—not as victims bound by their trauma but as creators, innovators, and leaders who are rebuilding their lives with strength and purpose.
Lisa and Sonya explore how SURVIVOR MADE challenges media stereotypes by focusing on healing, joy, and community rather than trauma. They discuss the powerful message that financial independence and community support are the cornerstones of lasting freedom for survivors. By shifting the narrative, SURVIVOR MADE inspires hope and empowers viewers to see survivors in a new light—as agents of change and contributors to a brighter future for us all.
From now on… I will not question my potential.
Visit survivormadedoc.com to rent and stream SURVIVOR MADE now, and to learn more about FreeFrom, Gifted, and how you can support survivors this holiday season and beyond.
Sonya Passi is the Founder & CEO of FreeFrom, a national organization transforming our society’s response to gender-based violence so that survivors and their families can thrive. To date, FreeFrom has served over 30,000 survivors and successfully changed policy to support the financial security of over 5.3 million survivors in the US. Sonya has been an anti-violence activist since she was 16 years old.
For her work in the field, Sonya was awarded the 2024 Elevate Prize and was listed in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Class of 2017 For Law and Policy. She has presented on her work to the UN, White House, members of Congress and federal agencies, several major corporations and various city and state agencies and commissions.
From Now On is produced by LA PHILLIPS MEDIA. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
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If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below:
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673)
If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree).
PAVE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors.
Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) is dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.
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