266. On Sexual Harassment with Jesse Mahler and Valencia Peterson

·42 min·4 clips

Luke Turpin talks with experts about sexual harassment and the Coaching Boys Into Men program for high school coaches.

The episode begins with Luke Turpin introducing the topic of sexual harassment and the guests: Jesse Mahler from Futures Without Violence and Valencia Peterson, known as Coach V, from Open Door Abuse Awareness Prevention. Jesse explains the origins and structure of the Coaching Boys Into Men program, an evidence-based initiative using 12 cards for weekly 15-minute discussions with male athletes. Coach V shares her experience as a high school football coach implementing the program, emphasizing the need to adapt language to resonate with players. They delve into defining respect, with Jesse highlighting it as a feeling of being seen and Coach V linking it to treating others as you would treat your mother. Statistics on intimate partner violence and teen abuse are discussed, underscoring the prevalence and need for prevention. Coach V recounts a story where a player taught his dad about respect after the program, illustrating its ripple effect. The conversation addresses the privilege and influence of high school athletes, with both guests stressing the role of coaches in modeling behavior. Jesse notes that only a third of teens in abusive relationships disclose it, highlighting the importance of creating safe spaces. Coach V talks about the long-term commitment of her organization, ODAP, working with teams for years to ensure consistency. She mentions a college student who wrote an 83-page dissertation on the program's impact. The episode concludes with resources for coaches to access the program and contact information for the guests.

As heard by us

A coaching conversation about sexual harassment lands best when respect moves from practice into home life.

Sexual harassment is framed here as a matter of coaching culture, with Luke Turpin joined by Valencia Peterson, an assistant football coach at Pennwood High School in Pennsylvania and founder of Open Door Abuse Awareness Prevention, and Jesse Mahler, a program specialist at…

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You want to hear how Coach V's lesson on respect traveled from a player back to his dad.

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