208: Dr. Anne Aspler: The Survivor, the Physician, and the Silence Between Them

My guest today is Dr. Anne Aspler, an emergency physician, professor, researcher, humanitarian, survivor, advocate, and author whose voice has become increasingly influential both within medicine and across social media. Anne brings an unusual and important perspective to conversations about sexual violence: she has treated trauma professionally while also carrying the lived experience of sexual and family violence herself. The timing of this episode could not be more appropriate. Today, October 6, 2026, marks the release of Anne's new memoir, Rise After Silence: An ER Doctor and the Patients Who Healed Her. The book brings together stories from Anne's years in emergency medicine with her own journey through trauma, motherhood, medicine, identity, and healing, while confronting the profound consequences of violence that takes place behind closed doors. Our conversation moves between medicine, criminal justice, trauma, memory, and survivor advocacy. We talk about trauma informed interviewing, why survivors may never enter the justice system, and the gaps that remain between healthcare, law enforcement, the courts, and survivor care. We also explore something Anne's life demonstrates powerfully: lived experience and professional expertise do not have to exist separately. Brought together, they can become an extraordinary force for understanding, advocacy, and change. Anne's official sites are Rise After Silence and Anne's website. An important side note: if you're finding value in this show and these amazing episodes, please take a moment to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform. AND, follow SexualAssaultSurvivorStories on Instagram, then, please send me a note of support. I can't tell you how much your emails mean to me—they fuel my passion to keep this podcast going. And if you're a victim or survivor of rape or sexual assault and are ready to tell your story to help yourself or someone else heal, let me know, and we can start a conversation about the possibility of you being on the show. Here's my email address: dave@sasstories.com Thank you to all of you who have reached out to me already. Please be sure to provide me with a phone number where I can reach back out to you, and let me know what time zone you are in…because I like to talk to people who are interested in guesting. And please keep those emails and texts coming…I truly look forward to hearing from you! Here are some other critically important links that I hope you'll take the time to explore, and where a contribution is requested, please consider doing so! — Thank you!! https://1in6.org/ https://soulwisesolutions.com https://safeinharmsway.org https://sironahealing.com/ https://www.whattheydontsay.com www.arcigrey.com https://startbybelieving.org https://evawintl.org/ As mentioned, and emphasized, it's time to Normalize the Conversation.™ And please remember to Start by Believing…because we all know someone whose life has been impacted by rape or sexual assault. Thank you for tuning in. -Dave