Welcome to a new season of the award-winning Hill Country Authors Podcast, sponsored by Stoney Creek Publishing. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with authors who live in and write about the Texas Hill Country. Host Tom Fox welcomes Texas lawyer and author JoDee Neil to talk about her practice representing survivors, including in employment conflicts and cases involving children, and her book Outcry Witness.
JoDee explains that the legal meaning of “Outcry Witness” is the first adult a child tells about abuse. She distinguishes it from workplace bystanders who may be called to testify and describes writing the book after documenting her own sexual assault experiences, where she was supported by Stoney Creek Publishing, and connects the survivor “freeze” to trauma research showing healing often begins when survivors disclose to a safe witness. JoDee cites CDC data from late 2025 on the prevalence of sexual violence and discusses how Me Too, the Epstein files, and other high-profile cases can increase awareness and help survivors identify safe outcry and witnesses. She outlines guidance for parents and notes persistent bias against “disposable children,” trafficking risks, and court-system capacity failures that undermine timely justice.
Key highlights:
- Why She Wrote Outcry Witness
- Survivor Freeze and Silence
- Bystanders and Outcry Witness
- Choosing a Safe Outcry Witness
- Talking to Kids and Parents
- Where to Find Jody and Closing
Resources:
JoDee Neil on Stoney Creek Publishing
Podcast Cover Art
Tom Fox