A pod is a small group of community members who come together to support one person. As Transform Harm says, “building our pods is not only useful for ourselves and the people in our immediate circles, but has the potential to help build a network of pods that could support anyone experiencing violence.”
Here is a short interview with J., a survivor who assembled a pod to support her in her process of trying to decide what to do when her abuser was still in the community. 2
What did you like about pods?
i never could have imagined a group of people all choosing to support one person in that way. it really is quite amazing.
i also like a team effort. it takes some pressure off the individual.
Why did you choose to form one?
honestly the stars kinda fell into place and i didnt know i was forming a pod while i was forming a pod, it just kinda happened. there was a random assortment of people who all knew me and knew a person who assaulted me and they all wanted to figure out how to support me so i just organized a time for us all to come together.
How did the experience benefit you?
It is a radical act to value yourself to put yourself first in community in this culture that asks us to be small.
What do you want survivors to know about pods?
pods can exist with boundaries. your involvement and your friends involvement does not have to be unconditional.
and
think of the magic question. What is my preferred outcome? If i wake up one morning and I am content/happy/this one thing is no longer completely consuming me/etc, what does my life look like? how could a group of people support me in realizing that?
What would you say to survivors who are considering pods as an option?
it is vulnerable to ask of people to do xyz or to open up to them. it’s not a light decision, and whatever you decide is valid
What is something you wish you knew about pods when you began?
hmm. maybe just the awareness that our micro work, what we are doing and how we are organizing with each other and what we choose to do is impacted by larger societal norms and values, as much as our actions may be also counter to them and seeking to change them. i just wish i had had more of that awareness at the time i was organizing my pod.