Joelle Casteix is an award-winning author, journalist, podcaster, and internationally recognized speaker, and one of the leading global advocates for survivors of child sexual abuse and institutional cover-up. A survivor of abuse in the Catholic Church, her own pursuit of justice catalyzed a decades-long career dedicated to protecting children, amplifying survivor voices, and holding powerful institutions accountable.

Joelle is a trusted media voice and a go-to expert for legislators, journalists, and policymakers. Her work focuses on how institutions—including religious organizations, public schools, and other youth-serving systems—enable and conceal abuse; the critical role parents and communities play in prevention; and how accountability, emerging technology, and survivor-centered laws can disrupt cycles of harm. She has testified in support of victim-friendly legislation in numerous states and was the sole survivor selected to testify on behalf of California’s landmark AB 218, which opened a three-year civil window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

She is a founding board member and current board chair of the Zero Abuse Project, where she helped shape national prevention strategy. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the National Center to Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct, and Exploitation (NCSESAME), supporting national efforts to prevent educator sexual misconduct, advance accountability, and provide resources for survivors, families, and professionals.

Joelle is the host of the Crossing the Line podcast, where she interviews journalists, lawmakers, survivors, and experts working at the intersection of abuse prevention, accountability, and justice. Through her media work—including national print, broadcast, and podcast appearances—she helps translate complex institutional failures into clear, actionable insight for the public.

Through her work with Zero Abuse and NCSESAME, Joelle has emerged as a leading voice on digital accountability and ethical AI in child protection. She has presented to United Nations member agencies and international audiences across Europe, including at The Hague, on issues of institutional accountability, emerging technology, and survivor-centered justice.

She is the author of the bestselling The Well-Armored Child: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Child Sexual Abuse and The Power of Responsibility, based on her widely viewed TEDx talk, which is used by clinicians to support survivors in therapeutic settings. She has authored numerous white papers on institutional abuse, prevention, and accountability, and is a former adjunct faculty member at the University of California, Irvine School of Law.

Her additional books include The Compassionate Response: How to Help and Empower the Adult Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse and Scram!: A Parent’s Quick-Start Guide to Preventing, Identifying, and Ending Bullying.