The Dr. Lois Lee Show

Dr. Lois Lee sits down with Roxie, whom she first met when Roxie was 14 years old and arriving at Children of the Night. Roxie — now a Miss LA Pride contestant and an advocate with TGI Justice — shares her story: fleeing an abusive home as a young trans girl, finding safety at Children of the Night, and later surviving a violent restraint-heavy group home system that had no idea how to care for a...

In Part 2 of David's story, he reflects on the experiences that shaped his life as a young teenager and the lasting impact they had on his sense of identity, trust, and belonging. Dr. Lois Lee and David discuss a philosophy that has guided Children of the Night for decades: vulnerable young people should not be expected to meet standards that have never been modeled for them. Instead, the responsi...

At 17 years old, David was alone. After enduring childhood sexual abuse and a difficult upbringing, he found himself dropped off on the streets of Southern California. Eventually, he made his way to the Garden Grove Gay and Lesbian Center, where he was connected with Children of the Night and Dr. Lois Lee. In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, David reflects on surviving exploitation, finding...

In Part 2 of Javier's story, he reflects on the extraordinary reality of surviving not one, but two of Los Angeles County's most infamous child abuse scandals. As a child, Javier was among the students impacted by the Mark Berndt case, a nationally known abuse scandal that shocked parents and educators across the country. After speaking up about what happened, he entered the foster care system, wh...

Javier was one of the children impacted by the Mark Berndt abuse scandal, one of the most notorious school abuse cases in Los Angeles history. As a third-grade student, he tried to escape what was happening by running away from school. When he spoke up, he says no one believed him. What followed was a childhood spent moving through systems that were supposed to protect him. After entering foster c...

In Part 2 of Lynne’s story, retired Homeland Security professional and former Children of the Night outreach worker Lynne shares one of the most heartbreaking cases she encountered while working the streets of Hollywood alongside Dr. Lois Lee. Drawing from her years of outreach experience, Lynne reflects on the realities of meeting vulnerable young people where they were, building trust, and witne...

In Episode 33, we begin part one of Lynne’s story. Lynne entered prostitution in her early 20s . She was married, raising a child, and living in Minnesota when a man she met on a night out promised to care for them both. But his promises led her to the streets of New York City. After his run-in with the law, Lynne found herself in Los Angeles—still trapped. When a new threat emerged, an attacker c...

In Episode 32, Sarah shares how she was introduced to exploitation at 15, her years of addiction and instability, and the turning point that came when she sought help from Children of the Night. With ongoing support, she earned her GED, completed two degrees, and is now preparing for a career helping others recover and rebuild their lives. ⸻ Listen Now: 🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, YouTube,...

Connie’s story is one of survival, support, and the possibility of rebuilding. As a young person, she experienced early harm that made her more vulnerable to exploitation by someone she trusted. When she was eventually found by law enforcement, she was placed in juvenile hall, a reality many exploited youth still face. Through it all, her father never gave up on her. Connie was later connected to...

Part 2: In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Alex R reflects on her journey out of exploitation and what it takes to rebuild a life after years of survival on the streets and online. Alex marks February 14 as her “celebration date”—two years since leaving the life. After 16 years of exploitation, she reached a breaking point. Her body could no longer endure what she had been through, and she...

Part 1: In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Alex R reflects on her journey out of exploitation and what it takes to rebuild a life after years of survival on the streets and online. Alex marks February 14 as her “celebration date”—two years since leaving the life. After 16 years of exploitation, she reached a breaking point. Her body could no longer endure what she had been through, and she...

Locked inside an apartment. No phone. No food. No way out—until she found one. Janel left home as a teen, searching for safety and a way to survive. What she found instead was control and exploitation. At one point, she was kept inside an apartment, cut off from the outside world, with basic needs used against her. She found a way out. When Janel called Children of the Night, everything began to s...

In Episode 27 of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Jayla shares a story of betrayal, survival, and the long path toward rebuilding safety. At 13, Jayla reached out to an estranged half-brother in the Bronx, hoping for connection. Instead, she was harmed by someone she trusted and exploited over a period of weeks. After escaping, Jayla told her best friend, who then informed her grandmother. From there, she w...

Part 2: In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Alex shares her journey through exploitation, survival, and recovery — and the reality that healing is not a straight path. Alex began being exploited at just 13 years old after running away and surviving on the streets in Miami. After being located by the FBI through an anonymous tip, she was connected to Children of the Night and flown to Los Ang...

In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Alex shares her journey through exploitation, survival, and recovery — and the reality that healing is not a straight path. Alex began being exploited at just 13 years old after running away and surviving on the streets in Miami. After being located by the FBI through an anonymous tip, she was connected to Children of the Night and flown to Los Angeles. Wh...

In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Silvia reflects on her journey from exploitation as a minor to becoming a mother determined to create a different future for her children. Silvia was arrested as a minor in the Dallas area in 2008. At the time, authorities knew who to call — Children of the Night in Los Angeles. She was flown to the organization’s 24-bed shelter home, where she experienced...

In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Ashley shares a lived experience that reflects a common but often misunderstood entry point into prostitution: recruitment through trusted relationships. Exploitation rarely begins with a dramatic abduction. More often, it begins with instability, unmet needs, and someone familiar offering connection or escape. At 16, Ashley was navigating multiple foster...

In Episode 22 of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, Giselle shares her story of perseverance, health challenges, and the kind of long-term support that changes lives. Giselle participated in last year’s Children of the Night graduation — a milestone that marked not just academic progress, but years of resilience. Today, she is facing renal failure and is waiting for a kidney donor. During dialysis treatments,...

In this episode of The Dr. Lois Lee Show, McKinzie shares how resilience, support, and intentional parenting helped her break a generational cycle of trauma and exploitation. As a child, McKinzie grew up in a chaotic home where boundaries were blurred and safety was uncertain. She describes how isolation, mental health struggles, and instability shaped her early years. Eventually, running from an...

In Part 2 of Katie’s story, The Dr. Lois Lee Show explores how generational trauma develops — and what it takes to interrupt it.   Katie shares her lived experience of exploitation and survival, offering a clear look at how cycles of harm are passed down when children grow up without protection, education, or consistent support. Her story underscores a critical truth: exploitation does not happen...

Katie’s story shows how trauma can repeat across generations when systems fail to protect children early — and how long-term support can change that outcome. As a child, Katie experienced serious harm that went unaddressed. Years later, when her own child was hurt, she refused to let silence and fear take over. With advocacy and support from Children of the Night, Katie was able to protect her chi...

In Memory of Deborah Hardman A hero of the streets—and the daughter who survived the cost. Morgan Hardman speaks candidly with Dr. Lois Lee about a childhood shaped by chaos, trauma, and survival. Raised in and out of alternative homes, Morgan confronts the painful realities of abuse, blurred boundaries, and learning far too early the difference between “good” and “bad” touch. She shares her journ...

Dr. Lois Lee talks with Teri Weigel about LAPD missing the first opportunity to catch the Hillside Stranglers. Teri, who lived next door to Kenneth Bianchi (one of the stranglers) shares her mom’s story of witnessing Kenneth Bianchi and his cousin Angleo Buono carry Kimberly Martin’s body, while she’s still alive, through the underground parking. ⸻ Listen Now: 🎧 New episodes weekly on Spotify, Yo...

Dr. Lois Lee speaks with Morgan Hardman about the life and legacy of her mother, Deborah Hardman—an unsung hero who played a critical role in helping investigators during the Hillside Strangler murders. Working courageously on the streets, Deborah helped protect young women involved in prostitution and became a trusted source for KNBC News during one of Los Angeles’ most terrifying crime sprees. I...

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