The Dr. Lois Lee Show

Doc came to Children of the Night at 16 years old. A gay teen and survivor of sexual abuse in the 1990s, he had already endured violence, rejection, and instability while trying to survive on the streets of Los Angeles. Before finding Children of the Night, Doc lived in state-funded shelters where he faced anti-gay violence from other youth. He describes how any misstep—substance use, conflict, or...

In this episode, Dayjah reflects candidly on how early childhood abuse shaped her adult relationships—and how long it took to recognize the pattern. When Dr. Lois Lee tells Dayjah, “your picker is broken,” the moment opens a deeper conversation about why people who experience early harm are often drawn to unhealthy relationships again and again. Dayjah shares that both of her children’s fathers we...

Dayjah’s journey is a powerful example of what long-term commitment makes possible. After earning her GED through Children of the Night, Dayjah went on to college to complete an AI ethics certificate. Today, she works full-time for the county and is a devoted mother of two—focused on building a stable, opportunity-filled future for her children and breaking generational cycles. In this episode, Da...

Caitlin entered foster care at age 13 and quickly learned how dehumanizing the system can be for vulnerable youth. Instead of protection, she encountered punishment—interactions with first responders, medical professionals, and law enforcement that treated her as a problem to be managed rather than a child in crisis. Her experience is not unique. In this episode, Caitlin shares how early system in...

Sireena’s story illustrates a reality Children of the Night has seen for decades: many youth return to the streets after rescue because there is rarely long-term support, and returning home or into foster care often does not create the safety or stability needed for recovery. Her desperate mother searched everywhere for help before finding Children of the Night. With no witness protection system a...

Stephanie’s path into danger began long before she ever met an exploiter. At just 11 years old, she ran from an unsafe home, searching for distance and safety the only way she knew how. During those days away, adults took advantage of her vulnerability. But what happened next reveals a system that still fails too many children. When law enforcement found her, Stephanie was not treated as a child i...

Part 2 of 2. In this episode pulls back the curtain on how an Oceanside-based gang recruited and controlled teenage girls — and how federal agents finally intervened.   Nora was a teenager when she fell for a man who seemed protective, attentive, and devoted. That relationship quickly shifted once she became entangled with his gang. Threats escalated. The gang showed her photos of her younger sibl...

This episode pulls back the curtain on how an Oceanside-based gang recruited and controlled teenage girls — and how federal agents finally intervened.   Nora was a teenager when she fell for a man who seemed protective, attentive, and devoted. That relationship quickly shifted once she became entangled with his gang. Threats escalated. The gang showed her photos of her younger siblings and warned...

When Victoria arrived at the Children of the Night home at just 13 years old, she stood out — not for what she’d been through, but for how brilliant she was. She quickly became the highest-testing student the program had ever seen, even as she navigated the trauma of her past. In this episode, Victoria reflects on her time living at the Children of the Night home, where she celebrated holidays for...

A teenage night out turns into a nightmare when 15-year-old Nancy is trafficked hundreds of miles from home. Her story reveals how easily teenage rebellion and family conflict can be exploited — and how our justice system still fails to see children as victims. Nancy was just a teenager — curious, restless, and searching for independence — when a party with older guys changed her life forever. Ins...

This is Part 2 of Erika’s inspiring two-part story. After surviving years of exploitation, Erika reflects on her time at the Children of the Night shelter home (1992–2017) — and how the love, structure, and care she received there changed the course of her life. Dr. Lois Lee explains what makes the Children of the Night program different from others: it doesn’t just remove youth from danger — it r...

This is Part 1 of Erika’s powerful two-part story. At just 14 years old, Erika was one of nearly 100 girls pulled from the system and called by the FBI to help locate two men who had exploited them. Terrified and unsure who to trust, she nearly lied to protect herself — but with her mother watching, she found the courage to tell the truth. In this first part, Erika shares how she was brought into...

Dr. Lois Lee speaks with Juli, a Children of the Night alumna whose story spans child trafficking, addiction, motherhood, and redemption — a powerful portrait of survival and purpose. At just twelve years old, Juli fled abuse and hitchhiked down California’s I-5 — a desperate act that led her to the doors of Children of the Night. Over the years, she returned again and again: as a teenager seeking...

Dr. Lois Lee speaks with Michele about the court giving Lois custody of Michele and how that changed their lives.   Follow & Support: 🌐 Website: childrenofthenight.org 📲 Facebook & Instagram: @childrenofthenightinc 🕊️ X/Twitter: @COTNight 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast to help us reach more listeners and protect vulnerable children.