The Fierce Freedom Podcast

How can our shopping support survivors of sex trafficking and strengthen at risk communities? On today's episode, we are joined by our friend Grace Schmoldt, Way Maker and Co-Founder of Blooming Grace Boutiques. Grace invites listeners to make a global impact through your consumer choices this holiday season, and shares about some of the beautiful and unique products she has available for purchase...

How do we dismantle an enterprise that generates $5.7 billion every year? Our guest Tomas Perez shares how his organization Epik Project is addressing sex trafficking by going to the root of it, by engaging with buyers who are driving demand. Tomas shares why he believes these men are purchasing sex and how Epik Project's approach uses a non-traditional accountability model to reach these individu...

Trigger Warning: This episode deals with a case of s*x trafficking, r*pe, and s*xual assault, listener discretion is advised. On today's podcast episode, we're talking about the recent arrests of the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Mike Jeffries, and other associates including a local Wisconsin man James Jacobsen- who have been charged with operating an international sex trafficking and prostitu...

Trigger Warning: This episode deals with the topic of sextortion and includes an account of suicide, listener discretion is advised. Jordan Demay was a handsome, popular and athletic 17 year old, months shy of his 18th birthday. One night, he became a victim of sextortion and because of this, decided to end his own life. Sadly, Jordan is not the only one. The FBI has said that over 20 minors have...

How can those seeking to support survivors of trauma do so in a way that honors that individual, helps reduce stigma around addiction, and avoids burnout? We are joined by Julie Bates-Maves, PhD, LPC Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling The University of Wisconsin-Stout who shares lessons from the field and recommendations for professionals in clinical and direct support settings as well a...

How prevalent are cults? And how is cult abuse similar to the coercion found in human trafficking cases? To learn more, we invited Dr. Lalich, the Founder and CEO of  The Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion, which provides a collaborative approach and safe spaces for survivors through courses, workshops, and discussion groups. She shares about her own experience breaking free of a cult, and how sh...

Did you know that one in 5 women and 1 in 16 men experience sexual assault during their time on college campuses?  On today's episode your hosts Cat and Mark discuss why assault is so incredibly prevalent on college campuses and why many often go unreported. They'll also chat about some practical ways to incorporate talking about consent and body autonomy with your kids from a young age, how you c...

Today's guest Audrey Walters Moore is CEO of Lift Up the Vulnerable (LUV) whose mission is empowering the most vulnerable to become change agents in their own communities towards the prevention of trafficking and other forms of oppression. Audrey gives a little history of the communities in South Sudan and Sudan where LUV works to address the root causes of exploitation in regions which have often...

Today's guest Dana Brown is dedicated to building a safer communities by discouraging crime, restoring victim well-being, and emphasizing direct offender accountability through his work as Director of Eau Claire Treehouse and as the former Director of Restorative Justice. He shares about how this work takes place through ongoing relationships with youth and cites the importance of support for prof...

Today, typical teens spend hours on social media and gaming apps, looking for fun and connection but sometimes stumbling upon s**ual groomers and predators, looking to entice and entrap youth through their devices. Today's podcast guest David Everitt is working to create a world where kids are safer online and adults have tools in place to foster healthy and relevant conversations with youth about...

Today's guest Angel Slawinski is working to connect survivors of sex trafficking with wholistic healing for their mind, body, and spirit, through the Angel Wings Healing Foundation, a ministry that supports survivors in their post-treatment healing journey by offering them to participate in a 3 month transition program which includes a 4-day exclusive healing retreat. Angel shares about some of th...

Today, there are 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S., these youth are at significant risk to be trafficked or exploited because of factors related to their involvement with this system. Today's guests Jamey and Sarah McIntosh are advocates with  The Forgotten Initiative, which is h elping support the foster care community through awareness, encouragement, and advocacy. They share about the...

For over a decade, the team at NCOSE (National Center on Sexual Exploitation) has been holding 12 mainstream entities like Apple, Spotify, Discord, and Roblox accountable for facilitating, enabling, and even profiting from sexual abuse and exploitation through their annual campaign, The Dirty Dozen List. To share about this year's list, we had the privilege of speaking with Tim Nester, Senior Dire...

We haven't seen significant legislation to protect kids online for the last quarter of a century, this bill could change that.  On today's podcast we're talking about Senate Bill 1409, "Kids Online Safety Act" (KOSA) which, if passed, would be among the most significant kids' online safety statutes since the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 2000. Upon its passage, this bill would allow...

Bestselling author Lori Scott is passionate about youth, sports and spreading awareness of human trafficking. This intersection of passions led to her newest literary work for young adults called "Offsides," which tackles the difficult topic of human trafficking and opens the door for important conversations all while using age-appropriate sensitivity and ending on hope from a faith perspective. ...

Local nonprofit Rewired & Real Foundation has already reached 30,000 individuals and they're just getting started. Their message? To help rewire the way we look at mental health, and to embrace the collective power of kindness towards oneself and the world around us. Married couple Stacy and Kjersten Franzwa were inspired by their own experiences to start a movement designed to promote mental heal...

If there's anything today's guest understands, it is the power of overcoming adversity, and using your own life lessons to help lift up others who are navigating similar challenges. Dekelen "DJ" Griffin is the the Founder of MBM (Motivation Begins with Mindset Corps), a new nonprofit in the Chippewa Valley that is dedicated to help motivate others to go beyond their own life's challenges through t...

In a culture that shows a majority of violent acts perpetrated by men, how can we help to empower men and boys towards healthy behavior that honors and restores relationships? We invited Shawn Schutt, Community Engagement and Prevention Manager Underground Railroad Inc. & Co-Chair for the Mid-Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, to share about how he believes sports are a great way to help coach...

Did you know it is estimated that 27.6 million people are trapped today in forced labor? (Walk Free's Global Slavery Index) The level at which exploitation touches everyday products we all consume is astounding, which is why our guest Samuel Logan, CEO and founder of Evidencity, is working to give businesses full control over their information supply chain, by conducting investigative due diligenc...

Trigger Warning: This episode depicts a real story of trafficking which includes some details of child sex trafficking and abuse. Today we hear from a brave survivor recounting her experience of trafficking as a young woman in California. Sarah shares about how some of her vulnerabilities enabled sexual abuse and ultimately sex trafficking during her teen years.  She frames for listeners what her...

Women who come to Sarah's Oasis in St. Paul, MN are often fleeing various traumas abroad, including war, trafficking, torture, violence, and discrimination. To hear more about the org's history and impact, we invited the director Cheryl Behrent, whose goal is to "always to make a difference in the lives of women. It is my greatest joy to accompany women lacking resources and support on their life...

Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of making shattered dishes whole. It was also the theme for this past year's trafficking survivor retreat held by the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, WI.  Program and Retreat Coordinator for the center, Julie Connelly, shares more about the retreat, as well as a bit of her own journey to spiritual direction and how this practice can benefit survivo...

Sound of Freedom has grossed $172.84 million domestically, shocking mainstream media with its popularity. The film, depicting the life of Operation Underground Railroad's Tim Ballard and has surpassed blockbuster hits like Indiana Jones and Disney's Elemental. Podcast hosts Cat Morgan and Mark Halvorsen dive into a conversation about this recent box office success, delving into some of the controv...

Toni Mattson is the Founder of Trinity Equestrian Center as well as a speaker, writer, and podcaster. For part II of our conversation with her we hear more about  how she was influenced by her upbringing towards helping others know the 4 P's of passion, power, peace, and purpose and to help weave this calling into everyday life.   Toni also shares about upcoming projects including an upcoming book...

Today's guest has a passion to unite horses with people and watch incredible healing take place. Toni Mattson is the Founder of Trinity Equestrian Center, whose mission is to help change lives through relationships, faith, and horses. She talks about how Trinity Equestrian Center has offered survivors of complex trauma the opportunity to learn how to maintain healthy boundaries and the magic that...