FIERCE FREEDOM PODCAST
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151: Light Despite the Darkness: Counteracting Adverse Childhood Experiences
Studies show that about 61% of adults surveyed across 25 states reported that they had experienced at least one type of adverse childhood experience (ACE). All of us carry invisible traumas from childhood that greatly affect our life trajectory and…
150: Why Adolescents Are Targeted for Sextortion
Featuring: Dr. Justin Patchin, Co-Founder of the Cyberbullying Research Institute
149: Audrey’s Story Part II
On part II of today’s episode, you’ll hear a real story of sex trafficking. This courageous woman Audrey* will share her story about moving beyond a life of sex trafficking and exploitation. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with topics…
148: Audrey’s Story Part I
On part I of today’s episode, you’ll hear a real story of sex trafficking. This courageous woman Audrey* shares about how her upbringing and vulnerabilities created a perfect storm that led to the subsequent abuse and exploitation she experienced….
148: Exposing the Porn Industry (Part II)
Featuring Laila Mickelwait, Founder & CEO of The Justice Defense Fund, Founder of #Traffickinghub Movement
147: Exposing the Porn Industry (Part I)
Featuring Laila Mickelwait, Founder & CEO of the Justice Defense Fund, Founder of #Traffickinghub Movement
146: Not Settling for Less When it Comes to Sex
Featuring Author & Podcast Host Evening Snow
145: Outgrowing Porn
Featuring Author & Sexual Therapist: Andrew J. Bauman
144: Faithful in the Fight
Featuring Terry Hildebrandt of The Salvation Army
143: Binging Netflix Responsibly
Featuring Naomi Wright, Executive Director of beEmboldened Ministries
142: Perspectives on Healing & Finding Your Place in the Fight (Part II)
Featuring: Anti-Human Trafficking Consultant Rosie Cataldo
141: Perspectives on Healing & Finding Your Place in the Fight (Part I)
Featuring: Anti Trafficking Consultant Rosie Cataldo
140: Prayers of Lament
Feat. Diane Bryant, Spiritual Director for Fierce Freedom
139: Fierce Freedom Year-End Giving Update
In honor of Giving Tuesday, Board President of Fierce Freedom Aaron Libner, and Donor Engagement Specialist Joyce Orth update supporters about our year-end giving campaign and how you can contribute uniquely this year to help support us and our…
138: Living Beyond the Blue Curtains of Abuse in the Amish Community
Today’s podcast guest Lizzie Hershberger explains what it was like growing up in an uber conservative Amish community and shares about her new memoir which details the sexual abuse she experienced as well as her pursuit of justice that came many…
137: Why You Should Support this Bill that Protects Children from Sexual Abuse
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses cases of child sexual abuse and may not be suitable for all audiences. In the state of Wisconsin, there are harsher penalties for drunk driving than there are to sexually abuse a child. That is why today’s…
126: Peeling Back Layers of Trauma to Find Healing
Feat. Jessie Podolak, PT, DPT
135: Sexual Abuse in Plain Communities – Featuring Hope Anne Dueck
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with issues of child sexual abuse, rape, and incest. Today’s podcast guest works to highlight countless stories of abuse in Plain dressing groups such as Amish, Mennonite, and other Anabaptist communities. Hope Anne…
134: Treating Kids in Foster Care Like Royalty, Feat. Theresa Johnston
There are 450,000 youth in the U.S. foster care system today. Many don’t hear about the worth and value they have, which is why Royal Family Kids Camp exists and has been offering free week-long summer camps for children of abuse or neglect who have…
The Eau Claire Academy is Closing – Now What?
Featuring Academy Director Chuck Anger
132: Can Superheroes Help Create Healthier Communities?
Who do we love superheroes so much? Could it be because we admire the way they strive to make better communities for others? Fierce Freedom Program Content Specialist Chris Page chatted with Matt and Cat about our new program for elementary students…
131: Identifying Sexually Abused Children Through Their Art
A picture is worth a thousand words, especially when that picture is drawn by a sexually abused child who doesn’t have the words to tell you. Trigger Warning: For those who have experienced sexual abuse or have a loved one who has been a victim, this…
130: Tapping Into Transformation, Feat. LeBrent Speed
Today’s podcast guest LeBrent Speed is a prime example of the power of transformation. In fact, this is what his work with his org is all based on. LeBrent will share his story with listeners and why believes that true and lasting transformation is…
129: Incorporating Soul Care in the Fight Against Trafficking, Feat. Diane Bryant
Today’s episode is a good one to kick back with a warm cup of coffee or tea as we explore why going deep sustains you in the daily battle against injustice. We hear from Exec. Director of Fierce Freedom, Jenny Almquist and Spiritual Director for…
128: Showing Incarcerated Youth That They Matter
This past Spring, Fierce Freedom staff and volunteers had the opportunity to return to the local juvenile detention hall to continue our outreach program for at-risk youth using materials from our friends at POV Story (shoutout!) Long-time volunteers…
127: The FBI’s Nationwide Campaign: Operation Cross Country XII
Today we’re talking about the recent nationwide sex trafficking campaign: Operation Cross Country XII, a collaborative enforcement campaign of 200 state, local and federal partners which led to the identification and location of both minor and adult…
126: We’re Chatting about Fierce Freedom’s Fall Programming!
Grab your pumpkin spice lattes and cozy up for this podcast episode which is talking about Fierce Freedom’s exciting lineup of events this Fall! Matt and Cat provide details about Fierce Freedom’s upcoming West Central WI Anti-Trafficking Conference…
125: Eau Claire Treehouse is Working to End Hopelessness in Teens
What does hopelessness in teens look like? It can present as bullying, self-harm/cutting, depression, or isolation. Eau Claire wants to combat this cycle of hopelessness by providing a safe space of loving acceptance for teens to thrive and dream for…
1: Amber Gregory Shares About Finding Healing After Being Sexually Abused by Her Dance Teacher
Most of the time, those who perpetrate sexual acts against children are someone the child knows. This was also the case for our guest Amber Gregory –Â an author, speaker, and survivor of sexual abuse perpetrated at the ages of 12 and 13 by her…
123: Dr. Stephany Powell Wants to Help Build Trust Between Direct Service Providers & Law Enforcement
Dr. Stephany Powell is an anomaly. Not only does she have 30 years of experience as a Vice Sergeant of the LAPD, but she has also served as an Executive Director on a nonprofit Journey Out, which provides direct services to help victims of commercial…
122: Dr. Saed D. Hill Shares Why Healthy Masculinity Leads to Collective Liberation
Saed D. Hill is the Assistant Director of Prevention and Masculine Engagement at the Center for Awareness, Response, and Education (CARE) where he collaborates with Northwestern University to develop and implement strategies to improve masculine…
121: Harmony Grillo On Her Banned Ted EX Talk & A Friendship that Changed Her Life
We invited survivor leader, author, and liberator Harmony Grillo, to share with us about her experience in the commercial sex industry, and the life changing friendship that helped to liberate her. Harmony also explains how her faith became a…
Justice Race 2022 Spotlight: Kol Flanders
Today’s podcast guest is proof that you’re never to young to care about justice. For the last four years, 9-year-old Kol Flanders has collected hundreds of dollars for Fierce Freedom’s Justice Race, and this year he wants to raise even more! He and…
119: World Changing Storytelling, Feat. Rebecca Bender
We were so honored to have a conversation with Rebecca Bender about what she wishes people could just “get” about trafficking, what gives her hope in the movement, and a word of encouragement for survivors seeking to exit this life. Rebecca will also…
118: Are You Using Your Consumer Power to Exploit or Empower?
Today we’re talking to Ashley Olson, who is the new CEO of – which is a fashion brand that focuses on timeless designs made to end the cycle of poverty and human trafficking through hope, healing and restoration. Ashley shares about the origins of…
116: Strengths Based Approaches for At-Risk Youth, Feat. Claudine O’Leary
Our guest Claudine O’ Leary educates communities on how to effectively respond to youth and adults with life experience in the sex trades through harm reduction. Drawing from her own experience as a trafficked teen and several years of advocacy work,…
116: Birthday for a Cause!
Wondering how you can help Fierce Freedom with its mission of ending the cycle of human trafficking? It’s simple really, your birthday! Joyce Orth, Donor Engagement Specialist at Fierce Freedom will share with individuals how easy and fun it can be to…
115: Creating Transformative Justice through Abolition, Feat. Rebecca Kotz
Our returning guest Rebecca Kotz points to specific moments of our history (e.g. the de-funding of social welfare systems) which have resulted in a system that relies heavily on the prison industrial complex and prostitution industrial complex…
114: How Does the Equality Model Help Shrink the Sex Trade?
Our returning guest Rebecca Kotz unpacks The Equality model, which aims to partially decriminalize prostitution, “shrinking the sex trade” and a step forward in ending sexual exploitation. Rebecca says this goes beyond a policy change, but also…
113: Support Through a Cultural Lens, Featuring True Vue & Paweena Yang of the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association
For nearly 40 years, the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc has provided support and care for incoming Hmong refugees and immigrants as they seek to navigate the obstacles that accompany resettlement. To share more…
112: The Russia-Ukraine War’s Effect on Human Trafficking
In what is being called by the UN the fastest growing refugee population in Europe since WWII, the war on Ukraine is leaving millions of Ukrainian refugees at a huge risk for exploitation. Hosts Cat and Matt will share some facts regarding the…
111: What You Should Know About the Metaverse, Dr. Justin Patchin
What is reality even? Recent years have seen an increase in time spent within virtual spheres for both business and recreation. One facet of this more fully embodied internet use has been dubbed metaverse, which allows users a more immersive way to…
110: Delete Cyberbullying & Make Kindness Go Viral
In today’s day and age, youth can be tormented round the clock through their devices, and some studies show this form of digital bullying is only on the rise. What is cyberbullying exactly? To share more we invited Justin Patchin, UW-Eau Claire…
109: Finding Glorious Purpose in the Abolition Movement – Featuring David Zach of Remedy Drive
Remedy Drive isn’t just your average rock band, their music is interwoven with real stories of the international sex trade. Band front-man and lyricist David Zach speaks of the band’s origins and how his passion was fanned into flame by the actions of…
WI, It’s Time to Pass Safe Harbor, Feat. Melania Brostowitz
In the state of Wisconsin sexual assault of a minor is considered a felony, and the blame falls on the adult perpetrator… unless of course money changes hands. Adopting a safe harbor law would change all that in our state. We invited Executive…
Lessons Learned from Anti-Trafficking Work, Feat. Cat Morgan
Today Podcast Producer and Community Program Specialist for Fierce Freedom Cat Morgan will be on the other side of the… microphone (actually she just moved one chair to sit in the guest spot). Cat will share what she feels have been important…
106: How Can We Effectively Respond to Incarcerated Youth?
We arrest 5x the amount of juveniles in the US as any other country in the world. Each year we lock away youth for minor offenses which drain millions in taxes while providing no benefit to public safety. For the youth it is dangerous,…
105: Protection from Financial Exploitation, Feat. Tesha Davis, Branch Manager with Associated Bank
Every year, scammers use various means to steal millions every year through elder financial exploitation, and romance scams. We invited Tesha Davis, Fierce Freedom Board Member and Branch Manager for Associated Bank to share more about how she uses…
104: How Can We Honor the Trauma of First Responders? Feat. Chris McKee and Phyllis DiGioia of Honor Wellness Center
In most cases, the public is shielded from the horrors which police, corrections, EMS and Fire safety experience on a daily basis. First responder at Sandy Hook Elementary and Executive Director of Phyllis DiGioia explains her desire to provide first…
103: Getting to the Root of Oppression, Feat. Rebecca Kotz
When attempting to understand what perpetuates such crimes as sexual abuse and exploitation, we may only want to think of the individual players involved. But could we be missing a key component? Our guest Rebecca Kotz asserts that if we want to see…