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…

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…

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…

Feat. Jessie Podolak, PT, DPT

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…

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…

Featuring Academy Director Chuck Anger

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 –  an author, speaker, and survivor of sexual abuse perpetrated at the ages of 12 and 13 by her…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

If you’re someone who spends time with kids, you know it comes with its own set of challenges – which may leave you feeling frustrated, ill-equipped, and searching for answers.  Our guest Dana Parisi is a parent coach whose goal is to bring hope…

Could hormone cycle awareness be a tool that helps with trafficking prevention and even promote healing for survivors? To share her thoughts, we invited Abby Maxon, an artist and somatic instructor whose passions lie in creating healthy conversations…

We’re celebrating our 100th episode with special guest Landon Dickeson, a clinical mental health counselor who explains the “magical” exchange that takes place when animals are invited into the healing journey of a sex trafficking survivor. This is a…

When we think of the atrocities of human trafficking – we often ask the question “Where is God in all this?” The documentary seeks to both educate and inspire the faith community to respond to this question by joining the fight against…

When it comes to brushing off haters, international pop singer Madilyn has become somewhat of an expert. In 2021, she famously performed an original song crafted from mean comments on Madilyn shares encouragement for listeners based on overcoming her…

A silent partner is any relative or close family friend who takes the abuser’s side against the victim rather than confronting the abuser or attempting to rescue the victim from the abuser.  (Psychology Today). 1 in 10 children are abused…

In honor of #humantraffickingawarenessmonth we thought it would be fitting to look back on the first ever domestic trafficking case in the US which was first brought to trial back in 2006. We invited our special guest, former Police Captain…

Have you ever noticed the toxicity of social media? So often, it is a tool to feed insecurity and constant comparison with others which may ultimately lead to exploitation of vulnerabilities. So, what if social media became a tool, used to help…

Stories of sexual assaults of college campuses is unfortunately more and more the norm these days – some suggest that every 21 hours, someone is raped on a college campus in the US, and 19 in 20 of these cases go unreported.  What about campus…

Our guest Christopher Ruff has served been Director of the Office for Ministries and Social Concerns for the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse since 2001 and he shares about his belief that at the core of all social justice work – one thing is clear – it…

It is estimated that 19.5 million men and women have served in the U.S. military – the horrific truth is that many come home bearing not only the wounds of combat, but the emotional, physical and psychological effects of sexual assault they’ve…

For today’s episode, we want to share with you some of highlights of the work we’ve done and paint a vision of where we’re going in the year ahead. Fierce Freedom’s ultimate goal is to end the cycle of human trafficking and exploitation through…

Sisters Heather Wittig and Jenni Patnode share with us about the birth of their nonprofit , which has provided love, care, and support of young women through the distribution of sustainable menstrual pads since 2017. Most girls and women in Honduras…