Episode 161: It's Conference Time!

If you haven't registered for the annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference, register now! If you have already registered, listen to what will take place at the conference. This episode is devoted to providing you with an overview of what is to come on September 21, 22, and 23rd, 2022!

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 159: Religious Cults Involved in Sex Trafficking

A religious cult disguised as a new wave church indoctrinated Frankie and her family when she was very young. Her trafficking related to the church began at age 12 as sexual touching, videos, and inappropriate sexual discussions all leading to the eventual and continued trafficking and rape by the cult leadership. Her advice for those wishing to help survivors? Please be curious and courageous enough to ask questions and offer help. #occupycults

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 158: The Power of Advocacy in Changing Someone's Life

Lora's early life was one of extreme victimization by family, strangers, and systems. She was first trafficked at the age of nine, while her mother watched on. As a young woman she was institutionalized in a mental hospital without just cause. Her saving grace was the formal and informal messengers and advocates that appeared throughout her life to offer hope and love. Her message for us is to understand that when we reach out to help someone, we may be the one person that offers them the love and hope they need at the very moment they need it. Finally, many survivors can and do heal from trauma to lead a life of joy and purpose.

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 157: Addressing India's Sex Trafficking, Child Trafficking, and Organ Trafficking Trade

Each year we host a national annual human trafficking virtual event geared toward high school aged youth. Event speakers provide relevant, youth-centered, great educational information. The day also includes a youth poetry slam and art competition! Registration is free! Once registered, teachers can use a zoom link to bring the event into their classrooms! Have youth in group homes or after school programs that can't watch it live during school hours? No problem, with the link you have access to the event anytime you want.

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 157: Addressing India's Sex Trafficking, Child Trafficking, and Organ Trafficking Trade

Each year we host a national annual human trafficking virtual event geared toward high school aged youth. Event speakers provide relevant, youth-centered, great educational information. The day also includes a youth poetry slam and art competition! Registration is free! Once registered, teachers can use a zoom link to bring the event into their classrooms! Have youth in group homes or after school programs that can't watch it live during school hours? No problem, with the link you have access to the event anytime you want.

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 156: The 9th Annual Human Trafficking High School Summit

Each year we host a national annual human trafficking virtual event geared toward high school aged youth. Event speakers provide relevant, youth-centered, great educational information. The day also includes a youth poetry slam and art competition! Registration is free! Once registered, teachers can use a zoom link to bring the event into their classrooms! Have youth in group homes or after school programs that can't watch it live during school hours? No problem, with the link you have access to the event anytime you want.

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 154: What's Happening with the 19th Annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference this September? Sharing the details!

Learn about what to expect at this year's annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference! We have 115 different sessions to choose from. Get the details on the cost, continuing education units we will be providing, and information for vendors. We will also reveal four amazing well-known people that are coming!

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 152: Prevention through Empowerment

Listen to what Youth Underground does as they work with youth to prevent human trafficking. They put into practice the nine most effective elements of evidence-based prevention practice. I go over the nine elements that you can use to develop your best practice prevention program.

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 148: Male Victims of Sex Trafficking

In this episode we dive deeper into learning more about male victims of sex trafficking with trauma informed researcher Ena Lucia Mariaca Pacheco, who interviewed 40 male survivors of child sexual abuse, including 12 trafficking survivors, 10 of which were trafficked by family members.Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this episode are those of the researcher. They do not reflect the opinions or views of INTERPOL or its members.

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 146: Drug Addicted, Homeless, and Trafficked to a PhD and the Compassion to Help Others

When people treat you as if you don't matter and you believe you don't matter, you lose a sense of self preservation and personal safety. Are you able to build back from that? How do you build back from that? Is talk therapy helpful or are other methods also helpful? Listen to the amazing Dr. Beth tell her story, her journey back to the life she wanted, and how she works to improve the lives of others today.

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 145: The Trauma Learning Journey with Dr. Heather Evans

Dr. Heather Evans wrote two books on trauma and human trafficking survivors. Too often advocates understand the word "trauma" but don't know how to help survivors heal. We say we are "walking along side" survivors, but do not know where we're going in our healing journey. Learn the importance of being trauma-informed and know the difference between trauma-informed work and trauma treatment.

Read More
Firas Nasr
Episode 144: Perpetrator Focused Interventions? A Call for Help

A multi-pronged approach to serving victims of human trafficking without a parallel multi-strategic response to traffickers makes little sense. We can't solve the problem by largely attending to only one side of the equation. Our current strategy of "putting the bad guys in jail" is a limited strategy. But what do we know about traffickers? What can we do that involves more than "putting the bad guys in jail?"

Read More
Firas Nasr