Called to Foster
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
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 which is helping support the foster care community through awareness, encouragement, and advocacy. They share about their journey to grow their family through fostering and adopting, how they navigate both the "very hard" and incredibly rewarding moments that come with this decision, and what they want other prospective foster parents to...
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The Dirty Dozen List 2024 Revealed: Accountability for Tech Enabled Abuse
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
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 Director of Communications at NCOSE, to share more on why this year's companies made the list and more importantly how we can all join together to take action. To join the movement and to hold...
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The Kids Online Safety Act: Should You Support It?
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
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 parents to sue social media companies and other online platforms if they do not sufficiently shield children under the age of 13 from harmful content on their platforms. We'll discuss what...
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Offsides: How One Author is Tackling Human Trafficking through Young Adult Fiction
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
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. The book also provides important resources for families and at-risk individuals who may be facing a difficult situation related to trafficking or substance abuse. Check out Lori's website for...
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Changing the World by Unlocking Kindness
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
Local nonprofit 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 health through human connection and to unlock the treasure of kindness within each individual through their "million acts of kindness challenge." Learn how you can join their "Unlocking Kindness" challenge, learn about...
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Unlocking the Power of Motivation through Mindset
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
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 the mentorship of others who also have lived experiences as well as by connecting individuals in need with essential physical items such as clothing, housing, and everyday necessities. DJ shares his...
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Engaging Men & Boys in Violence Prevention Work
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
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 & Co-Chair for the Mid-Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, to share about how he believes sports are a great way to help coach boys into maturity and to unlearn behaviors that set the stage for future possibly violent behaviors. Shawn says that this work has to begin internally, and encourages each of us to check our own belief systems and how...
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Eliminating Exploitation from Supply Chains
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
Did you know it is estimated that 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 is working to give businesses full control over their information supply chain, by conducting investigative due diligence to combat modern slavery. Samuel shares about how these ethical actions can be integrated through legislative, business, and personal practices, and how he believes we can transform these sectors through conscious and...
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How a Survivor of CST is Sewing Seeds of Forgiveness
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
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 healing path has involved and how she is learning to love and re-parent herself towards further restoration of her self. Check out Sarah's show Que Sera Sera (8 years old this year) on Driftless...
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How Sarah's Oasis for Women Is Helping Restore Safety & Dignity
The Fierce Freedom Podcast
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 journeys." Sarah's accompanies these women on their journeys through opportunities for education, job training, and family reunification, but also by creating an environment of peaceful community...
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