Ending Sexploitation
The Ending Sexploitation podcast decodes sexual harms and provides you with active solutions. We address the full spectrum of sexual exploitation, from sex trafficking to sexual violence, to rape culture, to pornography, and more. And better yet, we give you the tools to make a difference!
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Trauma-Informed Care Through the Lens of Implicit Bias
09/01/2022
Trauma-Informed Care Through the Lens of Implicit Bias
Dr. Stephany Powell, Director of Law Enforcement Training and Survivor Services at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, joins the Ending Sexploitation podcast to discuss the concept of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) through the lens of implicit bias. Dr. Powell explains that Trauma-Informed Care entails a paradigm shift from wondering, “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”. She says, “Once we understand ‘What happened to you’, without bias, then that’s when we can really begin our journey alongside our clients to be able to help them become the person that they want to be.” Dr. Powell explains that the ability to understand people’s trauma and provide them with Trauma-Informed Care is often hindered by our own implicit biases. Implicit biases are the attitudes or stereotypes we unconsciously hold which affect the way we view and treat other people. They are different from explicit biases in that we do not know we have them and they can even be in opposition to our declared beliefs. Dr. Powell emphasizes that everyone has implicit biases. Fortunately, these biases can be gradually unlearned, but in order for this to happen we first have to recognize what our implicit biases are and how they are affecting our attitudes and behaviors.
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No Buyers = No Business. The Only Way to Ultimately End Sexual Exploitation.
06/24/2022
No Buyers = No Business. The Only Way to Ultimately End Sexual Exploitation.
Why focus on combatting the demand for prostitution (ie. Sex buying)? Is combatting demand an effective way to reduce sex trafficking? Is it affordable and accessible for law enforcement? What kind of tactics and strategies can be used to deter sex buyers? How does full decriminalization of prostitution affect demand reduction efforts? These are some of the questions explored by the experts on Demand who join the Ending Sexploitation podcast for this episode. These experts include Marian Hatcher of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, who has worked on countless law enforcement initiatives targeting demand; Jamey Caruthers, the Director of Demand Reduction and Policy at Street Grace; and Dr. Michael Shively, long-time researcher on Demand and Senior Advisor on Research & Data Analysis at NCOSE.
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Long Overdue Legal Accountability for Sexual Exploitation Through Social Media
05/20/2022
Long Overdue Legal Accountability for Sexual Exploitation Through Social Media
Peter Gentala, Senior Legal Counsel at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, joins the Ending Sexploitation podcast to discuss the issue of holding social media platforms legally accountable for facilitating sexual exploitation. Gentala addresses both the particular challenges in this space as well as the unprecedented progress that has occurred over the past year. Gentala explains how American Law has been interpreted as granting internet platforms blanket immunity for third-party content, under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. As such, it has historically been exceptionally difficult to hold social media companies accountable for the role they play in recklessly distributing sexually exploitative content. However, thanks to the brave voices of survivors and the collective efforts of law firms, advocates, journalists, and more, groundbreaking progress has been made. Gentala speaks to the milestones that have been reached in the past year, sharing a message of hope and inspiration.
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Sex Buying Is Not Inevitable: Paths Forward for Demand Reduction
04/19/2022
Sex Buying Is Not Inevitable: Paths Forward for Demand Reduction
Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Chair and Founder of Hunt Alternatives and Eleanor Roosevelt Lecturer of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government joins the Ending Sexploitation podcast to discuss the importance of combating demand for commercial sexual exploitation. During the discussion, Ambassador Hunt shared the story of speaking to survivors of commercial sexual exploitation internationally. She recalled the chilling story of a young woman in Europe who told her, “Our girls are disappearing from our villages.” Over time, Ambassador Hunt began researching why so many women and girls were being exploited and bought for sex. In addition to enabling research and trainings on demand (aka sex buying behavior), Ambassador Hunt went on to help establish the Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation (CEASE Network) which spearhead cutting edge tactics to identify the best policies and practices for reducing demand at a local level.
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Collaboration is Key: Working with Law Enforcement to Understand Sex Trafficking, and Grooming
03/02/2022
Collaboration is Key: Working with Law Enforcement to Understand Sex Trafficking, and Grooming
Kindsey Pentecost, Chief Marketing Officer of ItWorks, an industry leading beauty and nutrition company), and Founder of Turn Your Life Around (TYLA), a Prostitution Diversion Court joins the podcast to share about her experiences collaborating with and training law enforcement and court systems on sex trafficking. “Especially in the United States, we really treat victims [of sex trafficking] as if it’s their job to identify as a victim and tell us that they’re a victim, and that just doesn’t work with sex trafficking,” Kindsey shared. In this episode, she explains how sex traffickers groom victims, establishing bonds so strong that many victims don’t have the ability to identify themselves for law enforcement. Reflecting on her years of experience working closely with the criminal justice system, Kindsey describes how vital it is for law enforcement and the courts to be accurately trained on the dynamics of sex trafficking in order to better serve survivors. She also shares about her work in Florida to shift law enforcement resources and time away from arresting people sold in the sex trade, bringing in agencies to provide diverse services to help survivors recover, and instead to focus law enforcement on arresting sex buyers and traffickers. Kindsey Pentecost’s advice to listeners is to focus on prevention by investing in the next generation, discussing the realities of grooming and abuse with them in age-appropriate ways to safeguard them from potential exploiters. Visit to find resources to learn more and take action, including a parent guide and list of must-read books.
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The Opportunity to Reduce Child Sex Abuse Online with the Earn It Act
02/11/2022
The Opportunity to Reduce Child Sex Abuse Online with the Earn It Act
In the face of an explosion of child sexual abuse material (CSAM, aka child pornography) being distributed and consumed online, the EARN IT Act holds technology companies accountable if they aid and abet the distribution and/or consumption of child sexual abuse material. This episode is a chance to listen in to the February 8th, 2022, EARN IT Act virtual congressional briefing. The EARN IT Act is the most important child protection legislation pending before Congress in 2022. It does four main things: Clarifies that there is no immunity for social media and technology companies that knowingly facilitate the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) Gives victims a path to justice and possibility of restoring their privacy Updates existing federal statutes to replace “child pornography” with the more accurate term “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM). This content is crime scene documentation; “child pornography” fails to convey the seriousness of the abuse. Establishes a commission of survivors, technology reps, privacy and civil rights experts, and other stakeholders to recommend best practices for tech companies to respond to the astronomical increase in online sexual exploitation of children including grooming for sex trafficking. Here’s what the bill does not do: Does not undermine encryption Does not undermine privacy Does not give the federal government new power You can watch a video of the event here: Learn more and take action:
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How To Talk to Your Kids About Porn and Digital Self Defense
11/16/2021
How To Talk to Your Kids About Porn and Digital Self Defense
Kristen Jensen, founder of Defend Young Minds, shares about the necessity of teaching children “Digital Defense Skills” for online safety and preventing/defending against exposure to online pornography.
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A Diverse, Unified Future: The History of and Vision for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation
11/09/2021
A Diverse, Unified Future: The History of and Vision for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation
Dawn Hawkins, CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, discusses the history of the organization and its vision for the future. The discussion includes the need for a bipartisan and diverse movement that addresses the full spectrum of sexual abuse and exploitation issues.
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Proactive Government Solutions to Online Abuse and Pornography
09/14/2021
Proactive Government Solutions to Online Abuse and Pornography
In this interview, Julie Inman Grant shares about the genesis of the Australian eSafety Commission, and the importance of corporate and technological accountability for safety online.
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Child Marriage, Sexual Abuse, and The Importance of Prevention in Liberia
08/04/2021
Child Marriage, Sexual Abuse, and The Importance of Prevention in Liberia
In this podcast, Alvin Amadu shares about the cultural and economic contexts in Liberia that increase children’s vulnerability to sexual abuse or sex trafficking. He also shares how child marriage is a global problem, and why it must be recognized as a form of sexual abuse. In the end he shares key principles of prevention that people around the world can apply in order to better safeguard children. Learn more about Alvin's organization here: http://www.anppcan.org/
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Analyzing Law Enforcement, Sex Trafficking, and Race
05/26/2021
Analyzing Law Enforcement, Sex Trafficking, and Race
Ep. 39 Dr. Stephany Powell Shared Her Experiences in the LAPD and Beyond Fighting Sex Trafficking.
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Why did Twitter Allow Child Sexual Abuse Materials (Child Porn) on its Platform?
05/11/2021
Why did Twitter Allow Child Sexual Abuse Materials (Child Porn) on its Platform?
Lisa Habba, Esq. and Peter Gentala, Esq. joined this episode of the Ending Sexploitation podcast to share the story of John Doe, and another male survivor, who are suing Twitter for facilitating their child sexual abuse materials.
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Are Sex Dolls the Cure to Pedophilia or Loneliness?
04/20/2021
Are Sex Dolls the Cure to Pedophilia or Loneliness?
Haley McNamara interviews Caitlin Roper, PhD candidate, & Campaigns Manager at Collective Shout.
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How Sexual Exploitation is Facilitated by Google Chromebooks, Amazon, OnlyFans, and More
04/06/2021
How Sexual Exploitation is Facilitated by Google Chromebooks, Amazon, OnlyFans, and More
Did you know that mainstream companies you interact with every day may facilitate sexual exploitation or leave children vulnerable to abuse or graphic content?
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What is the Global Supply Chain of Sexploitation?
04/03/2019
What is the Global Supply Chain of Sexploitation?
People often use the innocuous term the “sex trade." However, what these entities really constitute is a global supply chain of organized sexual exploitation.
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Is Child on Child Sexual Abuse on the Rise?
03/07/2019
Is Child on Child Sexual Abuse on the Rise?
The abuse of children is something we recognize as a horrific crime. But what happens when the abuser is a child themselves?
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Victories and Progress from 2018
02/28/2019
Victories and Progress from 2018
While this work is sometimes dark and depressing, we are so grateful to see many victories from 2018!
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What Does Elizabeth Smart’s Father Want Us to Know?
02/21/2019
What Does Elizabeth Smart’s Father Want Us to Know?
Earlier this year, Jayme Cross, a 13-year-old girl had been missing for months after a 21-year-old man murdered her parents, duct-taped her wrists and mouth, threw her in the back of his trunk, and drove away. Some 88 days after being abducted, Jayme was able to get out of the house, and run to get help from a woman out walking her dog. Perhaps few others have as clear of a perspective on this story than the family of Elizabeth Smart—the woman who was abducted for several months in Utah in 2002 at the age of 14. At the 2015 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Summit, Elizabeth Smart’s father, Ed Smart, gave a moving presentation about the way sexual exploitation and abuse is interlinked in real-life, and how to turn trauma into action. Ed Smart is now an advocate for child protection, working with numerous nonprofits and has lobbied Congress and the Senate tirelessly to prevent further abductions and to rescue missing children. Resources: First, you can go to for the ID Kit which allows parents to take and store their child's fingerprints in their own home. Keep for your own records in case the worst happens and you need to give them to authorities. Surviving Parents Coalition TAALK has many resources and a private forum with one section that is specifically for Parents of Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: - ending victimization through prevention, recovery and advocacy
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How Do Strip Clubs and the Military Relate to Sex Trafficking?
02/13/2019
How Do Strip Clubs and the Military Relate to Sex Trafficking?
Strip clubs are often seen as a harmless form of entertainment and often military personnel become routine patrons. In fact, military bases are often targeted by strip club ads. How is this a problem?
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What Do Sex Buyers Really Think?
02/07/2019
What Do Sex Buyers Really Think?
What goes on in the mind of a sex buyer? People who buy sex are driving the market for prostitution and sex trafficking but we don’t know enough about them.
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Is Internet Porn Addictive?
01/30/2019
Is Internet Porn Addictive?
The American Society of Addiction Medicine states that addiction is a singular disorder—no matter the chemical or behavioral object of the addiction—that addiction manifests a specific set of signs and symptoms. Does dependency on pornography meet these symptoms?
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Are Legal Brothels in Nevada Safe and Here to Stay?
12/13/2018
Are Legal Brothels in Nevada Safe and Here to Stay?
Haley Halverson, Vice President of Advocacy and Outreach at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, provides an update on research, survivor testimonies, and legal battles regarding legal brothels in Nevada.
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How is Adult Pornography Impacting Children?
12/13/2018
How is Adult Pornography Impacting Children?
Dr. Sharon Cooper is a developmental and forensic pediatrician who evaluates and treats children who have been victims of all forms of abuse, though her primary area of expertise is that of sexual exploitation. At an event held by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation in the U.S. Capitol, Dr. Cooper shared 3 ways adult pornography is harming children.
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How Can One Person Combat Sexual Exploitation on College Campuses?
05/25/2017
How Can One Person Combat Sexual Exploitation on College Campuses?
Whether you are a college student, know a college student, or just care about fighting sexual exploitation in ANY environment, this episode is filled with practical action steps to get you started. College students should be safe from sexual assault, and the factors that contribute to campus sexual assault must be recognized. Campus sexual assault is often tied to issues like sporting events, sex week events, fraternities, pornography use, drinking, and more. Tune-in to this episode to understand the issue, and to learn simple actions you can take to combat the factors that contribute to sexual exploitation on college campuses. Call to Action: Learn more at: Tips to address Sex Week on college campuses: Resource Center: Other educational resources:
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How Can Churches Address Pornography?
05/05/2017
How Can Churches Address Pornography?
Special guest Josh McDowell, an author, apologist, and founder of Josh McDowell Ministry, joins this podcast episode to address the current climate in the church regarding pornography. He provides advice for individuals, pastors, and churches about recovery from pornography. He weighs in on the debate about if church leaders should be fired when they confess an addiction to pornography. McDowell also addresses the positive efforts going on in diverse faith communities to address the harms of pornography. Call to Action: To learn more about Josh McDowell and his ministries visit: To join NCOSE's interfaith prayer team visit:
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How Are Issues Like Trafficking, Prostitution, and Porn Linked?
04/28/2017
How Are Issues Like Trafficking, Prostitution, and Porn Linked?
Evidence supports the fact that child sexual abuse, prostitution, pornography, sex trafficking, sexual violence, etc., are not isolated phenomena occurring in a vacuum. Rather, these and other forms of sexual abuse and exploitation overlap and reinforce one another. Accordingly, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has developed The Freedom From Sexploitation Agenda to present Congress and the executive branch with robust critical recommendations that powerfully combat sexual exploitation, protect human rights, and preserve human dignity. Dawn Hawkins addressed these themes in the U.S. Capitol for an event held by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation regarding The Freedom from Sexploitation Agenda. Call To Action: To learn more about the Freedom From Sexploitation Agenda and to watch videos of other presentations given in the U.S. Capitol visit:
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Can 4 Conversations Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse?
04/13/2017
Can 4 Conversations Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is perhaps one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. As a result, people often avoid thinking or talking about it. But pushing such a serious problem under the rug might be doing more harm than good. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that approximately 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18. So parents and concerned adults everywhere are wondering, "what can we do?" This podcast will outline four conversations you could have with a child to help guard against sexual abuse: No means no, and nobody is allowed to touch you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or scared. Name the body parts. Sometimes people we think are good guys, act like bad guys. You can always talk to me, even if you feel embarrassed or scared. In addition to having these active conversations with the kids in your life, you can help guard against child sexual abuse by keeping alert to the signs of abuse, which are listed in this podcast episode. Call to Action: Use the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's free downloadable resource to explain “.” Check out StopItNow's for signs of abuse. Read RAINN's for how to talk to a child when you suspect abuse.
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Can We Prevent Rape On College Campuses?
04/06/2017
Can We Prevent Rape On College Campuses?
Special guest Dr. John Foubert addresses an innovative program on college campuses. Dr. John Foubert is the national president of One in Four, professor at Oklahoma State University author of several books including most recently How Pornography Harms. One In Four is a national nonprofit dedicated to sexual assault prevention, focusing on college campuses and military bases. This organization conducts prevention presentations to teach men and women alike about the harms of rape. Research shows that these programs lead to a 40% decline in sexual assault behavior by male participants, and that it increases bystander intervention among women. Dr. Foubert explains the success of this program, and some of the root influences that make such preventative programs necessary to combat false beliefs about rape and sexual assault. Call to Action: Read Dr. Foubert's Book: Connect with One in Four: Learn more:
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Is Pornography Really an "Industry?"
03/23/2017
Is Pornography Really an "Industry?"
Special guest, Dr. Gail Dines analyzes the big business behind porn. Dr. Gail Dines is a professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies at Wheelock College, where she is also chair of the American Studies department. Having researched and written about the porn industry for over twenty years, Dr. Dines is internationally acclaimed as the leading expert on how pornography shapes our identities, culture, and sexuality. She is a consultant to government agencies in the US and abroad, including the UK, Norway, Iceland, and Canada. While popular Internet pornography today seems like it is being mass produced by thousands of companies, the reality is that there is a porn monopoly. Could this be good news? Dr. Dines provides key insights into the corporate infrastructure behind pornography, and what might happen if the largest porn company in the world got shut down. Call to Action: Visit Culture Reframed: Read Dr. Dines' book:
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How Can We Change Corporate Policies That Exploit?
03/10/2017
How Can We Change Corporate Policies That Exploit?
We live in an age where many consumers demand transparency from companies they trust. We want to know the working conditions of those who made our clothing, and if pesticides were used to grow our food. Now, thanks to The Dirty Dozen List, we can see which well-known entities promote and profit from forms of sexual exploitation. No corporation should profit from or facilitate sexual exploitation. Unfortunately, many well-established brands, companies, and organizations in America do just that. Since 2013, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has published an annual Dirty Dozen List to name and shame the bad corporate actors in America that perpetuate sexual exploitation—whether that be through pornography, prostitution, and sex trafficking. The Dirty Dozen List is an activism tool that has instigated tremendous changes, leading to policy improvements at Google, Hilton Worldwide, Verizon, Walmart, and the Department of Defense. This episode gives you a behind-the-scene look at the origin and accomplishments of the Dirty Dozen List. Call to Action: Learn more at. Positive Thank You Action: for Keeping Pornography Off Its App Store and Apple TV Email Action:
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