Parenting in a red-pilled world can be difficult. We're here to discuss the current issues, bring awareness to difficult topics, and give some guidance on how to talk to your kids to help keep them safe. This podcast is in no way giving parenting advice or telling you how to raise your children. Our intention is to have conversations that open dialogue with your children and prepare them for what could potentially face them beyond our protection.
In this first episode, learn a little bit about Becky. She's a wife and mother of two boys who lives in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. About 4 years ago Becky found herself facing a diagnosis of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, a thyroid autoimmune disease. She spent the next year cleaning up her diet and health, beyond anything she had every done before. First time trying veggies at 38?! Yup, it was that drastic. Through that change, she not only improved her health and reduced her autoimmune disorder, she improved the health and wellness of her husband and two boys.
Having two sons with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) and one with tics became a challenge she was willing to fight though healthy diet and supplements. By eliminating most food coloring from their diet, she has been able to keep their medication needs low. Using a heavy metal removing spray has cleared the tics almost completely. Becky does not have all the answers for how to cure her son's, but they're all working together to live the cleanest, healthiest, and most stable lives she can provide them.
Through the process of healthy living, Becky has found herself learning more and more about the world and the evils behind it. She believes that we can teach our kids not only to be safe, but to also be on the lookout for others. There is no right answer on how to parent our kids, but Becky will bring you along on her journey of what she's done so you can take any nuggets that you find beneficial.
This podcast is recorded from an Instagram Live we did on April 2nd.
It's a conversation about how we met and the interesting, divine, and crazy things we've been through in the past few months. How we got to this place over the last few years and where we think it's going to lead us. We discuss how our lives have connected for the greater good, our plan for Stand By Survivors, and how living and parenting with God is such a big part in how this world will become a better place.
Please connect with us on Instagram to follow see future lives between ourselves and others along with content on human trafficking and parenting in this red-pilled world.
In this episode, Bridget and Becky invite their kids (Bridget's daughter and Becky's two sons) to sit down with them and watch a Bark Technology video on the dangers of Social Media. It is scary to think about what predators are doing to our children, but we think it is important for them to also see who could be on the other side of the phone or iPad.
If you need a conversation starter with your pre-teen or teen on the dangers of social media/technology, consider showing them this video and having that hard discussion. We need to start talking to our children about these dangers. Knowledge is power!
In this first episode, learn a little bit about Bridget. She's a single mother of one daughter who lives in the Valley of the Sun of Phoenix, Arizona. Bridget was exposed to a lot during her childhood. She grew up around pro-sport’s and the entertainment industry.
About 2 years ago Bridget found herself in a situation which lead to toxicity, anxiety and could’ve gone down a dark path. Beginning to see the character of one facing not only a sex addiction but an addiction to porn, lying and drugs. She knew she had to get herself out of that relationship. As she was facing anxiety while researching deeper down the rabbit hole of sex trafficking everything started to click.
Bridget faced multiple situations in her own personal life that lead to her awakening over the last 4 years. She is a firm believer in God will never give you more than you can handle. And whatever is done in the dark will always come to light. God has placed so many people in her path during this awakening process as she went down the journey of saying No, the power of one and focusing on self love.
In 2019, she joined a community Army of Love with her friend Emma spreading love and kindness across social media platforms. As Bridget saw the shifts in technology, relationships, healthcare, food, the fashion, and the entertainment industry. She than realized the connections to all the industries, could not fathom it as it was beyond disgusting and disturbing. 🤮
This lead to flipping her reality upside down by knowing the truth and was a concerned mother. Watching how social media influences and how it plays a major role in all aspects of a child’s development (life) is very alarming. Many parents do not have open discussions or uncomfortable talks with their children. Knowing what Bridget knows now especially when it came to sex trafficking and saw it happening in her own backyard speaking up was the only option. She spent the next year cleaning up all aspects of her life from relationships, health, social media and taking her power back. She is very selective now of who she engages with and gives her energy to. Blessed to be on this journey with Emma and Becky as we raise more awareness, have these uncomfortable conversations and continue voice for the voiceless and raising awareness.
Through the process of relationships, social media, health, anxiety, entertainment and other experiences Bridget has found herself learning the deeper reality of the world and the evils behind it. She believes that we can teach our kids not only to be safe, but to also be on the lookout for others. There is no right answer on how to parent our kids, but Bridget will bring you along on her journey of what she's done so you can take any nuggets that you find beneficial.
In this episode, we are joined by Survivor Jeremy Indika. Jeremy is a firm believer in the "Power of Story Telling" and the importance of sharing his story of childhood sexual abuse in an attempt to help break down the stigma and silence that is allowing it to thrive. We had the great pleasure of chatting about future projects Jeremy's working on. We're so excited to see what content he will come up with next to help us not only learn and raise awareness but to help educate others.
Instead of diving deep into Jeremy's past on our podcast, we take this time to discuss what we can do to help children moving forward. The importance of education, talking to your children about their private areas, and making sure they know that there are no secrets when someone touches them in those areas. Talking to your children must start early and be repeated often . These conversations should be age appropriate, starting with using the correct names for private areas, reminding them of their body sovereignty, and as they get older beginning to have conversations about sex and body positivity.
As parents we spend so much time talking about avoiding strangers and not taking drugs, but we ignore having the conversation with our kids about their body. It can be embarrassing, we know, but it is so important to talk to them or get a book on their body's changes or find an age-appropriate video to watch together. If we are not controlling the narrative of what is told to our children, they'll find it elsewhere. Jeremy has a great 5-part series on Instagram that he created to be the starting point of conversations with other parents and with some older kids. If we are to stop the secrecy of pedophilia, we need to make sure our kids know what is good and bad and they have a soft place to land if they ever have to come forward with this type of information. It starts at home!
We were excited to have connected with guest of honor, Jeremy Indika. We hope you get some great pointers to being having conversations with your children. It's never too early to start talking. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes.
Jeremy has taken us on his journey by sharing his most vulnerable and painful moments/experience of his life with us. It takes so much courage, Jeremy has embraced the opportunity to create illustrations and animations to help educate our children, parents and future generations on how to identify the different types of abuse/grooming.
For more information on Jeremy Indika story-pedophilia and child sexual abuse survivor, a powerful voice for the voiceless, a public speaker and content creator please visit the links below.
On this episode, we are so fortunate to have on Elizabeth Harding Weinstein, a mother of 3 (18, 16, and 14) who is in the fight of her life to get her children back from their abusive, pedophile father after the justice system granted him full custody (even though there is an active investigation into his abuse allegations). Lizzie is a nursing graduate from Columbia University and lives in New York State. Unfortunately, she is also a survivor of pedophilia, domestic violence and narcissistic abuse. Her husband, Brian Stryker Weinstein, is a well-known lawyer and senior litigation partner of his firm, he graduated from Yale Law School and sits as a board member on Duke University’s Keenan Institute for Ethics.
Back in April 2020 Lizzie discovered that her husband of 18 years was he himself a pedophile after a known history of sexual abuse as a child. She and the children confronted Brian directly offering him help and he admitted to the pedophilia. Unfortunately, from that point on, Brian had begun using his narcissistic tendencies to gaslight Lizzie and the kids and buy or persuade the cops, lawyers, and judges to keep the children from their mom. The battle Lizzie goes through weekly, and sometimes daily, is difficult to fathom and it's amazing she’s still here fighting. That’s the strength of a mama bear for you! She has been harassed, arrested and imprisoned on multiple occasions with NO criminal charges, evicted from her home, denied access to any of her bank accounts since coming forth with her story... and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Since this discovery, Lizzie has been taking active action to expose the corruption in the court systems that actually works to protect pedophiles instead of persecuting and punishing them. During this time, Lizzie has only been able to see her children a handful of times, because the courts deemed it appropriate to place them with their abusive, pedophile father without their mom.
In this episode, we focus on the parts of the story that I think concern and scare us all as parents. Could this happen to my children? What do we do if it does happen to us? What do we need to be aware of to make sure we’re prepared? Lizzie has some great insight based on what she's had to go through this past year. Nothing is stronger or more unbreakable than the love between a mother and her child. I hope Lizzie's story encourages you to share her story far and wide, sign her petition (below), and start speaking up so we can bring justice to survivors like Elizabeth and victims like her children once and for all.
In this episode, we are blessed to be able to have Tommy Womeldorf on to speak about his childhood sexual abuse experience with the Boy Scout's and Mormon Church and how it has effected raising his 4 daughters. Since Tommy has written a book, Scouts Dishonor, we do not spend much time discussing his past. However, please consider purchasing Tommy's book to support this brave survivor and read more on his history. Instead, we discuss how he keeps his daughters safe by keeping them aware, alert, and educated. For more on Tommy's story visit @yourimaginationisreal 'Survivor Series' as Becky, Bridget and Emma have an open conversation with Tommy about his childhood/book Scout's Dishonor.
Scout's Dishonor:
"As a precocious, enthusiastic boy of thirteen, Tommy had the whole world ahead of him...until a trusted association with his Boy Scout leader destroyed his innocence and shattered his self-perception. To make matters worse, the abuse Tommy endured took place within the sacred walls of the Mormon Church. While his tormentor went on to molest at least five other boys and was ultimately convicted on these charges, Tommy’s own abuse went unacknowledged, the denial of which forever altered his life’s path.
Succumbing to a lack of trust and self-worth, Tommy descends into a tumultuous life of drug and alcohol abuse, always seeking to mask the pain of his past. It is his relationship with the young, courageous single mother, Arlene Ryan, and her infant daughter that finally leads him into sobriety and brings him to a point in his life where he must question the failures of those he once trusted to protect him.
Struggling to understand how reputable organizations can act in such reprehensible ways, Tommy is soon embroiled in a legal drama with the Mormon Church itself as he seeks the retribution and recognition of truth that had been suppressed for far too long. Throughout this journey, Tommy is gradually put back on the path for which his life was destined, with the ultimate purpose of serving victims and understanding the true meaning of justice, forgiveness, and love."
Please join us in supporting Tommy and see links below to find Tommy's book "Scout's Dishonor"- support survivors and their businesses and show support by listening, reading, and SHARING his story!
In this episode we are talking with Vee, a survivor, human trafficking activist, and business owner. You may recognize her as "Bagels and Shade" if you follower her on social media and the podcast world. We touch slightly on Vee's story of being a survivor but our episode mostly centers around educating people on the business of human trafficking, grooming, and mind control. We discuss how to look deeper into situations that appear singular but are actually part of a much bigger picture when you're able to make the connections.
As a survivor, she uses her voice to call out the evil that still lurks in this world. Pedophilia, incest, rape, and child sexual abuse are never easy conversations to have, yet many still want to avoid talking about it...assuming it will make it go away. Vee is such an advocate for continuing to make people uncomfortable to get the message out there! Stop judging and doubting the folks who are speaking out about the evil and start researching and listening. It could be the difference in saving a child's life...possibly a child you know.
Taking a stance against human trafficking and pedophilia and standing up for survivors may seem very vulnerable and lonely, but the more you stand up, the more people will join you. In a time when our children have never been more in danger and when child trafficking numbers are sky high, right now is the time to really educate ourselves and others on this business so we can help move the needle forward in the right direction. Vee is such an inspiration and someone who is equally funny and empathetic. We had so much fun talking and laughing with Vee on this episode and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
***Trigger warning. If you are easily offended or triggered, this episode may contain information that is triggering to some individuals. Please be cautious when listening to this podcast.****
We are blessed to have the chance to speak to Kyle Collins, a Phoenix born lyricist, father, producer, and self described visionary. Musician, Sincerely Collins, Kyle has lived through a life's worth of tragedy growing up without a father, surviving the early disappearance of his mother, and later facing adversity while homeless. He unleashed the gift of grit: a hidden resilience throwing everything he had into the love of music. Collins often taps into the common experiences of his uncommon life for his otherworldly lyrics, and in doing so, becomes the kind of messenger that is too often missing in today’s musical landscape. Through perseverance the man lives his truth everyday and tells the stories that he knows best.
In this episode we talk about Kyle's childhood, raising his daughter, and his journey to enlightenment while dealing with the entertainment industry. The message of being yourself, always having integrity, and living in your truth is the theme of our conversation. It's a great to have found someone who is a genuine role model for kids. As Kyle states, “I make music for dreamers, I make music for people who just know that there’s more, I make music for people who have visions, for people who believe in themselves but don’t necessarily know how to take action on that. Or maybe they don’t believe in themselves… yet. Maybe they want to believe in themselves. Maybe they come to me, they come to my music to learn how to believe in themselves or to learn how to break away from the norm as much as they’ve wanted to their entire life. I just provide that bridge for people to unplug from the Matrix.”
As parents, it is great to know that there are artists in the music industry that are creating positive music and being great influences to the kids out there who are still looking into themselves and trying to find their true self. Kyle is more than just a man who moves to the beat of his own drum, but one who encourages the rest of us to get with the rhythm of believing in our infinite potential. That, more than anything, is what his music is all about.
BONUS EPISODE! We finally had the chance to have our dear friend, anti-human trafficking activist, and co-founder of Stand By Survivors, Emma Pietrzak on our podcast. She is the host of The Imagination podcast and the creator of the Survivor Series in which she features survivors from all walks of life. At the release of this podcast, Emma has had close to 15 different survivors speak on her platform. It is important to recognize that when Emma brings a survivor onto her podcast, it is often the first interaction they've had with each other beyond text messages, and instead of these guests discussing how they became famous, how great their book is doing, or what new trend is occurring, they are discussing the deepest, darkest secrets with the world. She is an amazing host, making the survivors feel comfortable and empathizing with their stories as they are told. The emotions you'll see are true emotions from hearing the survivor story first hand.
Stand By Survivors is our main organization that fights for and supports survivors of all backgrounds. The Imagination and Save Our Children podcasts, www.standbysurvivors.com, and our Stand By Survivors telegram page are resources that we've created to give more insight into survivors lives and a way for believers / truth-tellers to connect and help stand up against these abuses. We take this time to explain how the three of us got into this calling of anti-human trafficking, what we've been through because we are in this fight, and how blessed we are to be on this journey together. The power, spirituality, and strength we see in these survivors has helped us push through, find ourselves, and stand strong in our truth.
Please join us in our journey to stand by ALL survivors by sharing our content and letting us know what topics you'd like to learn about or hear on our podcasts.
In this episode, we talk to Ryan Gadsby, a young man who has been through childhood sexual abuse and is using his platform to speak out and educate others. Ryan created a video called 'Letter to my Abuser' where he tells a visual story of going through and surviving years of sexual, physical, mental and emotional abuse by his step father by using actual photos and footage from his childhood. We start this episode with the audio from this video, but please click below for the link to the video.
We discuss how we as a society should be questioning everything, but how these real issues are not brought to light because Hollywood and the media make jokes out of it. People can't fathom the evil that is done because it's just fiction. We are not doing a service to anyone who suffers this trauma by not believing them...especially men. Only a small percentage of survivors that come forth to break their silence are men and yet astounding statistics surround child abuse towards males.
Ryan's story is important for many reasons. Abuse can take place anywhere and to anyone and the first place we should always look for signs of abuse is right within our own homes and neighborhoods. We can't ignore these issues anymore and need to listen to survivors like Ryan when they speak. When men like Ryan step up and speak their truth, it allows others like him to step up and do the same. Ryan is an inspiration and what he's doing deserves to be recognized and celebrated. It's the courage of brave survivors like him who will bring positive change to our future's children.
Our amazing guest on this episode survived horrible trauma at the hands of her own parents. Lisa Meister was born into a generational satanic ritual abuse family and she takes the time to tell us all about having been born and raised in the occult and living life as a satanic ritual abuse (SRA) survivor. Not only is Lisa a survivor, but she is a mother, grandmother, wife, author, and podcast host. Only God Rescued Me is both Lisa's book and podcast title...please support Lisa in both areas.
It wasn't until she was in her late twenties that she realized she had been through this type of abuse and trauma. On this episode, Lisa discusses the world of satanic ritual abuse and her recovery in detail to give you a glimpse into her life. We discuss how Lisa has worked through and continues to work through her flashbacks. She explains her separation from her family and how she has raised her children to understand her past. After listening to Lisa's story, you will see just how strong these SRA survivors are.
Very few survivors make it out of the system she was born into and even fewer find the courage or are even able to discuss their experiences without dire consequences. This episode is very informative and eye-opening it was such an honor to be able to share Lisa's incredible story. So many children are still trapped in these systems and the sooner we decide to learn about the hidden world that exists all around us, the sooner we can save every child from the hands of these horrific abuses and crimes.
As an 8 year old boy, Richard Pink was sexually abused by his granddad. He grew up in a world of shame and silence, as speaking about his abuse, especially as a male, was difficult. It is a very vulnerable conversation and isn't deemed as something masculine. Although he attempted to speak to his siblings about his abuse one night at the bar, the conversation didn't turn out the way he was hoping. Ultimately, he coped with the pain and secrecy through alcohol and gambling. As of the recording of this episode, Richard is 1 year sober. As Richard described telling his parents for the first time, we learned that as a survivor who is opening up and telling his or her story, it is vitally important that we not only believe their story, but consider the child that went through the trauma. Oftentimes, when abuse is discussed, you're hearing it from an adult, but that child needs to be seen, heard, hugged, and cherished. That young self is still hurting, and although the logical adult brain can explain away the hurt, the emotional side and the hurt child needs that support. During our conversation we discuss how dealing with our trauma is important so we can better parent our kids. The improved behaviors we see in our children are often times a reaction to the mental health changes we are courageous enough to work through. Throughout the episode, we talk about how you can make sure you're the parent your child needs throughout any situation. This does not mean that you are always calm and never yell, but it does mean that you are aware of the emotional toll you place on your child because of how you react. Conversations, explanations, and apologies should always be part of how you talk with your children. Today, Richard has social media handles 1-in-6 as a nod to the statistic that shows that one in six males are abused. That is 17% of our male population that is sexual abused, but isn't allowed to discuss it because it's not manly or cool to show your emotions or talk about your trauma. Men like Richard are breaking down the stigma against emotional and mental health. They are bravely putting their stories online so that other male survivors know they are not alone and know that there is a path to healing.
We met Laura on our journey into human trafficking, through an Instagram account we all followed. Through various posts, messages, and conversation, we all connected through our love for gardening, motherhood, and saving the children. Although Laura lives on the other side of the country, we regularly keep in touch with gardening tips, God-related encouragement, and funny mom stories. Today we are lucky enough to sit down with her and have a conversation together about all the things. In this episode, Laura discusses how it is her mission to make sure mom's know the power they hold as the nurturer of the family. This is never to say that father's cannot hold that same power, but as mom's our discussion comes from that side. We discuss how Laura healed her son's strep rash overnight through essential oils, Bridget helped her daughter's asthma with herbs and oils, and Becky gives multiple vitamins to reduce the amount medication her sons take. The power of eating right, vitamins, herbs, and essential oils has changed our children's lives. This is not meant to be diagnostic or determine what works best for your family, but to give you additional avenues to help heal and protect them. It is the responsibility of all people to keep yourself as healthy as possible. This episode gives you some tips and tricks to accomplish that. If nothing else, it gives you some ideas and items to being researching so that you can see if it would benefit your family. Mom's have the power to heal their family's and we need to live into that nurturing behavior to make sure our children grow up to be happy and healthy.
On today's episode we have another brave male survivor. There are not many who speak out, but we are blessed to have them on our podcast. Antares joins us from Germany and was raised by a narcissistic father and suffered childhood sexual and emotional abuse. Due to this abuse, he attempted suicide multiple times. Thankfully, he began writing in a journal and has been able to find some healing in the written words. He knows the power of depression and suicide and uses his blog, Sense of Pain, to raise awareness to show people they are not alone.
We oftentimes assume that abuse happens outside our circle of people, but as many of our guests have shown, it usually happens from people who we are comfortable with or are closest to us. This makes it extremely difficult to help our children, as many parents are not comfortable hurting friends or family member's feelings. But as we discussed, what if your child comes back to you in 10 years and tells you that the person they were worried about ended up abusing them and you did nothing to help them stay safe. All for the purpose of keeping yourself comfortable. It is imperative to believe your child when they become uncomfortable because their intuition is powerful and it is our duty to keep them safe.
The power that parents have, both positive and negative, is huge and we can dictate the direction of our family. If we are not careful, we can do irreparable damage to our children because of our own unmet needs or unhealed hurts. We need to use our power over our children for good...to be a good example, to listen, guide, and allow them to flourish as the people they are meant to be, not as the life we have prescribed for them in our heads.
What does Sense of Pain mean? Listen to Antares' story to find out the amazing reason for the name.
On today's episode we are talking to the CEO and founder of Protect Young Eyes (PYE), Chris McKenna. As a father of four, he started PYE, because although many people were talking about internet safety, few were doing anything about it. Protect Young Eyes mission is to show families, schools, and churches how to create safer digital spaces. Not only do they present at schools and churches, they have an app called Protect: Internet Safety. This app is for you and your children to learn about digital safety in bite-sized videos and content that will increase your internet competence.
As Chris mentions in our conversation, he believes that technology will find our children no matter how much we shield or protect them. So it is our job as parents to better equip ourselves and them to handle themselves when faced with these technologies. However, much of that does not even have to do with the technology itself...it has to do with being a soft place to land for our children when they come upon the things we hope they don't. Our children, especially the adolescents, are tuned for social sensitivity. They don't want to be left out, they don't want to be awkward, so us as "analog" parents need to remember how it felt as kids and translate those feelings into the digital world. Many of us would be in the same position as our children if the digital world existed when we grew up. The key to making things easier is the ability to translate from an analog world to a digital world.
We need to understand the thought process of our children so we can inform them of dangers they will face. Just because you don't allow it in your home, does not mean your child will not encounter it anyway. You need to teach them about things as if you said yes, so they are aware. As mom's ourselves, we are thrilled to chat with Chris and his venture in saving kids through technology.
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17
Back in March of 2021, Bridget and I found ourselves at an event called The Love Banquet in Phoenix, Arizona. It was developed and hosted by Anthony and a team of wonderful volunteers. We didn't know anyone there, but always believe that God will inform us as to why He brought us to any event or location. After a few hours of helping grab food, toiletries, and clothes for the unsheltered community, Bridget and I still were unsure of why we were called to be there beyond serving the community. We told ourselves that we'd start packing up and head out at 4pm. At about 3:50 a lady walks in with her 4 dogs and comes right over to the table we are working at. Her dogs were absolutely adorable and we immediately went to work making sure she had what she needed for both herself and her dogs.
As we were helping this lady, a few people started to get up on stage and give testimonies of their lives. One lady discussed how she was addicted to drugs and trafficked in her younger years. Both Bridget and I looked at each other, wondering if this was why were were brought here...but continued to help this lady with her needs. After the lady had all she needed, Bridget and I resumed our conversation about saying goodbye and heading out. We walked over to another lady who was helping, not realizing it was Anthony's sister, and began thanking them for the event and for allowing us to join them.
Then Anthony stepped up to the microphone and began giving his story. Both of us stopped in our tracks. His story was so profound and was exactly what we were starting to venture into with our newly founded Stand By Survivors group. Both of us stood there with goosebumps knowing that Anthony was the true reason we were brought to that event that day. His vulnerable words about his life story, his strong faith, and moments of prayer stopped everyone in their tracks. We even watched a lady pick up a copy of the New Testament that sat in front of her for the previous two hours.
We didn't know what brought us to that event that day, but as Emma, Bridget, and I were debating on what our logo for Stand By Survivors should be, the idea of a dog came up. Dogs are protective, especially of children, they are loyal...and spelled backwards is GOD! The lady who stopped us from heading out those doors before Anthony spoke had 4 dogs. Those dogs are one of the main reason we even approached her to help. She kept us there beyond our time so that God could show us who we were there to meet.
Anthony's story is difficult, but his faith is strong. We are blessed to chat with him on this episode.
On today's episode we are honored to have Molly Baker on our podcast. Molly is the mom of two adorable girls ages 9 & 7. About 5 years ago, when her oldest daughter was 4, she disclosed that her daddy touched her. Molly did what any shocked mom would do... she confronted her then husband and called CPS. Unfortunately, even though we all assume that people are out there to help us, that isn't always the case. As we've heard from other mom's before, and as our friend Emma has discussed on her podcast The Imagination, these mom's end up in the battle of their lives to fight for their babies.
For the past five years Molly has fought to get her daughters away from the man who abused her eldest. In this episode we get to discuss all the things Molly has gone through and is going through. The areas in which she wishes she would have done better, knowledge she's gained over the past few years, and points for other parents to be aware of. We could never imagine not having our children with us, and these mothers (and fathers) who are fighting for their babies are the strongest people we know. We are blessed and honored to allow Molly to come onto our podcast and share her story.
Today, Molly only gets to see her daughters virtually weekly and in person once a month. She truly believes God is in control of her and her daughter's lives. Although not on a timeline we would all want, she knows that God will bring her babies back to her when He is ready.
On this episode, I (Becky) sit down with my 13 year old son, Peyton to have a discussion on what it's like to be an eighth grader these days. Although he can not speak for all kids his age or what they go through, we thought it would be interesting to have him chat about his experiences during the first 2 weeks of school starting.
We think it is important to talk to our kids about what they can expect each year in school as it becomes age appropriate. At a conference Bridget and I attended a few weeks ago, one of the speakers brought up the dangers of porn. He mentioned that the average age for first seeing porn was 8...which means there are kids younger seeing it. And that men ages 18-25 are dealing with erectile dysfunction because they have watched too much porn...the reason why was not given however. I immediately went home and talked to my boys about it. Well luckily I did, because on the very first day of eighth grade...during an icebreaker in gym... Peyton was asked if he ever watched porn. Now I don't believe the question itself is one worthy of freaking out about or mentioning to the school. The kid just asked, didn't show him anything or discuss it further after Peyton said no. However, had I not already had the discussion with him, he could have found himself in his room on his phone remembering that question and looking it up to see for himself. By having the short 3-5 minute conversation with them, it took the curiosity out of the topic.
This is not to say that they will never look into it, do anything wrong, or find themselves in a bad situation. But having open dialogue and communication with our children, we begin to curb some of the areas that peers would take over. Enjoy this tiny glimpse into the adolescents boys mind.
We are so lucky to have Kalla join us on this episode. Bridget met Kalla at an unsheltered community event in downtown Phoenix at the beginning of 2021 and struck up a friendship. Just following her social media pages, we knew that once we started our podcast we'd want to get Kalla on to speak about the light and love she brings to the world.
As stated on her Instagram page Rekallabrate, Kalla's purpose is to shine light on the dark, to show up authentically, and to help you do the same. Although you may not always agree with what Kalla says, the ability to come to the table with different thoughts, evaluate and unpack what is there is part of the journey.
This episode is different from most of our other episodes because the intention is to get you to think beyond what you may already believe. What Kalla says may or may not resonate with you, and that is okay. We think that it is important to bring on many voices and shine as much light on positive influencers as possible. The world has so much darkness in it, we need to grow the light and love...because darkness does not exist in light.
On this episode we are chatting with such a fun lady, Molly Skye Brown, who has a very interesting background with trafficking and pedophilia. If you haven't listened to or watched Molly's episodes with Emma on the Imagination, please check that podcast out first. It will give you more background information into Molly's story.
Our podcast focuses more on Molly's past in dealing with the grooming aspect of what she's gone through and how you, as parents, can help your children. We talk about how her neighbor took her to an aquarium, without the knowledge of her parents, and the strength Molly had to speak up and get herself help. It is imperative that we, as adults, are aware of our surroundings and watch for children and situations that seem off.
Molly’s story is so interesting and detailed, that we will be bringing her back for future episodes to continue learning more about her past and ways she’s helping survivors heal.
If you have younger kids, this episode is for you. Often times we speak to guest who focus more on the teenage or older kid age group. Especially because our kids are that age range. However, in this episode we speak to Tori, the host and creator of Tor-bee, a video series teaching kids 2-5 about many thing. Tor-bee videos are fun, short, wholesome videos you can feel comfortable letting your kids watch on repeat. She teaches basic topics like shapes, numbers, and telling time. But also gets into more serious topics like safe secrets, body safety, and calling 911. And now she's starting Tor-bee for Parents to help us parents talk to our young kids about what they are learning through her videos. It is so important to start conversations early and often. No age is too early to start discussing anatomically correct body part names, body safety, and not keeping secrets. If you start at a young age, when they don't completely understand you, you will have already created the dialogue for when they do. Which allows you, the parent/guardian to become more comfortable as they get older. Remember, there is no reason to teach young kids about sex, at this age, it's about body safety, not keeping secrets, and correct body parts. Not about puberty, hormones, and sex. Start the conversation young and keep it going throughout their lifetime. As we've said before, if you don't talk to them about it, someone else will.
During our last few episodes we've discussed pornography usage among teenagers and how it's becoming more prevalent in our society. We are blessed today to have Christopher Bueker, author of Break Free of Chains: How to Help your Child Recover from Pornography Addiction. Christopher has a professional practice that focuses on mindfulness, addition recovery, and living consciously.
In this episode, Christopher gives us some great insights into assisting our children with their technology. Including ways to help them get away from that technology, by using mindfulness activities, finding fun coloring books, and getting out into nature and grounding. He also has a very informative blog that discusses internet accountability, monitoring, and signs for helping our children.
Are you ready for some truth? We bring back our girl Vee for some raw and real conversation about what is going on in the world. As always it's a blast...full of insight, curse words, and a ton of laughs. We are also joined by our previous podcast guest, and co-founder of Stand By Survivors, Emma Pietrzak.
***Trigger warning. If you are easily offended or triggered, this episode may contain information that is triggering to some individuals. Please be cautious when listening to this podcast.****
On this episode we shine light on what it was like being a child born/raised around the entertainment industry, living/raising a daughter in California and now parenting while working in the entertainment industry. Will Champlin is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his appearance on Season 5 of the NBC singing competition The Voice as part of Adam Levine's team. He was born and raised in Los Angeles into a musical family, is the youngest son of Bill Champlin a former member of Chicago and Tamara Champlin.
Will Champlin holds his own from playing piano on Michael Jackson's last record too touring and/or writing/producing for acts like Poison Glenn Frey, Billy Ray Cyrus, Heather Headley, Reik, and One Direction . His songwriting work on Heather Headley’s 2010 album “Audience Of One” earned him 2 Grammy wins. He's also recently collaborated with YouTube artists such as Kurt Hugo Schneider and others.
In July of 2014 Will released his record known as 'Borrowing Trouble' which features the single 'Heat of Passion' that was used for HBO's 2014 fall preview. Will is also the lead vocalist/frontman of the Southern swag anthem rock project @Valley of Wolves
With a new album in the works, Will just released Great Divide, a 12 song album with an Electronic soul edge and otherworldly experience. And most Recently Dose of the Darkside as ‘KillWill’ w EkoZu.
On today's episode, we are so lucky to have a local Arizona county sheriff come chat with us. With human and drug trafficking as high as it is in Arizona, we thought it would be a great informative show to bring on someone who is in the thick of it all. For those outside of the border states, you may want to pay extra close attention as Sheriff Lamb has some great information on how your states suffer more than the border states in this fight. Mark Lamb, commonly known as America's Sheriff, is a no nonsense, common sense, and patriotic sheriff that is friendly to his county residents and tough on criminals. He has written a book aptly named "American Sheriff", so if you want more information on Mark's history and his wife Janel has also written a book titled "The Sheriff's Wife". Please consider purchasing them and supporting this hard working sheriff. Bridget and I were blessed to meet Mark at my churches trafficking event a few weeks ago and watch him speak. This should be a real treat for our listeners. Although Sheriff Lamb works in Arizona, many of these issues are country-wide, so don't be deterred by his location. Patriotism and constitutionalism are necessary across the United States. It's time we stand up and fight.
Today we are so incredibly blessed to have director, producer, speaker, and adovcate Jaco Booyens on our podcast. If you have been in the anti-sex trafficking space for a bit, you have probably heard of Jaco or his movie 8 Days. If you haven't watched this movie, I HIGHLY recommend it. It shows how quickly people can get into a trafficking situation and how dangerous it becomes. A few weeks ago, Bridget and Becky were at a trafficking conference through Becky’s church and had the privilage of hearing Jaco speak. He is a passionate, bold, blunt, and Godly speaker...exactly what we need as a guest on our podcast. Becky gets the chance to explain to Jaco how his words about porn at the conference opened her eyes to the issue and made her discuss the topic with her sons. Only days before her oldest was asked at school. Devine intervention for sure. This podcast isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s raw, real, and as Becky’s pastor says...a throat punch. Even though it stings, it’s delivered with truth, love, and light. Because life doesn’t stop for a podcast, we hear about how Jaco is currently helping a survivor and attempting to help her get to a safe house. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!
We have a treat today for all you teen parents out there. Smith Alley is the founder of the Live Life Bigger Foundation. An organization that is raising awareness to live life bigger and put down your phone to do something you love. Smith is a senior in high school who struggled with the harmful effects of pornography and social media for 5 years. He decided to change the course of his life at 14 and went through an addiction recovery program. Through that process, he fell in love with helping other people. At the age of 16, he started a company call ProtechtStrong that helps families set up parental restrictions on devices and create healthy social media habits. I'm sure many parents are out there wondering, just like us, how you can get your kids to finish their homework and he's over here changing the world. Don't worry though, he's a typical teenager when it comes to everything else. This content is not something you normally hear from teenagers, but we think it is so important for both parents and teens to hear these stories and learn from them. This next generation is changing the way we speak out about our lives. They are here to change the world and make it someplace we can all be proud to live in. It's time to stop hiding the pain, trauma and hurt behind social media, television, and addictions and start living life bigger. These kids are showing us how to get it right, and it's time for us adults to start supporting them by fixing ourselves up and standing next to them proudly.
Episode 27: I Broke the Chain: "An American Dream" or The Perfect Lie? by Survivor Mari Neli Bejarano Beltran When desperate family circumstances in Colombia send young Mari and her sisters to an orphanage for adoption, her biological family thought they would have a better life in America. However, no one could have anticipated the awful reality that awaited them, shattering all images of the American dream. Terrifying living conditions and appalling abuse drove Mari down a dark path to violent outbursts, anger management issues, promiscuity, and drug addiction in an attempt to find an escape any way possible. In spite of these overwhelming circumstances, she changed the course of her life and, through God’s love, not only found herself but the strength and faith to break the chains of abuse. Mari Neli Bejarano Beltran is married, has four daughters, and her first grandchild is on the way. She plans to use her harrowing personal experiences to reach out to children and people all over the world in hopes of reaching those who feel like no one cares or understands what they are going through. This is her first book.
"Sometimes you end up being the only one in the room, filled with darkness and negativity, that is holding the candle of love and light. What you see is scary, hopeless, empty, and desolate. However, what everyone else sees from your candle is hope, connection, light, and beauty. You are the beacon of light in a scary place. Your candle, with its tiny little flame is enough to call to those who need it. And when someone who is scared stands with you in your light and starts their candle on your flame...you have a brighter corner. As more people light their candles, the scary, hopeless, empty room becomes filled with hope, connection, light, and beauty. Keep holding the candle in the dark room. Darkness cannot exist where light is found."
On this episode, we bring back the co-founder of Stand By Survivors and host of The Imagination Podcast Emma Pietrzak to discuss what we're doing with the organization, how her podcast is going, and the general state of the world. It is always so much fun to bring Emma back and connect with her. Since we had last had Emma on our podcast, Bridget's parents came down with Co-V and ended up staying in the hospital for a few weeks. Bridget discusses what she did to help her parents and what she's doing now that they are home safe and sound. It truly is a blessing that Bridget was able to learn and apply all the healing techniques over the past few months to help her parents heal. We also discuss the importance of bringing and being the light in this world. It is important that even though some days you feel like you are the only one standing in faith and holding the light of truth, know that you are truly not alone. People are listening, even when it doesn't seem like it.
Our guest today was a lady that Bridget's family introduced us to a few months back. Tina also lives in our area, so we were lucky enough to meet up for a late lunch at a local coffee shop and have a conversation about beliefs, projects, and organizations. Tina has been awake for many, many years, so it was a great conversation and always wonderful to learn from people who have more knowledge and information than we do. Before we left that day, we promised to bring Tina onto our podcast to discuss the dangers v@ccines play on our children. Tina runs the organization Learn the Risk...an organization started by her dear friend Brandy Vaughan. Tina discusses Brandy's life and reason for starting Learn the Risk. As you'll hear in this podcast, there is plenty to discuss about vaccine dangers and the state of the world. If you are curious about what you should do with your child's v@ccines, this is the episode for you. If you know someone who is having a baby, please share this episode with them so they can get another perspective on this controversial topic. Tina gives great information and advice on how to research product inserts and learning the dangers of what these commonly given shots can do to our children. Becky has spent the last 12-18 months clearing heavy metal out of her son's bodies so that their behavioral issues would be reduced. With the help of food coloring and heavy metal removal one son has completely removed ADHD and anxiety medication and the other one is on the lowest dose for his size/age ADHD medication and is reducing his anxiety medication. It is so important to know the information behind what they are trying to push so that you can make an educated decision for your children.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" Ephesians 6:10-17
On this episode we bring back Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) survivor Lisa Meister to talk about Halloween, the meaning behind what you see and potentially participate in. Because our country has indoctrinated us to believe that these pagan and evil holidays are okay, it is hard to hear why it would be bad. It's just about candy and costumes, right? But if you think about all the other holidays we celebrate as a nation...Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas...they all celebrate life or light in one way or another. Halloween is one of the only holidays that celebrates death. As a SRA survivor, Lisa joins us to connect the dots on what each item we use on Halloween means during a ritual. What we believe to be innocent can be directly tied to occult practices. It is important to know that evil like this truly exists and you should protect yourselves and your family from that evil...whatever you choose to do. This episode is truly meant to be informational, it is not meant to shame anyone or make someone feel that their decision is not valid. As you listen to this episode we want to say...please give yourself grace on this area. We know that people have been taught over the years to think Halloween is no big deal. When you know better you do better. As parents we completely understand that changing things like this is hard, it is different, and you need to plan out how to change it.
"Let All That You Do Be Done In LOVE" 1 Corinthians 16:14
In this episode we are going to pivot a little bit and talk about health. We have Andrea from Herbs from the Heart on our show today. Bridget met Andrea at our local farmers market and they struck up a conversation on healthy living... specifically to help Bridget's parents with their Co-V virus and helping them get out of the hospital. It is always great to get additional perspectives on healing our bodies from trauma, disease, or everyday living. Andrea is such a wealth of knowledge and information and a pleasure to talk to. Becky used her own health journey and asked questions of Andrea to begin doing some personal work in health and healing of her autoimmune issues. Although herbal remedies may not solve all issues as quickly as western medicine, it is a great place to start when you are looking to heal your body naturally. Begin slowly, expect it to take some time, adjust regularly...and remember, it took so many years to get to a state of dysregulation, that it will not be healed over night. But if you can take one less ibuprofen, feel happier more times than not, and have less inflammation within your body, you're on the right track to feeling better and healing yourself holistically. Join us on our journey and conversation with Andrea. And connect with her if you are interested in discussing your personal health and concerns.
On today's episode we are talking to Kevin Sutherland, a survivor from the UK that has an amazing story. If you haven't listened to Kevin's story on The Imagination, please go to our sister podcast hear his story. He was raised in a care home that from the outside looked like a respectable place for children. Unfortunately, it was anything but respectable on the inside and Kevin was abused and saw other children abused. Because of his abuse, Kevin struggled with mental health issues, unsure of who he really was meant to be. As he was figuring himself out, he turned the game around on the pedophiles. Unfortunately he had to pay the price with some jail time, but all I can say is that some heroes don't wear capes. We're going to focus on some of the grooming he had to go through and talk about the mental health aspect of his younger years. We don't get through all our questions during this episode, so stay tuned for Part 2 with Kevin at a future date.
Jorge Ventura is a field reporter and contributor to the Daily Caller. You will often see his stories about what is going on at the boarder cities throughout Texas, California and Arizona. He also has his own news channel called the Ventura Report. His goals in creating the channel were to be able to provide coverage on politics that focused on just the facts. So many people are tired of mainstream media due to their bias while reporting. His news stories are raw, real, unbiased, and truthful. We definitely appreciate his work and are so excited to have him on our podcast. A few weeks ago, Jorge was in southern Arizona filming the illegal immigrants crossing into the United States when a coyote (a human smuggler) pulled a gun on him and threatened his life for recording what he saw. Although he is safe, it is still a nerve wracking situation, but one of heroism as Jorge was able to bring the footage to light. This episode seems like it is different from our standard podcasts guests, but once you realize the dangers that the border crisis brings to our country, you'll quickly realize that it fits right in with our content. Human trafficking, drug smuggling, and illegal border crossing is all part of a larger, more sinister problem that doesn't just impact southern borders, it impacts every state in this union. Trafficked humans and smuggled drugs don't stay at the border, they make there way around the country and destroy families all across this great nation. Take the time to listen to the heroic stories Jorge tells us about what he is seeing at the border, then start pushing your legislation...no matter which state you're in to begin fighting this fight. It impacts us all, and will take the entire nation to get behind. This is much bigger than a wall...but once you realize what that wall prevents and protects, you'll get on board as well.
We are always blessed to have such strong fighters on our podcast, and this episode will be a treat for you guys! On this episode we have actor and producer John Paul Rice. John began his career working on Remember the Titan's in the early 2000s. In 2008, he formed No Restrictions Entertainment with director Edgar Michael Bravo. They have since released 6 critically acclaimed films. Next year, they will be releasing their 7th feature called Game Day. A few years ago, they released a movie called A Child's Voice...a supernatural thriller about a runaway teen who answers a child calling out for help and is sent on a journey to find a human trafficking network run by the child's killer. It's a great movie if you get the chance to watch it. You may have heard the name John Paul Rice from social media and a video he created a little over a year ago where he exposed pedophilia. Although John has been a huge advocate for human trafficking, he is a wealth of information and this episode covers all sorts of topics. Get your notepad ready and your thinking cap on because we're talking about all sorts of things.
Today we're going to take a step away from the heavy discussions and talking to survivors and have a conversation about society's influences and how it impacts mental health. We will discuss how you can prevent those impacts and think about what it means to be an influential person in the world. On today's episode, we have Bridget's sister and brother-in-law Alexis and Randy. They created the brand Under the Influence. An apparel company that wants to rewrite the narrative of what it means to be influential in the world. Alexis and Randy work with many young athletes, teaching them how to become great influencers by being great people. As we discuss in this episode and they talk about with the athletes, think of a time when an athlete comes over and signs a ball for a kid or waves to them in the stands. You have a fan for life with very little effort. It is so important to make sure the influence you are under makes an impact on others. We also spend some time discussing married life, children, and living through God's purpose. Alexis and Randy are wonderful people and it was a joy to chat with them about what they are doing through their brand and their connections with athletes. There will be many people better off because of the generosity offered through this couple.
On today's episode we are talking again to Kevin Sutherland, a survivor from the UK that has an amazing story. This is Kevin's second time on our show, so please take the time to listen to Part 1 as we will pick up where we left off. During this episode, we talk about Kevin’s healing journey and how it’s been difficult to heal when you’re not given the truth about your past. Corrupt systems, lack of interest, and falsified documents make for a constant uphill battle. We discuss his family and their current relationship and his mental health. As Kevin continues his journey to clear his name and get traction with his story, we’ll stay in touch and keep you posted.
On today's episode we are talking to three veterans who have bravely served our country. Although they served in different branches, music is what brings them together today. Most recently, you may have heard a phrase "Let's Go Brandon". Well our guests today are three amazing rappers who created a song celebrating the phrase and calling out the situation we find ourselves in. Topher, The Marine Rapper, and D. Cure are veteran, conservative, musicians who have come together through the power of music and patriotism to create the group Space Force. Their song "Let's Go Brandon" has shown up on numerous billboard charts. Along with new music by each artist individually climbing charts as well. Although music is what these guys are doing now, we chat about their history, their service, the entertainment industry, and what brought them to this point. It is so refreshing to have a conversation with true patriots who have an amazing talent for taking current events and turning them into magic. Even if you are not a fan of hip hop or rap, their music appeals to all people...if nothing more than the musicality of it all. It blows my mind how creative and spot on they are. As independent artists, it is important that we support their music by purchasing their song. Although streaming does help a bit, actually purchasing songs or albums is what brings them higher on the charts. Let's show America who really runs this show by speaking with our dollars. Keep these guys high in the charts and let's support these amazing veteran patriots.
We are so incredibly excited to welcome back our very first podcast guest Jeremy Indika. There are so many incredible projects that Jeremy has been working on over the past 8 months and we are grateful that he is here to share them with us. If you didn't listen to the first episode with Jeremey (episode 5), please go back and listen to that one as we're going to jump right into what has been happening since. Last time we chatted, Jeremy had just gone and knocked on his abusers door. It didn't go the way he had hoped and unfortunately ended up in some legal trouble...but he explains to us what happened and where he current is with his case. Jeremy has been working on so many amazing things such as his YouTube channel, videos, and a new platform called Something to Say featuring survivors, believers, and truth tellers. Unfortunately, it takes a ton of money to continue to produce content that is palatable for people to want to watch/listen to while getting the main point across. He's doing a wonderful job and we'd love to see him continue his work. If you feel it in your heart to donate to Jeremy and his work, please click the donation page below. We can't believe how much can change in 8 months and we are so grateful that Jeremy stopped by to tell us about his work. We are blessed to have him as our very first guest and again this time... and can't wait to have him back on soon.
On this episode, we discuss our experiences and recoveries from having Co-V throughout these last few months. It started with Becky's parents getting sick and she decided that she would go over to their house to see if she could catch it. Well, she did...not terribly surprising...and this episode begins by talking about how her and her family handled the disease both physically and mentally. We welcome Peyton back to our podcast because he had a very interesting view on what happened. Becky is almost never sick and she was in bed for a few days resting. Since he has almost never seen her sick AND it was the virus in which propaganda has scared everyone with, he was extremely nervous. Luckily everyone in both families has weathered the storm and we're back to being healthy. During this time we also decided to move Peyton from traditional public school to homeschooling because of all the Co-V nonsense. We talk with him about how he feels being pulled from school and staying home, his emotional state before and after the decision, and what he wants other kids to know who are struggling right now. It's always fun to bring our kids onto our shows as we feel it gives the parents out there some insight into the minds of pre-teen and teenagers.
**The medication and protocol we used is available through multiple locations and worked wonders for us, however, we are not medical professionals and recommend doing your own research before following anything.**
There is no other way we'd rather kick 2021 to the curb than to reminisce with our girl Emma. 2021 was a WILD year and one that has brought us crazy times and great success! We bring it back to the beginning when we decided that Stand By Survivors would be a cool group name, that we should probably think about creating a podcast, and figuring out who we wanted to work with. Bridget's journal is FILLED with people we prayed we'd be able to interview and have and one's we're still waiting to chat with. We discuss our best times and our hardest times as podcast hosts, business owners, working ladies, and moms/wives. Each of us tells what we hope will come for us personally and professionally in 2022. And finally where we think the world is headed in the future. God has set our path for us and we are blessed to be together on this journey. Sometimes it's scary, sometimes it's overwhelming, but all the time it's filled with our passion for helping survivors and love for each other. We are so excited to see what 2022 has in store for us and we thank you all for sticking by us.
Prayer of Protection: Dear Heavenly Father~ Surround us today with Your unending love. Give us the ability to speak into the hearts and minds of the people listening today. You God are the one who knows what each listener needs to hear... please allow us to shepherd that message to them as you see fit. As we move forward in this next year, we ask you Jesus to give us your grace, forgive our sins, and give us the discernment to follow your path for each of us and as an organization. You are the way, the truth, and the light. God, please place a hedge of protection around this podcast, around us as the hosts, and around all the listeners, that they God will not only feel your glory, but will be protected from the evil that is trying so very hard to win their hearts. And finally, help us to be strong in you Lord...that we come to You with whatever is on our hearts and minds this day. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
On today's episode, we are talking to trafficking survivor Allison Heagle. For those of you who have Tik Tok, Allison has been bravely and boldly speaking out on that platform about her experiences. She is intensely patient with her audience, answering questions repeatedly and dealing with the trolls that continue to discredit her lived experience. Allison grew up in a loving home with her parents, but as many teenagers do, she had a rebellious streak. About 5 years ago she met a man through a coworker who she believed to be closer in age and ended up in a trafficking situation. She was stuck and in a bad place for about 3 years until she was able to finally escape. Her parents never gave up hope and even allowed her to move back into their house, just happy that she was alive and under their care. Unfortunately, Allison took the fall for some crimes and is now fighting those as well. But she is now, using her experiences and her connection with God to share her story. We are so blessed to have Allison on today to tell you her story so you can hopefully gather some tools to help you parent or lead young ones.
On todays episode we are talking to Brandon and Breanna, the founders of Red Light Rebellion. They are a local (Arizona) group that goes out into the community and speaks primarily to kids in 7th to 12th grades about the dangers they face with human and sex trafficking, having healthy relationships, and the dangers of pornography. Although teens are their focus, they also speak to parents, churches, and communities in the area as this is something we all need to be aware of. We discuss what Brandon and Breanna are seeing when visiting schools, talk about some scary statistics plaguing our kids, and what they’re doing to fight against it. At Red Light Rebellion they know there is a movement all around the world of young people fighting against sex trafficking, and they are creating a culture that is intolerant of exploitation. This generation is igniting a rebellion against sex trafficking like history has never seen before! We encourage listening to this episode with your teen as a way to start communication about difficult topics. You might be surprised by what they already know from friends and peers.
This episode was recorded as an Instagram live a few weeks back. It was a great conversation with independent country artist Rick Lynn. A musician who is writing powerful music that stands up for freedom and what is right, while working and raising a family. Rick tells us how he likes to create music that means something to himself and others while staying away from a political agenda. He wants music that will speak to you and be something you can listen to in your car with your entire family. We discuss how important it is to invest in yourself no matter what goal you have. To continue to plant seeds, move forward, and be true to yourself. Success is measured in different ways, but it's always important to look back and say you tried something or you stood up for something even if it doesn't result in high levels of fame. Rick says "If you can change people's lives and you can make money doing what you love, then you've made it in music." What's his advice for the next generation? "People will judge you no matter what, so just be yourself." It's easy to hide behind a computer screen or a social media handle, so most of the time you don't know them. Don't let those people dictate your attitude and forward movement. Stay positive, find your tribe, and stay true to yourself.
Continuing our series on the message and inspiration behind the music, in this episode we are speaking to Alexandria (Alex) Kutcher an independent artist with a sultry voice who was noticed for her cover of the Evanescence song Bring Me To Life. It was so spot on that it ended up getting a reshare by lead singer Amy Lee. We spent some time talking about how she is writing and creating create music while holding down a full-time job and being present in her marriage with her husband Austin. She discusses how important it is to grow your voice and name in the area you are in by doing the consistent work. Our conversation was an encouragement to those who are independent artists because you don't need a record label to become a household name, you just need to be true to yourself, write good songs, and keep on pushing through. The podcast continues with us talking about her new song 6am and discussing the importance of fostering your marriage. 6am is a brief look into the 10 year relationship between Alex and Austin with a nod to the vows Austin said to her on their wedding day. We discuss the world view of marriage and what we, as Christian wives, believe marriage should be and who we strive to be within our marriages. It's a good conversation for those married or single as something to consider.
We are chatting today with VBDC aka Seth, the man behind Venice Beach Dub Club. At the time of this recording, Seth had the #1 reggae album called Purebloods. VBDC stood up against social justice issues even while watching his connections and friends walk away. He is an outspoken, freedom loving, God-fearing influencer who leads the nightly live show Talkie Time. We spend time talking about human trafficking, abortion, education, and the crazy ways of the world. This episode shows that all genres of music, types of people, all backgrounds, can stand up together to become a bigger sphere of influence for our children. Everyone looks up to musicians...music runs our lives. Celebrities, athletes, politicians all use music for their platform, musicians don't need those people for their music. So if we can find a way to change the narrative of the music being creating, we create that better landscape for future generations. "You can fool a man a thousand times before you can make a man admit he was wrong once" - Mark Twain. That is the situation we are in today in the world. We have to be willing to admit we've been fooled so we're not perpetuating the problem. VBDC has found that standing for freedom comes at a cost, but it has ultimately paid off. His message and inspiration behind his music is strong and he is proud to be able to support the underserved population who is standing up for what is right.
BONUS EP! On this episode, we are joined by Emma from 'The Imagination' for an amazing collab episode! We are so honored to introduce to you today - Annette Rauch. Annette has an extraordinary survivor story we will be discussing - she was involved in child trafficking after her parents handed her off to her first handler as a child, and the trafficking continued into her adult life as she was passed along from new handler to handler. Today she bravely stands before you as she fights for her freedom, the freedom of her children who are currently in the hands of corrupt CPS, and her passion for being on the forefront of fighting for Human Trafficking Awareness. On March 6th, 2022, Annette is championing a NATIONWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING MARCH that we will be announcing and covering also in this episode. We want to empower you all to take ownership by learning the how's and WHYS of creating and participating in marches bringing awareness to this difficult topic that affects so many worldwide. Talking about human and child trafficking is great, but we all want to encourage you all to take the next step - which is ACTION! One of the other things you will see Annette doing is going up to random strangers in random locations and questioning them about human trafficking and CPS on camera. Some of the responses she gets are inspirational and others are shocking. But regardless, when it comes to taking ‘action’, Annette is leading the pack through her example! Annette is truly a walking miracle who has seen and survived the depths of hell and who stands before you today as an angel to the children and a Child of God doing God’s work. Our hope is that this episode will INSPIRE you to create or join a march on March 6th, 2022!
This episode we are joined again by Hip-Hop artist and Air Force Veteran D. Cure. If you haven't listened to episode 39 with Space Force, we recommend listening to that episode first. Although it is not necessary to hear that episode first, it will help with some context to what we continue with in this conversation. We begin this episode with D. Cure's song Home, a song based on his struggle with alcoholism. He bravely shares with us the difficulties he faced through this time with marriage, his military service, and mental health. He ended up asking God to take him "Home" because he couldn't take the pain of the struggle anymore. Thank God, he survived and has made it through to be able to be with us today writing and singing such strong and compelling music. The conversation continues with us talking about how it's okay to not be okay, but by changing your path you can change your family. D. Cure discusses walking in his purpose, being a man of God, a vet, a husband, and living a sober lifestyle. He uses his platform to not only encourage others with music, but also by using humor on his social media to give people something lighthearted in this dark world. He reminisces about how life was before he found God again, found his amazing wife, and lived 7 years sober. We never know what the next day will bring us, but if we start out by taking the first step, you never know what God has in store for you.