Red X Podcast: Ending Human Trafficking And Modern Slavery

Host Nicole Bernard talks with Dr. Tasha Levert of Broomtree Counseling about the role of pornography in the world of human trafficking.

The Red X Podcast presents a special panel episode to explore the effect of the Coronavirus Pandemic on human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community. Guests include Leanne McCallum from the Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force, Melissa Rueschhoff  who worked in Hawaii's AG office as an analyst/special prosecutor in the ICAC unit (currently working with policy and is the legislative attorney for a state representative in Hawaii), and Nick Lembo coordinator for the Just Men Arizona/Epik Project and Shared Hope International board member. This panel discussion focuses on how the Covid-19 pandemic and social isolation is impacting service providers, vulnerable populations, and demand.  Melissa says that anti-trafficking groups in HI have all had to shift from face to face conversations to online communication for their main service providers. Mentoring and education programs have gone online; instead of meeting in person or in groups discussions and check-ins have moved to online platforms to

Dr. Karen Lambie joins Lance and Nicole to talk about the foster care system and how it crosses paths with the trafficking of children. Lance and Nicole welcome Sonya Edwards, a volunteer for Shield North Carolinaand foster mother. Sonya and Nicole interview Dr. Karen Lambie, a Shared HopeAmbassador on the link between foster care and human trafficking. As the nation becomes more aware of human trafficking, it seems that the public’s reaction is to cling to tightly to their children in parks and stores. Media stories circulate about a mothers and young children followed in large businesses such as Costco or Ikea and the assumption is that kidnappers are lurking, ready to grab a toddler at the first instance that the mother looks away. But according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, less than 1% of missing children are from non-family abductions;and although those abductors have only nefarious intent, even that 1% is not comprised of all human trafficking. However, of the 23, 500 runaw

Nicole Bernard of Shield NC and Erin Wallin report on their progress in Washington DC as they meet with influencers to help develop legislation and executive orders to help fight human trafficking and facilitate better restitution for survivors (i.e. victims).

Guest Leanne McCallum of the Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force. Zydeco. Christmas Tree. Sugar Bowl. Gators.

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In the 15th episode, Lance and Nicole welcome guest John Paul Rice, film producer from A Child’s Voice. They discuss the opening of a fire station with a police car bay, NCMEC and an ice breaker quiz on film. Nicole reports on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Red X Podcast is produced and co-hosted by Lance Olive, the mayor of Apex, NC. Nicole Bernard is the host and director of the anti-human trafficking organization, Shield North Carolina. Lance talks about attending the opening of Public Safety Station #5 where the police and fire department are jointly housed. The launch event involved a variety of activities for the children where they got to pretend to put out a fire.  Lance had to haul a 170-pound dummy to safety and it was no joke! Having police and fire departments jointly housed reminds the hosts of previous guest, Colleen Merced who is the director of a child advocacy center in which all the services are hubbed in one physical location to streamline victim care. Nicole an

On the fourteenth episode of the Red X Podcast, Nicole welcomes child trafficking survivor, Allison who shares her story of exploitation and restoration. In the news, an Ohio sting recovers 12 men including an elementary teacher. Lance’s air conditioning broke and he explains how he fixed it. Nicole comments on her favorite place to work, a noisy coffee shop where she gets the most work done. Ohio’s Task Force recently staged a 3 day undercover operationinto child exploitation and sex trafficking through the internet that resulted in the arrest of 12 men. Although the actual sting was over the course of 3 days, the involved agencies planned the operation over more than a month and a half. Law enforcement did not want to disclose their strategy, but did say the average age of children they thought buyers were purchasing were between 14 and 15 years and were both male and female. The 12 men ran the ages of 21 to 50. Perhaps most disturbingly, one of the men was an elementary school Physical Education teacher.

In the thirteenth episode of the Red X Podcast, Nicole interviews Colleen Merced from the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center in Syracuse, NY. In the news, are social media posts about child abductions for human trafficking true? Leah Hartman, a new advocate, co-hosts.             Lance talks about his morning at the Apex Farmer’s Market and breakfast from the Wandering Moose, a moose brisket biscuit. Nicole reports on her recent visit to DC with Episode 009’s guest, Erin Wallinto present legislation to create better restitution for child pornography victims. Nicole and Erin met with staffers and got encouraging feedback from Senator Bob Corker’s representatives.    For many people, social media is the first place they get their news. Unfortunately, Facebook posts aren’t the most reliable sources about nearly escaped human trafficking abductions. Posts from alleged parents, grandparents or witnesses about how they and their children were followed by child traffickers often go viral. And even though they may g

            On episode 11 of the Red X Podcast, Lance and Nicole speak with Tracy Hughes from Tamar’s Tapestry on the Texas-Mexico border. Nicole reports from one Texas news source that cites fear of trafficking as one factor in separating children at the border. Lance talks about his cats (Moe and Kiki) and how cats go through the door quickly if you open the door. Nicole says she’s experienced this phenomenon with dogs when she went to Molly Stillman’shouse and accidentally let her dogs out. Nicole ran down the road yelling “Tater Tot!” (not the name of the dog, oops). Lance suggests this could be the start of a food truck venture. In the news, Nicole reports from My Statesman, about fears of human trafficking being a factor in separating children from their parents at the border of Texas and Mexico. The article states that Texas’s Rio Grande Valley is where most families have been crossing the border in recent years. In fact, the Border patrol has reported more than 450 cases of fraud among children and

In this episode of the Red X Podcast, Nicole and Lance speak with Karen Diers the director of Refuge for Women in Las Vegas that provides housing and restoration services for women who are victims of sex trafficking. In the news, a Smallville actress is arrested on human trafficking charges. Lance tells the story about seeing the movie, Upgrade, a sci-fiction (Lance’s favorite) with his wife, Cheryl. The main character finds out how AI changes his life. A lot of the cars in the movie help date the movie to the near future. Cheryl didn’t enjoy it quite as much as Lance because of some violence. But overall, Lance gives it a thumbs up! Nicole recounts a trip to DC to meet with NC senators’ reps about Erin Wallin’s proposal for getting higher restitution for child pornography victims. Erin is an attorney in TN and was a guest on the Red X Podcast, episode 009. Nicole and Erin are going back to DC in July to talk to more senators next month. On this episode’s icebreaker, Lance asks Nicole trivia questions about a

Today on the Red X Podcast, Lance and Nicole speak with Erin Wallin, child support prosecutor in Tennessee and how child pornography victims could receive higher restitution through copyright law. In the news, Nicole tells how child pornographers are being beaten at their own game.   Mayor Lance Olive tells about his recent trip to the Linemen Rodeo. Linemen are the community responders who repair the telephone poles. Each year they sponsor an event in which linemen compete in a variety of scenarios that will test their skills.   Erin and Nicole recount the story of the shark blimp toy that Erin and her husband Bart brought as a gift for Nicole’s kids. When Bart brought the shark outside, it quickly ascended and Bart ended up chasing it for miles. Lance suggests that when it finally did come down, it might have inspired the movie, Sharknado.     On this episode’s icebreaker, Lance asks what Nicole and Erin like about science fiction. Nicole’s favorite sci-fi’s are dystopias like Hunger Gamesand Ender’s Game.

Lance and Nicole welcome Whitney as co-host. Cary Heise is guest and talks about Designed for Joy, a fashion business that values and hires women who need opportunity. Back page website is shutdown. We discuss Easter weekend events and try the "witness protection program" game as an ice breaker.

Lance tells about his paint date. Nicole explains being vegetarian. Whitney and Nicole rank annoying driving habits. Nicole tells about an IJM report about a Philippine arrest. IJM's Whitney Ludlow explains cyber trafficking and international impacts.

On this episode of the Red X Podcast, Nicole reports on a case of domestic labor trafficking in Fayetteville, NC involving children working for a fish market, and Nicole and Lance interview Sargent Michael Hardin about his experience leading the only Human Trafficking Police Unit in the state of North Carolina. Nicole shares about her abhorrence for snow. Lance celebrates his fifty-fourth birthday by adding to his converse shoe collection with wife Cheryl’s birthday gift. The only color he is lacking is green! Nicole also reports on her family’s adventures in mountain climbing in their family formed club, the Mountain of the Month Club, and their hike up Occoneechee mountain in Hillsborough. Lance asks the icebreaker—what animal attribute would you most like to possess? Nicole claims the speed of a deer, while Lance wants some canine teeth for a lion smile. In the news: John McCollum calls himself “Chief apostle”. Almost a year ago, two former members of his religious organization reported that McCollum was f

Lance welcomes the listener to the Red X Podcast. This episode features Private Investigator, Michael Longmire from the North Carolina Board of Massage and Body Therapy. Nicole also reports on a recent sting in Knightdale. Lance Olive shares a recent date night with wife Cheryl in which they watched the movie, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter And Nicole tells the story of wiping out in a roller skating race at a local rink. As an icebreaker, Lance asks questions about New Year’s Eve trivia. Did you know that in Spain, it’s tradition to stuff a grape into your mouth for every bong of the clock at midnight? It's called The Twelve Grapes of Luck. In Mexico, the color of your underwear reflects your hopes for the new year and in Denmark, neighbors throw pots and pans at neighbors’ doors as a symbol of well-wishing. Nicole reports on a recent sting operation to shut down an illegal massage business operating in a small North Carolina town that was a front for a brothel. The business was being run by a woman. An em

In this episode of the Red X Podcast, Nicole reports on the Cyntoia Brown story that has resurfaced in social media and the news; Cyntoia, a trafficking and trauma survivor, was charged with the murder as a 16-year-old, which she claims was self-defense. And, guest expert, Dr. Heather Pane Seifert answers questions regarding why trafficking victims don’t leave their trafficker even if given opportunities to escape. [caption id="attachment_95" align="alignleft" width="238"] Caesar Salad with Anchovies[/caption] Mayor Lance Olive tells the story about how he went to a mayor’s conference in Wilmington, NC and got food poisoning from a bad anchovy. Nicole shares some information on how to tell a bad anchovy from a good one—check the eyes. If the eyes are red, that fish has gone bad. She also shares a yearlong family experiment to startle extra-laid back husband Tommy. The episode’s icebreaker includes major league baseball trivia from Lance to little league baseball-mom, Nicole. [caption id="attachment_96" align=

On this episode of the Red X Podcast, Nicole and Lance interview Sarah Bendsten from Shared Hope International. Also, Nicole reports on Minnesota’s new task force. [caption id="attachment_87" align="alignleft" width="345"] Christmas Tree Lighting[/caption] Lance and Nicole chat about Apex’s annual Christmas tree lighting in which Lance teased that the tree was solar powered and had the parents all take a picture of the tree and the children with the flash to turn on the town Christmas lights! Lance asks the listener to send in ideas for how Apex should light the tree next year at the Red X podcast website: http://redxpodcast.com/contact/. In this week’s icebreaker, Lance asks why people do trust falls. In the movie, Unbridled, which tells the story of the recovery of a young trafficking victim, the girls do a trust fall exercise at the equine therapy stables. Nicole comments on the difficulty children who have been severely abused have with trust. Appropriate trust must quite literally be taught again to chil

In this second episode, the Red X Podcast reviews how Congress is making it illegal for internet providers to advertise sex for children online. Also Nacole, the mother of a survivor of sex trafficking and advocate who is featured in the I Am Jane Doe documentary, is interviewed about her fight in bringing down Backpage.com. The Red X Podcast is designed to take the immense issue of human trafficking and help break it into smaller pieces so that the listener is empowered to take action at a local level.   Nicole, the host of the Red X Podcast, introduces friend and fellow advocate, Brooke Burris. Brooke is an attorney who represents the Lynch Foundation for Children, which supports efforts to prevent children becoming trafficking victims. Brooke is a former Miss South Carolina and has worked with private investigators to rescue runaway youth through Saved in America.     Nicole talks about juggling four children with advocacy work and producer of the Red X Podcast and Mayor Lance Olive shares how he got to us