Children aren't usually taken by force. More often, they're groomed. It begins with attention, friendship, and trust. Long before families recognize what's happening, someone behind a screen has already started building a relationship. In this episode, Eileen Dong shares how online grooming has changed the landscape of human trafficking, why children are especially vulnerable online, and what parents, educators, and communities need to understand before it's too late. This conversation exposes how traffickers earn trust, why victims often don't realize they're being manipulated, and how awareness can become the first line of prevention.
When Beth Reid first felt pulled into the fight against human trafficking, she didn't have training or a background in the field. She knew how to be a mom, she wanted to help, and she was willing to start somewhere. What followed was a journey that eventually brought David alongside her, and helped shape an idea much bigger than either of them doing the work alone. In this episode, Beth and David Reid share how their involvement grew from a personal conviction into the community behind redM. They unpack why fighting trafficking requires more than a handful of experts, how people's everyday skills and connections can become part of the solution, and why creating a place where people can contribute may be one of the most powerful ways to grow the movement. The conversation also turns to how trafficking continues to evolve, especially as grooming moves online and can look like an ordinary relationship to someone who doesn't know the signs. It's a reminder of why awareness matters, but also why awareness becomes far more powerful when people know they have something to contribute.
Human trafficking doesn’t always begin with a stranger. Sometimes it begins with someone a child already trusts. In this episode, Jacquelyn Aluotto shares nearly two decades of experience fighting trafficking and explains what her work uncovered about peer-to-peer exploitation inside schools. She breaks down how friendship, romantic attention, drugs, social media, and a child’s need to belong can become entry points for grooming, and why these risks cross economic lines and school districts. Jacquelyn also shares the work behind Texas’ No Trafficking School Zone Act, survivor-informed awareness efforts, and practical ways parents can create the kind of relationship where their children feel safe asking for help. 💡 Key Takeaways
How grooming can begin with a friendship at school
Why trafficking risk isn't limited to certain communities
The connection between social media, drugs, and exploitation
Why shame can keep children from asking for help
How stronger boundaries can help children recognize when something is wrong
Human trafficking does not happen “somewhere else.”
Sometimes purpose starts with something small.
Trafficking feels like someone else’s issue until it lands close enough to change how you see everything.
Human trafficking gets politicized quickly, but Adam Stielstra makes the case that it should not be.
Trafficking is often misunderstood as force or abduction. But for many, the harm begins in a relationship — with someone trusted.
Most parents never imagine they will need a plan for grooming or trafficking. But when something feels off, hesitation can cost time you do not have.
Most parents believe they’re doing enough to keep their kids safe online. But the digital world is changing faster than most families realize.
A lot of parents think protection means rules, filters, and checkboxes. But in today’s digital world, that is not enough.
How do you talk to children about hard realities without overwhelming them?
In this episode of The Movement, Carrie Harney shares the extraordinary story of how discovering the definition of trafficking gave her the clarity to understand her own past—and how that understanding fueled a powerful journey toward healing and advocacy.
Hotels are often hiding trafficking in plain sight, and many of us are walking right past it without realizing.
When we think of trafficking, we often think it happens somewhere else — or to someone else. But the truth is, it's happening in our own neighborhoods. And understanding that is the first step in truly making a difference.
When you think about fighting human trafficking, international politics or high-risk rescues might come to mind. But for Ramesh Anand, it starts much closer to home — with culture, conversation, and community influence.
Throughout the conversation, Jason explains how anyone, regardless of experience or profession, can find their place in this fight. Whether it’s using your voice, your skills, or your time, this episode will challenge you to consider the unique role you can play.
For many victims of human trafficking, escape is only the first step. After completing safe housing programs, they often face another challenge: securing stable, independent housing. Without it, they are at high risk of being exploited again.
When you first learn about human trafficking, the scope of the problem can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start?
Keisha shares how one company’s effort to do good uncovered a truth close to home—and why companies that care must start with their people.
Can a business make money and fuel a movement to fight exploitation? For Mark LaCour, the answer is yes, and it's not charity. It's culture.
What does grooming actually look like—and why do so many parents miss the signs?
What does trafficking really look like? For Kathy Gibbons, it looked like getting dropped off in a quiet, upscale neighborhood—while being exploited behind the scenes.
What happens when two moms realize trafficking isn't just a global crisis—it’s happening less than a mile from their kids’ school?
What if the person sitting next to you had been trafficked—and you never knew?
