In this episode of The Masculine Wilderness, host Tom Perez sits down with Jess Muñoz, founder and CEO of Hoʻoʻa Na Pua, to explore her transformative journey from a nurse to a frontline advocate battling child trafficking and exploitation. Jess opens up about the roots of her personal calling, revealing how Hawaiian culture, trauma-informed care, and a deep understanding of masculinity intertwine in the work of healing and prevention.

Listeners will uncover powerful insights into how men can step forward as active change-makers dismantling systems of harm. From the hidden intersections of tourism and trafficking to redefining fatherhood and confronting the cultural impact of pornography, this conversation invites every listener to rethink what strength and compassion truly mean in the modern world.

It’s an episode about courage, cultural identity, and the radical power of community action, the kind that inspires us to look inward so we can change what’s around us.

Keywords: trauma-informed care, Hawaii, child trafficking, masculinity, healing, survivor advocacy, fatherhood, cultural identity, demand reduction, community mobilization

Key Topics:

• What trauma-informed care looks like in healing.
• Cultural influences that shape exploitation and recovery in Hawaii.
• The evolving role of masculinity and fatherhood in prevention.
• How pornography fuels demand and perpetuates exploitation.
• Concrete community and policy steps to protect children and build resilience.

Action Items:

• Join local men’s circles or community discussions about trafficking prevention.
• Fathers model emotional presence and accountability at home.
• Support organizations and policies protecting children from exploitation.
• Educate yourself and others about the connection between pornography and demand.
• Share this episode to start tough but necessary conversations.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Masculine Wilderness Podcast

00:27 The Birth of Ho'o'a Na Pua

00:54 Recognizing Child Exploitation

02:19 Creating Healing Pathways for Victims

04:03 The Moment of Realization

05:39 A Calling to Shine Light in Darkness

06:52 Understanding the Indicators of Exploitation

08:47 The Significance of Naming the Organization

10:50 Cultivating New Life for Children

11:45 Personalized Healing Journeys

15:10 Empowering Agency in Healing

16:42 Understanding Hawaii's Unique Challenges

18:54 The Intersection of Tourism and Trafficking

21:05 The Role of Geography and Economics

22:07 Men's Role in Addressing Trafficking

23:45 The Importance of Fatherhood

25:37 Holding Men Accountable

26:39 The Power of Presence

28:32 Challenging Malignant Masculinity

30:53 Cultural Nuances and Redefining Masculinity

32:13 The Impact of Pornography on Society

36:17 Understanding Trauma in Survivors

42:13 Trauma-Informed Care Explained

48:29 Men's Role in Healing and Prevention

52:02 Finding Hope and Purpose in Darkness

Let's Connect:

www.hoolanapua.org

www.epikproject.org

What if the most important victories in sports never show up on the scoreboard?

In this powerful episode of the Masculine Wilderness Podcast, Tom sits down with Spencer Crace, college football coach and mentor, for a deeply honest conversation about masculinity, leadership, and the sacred responsibility of shaping young men through sport.

Spencer shares his journey into coaching and the moments that refined his philosophy, not just about winning games, but about building character, resilience, and brotherhood. Together, they unpack the invisible pressures facing young men today: comparison culture, criticism, identity confusion, and the quiet loss of free play that once taught boys how to fail, adapt, and lead themselves.

This episode goes far beyond X’s and O’s. It’s about fatherhood, patience forged through injury, the power of accountability within a team, and why coaches may be some of the most influential male role models a young man ever encounters. Spencer offers a grounded, compelling vision of leadership, one rooted in presence, humility, and integrity.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple but radical idea: you don’t win on the field if you’re losing at home. For coaches, parents, and men alike, this episode is a reminder that the greatest measure of success is who you become and who you help others become along the way.

00:00 — Introduction to the Masculine Wilderness Podcast

02:02 — Spencer Crace: A Coach’s Journey

03:48 — Sports and Character Development

07:47 — Leadership Lessons from Youth Sports

10:51 — Criticism, Pressure, and Mental Toughness

14:21 — Injury and the Discipline of Patience

16:41 — Brotherhood and Team Culture

18:55 — Taking Team Values Into Real Life

22:29 — The Coach’s Role in Shaping Young Men

24:50 — Fatherhood and Coaching: Parallel Callings

29:29 — The Comparison Trap in Modern Sports

33:19 — Why Free Play Still Matters

36:03 — Challenges Facing Young Men Today

39:16 — Redefining What It Means to Win

Let's Connect:

www.epikproject.org

DONATE:

https://funraise.org/give/Epik-Project/6e9de4e6-5b6d-4333-bd08-c043cd690405/

What does healthy masculinity look like in one of the most hyper-masculine spaces in the world?

In this powerful episode of the Masculine Wilderness Podcast, Tom sits down with Megha Parekh, one of the few female executives working inside the NFL, for a rare and honest conversation about masculinity, leadership, and cultural change in professional sports.

Megha shares her journey into the league, navigating bias, earning trust, and helping shape environments where accountability and empathy aren’t liabilities, but strengths. Together, they explore the evolving realities of masculinity in sports, the slow but meaningful erosion of misogyny in the workplace, and why courageous conversations matter more now than ever.

This episode goes beyond locker rooms and boardrooms. Megha and Tom examine the outsized cultural influence of professional sports, how athletes and organizations model behavior for millions, and why mental health awareness, ethical leadership, and human dignity must be part of the conversation. From addressing exploitation and trafficking to mentoring young athletes, Megha offers a grounded, hopeful vision for what leadership can become.

This is a conversation about power, responsibility, and the freedom that comes from showing up as your full self, regardless of expectations.

00:00 — Introduction to Masculine Wilderness

01:24 — Megha’s Journey to the NFL

03:27 — Expanding Roles in Professional Sports

08:21 — The Complexity of Masculinity in Sports

14:10 — Addressing Misogyny and Bias

18:04 — Creating a Supportive Work Environment

24:22 — Empathy and Accountability in the Workplace

30:00 — The Influence of Professional Sports on Masculinity

31:59 — Raising Awareness Around Mental Health

36:59 — Collaborating for Social Change

41:27 — Understanding the Buyer in Human Trafficking

47:11 — Empathy and Accountability in Justice

51:19 — Planting Seeds of Courage in Young Athletes

52:27 — Finding Hope in Cultural Change

Let's Connect:

www.epikproject.org

https://www.instagram.com/epik_project/

https://www.jaguars.com/