Most people think they know what human trafficking looks like, until they hear how it actually happens. We sit down with Theresa Flores, survivor and founder of The SOAP Project, to name the myths that keep exploitation hidden in plain sight and to explain why many survivors don’t even recognize the label “human trafficking” when it’s applied to them.

We talk through the realities that rarely make it into pop culture: grooming that starts like a romance, coercion that tightens over time, and the heartbreaking truth that trafficking is not always about kidnapping. Theresa also opens up about the long tail of trauma, including PTSD, triggers in everyday situations, and the way the body remembers. This conversation is for anyone who wants human trafficking awareness grounded in facts, compassion, and real-world context, not sensational stories.

From there, we get practical about survivor support and long-term healing. Theresa shares what she’s learned from years of wellness retreats and therapeutic weekends, where small choices and respectful care help survivors reconnect with their bodies, rebuild agency, and reclaim a sense of worth. We also dig into shame and silence, why people blame themselves, and how community members can show up without judgment or harmful questions.

If you care about prevention, trauma-informed support, and solutions that mobilize communities, press play, then subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review so more people can find it.

To learn more about The SOAP Project visit:
https://www.SOAPProject.org
The SOAP Project
803-566-SOAP (7627)

Silence is where human trafficking grows, but community is where it starts to lose. We sit down with Rebecca Stewart from DAFS Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, the 2025 Liberator Award recipient, to talk about what survivor support looks like when it is practical, compassionate, and built for the long haul. From emergency shelter to counseling and outreach, DAFS serves victims of domestic violence, stalking, family violence, and human trafficking across southeast Mississippi and far beyond, especially because they welcome pets, a barrier that keeps many people from leaving unsafe situations.

We also pull back the curtain on the Liberator Awards, created by survivor leader Theresa Flores and fellow survivor Tasha Hogan to honor the people doing the hardest work and to celebrate survivors with the kind of formal recognition many never got to experience. We share why the event matters, what it feels like to be in a room full of survivors and advocates, and how the night combines a powerful mission with community building through dinner, music, a silent auction, and more. The biggest takeaway is that recognition is not fluff. It is a connector that strengthens networks, spreads knowledge, and helps organizations stay resourced so doors stay open.

If you have ever wondered how to help without guessing, this conversation makes it clear. You can nominate someone, vote during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January, attend the March ceremony, or support through sponsorships and donations. Subscribe, share this with someone who cares about protecting kids and supporting survivors, and leave a review so more people find the show.

To learn more about The SOAP Project visit:
https://www.SOAPProject.org
The SOAP Project
803-566-SOAP (7627)

If you want to understand why sex trafficking keeps thriving even when victims are rescued and traffickers are arrested, we have to talk about the part many people avoid: demand. I’m joined by survivor and The SOAP Project founder Theresa Flores for a direct, compassionate conversation about the buyers who keep the market alive and the myths that protect them.

We break down the common story that prostitution is “harmless” or that people in commercial sex are simply choosing easy money, and we talk about the violence and coercion that so often sit behind the scenes. Theresa connects the dots between vulnerability, grooming, and the way traffickers exploit unmet needs like safety, shelter, and belonging. We also look at how the internet, social media, and even chat features in online games can create access points that predators use to target kids.

Then we move into what demand reduction actually looks like: men holding other men accountable, churches and community leaders addressing porn addiction and normalization, and practical programs that focus on buyers, including “John school” approaches and law enforcement stings. If you’ve ever wondered what you can do beyond sharing headlines, this conversation offers clear next steps rooted in awareness and action.

Subscribe for more conversations that turn awareness into protection, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show and help end human trafficking.

To learn more about The SOAP Project visit:
https://www.SOAPProject.org
The SOAP Project
803-566-SOAP (7627)