New Season, New Episode!

Join us for Season 4 of Invading the Darkness—where survivor voices lead the way to justice, healing, and change.

In the Season 4 premiere, host and lived experience expert Yvonne is joined by Shared Hope’s Director of Training Advancement and special guest Rita—an advocate and overcomer who shares her powerful journey as a survivor of human trafficking. When Rita realized trafficking was happening right in her own neighborhood, she couldn’t stay silent. From her own survival to now boldly speaking truth in her city, Rita is on a mission to wake up the community and restore what was stolen. Together, they explore how awareness, education, and survivor leadership are essential to ending trafficking.

This episode sheds light on the urgent need for awareness at every level—from community members and educators to service providers and policymakers. Rita discusses how many young victims are misidentified or unaware they’re being trafficked, emphasizing the vital role of education in both prevention and recovery.

In this episode, you’ll hear Rita highlight real-world resources that help turn awareness into action, including Shared Hope’s JuST Training Conference and the White Van PSA and Toolkit—tools designed to equip communities and professionals with practical strategies to identify and prevent trafficking. To learn more about these impactful resources, visit SharedHope.org.

This episode is a powerful reminder that change starts close to home—and it starts with us.

Don’t forget to subscribe @sharedhopeinternational,
follow us on social media, and check out invadingthedarkness.org.
Visit https://invadingthedarkness.org/
Learn more about how you can take action https://sharedhope.org/justlikeme/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/appealforms/podcastsupport/

Now, if you’re ready, let’s invade the darkness together.

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Join us for a special season 4 pre-release episode of Invading the Darkness. Mikayla and Yvonne take a look back at how Shared Hope has been a leader in the field of anti-trafficking when addressing the issue of demand.

Talking about ending demand is the start of prevention and we want to remind listeners of the amazing work that Shared Hope has been able to accomplish for over two decades. We will always fight for the justice of survivors, but we must start by demanding justice and holing buyers accountable.

To read the full Demanding Justice Report, visit https://sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Demanding_Justice_Report_2014.pdf

Take a closer look at what victims endure when buyers exploit minors through sex trafficking—and learn how you can be part of the solution. Access EXPLOITED training today by visiting https://store.sharedhope.org/product/exploited/

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Welcome to "Invading the Darkness: Stories from the Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking." Join our hosts, lived-experience experts Yvonne and Kim, as they discuss the stories of other survivors in the movement and share valuable insights to help you join the fight against sex trafficking.

In this episode, Kim and Yvonne reflect on Season 3 and the importance of hearing and learning from survivor voices. At the end of the episode, we hear from Shared Hope International's Director of Training Advancements, Mikayla Simeral, about the importance of training and what we can look forward to in Season 4 of the podcast.

Don’t forget to subscribe @sharedhopeinternational,
Follow us on social media, and check out invadingthedarkness.org.
Visit https://invadingthedarkness.org/
Learn more about how you can take action https://sharedhope.org/justlikeme/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/donate/

Now, if you’re ready, let’s invade the darkness together.

Support the show

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Welcome to "Invading the Darkness: Stories from the Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking." Join our hosts, lived-experience experts Yvonne and Kim, as they discuss the stories of other survivors in the movement and share valuable insights to help you join the fight against sex trafficking.

Today, we will hear the second part of a powerful keynote from Shared Hope’s 2023 JuST Conference. In it, Tiffany and two members of her team share her story which exposes the justice system's failure to recognize Tiffany as a trafficking victim: An all-too-common reality for other survivors just like her.

You can use your voice to call for change and advocate for the victims still facing unjust criminalization! Contact your legislator by texting "Shared Hope" to 52886 or visit https://act.sharedhope.org/3EIafNY

Want to attend Shared Hope's JuST Training Conference and hear more inspiring and informative presentations like the one featured in this episode? Visit https://www.justconference.org/ to learn more!

Don’t forget to subscribe @sharedhopeinternational,
Follow us on social media, and check out invadingthedarkness.org.
Visit https://invadingthedarkness.org/
Learn more about how you can take action https://sharedhope.org/justlikeme/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/donate/

Now, if you’re ready, let’s invade the darkness together.

Support the show

Welcome to "Invading the Darkness: Stories from the Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking." Join our hosts, lived-experience experts Yvonne and Kim, as they discuss the stories of other survivors in the movement and share valuable insights to help you join the fight against sex trafficking.

Today, we will hear part of a powerful keynote from Shared Hope’s 2023 JuST Conference. In it, Tiffany and two members of her team share her story which exposes the justice system's failure to recognize Tiffany as a trafficking victim: An all-too-common reality for other survivors just like her.

You can use your voice to call for change and advocate for the victims still facing unjust criminalization! Contact your legislator by texting "Shared Hope" to 52886 or visit https://act.sharedhope.org/3EIafNY

Want to attend Shared Hope's JuST Training Conference and hear more inspiring and informative presentations like the one featured in this episode? Visit https://www.justconference.org/ to learn more!

Don’t forget to subscribe @sharedhopeinternational,
Follow us on social media, and check out invadingthedarkness.org.
Visit https://invadingthedarkness.org/
Learn more about how you can take action https://sharedhope.org/justlikeme/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/donate/

Now, if you’re ready, let’s invade the darkness together.

Support the show

Welcome to "Invading the Darkness: Stories from the Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking." Join our hosts, lived-experience experts Yvonne and Kim, as they discuss the stories of other survivors in the movement and share valuable insights to help you join the fight against sex trafficking.

Today, we hear from Amber, a survivor or trafficking whose life was saved thanks to the compassionate response of first responders and the support of a community rallying around her. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of training for law enforcement and advocates for the end of criminalization of juvenile victims, urging listeners to take action for justice and healing.

You can help show compassion and care to sex trafficking survivors by advocating to end the unjust criminalization of juvenile sex trafficking victims. Contact your legislator by texting "Shared Hope" to 52886 or visit https://act.sharedhope.org/3EIafNY

Support systems are crucial for the healing journey of survivors just like Amber. See how your community can better care for survivors by checking out Shared Hope's Road Map Report at https://sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Roadmap_fordownload.pdf and sharing it with your Governor by visiting https://act.sharedhope.org/zboypEa

Want to make sure first responders in your community are trained to know the signs of trafficking? Request a training at https://sharedhope.org/takeaction/request-a-speaker/ or check out our eLearning course, RESPOND.

Don’t forget to subscribe @sharedhopeinternational,

Follow us on social media, and check out invadingthedarkness.org.

Visit https://invadingthedarkness.org/

Learn more about how you can take action https://sharedhope.org/justlikeme/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/donate/

Now, if you’re ready, let’s invade the darkness together.

Support the show

Welcome to "Invading the Darkness: Stories from the Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking." Get your free copy of "Chosen," https://go.sharedhope.org/GiftChosen, a film by Shared Hope International that focuses on youth sex trafficking prevention. This valuable resource offers real-life stories and practical tools to raise awareness and encourage action against the trafficking of younger victims, like John-Michael.

In today's episode, join our hosts, lived-experience experts Yvonne and Kim, as they discuss the stories of other survivors in the movement and share valuable insights to help you join the fight against sex trafficking. In this episode of Invading the Darkness, we hear from John-Michael in part 2 of his incredible story.

As a young Olympic-bound athlete, John-Michael was groomed and sexually abused by prominent sports figures, highlighting the issue of demand and the need for awareness and prevention.

John-Michael's dance teacher knew the signs of trafficking and was able to break the cycle of exploitation. Do you? Download your FREE copy of CHOSEN to learn how to protect the young people in your life from exploitation. https://go.sharedhope.org/GiftChosen.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/donate/


Text "Shared Hope" to 52886 or visit https://act.sharedhope.org/3EIafNY
Don’t forget to subscribe @sharedhopeinternational,
Follow us on social media, and check out invadingthedarkness.org.
Visit https://invadingthedarkness.org/
Learn more about how you can take action https://sharedhope.org/justlikeme/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/donate/

Now, if you’re ready, let’s invade the darkness together.

Support the show

Welcome to "Invading the Darkness: Stories from the Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking." Get your free copy of "Chosen," https://go.sharedhope.org/GiftChosen, a Shared Hope International film focusing on youth sex trafficking prevention. This valuable resource offers real-life stories and practical tools to raise awareness and encourage action against the trafficking of younger victims, like John-Michael.

Join our hosts, lived-experience experts Yvonne and Kim, as they discuss the stories of other survivors in the movement and share valuable insights to help you join the fight against sex trafficking. In this episode of Invading the Darkness, we hear from John-Michael in part 1 of his incredible story.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/donate/

As a young Olympic-bound athlete, John-Michael was groomed and sexually abused by prominent sports figures, highlighting the issue of demand and the need for awareness and prevention.

The adults in John-Michael's life didn't have the education and awareness to see the signs of trafficking and intervene – let's change that for other boys and girls just like him. Download your FREE copy of CHOSEN to learn how to protect the young people in your life from exploitation. https://go.sharedhope.org/GiftChosen

Ready to take the next step? Request a training session or become a trained Ambassador of Hope and help us spread awareness in your community!

Text "Shared Hope" to 52886 or visit https://act.sharedhope.org/3EIafNY
Don’t forget to subscribe @sharedhopeinternational,
Follow us on social media, and check out invadingthedarkness.org.
Visit https://invadingthedarkness.org/
Learn more about how you can take action https://sharedhope.org/justlikeme/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST https://sharedhope.org/donate/

Now, if you’re ready, let’s invade the darkness together.

Support the show