Invading the Darkness: Stories from the Fight against Child Sex Trafficking
Welcome to Invading the Darkness: stories from the fight against child sex trafficking in the United States. This podcast features Linda Smith, the founder of Shared Hope International, sharing stories from her 23 years of fighting the battle of domestic minor sex trafficking.
In 2025, "Invading the Darkness" will introduce a video element to its podcast, featuring hosts Yvonne and Kim, who are survivors of sex trafficking and advocates for the Just Like Me campaign.
Yvonne and Kim will share their life experiences, insights, and narratives from other survivors.
Our desire is that each episode will help you better understand the importance of fighting child sexual exploitation in the United States.
Invading the Darkness: Stories from the Fight against Child Sex Trafficking
Breaking the Cycle: Barb's Story of Survivor-Led Healing and the Path to Justice S4E7
In this raw and courageous episode of Invading the Darkness, Barb shares how the system failed to see her as a victim—and instead labeled her a criminal. But her story didn’t end there. With boldness and grace, Barb is now leading the charge to break generational cycles of exploitation and create a path to true justice for others.
In the episode, she describes the need for a multi-disciplinary, community-based response. Shared Hope offers several resources to help communities take action. The Roadmap Report provides guidance on how to connect youth with community-based services, address key vulnerabilities like housing and family instability, and reduce reliance on formal systems by supporting families and meeting children’s holistic needs. To equip professionals with practical tools, our EXPLOITED e-learning course offers guidance on trauma-informed practices and how to recognize and respond to trafficking. Shared Hope also grades each state on how well their laws protect victims and hold buyers and facilitators accountable. See how your state is doing and where they can improve by signing up to receive this year’s Report Cards, out in October. Whether you’re a service provider, policymaker, or community leader, these resources are designed to support coordinated and compassionate responses to trafficking.
From incarceration to advocacy, Barb’s journey is a testimony of what happens when survivors are seen, heard, and empowered to lead.
Listen now to hear why survivor-led solutions aren’t optional—they’re essential.
Roadmap Report https://sharedhope.org/what-we-do/bring-justice/just-response-council/roadmap-report/
RESPOND e-Learning https://store.sharedhope.org/product/exploited/
Report Cards https://reportcards.sharedhope.org/just-like-me-report-cards/?refcode=facebook
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/