Episode 26 | Calling All Men to Action: Let’s End Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking! – Part 2
About Alan Smyth
Currently Alan serves as the Executive Director for Saving Innocence, an anti-human trafficking, community-based organization focused on child victims of sex trafficking. Based in Los Angeles, Alan has responsibility over Direct Services and Business Operations. His main focus includes budgeting and resource development, strategic partnerships, staff development and client services. You can learn more about Saving Innocence at www.savinginnocence.org.
“Fight For Me” are words he heard directly from a survivor of sex trafficking. Alan’s unique view into this tragedy has given him a backstage pass to this horrific exploitation of children. Co-authored by Jessica Midkiff, herself a survivor of child trafficking, this book speaks directly to the hearts of men and our responsibility to step up and take leadership in the remedy.
EPISODE NOTES
Content Warning: discussion of human trafficking, child trafficking, and sexual exploitation
Dr. Laura continues her conversation with Alan Smyth, Executive Director for Saving Innocence and co-author of the book ‘Men! Fight for Me: The Role of Authentic Masculinity in Ending Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking’ in this episode. Alan details how the pandemic didn’t bring a reprieve in trafficking cases like he had hoped it would, but instead increased the crime and instances of child trafficking.
Laura finds out how Alan deals with such a traumatic day-to-day career, how he keeps his own balance and wellness in mind. They discuss “vicarious trauma”, the reality of how it can affect Alan and his coworkers, and what is done to address it. Alan shares vital information with Laura and all listeners on tending to one’s own self care while still responding to his call to action to learn more about human trafficking and taking whatever action is available to work against it.
“I want to challenge everybody to take another step forward in understanding and learning and getting involved in anti-human trafficking efforts. This requires all of us.” Alan Smyth
Resources
- Trafficked movie
- Saving Innocence
- Saving Innocence on Instagram
- Fight For Me
- Fight For Me on Instagram
- “Men! Fight for Me” by Alan Smyth and Jessica Midkiff
- “In Pursuit of Love” by Rebecca Bender
- “Scars & Stilettos” by Harmony Grillo
- Ending Human Trafficking podcast by Dr. Sandie Morgan
Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live
For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations:
Dr. Laura is a partner of Humance | Culture and Performance.
Season 2 EPISODES
Episode 34 | Being Yourself at Work to Create Better Work-Life Wellness
ABOUT DDS DOBSON-SMITH: DDS Dobson-Smith is a licensed therapist, author, executive coach, speaker on leadership and growth, and a Reiki master — all in service of helping others grow and become who they are. They are the Founder and CEO of SoulTrained, an executive...
Episode 33 | You Can Be Yourself Here: Creating Inclusive Workplaces Through the Psychology of Belonging
ABOUT DDS DOBSON-SMITH: DDS Dobson-Smith is a licensed therapist, author, executive coach, speaker on leadership and growth, and a Reiki master — all in service of helping others grow and become who they are. They are the Founder and CEO of SoulTrained, an executive...
Episode 32 | Extraordinary Cultures: The Evolution from Inclusion to Belonging – Part 2
About Lorne Rubis: Lorne Rubis is currently the Co-Founder of Belongify.com and has been the CEO of two privately held international companies. Lorne is a published author (‘The Character Triangle’) and holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of...
Episode 31 | Extraordinary Cultures: The Evolution from Inclusion to Belonging – Part 1
About Lorne Rubis: Lorne Rubis is currently the Co-Founder of Belongify.com and has been the CEO of two privately held international companies. Lorne is a published author (‘The Character Triangle’) and holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of...
Episode 30 | Innovating from a Distance: Do We Need to Be Together to Create? – Part 2
About Marie-Josée Lareau: With over twenty years of experience in the field of creativity and innovation, Marie-Josée Lareau specializes in the development of corporate events that stimulate ideation, strategic thinking, cultural change and collaboration. She likes to...
Episode 29 | Innovating from a Distance: Do We Need to Be Together to Create? – Part 1
About Marie-Josée Lareau: With over twenty years of experience in the field of creativity and innovation, Marie-Josée Lareau specializes in the development of corporate events that stimulate ideation, strategic thinking, cultural change and collaboration. She likes to...
MORE ADVOCATING FOR A BETTER WORLD EPISODES
Episode 54 | Special Episode on The LiLoHia Project: with guests Gerald Auger and Sass Jordan
About Gerald Auger: Gerald Auger is an actor, producer, writer, entrepreneur and motivational speaker from Alberta, Canada, of Woodland Cree descent. He graduated from Grande Prairie Regional College in 1995 with a Marketing Management diploma and a Small Business...
Episode 25 | Calling All Men to Action: Let’s End Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking! – Part 1
About Alan Smyth Currently Alan serves as the Executive Director for Saving Innocence, an anti-human trafficking, community-based organization focused on child victims of sex trafficking. Based in Los Angeles, Alan has responsibility over Direct Services and Business...
Episode 08 | Fierce, Funny, and Focused Making a Difference, with Adora Nwofor
About Adora Nwofor Comedian, Actor, Tireless Anti-Racism Advocate, Fierce Feminst, Model EPISODE NOTES In this episode, we learn about how racism operates in today’s western society, and how we can transform our society to become more accepting of people from...
Episode 05 | Second Chances: An Interview About Surviving and Thriving
About Kerry Gladue Author, Counsellor, Speaker and Survivor EPISODE NOTES Welcome to the fifth episode of my podcast, Where Work Meets Life™: Second Chances: An Interview about Surviving and Thriving with Kerry Gladue. In this episode, I am joined by Kerry Gladue...