In this episode, Heather Estes discusses the Worthiness Formula, the Worthy Ranch, and a pilot program for survivors of human trafficking. The Worthiness Formula, developed by Heather, focuses on self-worth and belief in oneself. It consists of three parts: awareness, belief, and community. Heather shares her personal journey of discovering her own worthiness and how it led her to develop the formula.

The Worthy Ranch is a dream project of Heather's, combining equine therapy, self-worth life coaching, and career development to serve survivors of human trafficking and women in need. The ranch will offer a 90-day program for survivors and provide respite for staff at safe houses. The Worthy Ranch program includes mental and emotional health therapy, equine therapy, and life skills training to help survivors heal and rebuild their lives. The ranch also offers an alumni retreat for survivors to gather and support each other. Collaboration with other organizations is a key aspect of the Worthy Ranch's work, and they partner with organizations like the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force and YWCA. The ranch is currently looking for property and funding to expand its services.

To learn more about The Worthy Ranch, please visit its website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Heather Estus Bio

Heather is the founder and author of The Worthiness Formula, Worthy YOUniversity, and The Worthy Ranch. She is a mother of five and the oldest of eleven children on a mission to cure the "unworthiness" disease by providing all with a dose of "good enough." She shares her proven method to help people tap into the innate worth we all possess. She helps people identify their core values to become confident decision-makers and teaches them to create a supportive community for their journey. Her audience includes professionals, organizations, and individuals.

Heather resides in Montana where she is using her 25+ years of nonprofit management and development experience to pursue her dream of building The Worthy Ranch, an equine facility for survivors of human trafficking and abuse.

In this episode, Dallas Knight from Skull Games discusses the organization's mission and work in combating human trafficking. She shares her personal journey from the military to civilian life and how she became involved with Skull Games. Additionally, Dallas highlights the role of Skull Games in supporting law enforcement and providing them with strong leads to investigate potential trafficking.

Penny and Dallas also explore the connection between escort ads and trafficking and stress the importance of recognizing human trafficking in communities. Dallas emphasizes the need for education and action to combat human trafficking, and she discusses the role of technology and organizations like Skull Games in the fight against trafficking.

This conversation focuses on empowering survivors and the signs of human trafficking that people should be aware of. Penny and Dallas also emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity.

To learn more about Skull Games, please visit their website HERE.

For the resources referenced by Dallas, please visit: Missingkids.org Unboundnow.org

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Dallas Knight Bio

Dallas was an Army combat veteran before the age of 20. She eventually transitioned to the civilian realm to start her career as an Intelligence Analyst for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with an appointed assignment to the Nevada High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) under the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). She spent just short of a decade combating complex narcotic investigations resulting in the disruption and dismantling of numerous criminal organizations.

After the transition into corporate America, supporting law enforcement from a technological standpoint, Dallas’s professional network bloomed. Through these partnerships, Dallas began to support the nonprofit, Skull Games. Joining with other volunteer veteran analysts, Dallas works to identify victims and hunt down human traffickers while developing intelligence reports to be passed to respective law enforcement jurisdictions.

Dallas has also had the extreme privilege of mentoring victims who have come full circle to hunt as analysts, sharing their invaluable insight.

Jan Edwards from the Paving the Way Foundation discusses the strategy of disrupting the cycle of child trafficking and online exploitation through education and awareness programs. She emphasizes the prevalence of child trafficking and exploitation, both in rural and urban areas, and the role of online platforms (Big Tech) in facilitating these crimes.

Jan provides practical steps individuals can take to combat child trafficking and delivers important actions to take when a child or an adult is threatened or exploited online.

The conversation also explores the concept of grooming and the tactics used by predators to exploit children online.

This conversation is for every parent and adult wanting to learn how to protect children in the digital age.

To learn more about the Paving the Way Foundation, please visit their website HERE.To learn more about or to contact the Teen Line, please visit their website HERE. The phone number for the Teen Line is 800-852-8336. To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Jan Edwards Bio

Jan Edwards is the founder and president of Paving the Way Foundation. She spent 25 years as an executive in sales and marketing working with organizations like Time Warner, Bright House, the United Nations, and other international groups, before taking on the worldwide initiative to prevent children from being exploited. She is a Co-Chair for the Central Florida Human Trafficking Task Force and sits on the UCF College of Criminal Justice Advisory Board.

Jan works collaboratively with organizations throughout Central Florida and the nation to fight against child trafficking and exploitation. Since 2017, Paving the Way has educated over 30,000 youth and adults, empowering kids to make smart choices online. Their work has been featured in Huffington Post, Marie Claire UK, and local news stations.

Jan has been named one of Orlando Magazine’s Women of The Year, Women on the Rise Community Impact Leader, NGO Leader of the Year, and the 2023 Victory Cup winner. She is the writer and co-director of the Award-Winning Film, Trapped in the Trade, which was featured on CNN.

Rebekah Hope shares her personal story of surviving childhood sexual abuse, gang activity, and human trafficking. Rebekah’s story begins at a young age in Billings, Montana, takes her to Atlanta, Georgia where she escapes with her life, and follows her back to Montana where she begins her healing journey. In this conversation, Rebekah emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting survivors of childhood sexual trauma, the physical and psychological health challenges that survivors experience, and the need for comprehensive, victim-centered, long-term care services.

Penny and Rebekah share how survivor stories have a powerful impact on the fight against human trafficking. Survivor stories inspire others and shape legislation. This episode also highlights how survivors learn to trust people again and emphasizes that spiritual options for healing should be under the control of the survivor and never forced upon them.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Rebekah Hope Bio

Rebekah, a courageous survivor, has faced unimaginable challenges in her life. Her story sheds light on the horrors of sex trafficking and the resilience of those who survive it.

Rebekah’s story highlights the complexities of sex trafficking. It’s important to Rebekah for people to understand that victims come from diverse backgrounds, including both foreign nationals and U.S. citizens. Victims are coerced through violence, threats, and deception. Some are lured with false promises, while others are forced into prostitution by their family members.

Rebekah's resilience is a shining example of the strength of survivors despite the darkness endured. Her journey underscores the urgent need to combat human trafficking. As a survivor of sex trafficking, she understands the powerful impact that sharing her story and advocating for change can have.

Rebekah holds an undergraduate degree she earned with honors and is currently working toward her master’s degree. She is dedicated to counseling young women and ultimately earning her PhD to provide even greater support to survivors in need.

In this uplifting conversation, Rosemary Smith, from the Getting Better Foundation, discusses with Penny Ronning the positive impact of media literacy and critical thinking skills on combating human trafficking and strengthening democracy. Rosemary shares the story of Edgar Welch and Pizzagate to illustrate how misinformation can lead to violence and she highlights the importance of media literacy education in building trust.

Rosemary covers practical tools for developing critical thinking skills and distinguishing fact-based information from falsehoods. Penny and Rosemary emphasize the value of diverse perspectives and the power of storytelling in promoting empathy and understanding. They also discuss the crucial role of media literacy in preserving democracy and fighting human trafficking both domestically and globally.

Rosemary also discusses the Getting Better Foundation’s powerful and award-winning documentary, Trust Me. By the end of the conversation, listeners will feel inspired to watch the film and share it with others of all ages!

Like the film, this conversation is filled with hope, highlighting the positive impact of media literacy for today and future generations.

To learn more about the Getting Better Foundation, please visit their website HERE.

To learn more about the Trust Me Documentary, please visit its website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Rosemary Smith Bio

Rosemary Smith has accumulated considerable international experience in the media over the last three decades. She began her career in the media as a co-owner of FCC-licensed radio stations throughout Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Rosemary is a media literacy expert, Montana’s state lead for Media Literacy Now, and envoy to the U.S. State Department’s American Film Showcase. She manages the Montana-based Getting Better Foundation and spearheads its global distribution of the award-winning Trust Me Documentary and the film’s educational curriculum in partnership with the News Literacy Project.

Rosemary has authored many blogs and is working on her first children’s book about media literacy. She’s delivered presentations and contributed to publications on media and citizenship-related issues in dozens of countries. Rosemary remains interested by the challenges posed by emerging media forms and issues relating to media literacy, mental health, peace, and democracy.

Julia Lillethun bravely shares her story of resilience and healing after surviving a brutally and sexually violent attack by a serial rapist. She talks about the physical and emotional trauma she experienced, as well as the judgment and victim-blaming she faced. Julia also discusses the challenges of overcoming self-blame and accepting what happened. She emphasizes the importance of changing the internal dialogue and reframing the narrative to focus on survival and making the right decisions.

In this episode, Julia highlights the impact of trauma on her family and children, and the difficulties they faced together. She recounts the unexpected phone call that led to the resolution of her case and the legal process that followed. Julia also reflects on the frustration with prison sentencing and the need for a shift in societal norms to address victim-blaming and stigma.

Throughout the conversation, Julia stresses the importance of belief systems and the need for survivors to be heard and understood. She talks about the impact on her personally of prison-based Victim Impact Panels and her experiences working with inmates, and the empowerment she gained through speaking in prisons.

Julia talks with Penny about the importance of creating safe spaces for survivors and the need for more services for victims. She also shares key actions to increase personal safety.

To learn more about Victim Impact Panels, please visit the Montana Department of Corrections’ website HERE. To learn more about Jane Doe No More, please visit their website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Julia Lillethun Bio

Julia Lillethun was born and raised in Montana. Her family consisted of her father, mother, and 2 brothers. While researching her family history, Julia discovered that she also had eight half-siblings and her father had an alias and was living two separate lives.

Julia has two adult children and five grandchildren. She loves spending time with family and friends and enjoys the outdoors, fishing, and camping. She also enjoys quilting, sewing, string art, and other hobbies. 2024 marks her 27th year as the director of the Yellowstone County Spelling Bee in Montana.

Julia’s childhood was filled with trauma at the hands of her alcoholic, abusive father. He could not hold down a job for long, so her family moved often. He was a ranch hand, and her mother was a nurse. Their family alternated from ranch to city life frequently. This made Julia learn to adapt quickly to survive.

Julia is a cancer survivor as well as a survivor of a violent attack in 1999. Julia was raped, stabbed several times, and left for dead. She now uses her voice to help others and to try to change the stigma and narrative of sexual assault. Julia is a survivor speaker member for Jane Doe No More and a volunteer speaker for the Montana Department of Corrections, Victim Impact Panels.

Another passion for Julia is working on legislation for survivors. “It is so fulfilling to help others see they don’t have to fight alone and that there is hope, love, acceptance, and support to assist them in healing, rising from the ashes, and emerging from the darkness.”

In this episode, Louie Greek from TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking), focuses on the efforts being made in the trucking industry to fight sex trafficking. The conversation covers various topics such as what sex trafficking looks like on American highways, the crucial role played by truck drivers in combating trafficking, the significance of survivor voices, and addressing the demand (buyers) side of human trafficking. Louie encourages listeners to take action in their communities and access resources provided by TAT to fight human trafficking.

Louie highlights the importance of reporting and how it can help prevent human trafficking. He urges listeners to be observant and get involved if they notice anything suspicious. Louie also emphasizes the need to educate the next generation about the dangers of human trafficking and empower them to take action. This conversation also highlights the inclusion of vulnerable populations, such as individuals with disabilities, in the fight against trafficking.

Penny and Louie discuss the impact of education and partnerships in combating human trafficking and the important role of industry self-regulation in preventing criminal exploitation of a professional industry. Louie also talks about TAT’s Man to Man program to address masculinity, sexual objectification, and sexual violence.

To learn more about TAT, please visit their website HERE.

To learn about TAT’s Man to Man program and other resources, please visit their website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Louie Greek Bio

Louie Greek is a Coalition Build Specialist with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a 501(c)3 organization that exists to educate, equip, empower, and mobilize members of the transportation industry to combat domestic sex trafficking. He speaks around the county about TAT’s mission to law enforcement and the transportation industry. Mr. Greek has over 22 years of law enforcement, military, and humanitarian aid experience and has been fighting human trafficking since 2013.

In Thailand, he assisted in the creation of the Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) Laboratory at the Royal Thai Police Academy, which is responsible for hundreds of arrests related to human trafficking. From recovering victims while working on human trafficking investigations internationally to working with local U.S. law enforcement to overseas military deployments, he has always had a desire to serve.

Prior to Interview: Clip of Chris McKenna testifying before the United States Congress.

In this conversation, Chris McKenna, the founder of Protect Young Eyes, stresses the essential role of parents in educating their children about technology and the digital world. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation of trust and communication between parents and children and the key role of modeling and authentic connection in helping kids navigate digital spaces. Chris also explains the five layers of protection, with the relationship layer being the most critical. He underscores the significance of routers in creating a safe digital environment and explains the importance of grandparents understanding digital safety.

Chris provides practical tips for parents and grandparents to connect with their children and grandchildren and how to engage in digital safety. He also explains the EARN IT Act and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), highlighting the need for federal legislation to protect children online. Chris addresses the challenges in passing meaningful protections and underscores the role of parents in safeguarding their children from online predators. He provides key actions parents can take, such as practicing parent-led ownership of internet-connected devices and monitoring their children's online activities. The conversation emphasizes the need for intentional conversations and a culture of parental engagement and control in the digital world. Update to Episode: President Biden signed the REPORT Act into law on May 7, 2024.

To learn more about Protect Young Eyes, please visit their website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Chris McKenna Bio

Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes (PYE) is a former consultant and youth ministry director. He has authored resources for families and churches on digital safety and pornography. His 2019 US Senate testimony catalyzed new online child protection laws and earned PYE the Dignity Defense Alert Award.

Chris is an advisor to legislators and global tech companies on policies and feature improvements. The PYE team performs hundreds of presentations globally and was featured in the film Childhood 2.0.

Chris is married to Andrea, enjoys family road trips, nature, running, and candy, and is a father to four.

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