This is an emotional interview with a powerful woman who is a human trafficking survivor.

Rebecca Bender is not just a survivor. She is a leader in supporting other human trafficking survivors, the go-to authority for law enforcement in related cases, author, speaker, entrepreneur and community leader. She is such an inspiration!

We get into her past of being a human trafficking victim for six years, her way out of it, how she is still moving past the trauma and learning to trust again. She is the founder and CEO of the Rebecca Bender Initiative that has helped over 100,000 enforcement agents, like the FBI, Homeland Security, local law enforcement, medical professionals, service providers, and faith communities across America. She has an online program that has helped over 640 victims create a life for themselves outside of trafficking.

Rebecca talks about anxiety, abuse, and false sense of independence that starts at a young age. We also cover ways you and your community/business can help victims of human trafficking. You’ll be shocked to know it’s happening in our own backyards.

Grab her book, In Pursuit of Love: One Woman’s Journey from Trafficked to Triumphant, which I devoured cover to cover in a sitting. It goes deep into the other trafficked women she lived with, the pimps, her fears, some encounters with “clients”, and life on the track. Plus, how she escaped and picked herself up to rebuild her life, her heart, and connection with her family.

Rebecca is the recipient of the Female Overcomer Award, Unlikely Hero Award, Hero to our Generation Award and multiple FBI and Congressional recognitions. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their four daughters.

“Your past doesn’t have to determine your destiny.” — Rebecca Bender

Things we cover in this episode:

• Misconceptions of human trafficking
• What traffickers look for – who’s most at risk
• Mental state when she tried to escape and effects of trauma to this day
• Building healthy relationships after trauma
• Full decriminalization of the sex trade: brothel owners, procuring, pimping
• Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts from living in a prolonged state of fear
• False sense of independence, which some of us women take on at a young age as a sense of protection
• Asking for help is healthy, but hard to do
• Scariest part of starting something new – Rebecca started many for profits and non-profits
• How to help survivors in your community

Links

• Visit Rebecca’s site for more info, events, and booking her for a talk
• Find Your Lane free bundle and how to support survivors
• Purchase In Pursuit Of Love book – you’ll love it!!
• Subscribe to her Hood to Holy podcast
• Follow Rebecca on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

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