Smart Talks

Meet the amazing Jessica Willis Fisher! Jess shares her journey from a tumultuous childhood as the oldest of 12 in a controlling and abusive environment to reclaiming her voice through music and storytelling. She discusses the complexities of growing up in a religious household, the impact of familial abuse, and the survival mechanisms that kept her going. Jess emphasizes the importance of understanding the dynamics of abuse and the challenges of leaving such environments, while also highligh...

11-25

01:08:18

Join us for a powerful conversation with business leader and entrepreneur John Miller. In this episode, John reflects on the recent release of Hometown Betrayal. This book is based on the true story of his late wife, Valarie Clark Miller, who endured childhood sexual abuse, and the family’s fight for justice. John opens up about the lasting effects of generational trauma and the importance of breaking the silence around abuse. His dedication to healing and advocacy has led him to establish @...

11-18

44:30

Emily Fauver is a military wife, mama to two, and social media influencer! She shares her inspiring journey from a troubled childhood marked by abandonment and abuse to becoming a beacon of hope and resilience. She discusses her experiences in the foster care system, the importance of vulnerability in sharing her story, and her commitment to breaking the cycle of trauma for her own children. Emily emphasizes the power of love, connection, and mental health support, particularly through therap...

11-11

34:15

Tanya Kach shares her harrowing story of being held captive for ten years, the grooming process that led to her abduction, and her journey of survival and healing. She discusses the importance of sharing her story to help others, the challenges of the legal system, and the role of supportive relationships in recovery. Tanya emphasizes the impact of one person's kindness and the need for awareness in preventing abuse. Her resilience and hope shine through as she advocates for survivors and enc...

11-04

33:18

This week, we’re excited to feature Dr. Daniel Amen-- world-renowned, Double-Board Psychiatrist and trailblazer in brain health and mental wellness! Join Elizabeth and our executive director Heather Stockdale as they dive into Dr. Amen's innovative approach to mental health, exploring how trauma impacts our brains and what we can all do to promote better mental health in today’s world. A little about Dr. Amen: he’s the founder of Amen Clinics, the largest database of psychiatric...

10-28

25:47

Welcome to season 4 of Smart Talks! After a little break, we are so excited to be back! Host Elizabeth Smart introduces our new co-host Heather Stockdale, the Executive Director of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation (ESF). They discuss Heather's extensive background in addressing sexual violence and human trafficking, the foundation's key programs, and the importance of community education and support for survivors. Smart Talks aims to share survivor stories and promote hope and resilience...

10-21

28:05

Thank you for joining us for Season 3 of Smart Talks! In this episode, Elizabeth discusses her main takeaways from the season and leaves us with some final thoughts. Show notes: -View the full transcript and related links at elizabethsmartfoundation.org/smart-talks-3-19. -Chat 24/7 with the National Sexual Assault Hotline. All views, information, or opinions expressed in the Smart Talks podcast are solely those of the individual participant. They do not necessarily reflect the position...

10-31

14:45

Julie Whitehead is a survivor of child sexual abuse, domestic abuse, and human sex trafficking. Her story of abuse spans 31 years and was discussed in Smart Talks season 1, episode 14. Today, Julie joins Elizabeth to talk about the steps she's taken in her healing journey and what the future holds for her. She mentions certain tools she's learned to overcome triggers, her developing book, and her thoughts on her life purpose. Show notes: -View the full transcript and related links at elizabe...

10-10

36:39

RISE (Restore Individual Self-Empowerment) Court is a court-sponsored program in the Akron, Ohio Municipal Court and is led by Judge Ron Cable. It was created to help adult female victims of human trafficking, prostitution, and sexual exploitation. Judge Cable began RISE to identify and help human trafficking victims and lead them as they create a new, positive path for themselves. Through the Akron Municipal Court's partnerships with outside agencies, RISE provides services such as trauma t...

10-03

32:58

When they were children, Stephanie and her sisters suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a brother-in-law. After the abuse was brought to light, more focus and worry went toward helping the abuser recover than toward helping his victims heal. Stephanie's abuser is still married to her sister, and in this episode she discusses her journey through this difficult situation. Stephanie is a mother to four and grandmother to two, and her greatest joy is spending time with her family. She loves to ...

09-26

33:02

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) is the leading organization exposing the connections between all forms of sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking, prostitution, pornography, and child sexual abuse. Dawn Hawkins is the CEO of NCOSE. She has centered the need to address buyer demand for commercial sex, called out corporate entities facilitating exploitation through the annual Dirty Dozen List, fostered an international movement, and constantly advocates for survivors. ...

09-19

36:39

India Oxenberg is a survivor of the NXIVM cult who now uses her experiences to help other survivors of cults and high control groups. She spent 7 years indoctrinated in the cult, and for many of those years suffered sexual abuse, starvation, torture, and extreme brainwashing tactics. In this episode, Elizabeth and India discuss her experience, including her extensive healing journey and how India learned to trust her mind again. Elizabeth and India also draw many parallels between what India...

09-12

49:07

Erika R. George is the Samuel D. Thurman Professor of Law at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law, where she teaches constitutional law, international human rights law, international environmental law, and seminars on corporate citizenship and sustainability. Her current research explores the responsibilities of multinational corporations to respect international human rights and efforts to hold corporations accountable for alleged rights violations. Erika has testifie...

09-05

36:03

Usually, conversations about believing survivors of sexual violence bring up a very valid question: what about false reports? In this episode, Elizabeth talks about the danger of false reports, while also explaining why statistics show that it is always the better option to believe. Show notes: -View the full transcript and related links at elizabethsmartfoundation.org/smart-talks-3-10. -Chat 24/7 with the National Sexual Assault Hotline. All views, information, or opinions expressed in the...

08-29

15:06

Rebecca Bailey, PhD is a leading family psychologist and equestrian who has become a world-renowned professional teacher, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. Dr. Bailey is the founder of Transitioning Families, a group of independently licensed mental health practitioners dedicated to Bailey’s innovative ideas for helping families through crisis and difficult change. She is best known for her work with survivors of non-familial abduction. She is the creator of the Polyvagal Equine institute, a...