Coping with Trauma While Staying Compassionate

In this episode, I sit down with Clay Butler, CEO of Agape International Missions (AIM), for a powerful conversation on fighting child trafficking and how present, intentional fatherhood is one of the most effective weapons in that fight. With over 2,000 rescues and hundreds of traffickers arrested, Clay's work is nothing short of heroic—but it's his role as a father that has most shaped his mission.

We explore what it truly means to lead as a man, not just in high-stakes global work, but in the day-to-day role of being a protector at home. Clay shares how fatherhood has deepened his approach to leadership, the importance of modeling safe masculinity, and why raising strong, loved, and secure children is one of the greatest forms of resistance to evil. This episode will challenge and inspire any man who wants to leave a legacy worth living for.

Episode Highlights

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:01] – A staggering global reality: a child is trafficked every 30 seconds

[2:24] – Clay's transformation from young volunteer to CEO of AIM

[5:13] – Why Clay initially took a three-month volunteer trip… and never left

[9:06] – Finding emotional equilibrium in a traumatic field

[10:29] – How fatherhood amplified—not hindered—Clay's leadership

[12:04] – The power of modeling safe fatherhood for rescued girls

[14:21] – Humility, teamwork, and spiritual grounding in life-or-death operations

[20:03] – Tactical and emotional ways to protect your family in public

[22:15] – Why kids from foster care are the most trafficked in America

[28:12] – Real actions men can take to stop trafficking—starting at home

[29:02] – Navigating the tension of preserving childhood innocence while teaching safety

[34:45] – Avoiding burnout: ruthless prioritization and reverse engineering legacy

[38:07] – Clay's evolving legacy: from warrior to father to restorer

5 Key Takeaways

1. Fatherhood is powerful – Being a present, loving father is one of the most effective deterrents to child trafficking, both at home and globally.

2. Rescue is only the beginning – AIM's model goes beyond rescue to include healing, job training, and long-term restoration.

3. The U.S. isn't exempt – Most trafficking victims in the U.S. come from broken foster care systems. Supporting those systems can change lives.

4. You can protect your kids daily – Small actions like staying aware in public, modeling healthy masculinity, and teaching intuitive safety make a big difference.

5. Your legacy starts now – You don't need to lead a global organization to be a hero. Leading at home with purpose and love is enough.

Links & Resources

• Agape International Missions (AIM): https://aimfree.org

• AIM Apparel – Support rescued girls through ethical apparel: https://aimapparel.com

• Bark (Parental Control App): https://thedadedge.com/bark

• Episode Show notes: thedadedge.com/1393

If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a fellow dad, leave a review, and don't forget to follow the podcast. Together, we can protect our families—and generations to come.