Consider Before Consuming

Mike Lemon is the founder of Cyber Safe School and a former Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigator. After decades spent tracking down online predators, he now dedicates his work to helping parents, educators, and students prevent online exploitation, especially sextortion. In this episode, Mike explains how predators are targeting youth, why sextortion cases are rapidly increasing, the role of AI in these crimes, and what families can do to protect kids in today’s digital world.Episode Resources:Article: Why Financial Sextortion Is Targeting Teens and Spreading FastPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 138: Shannon and JohnNewsletter: Cyber Safe SchoolFacebook Group: Cyber Safe FamiliesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

*This episode contains a detailed discussion of child abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.Dr. Suamhirs Piraino-Guzman is a behavioral neurologist, clinical psychologist, human trafficking survivor, and international human rights advocate. In this powerful episode, he shares his story of surviving severe childhood abuse and trafficking, navigating the foster care and immigration systems, and turning his trauma into a lifelong mission to support other survivors. Now working globally with the United Nations and providing trauma-informed care to thousands of trafficking victims, Dr. Piraino-Guzman sheds light on the complex realities of exploitation, the importance of healing-centered systems, and why boys and men must be included in conversations about trafficking and sexual violence. Even after experiencing the worst of humanity, he chooses to lead with hope, trust, and compassion, and invites us all to do the same.Epiosde Resources:National Survivor NetworkSurvivor AllianceVictim ResourcesDr. Piraino-Guzman's LinkedInCourt Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)Universal Declaration of Human RightsArticle: 15 Facts About Human Sex TraffickingArticle: Parents—If You Don’t Teach Your Kids About Sex, Porn Sites WillAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Lorna was just 17 years old when a photoshopped, explicit image of her began circulating online, marking the beginning of a years-long nightmare involving deepfakes, stalking, and online blackmail.In this episode, Lorna shares how someone used her image to create fake profiles and explicit deepfakes, leading to relentless harassment that spilled from the internet into her everyday life. She opens up about her experience reporting the crime to police, the long road toward justice, and her personal journey of healing.Episode Resources:Article: The Alarming Rise of Deepfake Porn and Its Devastating EffectsPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep.88: Victoria GalyVictim ResourcesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeremiah is a husband, an expecting father, and a self-described lifelong learner who found himself struggling with a compulsive porn habit that began in his teens and escalated in college, when he found himself viewing content he would never act out in real life. In this episode, Jeremiah candidly shares how his use of pornography affected his relationships, mental health, and sense of self, particularly during the early stages of his marriage. He opens up about the moment his wife discovered the truth, the shame he experienced, and what sparked his decision to pursue real recovery. Episode Resources:Article: How Porn Can Become an Escalating BehaviorRecovery ResourcesPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 112: RobertAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A candid exploration of early exposure to pornography reveals its lasting effects on mental health and relationships. The speaker shares their struggles with addiction and the shame felt as a girl facing this issue. The importance of open conversations about sex and pornography is emphasized, highlighting how vital these discussions are for breaking stigma and empowering individuals. Personal stories illustrate the need for community support in healing, advocating for openness to redefine self-identity and combat isolation.

Victoria Sinis, founder of Creating Gems, reveals her journey from working at an OnlyFans agency to advocating against the harmful narratives surrounding the platform. She shares shocking marketing tactics and the emotional toll on creators. The discussion tackles the misconceptions of empowerment versus exploitation, the challenges of leaving the adult industry, and the societal pressures young women face. With personal stories, Victoria emphasizes the importance of open conversations about self-worth and the hidden dangers of adult content sharing.

Rosalia Rivera is a consent educator and abuse prevention specialist who works to help parents break cycles of abuse through empowered, proactive conversations. In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, she shares her personal experiences with pornography, the dangers of leaving sex education to the internet, and how parents can build safe, shame-free spaces for their children to learn about consent and autonomy. She also dives into how pornography plays a role in grooming, the rise in child-on-child sexual abuse, and why media literacy and digital safety are more important than ever.Episode ResourcesConsent ParentingPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 17: Heidi OlsonBook: I Said No by Kimberly KingBook: Good Pictures, Bad Pictures by Kristen JensonFTND Parent Resource Page Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Trigger WarningThis episode includes topics of child sextortion and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. Episode DescriptionIn this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Shannon Heacock and John Burnett share the deeply personal and devastating story of their son, Elijah. Recently, at just 16 years old, Elijah became a victim of sextortion — a form of online exploitation where predators manipulate and blackmail their victims using threats and explicit imagery, sometimes even using AI-generated content. Tragically, the manipulation and fear led Elijah to take his own life. John and Shannon’s courage in telling Elijah’s story is rooted in their hope that it can prevent other families from facing the same heartbreaking loss.Episode Resources Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call or Text "988"NCMEC Resource: Take it DownVictim ResourcesArticle: Understanding Sextortion: A Growing Threat and How to Protect Yourself Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Louie Greek is a Training Specialist with Truckers Against Trafficking, who has spent more than a decade fighting human trafficking, using his expertise in law enforcement and military service to train people on how to recognize, respond to, and ultimately prevent exploitation. In this Consider Before Consuming podcast episode, Louie shares eye-opening insights on the realities of trafficking, the role of demand in fueling exploitation, and the actions we can take to stop it.Episode Resources Truckers Against Trafficking: ResourcesArticle: How You Can Spot, Report, and Prevent Human TraffickingPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 96: Valiant RicheyConversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About Porn Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

*This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence and sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised.Selena is the Associate Program Director of a sex trafficking survivor sanctuary. As a former porn performer and sex trafficking survivor, Selena knows firsthand what the women she is helping have experienced.In this Consider Before Consuming episode, Selena sheds light on the dark realities of the porn industry, the deceptive nature of sex trafficking, and the power of resilience.Episode ResourcesArticle: I Was Fine with Porn and the Commercial Sex Industry, Until I Worked in a BrothelVideo: What Being In Porn Is Really LikeVictim ResourcesHope Rising Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy