Talk Trafficking

Juliette Angelo - Survivor Advocate

Singer-songwriter and actress, Juliette Angelo, shares her story of survival, including experiences of child exploitation and abuse. She sheds light on the lack of protection and enforcement of child labor laws in the entertainment industry, particularly in theater and dance. Juliette highlights the sexualization of child actors and the disturbing trends she witnessed while growing up. She calls for accountability and positive change within the industry.
The conversation explores themes of parenting, the seduction of fame, the impact of sobriety on her healing journey, and finding identity and purpose after trauma. Juliette emphasizes the importance of honesty, authenticity, and using art for advocacy and education. She encourages listeners to be vigilant and report suspicious behavior to create safe environments for children.
In this episode, Juliette highlights the significance of caring, taking action, and normalizing healthy environments for children. She also discusses the importance of trusting one's gut and standing up for children. Juliette shares how supportive relationships have played a crucial role in her healing process, and inspires listeners to build positive, constructive relationships in their own lives.
Original composition Skin and Bones by Juliette Angelo.
Upcoming events for Juliette Angelo are listed on her Facebook page HERE.  
To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.
Host: Penny RonningWriter: Penny RonningProducers: Penny Ronning, Ty LoweEditor: Ty LoweSound Designer/Engineer: Ty LoweMusic: Ty Lowe, Konstantin KlimovArtwork: Rae ClarkWebsite: Justin Townsend
 
Juliette Angelo Bio
Juliette Angelo is an actress, singer, and songwriter. She began performing on Broadway at the age of 8 years old in the shows How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Tony Award-winning original cast of Billy Elliot, and Mary Poppins. 
Juliette made the transition to television when she was an early teen. She is best known for her prominent roles as Emily Fornell on NCIS, Geneva on Shameless, and as Reba McEntire’s daughter June on ABC’s Malibu Country.
After leaving the entertainment industry at 21, Juliette moved to Nashville, then to Albuquerque, and now resides in Billings, Montana. Juliette is also a singer-songwriter and began performing live last year. 
Despite a turbulent childhood and upbringing, Juliette has found peace in a simpler life and a sober existence. Still an avid lover of the arts, she anticipates a long career sharing her music (and acting again one day), but from a different perspective - and sharing different stories. 
Juliette hopes to promote the message that your past does not dictate your future. “While certain wounds may never heal fully, you can still move forward and have a beautiful life. You deserve to.” 
To listen to Juliette’s music, her first record, “Fields of Tennessee”, is available on streaming. It is a collection of raw takes with minimal production. To see Juliette live, you can find her currently performing shows around the Midwest. Upcoming events are listed on her Facebook Page (“Juliette Angelo”). 

Jessica Kay - Survivor Advocate

Jessica Kay shares her personal story of being trafficked and the challenges she faced on her journey towards healing. She underlines the need for stronger safety measures for at-risk youth and other vulnerable populations, as well as the importance of educational programs on prevention in schools and systems. 
In this episode Jessica highlights the significance of survivor voices in all aspects of the anti-trafficking movement and the need for long-term services such as housing, job training, and specialized training for professionals.  She also emphasizes the importance of respecting the choice and consent of survivors in advocacy and storytelling. 
Penny and Jessica discuss the importance of protecting survivors and giving them a voice. They discuss the role of organizations in supporting and mentoring survivors and highlight the significance of law enforcement training in addressing human trafficking. They also explore the impact of language in shaping perceptions.
The conversation further delves into the topic of full decriminalization and legalization of commercial sex, with Jessica sharing her perspective as a survivor. Finally, they discuss actionable steps individuals can take to combat human trafficking in their communities.
To learn more about Jessica Kay, please visit her website HERE. 
To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit their website HERE. 
Host: Penny RonningWriter: Penny RonningProducers: Penny Ronning, Ty LoweEditor: Ty LoweSound Designer/Engineer: Ty LoweMusic: Ty Lowe, Konstantin KlimovArtwork: Rae ClarkWebsite: Justin Townsend
 
Jessica Kay Bio
Jessica Kay strives to connect with people on a fundamental level and believes that human connection is the most powerful healing agent we have.  
“I once felt like I was a victim of the system, a stack of mental diagnoses, police reports, and hospital visits - instead of a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking, and homelessness,” said Kay, who decided to tell her story to help others in vulnerable situations find the courage to continue.  “I decided I wanted to dedicate my life to advocating for those who are hurting in our community and use my experiences as a medium to champion change.”
To this end, Kay received a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV) and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California (USC). Jessica is currently working as a Clinical Social Work Intern for Brighter Tomorrow and is a Survivor Consultant for UNITAS.  In addition, Jessica is the CEO of I AM Jessica Kay LLC. She also serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the Nevada Policy Council on Human Trafficking, and she played a key role in developing Nevada’s CSEC Strategic Plan. 
Jessica received the Freedom Award from the New Jersey Coalition against Human Trafficking, was named in Las Vegas’ 40 Under 40, and is a survivor leader collaborating with numerous agencies across the country.

Jenna McKaye - Survivor Advocate

Jenna McKaye is a survivor leader and advocate who shares her story, healing journey, and work done to stay on her path of healing. In this episode, she talks of being trafficked at a young age by someone she trusted, and the importance of healthcare providers being educated in identifying trafficking victims and providing resources to leave their trafficker.
Penny and Jenna discuss branding in human trafficking, the need for awareness and identification of trafficking victims, and the significance of safe housing and comprehensive healing programs. Jenna emphasizes the importance of survivor voices and the role of parents in having conversations with their children about trafficking and creating a safe environment. She also shares her experience advocating for California Senate Bill 14, which recognizes sex trafficking of a minor as a serious crime, and her present work on California Senate Bill 1414.
In every episode, Penny and her guest highlight key actions people can take to combat human trafficking. In this episode, Jenna gives her perspective as a survivor.
To learn more about the Jenna McKaye Foundation, please visit their website HERE.
To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.
Host: Penny RonningWriter: Penny RonningProducers: Penny Ronning, Ty LoweEditor: Ty LoweSound Designer/Engineer: Ty LoweMusic: Ty Lowe, Konstantin KlimovArtwork: Rae ClarkWebsite: Justin Townsend
 
Jenna McKaye Bio
Jenna McKaye is a survivor of human trafficking with an incredible life story she now shares throughout the US. Jenna's extraordinary journey offers hope that inspires others through education and training. She continues to train hospital staff, law enforcement, and other first responders how to identify victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking. 
Jenna’s personable keynote speaking engagements leave a notable impression among a variety of audience demographics including the United Nations. In 2016, Jenna started the Jenna McKaye Foundation to engage in a broader advocacy training model and to provide equine therapy to victims and high-risk youth.  Jenna has been interviewed on countless podcasts across the country and internationally including Elizabeth Smart’s Smart Talks, and she consulted on the award-winning documentary Surviving Sex Trafficking. 
Jenna Serves on the board for The Worthy Ranch in Montana and Cycling for Change in New York. She worked with California State Senator Shannon Grove for 2 years to successfully get Senate Bill 14 passed into law. 
Jenna’s story has been optioned for a film and is in pre-production now. Visit jennamckaye.com for upcoming news/events and details on her soon-to-be-published book. 

Talk Trafficking Intro

End demand: protect the child, not the predator.