Aware And Prepared
Hello! This is the Aware and Prepared podcast. I'm your host, Mandi Pratt, a trained domestic violence advocate. I teach women and vulnerable populations how to be street smart. I'm a mom with a gnarly backstory from almost two decades ago. The FBI showed up at my door one day to alert me that my abusive ex had become wanted for multiple bank robberies. Our story was in the news (a few times). I was tired of feeling vulnerable and learned how to keep myself and my son safer. I wish when I was a young woman I'd known about red flags to watch for in relationships, and had learned how to be street smart. This podcast is for 15-year-old me and is meant for families and community groups to listen to together. After all, women's safety is a community issue. I'll share with you stories like mine and interview detectives, psychologists and many other experts to NOT only hear their jaw-dropping stories, but also what we learn from them to prevent harm for our every youth and grown up listening. I don't want anyone else to have to go through what I did - scared, vulnerable and needing decades of counseling and healthcare to heal. I want you to feel safer with less fear and more power!
You can find more from me at my website or my Instagram:
WEB: https://womenawareandprepared.com/podcast/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/womenawareandprepared/
Aware And Prepared
Hidden Signs of Child Trafficking: What Every Parent And Educator Should Know
Human trafficking isn’t just “out there.” It’s happening closer to home than most people realize and many children and teens don’t even know it’s happening to them.
In this episode, Mandi and Erin from Love146 break down the hidden warning signs adults often miss, the emotional tactics traffickers use, and why so many cases go unnoticed in everyday communities. They also open up about the challenges of parenting teens in a digital world where harmful content and unsafe relationships can reach kids instantly.
You’ll hear:
- How trafficking can look like drug use, bullying, or an “unhealthy relationship” from the outside
- Why believing youth—and understanding their vulnerabilities—matters
- Real talk about creating safe, judgment-free communication with teens
- The power of “pre-permissioning” so kids know it’s okay to seek help
- What behavior changes adults should watch for
Mandi and Erin from Love146 wrap up with resources, ways to support ongoing anti-trafficking work, and a reminder that awareness and honest conversations save lives.
RESOURCES
Love146 website and Instagram and LinkedIn
National Human Trafficking Website and Hotline 1-888-373-7888
Connect with Mandi:
- Website: WomenAwareAndPrepared.com
- Take the Free Intuition Quiz WomenAwareAndPrepared.com/Quiz
- Instagram: @WomenAwareAndPrepared
- LinkedIn: Mandi Pratt
The primary purpose of the Women Aware and Prepared Podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute advice or services. Please use common sense for your own situation.