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Did you know that the fastest growing criminal industry in the world is sex trafficking? And that the illegal sex trade generates $150.2 billion worldwide each year? And that there are an estimated 30 million enslaved people in the world right now, with about 10 million of those being children?

At first, hearing the enormity of those stats, it might seem like an unsolvable problem. But today’s guest, the incredible Tim Ballard, is not deterred. His organisation, Operation Underground Railroad, has rescued thousands of enslaved victims and captured more than 750 traffickers. And in this eye opening conversation, he’s sharing how we can all help put an end to this evil and stand up for the rights of exploited people all over the world.

Tim Ballard is the Founder and CEO of Operation Underground Railroad. Ballard spent over a decade working as a Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security, where he was assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and deployed as an undercover operative for the U.S. Child Sex Tourism Jump Team. He has worked every type of case imaginable in the fight to dismantle child trafficking rings. He has worked undercover in the United States and in multiple foreign countries to infiltrate child trafficking organizations. In this effort, he has successfully dismantled dozens of these organizations and rescued countless children from sex slavery. He is an expert at managing Internet investigations, particularly those dealing with file-share networks where pedophiles and traffickers go to trade in child exploitation materials. In April 2019, Tim became a volunteer CEO for Operation Underground Railroad by taking no salary or benefits (which was always his goal when he started the foundation).

Tim is one of my personal heroes, so I was so honoured to be able to sit down with him and bring you this massively important conversation. Though these topics can feel hard and difficult to discuss at times, Tim’s compassion, determination and leadership will light a fire in your heart. So will his ultimate message: that child sex trafficking will not be stopped by governents, but by everyday people taking a stand. In other words, it’s up to us.

So if you want to learn the shocking facts of the child sex trade, hear about the bravery that’s helping to end global trafficking for good (and how we can all contribute), and learn the CRUCIAL ways we must educate our own children, to protect them from sexual predators, then pop in those earbuds… this one’s for you.

Warning: This interview contains details that some listeners may find upsetting. It’s also not suitable to listen to with children. 

In this episode we chat about:

• Operation Underground Railroad’s mission, and why it’s so crucial that we support their work against human trafficking and child exploitation (08:17)
• Why human trafficking and slavery today are bigger than ever before, and Tim’s heroic mission to fight against it (11:02)
• Tim’s eye-opening capture operation on Haiti (and why the case was so controversial that it became a documentary) (14:23)
• How to be a voice for anti-human trafficking and why we, as parents, are the first line of defense for our kids against online predators (17:28)
• How Tim adopted his beautiful rescued children, and the educational philosophy he has at home to protect his family (20:42)
• Tim’s secret to keeping a positive mindset, and the two essential factors that keep him going while doing such heavy work (25:52)
• The importance of having uncomfortable conversations in order to find a solution (29:36)

Episode resources: 

• Operation Underground Railroad (website)
• Destiny Rescue (website)
• Operation Toussaint on Amazon (documentary)
• Operation Toussaint on YouTube (documentary)
• Slave Stealers: True Accounts of Slave Rescues by Timothy Ballard (amazon)

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honored that you’re here and would be SO grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple podcasts, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

P.S. Please seek advice from a qualified holistic practitioner before starting any new health practice.

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