Episodes

So much of the conversation around trafficking and sexual exploitation involves women - women make up the majority of the victims and they also make up the majority of advocates and gender-based violence experts. Men, though ...

It’s the last episode of Exit Wound ! And what better way to close out the season than to reflect on our then and our now? Melanie and survivor leaders Gabrielle Prieto, Shamere McKenzie, and Sunny Palmer sit down to …

Community outreach, grassroots organizing, starting your own nonprofit, legislative advocacy - these are all sectors where many survivors thrive after their traumatic experiences. But activism involves more than just being ab...

One of the things all sex trade survivors have in common is the need for exit services and aftercare. It’s also one of the things lacking in the great big city of New York. All survivors all need the same …

Surviving sexual exploitation is a skill in and of itself, but turning that pain into a public speaking career that could include lobbying, legislative advocacy, panel discussions, training and workshops, council meetings – w...

In this episode, Melanie and her guests, survivor leaders Abigail and Gina Cavallo, discuss a huge part of survivorhood: when and how to tell your story. You’ve found your voice, but what comes next? Now that you've told one ...

For survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution, the workplace can be a minefield of complicated emotions and interactions: You’ve got a job you worked so hard to get, but it’s not what you thought it would be. You feel lik...

Many - if not all - sex trade survivors struggle with money insecurity at some point after exiting “the life.” It is extremely difficult for survivors to find their financial footing once they transition to being on their own...

Survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution often struggle with their transition to an “average” lifestyle after leaving “the life”. They may miss their trafficker or miss their old friends. They may struggle to trust peopl...

Not all sex trade survivors exit “the life” with a clean slate. Unfortunately, many survivors get caught up with the (in)justice system, often because of something their trafficker made them do. So what happens then? Is there...

This episode touches on all things relating to when an individual first exits the sex trade. Melanie and two survivor leaders (Doraina Rochford and Laura Mullen) get into the details, asking each other Remember when you first...

In this episode, Melanie and her guests, Shandra Woworuntu and Laura Mullen, expand on what they’re seeing on the streets of New York City. They talk about the consequences of NYC’s current de facto decriminalization policy, ...

This introductory episode lays the foundation of the entire podcast. Melanie and her guest Katrina Massey discuss all the myths and misconceptions our culture spews out about prostitution, trafficking and trafficking survivor...

Host Melanie Thompson introduces Exit Wound: The Journey of Exploitation and Beyond. Why this podcast? Why now?