Navigating Abuse, Authenticity and Change with Lauren Trantham

The Masculine Wilderness Podcast

When we stay silent about the big problem of abuse and human trafficking, it's like saying it's okay. However, by breaking the silence, we empower the next generation to confront these issues head-on, fostering a culture of awareness, advocacy, and empathy. It's about shattering the barriers of fear and ignorance and equipping young people with the knowledge and tools to recognize, report, and prevent the spectrum of abuse. Each voice raised against this injustice adds momentum to the movement for change, ensuring a safer and more just world for future generations.

In this episode, we talk about human trafficking, abuse, and how the world is experienced differently by men and women. Lauren also shares her backstory and the insights she has learned in her journey as someone who has experienced abuse and how she has fought, grown, and overcome everything.

Lauren is the producer of the Masculine Wilderness Podcast and the director of communication and donor relations at Epik Project. She is also the founder and executive director of Ride My Road, an educational and fundraising organization that has hosted events around the country, educated thousands of community members, and raised over $400,000 for survivor-led initiatives. As a photographer, Lauren has photographed nearly 100 American survivors of human trafficking. Most recently, Lauren and Ride My Road co-hosted the Alaska Data Summit and the Southern Oregon Human Trafficking Disruptors Summit. If you have seen our recent bonus episode, you know it included presentations by Justin Euteneier and Tomas Perez, your host.

Note: This conversation touches on sexual violence, and while it’s never our goal to sensationalize the trauma of this topic, we strive to speak truthfully about the damage being done.

Tune in!

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

Ride My Road; https://www.ridemyroad.org/

Epik Blog by Lauren: https://www.epikproject.org/blog/abusers

Southern Oregon Human Trafficking Disruptors Summit; https://rvml.org/event/southern-oregon-human-trafficking-disruptors-summit/

NCOSE: https://endsexualexploitation.org/

Elevate Academy by Rebecca Bender: https://elevate-academy.org/

Key Highlights From The Show:

• [00:01] Intro and a quick bio of the guest, Lauren Trantham

• [04:34] How Tom and Lauren met and what she was up to

• [11:31] Lauren’s origin story and inspiration behind Ride My Road

• [09:53] Lauren’s first survival bike that she rebuilt with her dad

• [12:58] How the Survival Bike project opened the door to the Sturgis Rally

• [16:07] How Lauren’s work with survivors changed her perspective on empowerment

• [20:52] Lauren's emotional abuse and how it sparked an identity crisis

• [23:54] Things that helped Lauren through the identity crisis and how long it took to heal

• [27:33] How common intimate partner abuse is among women

• [30:02] Lauren’s (part 1) blog post on women's abuse

• [35:34] The silence complexity and why we need to speak up

• [38:20] How Lauren maintains her mental, emotional, and spiritual equilibrium in her work

• [40:18] What gives Lauren the confidence to move about in the world

• [44:58] Vulnerability: The masculine equivalent of camping with coyotes

• [52:31] Things that bring life and creativity into Lauren's path

• [57:57] Lauren's parting words to all men

Standout Quotes:

• “Abuse is everywhere, and it’s so prevalent.” - [28:02]

• “There is so much goodness, so many good men in this world, and so much hope that we can change the world.”- [38:32]

• “You don’t have to be special; you just have to be willing to camp with your coyotes, even if that is going to therapy.”- [43:47]

• “It’s very hard to go around in the world pretending; when we are not true to ourselves and open and honest about what we’re experiencing, it can make us physically ill.”- [45:34]

• “When you confront your fears and get it right with yourself, you move through the world differently.”- [50:13]

• “Work on yourself, and you will see a ripple effect take place among your family, friends, and other men in your life.”- [51:05]

Let’s Connect

www.epikproject.org

@epikproject