July 29, 2021

133: Human Trafficking and Surviving a Nightmare. Alicia Kozak's Real-Life Story of Abduction and Survival, in Honor of World Day Against Trafficking on July 30

1 hour 25 minutes

TRIGGER WARNING: Discussion of sexual abuse, kidnapping and grooming.

This episode is essential. And I don’t say that lightly.

The first thing you need to know about Alicia Kozakiewicz—or Alicia Kozak—is that she’s a survivor. A badass. A woman who lived through a literal nightmare, who now uses her experience to educate and protect children everywhere.

Alicia’s story is one of overcoming—overcoming the most intense trauma you can imagine.

You’ll hear Alicia tell her story in great detail in this podcast, but here are the basics: As a 12-year-old girl living in suburban Pittsburgh, Alicia began talking online to someone she thought was her own age. That person turned out to be a man, who, through manipulation, managed to get Alicia out of her own home, and kidnap her. What followed was days of torture and abuse that was live-streamed on the internet—a nightmare that Alicia miraculously emerged from thanks to a tip from a stranger.

Alicia’s story is intense. It is emotional. And it is something you NEED to hear.

July 30 marks “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons”—a day the UN has designated to raise awareness about the pervasive problem of human trafficking, child sexual abuse and the fight for resources to fight these shady, sometimes-online criminals.

This episode is also timely for other reasons. No doubt you’ve seen talk lately online of theories—which haven’t been disproven—about the ways in which innocent children are captured, trafficked, and abused. This is a REAL problem, one that has been lurking in the shadows for decades. While I’m not one to encourage conspiracy theories, I cannot stress enough to you that this problem is real, and it’s happening more than we may know.

In this episode you’ll not only hear Alicia’s harrowing story, but you’ll also hear how she has emerged from it to dedicate herself to the safety of other children. We will talk more about her advocacy, and her work in establishing Alicia’s Law in over a dozen states, in the episode, but I encourage you to also check out her site to learn more about how to protect yourself and your family, at www.aliciakozak.com.

I want to tell you that this episode is intense. It’s mostly in Alicia’s words. Her story, and her advice, are CRITICAL at a time right now where our kids are exposed, more than ever, to strangers online.

Again, this episode may be triggering to survivors of abuse. Please listen with that knowledge.

More Alicia:

IG @itsaliciakozak

More Me:

IG @SonniAbatta

www.wegottatalk.com/blog

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