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In today’s episode of Aspire, host Alex Prout is joined by student co-host Amira for a conversation with Aaron Bos-Lun and Dewayne Martin of Men for Choice. They discuss why men must move beyond passive support and become active participants in the fight for reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, and reproductive justice.

Aaron and Dewayne explain how Men for Choice builds community and leadership through one-on-one conversations, youth organizing, digital advocacy, and its fellowship program. They discuss the importance of meeting people where they are, helping young men understand their stake in reproductive rights, and turning personal values into concrete, time-bound action.

The conversation also explores the influence of the manosphere, social media algorithms, and the lack of positive messages directed at young men. Aaron and Dewayne share why authentic voices are essential to challenging harmful stereotypes, and reflect on sustaining advocacy through purpose, community, humor, grace, and education.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder that change does not always require thousands of people; sometimes it begins with a few people showing up together, having a conversation, and choosing to act.

To learn more about Men for Choice and its Virtual Youth Fellowship Program, please visit https://menforchoice.org/

To join I Have The Right To’s fight to create a world free of sexual violence, please visit https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In today’s episode of Aspire, hosts Katie M. Shipp and Chessy Prout are joined by student co-hosts Anna and Emma for a conversation with Sarah Miller, Executive Director of Women’s Services Inc. Sarah shares her journey into survivor advocacy and discusses Women’s Services’ holistic approach to supporting people impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, and other forms of violence.

The conversation explores the organization’s 24-hour hotline, shelter, legal and medical advocacy, counseling, prevention education, and community-based programs. Sarah explains how survivor-centered care has evolved, why confidentiality and specialized training are essential, and how advocates support survivors in navigating systems including courts, hospitals, correctional facilities, schools, and disability service organizations.

Sarah, Anna, Emma, Katie, and Chessy also discuss the unique barriers survivors face in rural communities, the importance of bystander intervention and consent education, and how friends and loved ones can support someone who may not be ready to leave an abusive relationship. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the power of youth leadership, community organizing, and survivor-informed advocacy, and the many ways people can make a difference through their time, resources, skills, or simply by continuing to show up.

The episode closes with Sarah’s vision for a future where survivors can access care without stigma, male survivors of childhood sexual abuse feel safe and supported in seeking help, and communities are empowered to create lasting change. Her message is also a reminder that rest is not a luxury, but an essential part of sustaining this work.

Learn more and find support:

• Women’s Services Inc.: Learn more about the organization and its support resources at https://www.womensservicesinc.org/
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: For national support and referrals to local survivor services, visit https://www.thehotline.org/
• I Have The Right To: Join the movement to create a world free of sexual violence at https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In today’s episode of Aspire, hosts Katie M. Shipp and Chessy Prout are joined by student co-host Amyra for a conversation with Rachel Foster, a human rights attorney and co-founder and president of World Without Exploitation. Rachel shares how her career in law, community organizing, and survivor advocacy led her to build coalitions that challenge human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, and the systems that allow them to continue.

The conversation explores Rachel’s survivor-informed policy work, including efforts to close legal loopholes that fail to protect 15, 16, and 17-year-olds from commercial sexual exploitation. Rachel also discusses survivor leadership, the importance of bringing survivors into rooms where decisions are made, and how collective action can transform isolation into power. The group reflects on the role of youth activism, peer-to-peer education, and the need to compensate survivors for their advocacy.

Rachel and the hosts also examine the language surrounding “sex work,” pornography, OnlyFans, and online exploitation. They discuss how social media and algorithms can normalize exploitation, how financial privilege can create a false sense of consent, and why young people need the tools to pause, think critically, and recognize grooming and coercion. They close with a call to challenge systems that protect perpetrators and expose survivors, while building communities rooted in dignity, accountability, and support.

To learn more about World Without Exploitation, please visit https://www.worldwithoutexploitation.org/

To join I Have The Right To’s fight to create a world free of sexual violence, please visit https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In this week's episode of Aspire, host Ray Epstein is joined by student co-hosts Anna and Ryan for a conversation with former professional athletes James Smith-Williams and Pete LeBoutillier. They discuss their transitions from the NFL and NHL into advocacy, leadership, and mentoring, and how their experiences in professional sports shaped their understanding of vulnerability, connection, and accountability.

James and Pete reflect on the pressure athletes face to perform toughness, hide their emotions, and conform to locker-room expectations. They explain how leadership in sports is changing from intimidation and fear toward trust and safety. They also explore how coaches and teammates can create healthier environments by building real relationships, praising progress, and making space for honest conversations.

The group discusses the responsibility athletes have when they are given a public platform, including how to support survivors, challenge harmful behavior, and use influence to promote positive change. Pete and James share why being vulnerable is a form of strength and why their greatest legacy is helping young people become more caring, connected, and courageous human beings.

To learn more about I Have the Right To and bring trauma-informed programming to your school or community, please visit https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In today's episode of Aspire, hosts Katie Shipp and Chessy Prout are joined by student co-hosts Anna and Aubrey for a conversation with Lisa Kristine, an internationally recognized humanitarian photographer and activist. Lisa shares how her photography has documented modern slavery and human trafficking in over 150 countries, helping make hidden realities visible while honoring the dignity and humanity of the people whose stories she captures.

The conversation challenges the idea that human trafficking and forced labor are problems that happen “somewhere else.” Lisa explains how exploitation is embedded in global supply chains and exists in communities across the United States, including agriculture, domestic work, the sex industry, and other forms of forced labor. She discusses how photography can move people beyond statistics, helping viewers connect emotionally with individuals they might otherwise overlook.

Lisa also explains how she builds trust with communities, seeks permission, protects survivors’ ownership of their stories, and works to portray people with dignity rather than pity. The group discusses responsible storytelling, the risks of exploitative media coverage, and the importance of balancing difficult truths with hope, resilience, and survivor-led advocacy.

The episode also explores social media, the manosphere, attention culture, and the importance of teaching children about trafficking, grooming, and coercion instead of shielding them from difficult realities. Lisa emphasizes that knowledge can help young people recognize danger and protect themselves, while slowing down and engaging thoughtfully with art and stories can help rebuild empathy and connection.

To learn more about Lisa Kristine, please visit https://lisakristine.com/

To join I Have The Right To's fight to create a world free of sexual violence, please visit https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In this week's episode of Aspire - Real Men, Real Conversations, host Alex Prout is joined by three student co-hosts, Vishudh, Shreyas, and Kaiden, for a conversation with Peter Fisher. Peter is a research fellow at the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. He explains how his work looks at the social norms, identity pressures, and “man box” expectations that shape boys’ and men's behavior, especially around emotional expression and connection.

The conversation focuses on how harmful masculinity norms are formed early, reinforced by peers, schools, family systems, sports culture, and social media, and why young men often feel pressure to act tough even when it's against their own interest. Peter introduces Movember’s research on the “perception gap” and “pluralistic ignorance,” explaining how many boys and men overestimate how much others expect them to stay silent, self-reliant, or emotionally restrained.

A major theme throughout the episode is prevention through early intervention. Peter discusses Movember’s youth programs like Game Changers, which uses near-peer mentors, sports, and emotional literacy tools to help boys build healthier habits and stronger support systems. The co-hosts share their own experiences with friendship, competition, school pressure, and family relationships, grounding the conversation in real-life examples of how young men can learn to speak up, check in on others, and resist harmful norms.

They close with a hopeful message on correcting misperceptions, creating trusted spaces, and how making emotional expression feel normal can lower the barrier for boys and men to seek help and connect more honestly with others. Peter’s “I have the right to” statement, “I have the right to feel," captures the heart of the episode’s message about emotional freedom and healthier masculinity.

For more information on Movember, please visit https://movember.com/

To join I Have The Right To's mission to create a world free of sexual violence, visit https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In this week's episode of Aspire, Alex Prout is joined by his daughter and co-host Lucy Prout, along with student interns Ryan and Sylvie, for a conversation with Gary Barker, founder and CEO of Equimundo Center for Masculinities and Social Justice. Gary reflects on the personal experiences that led him into this work, including violence he witnessed in school and his early exposure to neglect, abuse, and silence around harm.

The conversation explores how boys and men learn harmful ideas about strength, silence, and dominance, and how those norms can shape relationships, identity, and violence. Gary explains why he centers care in his work, arguing that boys and men need examples of emotional connection, fatherhood, self-care, and community responsibility if we want to prevent violence upstream rather than just responding after harm has happened.

Ryan and Sylvie share their own experiences of speaking up, while Lucy reflects on the importance of collective responsibility and restorative approaches. The episode closes with a hopeful vision of aspirational masculinity: one that makes room for tenderness, accountability, and choosing who you want to be rather than inheriting a narrow script.

To learn more about Equimundo, visit: equimundo.org

To join I Have The Right To's fight for a world free of sexual violence, please visit: ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In this episode of Aspire, Alex Prout is joined by co-hosts CJ and Vishudh for a conversation with Jonathan Jacobs, an entrepreneur, investor, marketing expert, and masculinity advocate working to redefine what it means to be a man. Jonathan shares how his father’s hidden alcoholism and death pushed him to examine masculinity, grief, and the pressure many men feel to be physically strong and aggressive instead of emotionally intelligent.

The conversation explores how father-son relationships shape identity, how boys and men are taught to police themselves and each other, and why many harmful norms are reinforced by fear, shame, and social expectations. Jonathan introduces the idea of “American manhood” as something socially constructed rather than fixed, and talks about expanding the meaning of provider and protector to include emotional support, community care, and vulnerability.

CJ and Vishudh bring powerful reflections from their own lives, sharing how their relationships with their fathers evolved through honesty, patience, and emotional openness. The episode closes with a hopeful message about choosing who you want to be, breaking out of narrow definitions of masculinity, and building relationships grounded in authenticity, accountability, and care.

To learn more about Jonathan Jacobs, visit https://www.jonathanjacobs.com/
To join I Have The Right To's fight for a world free of sexual violence, visit https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In this episode of the Aspire, Advocacy in Action, Chessy Prout and Ray Epstein are joined by student co-hosts Amyra Basu and CJ La Mar, for another conversation with Meg Stone. Meg is the executive director of Impact Boston and author of The Cost of Fear, and recently released Don’t Fight Back And 10 Other Myths About Crime, Personal Safety, and Gender-Based Violence. Together they explore empowerment self-defense, survivor-centered advocacy, and the evidence-based strategies that challenge fear-based myths about safety.

Meg explains how years of teaching self-defense and working as a court advocate showed her that many common “safety tips” are based more on stigma and control than on research. The conversation covers myths about intuition, victim-blaming, resistance, and how media narratives often erase survivors’ agency.

They also dive into the dangers of fear-based advice online, and why fact-checking matters in prevention work. Throughout the conversation, Meg reinforces her principal message: that safety should be grounded in evidence, agency, and community, not fear. 

For Meg's books, visit https://megstone.org/books
To learn more about Impact Boston, visit https://impactboston.org/
To join I Have The Right To's fight for a world free of sexual violence, visit https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/

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In this week’s episode of Aspire, host Alex Prout is joined by student co-hosts Anna Turhan and Ryan for a powerful conversation with Robert Goodland, an equine-assisted therapy practitioner and coach. Robert shares how his lived experiences as a childhood sexual abuse survivor, firefighter, and first responder inspired his work helping others heal from trauma through an unorthodox approach.

Robert describes the unique role horses can play in supporting emotional regulation, nervous system awareness, and authentic self-reflection. He explains how equine-assisted therapy creates opportunities for deep insight, self-compassion, and meaningful healing, particularly for trauma survivors and those in recovery.

Throughout the episode, the group highlights the importance of reframing trauma through resilience and growth rather than shame. Robert, Alex, Anna, and Ryan discuss vulnerability, masculinity, accountability, and the transformative power of sharing our stories to foster connection, hope, and healing.

To learn more about Robert's work, visit www.theheartofahorse.com

To learn more about I Have The Right To's programming, visit www.ihavetherightto.org

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Aspire is produced by BenHudakProductions.com