By Mandi Pratt
Hello! This is the Aware and Prepared podcast. I'm your host, Mandi Pratt, a trained domestic violence advocate. I teach women and vulnerable populations how to be street smart. I'm a mom with a gn
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The podcast currently has 78 episodes available.
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Ever feel like someone is following you? Hear about the crime trend, jugging, and how to stay aware and safer. Mandi highly recommends subscribing to police news releases in your local city to be aware of crime trends.
Hear this true story of "jugging," where criminals follow the victim from picking up valuable jewelry in LA. Hear what happens and learn from this story. The episode offers practical tips for identifying if you're being followed and what to do.
LESSONS LEARNED
Pay attention to being followed – Be aware of your surroundings calmly.
Trust your intuition – If your intuition tells you something is off, listen to it and act accordingly by either varying your route and seeking help.
Don't leave valuables in your car – Avoid leaving items, even those that don’t seem valuable, in plain sight inside your vehicle, as it may attract criminals.
Know what to do if your car is broken into – call 911 if you still feel in danger, or call the non-emergency number if time has passed and the situation is safe.
RESOURCES
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Provides show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life at the bottom of the website.
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Reach Mandi through her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Send us a text
Elicia delves deeper into the abuse she endured and and how it affected her adult life. After leaving her abusive relationship and moving out she struggled with the trauma and feelings of guilt instilled by those around her. She explains how her abuser’s manipulation made her doubt herself for years, and it wasn’t until she reflected on her experiences as an adult that she fully realized the extent of the coercion.
She shares the challenges of reclaiming her sense of self-worth and the process of breaking free from the mental grip of her past abuser.
Through teaching others her self defense program, she began to confront her own unresolved trauma and found empowerment in helping women recognize and defend themselves against both physical and emotional abuse. This new purpose gave her the strength to share her story publicly, break the silence around her experience, and become an advocate for other survivors.
LESSONS LEARNED
Healing Takes Time and Self-Reflection: Fully understanding the extent of past abuse and its impact often requires time, reflection, and self-awareness.
Reclaiming Self-Worth: Breaking free from the mental grip of an abuser involves rebuilding self-worth and undoing years of manipulation and guilt.
EMDR Therapy as a Healing Tool: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helped Elicia process her trauma and confront painful memories, facilitating deeper healing.
Empowerment Through Helping Others: Teaching others, especially in areas like self-defense, can be a powerful way to heal from personal trauma and regain control over one’s life.
Breaking the Silence: Speaking publicly about her experiences gave Elicia a sense of liberation and allowed her to help others who may be suffering in silence.
RESOURCES
Pretty Hands Hard Punches – Elicia's women’s self-defense program, designed to empower women to recognize and defend against both physical and emotional abuse. PrettyHandsHardPunches.com
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Provides show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life at the bottom of the website.
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Reach Mandi through her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Send us a text
Elicia recounts how her experience of being groomed and abused by a martial arts instructor when she was growing up severely impacted her self-esteem, mental health, and life trajectory.
Hear things to be aware of to prevent this sort of experience and how she got her power back. Elicia turned around her story for good to prevent and break the cycle of abuse and coercion that so many experience. This is part 1 in a two part series.
LESSONS LEARNED
Understanding Emotional and Mental Abuse: Physical self-defense is important, but recognizing manipulation and emotional abuse is just as critical for personal safety.
Trusting Your Instincts: Women need to be taught to trust their gut feelings and recognize warning signs before danger escalates.
The Harm of Victim Blaming: Blaming the victim, as Elicia experienced, worsens the trauma and makes recovery harder.
The Long-Lasting Impact of Abuse: Abuse at a young age can severely affect self-esteem, decision-making, and trust in oneself.
RESOURCES
Pretty Hands Hard Punches – Elicia's women’s self-defense program, designed to empower women to recognize and defend against both physical and emotional abuse. PrettyHandsHardPunches.com
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Provides show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life at the bottom of the website.
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Reach Mandi through her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Send us a text
What if you could carry peace of mind in your car, ready to help you navigate any emergency life throws your way? In this special episode I’m joined by a very important guest—my dad, Larry, a former Marine Corps officer with over 20 years of experience and a background in corporate-level security.
Building on last week's discussion about survival skills, today we're diving into the essential items for an emergency "go bag" that you can keep in your car. Whether it's an earthquake, fire, or even a civil disturbance, this small, carefully curated pack can provide critical support in a crisis. Larry shares his expertise on how to stay prepared without being overwhelmed, highlighting the value of starting small and customizing your bag to suit your needs.
Throughout the episode, we explore the various components of a go bag, offering practical tips for making sure you're ready for the unexpected. Plus, you'll hear real-life stories about how this simple kit has come in handy, not just during emergencies but in everyday situations as well. So, if you're looking to boost your preparedness while keeping things manageable, this episode is a must-listen!
RESOURCES
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Provides show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life at the bottom of the website.
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Reach Mandi for "Go-Bag" details through her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Send us a text
"Survival Mom" shares her experiences with natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey, which left her and her neighbors without power for days. She explains how having backup energy sources, like generators and power banks, helped her household stay safe and comfortable. She also gives practical advice on storing food, water, and key items to prepare for power outages.
She emphasizes that being prepared doesn't have to be expensive, encouraging listeners to start small with items like canned goods, bottled water, and portable chargers. For families with health needs, reliable power is crucial. The episode includes product recommendations for essential emergency items, helping listeners take steps toward better disaster preparedness.
Lessons Learned
Start Small with Preparedness: Begin by purchasing simple, affordable items like canned food, bottled water, and small power banks.
Backup Power is Key: Having multiple layers of energy backup, such as generators and portable chargers, is crucial for staying safe and powered during outages.
Water Storage is Essential: Ensure you have stored water, as power outages can affect water supplies and lead to boil notices.
RESOURCES
Jackery Power Stations – Reliable portable power stations for back up during power outages.
Anker Power Banks – Trusted portable chargers for keeping devices like phones powered.
Battarix – A credit-card-sized, one-time-use emergency phone charger with an eight-year shelf life.
EcoFlow Power Stations – High-capacity portable power solutions for emergencies.
Yamaha and Honda Generators – Top-rated generators for backup energy, known for reliability.
Generac Portable Generators – Popular generators for home use, available in various capacities for power backup.
Hot Logic – A low-wattage slow cooker that uses minimal power, ideal for emergency cooking.
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Provides show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life at the bottom of the website.
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Find Mandi on her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Send us a text
Intuition is a survival tool that helps us sense danger by picking up on subtle clues from our surroundings. Mandi shares a practical example of being alone at a gas station at night, explaining how these gut feelings can guide us to take protective actions, such as the ones she shared.
Mandi also highlights that intuition isn't just for dangerous situations; it can help us identify unhealthy relationships. By regularly checking in with ourselves and noticing how we feel around certain people, we can make better choices for our safety and well-being. Trusting and acting on our intuition allows us to live more safely and confidently.
RESOURCES
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Provides show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life at the bottom of the website.
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Find Mandi on her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
The primary purpose of the Women Aware and Prepared Podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute advice or services. Please use common sense for your own situation.
Send us a text
My son’s social security number was stolen in 2018, the theft led to legal challenges, including filing a police report and dealing with credit bureaus to secure the account. The host emphasizes the anxiety of such situations and the importance of taking preventative measures to protect personal information.
Hear practical advice for safeguarding against identity theft, particularly for children. Learn steps to take if identity theft occurs, highlighting the importance of prompt action to mitigate damage.
LESSONS LEARNED
Be Vigilant About Personal Information: Protecting Social Security numbers and other sensitive data is crucial, especially for children who may not be actively monitoring their credit.
Act Quickly When Identity Theft Occurs: Prompt action, such as filing a police report and freezing credit, can help mitigate the damage caused by identity theft.
Utilize Credit Monitoring Tools: Regularly check credit reports and set up alerts to catch any unauthorized activity early.
Question the Need for Personal Information: Before providing a Social Security number or other sensitive details, ask if it’s truly necessary and explore alternatives, especially when dealing with schools or healthcare providers.
Take Preventative Measures: Simple steps like using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and securely storing important documents can significantly reduce the risk of identity theft.
Stay Informed About Data Breaches: Awareness of data breaches and understanding the risks they pose can help you take timely protective actions.
RESOURCES
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Provides show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life at the bottom of the website.
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Articles 1 and 2
Tool from Consumer Reports called Permission Slip for sending multiple data deletion requests
IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Protect Child
Dark Web Monitoring
Companies like Incogni that scan the web for personal information and request its removal on your behalf
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Find Mandi on her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Send us a text
Financial sextortion occurs when someone is blackmailed after sharing intimate photos or videos online, often with someone they believe to be a trusted friend or partner. The episode shares info from EndTab.org highlighting chilling statistics, with most victims being young men and boys. This has tragic results.
We also explore how these scams typically unfold. The episode covers the responses from law enforcement and social media platforms, as well as practical steps to prevent sextortion. increasing prevalence of these scams, it's crucial to discuss this issue with our children and equip them with the knowledge to protect themselves online.
LESSONS LEARNED
Financial sextortion is the fastest-growing cyber crime.
Scammers often pretend to be someone they're not to obtain intimate photos or videos and then blackmail the victims.
This crime is a growing problem that is not slowing down.
It's important to report sextortion to law enforcement and talk with family about it.
Five key ways to prevent sextortion:
RESOURCES
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Provides show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life at the bottom of the website.
EndTAB (Ending Tech-Enabled Abuse): endtab.org and LinkedIn and Instagram
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call / Text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org
DHS (Dept. Homeland Security) “Know To Protect” Campaign to help kids identify and protect themselves
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Find Mandi on her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Send us a text
Dangers of online deception, particularly catfishing scams from romance scammers, are shared as the host reads insights from guest Adam Dodge, who specializes in combating tech-enabled abuse through his organization, EndTAB.
Hear the evolution of catfishing tactics, now incorporating advanced AI technologies like deepfakes and voice cloning to create convincing but fake live videos. Listeners are educated on how to spot and avoid these scams, with practical tips such as observing unnatural eye and lip movements, checking for consistent lighting, and scrutinizing behavior for red flags.
The host stresses the importance of sharing this knowledge, especially with those vulnerable to online dating scams, to foster a safer online environment for all.
LESSONS LEARNED
Ask the Person to Stand Up: Face-swapping apps can generate realistic heads and hands but currently can't create an entire body. Ask the person to stand up.
Watch Eye and Lip Movements: Unnatural eye blinks, facial expressions, or lips that don't sync perfectly with spoken words.
Check the Lighting: In face-swapped videos, the lighting and shadows on the face often don't match those in the background. Ask the person to show their real background.
Focus on Behavior: Scammers typically use love bombing, escalate relationships quickly, and maintain constant communication. The biggest red flag is when they ask for money, gifts, or intimate images.
RESOURCES
Aware and Prepared Podcast Weekly Email: Show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode. Sign up at awareandprepared.life bottom of the website.
EndTAB (Ending Tech-Enabled Abuse): endtab.org and LinkedIn and Instagram
Article From Wired on Real-Time AI Manipulated Videos
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Find Mandi on AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Send us a text
What are the risks and implications of sharing digital access with partners?
Introduction to Digital Entanglement: The blend of personal and digital lives in relationships. Potential risks of sharing digital access with partners.
Study by Malwarebytes: Examining digital sharing behaviors in relationships.
Key findings:
High Rates of Sharing: 85% of people in relationships share personal account access; for Gen Z, it's 95%.
Pressure and Regret: 43% feel pressured to share logins; higher pressure experienced by Gen Z and Millennials.
Misuse and Abuse: Nearly 30% have faced harmful effects from digital sharing; higher rates among Gen Z and Millennials.
Perceived Invincibility: Many do not feel personally concerned about digital sharing risks.
Need for Support: 70% acknowledge needing support to navigate digital sharing.
LESSONS
Be Cautious with Sharing: Only share passwords with trusted individuals.
Right to Refuse: It's okay to say no to sharing passwords, regardless of the relationship duration. You can say "I'm not comfortable" or "Let me think about that" or simply, "No."
Teach Children: Educate children on the importance of not sharing passwords with friends.
Following Someone With an Air Tag is a Crime: Personal Story - Mandi shares an experience of being tracked by an Apple AirTag
RESOURCES
SEND THIS TO one Millenial and one Gen Z person you love!
***Don’t forget to review the show (bottom of all episodes) - is it helpful, practical, insightful?***
Book Mandi for a keynote and workshops for your school, conference or retreat to share her real life story, how she healed and practical takeaways to inspire and empower your audience.
Find Mandi on her website AwareAndPrepared.Life or Instagram @WomenAwareAndPrepared
Music by Andrea Hamilton Binley at HopefulPop.com.
The primary purpose of the Women Aware and Prepared Podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute advice or services. Please use common sense for your own situation.
The podcast currently has 78 episodes available.