Engage Arizona

Peter Gentala sits down with Haley McNamara, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, to discuss how families, lawmakers, and institutions can better protect children from online exploitation.

They cover the role of Big Tech, the limits of current law, the fight over Section 230, recent legal victories against social media companies, Arizona’s work to strengthen accountability for sex buyers, and new parent resources from NCOSE. 

In this episode

• Why NCOSE focuses on institutions that enable exploitation
• How social media platforms expose children to grooming, sextortion, and trafficking
• What families should know about Section 230
• The ongoing legal fight involving X, formerly Twitter
• Recent jury verdicts against major technology companies
• Why Arizona is focusing on accountability for sex buyers
• How parents can better protect children online

Guest

Haley McNamara
Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer
National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Resources

• National Center on Sexual Exploitation - https://endsexualexploitation.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• 2026 Dirty Dozen List - https://endsexualexploitation.org/dirty-dozen-list-2026/
• NCOSE Parent Center - https://endsexualexploitation.org/parent-center-sign-up/
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - https://www.missingkids.org/home
• Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act - https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/230

Key takeaway

Protecting children online cannot fall on parents alone. It requires stronger laws, better corporate accountability, and practical tools that help families respond before exploitation happens.

Founding CAP board member Jay Snyder shares how Dr. James Dobson’s faith and leadership shaped a generation, and helped inspire the creation of the Center for Arizona Policy. From cassette tapes and radio broadcasts to a new AI-powered global ministry, Jay recounts powerful stories of obedience, family, and cultural impact.

Hosted by Peter Gentala

Listen now and be encouraged by how one man’s “yes” to God continues to change lives.

Join us for a special episode of Engage Arizona as CAP President Peter Gentala and VP of Marketing & Communications Bob Trent sit down with John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and daily voice behind Breakpoint.

We dive into timely questions:

• How can Christians engage in public debates with both conviction and grace?
• What does it mean to be “ruthless with ideas but gentle with people”?
• How do we avoid tribalism while standing boldly for truth?

John also shares about the Colson Center’s new project, Truth Rising: a documentary and initiative produced with Focus on the Family. From cultural confusion to courageous voices like Jack Phillips and Chloe Cole, the film calls Christians to know what is true and to live it out with courage.

At SoConCon 25, Bob Trent sits down with Greg Baker, founding director of the Church Ambassador Network, to discuss how pastors and government leaders can work together for the good of our communities.

Greg shares the vision behind the Church Ambassador Network; connecting the church and government while respecting their distinct roles. Through stories from Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, he explains how these partnerships are already reducing foster care placements, addressing addiction, and reminding leaders that God is with them in their service.

Learn how this growing movement is building bridges between pastors and legislators across the country, and where Greg hopes it will go next.

At SoConCon 25 in Indianapolis, Bob Trent sits down with Jason McGuire, President of New York Families Foundation. Jason shares his journey from pastoring in the Finger Lakes to leading a statewide advocacy organization, confronting cultural battles on life, marriage, and justice.

In this candid conversation, Jason reveals how the New York Attorney General targeted him and his ministry through subpoenas, investigations, and lawfare—ultimately leading to a jail sentence over minor reporting errors. He also explains the deeper spiritual mission behind his work, the importance of standing firm in faith, and how Christians can find common ground—even in deeply blue states.

Topics discussed:

• From pastor to advocate: why Jason stepped into public policy
• The fight for life, marriage, and truth in New York
• Building common ground on protecting kids from pornography
• How lawfare is weaponized against Christian conservatives
• Why prayer and spiritual leadership must remain central

In this episode of Engage Arizona, host Bob Trent sits down with Laura Hanford of The Heritage Foundation’s Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family.

Laura shares her powerful story—from working on international religious freedom to becoming a leading voice in protecting children from the harms of gender ideology. She and Bob discuss:

• How gender ideology spread through schools and medicine
• The dangers of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for minors
• Why parents are pressured with misleading suicide statistics
• What the latest research from Europe reveals about the long-term outcomes
• How the U.S. medical establishment and government have pushed ideology over evidence

This conversation shines a light on what is really at stake and why protecting children must remain a top priority.

In this episode of Engage Arizona, Bob Trent sits down with Matt Frendaway, Executive Director of Yes Every Kid Foundation, to talk about the future of education in America.

Matt shares why the current education system is too often designed for politics instead of children, how Arizona has become a national trailblazer in educational freedom, and why families are demanding more flexible options; from charter schools and ESAs to homeschooling co-ops and micro-schools.

They also cover:

• How policy can truly serve students and parents
• The rise of homeschooling in unexpected demographics
• The national tax credit scholarship proposal and what it could mean for families
• Why so many teachers are leaving traditional classrooms to start new learning models

Hear how parents, educators, and policymakers are rethinking what education can, and should, look like.

Learn more about Yes Every Kid Foundation: yeseverykidfoundation.org

Bob Trent sits down with Matt Sharp from Alliance Defending Freedom to discuss how ADF has shifted from reactive legal advice to proactive public policy work. They cover:

• Crafting legally sound legislation on life, religious freedom, parental rights, and marriage & family
• Addressing gender ideology in schools, protecting privacy, and ensuring fairness in women's sports
• Key cases from Idaho, West Virginia, and Connecticut making their way to the Supreme Court
• How ADF supports families and students through pro bono legal representation

Learn more about ADF’s work and how to support these cases at ADFlegal.org.

At SoConCon 25, Engage Arizona host Bob Trent sits down with Ryan McCann, President of the Indiana Family Institute, for a powerful conversation on defending parental rights, protecting children, and advancing pro-life laws.

They discuss Indiana’s landmark parental rights protections, the fight against radical gender ideology, life-saving pro-life victories after Dobbs, and the urgent need to rebuild strong, God-honoring families. From safeguarding Christian teachers in public schools to addressing harmful cultural trends, McCann shares victories, challenges, and his vision for the future of faith, family, and freedom in Indiana.

Topics Covered:

• Protecting parents from false abuse claims over gender ideology
• Outlawing abortion clinics in Indiana post-Dobbs
• Defending free speech for Christian teachers
• Combating sexualized drag events targeting children
• Reclaiming marriage and strengthening the nuclear family

Subscribe for more conversations from SoConCon 25 on faith, family, and freedom.

In this episode of Engage Arizona, host Bob Trent sits down with Casey Stefanski, founder of the Digital Childhood Alliance (DCA), to talk about protecting children in today’s hyper-connected world.

The DCA is a new nonprofit with a powerful mission: protect kids online and empower parents. From unsafe apps to inadequate parental controls, Casey explains how tech companies are failing to protect children—and what parents can do about it.

Key topics in this conversation:

• Why parental controls often fall short
• The hidden dangers inside “kid-friendly” apps
• How predators can reach children through games and social media
• The App Store Accountability Act and how it puts parents back in control
• The rise of AI and the urgent need for child safety safeguards
• Free resources for parents from DCA and partner organizations

Casey shares practical tips, valuable resources, and the legislative solutions that are gaining bipartisan support across the country.

Resources & Links:
Digital Childhood Alliance – https://digitalchildhoodalliance.org
Protect Young Eyes – https://protectyoungeyes.com
National Center on Sexual Exploitation – https://endsexualexploitation.org

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