In the podcast episode of Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski, psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott discusses the complexities surrounding Stephan Stern, who is accused of abusing Maddie Soto, and the role of his parents in his development. Scott points out that while Stern’s parents appeared pragmatic and brutally honest about their son, describing him as manipulative and troubled, they also enabled his dysfunctional lifestyle by providing financial support, such as paying his bills. She highlights the challenges of raising a child like Stern, who had special education needs and likely required more resources than the family could access. Scott also touches on the difficulty of distinguishing between helping and enabling someone who is incapable of functioning independently. In addition, the episode explores whether companies like Disney, where both Stern and Jen Soto worked, should implement more rigorous psychological testing to screen employees working with children, given the potential risks. Scott emphasizes that it would be beneficial to conduct more thorough background checks and screenings, particularly for jobs involving vulnerable populations.

- Stephan Stern’s parents openly acknowledged his manipulative behavior but enabled his lifestyle by continuing financial support.

- Stern’s developmental issues may have been exacerbated by a lack of access to appropriate resources during his upbringing.

- Scott discusses the difficulty in balancing help with enabling someone incapable of functioning as an adult.

- The conversation suggests that companies working with children, such as Disney, should adopt more stringent psychological screening for employees.

- Predators often gravitate toward environments with children, making rigorous background checks essential for safety.

#StephanStern #MaddieSoto #PsychologicalScreening #ChildSafety #HiddenKillers #ShavaunScott #EmployeeBackgroundChecks

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