Welcome to this week’s episode where I talk to James Wright.

James is former UK military and a specialist in counter-terrorism with extensive experience in Somalia. James offers a unique perspective on the complex connections between terrorism and human trafficking in this volatile region.

Throughout our conversation, James provides an in-depth look at his work combating terrorist networks in Somalia and how these networks often intersect with human trafficking rings.

He explains how terrorist organizations exploit vulnerable populations, using human trafficking as both a funding mechanism and a recruitment strategy. We discuss the brutal realities faced by trafficking victims who are often coerced, kidnapped, or deceived into forced labor or combat roles.

James also sheds light on the challenges of counter-terrorism efforts in a country like Somalia, where political instability, poverty, and lack of enforcement mechanisms make it difficult to dismantle the intertwined networks of terror and trafficking.

If you’d like to learn more about James then visit him on LinkedIn at   / james-apd-wright  

Video versions of this episode are available on our official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfrYvGPJEZsPd1uh8bIhJg

If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines in the episode description.

Your call could save someone’s life…including your own.

Stay safe.

Support agencies and reporting lines: UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... ) UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Childline 0800 1111 Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111 UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700 Migrant Help 0808 8010 503 Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 500222

#letstalkmodernslavery #modernslavery #slavery #modernslaveryawareness #humantrafficking #exploitation #mentalhealth #podcast #podcasting #truecrimepodcast #truecrimecommunity #conflict #terrorism

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Welcome to this week’s episode where I talk to Shorouq Shatnawi. 


Shorouq is a Gender and Development Expert based in Jordan. 

Shorouq takes us on a journey across Jordan, shedding light on the unique vulnerabilities faced by women in war, conflict, and the reintegration process. 

In this episode, we delve into the systemic challenges that women face in the region. Shorouq discusses the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and how gender-based violence disproportionately affects women compared to men, mirroring a troubling global trend. We explore the realities of human trafficking, where women are trafficked through the region for domestic work. With limited labor laws or regulations to protect domestic workers, many find themselves in situations of exploitation. 

Join us as Shorouq shares her expertise and experiences, bringing a much-needed focus on the intersection of gender, conflict, and modern slavery in the middle east. 

If you’d like to learn more about Shorouq visit her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/msshatnawi/ 

Video versions of this episode are available on our official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@illustroconsultancyltd 

If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines in the episode description. 

Your call could save someone’s life…including your own. 

Stay safe. 

Support agencies and reporting lines: 

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... ) UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Childline 0800 1111 Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111 UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700 Migrant Help 0808 8010 503 Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 500222 

#letstalkmodernslavery #modernslavery #slavery #modernslaveryawareness #humantrafficking #exploitation #mentalhealth #podcast #podcasting #truecrimepodcast #truecrimecommunity #middleeast #genderdevelopment #conflict 

Welcome to this week’s episode where we talk to Ian Waite. 

In this special episode of Let's Talk Modern Slavery, we put celebrity dancer Ian Waite to the test on a topic far removed from the ballroom: modern slavery. 

Known for his dynamic performances and vibrant personality on shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With the Stars, Ian steps into the challenging role of an advocate, tackling questions that reveal how much he really knows about this hidden global crisis. 

From the shocking realities of human trafficking to the subtle signs of exploitation, we delve into Ian's understanding of this crucial issue. 

The full video version of this episode is available on our official YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@illustroconsultancyltd 

If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines below. 

Your call could save someone’s life…including your own. 

Stay safe. 

Support agencies and reporting lines 

 UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... ) 
UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 
Childline 0800 1111 
Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111 
UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700 
Migrant Help 0808 8010 503 
Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 500222 

#letstalkmodernslavery #modernslavery #slavery #modernslaveryawareness #humantrafficking #exploitation #podcast #podcasting #truecrimepodcast #truecrimecommunity #truecrime #doesnothappenhere #onceyouseeit #mentalhealth 

Warning: This episode contains references to human exploitation and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging, please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe. 

Welcome to this week’s episode where I talk to Peter Sewakiryanga. 

Peter is the Founder of Kyampisi, an organization in Uganda that deals with trafficking for child sacrifice. 

We originally visited Kyampisi in Series 1 with Sam Karugaba, but returned to speak to Peter to find out more. 

Originally an accountant, Peter was helping out at a soccer academy in Uganda and became aware of an eight-year-old child who had gone missing for several days. They searched and found the child’s decapitated body discarded in bushes with his genitals removed. Three children from the area of Kyampisi were later discovered in similar conditions. Helping the bereaved families of both cases, Peter learned about the extent to which child sacrifice was occurring. 

Peter tells us how children are lured by traffickers on their way back from school, kidnapped, or even their parents will kill their own children in the belief that this will bring them good fortune. 

Fear of witchcraft, corruption, and lack of capacity of police to investigate these cases are factors that have allowed this crime to endure, with similar belief systems known to exist across Africa. 

Peter talks about how Kyampisi works with the police to rescue children, bringing them into a safe house to provide them protection, shelter, medical treatment, and education. 

If you’d like to learn more about Peter and Kyampisi visit their website at www.kyampisi.org 

The full video version of this episode is available on our official YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@illustroconsultancyltd 

If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines in the episode description. 

Your call could save someone’s life…including your own. 

Stay safe. 

Support agencies and reporting lines 

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... ) UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Childline 0800 1111 Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111 UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700 Migrant Help 0808 8010 503 Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 500222 

#letstalkmodernslavery #modernslavery #slavery #modernslaveryawareness #humantrafficking #exploitation #mentalhealth #podcast #podcasting #truecrimepodcast #truecrimecommunity #truecrime #childabuseprevention #murdernews 

Warning: This episode contains references to human exploitation and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging, please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe. 

Welcome to this week’s episode where I talk to Meron Abdi.

Meron is a former public prosecutor in Ethiopia within the Customs Authority for the Ministry of Justice. 

Meron initially discusses how prosecutors in Ethiopia guide the police to conduct their investigations. In cases of human trafficking, prosecutors will regularly go with police to the locations where the trafficking took place to gather evidence. 

But in Ethiopia, as with many other countries, some communities don’t always accept police in, especially if the communities themselves financially benefit from the human trafficking and people smuggling taking place. 

Some communities in Ethiopia advocate for paying smugglers to send young men and women away to work, who in turn will remit the money back to the community. The community will regularly sell their cattle and other possessions to pay for the journey. 

Meron explains the three major smuggling routes out of Ethiopia and the dangers that the migrants face. Many experience being locked in containers, overcrowded boats, and die along the journey through illness, starvation, kidnappings and torture. 

The Ethiopian Government are trying to raise awareness to the communities on the risks of smuggling, but the flow of migration seems to be increasing. But was this always the case? 

The full video version of this episode is available on our official YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@illustroconsultancyltd 

If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines below. 

Your call could save someone’s life…including your own. Stay safe. 

Support agencies and reporting lines

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...) 

UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Childline 0800 1111

Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111

UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700

Migrant Help 0808 8010 503

Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 500222

#letstalkmodernslavery #modernslavery #slavery #modernslaveryawareness #humantrafficking #exploitation #mentalhealth #podcast #podcasting #truecrimepodcast #truecrimecommunity #truecrime #migration #immigration #refugees #migrants #immigrants #humanrights #peoplesmuggling 

Warning: This episode contains references to human exploitation and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging, please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe. 

Welcome to this week’s episode where we talk to Njeri Wa Migwi.

Njeri is the Founder of Usikimye, an organization which works towards ending sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) in Kenya. 

Njeri was also the co-organizer of The Femicide March in Kenya in early 2024, following the killing of young women. The woman was dismembered and her remains were stuffed into a plastic bag. A comment on social media by a male caused outrage as it suggested that women should take more care to protect themselves.  

Over 10,000 people marched with Njeri in the streets of Nairobi calling for change. 

Njeri explains what GBV is and how it encompasses Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), human trafficking, child abuse, rape, and forms of exploitation where a person’s gender is a factor. 

This is something that Njeri experienced herself. Her journey from being a victim of Intimate Partner Violence to then seeking help led to the discovery of so many other women who had undergone GBV. They all had similar stories.  

Njeri tells us why victims keep going back to their exploiters and draws parallels between the psychology of victimhood in cases of IPV and human trafficking. 

We learn how abuse begins with small, subtle incidences of name calling, belittling, gaslighting…and how our brains accept this as the reality. When the exploitation finally takes place, victims even feel they deserve their fate. 

If you’d like to learn more Njeri and Usikimye visit their website at www.usikimye.org

The full video version of this episode is available on our official YouTube channel:  
https://www.youtube.com/@illustroconsultancyltd

If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines below. 

Your call could save someone’s life…including your own.  

Stay safe. 


Support agencies and reporting lines 

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
) 
UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Childline 0800 1111
Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111
UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700
Migrant Help 0808 8010 503
Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 500222

#letstalkmodernslavery #modernslavery  #slavery #modernslaveryawareness #humantrafficking #exploitation  #podcast  #podcasting  #genderbasedviolence  #violence #gbv  #surviveandthrive  #femicide #endfemicideke #survivor #coercivecontrol #grooming #gaslighting #alphavictim #idealvictim #toxicmasculinity #trauma #survivor  #crime  #truecrimepodcast  #truecrimecommunity #truecrime #doesnothappenhere #onceyouseeit #mentalhealth  

Warning: This episode contains references to human exploitation and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging,  please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe. 

Welcome to this week’s episode where we talk to Christina Meadows.

Christina is the Director of Operations and Rescue at the Nashville Anti Human Trafficking Coalition in the US. 

Losing her family unit through her parent’s divorce at the age of 15…an older male and female befriended Christina and began building a family unit of their own.

They slowly isolate Christina and gain her trust…and when a bond had formed…they introduced her to her trafficker.

Eventually marrying her trafficker, Christina was trafficked across the country and sexually exploited for 23 years.

In a cycle of exploitation, drug abuse, anger and fear, Christina ends up in prison for 3 and a half years after accepting charges on behalf of her trafficker. After her release, the cycle begins again.

At the age of 40, Christina finds herself in a sober living community with a new sponsor…enter the Nashville Anti Human Trafficking Coalition.


If you’d like to learn more about Christina and the Nashville Anti Trafficking Coalition visit their website at www.nahtcoalition.org  

For the full video interview with Christina, visit and subscribe to the official Illustro Consultancy YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@illustroconsultancyltd

If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines below.

Your call could save someone’s life…including your own.  

Stay safe. 


Support agencies and reporting lines 

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers) 
UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Childline 0800 1111
Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111
UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700
Migrant Help 0808 8010 503
Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 5002222

#letstalkmodernslavery #traumabonding  #trauma  #traumainformedcare  #lovebombing #grooming  #drugaddictionawareness #felon #dopesick  #crime #truecrimecommunity #truecrimepodcast #family #love #mentalhealth  #breakingthecycle #bible #faithbaisedrecovery #nahtcoalition #inspirehope #education #nashville

Warning: This episode contains references to human exploitation and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging,  please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe.

Welcome to this week’s episode where I talk to Sophie Otiende.

Sophie has been working in the anti-human trafficking space for over 10 years. Growing up in the informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya…Sophie herself was trafficked.

Sophie has gone on to set up numerous, survivor-led, anti-human trafficking organizations and brought the concept of trauma-informed support to the forefront of the anti-trafficking response.

Now the CEO of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery…Sophie and the Fund are creating an environment where survivor-leaders and grassroots organizations can build something truly remarkable... 


If you’d like to learn more about Sophie and the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery visit their website at www.gfems.org   

You can also visit Sophie's organisation, Azadi, at www.azadikenya.org

For the full video interview with Sophie, visit and subscribe to the official Illustro Consultancy YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@illustroconsultancyltd


If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines below. 

Your call could save someone’s life…including your own. 
 
Stay safe. 


Support agencies and reporting lines

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers) 
UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Childline 0800 1111
Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111
UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700
Migrant Help 0808 8010 503
Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 5002222

#letstalkmodernslavery #modernslavery #slavery #modernslaveryawareness #humantrafficking #podcast #podcasting #trauma #survivor #crime #truecrime #doesnothappenhere #onceyouseeit #childtrafficking #police #investigations #mentalhealth #community #movementbuilding #livedexperience #inclusion #awareness #humanrights #freedom

Warning: This episode contains references to human exploitation and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging, please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe. 

 Welcome to the first episode of Series 2…where I talk to Tyler Dunman. 

 Tyler is the Vice President of Programs for the Human Trafficking Institute, better known as HTI. 

 Back in 2015, Tyler was a Prosecutor in Texas within the Special Crimes Division, taking the lead on dealing with cases of child trafficking and Internet Crimes Against Children, or ICAC. 

 A chance meeting in the US connected Tyler to the Human Trafficking Institute, who were working alongside the Government in Uganda to develop their capacity to investigate and prosecute human traffickers. Taking a Special Council Position, and a huge leap of faith, Tyler and his wife sold their home and moved their young family halfway across the world to Kampala. 

 After hours of travelling and arriving in their new house, they put the kids to bed…and break down in tears. The reality of what they have done hits them. …and despite Tyler’s vast experience of working on cases in the US, he now finds himself dealing with trafficking for forced marriage, organ harvesting, and child sacrifice. 

 Good decision or bad? Let’s find out... 

 If you’d like to learn more about Tyler and the Human Trafficking Institute visit their website at www.traffickinginstitute.org 

 Watch the full video interviews of each episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@illustroconsultancyltd 

 If you or someone you suspect is a victim of modern slavery or other forms of exploitation or abuse, please see the list of support agencies and reporting lines below. 

 Your call could save someone’s life…including your own. 

 Stay safe. 

Support agencies and reporting lines

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...⁠)
UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Childline 0800 1111 Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111
UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700
Migrant Help 0808 8010 503
Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 5002222
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline ⁠https://report.cybertip.org/⁠

Warning: This episode contains references to child sacrifice and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging,  please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe. 

For the last episode in this series, I talk to Sam Karugaba. 

Sam is a Ugandan working in the rural areas of Uganda. What does Sam do? For the last 10 years Sam has been rescuing children from being sacrificed. 

In Uganda, and some other countries, traditional beliefs in the power of witchcraft still endure. It is believed that sacrificing young children will bring good fortune and success in life and business.  Children are regularly kidnapped, killed, and their blood, limbs and other organs are used to invoke the power of the spirit world. 

We first join Sam on his phone in the back of a moving van. He’s received information that children are going to be sacrificed. He’s two hours away in a race against time. Sam talks to us for a few minutes then connection then drops. We manage to get hold of Sam a couple of days later to see what happened to the children. 


Kyampisi website https://kyampisi.org/


Emergency and support lines

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers) 

Childline 0800 1111

Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111

UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700

Migrant Help 0808 8010 503

Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 5002222