When Amanda Quick's husband didn't come home one night in 2016, she never imagined she would discover he'd been arrested for attempted human trafficking. As a stay-at-home mother to three children under six, Amanda's world shattered in an instant, launching her into a four-year journey of uncovering painful truths about the man she thought she knew.

Amanda's story challenges everything we think we know about human trafficking. Far from the shipping containers and border crossings we imagine, this crime hides in plain sight—in small towns, in seemingly normal marriages, and behind the façades of ordinary people. Her husband, a nerdy IT professional who traveled for work, had been leading a double life for years while she raised their children, completely unaware of his sinister activities.

The most shocking aspect of Amanda's journey wasn't just her husband's crimes, but how the justice system handled them. Despite being caught attempting to purchase children in a sting operation, he received only probation—no jail time. Even more disturbing, as a sex offender in Colorado, he maintained his constitutional right to parent his own children, forcing Amanda into a separate custody battle that required enormous emotional strength and financial resources that many victims simply don't have.

Through raw, honest storytelling, Amanda reveals the subtle red flags she missed—not physical abuse, but the insidious emotional control that eroded her identity and confidence over time. Her memoir explores trauma bonding, gaslighting, and the complex psychological warfare that abusers employ. Yet her story ultimately becomes one of profound transformation and hope as she describes the spiritual awakening that helped her break free, gain full custody of her children, and create the Golden Haven Foundation to help others facing similar battles.

What makes this story so crucial is that it reveals perspectives rarely discussed in conversations about trafficking. If you believe this crime only happens somewhere else to someone else, Amanda's powerful testimony will change your understanding forever. Her courage in sharing this journey offers a lifeline to others who may be living their own version of this nightmare, showing that healing and reclaiming your power is possible even after unimaginable betrayal.

photos courtesy; a.quick

“THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED OR VIEWS EXPRESSED BY GUESTS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT OR REPRESENT THOSE OF THE HOST;

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Castro, Google Podcasts or wherever you stream your podcasts.