May 17, 2023 • 37 mins
Kristen Balboni kicks off Season 3 of InspiHER with Linda Reich, Co-Founder of the kNot Today Foundation. The duo discusses the Reich family’s transition back to the Carolinas and her motivation behind becoming a youth advocate to generate a greater impact in our community.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
We've always looked at new situations not as oh woe
as me, and you know, this is the ultimate sacrifice.
And I've always said, even me, the children a little okay,
this is a new opportunity. We get to go do
something exciting. We get to be part of a new city,
a new organization, we get to serve, we get to
(00:23):
meet new people. And I think that mindset has served
us well through the years because at the end of
the day, all of the positives and the opportunities far
outweigh the negatives.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Welcome to Season three of the Inspireer podcast, presented by
Atrium Health. This is a podcast series for Panthers fans
where we highlight admirable women from across the Carolinas as
they share stories and lessons from their lives and careers.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
And I am just.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
So thrilled because today's guest is Linda Reich, who is
the president and co founder of the Not Today Foundation.
She is a mom, she is a grandmother, and if
you are a Panthers fan listening to this, you are
probably aware that her husband, Frank Reich, is the head
coach of the team. Linda, thank you so much for
being here and talking to me today. I'm just so thrilled.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Well, thank you, Kristin. I mean, it is such an
honor a coach and I are just so thankful to
be here, and the community has embraced us so beautifully.
I mean, it's so humbling, truly, I could cry. Everybody
has been welcoming and just so kind, and just the
excitement of everything right now is just it's just they're
(01:40):
just no words.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I know, I know, it is such an exciting time
and it has been so exciting since you and Coach
got here. And I have to tell the story of
how we first met, because you want to talk about
being gracious. So Linda and I first met on the
night that Frank was hired, and you too, and your
her and son in law Hannah Andrew very graciously, on
(02:03):
a night in which your family was celebrating this big news,
invited a small number of our media team over to
Hannah Andrew's house so that I could do an interview
with Frank, and it was just it stuck out to me,
so first of all, just so, I mean, and you guys,
and we stayed and talked, and I mean I felt
like we were part of the family celebration. At certain point,
(02:24):
I was like, guys, we got to get out of
here and let them enjoy their night. But I just
it made such a big impact on me to get
to know both of you, and to get to know
Hannah Andrew. And I remember going home and telling my husband,
I just said, I am so happy for that. I mean,
having just met you. I was so happy for them
and their family. And I just felt like I got
(02:47):
a sneak peek into just the start of this, this
great new relationship with the Panthers, and I just wanted
to like shout to the world of fans, like.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
You're getting a great family here.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
But it was just such a neat way to meet
and I thank you for allowing us to come in
and really, you know, take up a pretty large chunk
of a night that is a family night.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Well it is family, and that's how our family looks
at it. I mean, football has been our life and
it's just so part of every single aspect, our children,
our grandchildren, and now the whole Panthers family. We have
a whole new family. So we are really really looking
forward to everything that's ahead, not only with the Panthers,
but just really delving into the whole community and just
(03:32):
serving and how can we how can we elevate the community,
what can we do to help? And that's just what
we do and we're it's just such a pilrige.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
That was one of the first things as well when
we were there, and so it was the night, you know,
we were setting up cameras and everything, and I remember
with you and Frank talking to one of my coworkers like, Okay,
we are big in the community, like who do we
need to get in touch with to start that these
are the things, you know. It was just it was
so neat and that was one of the first things
that in the midst of all the chaos that you
(04:01):
both mentioned, which I think is just just so incredible.
And I hope you don't mind me sharing some of
those stories, but I think it's just such a great
Those are things that stuck out to me immediately, and
I think that if you're a Panthers fan, you know,
you'd want to know those things. I just felt like
I got such a little snapshotto into your life, and
(04:21):
it was just it was a cool night for me.
And I'm not even the one that's part of the
family that you know that was being hired for this,
so I just I thought that was the neatest And
another thing that really stuck out to me about that
night because as you and I have talked about a
similar situation with my family, where so I've moved all
over being a sports reporter, and my two brothers were
(04:43):
both in the Air Force for a very long time,
and so we have always been since I graduated college,
spread out in different states. One of my brothers lived
overseas for a while, and so for my mom.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
My family is from North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
The thought of having all of her children and grandchildren
in the same state she spend. Now we've all eventually
moved back.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
To North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
It's been I want to say, two years, and she
still can't believe it, like on holidays that we're all
within driving distance. I'm the furthest away now at two hours.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
And that was something that I did not know about
your family, is that you had one daughter in Charlotte,
as I said, Hannah, and then your other two daughters
are in Greensboro, and then for you all to now
be living in the same state full time, that really
just like it almost made me emotional that night to
find that out because I know how how much it
(05:34):
means to my family.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
So what has that been like for you?
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Well, I should talk to your mother about that.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Well she could talk about it, yes, because.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
There are just no words. I mean, truly, Kristin. When
the children left for college, who are now all adults
in marriage and have children of their own, two of
them at a three, we've not been around them. I mean,
Frank and I have moved all over the place with
the NFL, both playing and coaching, and and and just
what incredible blessing to be in the same state finally
(06:03):
as our children and grandchildren and being able to see
them all the time. I mean, I'm very thankful for
face time, but it's not the same as that hug,
running up and just spending time and being with them
in person. So, uh, you know, I still am walking around.
I think, you know. Coach and I the other day
we were driving and we looked at each other and
we said, this is so amazing. Are we really here?
(06:24):
Is this happening?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Are we are? Is this a dream?
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Just just having such thankful heart, there's just no there's
just no words.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I remember as I was doing that first interview with
Coach I could see you kind of behind me, and
I was asking him about having his family all in
the same state, and I remember, I hope you closed
your eyes and you had like the biggest smile on
your face, and I almost lost it at that moment,
you know, because that, like I said, it was just
such a it was such a special night that you
(06:54):
all allowed us to intrude on a little bit, and
I just thought, oh my gosh, this family, like I
see it, I feel it, I relate to it, and
it's just been it's just been so neat And I
know that that feeling, but it actually leads me into
something I wanted to ask you about, which is like, Okay,
so for instance, you're saying, you know the NFL schedule
(07:15):
is you know it has certainly it has its downtime,
but also holidays, Right like holidays, if you know, as
a player or a coach in that family, you are
on the road. So even if you get to see
your kids and your grandkids in the in the off season,
there's a lot of time that you don't get to
be together. So what has that been like since the
start of you and Frank's relationship to to move and
(07:38):
kind of be at the whim of this career path.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Well, I guess it's about perspective, Kristin. I think that
for us, a person sits as many risks as they
take in life. And we've always looked at new situations
not as oh woe as me and you know, this
is the ultimate sacrifice. And I've always said, even with
(08:02):
the children are little, okay, this is a new opportunity.
We get to enjoy a new city, we get to
go do something exciting, we get to be part of
a new city, a new organization, we get to serve,
we get to meet new people. And I think that
mindset has served us well through the years because, yeah,
(08:25):
I mean, it's packing up and moving challenging. Yeah, so
I'm not gonna lie, it is hard work. So I
don't mean to minimize and glamorize all the moves, because yes,
it's hard work. But at the end of the day,
all of the positives and the opportunities far outweigh the negatives.
So that's kind of how we've looked at it. So
I think all of the children, and now you know,
(08:45):
with grandchildren seeing our lives, I think they would say
these were growing opportunities and that's how we looked at
each opportunity, almost as an opportunity to grow. I think
you find out a lot about yourself, about your marriage,
about your children when we're in times of chaos, if
(09:07):
you will, and you say, how do we function? How
do we do this now? And I would say coach,
and I would probably say some of the moves drew
us together more than a part because we had to
live through different challenges and it made us better I
think better people too.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
And we've certainly not done as My husband and I
have not done as many moves, certainly as the two
of you have, but we've maybe done I think we've
done three cross country moves with my career, going to
different places, and then certainly moves within that, and I
completely agree. My husband and I were just talking about
that the other day of he was thinking back to
our last move and he said, do you remember how
(09:47):
stressful that was? We had a house in Charlotte and
there's something wrong with it, so we had to move quickly.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
And he said, you knowmere how stressful that was.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
He said, we got through it like this, you know,
And we were just talking and those things which you know,
some people don't ever move in their life, right, they're
not in different they're not away from their families or whatever.
And I am so thankful for all of those opportunities
because I agree, I think it is such a time
to come together. It is a time to learn, and
I am so grateful that we've had those opportunities. And
(10:15):
I will tell you pack up boxes in a snap,
like I know, you know we've got the who's contacting
the cable company, the internet company. Yeah, yeah, you know
you're like, oh, we've done that. We did this, you
know a year ago. I'm sure we've still got that.
We used to say movers a couple of time. We
were like, hey, we called you three weeks ago. We've
now got to move again.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
You know what, are you crazy people?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, hopefully we won't call you again.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
But it's a lesson in resiliency, no kidding.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And life is about being resilient.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
But you also have you know, your own career path,
and we are going to talk about that. You're a
registered nurse, Masters in Divinity and you've started this foundation.
So before we get into all of that, I want
to know, though, what is it like to then when
your significant other has a job that is going to
take you all over, and sometimes you don't know what,
(11:05):
like what will we have stability will we not? What
is that conversation like? And how do you manage that
part of it? And then also have your your own
goals and dreams going on.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Well, you know that's always been It's been something that
you work through time by time. There's no formula, there's
just not and you say, Okay, what's it going to
look like now? And life is always about give and
take in marriage and relationships, and and I think that
I haven't looked at it as woe as me as
(11:40):
much as Okay, this is an opportunity. And maybe it's
not going to afford me to have a stable job myself,
but being a registered nurse. And then also you know,
in my studies in theology, it's informed to everything that
we do. I think that life experience informs what we
(12:02):
do and how we do it and the paradigm of
which we live and all of those has all of
those things have made me better, a better friend, a
better partner, a better mother, a better grandmother. So it
just it just has been a positive experience.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
I need to write that down. Our life experiences inform
everything in the paradigm of though.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
So beautifully said what you just said.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
You know, I needs to be on a quote somewhere,
you know, hanging in someone's home, and it is so true.
And I do want to talk about your foundation right now, because,
like I said, I told you this a little bit
before we started recording. I heard about your foundation from
a friend three or four years ago, just you know,
(12:47):
in passing, and she was telling me about what great
work you do. It's the Not Today Foundation with Okay,
this is a podcast, so make sure that you know
that it's a It's got a K in front of it.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
If you're looking it up.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Tell me about the work you do because it is
truly so impactful.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Well, it's really Gosha's been forged when you talk about
being informed by life experiences. Ever since I was a
little girl up until present day, I have had friendships
and relationships with people who have experienced horrific adverse life
(13:27):
experiences like sexual abuse in their life. And I liken
it to being in a battle as a child. And
these horrific experiences are like shrapnel embedded in your heart
and your mind, and it's a very difficult thing. Even
when you pull out the shrapnel their scars, and I
(13:47):
have seen the negative manifestations of those scars and people
all around me that I've loved, mental health issues and
partnership issues, physical issues, and the inability to trust, to
love people well, and even to give back in a
(14:07):
community because we can't we can't give what we don't have,
and there's there. It's been such a dark place that
I've when we started not Today, when when five years
ago we started not Today, and when coach and I
had this platform being a head coach in the NFL
with the Colts, I said, well, what should we do
(14:30):
that we can really make a difference in the space,
And it was naturally to prevent children from being sexually
abused or trafficked because of what I've known and what
I've learned through the years. So it's it's a really
really horrific thing. There's no demographic, socioeconomically, geographically, and it's
(14:56):
something that who wants to talk about it. It's not
something you bring about h and talk about a dinner parties.
Nobody wants to believe that this is happening to our
children and our society, so it's not brought up it's
not talked about.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
And what was the process like of starting this fund?
You know, I was on the foundation's website and that
is the thing that really struck me. What you just
said is like, no, no one wants to talk about
It's a painful, horrific subject, right. Everyone wants to think
that's it's not happening. It's not happening to anyone we know.
And but it is such.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Incredibly important work.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
So how did you go about when you said, Okay,
this is this is the issue that we want to
focus on. This is going to be part of my
life's work. We are going to be a lighthouse, you know,
in our community for this.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
But like you said, the subject matter is so difficult.
Did you encounter.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Resistance in starting this foundation? And what was it like
getting it off the ground.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Well, when we started in Indiana, my older sister who
is dear, my best friend, I mean dear, she's lived
Indiana for twenty eight years. So we moved to a
city where she was. So she said to me, Linda,
what do you what are you going to do as
far as a foundation? When I said, we're going to
start a foundation, And I said to her, we are
going to start a foundation to do what we can
(16:16):
to prevent children from being sexually abused or trafficked throughout
the country. She said, couldn't you think of something better
than that? I mean really, because she said, this is
it's that is so dark?
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yeah, and it could have so hard, could have picked
something that was not yet Yes.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
So so I say that kind of tongue in cheek, chuckling,
because that's kind of the inception of it when I
told her what we were going to do, because it
is it is very very dark work, and it's very
very heavy work, and it's a colossal issue that's not
going to be solved overnight. So it it's it's it's
(16:57):
been a major hope and our heart to continue to
create this awareness that it is happening because people don't
want to believe that it is, and then work on
that prevention aspect. And we're really doing that right now
in the educational Realm, which we started in Indiana, and
(17:17):
just in a few years, over seventy five thousand children
who otherwise have not heard of preventing education in public
schools are now being taught that it's not okay. Because
some children go to school and they think it's normalized.
If they don't know that it's not right that this
(17:38):
is happening to them, how would they ever know that
it's not appropriate if you're touching me that way, or
if cousin or dad or person or uncle or whoever.
So it has been such a blessing to see how
prevention has really really helped a.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Ton and thinking back to you, and it's certainly been
quite a while since I was in school, never had
an assembly or you know, a class to talk.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
About something like that.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
And it is, as you would say, it's what could
be more of a fundamental service to give to children
than to make them aware, like you said, especially if
the prevention statistics are that much in favor of just
knowing about it. And I think it's one of those things,
and I'm sure you encounter this a lot with adults
(18:29):
where they'd say like, oh, yeah, it makes total sense
that you would talk to children about that in school,
and why aren't we doing I didn't know that we
weren't doing that, or now that I think back, that
didn't happen, you know, for me when I was in school.
So it's one of those things that you just think
well of course that should be involved in the school
curriculum or there should be an assembly like that. But
I imagine that making that happen, right we all say, oh,
(18:52):
oh yeah, of course, like that makes sense. But putting
in the hard work to make that happen, I'm sure
has taken a lot of groundwork.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Well, it has and it will continue to do so
because every state is different. Aaron's Law that was passed
I believe it was, I forget maybe six years ago
or more basically set states that every state it's a
mandate that you know, you should have sexual education prevention
(19:21):
in a classroom, but not everybody. Not every state abides
by that law. So some states don't even have it
a mandate in their states. So public schools or charter
schools or private schools don't even have to teach it
or if they have a if the state passes the law,
the Aaron's Law, there's no dollars that go behind it.
So that's where we come in as not today really
(19:43):
trying to be an advocate in the community and to
do granting to come to child advocacy centers like the
Marion County Advocacy Center here or Mecklenburg in the North
Carolina state and say what do you need? How can
we help you? What will be the best thing that
(20:03):
we can fund to help you generate greater impact in
this arena, whether it's changing laws. Can we talk to
your state representatives? Can we say what's happening? Do you
know what's happening? So all of those questions right now
that we have worked on in Indiana. We are privileged
to come to a new state and do the same thing.
(20:25):
So what a joy and a blessing to just obviously
the Panthers and the organization and Riley everybody has been
so amazing with connecting us with community relations people and
here's how people in the state, well in the Carolina's
not just North Carolina, the Carolinas. How can we put
(20:45):
you in contact with the right people to move the
needle in this arena. So that's what we've been doing,
you know, in the last five months, really just laying
the foundation and the groundwork. Interesting to find out, I mean,
just one of the things that we found out not
too long ago, the Mecklenburg KAC Center has had over
(21:09):
two hundred and thousand cyber tips of children being sexually
abused in the state just in January.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Oh my god.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
And they're only seventeen investigators in the entire state when
you have over two hundred thousand tips. So it's shocking
the inadequacy of the resources, both HR and people teaching
in the classrooms, because who's going to do it, Who's
going to create the curricula. So we have a lot
(21:41):
of work to do. We've covered a lot of ground,
but there's a lot of work to do in this arena.
You know something that I always think about Frederick Douglas,
who was an incredible writer, social reformer, abolitionist, pastor, teacher,
you name, and he did it all. He said, it
(22:02):
is easier to build up children than to repair broken men.
And it's so true. Children look to adults to protect them,
to advocate for them, to teach them, to love them
well so they can give back into their community. And
that's what we're about it Not Today, just helping children.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
It's such incredibly important work, and I am so thankful
that the Not Day Foundation is now taking on the Carolinas.
As you said, so, I just if someone is listening
right now or me right as a parent, what advice
do you give anyone who says you know, this is
(22:46):
not something that I know a lot about, but hearing
these statistics, hearing you talk, I want to know what
I can do to help. What advice do you give
when people ask.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
That, well, a couple things. Certainly you can go to
our website, go to not today dot org. We have
a plethora of resources on our website. Obviously, in our
day and age with technology, what we're finding with the
sexting age, it is becoming an incredible, incredible issue in
our day and age with children, and it's getting younger
(23:16):
and younger because children at a very young age now
have cell phones. Many many children have cell phones going
into first grade, second grade, Oh my goodness. So what
they have access to. We all know when you have
a cell phone, there's a lot of access. So and
children don't know some of the things, I mean, even
with games. So we have a child and parent protection
(23:36):
guide on our website and it tells you what to
look for in your child, red flags, what you can
teach them if they say certain things to you, how
to handle things if children say to you have questions
to you. So we put a guide together that is
on the website completely free. We just want to serve anything,
any question that you have, go to our website and
(23:59):
if it's not one the way website, say hey, we
would like to see that, or can you tell me
about that. We will research it and find a way
to get back to you to get the answers if
it's not on our website is so incredible.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
I will be getting that guide and sending it to
everyone that I know, because I do think you know,
you go okay. It's kind of the wild wild West,
right of cell phones and the internet, and our children
are growing up in this age that I certainly didn't
really grow up in, and it is you don't know
what to do as a parent until hopefully not until
(24:29):
it's too late, but until you're confronted with it. So
to have the resources that's backed by research and by
professionals that you were just talking about with this guide,
and to have people that are working to help these children,
it's just it's amazing. So I will be downloading that guide,
like I said, and sending it to everyone.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Well, we have hard copies and it's also we have
hard copies that we've been given out and we have
it now obviously we have it in two and we're
working on three different languages, so many different ethnic groups
can hear about it and can read it in their
own language. But it it's just something that has been
on my heart to do just because moving around with
three daughters, we moved around to different cities and people want,
(25:06):
you know, can they come over for a play date?
And so so what do you do when like all
the crazy questions that I had and I had to
deal with with young girls moving.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Yes, I mean I will.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
My son is only fifteen months old, but I've already
you know, think about that stuff. It's like, well, when
they have friends and do they go spend the night?
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Do they not? Do they don't? You know?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
And so to have a resource that has information and
what to look out for. I'm just thrilled that those
resources are available and that it's not just you know,
no offense to Instagram or to you know, you know,
a friend or something that says what about this or
what about that? We need facts, we need research, we
need guidance.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
So I thank you, yeah, thank you, well were we
are honored to be on this path and this trajectory
and just walk working alongside of the you know, the
Mecklenburg icacunit's the Mecklenburg Child out of Advocacy Centers. That's
a mouth world, but just asking what you need, how
(26:04):
can we serve and helping them do what they do
better because the restorative area too is a really heavy
place and we want to assist in any way we
can there.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I thought that was something that stood out to me
when we when we first started talking at the beginning
of this podcast, where you said, you know, it is
the scars that are left when a child goes through
these things. You know physically, even if you know physically
they're okay, the the emotional impact, the mental impact, and
that was that was one of the first things you said,
(26:34):
you know, it is it is a holistic approach that
you all have, and you know there's a lot of
stuff that that can leave scars. Like you said, that
may not be evident at first, but certainly when a
child's developing.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
To have to go through trauma, it's just unimaginable. So
it is. It truly is.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
And and one of the other things that neglect neglected
to which has really been kind of a joy, when
we talk about kind of winds in this arena we bought.
We have now two dogs, and they're canine detection dogs.
And just like you see the canine dogs at the
airport that sniff out like drugs and things, these dogs
sniff out the acid that is in technology and sim
(27:19):
cards and computers so many many times. Unfortunately, in these
horrific situations there are videotaping of child pornography, and they're
hidden in homes all over the place, and the regular
eye CAC investigators can't find them because they're hidden in
all these horrific, nefarious places that you wouldn't even think about.
(27:41):
And I've seen these dogs in action and graduation before
we bought them. They have sniffed out sim cards, these
teamy little sim cards in iPhones, inside pineapple cans and
a refrigerator, oh my gosh, underneath floorboards. They had to
do this for graduation. I watch and if I didn't
see what my own as a wind to believed it
up in vents in air vents that they tape them
(28:04):
to air vents so they couldn't be detected. So these
dogs have done incredible work in Indiana. And we now
have another dog in Wisconsin that not today purchased, and
we are looking for an I Cack person in the community,
a law enforcement individual who would we could be honored
to buy a dog for North Carolina so we could
(28:25):
do the same thing here to expand the expand their capacity. Yes,
so that's been a real joy because it's it's uh
when you talk about I get text messages all the
time from our URCAC investigators and our dog handlers who said,
we just found three children as a result of Hunter
or as a result of Kala, and they the dogs.
(28:48):
These they'll take these children after they find them out
of these horrific situations, and then the dogs will comfort
them and they pet the dogs, and the children will
talk about their situation. And there truly not only investigative geniuses,
their therapy dogs. So children will talk about their experiences
as they're petting these dogs. I mean, I truly, I.
Speaker 3 (29:10):
Mean I could cry.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
I mean, it's just so amazing what these investigators do
and what they have to deal with. I like the
law enforcement individuals who deal with the cyber tips and
the EYKAC units and the child adivacy centers. They're the
true heroes. Not today, I mean, we just want to
support them. They're the heroes. They are in they're doing
this work every day to protect our children, to restore
(29:35):
our children, to rescue these children, and they're the.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
True Heroes's it's incredible what you're what you're telling me
and the dogs, and the fact that you're able to
assist these people that are doing that work day and
in day out is just amazing. I mean, I'm almost
speechless because it is I think important almost minimizes it
the work the I would say important work, but it's
(30:00):
so much more than that.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
I mean, it's wow.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
I'm not often lost for words, as I'm sure you know,
but this is just.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Gosh.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
What you're doing there is just absolutely incredible. That is
something I wanted to ask you about too, which is
that with this being such a heavy topic and this
being such a heavy path that you're on along with
as you said, I CAAC and the law enforcement investigators,
(30:31):
I imagine that you spend a lot of time in
this world which is scary and dark, even though you
are making incredible strides right in order to make things better.
So how do you deal with it when it gets hard?
Speaker 1 (30:47):
It's always hard, Yeah, it's always hard. And what we
have access to and hear about in a regular basis,
it's more than many human minds can comprehend or even
want to know. So I think that I have learned.
I pray a lot because it can be very stressful
(31:09):
and sometimes you go to bed when you hear some
of these things and it's hard to sleep some nights.
I'm gonna be quite honest, it is. It's not an
easy space to serve and work.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
It's not.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
But just like anything else in life, this is a
calling and this is what we're called to. This is
what my family's call to. Our children are on board
and obviously coaches on board with his whole heart, and
it's important and our children. I believe that the health,
(31:39):
the entire overall health of any community, it is reflected
in how well we take care of our children. It
completely is, absolutely and that's why it is so important
for us to just keep on keeping on, do what
we can serve and love well, how can we help
(32:02):
and knowing that it is a calling and this is
where we're called to serve and love and help children.
So it's challenging, but it's also a joy because when
you see these children who have been taken out of
these situations and you you know that they have an
opportunity again, these beautiful children to thrive, to be restored.
(32:24):
Life can be better, You can get out of this
terrific situation. And when we hear of those things, it
just there is nothing that brings me more joy than
to hear these i CAAC officers. They text me and
they say, we just rescued three more children, we just
rescued six more children. I mean, they're just no, there
(32:44):
are no words it is.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
It is so beautiful the work that you're doing and painful.
And I told you before we started, we cry a
lot on this podcast.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
I know I need you need as.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
I don't know how we don't have one, but it
is just it is just.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Overwhelming what you and the officers are dealing with and
what the children are dealing with. And I know that
I'm so grateful for all the work that you're doing
and the foundation, and I want to get involved now.
I'm sure anyone listening to this wants to get involved
in help. And we're grateful that the Not Today Foundation
is coming to the Carolinas and that you're making huge
(33:30):
strides in the in the five years in which the
foundation has has been going. And I'm wondering you've told
me about some of them, with the education in schools
and the incredible dogs, What are some other moments that
in all of this darkness you have gone wow, like
that is a win? Like are there moments that stick
(33:52):
out to you? And I know there have been a lot.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
There have been a lot. I think as mentioned are
one handler in Indiana, incredible investigator. He's become such a
spokesperson an advocate for for Not Today, and he has
our dog Hunter that we purchased, but he is always
texting us anytime. Hunter just unearthed six sim cards. Hunter
(34:17):
just found three or four children locked in a basement
that we just brought out. And I mean when we
get this information, I mean, they're such great wins. And
obviously for us with prevention education, education is so so important.
When they know it's not okay and they here in
school it's not okay, that they can either be prevented
(34:39):
from this happening to them, or if it is happening
to them, they can be identified and restored to health
again because they can go to somebody, an adult who
they can trust. So those are major wins and we
really are incredibly excited to partner with all of our
(35:00):
officers and law enforcement and child advocacy centers and ICAC
units and anybody in the Carolinas community who wants to
work with us. We just want to come alongside of
you and help you and help you serve and protect
and do what you're doing. So I just again, any
(35:20):
questions or fuck just go to not today dot org.
We will we will get in touch with you, reach
out to you. Questions that you have, any way that
we can help you to be educated more, or anything
we don't have in the website. Please let us know.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Thank you so much for sharing all of this and
for educating me and everyone listening and inspiring all of us,
and for all the work that you're doing in our
community and in Indiana and across the country on behalf
of children. It is so important. Like I said, important
doesn't even feel like a big enough word for what
(35:57):
you and the law enforcement officers are doing. And I'm
so grateful that you would talk to me about all
of this, and you know, everyone, like as I said earlier,
just remember that Not Today Foundation is with a K,
So please go to the website and look up all
those resources.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
I know that I will be.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Doing that and and I just I can't say thank
you enough for everything, you know, for being here and
for sharing all of this with us.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
Well, thank you, Kristin. I mean, it's a real privilege,
and again just to have a platform to let the community,
let the world know that we can't let this happen
to our children. So it's just it's just a wonderful
privilege and obviously privileged to be part of the Panther's family,
(36:44):
the part of the community, the Temper family, and everybody
who is who is in the North Carolina South Carolina community.
Coach and I are honored to be here, so thank you.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
We are honored that you are here with us, So
thank you so much. The stairs Sunday stay sir, still
study sta
We've always looked at new situations not as oh woe
as me, and you know, this is the ultimate sacrifice.
And I've always said, even me, the children a little okay,
this is a new opportunity. We get to go do
something exciting. We get to be part of a new city,
a new organization, we get to serve, we get to
(00:23):
meet new people. And I think that mindset has served
us well through the years because at the end of
the day, all of the positives and the opportunities far
outweigh the negatives.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Welcome to Season three of the Inspireer podcast, presented by
Atrium Health. This is a podcast series for Panthers fans
where we highlight admirable women from across the Carolinas as
they share stories and lessons from their lives and careers.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
And I am just.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
So thrilled because today's guest is Linda Reich, who is
the president and co founder of the Not Today Foundation.
She is a mom, she is a grandmother, and if
you are a Panthers fan listening to this, you are
probably aware that her husband, Frank Reich, is the head
coach of the team. Linda, thank you so much for
being here and talking to me today. I'm just so thrilled.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Well, thank you, Kristin. I mean, it is such an
honor a coach and I are just so thankful to
be here, and the community has embraced us so beautifully.
I mean, it's so humbling, truly, I could cry. Everybody
has been welcoming and just so kind, and just the
excitement of everything right now is just it's just they're
(01:40):
just no words.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I know, I know, it is such an exciting time
and it has been so exciting since you and Coach
got here. And I have to tell the story of
how we first met, because you want to talk about
being gracious. So Linda and I first met on the
night that Frank was hired, and you too, and your
her and son in law Hannah Andrew very graciously, on
(02:03):
a night in which your family was celebrating this big news,
invited a small number of our media team over to
Hannah Andrew's house so that I could do an interview
with Frank, and it was just it stuck out to me,
so first of all, just so, I mean, and you guys,
and we stayed and talked, and I mean I felt
like we were part of the family celebration. At certain point,
(02:24):
I was like, guys, we got to get out of
here and let them enjoy their night. But I just
it made such a big impact on me to get
to know both of you, and to get to know
Hannah Andrew. And I remember going home and telling my husband,
I just said, I am so happy for that. I mean,
having just met you. I was so happy for them
and their family. And I just felt like I got
(02:47):
a sneak peek into just the start of this, this
great new relationship with the Panthers, and I just wanted
to like shout to the world of fans, like.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
You're getting a great family here.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
But it was just such a neat way to meet
and I thank you for allowing us to come in
and really, you know, take up a pretty large chunk
of a night that is a family night.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Well it is family, and that's how our family looks
at it. I mean, football has been our life and
it's just so part of every single aspect, our children,
our grandchildren, and now the whole Panthers family. We have
a whole new family. So we are really really looking
forward to everything that's ahead, not only with the Panthers,
but just really delving into the whole community and just
(03:32):
serving and how can we how can we elevate the community,
what can we do to help? And that's just what
we do and we're it's just such a pilrige.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
That was one of the first things as well when
we were there, and so it was the night, you know,
we were setting up cameras and everything, and I remember
with you and Frank talking to one of my coworkers like, Okay,
we are big in the community, like who do we
need to get in touch with to start that these
are the things, you know. It was just it was
so neat and that was one of the first things
that in the midst of all the chaos that you
(04:01):
both mentioned, which I think is just just so incredible.
And I hope you don't mind me sharing some of
those stories, but I think it's just such a great
Those are things that stuck out to me immediately, and
I think that if you're a Panthers fan, you know,
you'd want to know those things. I just felt like
I got such a little snapshotto into your life, and
(04:21):
it was just it was a cool night for me.
And I'm not even the one that's part of the
family that you know that was being hired for this,
so I just I thought that was the neatest And
another thing that really stuck out to me about that
night because as you and I have talked about a
similar situation with my family, where so I've moved all
over being a sports reporter, and my two brothers were
(04:43):
both in the Air Force for a very long time,
and so we have always been since I graduated college,
spread out in different states. One of my brothers lived
overseas for a while, and so for my mom.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
My family is from North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
The thought of having all of her children and grandchildren
in the same state she spend. Now we've all eventually
moved back.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
To North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
It's been I want to say, two years, and she
still can't believe it, like on holidays that we're all
within driving distance. I'm the furthest away now at two hours.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
And that was something that I did not know about
your family, is that you had one daughter in Charlotte,
as I said, Hannah, and then your other two daughters
are in Greensboro, and then for you all to now
be living in the same state full time, that really
just like it almost made me emotional that night to
find that out because I know how how much it
(05:34):
means to my family.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
So what has that been like for you?
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Well, I should talk to your mother about that.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Well she could talk about it, yes, because.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
There are just no words. I mean, truly, Kristin. When
the children left for college, who are now all adults
in marriage and have children of their own, two of
them at a three, we've not been around them. I mean,
Frank and I have moved all over the place with
the NFL, both playing and coaching, and and and just
what incredible blessing to be in the same state finally
(06:03):
as our children and grandchildren and being able to see
them all the time. I mean, I'm very thankful for
face time, but it's not the same as that hug,
running up and just spending time and being with them
in person. So, uh, you know, I still am walking around.
I think, you know. Coach and I the other day
we were driving and we looked at each other and
we said, this is so amazing. Are we really here?
(06:24):
Is this happening?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Are we are? Is this a dream?
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Just just having such thankful heart, there's just no there's
just no words.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I remember as I was doing that first interview with
Coach I could see you kind of behind me, and
I was asking him about having his family all in
the same state, and I remember, I hope you closed
your eyes and you had like the biggest smile on
your face, and I almost lost it at that moment,
you know, because that, like I said, it was just
such a it was such a special night that you
(06:54):
all allowed us to intrude on a little bit, and
I just thought, oh my gosh, this family, like I
see it, I feel it, I relate to it, and
it's just been it's just been so neat And I
know that that feeling, but it actually leads me into
something I wanted to ask you about, which is like, Okay,
so for instance, you're saying, you know the NFL schedule
(07:15):
is you know it has certainly it has its downtime,
but also holidays, Right like holidays, if you know, as
a player or a coach in that family, you are
on the road. So even if you get to see
your kids and your grandkids in the in the off season,
there's a lot of time that you don't get to
be together. So what has that been like since the
start of you and Frank's relationship to to move and
(07:38):
kind of be at the whim of this career path.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Well, I guess it's about perspective, Kristin. I think that
for us, a person sits as many risks as they
take in life. And we've always looked at new situations
not as oh woe as me and you know, this
is the ultimate sacrifice. And I've always said, even with
(08:02):
the children are little, okay, this is a new opportunity.
We get to enjoy a new city, we get to
go do something exciting, we get to be part of
a new city, a new organization, we get to serve,
we get to meet new people. And I think that
mindset has served us well through the years because, yeah,
(08:25):
I mean, it's packing up and moving challenging. Yeah, so
I'm not gonna lie, it is hard work. So I
don't mean to minimize and glamorize all the moves, because yes,
it's hard work. But at the end of the day,
all of the positives and the opportunities far outweigh the negatives.
So that's kind of how we've looked at it. So
I think all of the children, and now you know,
(08:45):
with grandchildren seeing our lives, I think they would say
these were growing opportunities and that's how we looked at
each opportunity, almost as an opportunity to grow. I think
you find out a lot about yourself, about your marriage,
about your children when we're in times of chaos, if
(09:07):
you will, and you say, how do we function? How
do we do this now? And I would say coach,
and I would probably say some of the moves drew
us together more than a part because we had to
live through different challenges and it made us better I
think better people too.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
And we've certainly not done as My husband and I
have not done as many moves, certainly as the two
of you have, but we've maybe done I think we've
done three cross country moves with my career, going to
different places, and then certainly moves within that, and I
completely agree. My husband and I were just talking about
that the other day of he was thinking back to
our last move and he said, do you remember how
(09:47):
stressful that was? We had a house in Charlotte and
there's something wrong with it, so we had to move quickly.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
And he said, you knowmere how stressful that was.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
He said, we got through it like this, you know,
And we were just talking and those things which you know,
some people don't ever move in their life, right, they're
not in different they're not away from their families or whatever.
And I am so thankful for all of those opportunities
because I agree, I think it is such a time
to come together. It is a time to learn, and
I am so grateful that we've had those opportunities. And
(10:15):
I will tell you pack up boxes in a snap,
like I know, you know we've got the who's contacting
the cable company, the internet company. Yeah, yeah, you know
you're like, oh, we've done that. We did this, you
know a year ago. I'm sure we've still got that.
We used to say movers a couple of time. We
were like, hey, we called you three weeks ago. We've
now got to move again.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
You know what, are you crazy people?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, hopefully we won't call you again.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
But it's a lesson in resiliency, no kidding.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And life is about being resilient.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
But you also have you know, your own career path,
and we are going to talk about that. You're a
registered nurse, Masters in Divinity and you've started this foundation.
So before we get into all of that, I want
to know, though, what is it like to then when
your significant other has a job that is going to
take you all over, and sometimes you don't know what,
(11:05):
like what will we have stability will we not? What
is that conversation like? And how do you manage that
part of it? And then also have your your own
goals and dreams going on.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Well, you know that's always been It's been something that
you work through time by time. There's no formula, there's
just not and you say, Okay, what's it going to
look like now? And life is always about give and
take in marriage and relationships, and and I think that
I haven't looked at it as woe as me as
(11:40):
much as Okay, this is an opportunity. And maybe it's
not going to afford me to have a stable job myself,
but being a registered nurse. And then also you know,
in my studies in theology, it's informed to everything that
we do. I think that life experience informs what we
(12:02):
do and how we do it and the paradigm of
which we live and all of those has all of
those things have made me better, a better friend, a
better partner, a better mother, a better grandmother. So it
just it just has been a positive experience.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
I need to write that down. Our life experiences inform
everything in the paradigm of though.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
So beautifully said what you just said.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
You know, I needs to be on a quote somewhere,
you know, hanging in someone's home, and it is so true.
And I do want to talk about your foundation right now, because,
like I said, I told you this a little bit
before we started recording. I heard about your foundation from
a friend three or four years ago, just you know,
(12:47):
in passing, and she was telling me about what great
work you do. It's the Not Today Foundation with Okay,
this is a podcast, so make sure that you know
that it's a It's got a K in front of it.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
If you're looking it up.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Tell me about the work you do because it is
truly so impactful.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Well, it's really Gosha's been forged when you talk about
being informed by life experiences. Ever since I was a
little girl up until present day, I have had friendships
and relationships with people who have experienced horrific adverse life
(13:27):
experiences like sexual abuse in their life. And I liken
it to being in a battle as a child. And
these horrific experiences are like shrapnel embedded in your heart
and your mind, and it's a very difficult thing. Even
when you pull out the shrapnel their scars, and I
(13:47):
have seen the negative manifestations of those scars and people
all around me that I've loved, mental health issues and
partnership issues, physical issues, and the inability to trust, to
love people well, and even to give back in a
(14:07):
community because we can't we can't give what we don't have,
and there's there. It's been such a dark place that
I've when we started not Today, when when five years
ago we started not Today, and when coach and I
had this platform being a head coach in the NFL
with the Colts, I said, well, what should we do
(14:30):
that we can really make a difference in the space,
And it was naturally to prevent children from being sexually
abused or trafficked because of what I've known and what
I've learned through the years. So it's it's a really
really horrific thing. There's no demographic, socioeconomically, geographically, and it's
(14:56):
something that who wants to talk about it. It's not
something you bring about h and talk about a dinner parties.
Nobody wants to believe that this is happening to our
children and our society, so it's not brought up it's
not talked about.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
And what was the process like of starting this fund?
You know, I was on the foundation's website and that
is the thing that really struck me. What you just
said is like, no, no one wants to talk about
It's a painful, horrific subject, right. Everyone wants to think
that's it's not happening. It's not happening to anyone we know.
And but it is such.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Incredibly important work.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
So how did you go about when you said, Okay,
this is this is the issue that we want to
focus on. This is going to be part of my
life's work. We are going to be a lighthouse, you know,
in our community for this.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
But like you said, the subject matter is so difficult.
Did you encounter.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Resistance in starting this foundation? And what was it like
getting it off the ground.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Well, when we started in Indiana, my older sister who
is dear, my best friend, I mean dear, she's lived
Indiana for twenty eight years. So we moved to a
city where she was. So she said to me, Linda,
what do you what are you going to do as
far as a foundation? When I said, we're going to
start a foundation, And I said to her, we are
going to start a foundation to do what we can
(16:16):
to prevent children from being sexually abused or trafficked throughout
the country. She said, couldn't you think of something better
than that? I mean really, because she said, this is
it's that is so dark?
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yeah, and it could have so hard, could have picked
something that was not yet Yes.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
So so I say that kind of tongue in cheek, chuckling,
because that's kind of the inception of it when I
told her what we were going to do, because it
is it is very very dark work, and it's very
very heavy work, and it's a colossal issue that's not
going to be solved overnight. So it it's it's it's
(16:57):
been a major hope and our heart to continue to
create this awareness that it is happening because people don't
want to believe that it is, and then work on
that prevention aspect. And we're really doing that right now
in the educational Realm, which we started in Indiana, and
(17:17):
just in a few years, over seventy five thousand children
who otherwise have not heard of preventing education in public
schools are now being taught that it's not okay. Because
some children go to school and they think it's normalized.
If they don't know that it's not right that this
(17:38):
is happening to them, how would they ever know that
it's not appropriate if you're touching me that way, or
if cousin or dad or person or uncle or whoever.
So it has been such a blessing to see how
prevention has really really helped a.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Ton and thinking back to you, and it's certainly been
quite a while since I was in school, never had
an assembly or you know, a class to talk.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
About something like that.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
And it is, as you would say, it's what could
be more of a fundamental service to give to children
than to make them aware, like you said, especially if
the prevention statistics are that much in favor of just
knowing about it. And I think it's one of those things,
and I'm sure you encounter this a lot with adults
(18:29):
where they'd say like, oh, yeah, it makes total sense
that you would talk to children about that in school,
and why aren't we doing I didn't know that we
weren't doing that, or now that I think back, that
didn't happen, you know, for me when I was in school.
So it's one of those things that you just think
well of course that should be involved in the school
curriculum or there should be an assembly like that. But
I imagine that making that happen, right we all say, oh,
(18:52):
oh yeah, of course, like that makes sense. But putting
in the hard work to make that happen, I'm sure
has taken a lot of groundwork.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Well, it has and it will continue to do so
because every state is different. Aaron's Law that was passed
I believe it was, I forget maybe six years ago
or more basically set states that every state it's a
mandate that you know, you should have sexual education prevention
(19:21):
in a classroom, but not everybody. Not every state abides
by that law. So some states don't even have it
a mandate in their states. So public schools or charter
schools or private schools don't even have to teach it
or if they have a if the state passes the law,
the Aaron's Law, there's no dollars that go behind it.
So that's where we come in as not today really
(19:43):
trying to be an advocate in the community and to
do granting to come to child advocacy centers like the
Marion County Advocacy Center here or Mecklenburg in the North
Carolina state and say what do you need? How can
we help you? What will be the best thing that
(20:03):
we can fund to help you generate greater impact in
this arena, whether it's changing laws. Can we talk to
your state representatives? Can we say what's happening? Do you
know what's happening? So all of those questions right now
that we have worked on in Indiana. We are privileged
to come to a new state and do the same thing.
(20:25):
So what a joy and a blessing to just obviously
the Panthers and the organization and Riley everybody has been
so amazing with connecting us with community relations people and
here's how people in the state, well in the Carolina's
not just North Carolina, the Carolinas. How can we put
(20:45):
you in contact with the right people to move the
needle in this arena. So that's what we've been doing,
you know, in the last five months, really just laying
the foundation and the groundwork. Interesting to find out, I mean,
just one of the things that we found out not
too long ago, the Mecklenburg KAC Center has had over
(21:09):
two hundred and thousand cyber tips of children being sexually
abused in the state just in January.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Oh my god.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
And they're only seventeen investigators in the entire state when
you have over two hundred thousand tips. So it's shocking
the inadequacy of the resources, both HR and people teaching
in the classrooms, because who's going to do it, Who's
going to create the curricula. So we have a lot
(21:41):
of work to do. We've covered a lot of ground,
but there's a lot of work to do in this arena.
You know something that I always think about Frederick Douglas,
who was an incredible writer, social reformer, abolitionist, pastor, teacher,
you name, and he did it all. He said, it
(22:02):
is easier to build up children than to repair broken men.
And it's so true. Children look to adults to protect them,
to advocate for them, to teach them, to love them
well so they can give back into their community. And
that's what we're about it Not Today, just helping children.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
It's such incredibly important work, and I am so thankful
that the Not Day Foundation is now taking on the Carolinas.
As you said, so, I just if someone is listening
right now or me right as a parent, what advice
do you give anyone who says you know, this is
(22:46):
not something that I know a lot about, but hearing
these statistics, hearing you talk, I want to know what
I can do to help. What advice do you give
when people ask.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
That, well, a couple things. Certainly you can go to
our website, go to not today dot org. We have
a plethora of resources on our website. Obviously, in our
day and age with technology, what we're finding with the
sexting age, it is becoming an incredible, incredible issue in
our day and age with children, and it's getting younger
(23:16):
and younger because children at a very young age now
have cell phones. Many many children have cell phones going
into first grade, second grade, Oh my goodness. So what
they have access to. We all know when you have
a cell phone, there's a lot of access. So and
children don't know some of the things, I mean, even
with games. So we have a child and parent protection
(23:36):
guide on our website and it tells you what to
look for in your child, red flags, what you can
teach them if they say certain things to you, how
to handle things if children say to you have questions
to you. So we put a guide together that is
on the website completely free. We just want to serve anything,
any question that you have, go to our website and
(23:59):
if it's not one the way website, say hey, we
would like to see that, or can you tell me
about that. We will research it and find a way
to get back to you to get the answers if
it's not on our website is so incredible.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
I will be getting that guide and sending it to
everyone that I know, because I do think you know,
you go okay. It's kind of the wild wild West,
right of cell phones and the internet, and our children
are growing up in this age that I certainly didn't
really grow up in, and it is you don't know
what to do as a parent until hopefully not until
(24:29):
it's too late, but until you're confronted with it. So
to have the resources that's backed by research and by
professionals that you were just talking about with this guide,
and to have people that are working to help these children,
it's just it's amazing. So I will be downloading that guide,
like I said, and sending it to everyone.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Well, we have hard copies and it's also we have
hard copies that we've been given out and we have
it now obviously we have it in two and we're
working on three different languages, so many different ethnic groups
can hear about it and can read it in their
own language. But it it's just something that has been
on my heart to do just because moving around with
three daughters, we moved around to different cities and people want,
(25:06):
you know, can they come over for a play date?
And so so what do you do when like all
the crazy questions that I had and I had to
deal with with young girls moving.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Yes, I mean I will.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
My son is only fifteen months old, but I've already
you know, think about that stuff. It's like, well, when
they have friends and do they go spend the night?
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Do they not? Do they don't? You know?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
And so to have a resource that has information and
what to look out for. I'm just thrilled that those
resources are available and that it's not just you know,
no offense to Instagram or to you know, you know,
a friend or something that says what about this or
what about that? We need facts, we need research, we
need guidance.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
So I thank you, yeah, thank you, well were we
are honored to be on this path and this trajectory
and just walk working alongside of the you know, the
Mecklenburg icacunit's the Mecklenburg Child out of Advocacy Centers. That's
a mouth world, but just asking what you need, how
(26:04):
can we serve and helping them do what they do
better because the restorative area too is a really heavy
place and we want to assist in any way we
can there.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I thought that was something that stood out to me
when we when we first started talking at the beginning
of this podcast, where you said, you know, it is
the scars that are left when a child goes through
these things. You know physically, even if you know physically
they're okay, the the emotional impact, the mental impact, and
that was that was one of the first things you said,
(26:34):
you know, it is it is a holistic approach that
you all have, and you know there's a lot of
stuff that that can leave scars. Like you said, that
may not be evident at first, but certainly when a
child's developing.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
To have to go through trauma, it's just unimaginable. So
it is. It truly is.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
And and one of the other things that neglect neglected
to which has really been kind of a joy, when
we talk about kind of winds in this arena we bought.
We have now two dogs, and they're canine detection dogs.
And just like you see the canine dogs at the
airport that sniff out like drugs and things, these dogs
sniff out the acid that is in technology and sim
(27:19):
cards and computers so many many times. Unfortunately, in these
horrific situations there are videotaping of child pornography, and they're
hidden in homes all over the place, and the regular
eye CAC investigators can't find them because they're hidden in
all these horrific, nefarious places that you wouldn't even think about.
(27:41):
And I've seen these dogs in action and graduation before
we bought them. They have sniffed out sim cards, these
teamy little sim cards in iPhones, inside pineapple cans and
a refrigerator, oh my gosh, underneath floorboards. They had to
do this for graduation. I watch and if I didn't
see what my own as a wind to believed it
up in vents in air vents that they tape them
(28:04):
to air vents so they couldn't be detected. So these
dogs have done incredible work in Indiana. And we now
have another dog in Wisconsin that not today purchased, and
we are looking for an I Cack person in the community,
a law enforcement individual who would we could be honored
to buy a dog for North Carolina so we could
(28:25):
do the same thing here to expand the expand their capacity. Yes,
so that's been a real joy because it's it's uh
when you talk about I get text messages all the
time from our URCAC investigators and our dog handlers who said,
we just found three children as a result of Hunter
or as a result of Kala, and they the dogs.
(28:48):
These they'll take these children after they find them out
of these horrific situations, and then the dogs will comfort
them and they pet the dogs, and the children will
talk about their situation. And there truly not only investigative geniuses,
their therapy dogs. So children will talk about their experiences
as they're petting these dogs. I mean, I truly, I.
Speaker 3 (29:10):
Mean I could cry.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
I mean, it's just so amazing what these investigators do
and what they have to deal with. I like the
law enforcement individuals who deal with the cyber tips and
the EYKAC units and the child adivacy centers. They're the
true heroes. Not today, I mean, we just want to
support them. They're the heroes. They are in they're doing
this work every day to protect our children, to restore
(29:35):
our children, to rescue these children, and they're the.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
True Heroes's it's incredible what you're what you're telling me
and the dogs, and the fact that you're able to
assist these people that are doing that work day and
in day out is just amazing. I mean, I'm almost
speechless because it is I think important almost minimizes it
the work the I would say important work, but it's
(30:00):
so much more than that.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
I mean, it's wow.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
I'm not often lost for words, as I'm sure you know,
but this is just.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Gosh.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
What you're doing there is just absolutely incredible. That is
something I wanted to ask you about too, which is
that with this being such a heavy topic and this
being such a heavy path that you're on along with
as you said, I CAAC and the law enforcement investigators,
(30:31):
I imagine that you spend a lot of time in
this world which is scary and dark, even though you
are making incredible strides right in order to make things better.
So how do you deal with it when it gets hard?
Speaker 1 (30:47):
It's always hard, Yeah, it's always hard. And what we
have access to and hear about in a regular basis,
it's more than many human minds can comprehend or even
want to know. So I think that I have learned.
I pray a lot because it can be very stressful
(31:09):
and sometimes you go to bed when you hear some
of these things and it's hard to sleep some nights.
I'm gonna be quite honest, it is. It's not an
easy space to serve and work.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
It's not.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
But just like anything else in life, this is a
calling and this is what we're called to. This is
what my family's call to. Our children are on board
and obviously coaches on board with his whole heart, and
it's important and our children. I believe that the health,
(31:39):
the entire overall health of any community, it is reflected
in how well we take care of our children. It
completely is, absolutely and that's why it is so important
for us to just keep on keeping on, do what
we can serve and love well, how can we help
(32:02):
and knowing that it is a calling and this is
where we're called to serve and love and help children.
So it's challenging, but it's also a joy because when
you see these children who have been taken out of
these situations and you you know that they have an
opportunity again, these beautiful children to thrive, to be restored.
(32:24):
Life can be better, You can get out of this
terrific situation. And when we hear of those things, it
just there is nothing that brings me more joy than
to hear these i CAAC officers. They text me and
they say, we just rescued three more children, we just
rescued six more children. I mean, they're just no, there
(32:44):
are no words it is.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
It is so beautiful the work that you're doing and painful.
And I told you before we started, we cry a
lot on this podcast.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
I know I need you need as.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
I don't know how we don't have one, but it
is just it is just.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Overwhelming what you and the officers are dealing with and
what the children are dealing with. And I know that
I'm so grateful for all the work that you're doing
and the foundation, and I want to get involved now.
I'm sure anyone listening to this wants to get involved
in help. And we're grateful that the Not Today Foundation
is coming to the Carolinas and that you're making huge
(33:30):
strides in the in the five years in which the
foundation has has been going. And I'm wondering you've told
me about some of them, with the education in schools
and the incredible dogs, What are some other moments that
in all of this darkness you have gone wow, like
that is a win? Like are there moments that stick
(33:52):
out to you? And I know there have been a lot.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
There have been a lot. I think as mentioned are
one handler in Indiana, incredible investigator. He's become such a
spokesperson an advocate for for Not Today, and he has
our dog Hunter that we purchased, but he is always
texting us anytime. Hunter just unearthed six sim cards. Hunter
(34:17):
just found three or four children locked in a basement
that we just brought out. And I mean when we
get this information, I mean, they're such great wins. And
obviously for us with prevention education, education is so so important.
When they know it's not okay and they here in
school it's not okay, that they can either be prevented
(34:39):
from this happening to them, or if it is happening
to them, they can be identified and restored to health
again because they can go to somebody, an adult who
they can trust. So those are major wins and we
really are incredibly excited to partner with all of our
(35:00):
officers and law enforcement and child advocacy centers and ICAC
units and anybody in the Carolinas community who wants to
work with us. We just want to come alongside of
you and help you and help you serve and protect
and do what you're doing. So I just again, any
(35:20):
questions or fuck just go to not today dot org.
We will we will get in touch with you, reach
out to you. Questions that you have, any way that
we can help you to be educated more, or anything
we don't have in the website. Please let us know.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Thank you so much for sharing all of this and
for educating me and everyone listening and inspiring all of us,
and for all the work that you're doing in our
community and in Indiana and across the country on behalf
of children. It is so important. Like I said, important
doesn't even feel like a big enough word for what
(35:57):
you and the law enforcement officers are doing. And I'm
so grateful that you would talk to me about all
of this, and you know, everyone, like as I said earlier,
just remember that Not Today Foundation is with a K,
So please go to the website and look up all
those resources.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
I know that I will be.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Doing that and and I just I can't say thank
you enough for everything, you know, for being here and
for sharing all of this with us.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
Well, thank you, Kristin. I mean, it's a real privilege,
and again just to have a platform to let the community,
let the world know that we can't let this happen
to our children. So it's just it's just a wonderful
privilege and obviously privileged to be part of the Panther's family,
(36:44):
the part of the community, the Temper family, and everybody
who is who is in the North Carolina South Carolina community.
Coach and I are honored to be here, so thank you.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
We are honored that you are here with us, So
thank you so much. The stairs Sunday stay sir, still
study sta
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