Jenna McKaye - Survivor Advocate

In this powerful episode, Penny sits down with Jenna McKaye, a survivor leader and advocate, to discuss her journey from being trafficked at a young age by someone she trusted to becoming a fierce voice for change. Jenna opens up about her healing process, the challenges she faced, and the critical steps she took to reclaim her life. Together, Penny and Jenna explore the branding tactics used in human trafficking, the urgent need for education among healthcare providers to identify victims, and the importance of safe housing and holistic recovery programs. They also dive into actionable steps parents can take to protect their children and foster open, honest conversations about trafficking. Jenna shares her advocacy efforts, including her work on California Senate Bill 14, which recognizes the sex trafficking of minors as a serious crime, and her ongoing contributions to California Senate Bill 1414. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes the power of survivor voices in driving change and inspiring hope. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation filled with insight, resilience, and strategies to combat human trafficking.

To learn more about the Jenna McKaye Foundation, please visit their website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

 

Jenna McKaye Bio

Jenna McKaye is a survivor of human trafficking with an incredible life story she now shares throughout the US. Jenna's extraordinary journey offers hope that inspires others through education and training. She continues to train hospital staff, law enforcement, and other first responders how to identify victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking. 

Jenna’s personable keynote speaking engagements leave a notable impression among a variety of audience demographics including the United Nations. In 2016, Jenna started the Jenna McKaye Foundation to engage in a broader advocacy training model and to provide equine therapy to victims and high-risk youth.  Jenna has been interviewed on countless podcasts across the country and internationally including Elizabeth Smart’s Smart Talks, and she consulted on the award-winning documentary Surviving Sex Trafficking. 

Jenna Serves on the board for The Worthy Ranch in Montana and Cycling for Change in New York. She worked with California State Senator Shannon Grove for 2 years to successfully get Senate Bill 14 passed into law. 

Jenna’s story has been optioned for a film and is in pre-production now. Visit jennamckaye.com for upcoming news/events and details on her soon-to-be-published book.