This episode is dedicated to Virginia Giuffre. And all survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and human trafficking.
When survivors of sex trafficking bravely step forward to share their truth, how do we respond? Do we stand with them, or do we doubt and dismiss their experiences?
Today, we dive deep into the complex, often hidden reality of modern slavery happening all around us—in our neighborhoods, in the shadows of industries we engage with daily, and especially within the world of sex trafficking. More than 40 million people worldwide are trapped in human trafficking, with one in four being children. Sex trafficking, a devastating form of this crime, involves the exploitation of vulnerable individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for commercial sex acts—and minors involved cannot legally consent at all.
Lisa Phillips welcomes Davina Durgana, PhD, an award-winning human rights statistician and expert who has shaped global understanding of modern slavery. Davina brings a crucial data-driven perspective on how sex trafficking thrives where social safety nets and oversight fail, and how traffickers act as entrepreneurial predators exploiting sexual and labor vulnerabilities alike.
Together, Lisa and Davina unpack the myths versus realities of human trafficking— exploring the types of coercion survivors face, the trafficking ring ecosystems, the powerful economics behind exploitation, and why survivors’ voices are vital in driving awareness and systemic change. They also highlight the retraumatization survivors endure due to stigma, legal challenges, and lack of adequate support, often keeping them trapped in cycles of abuse.
This episode calls on listeners to educate themselves on trafficking signs, understand how demand fuels exploitation—particularly in commercial sex—and hold institutions accountable, from corporations to governments, so trafficking becomes prohibitively difficult and unprofitable. Because the fight against modern slavery—and sex trafficking—starts with believing survivors, standing up for justice, and transforming communities to protect the most vulnerable.
“From now on, what I would like is that we have a standard that changes American society's view of the human worth, that if we see individual lives as valuable as our own, then it doesn't stand that we can also exploit them for labor or exploit them for sex.”
Just a heads up: This episode contains discussions of grooming, coercive control, and sex trafficking. Some may find it upsetting. We encourage you to take care of yourself.
About Davina Durgana:
Davina Durgana, PhD is an award-winning international human rights statistician who has developed leading global models to assess risk and vulnerability to modern slavery.
Dr. Davina Durgana was a Founding Author of the Global Slavery Index and Contributing Founding Author of the UN’s Global Estimates of Modern Slavery.
She is the Director of Free the Slaves, the oldest anti-trafficking organization in the United States and is currently working on a book on family court reform for domestic violence survivors and their children.
Follow Davina on Instagram @davinadurgana.
Follow Lisa Phillips @iamlisaphillips on Instagram.
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If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below:
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673)
If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree).