During this episode, we speak with Dr. Casey Branchini Risko, an expert on international labor and sex trafficking.

In Understanding Trafficking Part I, we speak to Katie Gosch and Dr. Katherine Gomez – experts on domestic sex trafficking. Our conversation touched on several important topics including who is most at risk for victimization, the demographic profile of traffickers, ways to combat trafficking and more.

In “Understanding Sex Work” we speak to Sive Sanchez – a person that has engaged in sex work for many years in San Francisco. During our conversation, they demystify what sex work is, who does it, and why. Sive also shares some of the struggles they have faced and many of them stem from the fact that sex work is illegal.

During this episode, we talk to Dr. Meghan Sacks and Dr. Amy Schlosberg – co-founders of Article III and co-hosts of the popular podcasts Direct Appeal and Women and Crime. Meghan and Amy join us to discuss how this partnership came about and we also analyze the case of Ellie Nesler. Meghan and Amy recently did a deep dive into this case on an episode of Women and Crime and we highly recommend that you check it out before listening to this episode.

Throughout the first season of Beyond Fear: The Sex Crimes Podcast, we have received dozens of questions and comments from listeners. The conversations we have had one-on-one with each other and those we have had with some of you who have reached out have affirmed our belief that the work we do and the way we accomplish it are both incredibly important.

In this final episode of season 1, we talk about our experiences participating in restorative justice sessions. Restorative justice is a framework under which many possibilities exist. Alissa began participating in restorative justice sessions with men and women mandated to treatment after the commission of a sexual offense. This work has continued and we both participate in theses sessions now. We also talk about the kinds of cases Alissa now facilitates in the community. We discuss a program that Alexa has been integral in forming at a prison in Northern California.

In Episode 12 of Beyond Fear, we interview David Prescott, an internationally known expert on treatment for those who sexually offend.

The image that comes to mind when we think about a person who commits a sexual offense is more often than not, male. While it is true that the vast majority of sexual harm around the world is committed by men, women can – and do – commit sex crimes. In this episode of Beyond Fear, Alissa interviews Alexa about her expertise on female sexual offending. Alexa sheds light on this important, understudied and often misunderstood issue.

In Episode 10, “Once You See, You Can’t Unsee”, we speak to Amber and Jason. They co-host a podcast called “Amplified Voices” and are also two people who are directly impacted by sex offense legislation. For example, Jason discusses how difficult it was for him to find employment or travel to different states. Amber shares how the registry has impacted her children. It is important for people to understand that these laws impact their entire families in challenging ways.

In Episode 9, “Why Should I Care?!”, Alexa interviews Dr. Alissa Ackerman about sex crimes policies in the U.S. Alissa is widely considered an expert on sex crimes policy and much of her research has examined the efficacy of the sex offense registry, residence restrictions, and community notification. Notably, her research, and that of most other researchers, have found that sex crimes policies have done nothing to make society safer and have not reduced rates of sexual violence since their implementation.