In this episode, we sit down with Charles Martin, author of The Letter Keeper series a fictional series deeply rooted in the real stories of human trafficking survivors.

Charles shares his journey to becoming an author and the heart behind writing stories that confront some of the darkest realities in our world. We talk about writing as a way to process emotion, grief, and truth, and why storytelling matters in the fight against human trafficking.

This conversation explores how traffickers operate as emotional terrorists, why s*x trafficking happens everywhere (not just “somewhere else”), and why it is more prevalent than drug trafficking — because a drug can only be sold once, but a person can be sold again and again.

We also discuss sacrificial love, the kind of love that sees suffering, refuses to look away, and chooses to step into the brokenness for the sake of others.
This episode is honest, heavy at times, and deeply human, a reminder that stories have the power to awaken compassion, confront injustice, and invite healing.

Charles’ Links:
Website: https://www.charlesmartinbooks.com/
Buy his books: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B001IGQLBC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.charles.martin/
X: https://x.com/storiedcareer?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiedcareer/

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-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaandbloomofficial/
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-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NCqdBqwaEckV3gNQ6IZeg

To learn more about the Joy Smith Foundation, and to support our podcast, visit:
https://joysmithfoundation.com/

Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

Thank you so much for listening!✨

Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Luma and Bloom are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official positions of the Joy Smith Foundation or the hosts of this podcast. Any content provided by our guests is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or representation of the Foundation’s beliefs or values.

This week, we’re celebrating the season with our favourite Christmas treats and traditions — but we also take a moment to talk about hope, grace, and patience. Whether your holidays feel joyful, busy, or a little heavy, this episode is a gentle reminder that hope is always within reach.

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Make sure to connect with us on social media!
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaandbloomofficial/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumaandbloomofficial
-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lumaandbloomofficial?lang=en
-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NCqdBqwaEckV3gNQ6IZeg

To learn more about the Joy Smith Foundation, and to support our podcast, visit:
https://joysmithfoundation.com/

Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

Thank you so much for listening!✨

Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Luma and Bloom are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official positions of the Joy Smith Foundation or the hosts of this podcast. Any content provided by our guests is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or representation of the Foundation’s beliefs or values.

*Trigger warning: this episode contains conversation around suicide and suicidal ideation*

International suicide hotline list: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/

In this powerful conversation, survivor and advocate Andrea Heinz joins us to unpack the growing push to license brothels and body rub parlours in Canada — and why she believes these policies fundamentally endanger women. Andrea shares her story of being sexually exploited, the psychological toll of dissociation, and the misconceptions society holds about “choice,” “empowerment,” and “sex work.”

We talk about the difference between consent and compliance, how language shapes public understanding, why “money = empowerment” is a dangerous myth, and how digital platforms like OnlyFans function as modern forms of exploitation. Andrea’s evidence-based research and lived experience offer a crucial counter-narrative to the dominant ideology shaping today’s debates on sexual exploitation and pornography.

This episode is a necessary listen for anyone engaged in anti-trafficking work, policy, advocacy, or cultural conversations about sexuality and exploitation.

Andrea’s Links:

X: https://x.com/heinzsight2020?lang=en

Her book - When Men Buy Sex: Who Really Pays?: https://a.co/d/5zu8LWh

Book website: https://www.whenmenbuysex.ca/

Her podcast: https://redlightexpose.com

‘Sex Work’ Ideology as Cult-Like Thought Reform: https://theradicalnotion.org/sex-work-ideology-as-cult-like-thought-reform/

Grace Hawthorne’s Blog: https://grace-notes.blog/2019/07/31/dear-men/

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Make sure to connect with us on social media!
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaandbloomofficial/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumaandbloomofficial
-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lumaandbloomofficial?lang=en
-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NCqdBqwaEckV3gNQ6IZeg

To learn more about the Joy Smith Foundation, and to support our podcast, visit:
https://joysmithfoundation.com/

Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

Thank you so much for listening!✨

Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Luma and Bloom are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official positions of the Joy Smith Foundation or the hosts of this podcast. Any content provided by our guests is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or representation of the Foundation’s beliefs or values.

In this episode of Luma & Bloom, Nic and Kate sit down with mindset coach Angela Morris, whose wisdom is shaped not only by her professional work but by a life marked with deep hardship, resilience, and transformation.

Together, they dive into the realities of motherhood, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who see your real life instead of an idealized version of it, and why our childhood experiences shape our default patterns as adults more than we often realize.

Angela shares powerful reflections on how the habits we learn as children can follow us into adulthood, but they don’t have to define us forever. With honesty and compassion, she talks about breaking generational cycles, doing the hard internal work, and choosing growth over stagnation.

This conversation is for anyone navigating healing, identity, motherhood, or the long road of becoming who you truly want to be.

Send us a Text!

Support the show

Make sure to connect with us on social media!
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaandbloomofficial/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumaandbloomofficial
-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lumaandbloomofficial?lang=en
-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NCqdBqwaEckV3gNQ6IZeg

To learn more about the Joy Smith Foundation, and to support our podcast, visit:
https://joysmithfoundation.com/

Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

Thank you so much for listening!✨

Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Luma and Bloom are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official positions of the Joy Smith Foundation or the hosts of this podcast. Any content provided by our guests is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or representation of the Foundation’s beliefs or values.

This week on Luma & Bloom, we’re joined by the incredible Toni McKinley — a survivor of trafficking who now spends her life helping other women heal and experience real freedom. Toni opens up about compassion fatigue, her own story, and what she’s learned from over a decade of walking with survivors on their healing journeys.

We talk about how trauma reshapes the brain, why survivors often question their own reality, and how relationships can either rebuild or re-break our sense of self. Toni shares wisdom from her book, including why every relationship starts with the one you have with yourself, and the difference between healthy connection and emotional entanglement.

This conversation is raw, grounded, and full of truth — including the hard reality that there still aren’t enough places for survivors to get the healing they deserve.

If you care about trauma recovery, trafficking advocacy, or simply want to better understand the human heart, this episode is for you.

Toni’s Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tonih0pe/

Website: tonimckinley.com

Toni’s Book: https://a.co/d/gSBodCr

Magdalene House Website: https://www.magdaleneaustin.org/

Magdalene House Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magdaleneatx/

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Support the show

Make sure to connect with us on social media!
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaandbloomofficial/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumaandbloomofficial
-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lumaandbloomofficial?lang=en
-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NCqdBqwaEckV3gNQ6IZeg

To learn more about the Joy Smith Foundation, and to support our podcast, visit:
https://joysmithfoundation.com/

Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

Thank you so much for listening!✨

Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Luma and Bloom are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official positions of the Joy Smith Foundation or the hosts of this podcast. Any content provided by our guests is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or representation of the Foundation’s beliefs or values.

This week, we’re celebrating two years of Luma & Bloom — two years of stories, conversations, courage, and community.

We take a look back at the moments that shaped us, the guests who have trusted us with their stories, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. From acknowledging the beauty of the bodies we live in, to finding belonging in one another, to recognizing the power that comes when someone feels seen — this episode is a warm reflection on why we started and why we continue.

If you’ve been here since the beginning, or you’re tuning in for the first time — we’re grateful you’re here.

Thank you for growing with us.

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Support the show

Make sure to connect with us on social media!
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaandbloomofficial/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumaandbloomofficial
-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lumaandbloomofficial?lang=en
-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NCqdBqwaEckV3gNQ6IZeg

To learn more about the Joy Smith Foundation, and to support our podcast, visit:
https://joysmithfoundation.com/

Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

Thank you so much for listening!✨

Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Luma and Bloom are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official positions of the Joy Smith Foundation or the hosts of this podcast. Any content provided by our guests is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or representation of the Foundation’s beliefs or values.

In this episode of Luma & Bloom, we dive into the cultural belief that “sex sells” — and what that message is really selling us. From vintage ads that reduced women to props, to modern campaigns featuring OnlyFans models, to the way companies pose models in their clothing, we explore how marketing has shaped the way society values bodies, desire, and identity.

We discuss the difference between cancel culture and accountability, the impact of sexualized media on self-worth, and why challenging these norms matters — especially for those recovering from exploitation.

This isn’t about shame — it’s about awareness.
It’s about naming the systems that profit from objectification and learning to see ourselves and others with dignity.

Vintage ad photo credit: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/offensive-sexist-vintage-ads/

Send us a Text!

Support the show

Make sure to connect with us on social media!
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaandbloomofficial/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumaandbloomofficial
-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lumaandbloomofficial?lang=en
-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NCqdBqwaEckV3gNQ6IZeg

To learn more about the Joy Smith Foundation, and to support our podcast, visit:
https://joysmithfoundation.com/

Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

Thank you so much for listening!✨

Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Luma and Bloom are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official positions of the Joy Smith Foundation or the hosts of this podcast. Any content provided by our guests is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or representation of the Foundation’s beliefs or values.

In this episode of Luma & Bloom, Nic, Kate, and Lainey dive into the messy, beautiful, and sometimes exhausting world of modern dating—exploring not just the highs and lows of dating apps, but the deeper patterns that shape how we love and connect.

From navigating red flags versus green flags to questioning the idea of soulmates, they unpack how our past relationships influence our present choices—and how we can approach dating from a place of self-awareness, growth, and empowerment instead of fear.

True to Luma & Bloom’s mission of shedding light on challenging topics, this candid conversation invites listeners to reflect on the pressures we put on love, the lessons we carry from our past, and how we can create relationships that honor our worth and resilience.

Whether you’re single, dating, or in a long-term partnership, this episode will leave you thinking about what it truly means to love—and be loved—today.

Send us a Text!

Support the show

Make sure to connect with us on social media!
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaandbloomofficial/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumaandbloomofficial
-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lumaandbloomofficial?lang=en
-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NCqdBqwaEckV3gNQ6IZeg

To learn more about the Joy Smith Foundation, and to support our podcast, visit:
https://joysmithfoundation.com/

Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

Thank you so much for listening!✨

Disclaimer: the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Luma and Bloom are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official positions of the Joy Smith Foundation or the hosts of this podcast. Any content provided by our guests is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or representation of the Foundation’s beliefs or values.