September 22, 2026
Protecting What Matters Most | Episode 250: Sara Gadd
with Sara Gadd, Human Trafficking Education and Response Program, Ascension St. John; Chair, Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking
33 min
Protecting What Matters Most | Episode 250: Sara Gadd
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In this episode
What does it take to protect what matters most? That is the question I brought to Sara Gadd, who leads the Human Trafficking Education and Response Program at Ascension St. John in Tulsa and chairs the Oklahoma Coalition. I expected a heavy conversation. What I got was one of the most hopeful and practical ones I have had on the show.
Sara's message comes down to a few simple things any of us can do. Knowledge reduces vulnerability. Relationships matter more than rules. Everything we do makes a difference. We talk about how her calling built one step at a time, from volunteering as a kid in Southern California to the work she leads today, and about what it looks like to create an environment of safety at home: staying close to your kids' world, finding the middle between checking out and locking everything down, and being the adult they can come to even after a mistake.
I love that Sara is so real about it. She learned her kids' video games, badly by her own account, so that the conversations stayed normal. If this topic ever feels like too much, keep going. You do not have to fix everything. Whatever job you do, you can make a difference for somebody.
Key takeaways
- Knowledge reduces vulnerability. Young people who understand their world are safer in it, and better able to help a friend.
- Relationships matter more than rules. Rules help, and relationship is what keeps a young person talking to you.
- Find the middle as a parent. Stay involved in your kids' world, keep clear boundaries, and never get so strict that they stop coming to you.
- Be the adult they can come to, even after a mistake. Meet them with help instead of punishment, and extend that to their friends.
- A calling builds one step at a time. Sara's began with volunteering as a kid and grew through every job that followed.
- It takes a whole community. Any business, school, or group can host a training through the Oklahoma Coalition at ocatoklahoma.org.
- Whatever job you do, you can make a difference for somebody.
Chapters
- 0:00Coming up
- 0:30Sharing Passion and Purpose
- 0:47Welcome: meet Sara Gadd
- 2:26A calling that built one step at a time
- 4:36A young law and what we are still learning
- 5:20What most of us picture, and what is real
- 7:15Why young people are always protected
- 7:34A book for teens: knowledge reduces vulnerability
- 10:01What to notice: context over checklists
- 12:42Why awareness is for everyone
- 14:28Technology: a good tool that needs guidance
- 17:03Privacy, sharing, and staying in your kids' world
- 19:13A word from our sponsor
- 20:07Practical steps for parents: finding the middle
- 22:41Be the adult they can come to
- 25:13How the community can help: the Oklahoma Coalition
- 28:55Everything we do makes a difference
- 31:43One more thing: help safely
- 32:24Until next time
- 32:35Sharing Passion and Purpose outro
“Knowledge reduces vulnerabilities.”
“Education is key, but relationships are what matter.”
“Everything we do makes a difference.”
“It doesn't matter what kind of job you do, you can make a difference for somebody.”
Resources mentioned
About Sara
Human Trafficking Education and Response Program, Ascension St. John; Chair, Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking
Sara Gadd leads the Human Trafficking Education and Response Program at Ascension St. John in Tulsa, where she trains healthcare professionals and connects people with resources. She chairs the Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking, wrote a book for teens, and was named one of TulsaKids Magazine's Impactful Women of the 918 for 2026.
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