Our Podcast

Our Podcast

Welcome to Floodlight

HRH Princess Eugenie and Julia de Boinville launch the second series of their podcast Floodlight, brought to listeners by The Anti-Slavery Collective. Each week the Co-Founders will sit down with guests to explore how we can help eradicate this global epidemic. Listeners will hear from the activists, politicians, lawmakers and survivors who are fighting for change.

The episodes will deliver clear takeaways, including ways to spot signs of potential slavery in your own workplace and community, or how to shop more ethically and ensure your purchases don’t support modern slavery.

Floodlight Season 2

Efe Obada

Today we’re joined by a sporting superstar who has proven that people can achieve anything, even out of brutal hardships.

Efe Obada is a tough-tackling defensive end in the NFL, and one of few Brits playing in the league. But his journey began when he was trafficked to the U.K. at just ten years old and left homeless, before spending the next decade in the foster care system.

He talks to us about the hardship he’s suffered and how he’s become a symbol of hope for millions around the world, proving that nobody is solely defined by the things that happen to them.We spoke to Efe before the start of the 2023 NFL season.

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Karen Anstiss

Joining us today is a woman with more experience in dealing with survivors of modern slavery than most.

After working with traumatised victims of crime across three decades in the Metropolitan Police, Karen now helps to run Bakhita House – a safe house that takes a holistic approach to caring for female survivors of modern slavery. Karen chats to us about how her work in the police informs her approach today, the need for greater governmental support and how Bakhita House always makes it about the survivors themselves, not their trauma.

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One Republic and IJM

Joining us are two people whose passion for fighting modern slavery is awe-inspiring. We’re delighted to be joined by Zach Filkins, from the world-famous band OneRepublic, and International Justice Mission’s Molly Hodson!

OneRepublic have used their huge platform to champion the fight against modern slavery and particularly the work of IJM, who have been at the forefront of activism against human trafficking for over 25 years. Zach and Molly chat to us about how their partnership came to be, how more famous people can utilise their platform for good, and how they’ve come across so many inspiring stories of hope while speaking to those affected by this crisis.

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Ambassador Cindy Dyer

We’re delighted to be joined by Ambassador Cindy Dyer, who serves as Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons in President Joe Biden’s administration.

Cindy talks to us about methods the US government is implementing to provide greater protection to survivors of trafficking and how she’s interacted with survivors personally. Plus, we talk about how efforts at the local level are just as important as state and international legislation. 

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Rose Hudson-Wilkin

Joining us in this weeks episode is the wonderful Rose Hudson-Wilkin. Rose became the first black woman to become a bishop in the Church of England, and has since held positions as the Queen’s Chaplain and the Speaker’s Chaplain.

She joined us for an uplifting conversation about how the church supports survivors of trafficking as part of its role in the community, extending that same kindness to everyone around her and how important it is to speak out if you think something might be wrong, in spite of fear or embarrassment.

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James Bartle

The global fashion industry is one of the world’s largest consumer economies in the world. But, unfortunately, it has become inextricably linked with the prevalence of modern slavery and lack of environmental sustainability.

James Bartle is the founder and CEO of Outland Denim, an ethical fashion company that works with survivors of human trafficking to provide a sustainable and dignified means of work to allow survivors to rebuild their lives. He talks to us about seeing trafficking firsthand, how Outland treats its employees with dignity and respect, and what the global fashion industry still needs to address amidst the fight against modern slavery.

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Theresa May

Joining us for the first episode of our new season is the Rt Hon Theresa May, the former British Prime Minister who has dedicated much of her political career to fighting modern slavery in the UK and overseas.

She welcomed us to her parliamentary offices to talk about how she first became aware of modern slavery, her vital role in the passing of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015 and just how important cooperation is in fighting this global epidemic – across communities, businesses and borders.

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Floodlight Season 1

Dean

For the final episode of the series, we spoke to Dean, a former member of the armed forces working for MITMARK, who our co-founder Julia de Boinville met during her recent trip to the Ukraine- Poland border.

Dean spoke to us about the alarming spike in incidences of human trafficking. He tells us about the various tactics human traffickers are adopting at the border and shares how he’s been helping surveil them. Unfortunately, traffickers are still present at almost all Ukrainian border crossings, and are continuously coming up with new tactics to exploit vulnerable refugees.

However there are various organisations on the ground working tirelessly to provide refugees with essentials such as food, medical care and information on safe passages.

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Ian Urbina

Joining us today is Ian Urbina, an investigative journalist whose work exploring sea slavery informed his celebrated book, The Outlaw Ocean.

Ian has travelled across the world to explore how modern slavery touches even the darkest corners of the high seas. He tells us about some of his most challenging trips, how sea slavery touches all of our lives and how we can all help eradicate such an opaque problem.

His most recent series, The Outlaw Ocean, chronicles a diversity of crimes offshore, including the killing of stowaways, sea slavery, intentional dumping, illegal fishing, the stealing of ships, gun running, stranding of crews, and murder with impunity. He has reported from Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East, much of that time spent on fishing ships.

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Nick Dale

Operation Fort remains the largest case of modern slavery ever tried in the UK, and this weeks guest was right at the heart of it. We were joined by Detective Chief Inspector from West Midlands Police, Nick Dale! He was also the Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Fort, the UK’s largest modern slavery investigation, involving about 400 victims, which has led to 12 offenders receiving sentences totalling about 70 years so far. He sat down with us to discuss the inner workings of Operation Fort, how his team helped numerous victims across the country, and the telltale signs of modern slavery in our everyday lives.

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Cindy McCain

This week Cindy joins us to discuss the McCain Institute’s extensive work out on the frontline, how she witnessed human trafficking first-hand in India and how we can all spot signs of human trafficking in our communities.

Cindy McCain is a politician, diplomat and humanitarian who, through setting up the McCain Institute with her late husband John, has dedicated much of her career to fighting human trafficking.

To learn more about topics discussed in this weeks episode head to:

  • The McCain Institute
  • Thorn
  • Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Apps
    • The STOP APP from STOP THE TRAFFIK enables people anywhere in the world to report suspicious incidents of human trafficking anonymously and securely.
    • The Modern Slavery Helpline, operated by the charity Unseen, has an app to make reporting to their helpline even easier. 
    • The Clewer Initiative, in partnership with key organisations, developed an app aimed at workers and employers in the farming, horticulture and food production sectors.
    • The Just Good Work app is designed to help all jobseekers and workers understand their UK employment rights, recognise poor treatment at work and access  help and support
    • The Safe Car Wash App, developed by The Clewer Initiative, is designed to provide a picture of how many hand car washes there are across the UK. It asks users to record a range of information about the car washes they visit, including the location, cost, as well as observations about workers’ welfare.

Kevin Bales

This week we are joined by Kevin Bales, Research Director of The Rights Lab, Professor of Contemporary Slavery at the University of Nottingham and one of the world’s foremost experts in the fight against modern slavery.

The film based on his book Disposable People, which he co-wrote, won the Peabody Award and two Emmys. The Association of British Universities named his work one of “100 World-Changing Discoveries.” He co-founded the US NGO Free the Slaves, a group that has liberated thousands of slaves worldwide. His latest book, Blood and Earth, explores the deadly link between slavery and environmental destruction.

He joins Jules and Eugenie to discuss his three-decade career, where his academic studies and varied activism work have continued to help everyone from the United Nations to the next generation of change-makers.

To learn more about topics discussed in this weeks episode head to:

The Rights Lab
Ted talk: How to Combat Modern Slavery
Book: Disposable People
Book: Blood and Earth Where Modern Slavery Intersects With Climate Change
Free the Slaves
Anti-Slavery International
The Happy Baby Community
The National Referral Mechanism

Nick Beighton

One of the more well-publicised industries tackling modern slavery worldwide is fashion. Today’s guest knows more about the intricacies of that fight than most; it’s former CEO of ASOS, Nick Beighton. ASOS is one of the leading fashion destinations for 20-somethings globally, trading in almost every country in the world.

Late last year, while still CEO of the fashion giant, Nick sat down with Princess Eugenie and Jules to discuss how he helped change ASOS’ values and practices – hoping others do the same – and gave us some great advice about how we can all shop more responsibly. 

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Dr. Katy Robjant

In this weeks episode we are joined by consultant clinical psychologist, Dr. Katy Robjant. She specialises in the treatment of PTSD and other trauma related disorders in asylum seekers, refugees and victims of trafficking. 

Katy discusses her work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she helped former child soldiers who have suffered horrific exploitation for generations, and offers some helpful advice about how we can all take care of our own mental health.

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If you or a loved one are seeking mental health support register with your local GP .  For more support please see

*Narrative exposure therapy is a treatment for trauma disorders, particularly in individuals suffering from complex and multiple trauma. This form of therapy should be conducted by a licensed professional.*

Dame Emma Thompson

This week we are joined by one of the U.K’s most celebrated actresses, Dame Emma Thompson. Activism has been a key component of her career off-screen, and we wanted to hear more bout her extensive work in fighting trafficking and modern slavery.

Emma discusses how she discovered a friend of hers was kept prisoner in a local massage parlour as well as her role as president in the Helen Bramber Foundation. Emma also discusses adopting a survivor of child slavery, she shares some incredible stories and lessons she’s learned along the way.

The Helen Bamber Foundation, a UK-based human rights organisation, formed in April 2005, to help rebuild the lives of, and inspire a new self-esteem in, survivors of gross human rights violations.  On behalf of the Foundation, Thompson co-curated “Journey” an interactive art installation which used seven transport containers to illustrate the brutal and harrowing experiences of women sold into the sex trade. Thompson and “Journey” traveled to London, Vienna, Madrid, New York and the Netherlands for exhibitions and interviews

To read more about the topics discussed in this weeks episode please check out the following links:

Wumi – Survivor of Modern slavery

This week we are joined by Wumi, a survivor of modern slavery in the U.K. She talks to us about how she found herself in domestic servitude after being trafficked from Nigeria, how difficult it was to report any signs of harm and what can be done to help support millions of people like her across the world.

If you’re listening to this in the U.K, people are being forced into slavery within a mile of you right now. Visit the links below for further details about how you can join us in the fight to rid the world of an epidemic that affects all of us. 

Caroline Haughey OBE QC

Our guest this week is Caroline Haughey OBE. She is a QC and all round specialist on modern slavery. Caroline’s expertise and wealth of experience have made her a treasured advisor to government, to policy-makers and to us at The Anti-Slavery Collective. She successfully prosecuted the first case of modern slavery in Britain and, since then, has led the way in Britain’s fight against modern slavery, working across the board to police and prevent human trafficking. Caroline is also a trustee and guiding light of The Anti-Slavery Collective.

In this episode Caroline tells us about her involvement in Operation Fort, the largest case of modern slavery ever tried in the UK. She explains the details of the case, the struggle bringing the perpetrators to justice, and how you can spot signs of modern slavery in your own life.

To learn more about the topics discussed in this weeks episode please check out the following links: