*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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Music: The Light from Within by Howard Harper-Barnes

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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.