Uproot Abuse

Ep 42 The Heart of Mentorship: How Empathy Counters Youth Loneliness

In this episode of Uproot Abuse, Donna sits down with Laura Capello, former CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central AZ and current Regional Director at Cohere Life, to examine the silent drivers of youth harm: loneliness and insecurity. With hundreds of children waiting for mentors and the "noise" of AI and social media reaching a fever pitch, Laura discusses why the "Trusted Adult" model is more critical than ever. We explore empathy as a superpower and how we can uproot abusive behaviors by teaching the next generation that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. It’s time to trade digital algorithms for human connection and provide our youth with the role models they deserve.

Ep 41 The Empathy Gap: Defending and Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in a Climate of Extreme Bias

In this episode of Uproot Abuse we dig into the systemic roots of bias and rejection with Nate Rhoton, CEO of one·n·ten. We explore the empathy gap and the urgent need for sensitivity in a climate where 38% of LGBTQ+ youth aren't safe enough to come out to their own families. From the funding crises sparked by political rhetoric to the "terrorist" labeling of trans individuals by extremist groups, Nate and Donna discuss how misinformation fuels abuse and strips away safe spaces in schools and communities. This conversation is a call to uproot judgment and replace it with the compassion necessary to ensure every young person can celebrate their true self.

Ep 40 “Power To, Not Power Over:” Gloria Feldt on Reclaiming Autonomy

What if the key to ending domestic violence isn't just funding more shelters, but fundamentally redefining power? In this episode of UPA, host Donna Bartos sits down with the legendary Gloria Feldt—former President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and current CEO of Take The Lead. With a career spanning from Head Start classrooms in West Texas to the national political stage, Gloria brings a lifetime of fierce advocacy to a candid discussion on the "Prevention Gap." We dive deep into the "Elephant in the Room:" why society finds it easier to fund crisis intervention for victims than to invest in preventing interpersonal and domestic violence at the root. Gloria challenges the 2025 McKinsey report’s findings on the "ambition gap," arguing that women don’t lack ambition—they lack the corporate and societal support systems that men take for granted. Through the lens of her books, No Excuses and Intentioning Gloria explains her transformative shift from "Power Over" (oppression) to "Power To" (creation and energy). We tackle the sexual double standards that shame women’s autonomy, the urgent need for male accountability in reproductive rights, and why we must stop normalizing the objectification of women. This isn't just a conversation about the steps backward in a post-Title IX world; it’s a masterclass in using controversy as an opportunity for radical societal change.

Ep 39 The Thin Line Between "Breaking News" and Empathetic Storytelling

What happens to the reporters who cover our darkest days? Veteran news director and industry leader, Bob Sullivan joins Donna to discuss the emotional toll of reporting on domestic violence and mass shootings. He reveals his philosophy on protecting staff from burnout, the industry’s past failures in sensitive reporting, and managing trauma and bias in the newsroom.

Ep 38 When the System Protects the Predator Instead of the Prey

What happens to a community when empathy is systematically erased? Investigative legend Mike Watkiss joins Donna to deconstruct the chilling "pillars of control" used by the FLDS to maintain absolute power. Moving beyond theology, Mike reveals how leaders like Warren Jeffs built a patriarchal machine designed to treat women as resources and children as property. In this deep dive, we explore the calculated cruelty of the "Lost Boys"—the strategic exile of young men to eliminate competition for the marriage pool. Mike explains how this wasn't just a demographic fluke, but a deliberate move to ensure the "Prophet" and his inner circle had unfettered access to underage girls. We discuss the "Making of the Patriarchy," looking at how boys are socialized to suppress their conscience and view dominance as a God-given right. From the geographic isolation of Colorado City to the mid-level enforcers who kept the system running, we examine why it’s so difficult to prosecute the men who executed these orders. It’s a raw conversation about the cost of manhood in a cult, the struggle to deconstruct harmful lessons, and what it truly takes to break the cycle of systemic abuse.