Manage episode 491953721 series 3625308
This week we're joined by the absolute powerhouse Katy Faust, founder of Them Before Us, who's here to blow up everything you think you know about modern family structures. From her own upbringing with lesbian parents to becoming one of the fiercest defenders of children's rights in America, Katy breaks down why your feelings don't trump a child's fundamental need for their mother and father.We're diving deep into the messy realities of surrogacy, IVF, and how the Obergefell decision didn't just redefine marriage—it redefined parenthood at kids' expense. Plus, we're talking about those Supreme Court wins this week that actually put children's rights over adult desires (imagine that!).
Fair warning: This conversation will challenge you, might make you uncomfortable, and will definitely equip you to defend the most vulnerable among us. Because as Katy says, "Screw your social acceptance. Start defending kids."
Episode Highlights
- From Pastor's Wife to Children's Rights Warrior - How Katy went from apolitical stay-at-home mom to fierce advocate after getting "really, really, really angry" about the normalization of motherless and fatherless homes.
- The Three Rules Rights Test - Katy breaks down her framework for determining what constitutes a genuine natural right: exists pre-government, nobody has to provide it, and everyone has equal measure.
- Why Surrogacy is Always Wrong - Even in the "best case scenario" with genetic parents and no money exchanged, Katy explains why surrogacy forces children to sacrifice their fundamental bond with their birth mother.
- The Obergefell Prophecy Fulfilled - How Katy's 2015 amicus brief predicting the redefinition of parenthood has played out exactly as warned, with children losing rights to their biological parents.
- Healing Broken Families - Practical advice for parents in non-traditional family structures on how to acknowledge harm, enter into their children's grief, and stop defensive deflection.
Connect With Katy Faust
Read Katy’s books on parenting:
- Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children's Rights Movement (2021)
- Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City: Teaching Historical, Economic, and Biological Truth in a World of Lies (2023)
- Pro-Child Politics: Why Every Cultural, Economic, and National Issue Is a Matter of Justice for Children (2024)
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Children's Rights
00:16 Welcome to Rivera and Reeves
00:44 Meet Katy Faust
01:07 Katy's Background and Mission
03:52 Personal Journey and Advocacy
08:47 Impact of Obergefell v. Hodges
17:09 Defining Natural Rights
25:03 Broader Implications for Children's Rights
30:04 Surrogacy and Its Ethical Implications
31:22 The Dystopian Future of Reproductive Technologies
33:12 The Emotional and Psychological Impact on Children
35:50 Adoption vs. Surrogacy: A Comparative Analysis
43:54 The Role of Parents in Addressing Children's Wounds
53:48 Advocating for Children's Rights
59:15 Conclusion and Call to Action
Connect
Meseidy - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected]
Rachel - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected]
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94 episodes