This month’s installment of Incentives & Instincts, our recurring series with Bryce Ward, dives into the concept of bad apples in various social systems and their disproportionate impact on communities and institutions. Justin and Bryce discuss how a small number of bad apples can distort perceptions and influence norms, particularly in online spaces, w…

In part two of our conversation with Penny Ronning, the co-founder of the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, she speaks with Justin on the realities of child trafficking and online exploitation in the U.S. Ronning describes the signs of trafficking that ordinary people can observe and offers advice on reporting suspected trafficking. She shares the history of her task force and details her path from a CASA advocate to becoming a key player in the fight against human trafficking in Montana, highlighting efforts to address the issue through policy, training, and legislation.

Learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force here: www.yhttf.org

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wsaUAH-ps4dXociZ1reosFcWV0TAGWRXs6rAh51OvwE/edit?usp=sharing

Penny Ronning, the co-founder of the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, joins Justin to explore the pervasive but often unseen world of human trafficking in Montana and beyond. She explains how traffickers target vulnerable individuals across industries—from construction to nail salons—and the red flags for spotting exploitation. Ronning also delves into the grooming tactics used on children online and the distinction between consensual sex work and coercive trafficking.

This conversation contains sensitive themes regarding sex trafficking, mental illness and suicide. If you or a loved one is considering suicide, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Stay tuned for part two of our conversation with Penny Ronning next week.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DjEkoMiBPL0n2eDpKfKV2AnQ5RNnfpzDOqZVABN3Q-Y/edit?usp=sharing