Behind the Filter

Behind the Filter

by Johnette Cruz
Self-ImprovementSociety & Culture
Season 4
What My Puerto Rican Mom Never Told Me (Until Now)
Explicit
What happens when you sit your Puerto Rican mom down in front of a microphone while on a family vacation? A LOT. From Río Piedras, Puerto Rico—with the natural chirps of the El Yunque rainforest coquís humming in the background— I sit down with my mom, Wanda, for one of the most eye-opening conversations about life. Wanda opens up about her family’s move from Mayagüez to Brooklyn, navigating an American school system without knowing a word of English, marriage at 16, and becoming a mom at 17. Wanda’s resilience is nothing short of incredible.
S4 · E108
Sep 1, 2026
56:55
Truth, Consent, and Community Accountability
Explicit
In this episode of Behind the Filter, we sit down with Sierra for an honest conversation about her experience surviving sexual battery by a prominent local figure in the Indianapolis Latin dance scene. Sierra walks us through the night that changed everything, the emotional weight of self-blame, and the moment she found the courage to report her assault to law enforcement. Sierra’s Strength in sharing her story is a powerful reminder that speaking out isn't just about seeking justice for oneself—it's about breaking cycles of harm for everyone who comes next.
S4 · E107
Aug 11, 2026
46:30
Inside The Central Indiana Teen Challenge Lawsuit Part 3
Explicit
In Part 3 of our ongoing investigation into the Troubled Teen Industry, Behind the Filter brings you the testimonies of survivors Isabella and Haven . Together, they pull back the curtain on Central Indiana Teen Challenge (CITC)—now operating as Refuge Girls Academy in Lebanon, Indiana—a facility facing serious accusations of abuse, trafficking, and forced labor from 35 women in an expanded federal lawsuit filed by Cohen Malad, LLP. In this episode, Isabella and Haven detail the shocking reality behind CITC’s faith-based facade that includes isolation, solitary confinement, medical trauma, food deprivation, forced child labor and more. We also explore the painful aftermath—from educational neglect to the deep rifts created between parents and their children. Isabella and her mother Kim share their ongoing journey toward repairing their relationship, while Haven speaks out and stands up to ensure no other child endures what they survived.
S4 · E106
Aug 3, 2026
1:37:28
Inside The Central Indiana Teen Challenge Lawsuit Part 2
Explicit
In Part 2 of our deep dive into the "Troubled Teen Industry," we pull back the curtain on the expanded federal lawsuit against Central Indiana Teen Challenge (now operating as Refuge Girls Academy). What was marketed to desperate parents as a safe, faith-based residential haven for struggling youth is now facing documented allegations of abuse, human trafficking, and forced labor. We take you inside the updated federal complaint filed by Attorney Andi Simmons from Cohen Malad, LLP, which has exploded from nine original plaintiffs to 35 brave women coming forward to expose what happened to them as minors.
S4 · E105
Jul 18, 2026
38:52
After Dark Edition :: Objective Facts, Subjective Feelings, and Artificial Inception
Explicit
The studio lights are hot, but the hot takes are hotter in this week’s unmedicated ADHD edition of Behind the Filter: After Dark. This week, we expose the wildest parts of our inbox—from self-righteous keyboard warriors attacking an unbiased news report, to a follower who went from "you're my savior" to "you suck" in a 24-hour weekend window. Then, we tackle the heavy stuff: Ashley opens up about her personal journey with singlehood, mapping out the realities of IVF as a 39-year-old virgin, and why "choosing yourself" has altered the modern marriage timeline. We also break down the controversy out of New York as the state moves to legally replace the words "Mother" and "Father" with gender-neutral alternatives like "Gestating Parent." To wrap it all up, we jump headfirst down our favorite late-night conspiracy rabbit holes!
S4 · E104
Jul 8, 2026
48:21
Unfiltered Weekly: Inside the Central Indiana Teen Challenge Lawsuit Part 1
Explicit
In this week's episode of Behind the Filter: Unfiltered Weekly, we break down the newly amended federal lawsuit filed by CohenMalad, LLP against Central Indiana Teen Challenge (now operating as the Refuge Girls Academy) in Lebanon, Indiana. What was marketed to families as a safe, faith-based therapeutic sanctuary was, according to a federal complaint, a calculated trap of abuse, psychological breakdown, and commercial labor trafficking. We will give you an overview of the complaint and will also share some of the first-hand accounts of the 35 women fighting back.
S4 · E103
Jun 24, 2026
35:54
After Dark Edition :: Bot-Dating Drama, Stage Splits, and the Truth About Quiet Dumping
Explicit
We are officially back in the studio, feeling normal, and completely on schedule! In this edition of Behind the Filter: After Dark, we dive headfirst into the internet drama we unwittingly sparked on TikTok after sharing our thoughts on AI relationships, break down China’s terrifying new $175,000 companion robot, debate the viral Chicago graduation split that went a little too far, and define the soul-crushing new dating trend known as "quiet dumping." Plus, Ashley gives us a highly anticipated update on her dating life after her new guy finally hit Google to look up her Age of Attraction past. Grab a ZERO FKS seltzer and pour yourself into this wild recap!
S4 · E102
Jun 15, 2026
40:02
Unfiltered Weekly: From Dark Web Extremists to AI Miracles
Explicit
Welcome back to another episode of Behind the Filter: Unfiltered Weekly! In this newsy edition, we break down an indictment out of Tennessee that exposes the terrifying reality of NVE (Nihilistic Violent Extremist) groups like 764 targeting our kids online. Then, we shift gears to the trending psychological side effect dubbed "Ozempic Personality", plus, a look into the mind-blowing world of fully automated AI/robotic IVF, and the millennial who found a rare "ticking time bomb" tumor thanks to a fluke car accident.
S4 · E101
Jun 7, 2026
37:35
After Dark Edition :: Toxic AI Boyfriends, Reality TV Secrets & The Science of Virginity
Explicit
After a month-long disappearance due to some brutal immune system flare-ups (and a temporary loss of our voices), we are celebrating our 100th Episode Milestone the only way we know how: completely unfiltered and filled with pure chaos. In this special After Dark edition, Ashley gives us the hilarious and horrifying update on her return to Hinge at 39, We unpack the mind-blowing viral story of Sarah and her AI boyfriend, dive into a new study connecting your "sexual debut" to how well you age. We also spend the second half of the show answering your juiciest behind-the-scenes questions on being on a reality tv show. Grab a Zero Fks Seltzer (use code FILTER30 at checkout on zerofks.co for a discount!)
S4 · E100
May 28, 2026
58:59
Who Do You Think You Are? Reclaiming Your Identity with Kat Perkins
Explicit
Who do you think you are?" It’s a question most of us answer with our job titles or our family roles, but author and speaker Kat Perkins says those are often just identities handed to us by someone else. In this powerful follow-up episode, Kat returns to Behind the Filter to discuss the launch of her memoir, Girls With Pearls Have Power. She dives deep into framework—Identity Interference, Identity Transference, and Identity Revelation—to explain how trauma and culture shape us before we even have a say in the matter. This isn't just a story of survival; it’s a masterclass in the "Recognition and Permission" required to forgive those who hurt us and finally submit to the extraordinary identity God intended for us. Whether you are battling a "mean spirit" born of protection or struggling to let go of a cross you weren't meant to carry, Kat’s message of being SHE (Sure, Honorable, Extraordinary) and HEM (Honorable, Extraordinary Man) will challenge you to drop the weight and walk in your truth.
S4 · E99
May 4, 2026
37:06
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