The Human Trace
What happens when we stop scrolling past the headlines — and start listening to the lives behind them?
Hosted by Helen Avadiar-Nimbalker, this podcast steps into the stories that don’t always get told — the ones shaping our world from the margins, the frontlines, and the shadows.
Each episode is a deep, human conversation about what’s really happening — and why it matters more than we think.
Because some stories aren’t just news.
They’re personal.
And they’re not going away.
Because, these are conversations that can't wait.
Published by Asia Freedom Network.
The Human Trace is produced to spark real conversations, amplify unheard stories, and trace the human impact behind global issues.
Helen Avadiar-Nimbalker is a trauma specialist, anti-trafficking strategist, and Director of the Asia Freedom Network. She is the founder of The Whispering Willow and CEO of Rise Foundation Asia — two organisations providing trauma-informed, community-based support for survivors of exploitation across Southeast Asia. With over two decades of experience, Helen has supported displaced communities, led survivor care initiatives, advised governments and civil society on systems reform, and shaped regional conversations on human rights, trauma, and justice.
Connect: linkedin.com/in/helenavadiarnimbalker
Learn more at asiafreedomnetwork.org and follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn @asiafreedomnetwork.
The Human Trace
Beyond the Scam – Inside the Networks of Forced Criminality
Part 2 of The Human Cost of Scam Centers
Guest: Erin West, Founder of Operation Shamrock (https://operationshamrock.org/)
Scam centers have become one of the fastest-growing forms of organised crime — but behind the fake accounts and stolen money is a darker reality: people trafficked, tortured, and forced to commit fraud under threat of violence.
In this episode, Helen is joined by co-host Mechelle Moore and special guest Erin West — founder of Operation Shamrock — to go beyond the headlines and expose the systems enabling forced criminality. From cryptocurrency to corruption, we unpack how trafficking has evolved, why global action is still lagging, and what it will take to stop this.
If we want to understand the true scale of this crisis, we have to look deeper — at law, money, and the hidden human cost.
Published by Asia Freedom Network.
The Human Trace is produced to spark real conversations, amplify unheard stories, and trace the human impact behind global issues.
Helen Avadiar-Nimbalker is a trauma specialist, anti-trafficking strategist, and Director of the Asia Freedom Network. She is the founder of The Whispering Willow and CEO of Rise Foundation Asia — two organisations providing trauma-informed, community-based support for survivors of exploitation across Southeast Asia. With over two decades of experience, Helen has supported displaced communities, led survivor care initiatives, advised governments and civil society on systems reform, and shaped regional conversations on human rights, trauma, and justice.
Connect: linkedin.com/in/helenavadiarnimbalker
Learn more at asiafreedomnetwork.org and follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn @asiafreedomnetwork.