Welcome to the Aware and Prepared podcast

where I, Mandi, a trained domestic violence victim advocate helps those feeling vulnerable learn emotional self defense and how to be street smart.


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You deserve to live in peace and safety! Hear safety tips that will help us enjoy empowered lives. Let’s leave worry behind so we can be savvy, aware, and prepared

14 Simple Ways to Calm Your Nervous System When Stressed (Perfect for the Holiday Season)

14 Simple Ways to Calm Your Nervous System When Stressed (Perfect for the Holiday Season)

14 Simple Ways to Calm Your Nervous System When Stressed (Perfect for the Holiday Season)Mandi Pratt
Published on: 17/12/2025

Hear 14 simple, practical ways to calm your nervous system when you feel stuck in fight-or-flight like during the holidays! These are the same tools Mandi learned while healing from years of hypervigilance and complex trauma. These are research-backed gentle practices that help your body relearn what safety feels like. You’ll hear easy, accessible strategies you can use anywhere: at home, in your car, or during stressful moments, to reset your stress response, lower anxiety, and return to calm. This episode is especially supportive during the holidays, when emotions run high and your nervous system may need extra care. These practices aren’t about avoiding what’s hard. They’re about reminding your body that, in this moment, you can feel safe and that peace is something you can return to again and again.

Podcast
Holiday Shopping Safety Tips: How to Protect Your Belongings and Spot Tracking Devices - Part 2

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips: How to Protect Your Belongings and Spot Tracking Devices - Part 2

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips: How to Protect Your Belongings and Spot Tracking Devices - Part 2Mandi Pratt
Published on: 08/12/2025

Welcome to Holiday Safety Series Part 2! Mandi shares practical street-smart habits to help you protect your belongings, stay alert in busy places, and avoid distraction-based thefts like purse snatching in stores. She also breaks down what everyone needs to know about AirTags and tracking devices (tech-facilitated abuse): how they’re misused, what warning signs to watch for, and what steps to take if your phone alerts you to unexpected tracking. This episode gives you simple, confidence-boosting strategies to stay aware, safeguard your stuff, and navigate the season with more calm and control.

Podcast
Holiday Shopping Safety Tips: How to Avoid Jugging and Stay Safer in Parking Lots - Part 1 - Copy

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips: How to Avoid Jugging and Stay Safer in Parking Lots - Part 1 - Copy

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips: How to Avoid Jugging and Stay Safer in Parking Lots - Part 1 - CopyMandi Pratt
Published on: 03/12/2025

How do I stay safer while out and about this holiday season or any season? In part one of the Holiday Safety Series, Mandi breaks down two key topics: jugging and parking lot safety, so you can move through the holidays with more confidence. You’ll learn how jugging works, what red flags to watch for, smart habits that keep you from looking like a target, and practical parking-lot strategies that make a big difference. This episode gives you simple, real-world tools to help you stay aware, calm, and empowered all season long.

Podcast
Hidden Signs of Child Trafficking: What Every Parent And Advocate Should Know (Part 2)

Hidden Signs of Child Trafficking: What Every Parent And Advocate Should Know (Part 2)

Hidden Signs of Child Trafficking: What Every Parent And Advocate Should Know (Part 2)Mandi Pratt
Published on: 25/11/2025

Many kids and teens won’t say “I’m being trafficked” BUT they will show signs. In Part 2 of this conversation, Mandi and Erin with Love146 answer real concerns from parents, teachers, and teens about how to recognize trafficking and what supportive adult response actually looks like. They dig into why asking gentle, curious questions can open the door to disclosure and why resources like the Take It Down app matter for youth who’ve shared explicit images.

Podcast