Behind the Filter

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.

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 brea...

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.

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. Gr...

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.

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...

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 sur...

In this week’s After Dark edition of Behind the Filter, Ashley is joined by her Netflix Age of Attraction castmate, Michelle Yoswa. Michelle is pulling back the curtain on what it’s really like to be a "baddie" in her 50s navigating a dating pool of younger men.

The ladies dive deep into the emotional rollercoaster of the show, including the hilarious "big spoon" yoga moment that led to Michelle’s breaking point and the realization that she was being "mommy-zoned" by 26-year-olds. But it’s not all reality TV drama; Michelle shares her incredible, defiance-of-the-odds story of...

The world knows her as the "39-year-old virgin" from Netflix’s Age of Attraction, but there is so much more to Ashley’s story than a viral headline. In this kickoff to our special Age of Attraction After Dark series, we’re peeling back the filters and diving deep into the deleted scenes that finally tell the whole truth. Plus, we introduce our official series sponsor, Zero FKS Drinks. We’re talking about how to stay social and present without the sugar, the calories, or the soul-crushing hangover. Zero FKS is the gamechanger you’ve been waiting for.

In this deeply personal and technical episode, we sit down with Megan Tomlinson to discuss a journey that feels like it was written for a true crime script—except it was her reality. Megan spent years teaching herself Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) to help find missing persons, never realizing she would eventually use those exact tools to solve her own mother’s murder. We also pull back the curtain on the Hailey Buzbee case. Megan shares her involvement in the search for Hailey and the legislative push for Hailey's Law. We discuss the terrifying reality of digital grooming, why "runaway" labe...

The filter is coming all the way off! This week, Johnette and Ashley took the podcast on the road to the award-winning 3UP Rooftop Lounge in Carmel, Indiana. Joining the table is the hilariously unfiltered Erin from the Netflix hit show Age of Attraction. The ladies dive deep into why women often feel the need to "tone it down" for men, the hilarious "grandpa words" that kill the mood instantly, and the powerful therapy session that changed Erin’s life forever. Whether you’re navigating the dating apps, recovering from "church hurt," or just looking for the best rooftop vibe...

This week on Unfiltered Weekly we dive into the disappearance of April Marie Garcia who walked out of her home on the South Side of Indianapolis on April 1, 2025 and hasn't been seen since. She left behind her identification, her cell phone, and the life-saving epilepsy medication she needs to survive. For nearly a year, her family has been trapped in a nightmare of unanswered questions, cruel ransom scams, and a shifting narrative that just doesn't add up. In this episode, we chat with April’s eldest daughter, Alexis Ibarra, who joins us from California. Alexis shares the "unfiltered" truth ab...

While the cameras only captured a glimpse of her time on screen, on Age of Attraction; Ashley’s story was far too powerful to stay hidden. In an inspiring masterclass on reclaiming your narrative, Ashley took to TikTok to share her authentic truth—her proud choice to remain a virgin until marriage at 39. What started as a personal moment of vulnerability blossomed into a global sensation, capturing the hearts of major outlets like TMZ, Us Weekly, and The Daily Mail.

What does it mean to truly "push pause" for inclusion? In honor of Disability Awareness Month, we sit down with Yolanda Kincaid, CEO of Sycamore Services, to discuss the vital work of supporting Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. From "First Steps" therapies for infants to navigating the daunting "cliff" of adulthood at age 22, Yolanda shares how Sycamore has spent 65 years bridging the gaps in our community.

In this "After Dark" edition, Ashley and Johnette dive into the darkest, weirdest, and most controversial corners of social media and reality TV. We’re moving past "emotional support chickens" and diving straight into a habit that left us speechless: a woman addicted to the scent of her father’s dirty laundry. Then, we shift gears to a chilling investigation into a modern-day "segregation" settlement in the Ozarks. Finally, we tackle the ethics of reality TV. From a 12-year-old father on TLC’s Unexpected to the "legalized trafficking" of Courtney Stodden’s 2011 child-bride scandal.

In this Unfiltered Weekly edition of Behind the Filter, Johnette Cruz pulls back the curtain on the Indiana Department of Correction. What started as a viral TikTok investigation has evolved into a massive archive of harrowing testimonials from former staff, medical professionals, and families of the incarcerated. From allegations of sexual assault and retaliation, Johnette explores why the system is failing those on both sides of the bars. We also sit down with King, a former inmate and activist, to discuss his Change.org petition and the fight for basic human rights within Indiana’s walls.

In this unfiltered "After Dark" edition, we are back to tackle everything from health hurdles to the latest viral tea. We’re diving deep into the tech-side of wellness, updating you on the latest viral stories, recapping the messiest moments of Love is Blind and reacting to the viral "Kitty Sunning" trend.

Behind the filter of the latest headlines lies a sobering reality: child fatalities in Indiana are on the rise. In this episode, we sit down with Nicholle Probst, Senior Director of Childhood Development and Safety at Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, to move beyond the numbers and into action. Following the release of the 2024 DCS Child Fatalities Report and the heartbreaking national case of Hailey Buzbee, we dive deep into the specific, preventable risks facing our children today.

In this episode of Behind the Filter, I’m pulling back the curtain and giving you a "fly on the wall" seat at my latest appointment with functional health expert Ashley from Total Body Wellness. We get real about navigating a three-week holiday setback and how recent illness impacted my lean muscle mass and lab results. Ashley explains the fascinating science of the gut-brain axis, revealing how my gut health is directly tied to my struggles with anxiety and "brain fog." We also map out the next phase of my journey, including a new protein-focused strategy, split-dosing for inflammation, an...

The duo is finally reunited! After a chaotic holiday break and a string of "on-the-go" travels, Ashley is back—though she’s sporting a raspy new voice and a post-laser glow. In this unfiltered "After Dark" session, we go down the deepest rabbit hole of My Strange Addiction yet. From the "semen facial" anti-aging hack to the 2022 trend of "vabbing" (vaginal dabbing) making a comeback, we’re questioning everything about the current dating and beauty landscape. Finally, we get real about 2026 goals. Is this the year of minimalism or the year of "Action"?

In this week’s episode, we’re unpacking the headlines that are blurring the lines between the digital and the physical. We start in Florida, where a controversial 50% "OnlyFans Sin Tax" has sparked a viral feud, the launch of NEO, the robot maid, and 5 red flags to spot "Chatfishing".

This week on Unfiltered Weekly, we’re diving into the new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines released by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., we look at the $40 billion industry that has turned your child's Saturday soccer game into a private equity playground, a Detroit family is finally getting closure from a horrible loss, Karen is OUT and Jessica is IN, and the craziest things people are addicting to thanks to TLC.

This week we sat down with Mercedes and Leon Wells to discuss the traumatic event that sparked a national outcry and federal legislation. After being discharged from Franciscan Health Crown Point Indiana while in active labor, Mercedes was forced to give birth in the front seat of her husband’s pickup truck just eight minutes later. We dive deep into their personal experience of "medical gaslighting," the viral footage captured by Mercedes’ mother, and the systemic health disparities that leave Black mothers in Indiana three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their White counterparts.

Spec...

This week, we’re on-location at Elysian Medspa & Rejuvenation Center on Indy’s Northeast side. We explore this "hidden gem" in the trees to talk about everything from revolutionary dry eye therapy to their brand-new, cash-based Primary Care facility. Then, Ashley and I get into the "After Dark" tea: The 159,000-text stalker, a wild, unfiltered story from a night at Yuletide and is the word "boyfriend" now officially cringe?!

This episode of Behind The Filter: Unfiltered Weekly tackles three major stories: the escalating HIV crisis among Black women in the Southern U.S. due to limited access to care and political hurdles; the political battle over menopause care funding in California, highlighted by celebrity criticism; and a detailed look at the affidavit in the tragic Whitestown shooting where a homeowner fatally shot a woman who mistakenly went to his house believing it was a model home to be cleaned.

Step Behind the Filter with us as we visit The Only Facial in Indianapolis! After Dark Edition chats with owner Madison about how she brought the highly-rated concept to Indy. Discover what makes their experience unique: a single, customized 11-step facial for $125 with gratuity and all add-ons included—meaning no tipping, no product pushing, and truly stress-free relaxation. We also discuss viral stories, trending topics and more!

This episode of Unfiltered Weekly features Ahmed Shaik, the owner of QahWah House in Fishers, Indiana. Ahmed discusses the history of his organic Yemeni coffee brand and its immediate success in Fishers. Critically, he shares the difficult story of facing racist attacks and competition-driven hate shortly after opening, and how the local community rallied with overwhelming support to defend his business and promote inclusion. The episode is a powerful conversation about quality coffee, entrepreneurship, and triumphing over hate with wisdom and kindness.

In this must-listen After Dark episode, we visit 317 Aesthetics Lounge by Dr. Christopher Jones in Downtown Indy, where Ashley and I sit down to chat all things beauty and wellness. The core of our discussion covers the latest skincare secrets, social media trends, and viral beauty stories.

This episode features a powerful and intimate conversation with the co-founder of Prana IV Hydration and Wellness Clinic Payal Rana sharing her unique journey from a global upbringing to building a community hub in Fortville, Indiana. She recounts the incredible, life-altering medical emergency she endured as a child: a rapid, paralyzing onset of Guillain-Barré syndrome, and shares her personal history behind a thriving local business.

This week's Behind The Filter: After Dark Edition is a special on-location episode from the new, over-the-top Christmas pop-up bar in Downtown Indianapolis: Miracle on Maryland! Ashley and I are totally immersed in the holiday spirit, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling décor and sipping on their amazing festive drinks. While enjoying the dreamy Christmas setting, we catch up on life, and dive into the latest viral stories and social media trends that are currently dominating your feeds.

This episode features Ashley Regal of Total Body Wellness, discussing extensive lab results that finally explained my chronic symptoms after traditional doctors found "nothing wrong" in addition to the auto immune disease I have. Key findings include a Gut Crisis—pathogenic overgrowth and severe inflammation, a Hormone Detox Failure, and Adrenal/Thyroid dysfunction.

For this episode Ashley and Johnette are at The Indiana State Fairgrounds for the Christmas Nights of Lights! This popular holiday tradition in Indianapolis is back for another season. The drive-thru light show is available now through December 31, featuring more than one million LED lights synchronized to classic holiday music. We also chat about social media trends, viral stories and more!

Welcome back to another episode of Unfiltered Weekly brought to you Behind The Filter! This will catch you up on the latest news from the week. In this episode we chat about the NBA Gambling Bust. Child Predators coming out of Nebraska, "Manopause" Ketamine, He Knows Your Name Ministry and then latest trending stories from Monday 10-27.

Welcome back to another episode of Unfiltered Weekly brought to you Behind The Filter! This will catch you up on the latest news from the week. In this episode we chat about the NBA Gambling Bust. Child Predators coming out of Nebraska, "Manopause" Ketamine, He Knows Your Name Ministry and then latest trending stories from Monday 10-27.

In this episode we discuss trending stories and topics about AI in school instruction, a crazy story from prison, IG tries to put parental controls on the youth, the latest debacle from Skims, some interesting dating stories and more!

We are back at Prana IV Hydration & Wellness Clinic to continue our chat on wellness, girl talk, DMs of the week and the latest viral stories! We also interview Ashley from Prana and OUR Ashley gets and IV Drip.

This week we talk about Charlie Kirk, the Bad Bunny Controversy, a quick education tutorial on the background of Puerto Rico, New developments in IVF Treatments and pregnant women turning to Cannabis.

Total Body Wellness offers tailored solutions to help you feel your best. They're a one-stop-shop, offering everything from hormone and gut health to IV therapy and personal training. I'm starting my own health series with them to find the root cause of my long-term struggles. With a history of autoimmune disease and hormonal changes, I'm ready to find a sustainable solution and I hope you’ll listen and learn along with me!

On this week's episode of Behind The Filter’s After Dark Edition, we’re talking all things health and PRANA IV Hydration and Wellness Clinic! In the heart of Fortville, Indiana, a new approach to health is redefining what it means to feel truly vibrant. At PRANA Wellness, the mission is simple yet powerful: to blend the precision of medical science with a personalized, whole-body approach to health and vitality.

A new challenger is stepping up in the race for Indiana Secretary of State. Democrat Blythe Potter, an Army veteran and small business owner, has announced her candidacy. Potter, who served in Iraq, says her experience has taught her to lead with integrity. She aims to modernize the Secretary of State's office, make it more efficient for entrepreneurs, and increase voter turnout in Indiana, which she notes is one of the lowest in the nation. Even if you're not in the state this is a great episode if you're interested in politics!