Ep. 52 | Putting Children First with Katy Faust: The Natural Rights Framework That Changes Everything

This week we're joined by the absolute powerhouse Katy Faust, founder of Them Before Us, who's here to blow up everything you think you know about modern family structures. From her own upbringing with lesbian parents to becoming one of the fiercest defenders of children's rights in America, Katy breaks down why your feelings don't trump a child's fundamental need for their mother and father.We're diving deep into the messy realities of surrogacy, IVF, and how the Obergefell decision didn't just redefine marriage—it redefined parenthood at kids' expense. Plus, we're talking about those Supreme Court wins this week that actually put children's rights over adult desires (imagine that!).

Fair warning: This conversation will challenge you, might make you uncomfortable, and will definitely equip you to defend the most vulnerable among us. Because as Katy says, "Screw your social acceptance. Start defending kids."

Episode Highlights

• From Pastor's Wife to Children's Rights Warrior - How Katy went from apolitical stay-at-home mom to fierce advocate after getting "really, really, really angry" about the normalization of motherless and fatherless homes.
• The Three Rules Rights Test - Katy breaks down her framework for determining what constitutes a genuine natural right: exists pre-government, nobody has to provide it, and everyone has equal measure.
• Why Surrogacy is Always Wrong - Even in the "best case scenario" with genetic parents and no money exchanged, Katy explains why surrogacy forces children to sacrifice their fundamental bond with their birth mother.
• The Obergefell Prophecy Fulfilled - How Katy's 2015 amicus brief predicting the redefinition of parenthood has played out exactly as warned, with children losing rights to their biological parents.
• Healing Broken Families - Practical advice for parents in non-traditional family structures on how to acknowledge harm, enter into their children's grief, and stop defensive deflection.

Connect With Katy Faust

• Katy Faust on X
• Katy Faust on Instagram
• Them Before Us website
• Them Before Us on X

Read Katy’s books on parenting:

• Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children's Rights Movement (2021)
• Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City: Teaching Historical, Economic, and Biological Truth in a World of Lies (2023)
• Pro-Child Politics: Why Every Cultural, Economic, and National Issue Is a Matter of Justice for Children (2024)

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Children's Rights

00:16 Welcome to Rivera and Reeves

00:44 Meet Katy Faust

01:07 Katy's Background and Mission

03:52 Personal Journey and Advocacy

08:47 Impact of Obergefell v. Hodges

17:09 Defining Natural Rights

25:03 Broader Implications for Children's Rights

30:04 Surrogacy and Its Ethical Implications

31:22 The Dystopian Future of Reproductive Technologies

33:12 The Emotional and Psychological Impact on Children

35:50 Adoption vs. Surrogacy: A Comparative Analysis

43:54 The Role of Parents in Addressing Children's Wounds

53:48 Advocating for Children's Rights

59:15 Conclusion and Call to Action

Connect

Meseidy - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected]

Rachel - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected]

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