Rivera and Reeves
Rivera and Reeves
Meseidy Rivera and Rachel Reeves
Ep. 52 | Putting Children First with Katy Faust: The Natural Rights Framework That Changes Everything
59 minutes Posted Jul 1, 2025 at 3:30 pm.
Introduction to Children's Rights00:16 Welcome to Rivera and Reeves00:44 Meet Katy Faust01:07 Katy's Background and Mission03:52 Personal Journey and Advocacy08:47 Impact of Obergefell v. Hodges17:09 Defining Natural Rights25:03 Broader Implications for Children's Rights30:04 Surrogacy and Its Ethical Implications31:22 The Dystopian Future of Reproductive Technologies33:12 The Emotional and Psychological Impact on Children35:50 Adoption vs. Surrogacy: A Comparative Analysis43:54 The Role of Parents in Addressing Children's Wounds53:48 Advocating for Children's Rights59:15 Conclusion and Call to ActionConnectMeseidy Instagram | X | Email - [email protected] - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected] this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rivera-and-reeves/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
0:00
59:25
Download MP3
Show notes
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 HighlightsFrom 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 FaustKaty Faust on X Katy Faust on Instagram Them Before Us websiteThem Before Us on XRead 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)Support our Sponsor World Watch and get 3 months free!Listen Ad FreeLove what you’re hearing and want even more? Join us as a paid supporter on Substack! As a subscriber, you’ll unlock ad-free podcast episodes, full access to our archives, and exclusive subscriber-only perks like bonus content, behind-the-scenes updates, and our in-the-moment reaction videos. Plus, you’ll be directly supporting our mission to cut through the media spin and deliver sharp, honest analysis every week.Subscribe nowYour subscription helps us stay independent and keep creating the content you love. So why wait? Support the show and subscribe today!Get R&R Merch!Our official merchandise store is NOW OPEN! 🛍️ We've launched with our first four items to get things started, including coffee mugs, oversize t-shirt and a tote bag. You can check out everything available right now.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Children's Rights00:16 Welcome to Rivera and Reeves00:44 Meet Katy Faust01:07 Katy's Background and Mission03:52 Personal Journey and Advocacy08:47 Impact of Obergefell v. Hodges17:09 Defining Natural Rights25:03 Broader Implications for Children's Rights30:04 Surrogacy and Its Ethical Implications31:22 The Dystopian Future of Reproductive Technologies33:12 The Emotional and Psychological Impact on Children35:50 Adoption vs. Surrogacy: A Comparative Analysis43:54 The Role of Parents in Addressing Children's Wounds53:48 Advocating for Children's Rights59:15 Conclusion and Call to ActionConnectMeseidy - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected] - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected] this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rivera-and-reeves/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy