Pregnant at 13 in 1991, a St. Louis native sent to a maternity home now speaks out episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 22, 2025 · 41 MIN

Pregnant at 13 in 1991, a St. Louis native sent to a maternity home now speaks out

from St. Louis on the Air

In 1991, St. Louis native Toni Popham was 13 and pregnant when her family sent her to Virginia, to the Liberty Godparent Home. The treatment of pregnant girls at the facility is the subject of "Liberty Lost," a new podcast that features Popham and other former residents describing isolation, coercion and religious manipulation. Popham and the podcast's creator T.J. Raphael discuss the impact of the Godparent Home and the resurgence of maternity homes across the country.

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Pregnant at 13 in 1991, a St. Louis native sent to a maternity home now speaks out

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This episode was published on July 22, 2025.

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In 1991, St. Louis native Toni Popham was 13 and pregnant when her family sent her to Virginia, to the Liberty Godparent Home. The treatment of pregnant girls at the facility is the subject of "Liberty Lost," a new podcast that features Popham and...

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