#296 Meg Appelgate - Why Parents Are Being Lied To About Teen “Treatment”
The Shawn Ryan Show
Outro
Shawn Ryan closes the episode with sharing requests and a final dealership ad.
Meg Appelgate is the Founder and CEO of Unsilenced, a nonprofit organization launched in January 2022 to support past, present, and future victims of institutional child abuse. A survivor of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI), Meg was abducted from her bed at age 15 and confined in abusive facilities for three and a half years—an experience that drives her mission to expose systemic abuse and fight for reform.
Her 2024 memoir, Becoming UNSILENCED: Surviving the Troubled Teen Industry, chronicles her harrowing journey and transformation into one of the leading national voices demanding change. In 2023, she testified as an expert before the Montana State Senate, helping secure passage of HB 218, landmark legislation increasing oversight and regulation of TTI programs.
Her work continues to empower survivors while pushing for transparency, accountability, and legal reform across the industry. Alongside her advocacy, Meg serves as Vice President and Managing Director of the Gochnauer Foundation, supporting philanthropic initiatives aligned with justice and healing. She lives with her husband, Ben, and their four children, dedicating her life to ensuring that no child endures what she once did.
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Meg Appelgate Links:
Personal Website - www.megappelgate.com
Memoir - https://a.co/d/3P5hM37
IG - https://www.instagram.com/megappelgate
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@megappelgate
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Megappelgate1
X - https://x.com/megappelgate
Unsilenced Website - www.unsilenced.org
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