#284 Schlep - EVERY Parent Needs to Watch This

12 snips

Mar 2, 2026

Guest

Stephen Vanderpoort

Guest

Schlep (Michael)

Stephen Vanderpoort, attorney fighting platform negligence. Schlep (Michael), a survivor-turned-YouTuber who exposes predators on Roblox. They discuss platform design flaws, how predators move victims to Discord, legal fights and lawsuits, chilling in-game recreations and rapid grooming tactics. The conversation covers safety failures, enforcement secrets, and calls for stronger accountability.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Discord VRChat And Snapchat Are Predator Hotspots

Major non‑Roblox spaces driving predator contact are Discord, VRChat, and Snapchat, with Discord singled out as exceptionally dangerous.
VRChat exposes kids via VR goggles where parents cannot see what their child views, and Discord defaults enable private escalation to grooming.

ADVICE

Encourage Honest Talks Instead Of Punishment

Build honest, non‑punitive communication with children so they report grooming or mistakes without fear of punishment.
Reward ownership (e.g., praise a toddler for admitting a broken item) to make kids more likely to tell parents about online problems.

INSIGHT

Court Filings Show Roblox Enabled Severe Real World Harm

Lawsuits filed against Roblox document extreme real‑world harm: 10‑year‑old abducted, raped by multiple men, and forced abortion after meeting a predator via Roblox and Discord.
Plaintiffs allege Roblox features (age spoofing, private messaging, off‑platform redirection) enabled grooming and escalation to physical violence.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Schlep, real name Michael, is a 22‑year‑old YouTuber and content creator known for his hard‑hitting investigations exposing child predators on Roblox. Through sting operations and decoy accounts, his channel has uncovered widespread grooming networks using the platform to target minors.

A survivor of Roblox grooming himself—exploited as a young teen by a prominent developer once promoted and partnered with the company. Schlep turned his personal trauma into a mission for accountability. His YouTube channel has directly contributed to multiple arrests of alleged predators who used Roblox to move victims to Discord for explicit content and real‑world encounters.

A vocal critic of Roblox’s safety failures and profit‑driven approach to its child‑heavy user base, Schlep has consistently challenged the company’s moderation practices and its pattern of deplatforming whistleblowers. In August 2025, Roblox permanently banned him and issued a cease‑and‑desist letter threatening legal action, triggering the viral #FreeSchlep movement and major online backlash.

Despite being banned from the platform, Schlep continues his predator‑catching work independently, collaborating with law enforcement to secure convictions and raising awareness of how Roblox profits from developer programs that can enable exploitation. Today, he is a leading advocate for stronger child safety laws and transparency in online gaming, exposing the gap between Roblox’s “safe and educational” image and its systemic moderation failures.

Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors:

Head to https://Superpower.com and use code SRS at checkout for $20 off your membership. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpod

Try ZipRecruiter for free at https://ziprecruiter.com/SRS

Go to https://drinkag1.com/srs to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 for FREE in your AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order! Only while supplies last.

Our listeners get the Harry’s Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://harrys.com/srs #Harryspod

Schlep Links:

YT - https://www.youtube.com/@RealSchlep

X - https://x.com/intent/follow?screen_name=realschlep

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices