The Confessionals

Human trafficking is not a distant problem; it is a global industry operating in plain sight in 2026. We explore how modern trafficking networks function today, the role technology plays in recruitment and exploitation, and why the crime is often harder to detect than people realize. We break down common myths, warning signs, and the systemic factors that allow exploitation to continue. This conversation is about awareness, prevention, and understanding the real mechanisms behind one of the darkest markets in the world.
Donate to fight Child Trafficking at:
https://aidforgood.com/g/troybrewerministries/
https://odx.tv/
https://answerinternational.org/
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890

Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join

The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ

The Big Picture Prophecy Conference: prophecyconference26.com
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com

If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My NEW Website: tonymerkel.com

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles

Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony

CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer

Tony is joined by Ali Siadatan, a world-renowned UFO researcher, to recount his 1999 UFO encounter in Iran, which occurred days after he felt led to warn his father about Ezekiel’s prophecy of a future war between Iran and Israel. The sighting of a massive green, pulsating craft descending into the desert became a catalyst for his deeper study of Scripture and the Prince of Persia described in Daniel 10, which he believes connects to territorial spiritual powers over nations. The conversation then turns to present-day Iran, where Ali outlines the growing revolution against the Islamic theocracy and the brutal crackdown that followed. He explains how economic collapse, generational rejection of radical Islam, and the rise of the exiled crown prince have shifted the national atmosphere. With tensions escalating between Iran and Israel, Ali suggests the coming months could determine the nation’s future.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890

Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join

The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ

The Counter Series Available NOW:
The Counter (YouTube): WATCH HERE
The Counter (Full Episode): WATCH HERE

The Big Picture Prophecy Conference: prophecyconference26.com
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com

If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony

CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Ali Siadatan
Website | NY Post | Iran UFO Video
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer

OUTRO MUSIC
Joel Thomas - Grey
YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

In this episode, Tony sits down with Joseph Infranco to unpack the claims presented in his book, Decoding Cody, regarding the documented accounts of non-speaking autistic individuals who communicate through spelling. Drawing directly from the book, they examine the description of “the Hill,” a place where participants report meeting Jesus, angels, and one another beyond physical limitation. They explore the fascinating portrayals of spiritual warfare, angelic hierarchy, prayer as incense before God, and the insistence that everything on the Hill worships Christ. They also evaluate the book’s themes of discernment, counterfeit spiritual realms, and the possibility of a thinning veil between worlds. This episode carefully analyzes the book’s claims and wrestles with what they would mean for the Church.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890

Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join

The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ

The Counter Series Available NOW:
The Counter (YouTube): WATCH HERE
The Counter (Full Episode): WATCH HERE

Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com

If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony

CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Joseph Infranco
Website | Book
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer

OUTRO MUSIC
Tony Merkel - On The Hill

In episode 657: Lilith Comes Calling, Justin from Appalachian Intelligence Podcast and Joel Thomas from Free The Rabbits Podcast, dive into their eerie woodland encounters, discussing strange phenomena and the possibility of encountering demons. They explore the legend of Lilith, her connection to Bigfoot, and their personal experiences with sightings of a woman in white. They then navigate the complexities of Lilith's role across cultures and mythologies. Meanwhile, Joel shares a little about his personal journey from the occult to Christianity, examining the allure of forbidden knowledge, the dangers of the occult, and the significance of redemption and God's grace in overcoming past mistakes.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890

Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join

The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ

The Counter Series Available NOW:
The Counter (YouTube): WATCH HERE
The Counter (Full Episode): WATCH HERE

Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com

If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony

CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Justin Kiser
YouTube: @appalachianintelligence1924
Apple: ai-appalachian-intelligence
Joel Thomas
Linktree: linktr.ee/joelthomasmedia
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer

OUTRO MUSIC
Joel Thomas - Missing
YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

On this episode of Slingshot Nation, Nick walks us through what happened on a piece of property bordering restricted TVA land — a night that began with a strange light in the sky and quickly turned into something far more unsettling. What he describes isn’t just a sighting. It’s an atmosphere shift. Missing time. A massive bipedal presence moving through the trees. Owl sounds that didn’t sound like owls. A scream in the woods that didn’t belong to anything natural. And a growing sense that he wasn’t just observing something — something may have been positioning him there.
But the story doesn’t stop at the property line. Nick talks about the synchronicities that followed, the feeling that the encounter didn’t fully end that night, and the questions that still linger. Was it coincidence? A cluster of unrelated events? Or was there intention behind it? We unpack the timeline, the environment, and the aftermath — and leave space for you to decide what really unfolded in those woods.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890

Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join

The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ

The Big Picture Prophecy Conference: prophecyconference26.com
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com

If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My NEW Website: tonymerkel.com

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles

Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony

CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer