Trauma Does Not Define Who You Are | Elizabeth Smart

Michael sits down with Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted at 14, survived nine months of captivity, and spent the decades after building her own path to recovery. She is the Founder of the Elizabeth Smart foundation and host of The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart, a true-crime podcast where she speaks with survivors of violent crimes about healing. Michael and Elizabeth discuss:

- Elizabeth’s 2002 kidnapping 

- Surprising facts about her kidnapping and discovery

- The psychological research behind downward comparison

- The untraditional support that helped her move forward

- Why healing from trauma does not follow one path

- Why bodybuilding became Elizabeth’s passion

- Why exercise can improve mental health and trauma recovery

- Why doing what scares you can lead to massive gains 

- Elizabeth’s work with survivors of violence

- Putting survivors at the center of true crime

- The strength people discover under pressure