EP 053 - She survived human trafficking THREE different times! w/ Amanda Blackwood Artwork

Comfort Via Discomfort

Real People. Real Stories. Real Vulnerability. The CVD podcast features stories of how people from around the world have gotten to where they are today. We strip down what we can see about them online to really understand what happens behind the scenes. We talk about the challenges, triumphs, traumas, and experiences that have shaped who they are today and contributed to what they've accomplished. We dive deep into understanding how they've embraced discomfort and vulnerability throughout their lives, how they've built the confidence to live authentically, and what advice they have for someone that either feels stuck in life or simply wants more. These episodes are meant to inspire you to build the life of your dreams one step at a time and to show you that you're not alone in your struggles. No matter where you are in life, even if you feel totally stuck, you can take a step forward and change anything you want by leaning into discomfort and vulnerability. The only way to be comfortable is to be uncomfortable first.

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Comfort Via Discomfort

EP 053 - She survived human trafficking THREE different times! w/ Amanda Blackwood

October 09, 2023 • Adam Boismier • Episode 53

Welcome to EP 053 of the CVD Podcast!!

I know you might be thinking, "how does someone get involved in human trafficking THREE times!? Let alone once! She must have been putting herself in those situations."

Now... our brains do this. We jump to conclusions with partial information. And this is wonderful in many circumstances. Other times, we need to push that judgement or conclusion to the side so we can be open to the full story... this is one of those times.

Amanda Blackwood is an absolutely amazing person who has a story unlike any I have ever heard before. Yes, she's survived human trafficking three different times, and you'll learn that every single time was completely different. The most incredible thing about Amanda and her story, is that she's taken everything she's experienced to help others. She has a podcast called Survivors - Stories of Hope Live On, she is a speaker, and she has created multiple trauma workbooks to empower others on their healing journey.

In this open, honest, transparent conversation, Amanda doesn't hold anything back when detailing her experiences. They are very graphic, so please pause the episode if you need to.

In this episode, Amanda talks about:

What human trafficking ACTUALLY is (and what it isn't)
- How this compares to what we see in movies and shows
- Some alarming statistics about human trafficking
Her three experiences surviving human trafficking
- How a trip to Las Vegas at 18 turned into a nightmare
  - The moment she realized she had to make a decision to survive
- What "we'll take you in until you're back on your feet" really meant
  - How a couple took advantage of Amanda when she was at her lowest
- A 7-year relationship ending in absolute disaster
  - How the idea of a dream wedding led to being trapped in a foreign country
How she pieced her life back together after escaping from Scotland
- How the trafficker from Scotland continued to control her life
- The moment she decided to speak out about her story
How she's healed from your trauma and the work she's doing to help others
- The process in which she gained back control of her life
- The trauma books, speaking, and podcasting empowering others to heal through their own trauma

Where you can find Amanda and her work online:

Podcasts:
- Survivors - Stories of Hope Live On
- Growth from Darkness
Websites:
- Deatiled Pieces (personal) | Growth from Darkness (business)
Social Media:
- Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | TikTok

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People on this episode

Adam Boismier

Host