Crime Junkie: AUDIO EXTRA – A Conversation with Elizabeth Smart

Episode Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Britt Prawat (for Ashley Flowers & Crime Junkie)
Guest: Elizabeth Smart
Episode Focus: A raw, extended interview with Elizabeth Smart, offering a deeper, more personal insight into her life before, during, and after her kidnapping, the emotional aftermath, her advocacy for other survivors, and her thoughts on crime, healing, and supporting victims.

Episode Overview

This Crime Junkie "audio extra" episode features the full, unedited 2021 conversation between Britt Prawat and Elizabeth Smart. The discussion moves well beyond the facts of Elizabeth's famously harrowing abduction as a teenager, delving into themes of trauma, resilience, overcoming shame, and how she transformed her experience into advocacy for other victims. The interview is at times raw and vulnerable, but also educational and deeply compassionate, with Elizabeth offering advice and thoughtful perspectives on topics ranging from the psychology of survival to supporting survivors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Night of the Kidnapping

• Elizabeth recounts the events of June 5, 2002, emphasizing the normalcy of her life before—“there was nothing different about it” (03:25).
• The abduction: A stranger’s voice, the “knife at your neck,” the initial disbelief, then terror and submission as she was forced from her home and marched into the mountains (03:55–07:05).
• First interactions with her female captor, feeling a “hug” that was not of comfort but of menace (07:14–08:00).

Quote:

“There was this dark figure standing over me...for the first time in my life, I was truly terrified.” — Elizabeth (C), 04:13

2. Psychological Impact and Coping During Captivity

• Instant forced maturity from sheltered innocence (“growing up in a span of hours”), the horror of sexual assault, the emotional devastation compounded by the purity culture of her upbringing (09:12–13:28).
• Spiritual wounds and the deep sense of shame tied to survivor guilt and cultural notions of virginity, especially in religious communities (14:19–16:51).

Quote:

“It made me feel a lot of things that nobody should feel...I think that it is important that we have these conversations where we talk about the difference between consensual...sex versus rape.” — Elizabeth, 14:38

3. Family, Love, and the Seeds of Hope

• Despite her trauma, Elizabeth kept hope alive through her belief in her parents' unconditional love:
  “Ultimately, I did get to the point of realizing that my parents would love me...” (17:36).
• She discusses her determination to foster unconditional love and open conversations with her own children, balancing necessary protection with fostering trust (18:26–21:50).

4. Methods of Manipulation and Control

• Dissects her captor’s psychological manipulation and control: physical threats (“I will kill your family”), deprivation, religious distortion, isolation, “grooming,” and substance withholding.
• Highlights that these tactics are sadly universal among abuse survivors, not unique to her kidnapping experience (25:36–28:00).

Quote:

“They kidnapped me away from my home... They took away my name, my religion, and twisted it...that’s how they justified every single thing that they did.” — Elizabeth, 27:21

5. Survival Instinct and Human Resilience

• Details the instinct to survive, even when conditions seemed hellish, attributing resilience to the power of love—either past, present, or hoped for (33:45–34:20).
• The battle of hope and despair when so near, yet so far from rescue (police cars, helicopters, hearing her name called but unable to act) (34:20–36:00).

6. Media Attention & Social Disparities

• Acknowledges the privilege her case received due to race and socio-economic status—her “miracle” of rescue could change outcomes if extended to marginalized groups, especially Indigenous women (35:15–40:00).

Quote:

“If all these other cases received the same attention that mine received, we would see a lot more survivors coming home.” — Elizabeth, 38:58

7. Transformation: Advocacy and Activism

• Describes her slow journey into advocacy—initial shame, her father's influence, and personal growth led her to become a public voice (40:00–44:00).
• Her firsthand experience with the legal system deepened her resolve to fight for better recognition and prosecution of sexual abuse, especially among the underrepresented (41:45–44:20).

8. Coping with New Reality & Healing

• The need to accept permanent change—could “never go back and be the girl that I was before,” and the struggle of being publicly known as a survivor (46:02–47:19).
• She holds no resentment toward law enforcement, despite missed opportunities, and commends those in law enforcement, advocacy, and therapy who regularly face trauma (48:00–51:06).

9. Responsibility of Bystanders & the Public

• Discusses the complicated ethics of public intervention when “something feels off” and the value of reporting to authority versus direct confrontation (52:05–55:18).
• Reminds listeners: “If you see something and it just doesn’t sit well with you, just call up the police...that’s their job.” (Elizabeth, 54:30)

10. Overcoming Shame, Believing Survivors, and Victim Support

• Strong message that victims are never at fault—“none of these crimes...are self-inflicted.” (69:26–72:20)
• Importance of refraining from “Why didn’t you...?” questions; instead, offer belief, companionship, and specific support (64:26–68:29).
• Describes the “We Believe You” campaign—a call to pledge to believe and support survivors (61:34–64:12).

Quote:

“How you respond can dictate the future of whether or not they get the help they need—or bottle it up and have it destroy them from the inside out.” — Elizabeth, 63:40

11. Final Escape and Rescue

• Shares how she leveraged her captors' religious beliefs to influence a return to Salt Lake City, improving her odds of rescue—her own “reverse manipulation” (74:08–78:54).
• The moment of rescue: separation by police, initial fear, disbelief, and then profound relief upon reuniting with her father (79:03–80:30).

Quote:

“When my dad came into the room—he was hugging me...I still didn’t know what the future held, but I knew it was going to be okay.” — Elizabeth, 80:31

12. Thoughts on Justice and Continued Advocacy

• Shares her disappointment when Wanda Barzee was released and the realization of limitations in the legal system: “It’s not really justice, it’s just a legal system.” (81:13–83:35)
• Advice for survivors whose perpetrators avoid prison: seek support, explore therapy, make actionable safety plans, and find empowerment in self-defense (84:20–87:58).
• Promotes her resources and the Smart Defense initiative, and endorses "preparanoia"—being prepared, not just paranoid (87:58–88:09).
• Reiterates—victims are worthy, lovable, unbroken: “You have every much bit of right as everyone else to have joy and have peace and to live your life to the fullest.” (88:26–89:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the overwhelming experience of being a survivor:

  “I could spend the rest of my life thinking that way...but it’s done, it’s over with, it happened. I’m still alive, I’m still here. And I’m not doing myself any favors by going back and blaming myself.” (Elizabeth, 71:42)

• On the importance of support:

  “Unconditional love is what helps survivors survive anything.” (Elizabeth, 21:30)

• On supporting survivors:

  “Start by believing. The cases when a victim discloses and they turn out to be false are so, so small...You will always be 100% safer believing them.” (Elizabeth, 68:09)

Important Timestamps

• 03:25: Recounting the night of June 5, 2002
• 09:12–13:30: The forced loss of innocence and the agony of shame
• 21:51: The effects of parental protection and unconditional love
• 27:21–28:00: Tactics of psychological and religious manipulation
• 33:45: Motivations to survive—love as resilience
• 35:15–40:00: Media bias and the crisis facing Indigenous and minority victims
• 52:05–55:19: The role and responsibility of bystanders, and the “be weird, be rude, stay alive” philosophy
• 61:34–64:12: “We Believe You” campaign and the importance of believing survivors
• 74:08–78:54: How Elizabeth used her captors’ beliefs to facilitate rescue
• 80:30: Moment of rescue and feeling safe again
• 89:08–89:54: Powerful closing words to victims and survivors everywhere

Conclusion & Takeaways

Elizabeth Smart’s ongoing advocacy is grounded in personal suffering and the power of resilience, love, and community support. She challenges shame-based cultures, champions unconditional belief in survivors, and calls for systemic changes to seek equal justice for all missing and exploited persons. For advocates and listeners, her story underscores not only the horrors of victimization but the crucial difference empathy, support, and policy can make.

Support Links:

• Elizabeth Smart Foundation
• We Believe You Campaign
• Follow Elizabeth Smart on social media for more resources and advocacy initiatives.

End of Summary – Episode presented by Audiochuck & Crime Junkie