Podcast Summary: Miracle Mentality with Tim Storey
Episode: How Elizabeth Smart Discovered Her Purpose After Tragedy | Mindset | E16
Air Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Tim Storey
Guest: Elizabeth Smart
Overview:
This episode features Elizabeth Smart, renowned survivor, author, and advocate, as she shares how she transformed her trauma into purpose and compassion. The conversation dives deep into mindset, overcoming adversity, the power of faith, and using one’s experience to ignite hope and healing in others. Elizabeth and Tim explore resilience, stigma, and the importance of not being defined by tragedy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Childhood Inspirations & Innocence
- Elizabeth’s Childhood Aspirations (02:03 – 02:51)
- Wanted to be a mom and a harp teacher, inspired by a Christmas tree angel.
- "If you had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up at that age, I probably would have said, a mom and a harp teacher." — Elizabeth Smart (02:23)
- Influence of Family & Early Compassion (03:08 – 05:34)
- Reserved, somewhat introverted, but very competitive—especially with her brothers.
- Early lesson from her mother about standing up for those being bullied.
- “If there's someone being left out, then I was going to be their friend because I didn't want to be a part of the problem.” — Elizabeth Smart (05:11)
Turning Pain Into Purpose
- The Journey Back to Herself (08:11 – 10:48)
- Initially resisted sharing her experience, only to realize after testifying in court that "if all of this information... is going to be out there, there needs to be a purpose for it." (09:49)
- Her father's proactive advocacy for other missing children was influential.
- Sharing her story became about transforming tragedy into help for others.
Faith and Processing Trauma
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Faith Tested and Sustained (12:05 – 13:59)
- Held onto the belief in a loving God despite her captors’ religious manipulation.
- "My whole life I had never met a sick and twisted God—that was not the God I knew." — Elizabeth Smart (12:48)
- Spiritual solace in believing she was never truly alone.
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Feeling God’s Protection (15:22 – 16:06)
- Drew from Jane Eyre: No matter what happened physically, “They could hurt my body, my physical cage, but they could never hurt my spirit. They could never destroy that. And so that's how I felt God guarded me.” (15:44)
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Ways of Holding Onto Hope (17:13 – 18:47)
- Hope shifted daily—from whispers, prayers, to believing in her family’s unwavering love.
- Small miracles, like unexpected food or water, were “a powerful source of hope.”
- “There were small miracles, honestly, that happened probably every single day that I was kidnapped.” — Elizabeth Smart (17:51)
On Labels, Identity, and Overcoming
- Rising Above Labels (20:56 – 22:28)
- Discusses public labels: "I think tags are belittling, and I think they're limiting. …Yes, that was nine months of my life…it was miserable…but that’s not all of my life, and that’s not all I ever want to be known for." — Elizabeth Smart (21:01)
- Determined not to let trauma become her sole identity.
Writing and the Metaphor of Detours
- Why "Detours" (23:07 – 26:41)
- Inspired by literal and metaphorical detours: unplanned, unavoidable, and often leading to unexpected growth.
- “You don't plan for detours, they just happen. … It can bring you to places that you never imagined, that you never dreamed of, that are even better than what you had originally thought for yourself.” — Elizabeth Smart (23:28)
- Her life looks nothing like she dreamed as a child, yet is full and meaningful.
Motherhood & Personal Life
- Parenting Style (26:41 – 28:54)
- Describes herself as “maybe a little bit of everything” (26:51) in parenting—lenient, strict as needed.
- No sleepovers: "If my kids ask questions sleepover, the answer is no. That answer will never change. The answer will always be no." — Elizabeth Smart (27:01)
- “Who wants to eat broccoli when life is really hard? Nobody wants to eat broccoli. You want to eat something that's comforting…” — Elizabeth Smart (27:18)
- Reflections on parenting: “How did anyone trust me not just with one life, but with three other lives?” (28:38)
Discovering Purpose & Advocacy
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When Purpose Emerged (29:37 – 32:18)
- The push to help others crystallized during the trial when she first shared her story.
- Writing her books grew organically from ongoing questions and the realization of recurring themes in her experiences and advocacy.
- “The more we work on [projects in my foundation], the more we see where the other gaps are…” — Elizabeth Smart (31:47)
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Elizabeth Smart Foundation (32:18 – 36:45)
- Founded to fight shame, self-blame, and the culture of disbelief around survivors.
- Supports survivors, promotes “We Believe You” campaign, and trains communities in supportive response.
- “The only person's fault is the perpetrators…I wanted survivors to know, no, this is not your fault.” — Elizabeth Smart (33:06)
- Aims to both support victims and educate to prevent sexual assault and abduction.
- Learn more: Elizabeth Smart Foundation (36:49)
Creativity and Future Plans
- Creative Dreams (37:06 – 40:30)
- Tim senses the “creative” in Elizabeth and pushes for an exclusive on her hidden talents.
- Elizabeth admits: “I would actually love to go to culinary school.” (39:21)
- Emphasizes the joy in food and openness to new, unexpected paths for the future.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On turning pain into purpose:
“There needed to be more of a reason for it to be out there, not just for people’s entertainment or curiosity.” — Elizabeth Smart (09:49) -
On faith in the face of evil:
“My whole life I had never met a sick and twisted God—that was not the God I knew.” — Elizabeth Smart (12:48) -
On labels and self-definition:
“...that's not all of my life, and that's not all I ever want to be known for.” — Elizabeth Smart (21:17) -
On hope during captivity:
“There were small miracles…that happened probably every single day that I was kidnapped.” — Elizabeth Smart (17:51) -
On supporting survivors:
“We need you to leave survivors. Don't start questions with why didn't you…when victims hear why didn't you, they hear it more as you should have. You didn't try hard enough.” — Elizabeth Smart (35:54) -
On mental resilience:
“They could hurt my body…but they could never hurt my spirit.” — Elizabeth Smart (15:44) -
Final advice:
“Whatever your pain is, is valid. … Comparison is death, but it doesn’t need to be the end. You can still go have the life that you want. Don’t give up on yourself. You deserve so much more.” — Elizabeth Smart (41:40)
Important Segments with Timestamps
- Elizabeth’s Childhood Dreams: 02:03 – 02:51
- Developing Compassion for Others: 05:02 – 05:34
- Pain to Purpose—The Turning Point: 08:11 – 10:48
- Maintaining Faith Amidst Trauma: 12:05 – 13:59
- God’s Protection of Spirit: 15:22 – 16:06
- Clinging to Hope; Small Miracles: 17:13 – 18:47
- Identity Beyond Trauma: 20:56 – 22:28
- The "Detours" Metaphor: 23:07 – 26:41
- Views & Experiences of Motherhood: 26:41 – 28:54
- Finding and Fulfilling Purpose; Writing: 29:37 – 32:18
- Elizabeth Smart Foundation Mission: 32:18 – 36:45
- Creative Future Plans: 37:06 – 40:30
- Elizabeth’s Closing Wisdom: 41:40
Tone & Language
- The tone throughout is warm, open, and authentic. Both Tim and Elizabeth balance deep spiritual insight, personal vulnerability, and moments of good humor and joy—particularly when discussing family, food, and unexpected life detours.
Takeaways for Listeners
- Resilience is not avoiding pain but finding purpose beyond it.
- Hope can be small, quiet, and deeply personal—and miracles happen in unlikely ways.
- You are not your label; setbacks do not define you.
- Survivors deserve belief, support, and a voice—and comparison helps no one.
- Even after tragedy, unexpected joys and new dreams await.
- Everyone has hidden potential and new paths waiting, even after life’s biggest detours.
Elizabeth’s story is one of hope in darkness, relentless compassion, and the courage to create meaning and change for others from unimaginable pain. This episode is a powerful blueprint for anyone seeking to transform adversity into a miraculous life.