What happens when you stop allowing your past to define your future and start using your story to help someone else? In this powerful episode of the Fully Stoked Podcast, host Sarah Stokes sits down with Sandy Dyson Reid, inspirational speaker, creative producer, published author, and founder of Boldly Evolve and The Well Vision. Sandy shares an incredibly personal story of resilience, faith, healing, and transformation. She opens up about childhood abandonment, the foster care system, domestic violence, homelessness, attachment struggles, and the experiences that ultimately shaped the woman and leader she is today. But this episode isn't simply about surviving difficult circumstances. It's about what happens next. Sandy explains how storytelling and creative expression can help people process their experiences, release shame, build self-trust, and begin moving forward. She also shares how unresolved trauma can quietly affect our relationships, decisions, boundaries, confidence, and leadership. We talk about: • Moving from survival mode to clarity, confidence, and self-trust• Why owning and sharing your story can be part of healing• Sandy's experiences with childhood abandonment and foster care• Experiencing homelessness as a single mother during the 2008 recession• How difficult experiences shaped Sandy's passion for advocacy• Trauma-informed leadership and serving people without adding to their trauma• Boundaries, burnout, self-care, and purpose-driven work• Authenticity and learning to show up as yourself• Forgiveness and understanding generational trauma• Support groups, coaching, journaling, and therapeutic art• The WOMB (Women on a Mission Boldly) support program• Sandy's UPrint program and helping people understand where they've been, where they are, and where they're going• Sandy's books and facilitator training programs• Her stage production Nancy's Exodus and plans to develop the story into a film• Why acknowledging "I'm not okay" can be an important step toward getting the support you need• The importance of finding a safe space and asking for help Through Boldly Evolve, Sandy works with women, teens, groups, and organizations, using storytelling, coaching, support programs, creative expression, and trauma-informed practices to help people recognize that their circumstances do not determine what comes next. One of the most powerful messages from this conversation: Your past can be part of your story without having to become your future. Whether you're navigating a difficult season, working through your own story, leading others, experiencing burnout, or simply trying to understand yourself better, this conversation offers an honest look at what it means to keep evolving. CONNECT WITH SANDY DYSON REID Sandy Dyson ReidBoldly Evolve Website: www.boldlyevolve.orgEmail: sandy@boldlyevolve.comPhone: 704-254-5416Instagram: @boldlyevolve_beFacebook: @boldlyevolve CONNECT WITH SARAH STOKES Sarah StokesHost, Fully Stoked PodcastSr. Mortgage Loan AdvisorCoast2Coast Mortgage LendingNMLS 1743154 | 376205 Email: sarah.stokes@coast2coastml.comPhone: 704-301-6040 | 828-772-4638Instagram: @sarahwhitleystokesTikTok: @lendersarahstokesYouTube: @fullystokedpodcastYouTube: @SarahWhitleyStokes DISCLAIMER The Fully Stoked Podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes. Guests share their own experiences and perspectives, which do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Discussions involving trauma, mental health, or personal growth are not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. HASHTAGS #FullyStokedPodcast #SandyDysonReid #BoldlyEvolve #Resilience #TraumaInformedLeadership #PersonalGrowth #Storytelling #SelfTrust #HealingJourney #WomenInLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #NonprofitLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership #OvercomingAdversity #SarahStokes
