Parenting Great Kids Podcast - Episode 174
Impossible Odds
with guest Jessica Buchanan
Hosted by Dr. Meg Meeker | August 16, 2022 | 38:18 min.
Today's Guest(s)
On October 25, 2011, while on a routine field mission in Somalia, working as the Education Advisor for her non-governmental organization, Jessica was abducted at gunpoint and held for ransom by a group of Somali pirates for 93 days. Forced to live outdoors in deplorable conditions, starved, and terrorized by more than two dozen gangsters, Jessica’s health steadily deteriorated until, by order of President Obama, she was rescued by the elite SEAL Team Six on January 25, 2012. Jessica’s ordeal is detailed in her New York Times bestselling book, Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six.
Jessica has been named one of the ‘150 Women Who will Shake the World’ by Newsweek, and her story was the most highly viewed 60 Minutes episode to air, to date. Jessica is a highly sought after inspirational speaker and her TEDx Pearl Street talk, ‘Change is Your Proof of Life’ has been the foundation for which she travels the world, inspiring audiences to access their resilience by identifying their own autonomy and chance in the middle of their own life-changing event. Jessica is the co-founder of the transformational coaching program, The Project You Collective, and The PYC Speaker’s Academy – Empowering women to find their purpose speak their truth and show the world is her greatest passion.
Jessica also co-hosts the popular women’s conversational podcast, “We Should Talk About That” where she and Jessica Kidwell attempt to unpack the uncomfortable topics that nobody is talking about, but definitely should. As a podcast that ranks in the top 1% of the 2.6 million airing shows, Jessica has the privilege of working with women from all walks of life, experiences and gleaning from their expertise.
Jessica works as a family liaison volunteer for the non-profit organization, Hostage US, supporting former hostages and their families during captivity and eventual return, and also continues to serve as a dedicated Ambassador for the Navy SEAL Foundation, which works to support families of fallen SEALs.
Jessica is currently working on her second book, “From Deserts to Mountain Tops: A Traveler’s Manual to Surviving Survival” – a memoir and self-help guide for those who have experienced hardship and are journeying from the desert of survival back to finding themselves.
EPISODE NOTES
Jessica Buchanan had just completed education advisory meetings in southern Somalia, and was in transit to a guest house where she would stay overnight before heading back home the next morning. She was in a convoy of three Land Cruisers – armed guards in the front, Jessica and her colleague in the middle with a driver and their security advisor, and armed guards in the back. After driving 10-15 minutes, they were cut off by another Land Cruiser, which smashed out all the windows and the windshield of their vehicle. Initially Jessica thought, ‘Wow, who drives like that?’ But then she heard the crack of the butt of an AK-47 on the car hood, and realized, ‘Oh boy, something bad is happening.’
Jessica Buchanan joins Dr. Meg in this “inspirational Life” episode of Parenting Great Kids, sharing details of her harrowing kidnapping experience, and ultimate rescue, which was widely reported in the news. Jessica faced and overcame impossible odds that not only changed and affected her life as an individual, but also as a parent to her children.
FROM THE PRODUCER
Thanks for listening to Episode #174, Impossible Odds, and for helping Dr. Meg’s parenting revolution reach more than FIVE MILLION downloads!
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