155. Amanda Carrasco: Losing Everything, Finding Strength, and Becoming the Brave One

This captivating episode features Amanda Carrasco, also known as Amanda The Brave One, author of Becoming the Brave One; My Journey to Justice. Amanda's story is one of unimaginable trauma and extraordinary resilience. She endured horrific sexual assaults and, while out of her home, suffered the devastating loss of her immediate family at the hands of another family member. Yet rather than allowing her trauma to define her, Amanda transformed her experiences into a platform for healing, education, and advocacy—helping survivors and professionals alike understand the realities of trauma and the critical importance of being seen, heard, and believed. In this episode, Amanda shares her journey with raw honesty and fearless transparency. She talks about the challenges of navigating the aftermath of assault, the systemic failures survivors often face, and the personal strength required to reclaim one's life. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest circumstances, courage and resilience can create change—not only in one's own life, but in the lives of others. This is an episode that will challenge, inspire, and leave listeners reflecting on how they can better support survivors in their communities. Get her book wherever you buy your books. Including online at Amazon. And share it. Everybody should read this book! The link is provided below. And here's an important side note: if you're finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform. AND, please send me a note of support. I can't tell you how much your emails mean to me—they fuel my passion to keep this podcast going. Here's my email address: dave@sasstories.com Thank you to all of you who have reached out to me already; and, if you're interested in guesting on the show, please mention that in your email or text, and provide me with a phone number where I can reach you. Please keep those emails and texts coming…I truly look forward to hearing from you! Here are some important links to learning more about Amanda and reaching out to her if you want to make a connection with her. And remember, buy her book! https://amandacarrasco.com/ https://www.amazon.ca/Becoming-Brave-One-Journey-Justice-ebook/dp/B0FJ92MY9G https://safeinharmsway.org https://sironahealing.com/ https://www.whattheydontsay.com https://www.survivor-school.com/?ref=DAVEMARKEL www.arcigrey.com https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/invisible-no-more-lady-veterans-stories-of-military/id1754061590 https://startbybelieving.org https://evawintl.org/ My email address: dave@sasstories.com As mentioned and emphasized, it's time to Normalize the Conversation.™ And please remember to Start by Believing…because we all know someone whose life has been impacted by rape or sexual assault. Thank you for tuning in.