This week’s theme: Mobilize
In this powerful episode of From Fear to Fire, Sandy Rosenthal shares how one conversation after Hurricane Katrina ignited her mission to uncover the truth behind the catastrophic flooding in New Orleans. She explains how engineering failures by the Army Corps of Engineers caused devastating levee collapses and how she worked tirelessly to mobilize public awareness, challenge misinformation, and correct the national narrative. Through persistence, courage, and advocacy, she helped influence major media outlets, including the Associated Press, to accurately report the role of levee failure in the disaster.
Throughout the conversation, Sandy discussed leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the importance of speaking up even when facing powerful opposition. Sandy also shares her current mission to mobilize support for engineering failure education so future engineers can learn from past disasters and prevent similar tragedies. The episode delivers an inspiring message about resilience, accountability, and using your voice to create meaningful change, reminding listeners that true leadership often begins when ordinary people choose to stand up for what they know is right.
From Fear to Fire: Secrets to Overcome Fear, Embrace Your Gifts and Achieve Success
This is the place where real people share real challenges. Where you can find a common bond and uncommon wisdom through their stories. Use tips from the breakthroughs of others to jump-start your success. Speaker, author, adventurer, and host Heather Hansen O’Neill takes you on the journey from fear to fire. Today, we talk about how community advocates mobilized awareness, challenged misinformation surrounding Hurricane Katrina, and turned adversity into a mission for accountability, leadership, and lasting change.
Sandy Rosenthal
After Hurricane Katrina and the federal levee failures in New Orleans, Sandy Rosenthal founded the nonprofit Levees.org with 25,000 supporters nationwide. Her book––Words Whispered in Water––is about how she exposed the culprit in the catastrophe––the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers––and how the agency spent millions covering up its mistakes.
Rosenthal is an advocate for the 62% of the American population living by levees. Sandy hosts a weekly podcast called Beat the Big Guys where she coaches her national audience on how to take on the big guys in their own communities. Rosenthal plays tennis five days a week, practices yoga, teaches her dog silly tricks and spends time every month with her two grandchildren in San Francisco.
May 16th – J. David Rogers Day
June 1 – Start of hurricane season
Connect with Sandy:
Website: Levees and Words Whispered in Waters
LinkedIn: Sandy Rosenthal
Facebook: Words Whispered in Waters
Instagram: leveesorg
Quote of the Day:
“Leadership – mobilization toward a common goal.” ~Garry Wills
Finding Humanity: The Evolution of Sales is out now. Check it out here!
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