Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Elizabeth Smart
Jan 21, 2026
Elizabeth Smart, a renowned child safety advocate and founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, shares her harrowing experiences of surviving a 2002 kidnapping. She vividly recounts the night of her abduction, her captors' manipulative tactics disguised as religious doctrine, and the psychological struggles she faced. As a parent now, Elizabeth discusses her evolution in understanding trauma and her determination to empower survivors. Her insights on hope, resilience, and the importance of advocacy are both inspiring and heart-wrenching.
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Storytelling As Healing
- Elizabeth uses public storytelling to reduce shame and let other survivors know they are not alone.
- She framed advocacy as a way to transform personal trauma into communal support.
Waking To Abduction
- Elizabeth woke to a man with a knife at her neck and was forced out of her home at night.
- She immediately thought no one had heard because they must already be dead, showing intense early fear and confusion.
Domestic Contacts Become Leads
- A neighbor worker with a criminal history became a suspect because he had worked on Elizabeth's house and had unexplained car mileage.
- Small domestic interactions and trackable errands provided key investigative leads.
