Building Resilience: Sandra Younger on Surviving Wildfires, The ComeBACK Formula, and Climate Preparedness

In this episode, host Corinna Bellizzi speaks with Sandra Millers Younger, journalist, fire survivor, and author of The Fire Outside My Window: A Survivor Tells the True Story of California's Epic Cedar Fire. Sandra shares her harrowing escape from the 2003 Cedar Fire, the lessons learned, and how her experience has shaped her mission to help others build resilience. With wildfires ravaging Southern California, this conversation is particularly timely, offering practical tools and emotional insights for navigating personal and collective crises.Episode HighlightsThe Reality of Climate-Driven WildfiresCorinna opens with an update on the ongoing wildfires in Southern California, highlighting the rising toll of climate-driven disasters and their profound impact on communities. She reflects on resilience, gratitude, and how framing challenges positively can empower survivors.Sandra Younger’s Cedar Fire StorySandra recounts her narrow escape from the 2003 Cedar Fire, which destroyed her home and claimed 12 lives in her community.She shares vivid details, from following a bobcat through smoke-filled roads to lessons learned about preparedness, including the importance of go-bags, defensible space, and early evacuation.Sandra’s reflections underscore the unpredictability and speed of natural disasters.Resilience and The ComeBACK FormulaSandra introduces her ComeBACK Formula, a five-step framework for building resilience:Come to Gratitude – Focus on what you can be thankful for, even amid tragedy.Be Patient & Believe – Healing and rebuilding take time, but resilience is innate.Accept Help – Embrace support from others and be willing to ask for it when needed.Choose Your Attitude – Reframe your story as one of survival and growth, not victimhood.Keep Moving Forward – Celebrate small wins and take incremental steps toward recovery.Lessons for Preparing and CopingThe psychological toll of disasters: triggers like wind or lightning and the importance of mental health tools.Practical tips for disaster preparedness: defensible space, early evacuation, and community coordination.Broader implications for society: the need for infrastructure improvements, proactive wildfire management, and climate resilience strategies.Resilience in Everyday LifeCorinna and Sandra discuss how the principles of resilience apply to everyday challenges, from personal crises to the global pandemic. They emphasize the role of storytelling, gratitude, and connection in overcoming adversity.Resources MentionedBooks:The Fire Outside My Window: A Survivor Tells the True Story of California's Epic Cedar Fire by Sandra YoungerBlue Mind and Dear Wild Child by Dr. Wallace J. NicholsMan’s Search for Meaning by Viktor FranklFrom Stressed to Resilient by Dr. Deborah GilboaSandra Younger’s Website & Resources:The ComeBACK Formula Guidebook (Free Download)Coaching and speaking opportunities: SandraYounger.comContact Corinna Bellizzi:Email: Hello@CareMoreBeBetter.comSocial Media: @corinnabellizzi @caremorebebetterJoin the CommunitySubscribe, leave a review, and share your thoughts about this episode! Together, we can care more, be better, and create a more resilient society.Follow Sandra YoungerLinkedIn: Sandra YoungerInstagram: @smyoungerFacebook: Sandra M. YoungerYouTube: Sandra YoungerTwitter: @syoungerJOIN OUR CIRCLE. BUILD A GREENER FUTURE:🌴 Subscribe to our newsletter, and we'll plant a tree in your honor! https://caremorebebetter.com🌲 Subscribe and rate us wherever you listen, and we'll plant another tree Follow us on social media:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@caremorebebetter TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@caremorebebetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/CareMoreBeBetter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter

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Care More Be Better, invites you to care more so we can create a better world together. We amplify the voices of environmentalists, activists, scientists, and leading experts who seek to make the world a better place. We share actionable insights and tools so you can make a measurable difference each day. Over the course of more than 230 episodes, you'll hear from inspired individuals, ecologically responsible entrepreneurs, and conscious companies from diverse communities and backgrounds. Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, on our website, and on most major podcast platforms.Notable guests include: Jean-Michel Cousteau, Paul Hawken, Nina Simons, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, Captain Liz Clark, Nana Aba Anamoah, Dr. William Li, Miyoko Schinner, John Roulac, Chef Babette Davis, Kelly Reyerson (@glyphosategirl), Starhawk, Donna Grantis and many more. These global change agents and activists create positive impacts and encourage us to think globally while also acting locally. Inspired by Paul Hawken’s aspirational book Regeneration - Ending The Climate Crisis In One Generation, and the late Dr. Wallace J. Nichols' Blue Mind Movement, this show aims to create a realistic roadmap to build a better future. As Paul Hawken simply states: “Global warming is not a science problem. It’s a human problem.” On this journey, you'll become the person you aspire to be by remaining curious, thinking deeply, and listening intently while looking inward. You'll discover your internal wisdom and learn to listen to your inner voice to receive the gifts nature provides fully. Tune in to understand the most important issues that affect us all.Hear experiences from the front lines of social policies and political struggles.Feel enlightened by conversations about health, wellness, and mindfulness.Discover valuable entrepreneurship and business strategies. Hone your communication and leadership skills.Become part of the regeneration nation by expanding your knowledge of agriculture, social systems, and help us build a more circular and just economy. As a community, we aim to evolve our understanding of social impact, sustainability, and regenerative, circular living to create a healthier and more just world. The stories we tell will get you thinking about how to secure the future for the human race and all Earth's inhabitants - from how you can build positive change in your local community, to how you might broaden your reach and impact globally.About Our Host: A natural products industry executive, Corinna Bellizzi helped develop and grow several responsible, sustainable nutrition brands including: Nordic Naturals and ORLO Nutrition. With these achievements and experience, Corinna went back to school to earn her MBA, graduating at the top of her class at Santa Clara University, and is now pursuing her PhD at the intersection of Sustainability, Education and Nutrition at Prescott College. Her colorful career and exceptional experiences fill this show with life-changing conversations and insights you're sure to benefit from. Beyond elevating business ventures and earning massive profits, she exemplifies how to deliver genuine value, achieve bigger things, and pursue significant positive change. Care More Be Better is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, our website and most major podcast platforms. JOIN OUR CIRCLE. BUILD A GREENER FUTURE! https://caremorebebetter.com When you join our email list, we plant a tree with the help of ForestPlanet! Remember, our aim with Care More Be Better is to help you use less, waste less, and live more! Engage with us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok!