Mind Your Mind Speaks Podcast: Episode 19
In this episode, you will hear a conversation between Cobb Collaborative Executive Director, Irene Barton, and Jennifer Andersen Smith.
A motivational speaker of rare power and an inspiring life coach, Jennifer Andersen Smith is also the author of a compelling memoir entitled So That For Relationships. The book tells her story of childhood trauma, teen motherhood, and a loveless marriage, in order to inspire other women to overcome hurdles as she has.
Born in a Catholic family from rural Illinois, Jennifer grew up on a farm with many siblings. Rooted in her faith from a young age, Jennifer was a strong believer in saving herself for her husband. But one day, this deep-seated value was ripped away from her by a man who sexually abused her as a child. This traumatizing event had ramifications throughout her life.
As a teenager, Jennifer believed that, since she had been deprived of her virginity, she had no impetus to save herself for marriage, which led to her teenage pregnancy. The following year, she became pregnant again with her second child. And the year after that, she made the choice to marry the father of her children even though she didn’t love him, marking the beginning of a difficult twenty-three year marriage marked by emotional abuse.
Now divorced and remarried to a wonderful man, Jennifer was finally able to regain control of her life. After overcoming her trauma, she was able to manifest joy, love, and abundance, in spite of her struggles with depression. Now, she has become a life coach to help other women through their life challenges, and has started a community of women who support each other and themselves.
Living in Georgia, Jennifer and her husband Craig have a blended family of 9 children and 15 grandchildren, who Jennifer calls “her greatest legacy.”