Meet Audrey Todd

Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Todd.

Audrey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born on the westside of Chicago to two drug-addicted parents. As a result of their consistent behavior, I was forced into the foster care system at the age of three. I endured many custody battles between my biological parents and the foster care system. I was permanently placed in a foster home at age ten and later adopted. Growing up in the system, I was automatically stigmatized by society to become pregnant, uneducated, incarcerated, socially dysfunctional and even worse dead before adulthood. I suffered from a distorted self-concept thus taking on the identity given to me by society. Because I grew up in a strict religious household where love was often given in the toughest ways, I decided to find love and fulfillment in any outlet that would embrace me and give me a sense of worth. These desires of gratification led me men who were often much older than me and heavily involved in drugs and gangs. I too soon found myself going against my moral and values system instilled in me by my adoptive mother. During my time of discovering myself, I was often the victim of domestic violence and homelessness. I was headed down a path of self-destruction until a car accident where I was the only unharmed occupant changed my life forever. I was traveling out of town with my then boyfriend and was hit a semi-truck which caused our car to spin out of control hitting multiple vehicles.

In that moment, my life flashed before my eyes. Miraculously, although I did not use the safety belt, I manage to escape with no injuries. A young lady who was part of a traveling missions group approached me following the accident. She looked at my then boyfriend and stated the only reason he survived was due to the purpose on MY life. She encouraged me to pursue my purpose. From that day forward, I have been in pursuit of fulfilling my purpose by reaching, writing, mentoring and guiding youth to make more prudent decisions and not to allow society to label them anything that does not align with greatness. Today, I devote most of my time to mentoring children in foster care and being an advocate for mental health. I take joy in knowing my life’s testimony is helping develop, cultivate and inspire a generation of young people to live more purpose-filled lives. In November of 2019, I published my book “The Kingdom Playlist” which became a #1 bestseller in its first inaugural week. Although this is an exhilarating feeling, I’m most moved when millennials are able to share with me the various principles in the book that resonates the most. I am honored to be chosen to be a voice for today’s generation.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Even after surrendering to the purpose on my life, it was difficult overcoming the fear of rejection and the shame attached to me from my childhood. I struggled with never feeling like I wasn’t worthy to live or be any other way than what society said. I believed I would never be good enough or of value to anyone or anything. How could I? After all, my own parents gave up on me at a time I needed them most. There were a myriad of difficulties that I encountered and still do to this day. I use those challenges as a stepping stone to empower me to continue to be better, live better, be more prudent, become more vulnerable but moreso – to focus on the overall goal of impacting someone else’s life, even if it’s just one.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Audrey speaks life is an empowerment platform to charge millennials to stand boldly against societal norms and values and live a dauntless, bold and unapologetic life in an ever changing culture. This platform was birthed from my life story of fear, rejection and ambiguity surrounding my life’s meaning. I wanted to help other youth who have struggled and are struggling with life’s issues and trying to heal from trauma that was never correctly addressed. I am a motivational speaker and am well versed in speaking about topics such as identity, purpose, overcoming rejection, trauma, foster care advocacy & mental health awareness. I am known for my life-changing empowerment talks and pure passion and zeal for youth evident through my years of mentorship… I am most proud of the results I have witnessed from youth I have mentored in the past. It makes the sacrifice of my time, energy and resources worth it. My story is my differentiator! I didn’t wake up one day and decide to become the woman I am. This is pain, this is hurt, this low self-esteem, this is a battered broken girl who made a conscious decision to break the barriers that were created to break her. My life is evidence that the purpose on my life was greater than any other force.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Given the chance, I would have made more prudent decisions. Many issues we face in life are due to the inability to make sound decisions. We often say, “when you know better than you do better.” This however, is not always the case. Knowing gives us the leverage to make better decisions but it can’t make you make better decisions. You must create and implement discipline and willpower coupled with knowledge to do better. I learned that the hard way but unbeknownst to me everything I endured during my journey worked for me and not against me.

Contact Info:

• Email: booking Inquiries: [email protected]
• Website: www.audreyspeakslife.com
• Instagram: audrey_speaks_life
• Facebook: Audrey Todd, Author

Image Credit:
Carl Ankrum Photography

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