Paris, Sierra Leone, and the Power of Saying Yes: Angela Betancourt’s Roadmap to Brave Artwork

Persistence U with Lizbeth

An award-winning author turned Lifetime TV movie subject, host Lizbeth Meredith works to tame trauma and increase resilience leveraging the power of persistence.Created for and by survivors and strivers, Persistence U podcast with Lizbeth hosts guests willing to share from the heart to both inform and inspire. Whether they've published a first book after 70, or slowly re-entered life after a crushing setback, they'll tell who and what helped. Because big goals and obstacles are no match when you have a good community.

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Persistence U with Lizbeth

Paris, Sierra Leone, and the Power of Saying Yes: Angela Betancourt’s Roadmap to Brave

October 08, 2025 • Lizbeth Meredith • Season 5 • Episode 194

Guest: Angela Betancourt — communication strategist, global storyteller, Air Force Reservist, and lifelong adventurer who believes bold moves shape extraordinary lives. From leading comms in Sierra Leone post-Ebola to ocean-advocacy storytelling, Angela shows how travel can unlock courage, purpose, and impact.

In this episode:
Angela shares how a “non-linear” career across manufacturing, agriculture, and humanitarian work led to her dream role abroad—plus why solo travel is a powerful teacher, what went wrong (and right) in Bangkok, and practical ways women can travel safely without letting fear drive the itinerary.

You will learn:

Simple, evidence-based safety habits that make solo travel feel doable (and fun).
How purpose-driven storytelling can open doors to international, high-impact work.

Connect with Angela:
• Betancourt Group (enviro + social impact comms): groupbetancourt.com
• Personal blog: angiebetancourt.com
• Instagram: @AngieBTravels
• LinkedIn: search Angela Betancourt (communications / social impact)

Sponsor: Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse. Great holiday gift; links below in Lizbeth's links.

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X