What if the thing standing between you and the life you’re meant to create isn’t a lack of opportunity…but fear?In this inspiring episode of The Trailblazer Chronicles, Judy sits down with Sandy Rosenthal, a woman whose message is both simple and transformational: every one of us has the power to make a difference, influence change, and impact the world around us…starting exactly where we are.Together they explore why so many people wait for permission, why fear keeps us playing small, and how meaningful change often begins with one courageous decision. Whether you are leading a company, raising a family, building a business, or simply trying to figure out your next step, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t need a bigger stage to create a bigger impact. The world changes when ordinary people decide to act. Connect with her at sandyrosenthal.netBio- Sandy Rosenthal is an experienced community mobilizer, most notable for founding the nonprofit Levees.org, with 25,000 supporters nationwide. Her 2020 book, Words Whispered in Water, explores how she, against all odds, altered the national narrative about the deadly flooding in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. A special Anniversary Edition of her book, featuring a new cover and foreword, went on sale in August 2025, timed with the 20th anniversary of the catastrophe.Her organization has a strong physical presence in New Orleans, including the Flooded House Museum and the Levee Exhibit Hall at a major breach site. The organization has also installed three historic plaques vetted by the state’s preservation office and hosts an annual levee breach bike tour, among other public education efforts.For these efforts, Rosenthal has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year from Tulane University and Most Influential Woman from Mount Holyoke College. She is an advocate for the 62% of the American population living in counties protected by levees.Rosenthal has been married to Stephen Rosenthal since 1979, has three adult married children, and two grandchildren. Sandy is also the co-host of The Slingshot podcast and host of the former Beat the Big Guys podcast.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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