Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset - Shark attack survivor: Tiffany Johnson on shifting perspectives for “Be An Overcomer Ministries”

Episode Date: July 21, 2025

What happens when the unthinkable happens—and you live to tell it? In this special episode of The Determined Society, Tiffany Montgomery shares the harrowing story of surviving a brutal shark attack while swimming with friends in the Bahamas. But this isn’t just a story of survival—it’s a story of identity, resolve, and what rises up in us when everything else is stripped away. In this raw, powerful conversation, Tiffany opens up about: The exact moment everything changed in the water- How trauma rewires your instincts—and how she fought back- The mental and emotional aftermath that no one talks about What she’s learned about strength, vulnerability, and public perception Why she’s more focused than ever on living with purpose This isn’t just a Shark Week story. It’s a human story. One of the most intense and unforgettable interviews we’ve ever done. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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To give you perspective, that's how close we were. Like he, when he first latched on, we were face to face. Wow. I ended up having, like, visions of my kids playing in the backyard with my husband. Like, memories of my life started to kind of populate, like, a movie reel. Like, my body was. giving up. But then I felt the strength of the Lord just come out from inside of me and give me the strength to fight back. And the new thought the form was, no, you are not going to take my life.

I am not going to die here. So Tiffany Johnson, you know, a few years ago, you're on this amazing cruise with your husband and having the time of your lives and you get to the last stop, which was Nassau, right, in the Bahamas. And you guys were snorkeling, I believe, correct? Yep. snorkeling and your husband gets in the water and he gets out and kind of feels like, I'm just not feeling good. You get in the water. You go and do the snorkeling experience and walk the audience through what happened there.

Yeah. So once my husband left, I just kind of put my head back under the water, just got lost in that world because it's like a whole different vantage point when you're watching from that perspective. and we think it had only been about 10 minutes or so from the time he left to when I all of a sudden I felt like I had slammed into something. And that actually was the thought that went through my mind was, oh, what did I bump into? So I turned to my right casually to see what I had bumped into and I was face to face with a shark. And he had my whole arm in his mouth. That was the bump I felt was him grabbing onto my arm.

I have a scar. You can't really see it very well now. like through there but it's um it's a i can see the indentation yeah yeah so that you can feel like the tooth mark of where he first latched on there so that's kind of to give you perspective that's how close we were like he when he first latched on we were face to face and of course you know it felt like time stood still and yet was all a bore all at once like it just it was very distorted I ended up having like visions of my kids playing in the backyard with my husband. Like memories of my life started to kind of populate like a movie reel.

And I felt almost like a giving up, like a releasing. Like my body was giving up. But then I felt the strength of the Lord just come out from inside of me and give me the strength to fight back. And I remember like pushing those thoughts back. And the new thought the form was no. You are not going to take my life. I'm not going to die here.

And it was like that fight, you know, came back in me. And so at that point, you know, we were just kind of sitting there. He had me pinned. But his eyes were like darting everywhere and then staring and then darting everywhere there and staring. It was just evil, eerie like face off. But then once I yanked my arm, that's when it began to be, it was like game on for him. Right.

So he's fighting, thrashing. I'm screaming through my snorkel. tube, you know, everybody asked me, what'd you do with your left hand? I don't remember. It was just so, so much commotion, so much thoughts and things going on that I can't recall what I did with my left hand. But I was yanking, trying to get free from him. But of course, he had me pinned. There was nowhere to go. And that snorkel tube is, you know, in my mouth still. So I'm screaming, but you can't really hear it from, you know, out. Like everybody, all you can hear is that, you know, sound. It's not loud enough to draw attention. What I bought?

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Shop now at Amazon.com slash blink. So unbeknownst to me, my husband had actually gotten sick three times in a row on the boat. And so the captain was distracted trying to clean that up. My husband jumps back in the water to clean himself off. So all of that's happening while I'm fighting for my life. So nobody knew what was going on. And so when I finally got free from him, I was just yanking. And his jaws kind of opened on one of those yanks.

And my arm just came flying out and it was, it was completely severed, like just a mingled stump, not hanging there, just gone. So, of course, you know, you just, I'm just in shock at that point. Like, my arm's gone, you know. But God gave me the strength and the capacity to keep moving because I was already at the surface of the water. So I just threw off my snorkel mask. I screamed out, help help me, Jesus. And I began to make my way back to the boat. So that was my dominant arm.

So I had my non-dominant arm just swimming as quickly as I can. I took a few strokes and I remember thinking, you got to get the injured arm out of the water. And so I just kind of like lifted my injured arm up. And that then began to like spray everywhere. Like it was like, I remember seeing it. Yeah, from my peripheral vision. Like it was literally just like old faithful. And that's the site my husband saw.

when he was coming out of the water to wash himself off, he heard me scream and then he saw me swimming back with my arm just spewing blood everywhere. And I remember locking eyes with him, and the terror in his eyes are like nothing I'll ever see. Again, it's just, it's an eerie terror in his eyes. And he screamed out, baby. And he jumped in the water. And then I'm thinking, okay, he's coming for me, but that shark's right behind me. You know, like, you think about all the facts about sharks. You know, it's all going through my head at that point. Like, yeah, makes him go crazy, you know, where there's one, there's usually more. So all I can think about is he's right behind me, going to grab my leg, grab my side, you know, grab my other arm. And so I'm just

literally just swimming as quickly as I can to get to that boat. And I made it most of the way before my husband even met me in the water. And he said, as he like got closer, he heard me praying. And that was just coming out of me. Of course, yeah. Just even right now, just thinking about that, just makes me emotional because I'm thinking, what you put in comes out, you know, like just, it was literally, I had, it was like involuntary, you know, it was just coming out of me.

That was my lifeline. And so we finally got to the ladder of the boat and my husband kind of just, before I could even like touch it really. launched me out from the water. And once I got in the boat, I felt a peace around me. Like, I can't really explain it. It was a cloud of peace. I knew that the Lord was there.

And I just, I was very urgent, but I wasn't panicked, you know? Right. And I just told him, you got to get something to stop the bleeding. And we found out there's no med kit, no turnicot. So we use the beach towels that the cruise line gives us. And use that to kind of turnicut my arm. And then it was a 30-minute-ish boat ride back. We made a stop at Paradise Island, but there's no hospital there.

So we had to back the boat out, go an additional 20 minutes from there. So all together, it was about a 30-minute boat ride to the main port. And once out of surgery, the surgeons told my husband that, you know, I was in critical condition. But the miracle of it all was that I didn't require blood transfusion. They said I didn't lose enough blood. So that's wild to me, right? Like just from the the sheer description of your injured limb out, like you said, Old Faithful. Like, obviously.

you would you know it begs the question like yeah absolutely you would need a blood transfusion that that's incredible to me i have a couple questions um surrounding that like once you saw you know your arm in the shark's mouth and when you finally were able to rip your arm out of the shark's jaws was there any thought like okay like the worst part is over like i'm i'm going to get through this like you know because i i know your faith right i've done background and i And I know that you know that if it were to happen, you know where you were going. And you'd be at peace with that, right? But was there any point where you're like, yeah, man, like this might be it.

Like this really truly might be it. Even after that spirit came over you, right? I think that I was very concerned once we got to Paradise Island. when we beached the boat, we tried to get help there. And then when we had to back the boat out and go the additional 20 minutes, because I knew what that ride was because we had just did it, you know, like a couple hours before. That's when I had that sinking feeling like, oh, gosh, this is not good. But I tried not to let my mind go there because I knew the Lord was there.

I could feel his present. so I was like, I can't focus on what may happen. I just, I literally did the only thing I need to do. And I just began to pray. I just started praying all these crazy prayers. And that's where I tried to focus my mind and attention during that 20-minute boat ride. What was your husband like at that point when, because like, look, it's one thing to be in it, right? Like for you physically, right?

And you're going through your own spiritual. thing at that point feeling the Lord's presence, but your husband's going through another. Right. He's watching his best friend, the mother of his children, his wife, his love go through this. And the desperation he must have felt to hurry the heck up and get to somewhere that he could, you know, so you can get medical attention. Like, how did you view his energy? And again, also, how did he communicate it to you after?

Like, how was he truly feeling? Yeah. And that boat ride, I remember him tapping my cheek a few times because I had closed my eyes because I couldn't be looking at the scene because it looked like a murder scene. You know, my blood was everywhere. Yeah, I bet. So I literally just closed my eyes and just focused on like deep breathing and, you know, praying. And so a few times he like was tapping me and I'd open my eyes and look at him. He's like, okay, just checking.

And he told me later, like he was just nervous because I looked so still. you know, he's like, did I lose her? You know, like, so he, so that's where his mind was. Like, he, he was very desperate. So that, that word desperation is, it's very indicative of where he was at mentally. His eyes were as big as golf balls, you know, like frantic. And even just afterwards, when I was in the, the surgery for the five hours, You know, he's, he had, they had to take him to the cruise line to get all of our stuff off the cruise before it departed.

And then he had to make all the calls to, you know, my family, his family. And he's like, I felt like I was a shell. Like, I couldn't really think or feel emotionally. It was like everything was just, you know, like gone. And there was a part of him that was just so angry because he's like, why is this happening? Like, why is this happening to, you know, my wife, my best friend, like you said, like there was a part of him that wanted to be so mad. But then there was this other part of him was like, but I know who God is.

And, you know, I have to trust that he's in this and he saved her from the shark. So like, you know, while she's in surgery, like he's got her there. You know, like it was just like this wrestling back and forth. and he told me that later he had gone to Burger King in the in between. The Minister of Tourism had taken them to get his stuff. And then he was at Burger King with them and he could barely eat. But he had an eight cents like breakfast. And, you know, it's going on like five o'clock at that point.

So she's like, you've got to eat something. And he was just one word answers, you know, not being able to really communicate well. And she's like, Mr. Johnson, are you okay? and he looked at her and was like, I'm not okay. You know, like I'm not, you know. And she said, I can't even imagine what you're going through right now. But just know, like when your wife gets out of surgery, she's going to need you. She's going to need you to be strong for her.

And that was just like the thing that snapped him kind of out of that, like, weird scenario he was in. And from then on, he was just like, okay, we're doing this. Like, I, you know, like for every, I've never seen. him so methodical. Usually I'm the one that deals with all the logistics and whatever, but like to watch him, like, you know, he, he was on it and it was miraculous, honestly. So I don't mean that in a demeaning way, but he would say the same thing. But listen, to your point and to his defense, most marriages are honestly like that, right? My wife handles all the logistics, but when it's time for me to step up in certain areas like it's locked in right um and we all have our gifts but

man i can tell you you know i'm sitting here thinking and listening to that story and obviously i have a a ton of empathy for for your situation but i'm also putting myself in in your husband's position right yeah to a point where he's going around and they're they're telling him like hey you got to eat yeah like here's the thing like someone's If someone, if someone takes me to Burger King at that point, I'm thinking like, how in the world am I going to have a whopper with cheese when my wife's fighting for their life and surgery right now? Like, who gives it crap if I'm hungry or not? But also if he doesn't eat, then he can't be there for you. So I understand what she was doing.

Like, hey, you know, this ain't the greatest food, but you need to eat it because when your wife wakes up, she needs you. Right. Oh, man. Yeah. This is just, you know, real quick, what kind of shark was it? Do you know? So you're about to make a trade based on a friend's text. But which you do you listen to?

Is it, we could buy a house in Tulum? Get optioning those options. We could lose everything. Or let's do a little research. Get your head in the trade and make the investment decision that's right for you. Learn more at finra.org slash trade smart. Well, so they, the Shark Attack Institute narrowed it down to either a Caribbean reef shark or a tiger shark. I 100% think it's a tiger shark.

The eyes are very aggressive. Yeah, for me, because, you know, I showed you how close we were. Like, the feature that I can remember the most are the eyes. And it was dark and be shady Caribbean reef sharks' eyes are eardessony. They're not even close to what I remember. So when I finally looked at images, I was like, that, that's it. the tiger shark i will go to my grave saying it's a tiger shark but they can't say for sure expert wise i don't think anybody would contest that point right they're very aggressive um so at any point

like when you're when you're on the deck of the boat right and you're in your calm you're at peace are you because i think a lot of people are probably thinking right now listen to this episode like how much pain was she in were you in obviously probably shock um but what were your pain levels at at that point. Yeah, actually, I didn't feel any pain until they got me in the ambulance and they started unwrapping the beach towel. So by then, it's 35, 40 minutes, you know, because from the time the attack happened all the way to when they finally get me into the ambulance, then the pain went from zero to like a million. You know, it doesn't register out any little. Put me under. You know, that little pain scale at the doctor doesn't do it any kind of justice. Like it was

Yeah. It made me involuntarily scream out. Like it radiated through my whole body. It was the worst pain I can even imagine or describe it. It was just awful. And the thing about the Bahamas is they're great. They were amazing people, but they're very limited in their resources. So all they had was morphine.

So I did. That was great for an hour. But then the in between where I had to wait, you know, four to five hours between doses. they had nothing. So those were the times where it was just, oh, it was, I remember telling my husband on Saturday, so this happened on a Friday, on Saturday mid-morning, they told us that we probably wouldn't get back to the U.S. until Tuesday because we didn't have passports. It's a whole like other side of the story. But basically when she left, because of the pain, I looked at my husband. I was like, I don't know if I can make it until Tuesday. Like, we need to leave now.

Like it was that bad. It was just horrendous. So walk me through that, right? So no passports. I'm assuming they got lost in the attack or, you know, in the getting the stuff from the ship to where were you? What happened there? Yeah. So you can actually cruise without passports.

So because we're on a cruise, we didn't have to have our passport. So my passport had expired. I never renewed it for the cruise. My husband had never even had a passport. So PSA, don't do that. Just don't. I didn't know you could cruise without a passport. Didn't know that.

Yeah, you can. You can cruise with the birth certificate and driver's license. So that's what we had, which would have been okay if the U.S. Embassy was open. But because it was a national holiday for them, they were closed. And then they're never open on the weekends. And they said they had an extended holiday on Monday. So that's why on Saturday, when she came in, she was like, listen, there's no way to get you anywhere until Tuesday. And I'm thinking,

that's not going to work. Like, I can't stay here until Tuesday. So it was a miraculous turn of events that happened from there. But long story short, there was a guy that we were put in contact with that was a med back guy. And he knew he had contacts in Charlotte because he had a fiancé that lived in Charlotte. And so two months before this all happened, he had made contacts with the Charlotte Medvec people. And they worked together to team up to figure out a way to get me back. And I went from the Bahamas to Charlotte, which apparently was a big ordeal because

if it's a med-back situation, you have to go into the closest port of entry. And that's usually Miami for NASA. Of course, yeah. But he told me in his 15 years of doing this, he's never seen a med-back flight go anywhere, but Miami. But somehow I was able to go from NASA all the way to Charlotte. And he's, I don't know who did what. And I said, God did it. That's what, you know, like, I'm like, we didn't pray.

So we ended up being able to get back on the flight, 6 a.m. Wheels down Sunday morning. And then I was discharged from Charlotte's Hospital on. Tuesday. So I wasn't even supposed to be back by Tuesday and I was already back home. So this is what's wild to me, right? Like this happened on a Friday, right? Yep. Shark attack Friday. Arm gone Friday. Saturday, Sunday. You're out of the hospital by Tuesday. It's like. Yeah. I mean like it's a whirlwind.

Have you, you know what I mean? Like there's there's there's people that get hip surgeries, hip replacement surgeries that are in the hospital longer. That's just, listen, I, this is so interesting to me because, like, I'm going to tell you a story. Yeah.

My business partners, which also one of my closest friends, is like, hey, I'm going to, I'm going to get you to surf. I'm like, yo, dude, you're not going to get me to surf. Like, I'm just going to be straight up with you. You're not going to get it done. And like, I don't like to take extra risks.

and, you know, even when we go to the beach here, because I'm in Southwest Florida. And I feel as though, Tiffany, these shark attacks are happening much more often. In fact, earlier this month, when I was out in California, a nine-year-old girl, I think it was Boca Grand, or somewhere around there in Southwest Florida area, got her hand bit off by shark, but then, you know, enough to reattach. But like a nine-year-old, like these things are happening. And I always tell I'm like, nah, man, like, you know, you're not going to get me to do these type of adventurous things. So I don't even like going to the beach.

And when my kids are in the water, I'm like, I look at my wife and go, babe, like, they're too far. Like, they are way too far. I've fished on this beach before. Right. And of course, they're nurse sharks that, you know, usually that far in. But I just feel like it's happening more and more often. Have you noticed that lately? Yeah.

Absolutely. it's well i think also because i'm i'm a shark attack survivor it's like when you drive a brand new car and then you start seeing your car on the road you know like that's so some of that might be you know they might be as frequent as normal but it feels i don't know but i do believe that it um it's definitely been happening a lot more like there was just two in hilton head just this last week um oh really yeah so it's it's it's kind of crazy how close they're coming to the the shores. I think that's the thing that's a little scary about it because where mine was, it was out in the middle of the ocean. You know, like, I'm in their territory kind of, you know,

it was, it wasn't a reef, so it was 10 feet of water. It probably shouldn't have been there, but I was still out. Whereas these other ones, attacks having great beach level, that's like, yeah, that makes me super nervous. Yeah, me too. You know, it's, like I said, it's just one of those things that I think it's when you when you live in this area that we live in it I'm sorry I everybody says it's so rare I'm like well if it's so rare yeah then I don't know I feel like it's happening more and more it's like maybe in my opinion like maybe overall the percentages are low like they're saying you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning twice before you get you know attacked by a shark it's like I think we're I think we're closing the gap here yeah you know and I and I don't know what it is Tiffany

I don't know. I was only asking that or even implying because I didn't know if like you were a part of a community of people that, you know, support that have gone through the same thing as you. If there's any theories from, you know, what are the, a marine biology, marine biologists like, hey, these are the reasons why they're coming closer, why they're happening more. But I mean, I guess if it's not a thing. Yeah. I mean, I was on a segment for the Discovery Channel. And the segment that they had me featured in was to kind of dissect that, like, why is this happening more frequently? I guess in NASA specifically in that greater area, there was like, they were like, Bing, Bing, Bing, and I was like the start of it. So they had kind of throughout some suggestions and theories during when I was, they actually asked me all these questions pre-interview to see if it would like fit. But nothing that they threw out really made, I didn't at least notice. Like they're like, was there trash, more trash in the water? Was, you know, the water did it feel warmer? Did it?

You know, like all these different like scenarios. And I couldn't really say that any of those really fit with what happened to me. But that doesn't mean that maybe that's why some of those attacks are happening. The chumming of the waters is a huge thing like for tourism, which is one of the things. kind of figured might be happening with the Nassau stuff is because not too far away from where the attacks are happening, they're chumming for like nurse sharks and things to come in. Well, that's going to draw not just nurse sharks. So drawing them just in that general area.

So that's something I've definitely heard thrown out. I'm on a Facebook group with some Australian survivors. And that's big, like they're really big on. like the tourism aspect like trying to keep that in check because cage diving is huge there and they just feel like that's it's just mixing what doesn't need to be mixed so yeah so I think that does play some of into it but I don't know how much you know I'm not an expert in that so I don't know but definitely something to consider yeah it's just it's just a just a question right Like there's got to be, I don't know.

There's got to be some reason, right? But then, like you said, just now, you said something very specific and it triggered a thought. And you said, you know, mixing things where, you know, they shouldn't be. How about that new documentary on Netflix that just came out, the lady that gets in the water and swims with the sharks and like, what is what? I mean, like, like, dude, like, I almost watched it last night because I was like, okay. I just don't know if I can. But like, she's literally like, yeah, I just keep my elbow locked and just turn them away with pressure. I'm like, dude, that's a great white shark.

Like what, like, how do you get into something like that? When you see that, right, are you, what kind of initial thought? I know you're not speaking ill of anybody. I'm not asking you for that. But just like the initial like the, you know, the knee jerk reaction to that for you. Yeah. Well, it's just, to me, it's just not worth it. it's the same thing as like, you know,

Jaws just celebrated 50 years, you know? And so everybody was like, you know, they're putting it back in the theater and actually my at the amputee clinic that I, I volunteer at. One of the guys was joking with me is like, are you going to go see it in theaters? I was like, I lived Jaws. I don't need to see it on the movie screen, you know?

Like, so I don't know how to have any appetite for that. Yeah, no. I think that's my knee jerk like any, actually afterwards, even like I would start noticing. seeing. There's so, there's such a fascination with sharks that we have, like, as a society, that, like, even in little kids, like, there was a chair at the, at the pool that we went to, like, shortly after. And it's like this big mouth of a shark, you know, and it's a little kid's chair, you know, and I'm like, that's morbid, you know, like, but I guess I never would have,

like, thought of that before. But, like, I guess being that I've gone through what I have, it's just there's so much shark stuff. Like, even when I buy, like, like, I buy, like, I know, I'm like swim trunks for my my son. A lot of them have shark references on them. You know, like, so it's just. Baby shark. Baby shark. It's that whole song, right?

Like my ping pong, baby shark. I mean, like, there is a fascination with it. And I don't understand it because I respect it so much. Like everything that you've gone through and I want to dig into more of obviously the, what, you know, the show, you know, I always ask this question. and because it's called the determined society. And it's almost feels silly asking you what does true determination mean to you, but I'm going to because I want to hear your perspective on you overcoming, you know,

the days and the months and the years because I'm sure your life has changed drastically from a standpoint of things that you were able to freely do that you may not be able to now. Obviously, maybe even optic, you know, public opinion. in and you know you've dealt with so much so walk me through what true determination means to you oh it's a loaded question um but i would say that's by design by the way yes i think it's a loaded question for anybody um yes but for me i think the thing i had to wrestle with at the very beginning and still to this day every day i get to choose i get to choose how i'm going to respond. I didn't choose what happened to me. And a lot of people are in that scenario in life

where something happened. It was tragic. It's a loss. And it wasn't something of their own doing. It just happened, right? And sometimes we don't have a control of that, but what we can control is how we're going to respond. So when I got a hold of that mentality of like, I have that choice. I can choose whether I choose joy today or I choose to be frustrated at the things I can't do. I get to choose whether I'm at peace or I'm stressed out because we can't pay the thousands of medical bills that keep piling up. You know, I get to choose whether I'm going to overcome or I'm just going to pull myself up in my room and play the Y as me card. Like it's, there is a choice there every single day. Now, is it easy? No, but it is a choice like every day. And so that.

Revelation really changed things for me. And obviously, you know, I'm rooted in my faith. And so that really, anytime where I struggled with that choice of like, I don't want to choose joy today because this sucks. You know, like you have those days and I still have those days. I don't want to overcome right now. I just don't want to. Right.

Yeah. And when I get to that point, that's when I have to just open up the Bible and dig into God's word and let that speak. life into me when I don't feel like I have the life right now, you know? And that's usually what refreshes me and gets me back on, you know, track. And sometimes I just have to like, you know, Tiffany, wake up, like, you're a miracle, you know? Like, it's not, it's okay that you're feeling this way, but yet, you know, don't waste the second chance, you know? So it's like, it's that understanding that we're going to have the lows and it's okay, not to be okay, but not to stay

there. So that's really the process that I've gone through since the attack happened. So on that loaded question, masterful answer, because look, your situation or the circumstances that happened to you may not be directly parallel to me or to somebody else. But the overall idea is we get to choose every day. Yep. And that was so eloquently put because it doesn't matter what the circumstance is, right? Like you, we are all here. We are all going through things.

And again, you know, the adversity that that you went through with your arm and your attack is a lot more than certain things that I've had to overcome in my life. Yeah, I had a blood clot, but I have both my limbs, right? Like I, I, there's many things that I've gone through on a personal level that aren't the same. But the overall underlying theme is you get to choose, man. Like you, you get to choose how you operate right now because for the audience that's listening, right? You said something else too. You said how you respond.

And I think a lot of people are stuck in a reactive mode. Yeah. Right. And so when you get that, make that choice of like, I'm going to choose joy. I'm not going to sit here in way. waste the second chance, I'm a miracle and I'm going to, and I'm going to, I'm going to live life and I'm going to speak life and I'm going to serve others. We all have those choices. They're not easy, but they're simple. Yeah. And being able to be so rooted in your faith

and be the overcomer and to be an inspiration to folks that, you know, a lot of times there might be people in their life like, hey, I'm going through a lot of stuff and stuff. And then you come into their life and they go, oh, wow. Yeah. Wow. And here I am worried about a credit card bill or a hospital bill or something. And you're that testament to truly what overcoming, you know, and fighting for your life. Yeah.

Absolutely. Wow. And you honestly don't know who's watching. Like I get the privilege of hearing some of these stories of people because of what I've gone through people. feel a little more free to like share like, hey, you know, you really are inspiring me to XYZ or like you just said, like I was struggling with this and I see you up there, you know, no, it looks like you don't have a care in the world and it just, it makes me have a reality

check. Like, you know, this is okay. So I get the privilege of, of hearing some of that just because of the nature of my story and the platform that has come and a result of that. But I will say that I think this has opened my eyes to see that. Like, people watch you. You know, they do. They, you don't know the impact you have on people by just your smile on your face or just by greeting somebody and complimenting somebody. Or, you know, like, and a lot of people, especially if you know somebody's story and then you see them do something, you know, that really speaks volumes to people.

and they may never, ever tell you, but they're watching and you have an impact, whether you know it or not. And I think that has also resonated with me in this whole journey. It's like, gosh, we have more, there's just so much possibility to be able to be a blessing to people that I think we just take for granted. That's what I honestly do admire about you because, you know, everything that you do is serving others, right? and, you know, your organization, be an overcomer. Like, that is a platform that was created out of this, right? It wasn't there prior to that, right? So walk the audience through that because I think also too, and I don't want to speak for

you, but from outside looking in, you know, that's part of the healing process, right? You, by you serving others and focused on them, not you, that has also helped you heal, which allows you to make that, that great. impact in society and in your ministry. So walk us, walk us through that. Yeah. The organization kind of developed just as things progressed from the attack. So, you know, obviously the media storm was huge at the very beginning. I had all kinds of different interviews, all, you know, Today Show, Inside Edition, and like all these crazy interviews. And of course, that opened up doors then to,

speak. And you're right. Every time I get to share about the story about what God has done, there's a piece of me that gets the healing needed. And it takes a lot because I usually get emotional at some point because it's just, it's a lot. It's a lot to even remember, you know, to like go back and relive it every time. But doing that has just reminded me just how much this life. I'm just so grateful to be here. I'm just so grateful that I have this second chance, you know, and it's just a reminder every time like, that's my story. Are you kidding me? That's crazy. It makes me in awe and it's my story, you know? So just being able to share it in all the different ways. And that's kind of how the ministry came about is that I was sharing it so often.

I was getting invites from a lot of churches, but even corporate events and lots of options to speak and share, some in a faith aspect and some just to be inspiring or to show people what overcoming looks like. And I just was like, okay, what do we do with this? Like, this is crazy. like I didn't ask to be the poster girl from shark attacks, you know. That wasn't on my resume. That wasn't on my wish. Yeah, it really wasn't in my five-year plan. You know, like that wasn't something on my horizon at all.

And so it, but because it was kind of organically happening, you know, my husband and I just submitted it before the Lord were like, okay, God, do you want, should we do something with this? Like, you know, I feel like there's this opportunity. but I didn't want to just make it into something that for my benefit. Like it wasn't, this wasn't about me. Like I wanted to be able to share it to help others. And so we decided to go ahead and put a name on it after a year of kind of going and

speaking and came up with Be an Overcomer Ministries. And really the aim is just to spread joy to others, you know, to shift your perspective. Like I was talking about, you know, you may be in. a funk because of situations, but you get to choose. And what does that look like? What are the practical steps for that? You know, and that's turned into all kinds of different avenues. I speak at public assemblies for schools. Like I said, I still volunteer with my doctors in the amputee clinic once a month and gets one firsthand, you know, be able to sit down with amputees. Some of them days. They, you know, this is two days in, you know,

And they're just in this shock mode. Yeah. So it's been really cool to watch all the different opportunities come about for me just to say, you know what, I might as well use it. You know, so it's been cool to see that. Just bless others. No, that's awesome. You know, when you talk about all these things, you know, we don't know why the path that we're living is the path that he chose.

Yeah. Right. this is all by his design. And for some reason, this needed to happen for you to make the impact that he had for you. And one day you'll know, he'll tell you when you're up there with it. Hopefully it will get Lord willing for a while. Yeah. But when it's time, you will have that clarity.

And I just want to commend you because there's so many different people in this world that some bad things can happen to them. And they turn in from a marginally good person to a bad person and decide to be selfish and because they have this massive void inside of them, right? They go on and hurt others. I mean, I did it as a young, young, you know, athlete transitioning out of Division I college baseball and I had an identity crisis. Well, you know, like I hurt people because I had this massive gaping void inside of me that it costs me all my relationships. Yeah.

Until I figure it out like, hey, yo, man, this isn't how you're supposed to be. You need to serve people, you need to be a better person. You know, all of these, all of these things that happened to you were there so you could be stronger so you can impact somebody. Yeah. And so I just, I appreciate your perspective, not even just your perspective, just how you're living, you're being it. And I can see it in your eyes, right? Because I do this enough to where when I'm talking to somebody, someone can tell me, I feel joy and I know if they're telling me the truth or not. Like, I just, your children, how old are your children? children, if you don't mind me asking.

Yeah, now they're 13, 12, and 10. So eight, maybe right? Was the oldest one eight when it happened? No, the oldest one was five about to be six because I'm going on here. Oh, okay. Yeah, so I celebrated eight years this June 2nd. Okay. Oh, wow.

Yeah. Eight years. Yeah. I don't know if that's a happy anniversary, but, you know, it's some type of anniversary. It is because I'm here. You know, so. Exactly.

Yeah. Every June 2nd, I try to take some time to really just reflect on like the goodness of God because I shouldn't be here and I am. So I'm thankful for that. Amazing. And so I have a question for you. Do you think, do you truly feel that your kids know that they live with a superhero? Like, like, do they get me like, like they're looking, I mean, like, they're superheroes on the screen, but they're, they have a mom that literally went through hell and back in this.

And they get to learn from you. They get to see who you are. And you got to think, too. It's like, what greater impact am I playing on my children because of this? Yeah. Honestly, they're one of the reasons why it didn't take me long to get out of the funk. because they still needed me, you know, and they were young. Like, my youngest was one about to be two.

So she had no comprehension of what was going on. So, you know, she still needed me to change diapers and I didn't know how. You know, it was like those things that, like, as a mom, I was like, that doesn't go away just because this happened. So they're really a good reason why I was like determined. Like, I am not going to let what happened to me impact them. Like, I can deal with me, but it cannot touch them. You know, like, so we were really careful even on how we talked. Like, we didn't share with them the details of what happened right away because they were so young.

So we waited two years. And in that two years, they did exactly what you just said. They watched me, right? And so when we did tell them the shocking story of everything, it wasn't so shocking anymore because they had watched me for two years live life and I'm good, they're good, you know, like they're just like, wow, yeah, that makes sense. You know, like just, it wasn't as like traumatizing as it could have been in the initial stages. And so that, again, was, I think, just a plan from God on how to, you know, protect their minds properly in all

of this, but they, it's really funny because they treat me like a show and tell piece a lot of times because I have this really cool, you know, prosthetic and, you know, I can move it all around. And they're like, mom, do this, you know, show them this. Show them that you can do this. And when you do this. And, you know, like, the goal. And so I'm like a little show and tell piece. And my youngest one time, I think it was a couple years ago. She was like, Mama, are you famous? and I'm like, I mean, kind of, I guess. I mean, I've been on TV and she's like, I think you're famous. I'm like, okay.

Do you think I'm famous? That's great. Isn't that great? Kids are funny because, you know, with everything I do, it's, you know, it's turned into a really big platform. And I'm grateful for it. But my kids are like, oh, you're a celebrity. Like, guys, no, I'm not. Right.

No, I'm not. I'm dad. but clearly definitely not a celebrity. Right. Right. But like we, we do good work. We bring great conversations to the audience

and the audience respects us because of that because, you know, there's one thing to have a platform and spread untruths or toxicity. Yeah. I like to bring stories like yours to the listener. So they can have that epiphany. Like there's someone listening right now, right?

And if you think I'm talking, to you, I am, listener, watcher, viewer, is they have been going through something today that they don't know how to get out of. Yeah. And it can seem like Mount Everest for them to overcome it. And it's almost like when they get to the, they feel like get to the peak of the mountain, the finish line changes. And it gets bigger and bigger.

They just, it's like a treadmill. They never stop. What I'm hoping that they take from this is that they get to choose how they respond. and they get to choose how they give back, and they get to make the choice on how they're going to live their life moving forward and not let any type of obstacle or adversity dictate how they live and how they operate. Yeah. And that, you know, wow, I mean, I tell you what?

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I do. I'm very careful. I don't do a ton of snorkeling out in the open. I've only done it once, actually, since the attack. But I still snorkel beach side. Actually, Bermuda, we found a spot that was all, it was like enclosed in this like a cove. And all my kids, my husband, my mom. stepdad, we all snorkeled together last October. And it was incredible, like the best snorkeling

experience. And then I'm looking around. I'm like, we're all doing this together. Like how amazing. You know, like this is awesome. I can't. Girl, I can't. Like, oh my gosh. You know, but, but, but that right there is true, true healing. Okay. Because, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm making jokes about it because I know how I would handle it. Like, nah, I'm good. Kids out of the water.

You're not even going in a lake. You're not even going a swimming pool. Like water is out. No more baths, just showers. But, but, you know,

like hearing that is the, is the, is the, is the piece, right? Right. Okay. That happened. It is not connected to this event.

Like, when I'm, when I'm here right now with my family in Bermuda in this cove, what happened eight years ago is not connected to this moment. And I, and I, and I, and I want that to be a lesson because, you know, for the audience, like, we always connect things that happened. Like, well, last time that happened or my last boyfriend or my last girlfriend, like, hey, let's stop making others pay for the tab of somebody else. Yeah. Right? Or moments,

right? So I commend you for that. That's a tough one. Yeah. It is. Honestly, it's a Again, back to my kids, like, I don't want them to live in fear just because of something that happened to me, you know. And I don't want to live my life that way. Like, I don't want to live in fear. I want to use wisdom. And that's, you know, like I said, we're very cautious and careful and choosy. But I also don't want to live with that fear all the time because that's no way to live. So it's not.

It's just, again, going back to, you know, my kids. They really are a good motivation and help me keep myself in check, you know, because I know they're watching, you know. So it's not just me and my choices that are, are that matter. It's what I'm doing. There's a ripple effect that happens. And it's, it's direct, their direct impact on that. So, and I love that, you know, they're very cautious too. Like my, my oldest, she told me recently, a bucket list for her would be to snorkel and open a,

water. And I said, that's awesome. Like, I would love for you to be able to do that someday. And she's like, but I need to be pretty cautious. And I'm like, absolutely. You know, but like, so just like for her, that's an overcoming side for her because she's seen what happened to her mom, you know. So it's, it's not just me that has to overcome that. It's my whole family, you know, my, the people that are closest to me. And probably some people that are listening to this podcast right now that are like, I was planning to go snorkeling, you know, like, but don't let it stop you. because you can't live in fear. So. No, I, I appreciate all of it.

And just, you know, Tiffany, thank you so much for coming on. I know it was eight years ago and you're reliving this to my audience. And I'm truly grateful that you, that you did come and do this. And I know after, you know, after the audience listens to this episode or watches it or whatever they're consuming the content, they're going to think a little bit differently about their circumstances. And, you know, I, for that, I really appreciate you. Like, truly, because, you know, I look at, I look at everything that, that I do on this show,

and it is for others. Like, if it were just about me, I told my team earlier, I would have quit a long-ass time. Right, right. But I feel it's a purpose that, and it's a gift that I was given, and I'm going to use his gift. That's right. Right? because that is my that is the way he's working through me now often talk about it as much as I should but that's truly how I view things and um I just again I just really appreciate you and uh

you know wow what a story and uh you know I'm glad to hear that you got back in you know in the in the in the in a cove and snorkeled again and um but more so than anything is your leadership with your children and not allowing your traumas to be their truth. Yeah. And that is a real parent. And I don't think there's, I'm sorry, I'm scared to death of roller coasters and I'm not afraid to admit it. And I have zero qualms of putting that fear onto my children.

It's partly a joke, but, but, you know, but like that, that to me is just, you know, that to me is leadership at its finest. and I appreciate you. So thank you. Well, thank you for the opportunity. It's always a blessing because I know God will use it. He always does. So I love the opportunity to be able to share it again and see it help somebody.

Oh, don't worry, my friend. My wheels are already turning. I have so many circles I can put you in. I can't wait. And I'm thinking. Yes. And so the website is B, not B, just B, In Overcomer Ministries.com. Yeah.

So actually that my instance. Instagram handle is B an overcomer at the B. But my website is B.E. Just Instagram at B.E was already taken. So I had to be creative. Well, there's only one slim, shady. Come on now. I know.

I should have the rights to it, really. Maybe I should send that person a message. You should. You should get someone to buy that account from them. That's mine. What have you done? What have you done? No, but again, thank you so much.

And for the audience, please share this episode with someone you know, love and trust that would get a ton of value out of hearing Tiffany's story. Until next time, guys, stay determined. Rinse takes your laundry and hand delivers it to your door, expertly cleaned and folded. So you could take the time once spent folding and sorting and waiting to finally pursue a whole new version of you. Like tea time you. Mmm. Or this tea time you. Or even this tea time you.

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