EPISODE 47

Written By Ty Temel

FROM SCARS TO STRENGTH

THE INSPIRING STORY OF PHYLLIDA SWIFT

Phyllida Swift is a true warrior who has faced unimaginable trauma and emerged even stronger. 

From a devastating family tragedy at just 15 years old to a near-death experience that left her permanently scarred, Phyllida’s story is one of resilience, purpose and self-acceptance in the face of adversity. 

Phyllida channelled her pain into powerful advocacy work, as the CEO of Face Equality International where she is shattering societal beauty norms and giving a voice to the marginalised. 

She joins Ty Temel on episode 47 of the Off Script podcast to share:

💪How to turn life’s challenges into your greatest strengths

🚀How embracing scars - both visible and hidden - can lead to profound personal growth.

💁‍♀️Why breaking down societal beauty standards is more crucial than ever. 

🏋️How fitness, leadership and fierce determination can reshape your life.


Watch on YouTube or listen on all major podcasting platforms 🎙️

 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

 

“Of all of the traumatic events in life, this has been the one that's actually given me a sense of purpose. It's been the making of me. It's made me realise, having lost a brother, what really matters in life. It just makes you grab life by the balls.”

Phyllida Swift - 32:17

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“You've got no choice with these things, you can either completely crumble, or you can take charge of it and turn it into a lesson.” Phyllida Swift -13:04

“It's not even the most traumatic thing I've ever been through. It's most obvious. It's stamped across my face and but it's not been the the hardest thing I've had to do” - Phyllida Swift - 15:42 

“I had a fractured hip, spine, dislocated elbow, fractured coccyx, fractured rib, but obviously the most significant and obvious injury was, I had my whole face cut open and the back of my head as well.” - Phyllida Swift - 23:32

“I've done what I want to do. I'm at peace. If I die, fine. And that is a gift, because now I'm not scared of death.” Phyllida Swift - 25:56

“It's not been a demon for me. It's been a sense of purpose, and it's helped me to understand the injustice and the challenges that do exist in this world for people with facial disfigurements, facial differences, and it set me out on the path to want to go and fight for justice.” - Phyllida Swift - 33:10

“My message, my motto, and what I work in, is face equality - which is that you should be able to look however the hell you want to look, and get respect and dignity and rights irrespective.” - Phyllida Swift -1:12:53

“There’s the “Joker” scar and “The Lion King” scar and all of the warped, horrible lessons we're teaching younger generations by constantly telling that narrative that someone is not to be trusted and they must be evil if they have a scar.” - Phyllida Swift - 1:14:56

Ty Temel
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EPISODE 46