171. Miracles Amidst Tragedy: A 2004 Tsunami Survivor's Story of Faith and Courage

Join me as I sit down with Riley, a 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami survivor. Riley recounts the harrowing day when a 50-foot tsunami struck while she was on a beach in Thailand with her family. Amidst chaos and devastation, Riley's encounter with God's tangible presence helped her overcome immense fear and trauma. We discuss her journey to healing, including her parents' courageous decision to stay and help the local community, and how facing her fears head-on led her to complete a beach lifeguard training. Riley also shares miraculous stories from her mission trips around the world and encourages listeners to find strength in their faith. Don't miss this inspiring episode and learn about her book, 'Three Seconds of Courage: How Small Acts of Bravery Lead to Big Change.'

• 00:00 The Tsunami Strikes: A Survivor's Tale
• 00:33 The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: Facts and Figures
• 01:19 Introducing Riley: A Survivor's Story
• 02:26 Riley's Family Mission in Thailand
• 04:14 The Day of the Tsunami: Riley's Experience
• 12:17 Miraculous Survival and Aftermath
• 15:53 Journey to Healing: Overcoming Fear
• 21:12 Life After the Tsunami: Faith and Courage
• 29:05 Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

 

Riley's book, "3 Seconds of Courage"

 

Riley's Website 

 

About Riley
Riley Kehoe is a TED X speaker, podcaster, and writer. Through her writing and teaching, she seeks to convey a simple yet profound truth: with God, you can beat fear.   Much of her drive to succeed comes from several close encounters with death and the hard knocks she’s experienced in life. No stranger to fear, Riley is not afraid to speak out about challenging topics. Her ability to be vulnerable while making people laugh is why so many young people are drawn to her content. After traveling as missionaries around the world in 2024, Riley and her husband, Jack, live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Riley has a Commercial Law and Management degree from Auckland University (New Zealand) and graduated with her Master’s in Global Leadership with Honors from Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, California) in 2021. The average age of the Global Leader enrolled in this program is fifty, making Riley the youngest student ever accepted and the first student accepted under thirty. In her spare time, Riley is a keen surfer, equestrian rider, and beach lifeguard, and she practices Mixed Martial Arts.

 

Over the last three years, Riley has been exposed to 5+ million people. Riley’s first book Three Seconds of Courage is released Jan 28, 2025. She plans on having a career in publishing for decades to come and is already at work on her second book. Riley will continue to deliver her core message through public speaking engagements.