55. From Homeless to Helping 20,000 People a Month | Stephanie Bowman | B Student

Stephanie Bowman survived severe domestic violence, battled addiction, experienced homelessness with her two kids, and eventually lost custody of her children. But her story didn't end there. Today, she is the Founder and CEO of One Heart for Women and Children, an organization that feeds and supports over 20,000 people in Central Florida every single month.

In this episode of the B Student podcast, host Ashley Billings sits down with Stephanie for a raw, honest look at what it takes to rebuild your life from nothing. Stephanie shares the daily realities of recovery, what it’s like to start a massive community movement with zero money or business plan, and the unbelievable, true story of how a stolen trailer unexpectedly became the catalyst for a million-dollar campaign.

If you are going through a dark season, trying to launch a passion project, or just need a reminder of what human resilience looks like, listen to this conversation.

What we discuss in this episode:

The reality of escaping domestic violence and surviving on the streets with two children.Navigating addiction recovery, the foster care system, and finding the confidence to start over.How to launch a thriving nonprofit when you have no funding, no building, and no business plan.Breaking the stereotypes around food insecurity in Central Florida and helping those who need it.The wild story of the stolen trailer that completely changed the trajectory of One Heart.

Time Stamps:
(00:00) Meet Stephanie Bowman and the mission of One Heart for Women and Children
(03:18) The Victory Cup journey and 11 years of persistence
(06:42) Building relationships that fueled a million-dollar campaign
(10:05) Feeding families with dignity and ending hunger in Central Florida
(13:34) Escaping domestic violence and becoming homeless with two children
(17:58) Addiction recovery, foster care, and rebuilding her life
(21:27) Faith, mentorship, and finding the courage to move forward
(24:56) Starting a nonprofit with no money, building, or business plan
(28:31) The stolen trailer that unexpectedly changed everything
(33:02) Serving 20,000 people a month and the realities of food insecurity
(37:06) Breaking stereotypes about who needs help
(40:02) Stephanie's message of hope for anyone facing their darkest season

-----------------------------------
Listen to more episodes of The B-Student Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

-----------------------------------
Connect with our Guests at:
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-bowman-8484998/?isSelfProfile=false
Website:  https://bstephanie.com/

Learn More about Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: https://www.winterpark.org/
--------------------------------
Podcast produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/