After being sexually abused and tortured by multiple perpetrators starting at age 3, and then being trafficked at 16, she spiraled into addiction and saw no way out of the pain she endured.
On May 9, 1997, her life changed when she committed to a path of recovery. She still faced more challenges: a terrifying diagnosis that led to heart surgery with 50/50 odds of survival, and unhealthy relationships and partnerships that proved almost as dangerous as the addictions she had left behind. Yet whatever she’s endured, she has confronted her past trauma, rebuilt her life, and found true love—something that once seemed impossible.
Today, Hilary is a keynote speaker delivering a powerful message of resilience, courage, and forgiveness. She brings a blend of heartfelt love and encouragement, paired with humor and fun. Her message is one of hope.
Having achieved success as a singer-songwriter, including reaching No. 1 and No. 10 on the Billboard Charts when everyone told her it couldn’t be done, she remains unwavering in her belief that your dreams can come true and that it’s never too late.
Hilary has defied the odds in her life, lives her message, and inspires every room she enters.
Since 2012, Hilary has spoken at recovery events, women’s conferences, nonprofit organizations, corporate summits, faith-based conventions, and to trauma survivors, always with optimism and compassion. She is also the founder of The Red Songbird Foundation, which provides trauma therapy for individuals and families. She speaks to empower her audience, and through her story of darkness and pain, she lights the path for others who need to know that you can not only recover…you can thrive.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Hilary’s keynotes are tailored to each event to maximize their impact. Whether she is speaking to mental health professionals, trauma survivors, women’s groups, or college audiences, her story will inspire and leave them with a message of hope.
Addiction to Recovery
Audience: Recovery events, Trauma survivors, Women’s conferences, General keynote
Before getting sober in 1997, Hilary lived a life of addiction and trauma. Having been abused by multiple perpetrators as a child, trafficked as a teenager, and turning to addiction to cope with the pain, she eventually found her way to recovery, which led to healing from the trauma and PTSD she endured in horrific circumstances. In this signature keynote, she shares her journey with unfiltered honesty, showing how she went from broken to back to life. Her message is that even in the darkest places, you can start over and live an extraordinary life.
The Magic of Forgiveness
Audience: Churches, Colleges, Trauma Survivors, Women’s Conferences
This keynote speaks directly to the power of forgiveness. Hilary shares her experience of forgiving one of her abusers and the freedom that transformed her life. She discusses the anger that follows abuse and how to find a way out through forgiveness that doesn’t suggest “turning the page” or “letting it go.” Instead, she draws on her lived experience to offer a different perspective. She speaks on this subject with a true understanding of how to forgive the unforgivable without losing your truth in the process.
Finding Faith
Audience: Faith-based events, Women’s conferences, Recovery events, Colleges, Churches
Where is God when facing unimaginable pain and abuse? How can one find faith when feeling completely alone and forgotten? In this keynote on finding faith, Hilary does not exclude any beliefs about God; instead, she embraces all paths and belief systems. She shares openly and honestly about her experiences with religion and churches, and about feeling lost and betrayed by God. It wasn’t until she met kind, loving people who loved her unconditionally that her belief in a power greater than herself was restored. This talk focuses on the power of love and how it can mend even the most broken.
Living with Heart
Audience: Women’s Conferences, Recovery Events, Colleges, Leadership
Hilary not only faced unimaginable odds in her life but also underwent a terrifying heart surgery. She was given a 50/50 chance of survival. After surviving, she felt she had been given a second chance at life and knew she could not waste a single precious moment. In this empowering keynote, Hilary discusses how she overcame the odds and has lived to tell her story. She has since defied all limitations and lives with purpose. In this talk, she explains how you can change your life at any time—you don’t need a life-threatening surgery to do so.
BOOK HILARY ROBERTS
Powerful storytelling. Authentic connection. Transformational conversations for audiences seeking inspiration, healing, and meaningful impact.
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