About
About Me
Barb Allen is an author, speaker, and Co-Founder of the Great American Syndicate. She hosts the popular Flex Your Freedom Podcast.
Barb is the widow of Lt Louis Allen, who was murdered by a fellow soldier while deployed to Iraq. The tragic loss made her keenly aware of the cost of our freedom. She struggled for years to find her footing and raise her four boys. It was in those years that extraordinary people stepped forward to inspire, encourage, mentor, and support her and her kids.
Barb has conducted hundreds of interviews and has been featured on major media outlets including Fox News, The Today Show, CNN, and The Army Times. She is also featured in a book by Marie Cosgrove and Taya Kyle’s book American Spirit. Barb is a powerful and poignant speaker on adversity and patriotism. She has shared the stage with GREATS including Nick Vujicic, Jason Redman, Allen West, Bedros Keuilian, David Webb, Chad Prather, and Ray ‘Cash’ Care.
Barb Allen has faced the Devil himself more than once…and won. Everyone has hit ‘rock bottom’. Some have given up but Barb has not.
From Widow To Warrior
Barbara Allen is Grief’s worst enemy. After losing her husband in a tragedy that rocked the military and the nation, Barb struggled with finding her own will to live. Were it not for her love of her four children, she may not have accepted the help that came her way, and Grief may have claimed another victim.
But instead, she began to realize her Will was mightier than she’d believed, and she began to turn the table on Grief.
Today she is an award-winning author, compelling keynote speaker, podcast host, and co-founder of the Great American Syndicate.
Barbara firmly believes in extracting value from experience, and using that value to create a life rich in beauty, no matter the odds.
Barb allen is a fierce supporter of the military and all who serve to keep our communities and our country safe, and she is determined to do her part to be worthy of their service and sacrifice. She is passionate about helping Americans remember and reinforce the greatness that still lives within our citizens.
She’s been crowned an honorary Miss America and won a NYS Press Association award. Her work was honored with an award from the military writers society of America (MWSA). She has been featured on Fox News, CNN, The Today Show, and recognized in the Military and Army Times. Barb was also prominently showcased in the music video “Dear Mom,” a heartfelt tribute to Gold Star Moms.
Her story ran in headlines across the country and now she utilizes her platform to connect and surround herself with people who have their own extraordinary stories of resilience, courage, and success.
Gold Star Wife
A fallen hero: in this video gold star wife barbara allen, is interviewed by fox news host harris faulkner in regard to her efforts to secure the purple heart for her late husband, lt. Louis allen. As of 2015 the military has continued to refuse her husband this honor. Barbara’s relentless pursuit of justice and recognition of his sacrifice in the form of a purple heart will serve all members of the armed forces and their families.
Speaker / Author
After losing her husband in a tragedy that rocked the military, Barb struggled with finding her own will to live. Her work today is founded upon the experience she gained and the lessons she learned as she rebuilt her life. She’s a powerful resilience coach, speaker, and best-selling author.
Barbara was just 32 years old in 2005, when her world fell apart. Her husband had been murdered in Iraq at the hands of a fellow soldier – a traitor who would ultimately be acquitted at a military court martial even after he offered to plead guilty. Barbara was left to raise four young boys – just six, five, three, and one year old at the time their father was killed.
She wanted to give up. She very nearly did. And yet, amid the darkest moments, she felt touched by a grace that inspired her. Slowly, she found the strength to piece herself back together as she flew to Kuwait for the first military court proceeding against the soldier who’d killed her husband.
Barbara Allen then spent years traveling thousands of miles to numerous other hearings leading up to the failed court martial.
She learned to navigate the military’s criminal justice system. She earned a Masters degree and wrote a book about her ordeal and the grave miscarriage of justice in this case. She learned how it could all have been prevented, and she began advocating for change so it would never happen again.
Barb has since published two more books, worked as a veterans advocate, co-founded the Great American Syndicate, hosted live events, and inspired audiences across the country.
Conquering Grief’s Power
Train Your Pain
Parenting Through Pain
Women’s Empowerment
Beating Back Against Bullying
What Not to Wear to a Murder Trial, and other tips tragedy taught me
Train Your Pain
The Two Untaught Stages of Grief
How to Apply the Stages of Grief to Every Day Adversity
Parenting Through Pain
Why to Woo a Widow
Power of Proximity- How to Maximize your Relationships
Each topic is customized to fit the audience she is meeting, and tailored to suit all formats from workshops to keynotes.
Author
Barb Allen’s first book, Front Toward Enemy, began as a journal for her four children to read one day. As the capital court-martial progressed and Barb learned the shocking details surrounding her husband’s murder, she realized the truth would not be told in court. Articles she wrote on the trial earned her a NYS Press Association Award, and her journal became an award-winning book that was optioned for film.
How to Woo a Widow is Barb’s second book. This romantic fiction novel is packed with intense highs and lows, just enough humor to blend laughter with the tears, and perfectly captures the blend of blessings mixed in with grief. It is the chick-flick ready for a screenplay!
Barb’s third book is What Not to Wear to a Murder Trial, and other tips tragedy taught me. As its title suggests, this signature book is written in a lighter tone that is so engaging, the reader sweeps right into its powerful lessons and inspirational insight before they even realize it. Strongly endorsed by powerhouses in their own rights, this book holds nuggets of wisdom for anyone facing adversity.
When Barb isn’t busy writing her own books, she opens her calendar up for select ghostwriting clients. She specializes in memoirs and loves helping her clients turn their stories into their signature books.
