

Johnson became an escape artist after taking a break from her job at aįortune 500 company to help her mother run an entertainment business.

"I use a shallow water free diving technique where I take a number of breaths so I can take in more oxygen and oxygenate my blood," Johnson says. She practiced picking locks, and she worked with a dive master to slow her heart rate and hold her breath.

Johnson first publicly performed this escape in 2003. "The world's premiere female escape artist - give it up for Kristen Johnson!" Ridgeway exclaims. After nearly three minutes Johnson has picked every lock and freed herself from the chains. Johnson pulls a bobby pin from her hair and begins to work on getting the handcuffs off. Boise State Public Radio Kristen Johnson as Lady Houdini in an upside-down escape.
