239 - Built for This: How a Near-Death Experience Rewired Brandon's Brain and Life

When co‑host Brandon Clift and his pregnant wife climbed aboard a neighbour’s Piper Apache, they expected a relaxing ski trip in West Virginia. Instead, one engine failed on take‑off, forcing their small plane to circle back as gusting winds pushed them toward the trees.

With another pilot trailing the plane calmly advising “hold your blue line” over the radio, their pilots managed a safe landing. In this episode, Brandon recalls looking at his wife and wondering whether they were about to orphan their three‑year‑old daughter while denying their unborn baby a chance to live. He explains how that question cracked open his own perfectionism and catalysed a new commitment to “sovereignty” and action.

"Is this it?"

Brandon shares the full story of the incident and, more importantly, what shifted in the weeks that followed. This conversation explores how proximity to death can strip away old narratives and expose what actually matters.

Takeaways – Near‑death experiences can act as catalysts for growth, but listeners don’t need to flirt with danger to integrate the lessons. The hosts encourage men to:

• Recognise the opportunities and support networks already in place.
• Choose empowering meanings for challenging events, leveraging the brain’s RAS to find evidence that supports growth.
• Adopt identity‑based habits by deciding who you want to become and taking consistent action.
• Prioritise purpose and sovereignty over perfectionism.

This episode is not about chasing danger or manufacturing trauma. It is an invitation to look honestly at the places where fear, old stories, and self protection are quietly delaying the life you already know you are meant to live.

If you have been waiting for certainty, permission, or the perfect plan, this conversation may be the nudge you did not know you needed.

- Atomic Habits by James Clear
 

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