#124 Survival, Strength, and Saving Lives:  Arjan Erkel on 607 Days in Captivity and Rescuing Girls from Exploitation episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 7, 2025 · 1H 24M

#124 Survival, Strength, and Saving Lives: Arjan Erkel on 607 Days in Captivity and Rescuing Girls from Exploitation

from Product Fields · host Sander Dur, Ryan Brook, Jim Sammons, and Rich Visotcky

In this gripping episode, Sander and Jim sit down with Arjan Erkel, who shares his harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage for 607 days in Dagestan. Arjan walks us through the terrifying moment of his abduction, the psychological battles he faced in captivity, and the resilience that helped him survive. He also discusses his remarkable mindset shift, the unexpected relationships he built with his captors, and how he reclaimed his life after being freed.Beyond his personal story, Arjan sheds light on his work with Free a Girl, an organization dedicated to rescuing children from sexual exploitation. We also dive into what businesses and individuals can learn from his experiences—resilience, adaptability, and the power of taking small steps in difficult situations.Support Free a Girl!The Free a Girl foundation, has already rescued over 8,000 children from sexual exploitation. Join the mission by donating, spreading awareness, or supporting the Paperclip Challenge to raise $100K.🌍 Learn more & donate: Free a Girl💡 Support the Paperclip Challenge: Help us trade up from a guitar and amplifier to $100K to support this cause. You have something to trade? Reach out to us via [email protected]!Connect with Arjan📖 Book: Held Hostage – [Available on Amazon]🌐 Website: ArjanErkel.com🌐 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjanerkel/Connect with Mastering Agility📢 Follow the podcast for more inspiring stories💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastering-agility📩 Contact us for trades or sponsorships👉 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this inspiring story!Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this gripping episode, Sander and Jim sit down with Arjan Erkel, who shares his harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage for 607 days in Dagestan. Arjan walks us through the terrifying moment of his abduction, the psychological battles he faced in captivity, and the resilience that helped him survive. He also discusses his remarkable mindset shift, the unexpected relationships he built with his captors, and how he reclaimed his life after being freed.Beyond his personal story, Arjan sheds light on his work with Free a Girl, an organization dedicated to rescuing children from sexual exploitation. We also dive into what businesses and individuals can learn from his experiences—resilience, adaptability, and the power of taking small steps in difficult situations.Support Free a Girl!The Free a Girl foundation, has already rescued over 8,000 children from sexual exploitation. Join the mission by donating, spreading awareness, or supporting the Paperclip Challenge to raise $100K.🌍 Learn more & donate: Free a Girl💡 Support the Paperclip Challenge: Help us trade up from a guitar and amplifier to $100K to support this cause. You have something to trade? Reach out to us via [email protected]!Connect with Arjan📖 Book: Held Hostage – [Available on Amazon]🌐 Website: ArjanErkel.com🌐 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjanerkel/Connect with Mastering Agility📢 Follow the podcast for more inspiring stories💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastering-agility📩 Contact us for trades or sponsorships👉 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this inspiring story!Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

NOW PLAYING

#124 Survival, Strength, and Saving Lives: Arjan Erkel on 607 Days in Captivity and Rescuing Girls from Exploitation

0:00 1:24:29

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Humanizing Change Tremendousness Join us each episode as we talk with innovators in their respective fields about their unique journeys and how they humanize change in their own work, right here, on Humanizing Change. Naturally Inspired Podcast: Health. Freedom. Lifestyle. Tammy Cuthbert Garcia Naturally Inspired Podcast is a weekly podcast where we interview health practitioners, authors, filmmakers, scientists and leading experts in the fields of health and wellness. Guests are on the cutting edge and our conversations aim to inspire listeners to think critically about health choices for better life results. Learn More At https://naturallyinspiredpodcast.com/ Capital Ideas Podcast Capital Group Want to learn how professional investors do it? The Capital Ideas podcast brings you the latest investment thinking from Capital Group, one of the world's largest investment management organizations. Each week we'll get inside the minds of portfolio managers, analysts and economists to break down market trends, macroeconomic forces, investing approaches and lessons learned from personal experience. Take 30 minutes and tap into the intellectual capital of Capital Group. Capital Client Group, Inc.All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.For full disclosures go to capitalgroup.com/global-disclosures. Luxury Event Planning Services Casey-D Smith Experience world-class luxury event planning services in the UAE with Gear Up Events. Our expert team specializes in creating unforgettable corporate events, product launches, executive retreats, gala dinners, and exclusive private celebrations tailored to your vision. From concept development and venue selection to logistics, entertainment, and on-site management, we handle every detail with precision and creativity. Based in Dubai, we deliver seamless, high-end experiences across the UAE, combining innovation, elegance, and flawless execution. Whether you’re hosting a high-profile corporate gathering or a prestigious private event, Gear Up Events transforms your ideas into extraordinary moments that leave a lasting impression on every guest.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Product Fields?

This episode is 1 hour and 24 minutes long.

When was this Product Fields episode published?

This episode was published on March 7, 2025.

What is this episode about?

In this gripping episode, Sander and Jim sit down with Arjan Erkel, who shares his harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage for 607 days in Dagestan. Arjan walks us through the terrifying moment of his abduction, the psychological...

Can I download this Product Fields episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!