Built to Be: How I Turned My Past Into My Purpose — And How You Can Too

In this deeply personal episode of The BTB Project, Kollman Gearhart shares a story he’s carried for decades one that resurfaced in the most unexpected way. What begins as a stop at a gas station with his son turns into a life-changing confrontation with buried trauma from childhood. Through honesty, vulnerability, and courage, Kollman reveals how pain that once defined him has now become the foundation of his purpose. This episode is an invitation for anyone carrying silent wounds to step into healing, reclaim their story, and discover what they are truly Built To Be.This episode explores:The moment a Yoohoo bottle triggered a decades-old memory.Childhood trauma and the hidden ways it shapes our lives.Growing up in a home shadowed by addiction.Overcoming weight struggles, depression, and doubt to become a Division I athlete.The last words from Kollman’s mother that defined his mission.Why unresolved trauma keeps resurfacing until it’s faced.How healing is less about “getting over it” and more about “walking through it.”A powerful reminder: You are not broken. You are Built To Be.Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Why this story matters now02:10 – Growing up in the shadow of addiction05:30 – The nickname “Big Teddy Bear” and the pain it carried08:15 – A run that changed everything at 1411:40 – Fighting for my mom and the moment that defined my mission15:00 – From weight loss to Division I athletics18:20 – The Yoohoo moment: when buried trauma resurfaced23:10 – The truth about unresolved pain26:00 – What healing really looks like29:00 – Built To Be: turning pain into purpose32:00 – Closing message: You are not broken