"I became a living upcycled human." | Rebuilding identity after trauma

A major surgery forced Jasper Eales to rebuild his relationship with his body, his work, and his identity. This conversation explores rebuilding identity after surgery and how disruption can completely change the way you see your life. Jasper Eales is the co-founder of Sealand Gear, a South African brand built around reclaimed materials and sustainable design. But before Sealand existed, Jasper went through a medical crisis that reshaped how he thought about waste, resilience, recovery, and what it means to become someone new after hardship. In this episode, Jasper shares the mindset that carried him through surgery and recovery, why he describes himself as a “living upcycled human,” and how that experience eventually influenced the business he built. We talk about physical preparation before surgery, the psychological side of rebuilding identity after surgery, learning to focus on what you can control, and the perspective shifts that often follow a sudden life change. The conversation also explores how trauma and disruption can create a different relationship with purpose, nature, growth, and meaning. Jasper reflects on hope, emotional resilience, and why surviving a crisis often changes the way people move through the world afterward. Something Shifted is the podcast about life transitions, identity transformation, and the moments that force people to rebuild who they are. Hosted by Sean Loots, the show explores stories of starting over, emotional recovery, and finding meaning after major life changes through the lens of Lifequakes. The surgery that forced Jasper to rebuild his identity - Why Jasper calls himself a “living upcycled human” - Preparing physically and mentally for major surgery - How recovery changed Jasper’s relationship with waste and purpose - Building Sealand Gear after a life-changing disruption - Focusing on what you can control during recovery - The perspective shift that followed trauma and survival RECORDED AT LATITUDE PODCAST STUDIO: https://www.staylatitude.co.za/latitude-podcast-studio/ Listen to Something Shifted: The Soundtrack on Spotify