Turning Trauma into Purpose - from TBI to Ironman (with Jackson Davis) episode artwork

EPISODE · May 21, 2026 · 31 MIN

Turning Trauma into Purpose - from TBI to Ironman (with Jackson Davis)

from Hope Survives | Brain Injury Podcast

When you are dealing with the overwhelming changes of a brain injury, it can easily feel like you are stuck in constant survival mode. There are so many changes in identity, dreams, and goals. So how do you move forward and find purpose? In this episode, Cristabelle sits down with Jackson Davis, who shares his powerful story of turning trauma into a deeper purpose. After surviving a catastrophic car accident that left him in a multi-month coma with severe physical and brain injuries, Jackson had to completely rebuild his life, reframe his goals, and discover what it truly means to endure - even becoming an ultra-endurance Ironman athlete.We also feature a special spotlight with Dr. Ryan Harvey from The Functional Neurology Center on finding meaning during recovery. Dr. Harvey discusses the vital psychological shift from focusing on feeling "broken" to intentionally making yourself whole again, and how a purpose-driven perspective can actively build your neurological resilience.🧠 In this episode:Navigating survival mode & why it is completely okay to just focus on getting through the day one moment at a time when your system is overwhelmed.Coping with the sudden loss of your old life plans and learning to accept and love the person you are today.How finding new purpose doesn't have to look like a massive plan right away; it can be found in the small ways you choose to show up for yourself and your community each day.Ways that Jackson defied medical expectations, overcame severe physical limitations, and trained to compete in multiple long-distance triathlons.The importance setting goals for yourself to take those small steps forward - even if it’s pacing your daily actions one hour at a time.CONNECTFollow @hopesurvives Visit ⁠hopesurvives.org ⁠⁠Join a support group at ⁠hopesurvives.org/community⁠⁠Reach out to us anytime: ⁠[email protected]⁠ Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden |⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-------SponsorThank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC offers personalized neuro-recovery programs for anyone going through brain injury and a wide range of neurological conditions. Learn more:⁠ ⁠https://www.thefnc.com⁠⁠ -------0:00 Intro2:00 Welcome with Cristabelle4:55 Spotlight - Finding Purpose within Recovery - Dr. Ryan Harvey7:55 Introducing Jackson Davis9:30 Jackson’s TBI Story19:30 Emotional & Physical Recovery21:50 Finding New Dreams & Goals23:13 Defining Purpose25:05 Journey to Ironman27:45 Encouragement in Walking in Purpose30:10 Words of Hope-------DisclaimerThis podcast is for education and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your physician for individualized care. More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org/podcast⁠

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 21, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Turning Trauma into Purpose - from TBI to Ironman (with Jackson Davis)

0:00 31:54

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.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Hope Survives | Brain Injury Podcast?

This episode is 31 minutes long.

When was this Hope Survives | Brain Injury Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on May 21, 2026.

Can I download this Hope Survives | Brain Injury Podcast episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!