Kegan "SMURF" Gill, a former US Navy F/A-18E pilot whose life took a dramatic turn following a near-fatal high-speed ejection at 695mph. Kegan's story is not just about survival; it's a profound narrative of overcoming life-altering injuries, battling and defeating prescription drug addiction, and enduring a gruelling two-year recovery process. His triumphant return to flying Super Hornets symbolises a victory over adversity that few can imagine, yet many can draw inspiration from.

Kegan's tale, however, unfolds further as he confronts delayed-onset PTSD and cognitive issues from a severe traumatic brain injury—a battle that traditional pharmaceutical treatments only worsened, leading to his hospitalisation. Faced with the limitations of the VA healthcare system and a daunting mental health struggle, Kegan embarked on a quest for healing beyond conventional medicine. His transformative experiences with alternative therapies, including indigenous medicine, are pivotal in his journey toward holistic healing. Now medication-free and a competitor in ultra-endurance events, Kegan advocates for chronic health. Join us as he shares his inspiring story of recovery, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of wellness, all while raising a family and giving back through speaking and writing about his life-changing experiences.

Here’s the outline of this interview with Kegan Gill:

[00:01:17 ] Becoming a Navy aviator.

[00:05:48 ] Kegan's story.

[00:13:18 ] When things went wrong.

[00:25:23 ] Trauma surgery.

[00:27:03 ] "SMurF".

[00:28:38 ] Paralysis.

[00:30:53 ] Nutrition at the VA hospital.

[00:33:27 ] Weaning off pain medications.

[00:37:47 ] Book: Black Box Thinking, by Matthew Syed.

[00:42:36 ] Effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

[00:55:25 ] Stanford prison experiment; Documentary: The Experiment.

[01:02:13 ] Book: Finding Ultra, by Rich Roll.

[01:02:27 ] Book: How to Change Your Mind, by Michael Pollan.

[01:02:48 ] Book: Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker.

[01:03:33 ] Book: In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan.

[01:05:49 ] Vet Solutions

[01:06:57 ] Podcast: Healing Trauma with MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, with Dan Engle.

[01:08:45 ] Warrior Angels Foundation.

[01:11:28 ] Heroic Hearts Project.

[01:14:40 ] Defenders of Freedom.

[01:16:21 ] Kirk Parsley; Doc Parsley's Sleep Remedy; Podcasts: Sleep To Win: How Navy SEALs and Other High Performers Stay on Top and How to Get Perfect Sleep with Dr. Kirk Parsley, MD.

[01:18:13 ] Book: When Brains Collide, by Michael D. Lewis, MD

[01:18:26 ] Dr. Mark Gordon on the Joe Rogan Experience.

[01:23:12 ] No Fallen Heroes.

[01:23:43 ] Max Afterburner Podcast.

[01:24:19 ] Psychotherapist Troy Valencia; Iboga.

[01:27:06 ] Awaken Your Soul Iboga retreats.

[01:28:27 ] 7x Project.

[01:32:59 ] Book coming: Phoenix Revival.

[01:33:15 ] Dead Reckoning Collective.

[01:33:21 ] Book: First Train Out of Denver, by Leo Jenkins.

[01:34:53 ] Find Kegan Gill on LinkedIn and Instagram.