THE ED MYLETT SHOW
Episode: What It Takes to Overcome the Unimaginable
Guest: Austin Hatch
Date: September 9, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode features Austin Hatch, a man who endured and overcame two separate family plane crashes—each taking members of his family. Surviving these unimaginable tragedies, Austin went on to realize his dream of playing basketball for the University of Michigan and is now an inspirational speaker. Ed Mylett guides a profoundly moving conversation about resilience, faith, grief, and the ultimate power of choosing how to respond to life’s most adverse events.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Unimaginable Story: Surviving Two Plane Crashes
[01:26] – [04:40]
- Ed sets the context: Austin is possibly the only person alive to have survived two separate family plane crashes, losing loved ones both times.
- Austin describes his loving, tight-knit family and the first crash at age 8, which claimed his mother, older sister, and younger brother.
- The second crash, at age 16, happened just days after Austin received a basketball scholarship from Michigan. This crash killed his father and stepmother and left Austin in a coma.
Quote:
"It's sometimes hard to put yourself in the shoes of somebody else... You see a story that's so crazy, hard to believe that could ever happen. But, you know, God forbid, it did happen to me."
—Austin Hatch [03:22]
2. Grief, Survivors’ Guilt, and Moving Forward
[07:17] – [10:44]
- Ed explores the aftermath of these events: survivor’s guilt, witnessing his father cope, and rebuilding life.
- Austin discusses the importance of expressing grief in a healthy way, using an analogy of a balloon that eventually must release air.
- There’s necessity in both feeling pain and gradually resuming life.
Quote:
"You can't just keep all your emotions inside...if you keep it all inside you, at a certain point, it's like a balloon....when the balloon starts to get a little full, you need to let it pop a little bit and express yourself."
—Austin Hatch [09:34]
3. Learning from His Father, and the Second Plane Crash
[10:44] – [14:05]
- Austin’s father remarries, the family slowly rebuilds, and Austin pursues his basketball dream.
- He secures a scholarship at Michigan, honoring his mother’s legacy.
- Just nine days later, the second crash occurs; Austin enters a coma and emerges to face massive physical and emotional recovery.
Quote:
"I was in a coma for a couple months and came out of it, had to relearn how to do everything. And yeah, I had a long road to recovery, but I think we made a pretty good comeback despite the circumstances."
—Austin Hatch [14:05]
4. The Hardest Part: Physical vs. Mental Recovery
[18:39] – [20:26]
- Ed asks whether learning to walk again or rebuilding his psyche was harder.
- Austin explains it was the internal work—the fight to believe again, battle doubt, and reclaim hope—that proved most grueling.
Quote:
"All the physical stuff, like relearning to walk...that wasn't the hard...the hard stuff was what I lost and, you know, believing that, like, I'm gonna find a way."
—Austin Hatch [18:57]
5. Life Without Fear: Lessons from Trauma
[20:26] – [22:41]
- Austin shares he does not live in fear despite repeated tragedy.
- He applies statistical thinking, faith, and a sense of peace about death, explaining he trusts in his ultimate reunion with lost family.
Quote:
"Past causation doesn't predict or increase the probability of future causation...sometimes we let our mind tell us things that aren't true."
—Austin Hatch [21:01]
6. Coping with Traumatic Memories
[24:07] – [27:37]
- Ed asks if Austin replays the traumatic events in his mind.
- Blessedly, Austin has no memory of the second crash due to traumatic brain injury. He does recall the first, but he emphasizes gratitude for the life he’s built as a counter to grief.
Quote:
"It's literally impossible to be truly grateful and very negative at the same time. Those two emotions can't coexist."
—Austin Hatch [27:03]
7. G.R.I.T: Breaking Down the Formula
[29:45] – [38:44] Austin teaches his four-part formula for resilience—GRIT:
- G: Greater Purpose – Driven by something bigger than yourself
- R: Growth Mindset – Viewing adversity as opportunity
- I: Integrity – Keeping commitments regardless of changing circumstances
- T: Team First – Fulfilling your role for the greater good
Notable GRIT Quotes:
- "Grit isn't just about working for the long term goal. Grit's every day...Grit was getting out of bed, grit was walking the hospital floor." [30:04]
- "I think our integrity includes following through on our commitments, especially when the circumstances change." [35:22]
- "You may not be the best on your team, but you could be your best for the team." [38:06]
8. The Power of Small Actions
[39:20] – [43:03]
- Ed challenges the idea of “massive” action, noting that sometimes, it’s just small, consistent steps.
- Austin agrees—his recovery began with “wall push-ups” when standing was difficult. “Massive action is relative,” he says; it’s about showing up and doing your best today.
9. Faith and Ultimate Meaning
[45:54] – [49:43]
- Ed asks how these experiences tested and shaped Austin’s faith.
- For Austin, the adversities have only strengthened it. He finds meaning in scripture, especially verses about how perseverance through trials leads to true blessing and fulfillment.
Quote:
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because that person will receive the crown of life..."
—Austin Hatch [47:03; quoting James 1:12]
10. Closing Reflections & Wisdom
[44:00] – [45:54], [49:43] – [52:01]
- Ed asks what Austin would tell his 16-year-old self before tragedy struck again.
- Austin: “Don’t forget how you worked to get to Michigan; you’re going to have to work a lot harder to rebuild your life.”
- Ed closes with genuine admiration, noting that Austin is one of those rare people who inspires others to want to become better versions of themselves.
Quote:
"You're the right man for this existence. You're the right man to deliver this message."
—Ed Mylett [50:22]
Memorable Quotes
- “You can’t always control what happens to us, but we can always control how we respond.” —Austin Hatch [03:22]
- “Grit isn’t just about working for the long-term goal. Grit’s every day.” —Austin Hatch [30:04]
- “Our integrity includes following through on our commitments, especially when the circumstances change.” —Austin Hatch [35:22]
- “It’s literally impossible to be truly grateful and very negative at the same time.” —Austin Hatch [27:03]
- “If you don't quit and you go guns blazing…Winning is actually inevitable.” —Ed Mylett [43:03]
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |--------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 01:26–04:40 | Austin’s family & first plane crash | | 08:02–10:44 | Grieving, survivors’ guilt, and advice on adversity| | 11:28–14:05 | Second plane crash and recovery | | 18:39–20:26 | Hardest part: mental vs. physical healing | | 20:43–22:41 | On fear and life after trauma | | 24:07–27:37 | Coping with trauma; practicing gratitude | | 29:45–38:44 | Austin’s GRIT formula explained | | 39:20–43:03 | The importance of small, consistent actions | | 45:54–49:43 | Faith through hardship | | 44:00, 50:22 | Lessons for his younger self; closing reflections |
Takeaways for Listeners
- You cannot always control circumstances, but you always control your response.
- Healthy grief includes expressing your emotions rather than bottling them up.
- Purpose, mindset, resilience, integrity, and teamwork are tools for any adversity.
- Showing up daily with effort—no matter how small—is a form of massive action.
- Act with integrity, regardless of changing conditions.
- Gratitude is a powerful antidote to negativity.
- Faith and hope can be strengthened, not destroyed, by life’s trials.
This conversation with Austin Hatch delivers not only an almost incomprehensible story of survival but also practical, hard-earned wisdom on living with purpose, faith, and resilience.