Living Your Legacy – Above Ground: The Veteran Who Turned Pain into Purpose
Podcast: Living Your Legacy
Host: Kiera Brinton (with reference to host Rudy Mawer in show description)
Guest: Alan Francis
Episode Date: October 15, 2025
Episode Overview
In this inspiring episode, Kiera Brinton sits down with Alan Francis, a decorated US Army combat veteran, best-selling author, and leadership coach, to discuss his journey from hardship to healing. Alan shares how he's transformed personal pain into a powerful legacy of purpose and gratitude, explores the rapid creation and impact of his book "Above Ground," and offers heartfelt advice for others seeking hope or purpose, regardless of their circumstances.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Meaning Behind "Above Ground" (00:39, 06:36)
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Alan's Daily Refrain:
Alan explains that simply being "above ground" (alive) is a powerful reminder of gratitude:"Just the simple fact I am above ground signifies so much. I'm alive, I'm doing okay. I'm not dead. I'm above ground."
— Alan Francis [00:39]This notion is central both to his personal outlook and the central message of his book, encouraging listeners to find gratitude in everyday existence.
2. Writing and Publishing His Book (04:02–06:10)
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Book Journey:
Alan recounts how, with Kiera's help, he wrote his book in five days and published it in just 102 days, aiming to get it out before Christmas:"You got your book done in five days. Then we published it. What was it? 102 days."
— Kiera Brinton [04:02]
"102 days from the day from written all the way to publishing."
— Alan Francis [04:08] -
Teamwork and Energy:
Alan attributes this quick success to their shared drive and energy:"We had the same vibe, we had the same energy... It didn't even seem, you know, it was stress free. It was just getting it done."
— Alan Francis [05:04] -
Becoming a Published Author:
"I'm a publisher now. I'm like, oh, my God, I'm a publisher... I saw my kids and now they got about. Dad, you're an author now. I'm like, yeah, I got the behind my name now."
— Alan Francis [05:17]
3. The Book's Impact (06:10–06:28)
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Changing Lives:
Alan expresses awe at how quickly readers responded to "Above Ground" and describes a constant outpouring of gratitude from those inspired by his story. -
Importance of the Message:
Kiera highlights why they rushed the book into the world:"Your message is so important and that is why we push such a rush... Because we knew that this is going to save lives."
— Kiera Brinton [06:12]
4. Universal Message of Hope and Inspiration (06:36–08:17)
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More than Overcoming Hardship:
Alan's message applies to anyone, not just those who've struggled:"It's not just about people who have a hard time and who's been in the hole and they're trying to get up. It's inspiration, it's motivation. It's something you can pass on to a family member... It's just a message, a global message that each and everyone needs to hear."
— Alan Francis [06:36] -
A Practice of Daily Gratitude:
"In the morning when I wake up, I'm like, oh, yeah, it's ticking. I'm good. I'm above ground. Let's go. It's because we take so much for granted."
— Alan Francis [07:27]
5. Perspective, Empathy, and Legacy (08:17–09:22)
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Learning from Others' Journeys:
"You could be a very fortunate person of a mansion…But you may not realize just how blessed you are…And then you go back and look at your life and, man, you know, there's so many things I take for granted…And he still climbed the ladder."
— Alan Francis [08:46, 08:57] -
Gratitude as a Reframe:
"It is a reframe for every human."
— Kiera Brinton [08:17]
6. Mutual Appreciation & Closing Thoughts (09:44–11:36)
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Alan’s Gratitude for Kiera:
Alan credits Kiera with playing a pivotal role in his personal and authorial journey:"What you've done for me, you have changed my life…You had so much to do with the outpour of that message that God was giving me…my loyalty to Kiera is unshakable."
— Alan Francis [09:44–10:47] -
Kiera on Legacy:
"Honestly, it's my deepest honor. Like, this is my deepest sacred work to bring books through and just such an honor to work with you."
— Kiera Brinton [11:15]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Daily Resilience:
"When I wake up, I'm like, oh, yeah, it's ticking. I'm good. I'm above ground. Let's go."
— Alan Francis [07:27] -
On the Book’s Impact:
"The best part, I think it's the lives that is changing…that outpour of effect that Above Ground had on their life or still having on their life is just overwhelming."
— Alan Francis [05:17–06:10] -
On Universal Relevance:
"It's just a message, a global message that each and everyone needs to hear."
— Alan Francis [06:43] -
On Surviving and Thriving:
"So many people who were so less fortunate...yet has risen to the point of like, oh my God, who is this king?...They came from here all the way to there."
— Alan Francis [08:57]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [00:39] – The meaning of "Above Ground"
- [04:02–06:10] – Writing and publishing the book in record time
- [06:36–08:17] – Who the message is for: universality of hope and inspiration
- [08:17–09:22] – Gratitude, empathy, and shifting perspective
- [09:44–10:47] – Alan’s deep gratitude to Kiera and the role of legacy
Tone
The episode is candid, warm, and filled with mutual respect. Alan’s tone is sincere, humble, and uplifting, while Kiera is enthusiastic, supportive, and empowering. Together, they create an atmosphere of hope, gratitude, and practical inspiration.
Summary
This episode is a powerful testament to resilience and gratitude. Alan Francis' transition from hardship to impactful leadership—immortalized in his book "Above Ground"—offers listeners not only inspiration, but also a practical framework for shifting their perspectives, appreciating the present, and building their own legacies. The collaborative energy, actionable wisdom, and deep mutual appreciation between Alan and Kiera make this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking to be "above ground" in spirit as well as in life.