Podcast Summary: This Life of Mine with James Corden – Jeremy Renner

Episode Date: January 13, 2026
Host: James Corden, Lemonada Media
Guest: Jeremy Renner

Episode Overview

This episode of This Life of Mine features acclaimed actor Jeremy Renner in a deeply personal conversation with James Corden. Renner reflects on the transformative moments and key influences in his life—centered around objects, people, places, music, and memories that have defined him. They discuss Renner’s astounding recovery after his near-fatal accident, the significance of titanium implants in his body, his deep bonds with friends and family, his enduring love for music and film, and his evolving perspective on life and mortality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate and Raw Reflections on Recovery

• How Renner is feeling now:
  He describes each day as different, but says he generally feels “joyous and thankful.”

  “I am feeling…it’s different every day, but I think generally it’s pretty joyous and thankful and pretty happy, generally.” – Jeremy Renner (03:08)

The Titanium Implants: A New “Possession”

• Significance:
  Renner’s prized possession is now the titanium that comprises 15–20% of his body following his 2023 accident.

  “It’s certainly not the watch. It’s…20% of my body at this point and it will be with me forever. It’s like half of my ribs.” – Jeremy Renner (03:45)

Recounting the Accident

• The scene:
  • New Year’s Day 2023, clearing snow at Lake Tahoe during a storm.
  • Renner was using a snowcat to help his nephew when, while trying to ensure his nephew’s safety, he was thrown under the massive vehicle, which ran over him.
  • He remained conscious throughout the ordeal.

  “I had to be awake. Otherwise I would have been dead because I had to do all this forced breathing…” – Jeremy Renner (06:45)

  • He details excruciating pain, survival through mindful breathing, and hearing his own bones crack.

  “If I didn’t blow out and scream out air just to suck air back in...I don’t imagine I’d make it more than a minute if I was knocked out. I’d have been gone.” – Jeremy Renner (06:45)

2. Near-Death Experience & Coming Back

• Spiritual perspective:
  He recalls his near-death experience as “glorious,” filled with peace, lacking fear, and deeply transformative.

  “All life just got better. Everything you know and you love...it’s a two way street now. There’s no time, place or space or color… it’s a known peace… It’s like a peaceful excitement. It's hard to express…” – Jeremy Renner (08:18)

  • On returning to life: Felt "survivor’s guilt" but doubled down on living without fear.

  “Death was not something I was ever afraid of. Now I’m really not afraid… Kind of excited for it, to be honest, it’s what life really is…” (09:12)

3. Family: Motherhood, Guilt, and Healing

• Mother’s role in recovery:
  Renner credits his mother and sister with nurturing him back to health—reversing roles to his near-infancy and instilling emotional healing.

  “Life was so wonderfully simple. All I had to do is get better… that’s my only job.” (12:14)

• Guilt & empathy:
  He describes emotional responsibility and guilt for the trauma his family endured as witnesses to the accident.

4. Place: Lake Tahoe as Home and Sanctuary

• His “happy place” despite the trauma:
  Lake Tahoe, where the accident happened, remains his place of joy, rooted in childhood memories and community involvement.

  “It’s majestic in the water, majestic from the mountains…big enough to be exciting and small enough to have real, real sense of community.” (12:45)

• Community engagement:
  Renner bought and repurposed a fire truck, helping to form a local fire service in his Lake Tahoe neighborhood.

5. The Power of Music and Film

Choice of Significant Film: The Jungle Book (1967)

• Emotional connection and generational bonding:
  Childhood memories with his father, who played Baloo to Jeremy’s Mowgli.

  “The music always caught me… Bare Necessities is one of the first songs I wanted to learn.” (15:31)

  • The tune lifts his mood and now connects to his daughter, Ava, to whom he’s introduced the film.

Music: Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata

• Why this piece?
  Seen as a pure, timeless piece that shaped his approach to songwriting and serves as a bond with his daughter.
  • Played it for Ava in utero and as a newborn; Ava learned to play it at age 7.

  “We listened to Moonlight Sonata every night for the first two and a half years of her life… She learned to play it at about 7 years old. I was so jealous. Look how full circle this is…” (40:36)

6. Fatherhood and Shifting Relationships

• Deepening bonds post-accident:
  Renner notes changes in his relationship with Ava—pride, empathy, and emotional intelligence blossoming in her.

  “When you said she’s proud of you…for walking up the stairs to go to the parent teacher conference. There’s a, like, a real empathy, a real sensitivity, emotional intelligence. You’re watching this grow and fester inside of her…” (17:15)

7. Key Memory: Hiking with His Dad in Yosemite

• Emotional and philosophical impact:
  Hiking as a child gave him awe at nature and perspective on stress and scale—nurtured emotional intelligence through shared experiences, music, and conversation.

  “When you see that…how small you are and how irrelevant your stress is… I was learning that at a very young age.” (18:33)

8. Early Struggles, Faith in Craft, and Resilience

• Early LA years:
  Renner survived on meager means ($5/month, donuts for a week), but found purpose and pride in pursuing his passion despite hardship.

  “I don’t want to be eating 14 donut holes for my meals, but it doesn’t suck. I’m not sitting at a desk bookkeeping right now… I’m clear about what I love…” (24:48)

• Belief and persistence:
  He recalibrated goals after early small successes, faced uncertainty, but never doubted his calling.

  “Confidence was a big ally for me. Same for recovery… It’s a belief.” (25:21)

9. Defining Friendships and the Power of Shared Experience

• The Hurt Locker & Bonds with Anthony Mackie and Brian Garrity:
  Chose these two as his “persons”— forged profound connections during filming and through adversity, especially after his accident.

  “For example, one of the first people at my hospital bed was Anthony Mackie… The connectedness that we have is an always thing.” (29:30–30:00)

  • Mackie and Garrity send heartfelt video messages, reinforcing the brotherhood and impact of their shared experiences.

  “You are number one. You are our leader… There was before that movie the Hurt Locker and there was after…” – Anthony Mackie (31:26)

10. Marvel & Fame: The Avengers Phenomenon

• Unexpected scale of fame:
  The Avengers' cultural impact far surpassed his—and even Marvel’s—expectations.

  “I don’t think anybody really was [prepared]… It really became a series of 23 films—culturally significant.” (33:50)

  • Describes fan interaction and Comic-Cons as highlights and feels humbled by the influence on children and fans.

  “If you’re going to be famous, go do it all the way, right?” (35:56)

  • Shares anecdotes about the “original six” Avengers’ tattoos and camaraderie.

11. Sliding Doors: The Boy Band that Never Was

• Rumor clarified:
  He was never offered Backstreet Boys but was approached for O-Town after being discovered at karaoke—an amusing “what if” moment in his career.

  “There was an inkling of it. Actually, but it was O town…” (37:43)

12. Final Thoughts: Advice on Life

• Concluding wisdom:
  Asked for a single piece of advice for listeners, Renner says:

  “You can do anything you want in your life. You are your only obstacle. Get out of your fucking way.” (42:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s 15, 20% of my body at this point and it will be with me forever. It’s like half of my ribs.” – Jeremy Renner on his titanium implants (03:45)
• “I heard all the bones crack. I remember my head. That was pretty brutal…That’s part of my night terror that I revisit.” (06:19)
• “Our energy is always connected forever... and it’s beautiful, it’s wonderful.” – On his near-death experience (08:18)
• "All I had to do is get better. That's my only job." – On his recovery and his mother’s care (12:15)
• “Bare Necessities… you can’t have a bad day if that’s playing, right?” – On the power of music (16:09)
• “I’m not sitting at a desk bookkeeping right now. Not that that’s bad. I just know I’m doing what I want to be doing in my life.” (24:48)
• “You can do anything you want in your life. You are your only obstacle. Get out of your fucking way.” – Jeremy Renner’s closing advice (42:15)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:08] – Renner on his current state and mindset post-accident
• [03:40] – Titanium as cherished “possession”
• [04:12–07:25] – Graphic recounting of the snowplow accident and near-death experience
• [08:16–10:12] – Spiritual reflections on death and energy
• [12:05] – Mother’s role in recovery and emotional healing
• [12:45–14:52] – Lake Tahoe as “happy place”; community firefighting efforts
• [15:13–16:39] – The Jungle Book’s influence and shared viewing with his daughter
• [16:47–18:16] – Parenting after the accident and Ava’s growth
• [18:29–21:42] – Childhood memories in Yosemite with his father
• [24:26–25:21] – Early struggles in LA, the “donut diet,” and resilience
• [29:02–31:14] – The Hurt Locker, Anthony Mackie and Brian Garrity, and enduring friendship
• [33:41–36:51] – Marvel, Avengers, fame, and fan passion
• [37:35–39:02] – Clarifying the boy band rumor (O-Town)
• [39:22–41:50] – Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and family connections through music
• [42:15] – Renner’s closing advice: “Get out of your fucking way.”

Final Takeaway

Jeremy Renner’s appearance on This Life of Mine is a testament to personal resilience, gratitude, and the enduring bonds of family, friendship, and art. Raw and often philosophical, Renner lays bare the reality of near-death, the humility of tough beginnings, and the joy found in love, community, and creation. For anyone, Renner’s reflection offers not just stories of Hollywood and heroics—but a powerful meditation on meaning, mortality, and the power of connection.