Podcast Summary: What It Was Like – "A Nearly Impossible Story of Survival on 9/11"

Host: Julian Morgans
Guest: Stanley Premnath
Air Date: September 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of What It Was Like commemorates the 24th anniversary of the September 11th attacks by sharing the firsthand account of Stanley Premnath, one of the few survivors from above the South Tower’s impact zone. The conversation provides an intimate, moment-by-moment narrative of Stanley’s experience on 9/11, reflections on fate and faith, and lessons in survival, resilience, and humanity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Stanley’s Background and 1993 WTC Bombing Experience

• Stanley’s role: Assistant Vice President in the Loans Department at Fuji Bank on the 81st floor of the South Tower.
• First experience of terror: Stanley survived the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and was a fire warden. He recalls the chaos and failed protocols of that day.
  • “All the protocols we had, nothing worked. Instead of drop, roll, go to lower floors, at the smoke rows, they sent up to higher, higher floors and we found ourselves on the 83rd floor.” (06:19)

Awareness of Danger and Feelings Before 9/11

• Lingering anxiety post-bombing: Stanley always saw the Towers as targets for further attacks.
• Family and faith: A devoted family man, married to a preacher’s daughter, and later became a pastor himself.
• Morning of September 11, 2001: Routine, uneventful; Stanley describes picking out his “lucky” shoes, a commute that took him nearly three hours, and the mundane start to his day.
  • “Regular, average day… I’m praying in my heart the same prayer that I carried for many, many years. ‘Lord, cover me and all my loved ones under your precious blood.’” (10:35)

The Moment of Impact

• Sequence of events leading up to the South Tower hit:

  • Stanley missed the hit to the North Tower while commuting.
  • Upon arrival, he saw fireballs falling outside and attempted to leave, but was told by security and building intercom that “Your building is safe, it’s secured. Go back to your office.” (18:30)
  • Despite instincts, peer pressure and a sense of duty prompted his return upstairs.

• Seconds before impact:

  • On a call with a colleague from Chicago, he was urged to get out.
  • He looks out the window to see United Airlines Flight 175 heading straight for him.
  • “I look straight ahead towards the direction of Statue of Liberty and I’m confronted by a giant airplane, gray in color... the plane is bearing down, eye level, eye contact towards me… And as the plane is coming towards me closer and closer, I can hear that revving sound that the engine is making. And I dove under the desk, and with the most thunderous sound, the plane crashed into the building on my floor.” (22:56)

Immediate Aftermath and Survival

• Devastation and Desperation:

  • Enveloped by fire, debris, and destruction; ceiling and floor collapse, intense heat, electrical hazards, pressurized air threatens to suck him out the window.
  • “I’m gonna die. One way or the other. I’m dead… Who’s going to take care of Jenny and Stephanie and Caitlyn?” (27:02)
  • Calls out to God for help.

• The Rescue:

  • Brian Clark hears his screams and risks his life to find Stanley.
  • An impassable wall blocks Stanley—a dry wall between him and Clark. Stanley suffers a hand injury trying to climb over but is encouraged by the verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
  • Using newfound strength, he punches through the wall and Brian pulls him to safety.
  • Brian Clark to Stanley: “All my life, I live as an only child...I always wanted a brother...I find that man today.” (29:37)

• Escape Route:

  • Together, they descend 80 floors via Stairwell A—the only remaining intact stairwell in the South Tower after impact, a split-second decision separating life and death.
  • “That shoe, that lucky shoe was giving me all the traction that I needed because the water was just cascading it down the stairwells.” (29:37)

Witnessing Loss, Experiencing Trauma

• Vivid memories:

  • Encountering a dying man pleading for someone to “tell my wife and our baby that I love them.”
  • The loss of coworkers and friends; being among the only survivors from his floor.
  • “When you talk about love, my friend, the unsung heroes, these are the people I’m talking about.” (37:54)

• Ground-level chaos:

  • Firefighters and police direct them, risking their own lives.
  • They reach Trinity Church as the tower implodes, the church shielding them from the worst of the debris—an act Stanley attributes to divine intervention.
  • “Liberty at the time meant street. Liberty today meant total freedom.” (39:00)

Reunion and Recovery

• Return Home:

  • In a surreal, cinematic sequence, Stanley hitches rides and crosses Brooklyn Bridge, encountering strangers who help him against all odds.
  • Finally reaches his wife and daughters, but the trauma has changed him physically and mentally; initially, his young daughter doesn’t recognize him.
  • “Please don’t touch me. You’re not my daddy, man.” (50:34)

• Psychological aftermath:

  • Suffers memory loss, PTSD nightmares, survivor’s guilt.
  • Finds his way back to memory and meaning via faith, particularly Psalm 91:1—echoing “911.”
  • “I snapped out, unable to see people and places and everything. And I—the memory’s back as if nothing happens.” (56:41)

• Path to purpose:

  • Ongoing spiritual wrestling with “Why was I spared?”
  • Nightmares ceased after deciding to become a pastor—a calling clarified after prayer in Springfield, Missouri.
  • Devotes his life to sharing his story and spreading faith and preparedness.

Reflections on Luck, Faith, and Survival

• Improbable survival:

  • Julian observes the almost “miraculous” sequence of Stanley’s salvation—one survivable desk, one remaining stairwell, one timely rescuer.
  • Stanley, while humble and faith-driven, also marvels at the improbability:
    • “How many times do you try to kill one man? That’s me. How many times the bad guy would come and kill me? But I live because of the saving grace of God.” (61:33)

• Health aftermath:

  • Outlines a series of health challenges since 9/11: leukemia, heart issues, cancer, respiratory conditions—possibly linked to toxic exposure during the attacks but survived through resilience and faith.

• On chance versus preparation:

  • Julian asks about survival lessons; Stanley stresses the importance of skill-building (self-defense, swimming), knowing safety protocols, carrying basic survival gear, and being mentally and physically prepared for emergencies, while acknowledging that some moments come down to grace and luck.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You heard that cliche before… all hell broke loose.” – Stanley Premnath (24:02)
• “And with the most thunderous sound, the plane crashed into the building on my floor. And that giant ball of fire was all around me...The only desk that stood firm was a desk that I’m hiding under. And my Bible was on top of that desk. Talk about God and his grace.” (24:03–24:45)
• Brian Clark: “All my life, I live as an only child… I always wanted a brother...I find that man today.” (29:37)
• Stanley: “If I was to memorialize that day...call that day Remembrance Day, make it a national holiday... to remember the atrocities that was committed in our soil...and these men and women who lost their life on that day did not deserve it.” (74:16)
• “Some people would never understand. They would never believe. And we don’t bash people over the head for not believing. My job is to tell the good news. The Holy Spirit’s job is to convict the spirit.” (75:41)
• Julian: “I can say without a shadow of doubt, this story has touched me. You’ve absolutely blown me away.” (80:26)

Timeline & Important Segment Timestamps

• [06:19] – Stanley recalls 1993 WTC bombing and failed evacuation protocols.
• [10:35] – Describes his routine, faith-filled 9/11 morning.
• [13:52] – Arrives at work, describes office, views, and early signs of disaster.
• [18:30] – Building intercom urges workers to return to offices.
• [22:56] – Stanley sees the second plane coming directly toward him; survives the impact under his desk.
• [27:02] – Stanley describes the harrowing post-impact environment.
• [29:37] – Brian Clark rescues Stanley; emotional brotherhood scene.
• [39:00] – Recounts flight from the building, ground chaos, and sheltering church.
• [50:34] – Emotional reunion with family; impact of trauma on self and loved ones.
• [56:41] – Intense PTSD, spiritual recovery through faith, and decision to become a pastor.
• [61:33] – Multiple post-9/11 health issues and survivor’s perspective.
• [67:01] – The significance of finding Stairwell A for survival.
• [74:16] – Stanley’s thoughts on 9/11 remembrance and national healing.
• [76:50] – Advice on crisis preparation and essential life skills.
• [80:07] – Final reflections on fate, preparation, and the power of story.

Takeaways & Lessons

• Survival can hinge on small details and decisions—sometimes pure chance or the influence of a single person.
• The trauma of disaster lingers long after survival, affecting memory, identity, and relationships.
• Preparedness matters—practical training and readiness can make a difference in life-or-death situations.
• Faith, community, and human connection play pivotal roles in recovery and meaning-making after catastrophe.
• The importance of remembrance—Stanley believes 9/11 should be marked as “Remembrance Day” in the U.S., honoring the resilience and loss of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary events.

For listeners, this is a raw, faith-filled, and deeply human story of improbable survival—an episode that puts you in the moment with Stanley Premnath, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the miraculous intersections of luck and grace.