Episode 10: Turning Pain Into Purpose - Lessons from I-35W Bridge Collapse Survivor Garrett Ebling
On August 1, 2007, the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed during rush hour — a tragedy that injured 145 people and claimed 13 lives. Garrett Ebling was one of the survivors. In this powerful conversation, Garrett shares what it was like to wake up three weeks later in the hospital, navigate years of physical therapy and emotional recovery, and rebuild his life after trauma.
We explore:
☕ His experience as a journalist covering major crises like 9/11 before becoming part of a national headline himself
☕ The physical and mental toll of surviving the I-35W bridge collapse
☕ Why “everything is fixable” became his mantra through recovery
☕ Lessons on resilience, mental health, and finding purpose after loss
☕ How his book Collapsed gives voice to fellow survivors
This episode is for anyone navigating trauma, career pivots, or moments when life feels stuck and shows how hope, healing, and purpose are always worth salvaging.
Visit https://salvageu.com for more.
About Garrett Ebling
Raised in New Ulm, Minnesota
B.A. in Newspaper journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1999)
Communications manager for Self Esteem Brands, Inc.
Former newspaper editor in the Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest
Former multi-location franchise restaurant owner
Currently lives in Saint George, Minnesota, with wife, Ileana, and son, Cooper
Hobbies: downhill skiing, boondocking, ATV riding, learning foreign languages, walking his two dogs Dinky & Osa