At 20 years old, Amanda Kloehr was a quirky, irreverent Air Force airman trying to find her way in the world. But everything changed in an instant when her car collided with the back of an 18-wheeler. She was nearly decapitated, lost her right eye, suffered major facial trauma, and spent months in the hospital enduring over 20 surgeries. Against all odds, Amanda lived—and began a long and often painful journey of physical healing, emotional reckoning, and radical self-reinvention.

In this unforgettable episode of Alive Again, Amanda recounts the horror and absurdity of her accident, the quiet trauma of public stares and whispered judgments, and the complex dance of identity that comes with living in a body permanently marked by survival. With humor, vulnerability, and unflinching honesty, she shares how she went from post-crash denial to public speaker, from hiding behind long red bangs to owning her story on national television.

Now a mother, wife, writer, and advocate, Amanda reflects on what it means to live in a society that defines people by their scars—and what it means to rewrite that narrative. Her journey isn’t a tragedy. It’s a declaration: "I am the hero of my own story. I’m proud of the woman I fought to become."

Story Producer: Kate Sweeney

“In the shadow of a wreckage, where silence lay thick,

I danced with the darkness, my heart beating quick.

One eye now a memory, a glimpse of the past,

Through the veil of my trials, I learned hope could last.

With each faltering step, on the path I would tread,

Change bubbled in me like laughter,

While the outside reflected all the places I bled.

Life carved its lessons, etched deep in my soul,

Through pain and resilience, I learned to feel whole.

From the ashes of anguish, a phoenix would rise,

With wings made of moxie, I took to the skies.

I cradled new life, a new generation born,

An ode to strength and a blood oath sworn.

In love, I found solace, our connection, a dream,

Yet storms brewed within me, found safety as a team.

Through heartache and healing, I learned to embrace,

The beauty of journey, the joy in each space.

Two degrees on my wall, symbols of fight,

In the tapestry woven, I found my own light.

To love myself fiercely, to cherish each scar,

Is to know every struggle has brought me this far.

With grit and determination, my sparkle continues to amplify,

A testament to living, to truly defy.

So here's to the battles, the laughter, the tears,

To the moments of triumph that silence our fears.

In the journey of being, of learning to fly,

living out loud is my battle cry.”

• Amanda Kloehr

* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at aliveagainproject@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deepest wounds aren’t always physical.

Cliff Bauman was stationed near the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and was among those who raced into the smoke and fire to help in the aftermath of the attacks. But while the country began to rebuild, Cliff’s inner world began to unravel. Haunted by what he’d seen—and what he couldn’t forget—he carried trauma silently, spiraling into guilt, depression, and isolation.

This powerful episode of Alive Again explores how reminders of 9/11 became emotional landmines: from anniversary headlines to sleepless nights and heavy drinking. Cliff opens up about the burden of hiding his pain, and the suicide attempt that nearly ended his life.

Today, Cliff wears the label of "suicide survivor" with pride—not as a mark of shame, but as a badge of courage. His story is a raw and redemptive reminder that vulnerability can be a lifeline, and that choosing to live—even in the face of despair—is its own kind of bravery.

Story producer: Brent Dey

If you are a veteran dealing with depression or suicidal ideation, Cliff encourages you to check out the Veterans Trash Talk podcast for support. We also encourage contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at aliveagainproject@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if death isn’t an ending—but a sacred transition? In this deeply moving episode of Alive Again, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Kerr, a death doula, ritual healing practitioner, and founder of The Centre for Sacred Deathcare. With a PhD in Transformative Learning and decades immersed in cross-cultural and Indigenous traditions, Sarah helps individuals and families navigate dying and grieving as spiritual rites of passage.

She guides us through the concept of liminality—the space between worlds, where the old self dissolves and something new begins. Drawing parallels to the Hero’s Journey, Sarah reframes illness, trauma, and loss as initiatory paths, calling us to grow into the version of ourselves these afflictions ask us to become.

Her insights challenge the limits of the "Western box"—a worldview that often dismisses the unseen and the intuitive. Instead, Sarah invites us to listen deeply to our "spiritual DNA" and honor the inner guidance that emerges in life’s most tender transitions. As she puts it, "the purpose of death is the release of love."

This conversation resonates with many of our guests—from Eric Larsen to Anne Bayford—who recognize that their greatest trials became the soil for transformation. Dr. Kerr reminds us that healing is not about erasing pain, but integrating it, cooperating with the unavoidable, and finding grace in the mystery.

Produced by Dan Bush

For more about Dr. Kerr and her work, visit https://sacreddeathcare.com/

* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at aliveagainproject@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.