In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tyler Keller, whose journey is rooted in grit, faith, and resilience. Tyler grew up on a small farm in Michigan, surrounded by rodeo culture—both of his parents were professional rodeo athletes, as were his older sisters. Following in their footsteps, Tyler competed at a national level, earning rodeo scholarships to Lamar Community College and later Northwestern Mesa College, where he continued to compete at an elite level.

Everything changed in February 2015. During an early-morning drive through the dangerous Douglas Pass near Grand Junction, Colorado, Tyler lost control of his vehicle, crashing through a guardrail and plunging more than 180 feet. Miraculously, his vehicle landed on a ledge, preventing a further 2,000-foot fall. Severely injured, Tyler remained trapped in the wreckage for six to eight hours before emergency crews could reach him.

Tyler’s road to recovery began at Craig Hospital in Colorado, where he underwent intense rehabilitation for his T4-T5 complete spinal cord injury. In this episode, he opens up about the physical and emotional challenges he faced, the victories along the way, and the unexpected role the hospital’s garden played in his healing and mindset. After being discharged, Tyler continued therapy five days a week for three years at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan—refusing to give up on himself or his future.

Today, Tyler’s story is far from over. He is a Division II Detroit Pistons wheelchair basketball player, an entrepreneur, a paid motivational speaker, actor, model and an active participant in shooting competitions with the Battle Buddy 3-Gun nonprofit organization. Tyler’s journey is one of perseverance, purpose, and redefining what’s possible after life changes in an instant. This is a story you don’t want to miss.