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This Is Actually Happening

341: What if you had an unquenchable thirst for danger?

Nov 26, 2024
Kerry McCauley, an author and main pilot on the docuseries "Dangerous Flights," shares his thrilling life chasing adrenaline. He recounts formative childhood experiences spurring his thirst for risk and excitement. Listeners hear hair-raising stories from his skydiving mishaps to a harrowing solo flight across the Atlantic with dangerously low fuel. McCauley also reflects on personal tragedies, illustrating how grief transformed into purpose through teaching skydiving, revealing the complex emotions behind seeking danger.
56:55

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The speaker's childhood in a small-town environment fostered a lifelong addiction to outdoor adventures and risk-taking activities.
  • A defining near-disaster during a Boy Scout trip intensified the speaker's craving for adrenaline and experiences that test survival instincts.

Deep dives

An Adventurous Upbringing

The speaker describes a childhood filled with adventure and risk-taking, rooted in a small-town atmosphere where outdoor activities thrived. Growing up in a suburb of Minneapolis, the speaker engaged in various risky pursuits, from climbing trees to skiing. Family outings included outdoor adventures, such as hunting and camping, which further nourished the speaker's penchant for danger. These early experiences laid the foundation for a life that continuously sought thrill and adrenaline.

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