#88 | Paralyzed at 15: Zack Collie's Inspiring Comeback Story

Finding Your Inspiration

Jun 16, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 88

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Episode description

In this episode, we sit down with Zack Collie, a motivational speaker and disability advocate who became a quadriplegic at age 15 after a diving accident. But what could have ended his dreams instead became the start of a powerful transformation.

Zack shares his story of adjusting to life in a wheelchair, finding purpose through higher education, and building a new path forward—even when the world said he couldn’t. This is a conversation about resilience, identity, and the strength to keep showing up when life gets unimaginably hard.

Whether you're facing your own struggles or just need a reminder of what’s possible, Zack’s message will leave you inspired.

A National CORE Production supporting the Hope Through Housing Foundation.

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⏱ CHAPTERS (Updated for 40 Min Episode):

00:00 – Intro: Meet Zack Collie

01:15 – Becoming a Therapist: Counseling and Purpose

03:10 – Support Groups for People with Spinal Cord Injuries

05:32 – Who Zack Was Before the Accident

08:15 – The Day That Changed Everything: Memorial Day 2010

12:30 – Realizing He Was Paralyzed in the Water

15:22 – Emergency Response and Diagnosis

18:35 – The First Conversations After Surgery