🔥 What would you do if your parachute didn’t open at 13,000 feet?
Skydiver and motivational speaker Lana Starchuck shares the mindset that saved her life — and can transform yours.
This episode delivers:
• personal growth insights rooted in real-world experience
• bold conversations that inspire action
• motivational stories about fear, failure, and resilience
🎙️ EPISODE SUMMARY
In this powerful conversation, Audley sits down with author, skydiver, and speaker Lana Starchuck to explore what fear really does to us — and how staying calm under pressure can be the difference between collapse and growth. Drawing from a real-life parachute malfunction, Lana breaks down how preparation, trust, and emotional regulation translate directly into leadership, business, and everyday life.
Together, they unpack why failure isn’t the problem — recovery is the skill — and how high performers can reframe stress as a competitive advantage.
This episode is a masterclass in courage, confidence, and choosing growth when the stakes are high. Key themes include:
-Embracing stress as a catalyst for resilience and personal growth
-Why high-functioning people often struggle emotionally — and how to heal
-Using calm, awareness, and emotional intelligence in high-pressure moments
-Understanding the difference between challenge and real danger
-Why failure isn’t fatal, but avoiding growth is
👤 GUEST BIO
Lana Starchuck is a motivational speaker, author, journalist, and veteran skydiver with over 1,000 jumps. Drawing on decades of experience in performance, storytelling, and high-risk environments, Lana helps individuals and organizations reframe fear, failure, and uncertainty. Her keynote, What Happens When Your Parachute Doesn’t Open?, and her upcoming book of the same name challenge conventional thinking about success and resilience.
📘 GUEST OFFERS / PROJECTS
📖 Upcoming Book: What Happens When Your Parachute Doesn’t Open? (Coming soon)
🧠 Talks & Programs: Keynotes on fear, resilience, and leadership Experiential learning programs combining mindfulness and skydiving
🔗 CONNECT WITH LANA
🌐 Website: https://lanastarchuck.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanastarchuck
📬 Newsletter: The Resilience Reset – 1500 Foot Perspective
⏰ TIMESTAMPS (Key Moments)
00:00 – Welcome to The Audacious Living Podcast
03:45 – Meet Lana Starchuck & her audacious journey
06:50 – Why failure isn’t the problem — recovery is
11:20 – From career pivots to parachute failures
18:10 – What really happens when your parachute doesn’t open
24:30 – Staying calm when everything is at stake
31:45 – Leadership lessons from skydiving
38:20 – Courage, confidence, and emotional intelligence
42:30 – Fearless Fast Round 🔥
45:30 – Final reflections on living audaciously
📝 BLOG LINK
👉 👉 Read the full EPISODE blog post here: [https://www.bestaudaciouslife.com/episodes/audacious-living-lana-starchuck-skydiving-resilience-motivation]
🎧 LISTEN ON MAJOR PLATFORMS
🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ
🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345
📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt
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🎙️ BEHIND-THE-SCENES NOTE FROM AUDLEY
What stood out most to me in this conversation was Lana’s calm — not just in the sky, but in how she approaches life. When your parachute doesn’t open, panic isn’t an option — and neither is avoidance. This conversation reminded me that audacity isn’t loud bravado; it’s quiet trust in yourself when everything feels uncertain.
