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The Last Rocket Man with Dan Schlund
#234 - Your childhood dream is supposed to save you, not send you to the burn ward. Dan Schlund is one of the rare people who has flown a real rocket belt, a true rocket motor strapped to your back with about 30 seconds of fuel, superheated thrust, and no room for hesitation. After his third flight off the training cable, a bad landing turns into a nightmare: he gets slammed into the ground, can’t shut the belt off, and is burned in the field until the crew can pull him free.
We talk about the long recovery, skin grafts, and the part that lingers even longer: anxiety and the mental scars that follow a catastrophic crash. Dan explains why he still chose to fly again, how stunt work taught him to never let your last run be a failure, and what it feels like to lift off under full throttle with a roaring crowd and a ticking fuel clock. Along the way, he shares global performance stories, including high pressure flights like the Rose Parade and surreal moments performing in Turkmenistan.
Then the dream ends hard with a later crash during a Guinness World Records flight, a neck injury, and the identity crash that comes when the applause disappears. Dan’s pivot is the plot twist: he rebuilds his life as a paramedic and founder of National Set Medics, helping protect cast and crew across film and TV productions nationwide. If you’ve ever faced a career change, burnout, or the question “who am I now,” this conversation brings both honesty and practical hope.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.
To learn more about Dan check out www.rocketman.tv. You can also give him a follow on Instagram @rocketman.tv.
To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod.
Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake
Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.
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By Jake Bushman
5
3333 ratings
#234 - Your childhood dream is supposed to save you, not send you to the burn ward. Dan Schlund is one of the rare people who has flown a real rocket belt, a true rocket motor strapped to your back with about 30 seconds of fuel, superheated thrust, and no room for hesitation. After his third flight off the training cable, a bad landing turns into a nightmare: he gets slammed into the ground, can’t shut the belt off, and is burned in the field until the crew can pull him free.
We talk about the long recovery, skin grafts, and the part that lingers even longer: anxiety and the mental scars that follow a catastrophic crash. Dan explains why he still chose to fly again, how stunt work taught him to never let your last run be a failure, and what it feels like to lift off under full throttle with a roaring crowd and a ticking fuel clock. Along the way, he shares global performance stories, including high pressure flights like the Rose Parade and surreal moments performing in Turkmenistan.
Then the dream ends hard with a later crash during a Guinness World Records flight, a neck injury, and the identity crash that comes when the applause disappears. Dan’s pivot is the plot twist: he rebuilds his life as a paramedic and founder of National Set Medics, helping protect cast and crew across film and TV productions nationwide. If you’ve ever faced a career change, burnout, or the question “who am I now,” this conversation brings both honesty and practical hope.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.
To learn more about Dan check out www.rocketman.tv. You can also give him a follow on Instagram @rocketman.tv.
To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod.
Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake
Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.