Who Do You Become After You Almost Die? A Raw Conversation with Kali Parkinson

She Survived a 113-MPH Crash — Kali Parkinson’s Story of Trauma, Healing, and Becoming Someone New | Crackin’ Backs Podcast
 

One moment, you’re a college student planning your future.
The next, you’re in a car going 113 miles per hour, rolling 15 times down a 300-foot canyon in rural Utah.
 

On this powerful episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, we sit down with Kali Parkinson, a college student whose life changed in a single, violent moment—and whose story of survival, recovery, and identity will stay with you long after the episode ends.
 

The driver of the car died on impact.
Kali survived—but only because of a chain of unlikely “coincidences” that defy explanation.
 

Random hikers happened to be out on a Wednesday night in a remote canyon.

Despite minimal cell service, they were able to call 911.

A medical helicopter was already in the area on a training flight and arrived in less than 25 minutes.

One hiker carried a pocket knife with a seatbelt cutter, just in time to free Kali as the belt tightened around her neck and began to suffocate her.
 

This episode isn’t about shock value.
It’s about what happens after—when survival becomes the starting line, not the finish.
 

In this conversation, Kali shares:

• What she remembers from the moment everything changed—and the first clear thought that cut through the chaos

• How surviving a near-fatal car accident affects not just the body, but the mind

• The hardest emotions she faced once the dust settled

• What it’s like when your body becomes something you must relearn instead of trust

• The challenge of going from independence at college to suddenly needing help in ways most young adults never experience

• Whether accepting help—or trusting herself again—was the harder battle

• How facing mortality at such a young age changed her relationship with time, priorities, and what truly matters

• Who she hopes people sense she is today—not what she survived, but who she has become
   

This episode speaks directly to anyone who has experienced trauma, loss, or a life-altering event—and to anyone navigating the quiet, unseen work of healing.
 

Why This Story Matters

Kali Parkinson’s story reminds us that healing isn’t linear, strength isn’t loud, and survival is not the same as living. Her experience offers insight not only for those recovering from physical trauma, but for anyone re-learning trust—in their body, their mind, and their future.
 

This is not just a story about what happened.
It’s a story about who you become afterward.
 

 Watch or Listen

Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
 

We are two sports chiropractors, seeking knowledge from some of the best resources in the world of health. From our perspective, health is more than just “Crackin Backs” but a deep dive into physical, mental, and nutritional well-being philosophies.
 

Join us as we talk to some of the greatest minds and discover some of the most incredible gems you can use to maintain a higher level of health. Crackin Backs Podcast