Going in Blind: US Marine, "That's When I Shot Myself in the Face" ...Turns Tragedy into Triumph

Murders to Music: Crime Scene to Music Scene (Streamline Events and Entertainment)

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"What if the darkest moment of your life became the catalyst for your greatest purpose?" This question sits at the heart of Zach Tidwell's extraordinary journey from Marine Corps veteran to blind software developer changing the lives of people with disabilities worldwide.
After serving as a machine gunner in the Marines, Zach's life unraveled when his marriage collapsed and a motorcycle accident left him with a traumatic brain injury. Spiraling into depression and alcoholism, he reached his breaking point in March 2019 when he attempted suicide by shooting himself in the face. Though the bullet didn't enter his brain, it took his eyesight and hearing in one ear, forcing him to rebuild his life from scratch.
What makes Zach's story remarkable isn't just his survival, but how he transformed tragedy into purpose. Within eight months of his suicide attempt, he was snowboarding again in the Rocky Mountains. When his college couldn't make his coursework accessible, rather than giving up, he taught himself to code and developed award-winning software that adapts to various disabilities – from blindness to paralysis – allowing users to play games alongside people without disabilities.
Throughout our conversation, Zach speaks with raw honesty about confronting alcoholism, receiving a diagnosis of Huntington's disease, and finding the courage to speak up about mental health struggles. His philosophy of focusing on "cans" instead of "can'ts" has enabled him to kayak whitewater rapids, rock climb, and ski – all while completely blind – guided only by voice commands from companions.
The power of Zach's story lies in its universal message: our greatest challenges often reveal our deepest purpose. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, addiction, disability, or any seemingly insurmountable obstacle, this episode reminds us that speaking up is the first step toward healing, and finding ways to help others can illuminate our darkest moments.
Listen to Zach's podcast "Going in Blind with Zach Tidwell" on all major platforms, and visit ZachTidwell.com to follow his journey and upcoming book release.

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Chapters

1. Going in Blind: US Marine, "That's When I Shot Myself in the Face" ...Turns Tragedy into Triumph (00:00:00)

2. Marine Corps Veteran's Introduction (00:00:22)

3. Military Service and Marriage Breakdown (00:01:35)

4. Motorcycle Accident and Mental Spiral (00:05:18)

5. Suicide Attempt and Aftermath (00:33:52)

6. Learning to Live Blind (00:40:48)

7. Finding Purpose Through Accessible Technology (00:52:50)

8. Extreme Sports Without Sight (01:07:05)

9. Confronting Huntington's Disease (01:20:19)

10. Recovery, Purpose and Final Thoughts (01:29:44)