Elena Brandner: Rebuilding Life After a Spinal Cord Injury

The Judd Lienhard Podcast

Elena Brandner was told she would never walk again.
In 2022, a catastrophic car crash left her with a shattered spine, 18 broken bones, and a long list of physical and emotional trauma. Doctors gave her a bleak prognosis. But Elena refused to accept the narrative.
In this raw, emotional, and deeply motivating episode, Elena joins Judd to share her unfiltered journey—from athlete to trauma survivor to rebuilding her life through grit, grace, and relentless rehab.
You’ll hear how her training background helped save her life, how she overcame depression and loss of identity, and why choosing discomfort is the key to fulfillment. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to come back from adversity, this episode is a masterclass in what it means to keep going anyway.
👉 Whether you're an athlete, recovering from injury, or just stuck in life, this episode will change your perspective.
📍 Timestamps
00:00:00 – Intro: Elena’s story and resilience
00:03:00 – Life before the accident
00:06:00 – Details of the crash and injuries
00:09:00 – Waking up and early recovery
00:12:00 – Mental battles and rebuilding faith
00:15:00 – Rehab, setbacks, and breakthroughs
00:18:00 – Training innovations post-injury
00:21:00 – What people take for granted
00:24:00 – Perspective, mindset, and consistency
00:27:00 – Purpose, God, and future vision
💬 Key Themes:
- Spinal cord injury recovery
- Why fitness saved her life
- Training after trauma
- Mental toughness under pressure
- Purpose after pain
- How to build resilience when everything falls apart
- Daily habits, identity, and real self-discipline
- Turning tragedy into mission
🔗 Connect with Elena Brandner:
Instagram: @flostate_recovery
Website: https://linktr.ee/flostate_recovery
🔗 Train with Judd:
Instagram: @juddlienhard
MASS Method: https://www.juddlienhard.com/

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The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

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