In this deeply personal episode of The BTB Project, Kollman Gearhart shares a story he’s carried for decades one that resurfaced in the most unexpected way.
What begins as a stop at a gas station with his son turns into a life-changing confrontation with buried trauma from childhood. Through honesty, vulnerability, and courage, Kollman reveals how pain that once defined him has now become the foundation of his purpose.
This episode is an invitation for anyone carrying silent wounds to step into healing, reclaim their story, and discover what they are truly Built To Be.
This episode explores:
The moment a Yoohoo bottle triggered a decades-old memory.
Childhood trauma and the hidden ways it shapes our lives.
Growing up in a home shadowed by addiction.
Overcoming weight struggles, depression, and doubt to become a Division I athlete.
The last words from Kollman’s mother that defined his mission.
Why unresolved trauma keeps resurfacing until it’s faced.
How healing is less about “getting over it” and more about “walking through it.”
A powerful reminder: You are not broken. You are Built To Be.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: Why this story matters now
02:10 – Growing up in the shadow of addiction
05:30 – The nickname “Big Teddy Bear” and the pain it carried
08:15 – A run that changed everything at 14
11:40 – Fighting for my mom and the moment that defined my mission
15:00 – From weight loss to Division I athletics
18:20 – The Yoohoo moment: when buried trauma resurfaced
23:10 – The truth about unresolved pain
26:00 – What healing really looks like
29:00 – Built To Be: turning pain into purpose
32:00 – Closing message: You are not broken