18 | Beyond Ground Zero
Alive Again26 Aug 2025

18 | Beyond Ground Zero

The deepest wounds aren’t always physical.

Cliff Bauman was stationed near the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and was among those who raced into the smoke and fire to help in the aftermath of the attacks. But while the country began to rebuild, Cliff’s inner world began to unravel. Haunted by what he’d seen—and what he couldn’t forget—he carried trauma silently, spiraling into guilt, depression, and isolation.

This powerful episode of Alive Again explores how reminders of 9/11 became emotional landmines: from anniversary headlines to sleepless nights and heavy drinking. Cliff opens up about the burden of hiding his pain, and the suicide attempt that nearly ended his life.

Today, Cliff wears the label of "suicide survivor" with pride—not as a mark of shame, but as a badge of courage. His story is a raw and redemptive reminder that vulnerability can be a lifeline, and that choosing to live—even in the face of despair—is its own kind of bravery.

Story producer: Brent Dey

If you are a veteran dealing with depression or suicidal ideation, Cliff encourages you to check out the Veterans Trash Talk podcast for support. We also encourage contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at aliveagainproject@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episoder(47)

45 | Overtime: A Conversation With Dr. David Fajgenbaum

45 | Overtime: A Conversation With Dr. David Fajgenbaum

Today’s guest is Dr. David Fajgenbaum, survivor, scientist, physician, and disease hunter. Dr. Fajgenbaum is a world-renowned physician-scientist, bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and survi...

3 Mar 1h 11min

44 | Fourteen Bullets

44 | Fourteen Bullets

On May 5, 1994, South Australian police officer Derrick McManus was shot 14 times in under five seconds and left bleeding on the ground for nearly three hours while a 40-hour siege raged around him. I...

24 Feb 1h 2min

43 | Rip

43 | Rip

Zoe Cooper grew up around parachutes—her parents were skydivers—and by her eighth jump she felt like a pro. Then the parachute ripped. Spinning low, she and her instructor had to cut away and free-fal...

17 Feb 56min

42 | Extraordinary Awakening: A Conversation with Filmmaker Jonas Elrod

42 | Extraordinary Awakening: A Conversation with Filmmaker Jonas Elrod

Filmmaker Jonas Elrod never set out to become a spiritual seeker. While making a documentary in San Francisco, his life was suddenly upended: lights flickered, voices appeared, and a portal opened in ...

10 Feb 1h 29min

41 | Angel Falls

41 | Angel Falls

At 26, Taylor Maxson was searching for purpose while working with at-risk youth in Kentucky. After months of exhaustion and stress, he and two friends set out on the Cumberland River for what was mean...

3 Feb 37min

40 | The Bondage of Self

40 | The Bondage of Self

In this unforgettable episode of Alive Again, Charlie Collins shares the moment that changed everything: when he was electrocuted by 12,500 volts on top of a moving train in New York. Legally blind si...

27 Jan 39min

39 | Maybe It Saved My Life

39 | Maybe It Saved My Life

On a 110° Grand Canyon trek rerouted by wildfire, Drew Seibert collapsed alone—hallucinating a friend, cooling in a cave, and realizing he might die there. He didn’t. A river guide’s sat phone summone...

20 Jan 49min

38 | Play The Tape Through

38 | Play The Tape Through

At UC Santa Cruz, Brooke Knisley fell more than twenty feet from a redwood while drinking and spent ten days in a coma. What followed was the long, messy work of living with a traumatic brain injury: ...

13 Jan 42min

Populært innen Vitenskap

fastlegen
tingenes-tilstand
rekommandert
jss
abels-tarn
rss-rekommandert
forskningno
liberal-halvtime
sinnsyn
dekodet-2
villmarksliv
rss-inn-til-kjernen-med-sunniva-rose
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
rss-nysgjerrige-norge
hva-er-greia-med
fjellsportpodden
nordnorsk-historie
rss-paradigmepodden
tidlose-historier
vett-og-vitenskap-med-gaute-einevoll