9 wrestling academies in Wisconsin
Ben Askren and his brother run 9 wrestling academies across the state of Wisconsin through Aspen Wrestling Academy.
Snapshot · Modern Wisdom
Raw Truths From The Brink Of Death - Ben Askren - #1116
Explore episode
Jun 27, 2026
Where this was said
How Near-Death Changed Ben's Priorities
At 32:20 · chapter starts 26:40
One of the most revealing moments of the episode comes when Ben reflects on what he thought about when he was closest to death — had he lived a good life? His honest answer is yes. He was proud of the life he had been living: coaching young wrestlers, running his academies with his brother, loving his wife and children. He didn't need to nearly die to discover that his priorities were misguided, because they weren't. What the experience did do was amplify the things that were already right. [1] — Ben Askren "Ben Askren says that nearly dying didn't reveal that his priorities were wrong — they were already good. What it did was amplify the right …" 26:48 He became more patient. He felt gratitude more acutely. After 16 years of attending church without it fully clicking, he became — in his words — a Christian, not just 'Christian adjacent'. And he began divesting from business investments that required his time but didn't generate real passion, asking every prospective commitment the same question: is this worth time away from my family? Chris draws a parallel with a line from Peaky Blinders: 'Everything after that was extra.' Ben agrees: the extra is what he plans to spend as fully as possible.
Near-Death Changed His Priorities — But Not His Values
Ben Askren says that nearly dying didn't reveal that his priorities were wrong — they were already good. What it did was amplify the right things: more patience, more gratitude, deeper faith, and a sharper filter for what deserves his time. He now asks of every opportunity: is this worth time away from my family?
Median Lung Transplant Survival Is 6.5 Years
The median life expectancy after a double lung transplant is just 6.5 years. Ben Askren rejects this as his benchmark — pointing out that most transplant recipients are elderly and unwell, not ex-professional athletes who were in peak health when disaster struck. His goal is 39 years.
Median lung transplant survival: 6.5 years
The median life expectancy after a double lung transplant is only 6.5 years, though Ben believes this statistic does not apply to him given his prior health.
Longest double lung transplant survivor: 38 years
The longest living person post double lung transplant has survived 38 years, and Ben Askren has set a goal of surpassing 39 years.
His Goal: Outlive the Record by a Year
The longest surviving double lung transplant patient lived 38 years. Ben Askren's goal is 39 — which would make him 80. And if stem cell technology for growing personalised organs matures in the next 15–20 years, he's already told his doctor he'll volunteer to be first in line for a second transplant.
Similar snapshots
CrossFit athlete: top 2,000 worldwide
Thomas's wife is already ranked in the top 2,000 CrossFit athletes in the world — roughly the top 1% — and Thomas wants her to pursue the sport professionally now that he is graduating law school.
Athletes improve with mental rehearsal
Research shows athletes who mentally imagine practicing basketball or soccer have better performance than those who do not include imagination in their training.
~10 rounds dominated vs Usyk
Rico Verhoeven dominated approximately 10 of 12 rounds against undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk before a controversial post-bell stoppage.
Stopped after the bell
Rico's appeal confirmed the fight was stopped after the bell rang, and the ringside doctor found no concussion or disorientation — yet the result was never overturned.
Glory uses 5 judges vs boxing's 3
Glory Kickboxing uses 5 judges rather than boxing's 3, which Joe Rogan argues reduces the chance of a corrupt or incompetent minority swinging the result.
1 professional boxing match before Usyk
Rico Verhoeven had only one professional boxing match before fighting undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC title.
15 years of boxing training
Despite having just one pro boxing match, Rico Verhoeven had been training boxing for 15 years alongside his kickboxing career.
6-month boxing transition camp
Rico used a full 6 months to transition from kickboxing stance to a proper boxing stance under trainer Peter Fury, calling it essential rewiring.
75+ kickboxing fights in career
Rico Verhoeven has had approximately 75 professional kickboxing fights, giving him a massive combat sports experience advantage over pure boxers.
