Construct-ive Conversations
What's Your Pink Cadillac? Finding Joy After Rock Bottom with Ryan Campbell
In this episode of Constructive Conversations, host Eddie Thompson steps outside the world of construction finance to talk about something universal: how to live better. His guest is Ryan Campbell, the Australian-born, Nashville-based keynote speaker who made history at 19 as the youngest pilot — and first teenager — to fly solo around the world. Ryan shares the full arc of his story: the two years of planning and fundraising that got a "normal Aussie kid" to the start line, the 24,000-nautical-mile journey across 15 countries, and the devastating plane crash two years later that left him the sole survivor, with a spinal cord injury and a diagnosis of complete paraplegia. From that rock bottom, Ryan rebuilt his life — learning to walk again, returning to the skies, and discovering, with the help of an impulsively purchased 1959 pink Cadillac, a philosophy that now anchors his keynotes worldwide. Eddie and Ryan dig into the "seesaw" of balance (with a nod to Bluey), why moments of joy aren't a luxury but a crucial tool for resilience and mental health, and practical steps anyone can take today — from seeking professional help to running a "joy audit." Plus: Ryan's Nashville restaurant picks and a spirited debate over Australia's greatest exports. Learn more about Ryan and his book, Born to Fly, at RyanCampbell.co.
