n this unforgettable episode of Almost Got It, we sit down with Trent Rankin — a U.S. Army Ranger, Apple engineer, and heart transplant survivor — to uncover the story of how a seemingly harmless cough turned out to be a deadly sign of heart failure.
From growing up in Alabama to enduring Ranger School, landing a role at Apple, and then suddenly waking up in the ICU unable to breathe — Trent's journey is one of discipline, denial, and ultimately, survival.
He opens up about:
• Getting medically discharged from the military
• Rebuilding his identity in Silicon Valley
• The terrifying moment his lungs filled with fluid
• What it’s like to wake up with a new heart
This isn’t just a story about near-death — it’s a story about what comes after.
—
Follow the hosts and guest:
Dilan: https://x.com/dilan
Ben: https://x.com/realbentauber
Trent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trenton-rankin-445392152/
⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: From Alabama to Apple
01:10 – Trent’s Childhood on the Gulf Coast
02:35 – Why He Joined the Military
04:15 – “I Was Already Disciplined Before the Army”
07:00 – Becoming an Extrovert Through Camaraderie
09:00 – The Hardest Part of Military Life
11:10 – Mental Adaptation vs Physical Limits
14:00 – Why He Got Kicked Out of Ranger School
15:30 – A Surprise Heart Diagnosis
18:00 – Rebuilding His Life After Discharge
21:00 – From Denial to Engineering at Apple
23:10 – Signs of Heart Failure at Age 28
24:30 – ICU Emergency: Lungs Full of Fluid
26:15 – The Biology of a Failing Heart
29:20 – The Medications That Keep You Alive
31:45 – What Hospitalization Does to the Mind
34:00 – What He’d Tell His 24-Year-Old Self
35:30 – Would He Do It All Again?
37:10 – Heart Transplant: Facing Death, Twice
40:00 – Recovery and What Surprised Him Most
43:00 – The Day His New Heart Arrived
45:20 – Living With a Heart That Isn’t Yours
48:00 – How Facing Mortality Changed His Philosophy
50:40 – The Future of Bioengineering and Transplants
52:15 – Final Reflections: Humor, Purpose & Survival
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