THINK WIN: A Burn Survivor’s Guide to Strength and Resilience

In this powerful episode, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and burn survivor Jim Wall joins host Rachel to share his story of survival, resilience, and purpose. 🌟 After sustaining a burn injury in 2022, Jim drew on the strength and discipline from his military career to forge a new path forward, one rooted in what he calls the 4 Fs: faith, family, fitness, and fire.

Jim opens up about the road to recovery and how his military mindset became a cornerstone of his healing. He introduces listeners to his motivational framework, THINK WIN, a powerful acronym built on principles that have guided his post-injury life: Trust the coach, Harness the hurt, Ignite the fire within you, Never tap out, Kneel before you rise, War and will, Internalize your mission, Never alone.

We close out the conversation with Jim's inspiring fitness journey as he trains for a full Ironman this fall, a mission driven not just by personal challenge but by a deep commitment to raise awareness and support the burn community. 💪 

#BurnSurvivor #GirlsWithGrafts #Podcast #SurvivorPodcast #BurnSurvivorStories

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Meet Our Guest 

Jim Wall is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with 24 years of service as a C-130 and KC-135 pilot, leading organizations and bases around the world, including in combat zones. He now works as a Client Partner at Slalom, guiding enterprise-level transformations across industries.

Jim is a certified executive leadership coach with the John Maxwell Team, committed to personal growth and development. He actively volunteers with Phoenix SOAR at the Regions Burn Center in St. Paul, MN, and mentors students at Minnetonka High School in leadership, aviation, and international relations.

He also leads a men’s faith formation group and is currently training for Ironman Wisconsin in September 2025. A burn survivor since August 13, 2022, Jim channels his experience into service, resilience, and purposeful living.

Links 

• Learn more about Phoenix SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery) : https://resources.phoenix-society.org/phoenix-soar 
• Read “​​Let's Get Physical: Getting Started with Physical Fitness:” https://phoenix-society.org/resources/getting-started-with-physical-fitness 
• Read “What to Expect: Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being:” https://www.phoenix-society.org/resources/what-to-expect-mental-health 
• Use the Burn Survivor Heat Tracker: https://www.phoenix-society.org/resources/burn-survivor-heat-risk-calculator 

 

Podcast Sponsor 

Today’s podcast is powered by one of our fire prevention partners, Telgian! Telgian is committed to providing effective and innovative fire protection, life safety and security programs. Learn more by visiting www.telgian.com. 

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at [e-mail].