What's Your Story with Jaime & Stan

What’s Your Story Chris Kiblin? Surviving A Coma To Serve Others

Episode Summary

In this powerful episode, Jaime and Stan sit down with Chris Kiblin, a man who defines resilience. From scrubbing floors at age 11 in Baltimore to building a career in the mortgage industry, Chris has always had hustle in his DNA. But his greatest challenge wasn't in business—it was a fight for his life. Chris opens up about his harrowing battle with acute pneumonia that left him in a five-day coma and facing his own mortality. He shares how this experience, alongside a struggle with depression, reshaped his perspective on life, faith, and the importance of giving back to his community.

Episode Notes

In this powerful episode, Jaime and Stan sit down with Chris Kiblin, a man who defines resilience. From scrubbing floors at age 11 in Baltimore to building a career in the mortgage industry, Chris has always had hustle in his DNA. But his greatest challenge wasn't in business—it was a fight for his life. Chris opens up about his harrowing battle with acute pneumonia that left him in a five-day coma and facing his own mortality. He shares how this experience, alongside a struggle with depression, reshaped his perspective on life, faith, and the importance of giving back to his community.

KEY TOPICS COVERED

• The Early Hustle: Growing up in Baltimore and learning the value of work by scrubbing floors at age 11 to buy a fish tank.
• Military & Early Family Life: Serving in the Army Reserves and becoming a father at age 21.
• Career Pivots: Moving from door-to-door insurance sales to retail banking and eventually finding his stride in the mortgage industry.
• A Brush with Death: The terrifying timeline of January 2024, from deep depression to waking up from a coma with nerve damage and a new lease on life.
• Finding Purpose: How surviving changed his outlook, leading him to support charities like Sertoma Kids and 40 Carrots.
• Overcoming Darkness: A candid discussion on battling depression, the isolation of recovery, and pulling oneself out of the "black hole".

MEMORABLE QUOTES

• "I learned at a very young age that if you want anything in life, if you wanted it bad enough, then you figure out how to make it work."
• "I missed dying right that night... If I would have waited another day, my right lung would have been completely full. I would have drowned in my own fluid."
• "I’m living the life that I have right now... I want to do as much as I can, and be a part as much as I can."
• "I grew up in a family that you don't show emotions... you just kind of buried it."

------------------------------------------------

Where to listen & watch:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/zdN08_SnBcQ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-your-story/id1768048076
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFWnedfyylxVs5vJrD8tY
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c4c493e-e2f2-4b4b-bfd3-52174caeaf7c/whats-your-story-with-jaime-stan

Connect with Chris Kiblin
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-kiblin-616b4bbb
Website: www.suitedwarrior.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/suitedwarrior
Facebook: www.facebook.com/christopher.kiblin

If this episode helped you rethink what success looks like, subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Your support helps us share more powerful stories like Chris’s.

Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JaimeSpeaks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaimeMarcoSpeaks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeamarco
Website: https://www.jaimemarco.com

Got feedback or a guest recommendation? Email us at connect@jaimemarco.com