Kegan "Smurf" Gill is a former U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot and the author of Phoenix Revival. In 2014, he survived the fastest ejection in naval aviation history, an event that left him facing devastating physical injuries and the invisible wounds of trauma. After battling PTSD, addiction, and a long road to recovery, Gill returned to the cockpit before ultimately dedicating himself to advocating for veteran mental health and alternative approaches to healing. Through his speaking, writing, and advocacy work, he shares a powerful message of resilience, purpose, and the possibility of rebuilding a life after profound adversity. Privacy Isn't Paranoia, It's Protection. Download Glacier https://srs.site/glacierapp Website - https://theglacierapp.com Shawn Ryan Show Links SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ShawnRyanShow Sign up: https://shawnryanshow.com/pages/newsletter Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/VigilanceElite Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shawn-ryan-show/id1492492083 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eodRZd3qR9VT1ip1wI7xQ?si=59f9d106e56a4509 Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnryanshow Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/@shawnryanshow Follow on X: https://twitter.com/ShawnRyanShow SRS Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4pqo9Uoh0WuUKxw0BmaK1yrg9Kd7E4lk Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkoujZQZatbqy4KGcgjpVxQ/join #vigilanceelite #shawnryanshow Kegan Gill Links: Website - https://www.KeganGill.com Phoenix Revival - https://a.co/d/03IHVaV7 IG - https://www.instagram.com/kegansmurfgill LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kegan-gill-6986a4259 YouTube - https://youtube.com/@kegangill Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Go to https://rorra.com/SRS for an exclusive discount on the Rorra Countertop System and tap into clean water today. Search onX Offroad in the App Store or Google Play to access an off-road navigation app with trail maps, land boundaries, camping info, and offline capability. https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/app Go to https://moinkbox.com/SRS to get free chicken wings in every box for a year as long as you’re a paying customer. Try Amazon Music Unlimited for music, podcasts, and audiobooks all in one app—learn more at https://music.amazon.com. Don’t sleep on [@ultrapouches]. New customers get 15% Off with code SRS at https://takeultra.com! #UltraPouches #ad 0:00 Welcome and Introduction 23:37 Becoming a Navy Fighter Pilot 34:44 Flying the Hornet & Carrier Training 44:16 The Crash & Ejection at Mach 0.95 1:00:34 Recovery, Rehab & Fighting to Fly Again 1:12:38 The Long Road Back to the Cockpit 1:28:32 UAP Encounters & The Bigger Questions 1:44:05 Returning to Flight & Mental Health Decline 1:57:38 Psychosis, the VA & Psychiatric Hospitalization 2:14:34 Surviving the Mental Health System 2:27:07 Recovery 2:39:27 Building Hope Through Community 2:54:59 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up