What happens when your life changes in a matter of seconds? In this episode of Riding the Trauma Train, Lydia is joined by Nathan Court, a traumatic brain injury survivor whose huge energy, humour and early morning TikTok Lives have built a community around positivity, movement and getting through the difficult days. Nathan survived a devastating car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury, serious facial injuries and permanent double vision. After lying undiscovered for around seven hours, he regained consciousness unable to move his legs. He eventually made his way into the road, where a stranger stopped and took him to hospital. Nathan believes that stranger saved his life. What followed was major surgery, months of recovery and the uncertainty of what life would look like next. But Nathan's story is about far more than the accident. He talks openly about the months when positivity was nowhere to be found and the devastating loss of his brother during his recovery. Nathan shares the deeply personal experience of his eyesight returning enough for him to reach the hospice and say goodbye shortly before his brother died. The following day, Nathan started running. What began as getting outside with his dog eventually became 433 consecutive days of running 5K. Nathan and Lydia explore how movement, nature, routine and humour became important parts of his life, and how that same energy eventually found its way onto TikTok. But behind the positivity is a reality people do not always see. Nathan continues to live with permanent double vision, fatigue and the everyday effects of his brain injury. He talks honestly about difficult days, needing to step away and why positivity does not mean pretending everything is okay. They also explore Nathan's life before the accident, including people pleasing, searching for external validation and living for the weekend. Nathan had already started stepping away from that lifestyle before the crash, but what happened accelerated his journey towards understanding what genuinely made him happy. From UK pub culture and learning to say no, to social media, loneliness, dogs, humour and giving yourself ten minutes before reaching for your phone in the morning, this conversation is full of simple reminders about investing in yourself. And perhaps the biggest one is this: Make the goal smaller. Sometimes progress is not climbing the mountain. Sometimes it is getting out of bed. Brushing your teeth. Making a cup of tea. Opening the front door. Sitting on the doorstep for ten minutes. Your next step does not need to look impressive to anybody else. It just needs to be yours. • Traumatic brain injury and recovery• Living with permanent double vision• Grief and losing Nathan's brother• Running 5K every day for 433 days• Movement, nature and routine• Positivity without pretending everything is okay• People pleasing and external validation• UK drinking and pub culture• Learning to say no• Humour as a way of coping• Setting smaller, achievable goals• Social media and Nathan's TikTok community• Learning to live for yourself, not for others Content note: This episode includes discussion of a serious road traffic accident, traumatic brain injury, surgery, visual impairment, bereavement, cancer, alcohol use and mental health. Nathan also shares personal beliefs about medication, health and recovery based on his own experience. These should not be taken as medical advice. TikTok: @nathbrainbleedInstagram: @nathbrainbleed If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need the reminder that progress does not have to happen all at once. Grab your ticket. We're taking this journey one stop at a time. You are not on this journey alone. In this episode:Follow Nathan Court
