Wednesday Dec 31, 2025
Sean Turnell’s Unbelievable Story of Optimism & Survival | EP142
He survived 650 days falsely accused of spying and imprisoned in a foreign country, an experience that reshaped his understanding of resilience, meaning, and the human spirit.
Professor Sean Turnell’s journey from Australian economist to political prisoner in Myanmar is one of the most extraordinary stories of endurance in modern times.
In this episode, Sean shares how imagination, history, and the concept of the hero’s journey helped him survive solitary confinement, uncertainty, and the constant threat of death. From economic reform and political collapse to meditation, meaning, and perspective, this is a conversation that goes far beyond geopolitics.
You’ll learn what real resilience looks like when everything is stripped away, how perspective can become a survival tool, and how to find meaning in your own “box” moments when life pulls the floor out from under you.
Get in touch with Sean Turnell – https://www.seanturnell.com
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Sean’s Quick Fire Answers
What does success mean to you?
“Doing work that matters, with integrity, and knowing you’ve helped others along the way.”
What does happiness mean to you?
“A sense of meaning, perspective, and connection, especially with the people you love.”
What’s your normal morning routine these days?
“Early mornings, quiet reflection, reading, and easing into the day with purpose.”
What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?
“Control what you can, especially your attitude.”
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Listen To The Podcast
https://pod.link/1683066164?view=apps&sort=popularity
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Find Us On Social Media
https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod
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Chapters
(00:00:00) – Intro
(00:00:48) – Chapter 1 | Childhood, Imagination & the Foundations of Resilience
(00:05:15) – Chapter 2 | Economics, Purpose & Helping Fragile Nations
(00:12:48) – Chapter 3 | Myanmar, Reform & the Road to Imprisonment
(00:28:16) – Chapter 4 | Arrest, Isolation & Life Inside the Prison Cell
(00:54:45) – Chapter 5 | Survival, Meaning & the Hero’s Journey
(01:05:37) – Chapter 6 | Release, Reflection & Life After Prison
(01:17:05) – Quick Fire Questions
(01:19:31) – Outro
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#podcast #resilience #humanspirit #myanmar
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