#29: Survival, Courage & Storytelling - Fire, War & The Brother Who Never Walks Away
Before he became an award-winning filmmaker and humanitarian, Brandt Andersen built a tech company from scratch, scaled it to tens of millions in revenue, and sold it before moving into filmmaking, where he went on to produce major films like Everest, Lone Survivor, and American Made. But behind the success is a life shaped by extremes: a skydiving accident that nearly killed him, surviving the Malibu fires with his son, and years spent inside war zones helping people in crisis.
In this conversation, Brandt shares the real stories behind I Was a Stranger, his new film inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis. He explains how meeting smugglers, soldiers, parents, and children across Syria, Turkey, Jordan, and Haiti reshaped his understanding of judgment, fear, and humanity.
This episode is also deeply personal. Brandt is Derek’s older brother. Together, they revisit the moments that forged their bond: childhood chaos, life-or-death situations, and the lessons Brandt passed down through the way he lives. Their conversation reveals the heart, flaws, courage, and philosophy of a man who has spent his life running toward the fire for others, and the profound impact that has had on Derek.
Learn More About Brandt - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandt_Andersen
Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen
Timestamps:
1:39 — Who Brandt Andersen Really Is & Why His Story Matters
3:03 — The Skydive That Should Have Killed Him
8:47 — What Facing Death Taught Brandt About Life
14:02 — The Wild Childhood Stories That Shaped Him
18:10 — The Banksy Above His Fireplace & His Dark/Light Identity
22:30 — From Startup Exit to Hollywood Storytelling
28:41 — Producing Everest, Lone Survivor & American Made
32:12 — The Real Families Who Inspired I Was a Stranger
36:55 — Inside Syria: Crisis Through Human Eyes
41:38 — “Don’t Judge People by Their Worst Day”
45:52 — Haiti Earthquake: Chaos, Hunger & Purpose
52:10 — The Moment That Changed His View of Humanity
1:12:03 — Trapped in the Malibu Fires With His Son
1:29:45 — What Brandt Ultimately Wants People to Understand
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