444: Dean Otto

444: Dean Otto

From BrandBuilders by The Dunstan Group

February 20, 2026 · 54 min

About this episode

Dean Otto shares his incredible journey of recovery and forgiveness after a life-altering accident.

Some stories are so improbable that if they weren’t true, you’d never believe them. Dean Otto ’s story is one of them. A lifelong athlete, sales leader, and dad, Dean was out for a Saturday morning bike ride in Charlotte when he was hit from behind by a Ford F-150, paralyzed from the waist down, and given just a 2% chance of ever walking again. Less than a year later, he crossed the finish line of a half marathon—running side by side with his neurosurgeon, Dr. Matthew McGirt, who had performed the complex spine surgery that saved his mobility. But the comeback is only part of the story. Dean chose to forgive the guy who hit him, invited him into his life, and turned a horrific accident into a lesson in grace, courage, and belief. We can’t wait to hear more about this one… Dean, welcome to The BrandBuilders Podcast!

People in this episode

Guest: Dean Otto

Topics covered

  • comeback story
  • forgiveness
  • athletics
  • resilience

Keywords

  • paralysis
  • half marathon
  • neurosurgeon
  • grace
  • courage

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Charlotte

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