The Survival Podcast Transforming Boys Into Anti-Fragile Men – Epi-3841
May 6, 2026
Hans Hageman, educator and nonprofit leader who founded Carencia Leadership and wrote The Antifragile Boy, reflects on turning struggle into strength. He recounts work from East Harlem to prisons. Topics include breathwork and practical skills, mentoring that shifts young men’s values, carving small winnable challenges, and building purpose-driven, anti-fragile development programs.
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Started A School Despite A Gang Threat
- Hans left a high‑paying law job to start a school in his old neighborhood after raising initial funds with his brother.
- The school faced a death‑threat from a gang, requiring police cooperation, a carry permit, and community negotiation to protect students.
Soil Angels And Breathwork In A Juvenile Prison
- At Goshen Secure Center Hans ran gardening, breathwork and calisthenics; an MS‑13 member made 'soil angels' and connected to his grandfather's land.
- Touching soil and breathwork relieved trauma symptoms and improved mood and pain.
Difference Between Fragile Resilient And AntiFragile
- Fragile people break, resilient people return to baseline, and anti‑fragile people grow stronger from stress.
- Hans frames anti‑fragility as using trauma and setbacks as fuel to improve rather than merely survive.