Backstage Pass: Ep. 11 - Nando Parrado: More Than Heroes - The Ultimate Story of Love, Teamwork, and Trust
Nando parrado bio
Nando Parrado is the hero of the 1972 Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 rescue. Parrado's story has been referred to as the greatest survival story of all time as he recounts the extraordinary tale of how he and 15 of his teammates survived for 72 brutal days after their plane crashed into the frozen Andes Mountains over 50 years ago.
The most recent cinematic retelling of their story is the Netflix film, Society of the Snow, which has introduced a new generation to Nando's heroic journey. The film was spearheaded by Oscar-nominated director J.A. Bayona and has received international attention along with winning numerous awards including 12 Goyas.
For over three decades, Parrado has moved global audiences through sharing his story of survival, resilience, and determination in the Andes. While it is almost certain no one has experienced surviving a plane crash at cruising altitude, Parrado believes every listener can strongly relate as we all have our own Andes to conquer.
His story has continued to remain in the limelight - first being told in Pier Paul Read’s 1973 publication of Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors. In 1993, Ethan Hawke portrayed Parrado in the movie Alive. Parrado soon debuted as #10 on The New York Times bestseller list as a first time author with Miracle in the Andes in 2006. The riveting story was retold in The History Channel documentary I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash in 2010 as well as in a 2023 ABC 20/20 episode Prisoners of the Snow.
Nando and his family reside in Uruguay where he is enjoying early retirement after a successful career in television and entrepreneurship running real estate developments, an ad agency, and a chain of hardware stores. He is now focusing on family and his many hobbies which include boating, historic race cars, and travel.
Show notes
We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Nando Parrado, the first speaker ever booked by GDA Speakers 25 years ago. Nando is the hero of a 1972 plane crash in the Andes Mountains, which he discusses in today’s episode, and he’s lived through one of the greatest survival stories of all time. His story continues to resonate with audiences today; when he attends as a speaker, he promises to give the audience the best speaker experience they’ve ever had. We also discuss GDA Speakers' 25th anniversary and Nando's continued involvement and influence in the company.
Key topics in this episode include:
What audiences find so engaging and appealing about Nando’s story.
How he celebrates his survival and honors those who were lost.
Why Nando is visiting the podcast office today.
Why Nando was chosen as the first speaker booked at GDA Speakers (and how he filled a tall order).
Where he’s speaking next and why it’s such a big accomplishment.
The secret to his survival and why it’s a miracle that Nando is here today.
The small ways people survive every day and why it matters.
What to watch for in an engaged audience and how to know if they’re all in.
Nando’s experience with the movie Society of the Snow.
Why he says speaking is a part of his life (and what the other important parts are).
His thoughts on going to the Oscars and what it was like.
How he selects speaking engagements to do (and why he says no sometimes).
The reasons why Nando gets booked again and again.