Team Never Quit

From Navy SEAL sniper with Special Operations and Intelligence Community experience to Co-Founder of Caim Technology, a counter human trafficking organization.That’s this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Jeremy Mahugh. Marcus and Jeremy get in the weeds regarding Jeremy’s involvement in the development of cell phone app technology capable of identifying potential human trafficking risks as a preventive measure against being victimized. Caim Technologywww.caim.techIn this episode you will hear:• [While in a float tank] I thought, “I wonder what it’d feel like if I just rolled over?”. I got the salt in my nose, and eyes, and ears, and the rest of the hour was shot. (8:41)• Everybody has the ability to travel now, but some people still don’t. (15:24)• [My grandfather] was in the Army Air Corps and was shot down over Yugoslavia in World War II. He was a POW. (22:44)• I’m still not sure if they know what soccer is in Texas. (24:03)• I just wanted to be part of a team – I wanted to part of something that was gonna push me to be better. (27:26)• [Caim Technology] is focused on collecting any kind of data on human trafficking or exploitation. (57:39)• One of the things that’s been missing is having a tool to put in the hands of the consumer. So we have a mobile app that will tell you if you’re interacting with someone in the [human trafficking] database. (58:02)• You can connect a consumer with a product via smart phone. That’s also happening in the human trafficking world. (59:51)• Q: Is the app available? A: We’re probably a month or two away from being launched. We’re collecting data from a multitude of websites. (66:11)• It will go to the app store soon, and has to go through beta testing. (66:30)• Technology has gotten to the point that it is everything to us. (70:22)• It’s the Wild West. There’s never been good parameters on how [AI] can be used. (75:16)• Everybody has a need to deal with this [Caim App] and has a need for good information. (78:04)• What I love about what we’re doing now is we’re here to support all of you. Our for-profit is there to make money, but provide tools and prevention and have a huge hammer in the fight against human trafficking. (82:15)

What a privilege it is to have the top graduate of the Air Force Top Gun School and retired U.S. Air Force F-22 and F-15 fighter pilot and squadron commander, Rob “Cujo” Teschner in the studio with Marcus for this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast. Listen in for an inspiring conversation with Cujo, whose life is an amazing success story, and whose life mission is to teach and inspire others, bridging the gap between the principles of high performance combat veterans and high performance business. His fight with Colorectal Cancer is what prompted Cujo to retire from the Air Force early. Yet his ambition led to his path of entrepreneurship, leadership and team development. Cujo is the founder and CEO of VMax Group, an international leadership training company and he has authored several books, two of which went to #1 on the Amazon bestseller list. In this episode you will hear: • I loved being part of the Air Force family. We lived all over the place. (7:57) • 1977 when Luke Skywalker wants to join some academy and then join the rebellion. That resonated with me. (9:49) • As a kid, I felt like the military was my family. It’s what I knew. (10:50) • I thought it was always cool to hop on an airplane to go someplace new. To meet new people along the way. (13:00) • My letter – the one that says “thanks for applying” never said “try again”. (18:26) • The more people told me it wasn’t gonna happen the more committed I was to proving them wrong. (20:47) • I had never flown an airplane before I went to the Air Force Academy. (23:32) • Isn’t that stunning how fast we accelerate leadership – how fast we accelerate somebody to realize their potential? (27:07) • If there was a time period I could freeze it would be First Lieutenant to Captain, because that’s when I was out there doing the mission. (28:28) • What we need is a constant stream of warriors who are ready to go forth and do. (35:18) • The biggest honor of my military career was being called to be an instructor at our Fighter Weapons School, basically it’s the Air Force Top Gun Program. (36:49) • You can beat people up and tell them how much they suck and they can learn from that, but another alternative might be Hey Cujo, we were 2 decisions from victory today. (43:55) • I try to apply that to my kids. (44:46) • One of the huge blessings of my life was being a part of teams that mattered. (48:09) • Our family team got a whole heck of a lot better as a result of my failure with cancer. That caused us to focus where we needed to. I’m eternally grateful for it. (52:32) • One of the best 4-star bosses I ever worked for would come in every month and ask us “Hey what are you doing for the home team?” (55:33)

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, we bring you Part 2 of this episode featuring Drago Dzieran. A real American – born in Poland.Drago Dzieran is a former political prisoner for his activism against Communism. After arriving in the United States unable to speak English, Drago eventually became a US citizen, enlisted in the U.S. Navy and trained to serve as a Navy SEAL for 20 years. In Iraq, he fought in over 100 combat missions as the Naval Special Warfare Lead Breacher. Drago was awarded Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for valor, in addition to other various awards and decorations.Following his honorable retirement after twenty years in the Navy, Dzieran began a successful career as a software engineer. Drago founded the Navy SEALs Fund, a nonprofit with the mission of providing support for all generations of current, retired, and former UDT/SEAL teammates, their immediate dependents as well as Gold Star Families. Listen in as Drago shares his amazing life journey from Poland to living life as a real American in service to others. In this episode you will hear:• Once they take away your freedom of speech, they censor you, they put out fake news… you have no defenses. (4:08)• The law was created in the socialist state to penalize free thinking. To criminalize opposition. (4:29)• America was built on the idea of personal freedom. (7:10)• [In the Ukraine] freedom is being taken away from them slowly. (8:37)• These people [Ukranians] are fighting for their lives now - freedom. (10:16)• We have former Generals saying that the Russians – “these poor souls don’t know they’re at war. They think they are on exercises.” You have to be an imbecile to repeat something like this. You have to be an idiot. (11:32)• [Ukranians] They want to be free, and our media is lying about it. (12:53)• Ukranians were always very patriotic. (13:10)• [Navy SEALS Fund] The way we operate is different than most charities. We don’t have paid positions. The fund is run by SEALS only. (35:57)• We help the Gold Start families: the spouse, the children, parents and siblings. (43:19)• We need to do something right then. We don’t need to send it through this board of “Lets talk about it when we meet next month. (44:27)There would be no Drago if not for people like Marcus, Morgan, Rob, Tage, Taco, & Jocco. (48:09)• For the Navy SEAL fund we don’t have forms and check the box. (61:08)• [Drago’s Book} The Pledge to America. (64:44)• I’m a better American today than I was yesterday, and I want to be a better American tomorrow than I am today. (64:50)• My biggest accomplishment is becoming a U.S. citizen. (65:05)

A real American – born in Poland. In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus meets with Drago Dzieran, a former political prisoner for his activism against Communism. After arriving in the United States unable to speak English, Drago eventually became a US citizen, enlisted in the U.S. Navy and trained to serve as a Navy SEAL. In Iraq, he fought in over 100 combat missions as the Naval Special Warfare Lead Breacher. Drago was awarded Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for valor, in addition to other various awards and decorations. Following his honorable retirement after twenty years in the Navy, Dzieran began a successful career as a software engineer. Drago founded the Navy SEALs Fund, a nonprofit with the mission of providing support for all generations of current, retired, and former UDT/SEAL teammates, their immediate dependents as well as Gold Star Families. Listen in as Drago shares his amazing life journey from Poland to living life as a real American in service to others. In this episode you will hear: • I was born in communist Poland. It was actually a socialist state run by communists. My father was part of the evil system. (7:13) • When the first Persian Gulf war broke out, I thought it was my moral obligation to support my country (8:35) • I’m not Polish-American; I am not “Something”-American. There is no hyphen. I’m just American. (8:50) • I could not build a job for my fellow citizens, but I could defend them. (8:56) • I spent 20 years as a Navy SEAL. (9:22) • For my father, it was first to obey the government. (10:28) • [My grandmother] taught me how to pray, and what to pray for. (11:25) • [My grandmother told me] “[The communists] kill people and imprison people for their beliefs. (11:52) • I still remember her [grandmother’s] words: “Poland is not free. It will not be free until we get rid of these people. (12:01) • [When my father found out] I was not allowed to pray with my grandmother alone. (12:45). • Pre-war Poland had one of the strongest Navy’s in the Baltic Sea. (16:55) • Prison time for me was education. A huge education about Polish history. (27:36) • [My father] believed that we need to convince people to socialism, because it offers such great things, but if we can’t, we have the power to eliminate these people. We call them enemies of the state. (30:47) • Even today, while Poland is free, some of them are being prosecuted. (38:17) • I’ll be the best US citizen America can have. (42:11) • American is built on goodness. (47:32) • You can live in the United States without being a citizen, but I wanted to be American. (56:02)

NOTE: Today’s TNQP episode is a rebroadcast of our episode featuring Navy SEAL Mike Day. We bring it you in his honor and memory. Navy SEALS Mike Day and Marcus Luttrell engage in the graphic details of an unbelievable event that Mike, against all odds, survived. He took 27 rounds of an AK-47 pounding while on a mission in Fallujah, and lived to tell about it. When Mike shares his unparalleled true story, you won’t stop listening till the end. It’s a totally captivating series of events, told by the man who lived it. In this episode you will hear: • Fear’s either gonna lock you up, or it’s gonna tighten you up. I’m not saying go out and do ridiculous shit every day, but its good to do stuff that scares you, because if its good, it’s a tiny bit past what your comfort level is, and that’s how you build resilience, you just get out of your comfort level. • I humbly submit myself as an example. (17:00) • The only reason anybody knows me is because I got shot too many times. (17:20) • I would make sure people were asleep before I went out; it was a lot safer. (21:54) • The worst part about being over there is not actually doing the op, it’s getting to and from. That’s where you get all messed up. (25:50) • A door in a room means something. (26:50) • When you blow stuff up, people wake up and they want to start shooting at you. (27:09) • It’s really hard to kill a dog with one shot. (27:40) • I’ve walked through suburban areas in Iraq, with forty dogs barking at me, and nobody wakes up. (27:49) • It’s amazing that twenty people can see the same thing, and see something totally different. (30:41) • Literally from the time I dropped my right foot in that room, to the time I hit the ground, to the first guy that I killed, might have been five seconds – it seemed like minutes to me. (31:41) • A round went through the of the foot of the magazine – blew the hand grips off the magazine. I could feel the springs in the palms of my hands, and I cleared the malfunction and I killed those two dudes. (37:25) • I was a way better social worker than I was a SEAL. (44:25)

While there have been veterans who have competed in the reality show: Survivor: Season 43, never has there been a non-veteran winner who gave away the entirety of the $1,000,000 prize to veteran organizations. Until now. In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, meet Mike Gabler who did just that. What an engaging conversation Mike and Marcus have, as Mike shares some of the behind the scenes stories related to the program. Mike, a Texas native, comes from a family of veterans, but he serves his country in a significantly different way. He is a heart valve specialist, working with top surgeons and cardiologists - a multicultural group of people with a common focus - to take care of the patient.At age 43, Mike was the oldest contestant of the season, and the second oldest competitor in the history of Survivor. The lack of food and nourishment was really getting to him, yet he excelled in individual competition. He explained that he gained strength by thinking about the military members who are currently fighting, as well as those who’ve passed, and who’ve sacrificed so much for our nation.“I’m gonna donate the entire prize – the entire million dollars – in my father’s name, Robert Gabler, who’s a Green Beret, to Veterans in need who are struggling from psychiatric problems, PTSD, and to curb the suicide epidemic.” “Lot of heroes served in our military. We do this for fun; they do this for real.”Thumbnail Image:- CBS via Getty ImagesIn this episode you will hear:• Everybody on Survivor likes Type 2 fun, because that’s what it was. (6:33)• We all became really close. We’re friends to this day. (6:38)• I went into the game at 200 pounds, and came out at 176. (8:41)• One day Ryan came back with a 2 foot clam. There were 2 pieces as big as 12oz filet mignons, and tasted just like scallops. (10:29)• [At first] it’s a punch in the face, but after about a week you start assimilating. (19:43)• [Growing up] whatever your dad yells at the TV or cheers for is what you cheer for, so we became Steelers fans. (24:23)• In Arab culture, when you like something, they’re inclined to give it to you. (26:40)• It was really an amazing experience as a child to traverse the world. (30:40)• I stood on the great wall [of China] when I was in middle school. (30:50)• When you travel around the world, you realize what a small place it is, and how similar people are at their core. (32:01)• Crocodiles can strike half the length of their body. (41:23)• The harder you work, the luckier you get. (49:56)• In 2011, this brand new technology called TAVR (Trans Aortic Valve Replacement) came out. (51:01)• I would look to the next bend in the road and I’d tell myself to get there. (54:12)• I was on an endurance challenge where I had to hold on tight. The record for it in 22 seasons was 25 minutes. My spirit exploded, and we broke the all-time record for that at over 45 minutes. (56:15)• Man can survive (and woman) if you can find meaning in your suffering. (58:41)• “Doing something bigger than yourself” drove me to persevere. (65:32)• When you go deep into yourself, big things can happen. (81:33)

What an engaging and compelling guest Marcus brings to the table in this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast. Jordan Harbinger, one of the most successful podcasters in the world, reveals his crafty (and illegal) but brilliant, stealthy methods for tapping into land line telephone conversations, and circumventing credit card machines in his early teenage years. While working out of the country, he details the experience of being kidnapped twice.His inquisitive mind was fascinated by the internet at an early age, and later became a Wall Street lawyer, followed by launching The Jordan Harbinger Show, where he deconstructs the playbooks of the most successful people on earth and shares their strategies.These days, Jordan’s biggest motivation is to help people succeed by teaching them to think better. In this episode you will hear:• When I was a kid, I wasn’t exactly inspirational to anyone. (4:13)• I didn’t have any money and listening to phone conversations and wiretapping got really interesting. I did that with cell phones, line pairs, and the green boxes on the side of the road. (7:13)• Listening to adults talk when they don’t know kids are around is completely different experience. (7:33)• [As a kid] you learn that adults have feelings, and problems just like you do. (10:25)• Are all adults just children that are winging it? Kind of – in a lot of ways. (12:25)• I learned to convince people to do things that I probably shouldn’t have convinced them to do. (15:55)• One of the things that I did that I got caught for was to go into a cell phone store’s dumpster at night and take the duplicate receipts from a carbon printer and use that information to program phones. (21:04)• I figured out how the credit card payment system worked at a pizza chain and you could use a number that would work in their machine and the machine didn’t reconcile the transactions until Friday’s. (22:12)• If there was a girl that I liked I would figure out what she liked by hacking into her computer. (27:46)• The coolest thing that I ever did was to help the FBI catch sexual predators. (36:09)• [In Mexico City] “Am I getting kidnapped right now?” “No, that can’t be it.” “Then I thought why can’t that be it?” I couldn’t open the door. (44:55)• Later when I lived in Panama, the same thing would happen, and dudes would get in the cab and say you’re going to the bank to take out as much money as you can, or we’re gonna stab you, or shoot you. (54:10) • Two of the most addicting and destructive things in the world are heroin and a steady paycheck. (57:43)• Now I’ve got kids and the nightmares are outsourced. (62:27)• I try to teach people how to think better. (63:17)

A man’s man. A Patriot’s Patriot. A distinguished veteran as a U.S. Navy SEAL. And now a newly elected U.S. congressman. What a resume this week’s Team Never Quit Guest brings to the table as he brings an eye-opening discussion related to the role of a Congressman.Once a co-host of this very podcast, Morgan’s conversation with his twin brother Marcus Luttrell makes for an episode you don’t want to miss.Morgan’s life has perennially been one of service to others. A 5th generation Texan raised on a horse ranch. At an early age Morgan learned the importance of hard work, discipline, and personal responsibility. He turned his strong values, deep love for his country, and his passion for helping others into a career of distinguished service. Morgan Luttrell brings bold leadership, and a “Put America First” mentality to his role as a U.S. Congressman. In this episode you will hear:• There’s an energy that lives [in a mob situation] and if you become a part of it, you may find yourself in a situation like “I didn’t intend to be here.” (3:59)• The DC Police did an amazing job of showing restraint [at the January 6th situation]. There were situations where they were getting close to death. (4:41)• The criminal justice system [in DC] is, you could say, “broken.” (5:38)• DC is a dumpster fire. They wanted everybody that lives in DC to have the right to vote, even if you’re a Chinese citizen working for the Chinese government; if you’re a Russian citizen working for the Russian embassy. (6:27)• Another role and responsibility of the lower chamber of congress is we control the purse strings. (9:19)• Passing legislation and controlling government money is what congress men and women do. (11:18)• We’re not at the cliff edge; we’re over it. We spend more than we take in. (13:14)• I don’t care about red or blue anymore. We’re here – 31 Trillion dollars in debt. I don’t care which administration did it. (13:49)• We, in the past decades, have been increasing our debt limit, all the way up to 31 Trillion. (14:32) • It needs to be said that if we don’t increase the debt ceiling and we default – that’s a problem. (21:52)• There’s a point in time we’ll be paying more on the interest of our debt, than we pay on our defense budget. (23:19)• When the cameras are on, people will turn the switch on and they become actors. (24:59)• Abraham Lincoln coined the word “lobbyist” because people would hang out in the lobby of his hotel and when he’d come down, they would just bum rush him and say we this, this, and this, and this is what we’ll do for you. (30:14)• I would never complain about this job, because I fought so hard to get it. (39:03)• The border’s a dumpster fire. (42:23)• It’s very humbling to walk through the hall of the Capitol. There’s so much history. (43:33)• The best part of my job is I get to meet so many people. (63:51)• The hardest part about campaigning is that it’s 24/7. (64:37)

A life of service.That’s the best description for this week’s guest and friend of the Team Never Quit Podcast.Marcus brings to the table Sidney Blair, who has served on a SWAT Team, Gang Unit, Detective, Air Marshal for Homeland Security, then retired, and has once again returned to police work for the Walker County Texas Sheriff’s Department.If ever there was a man with a relentless heart of service to people, coupled with character and integrity, it’s Sidney Blair. In this episode you will hear:• My first paying job was as the [Piggly Wiggly] Pig in the 4th of July Parade in Huntsville, Texas. (12:53)• Troopers have great uniforms. They’re like a recruiting poster. (14:38)• In Texas, a Peace Officer, is a Peace Officer, is a Peace Officer - whether you’re a Game Warden, a State Trooper, or City Cop or County Cop. (21:42)• Your job is to protect and serve. You go out to the good citizens of your county, or city, or state, or your federal jurisdiction, and you protect from any evils that exist, including themselves. (25:52)• Al lot of police officers will become calorically challenged. (26:58)• Fear is forced. Respect is earned. (29:32)• The government is paying my salary. My job is to get out there and change your tire. (33:27)• I still have some fight left in me. I still want to serve my community. I still want to help the people that need help. (37:34)• I spent 19 of my 20 years at the Air Marshals. (44:06)• I had a retirement party from the Air Marshals that I didn’t know about. (57:18)• You should serve something larger than yourself if you have the ability to do it. (64:11)• If you have never stood before a man with a badge in handcuffs, and he held your freedom and life in his hands, and he gave you a break, and you knew what a break you got – you ain’t qualified to be a cop. (66:49)• You see someone get out of hand - I don’t care if they’re in uniform; you pull them off. You physically remove them from the scene. You save them from themselves. (68:10)• People feed off of bad news. (76:25)• The worst thing in the world that we have is the breakdown of the nucleus of the family that people don’t have upbringing where they learn to respect other people. (80:05)• Soft times build soft people. (81:37)• When you defund the police, I can tell you the very first place it comes from – training. (88:45)

What an incredible guest we have on this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast.Marcus engages in a compelling discussion with former Force Recon Marine, Chad Robichaux. With eight deployments to Afghanistan as part of a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Task Force, Chad overcame his personal battles with PTSD after nearly becoming a veteran suicide statistic.Chad is the founder of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, serving the active duty, military veteran and first responder communities around the world with highly successful faith-based combat trauma and resiliency programs. He has spoken to over 450,000 active-duty troops and led life-saving programs for over 4,600 active military and veterans at four Mighty Oaks Ranches around the U.S. He has served as an advisor to former President Trump, Congress, the VA, and the Department of Defense.Another one of Chad’s personal endeavors, Save Our Allies, is focused on the evacuation and recovery of Americans, our allies and vulnerable people still trapped in Afghanistan. His original mission was to rescue his long-time friend and Afghanistan interpreter, but the mission quickly evolved because of Chad’s compassion for people and his servant heart. Since its inception, Save Our Allies has safely evacuated over 17,000 people that were trapped in Afghanistan and he is now helping in Ukraine.As if that weren’t enough, Chad is a lifelong martial artist. He holds a 4th degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and is a former Professional Mixed Martial Arts Champion having competed at the highest levels of the sport. In this episode you will hear:• My family has 84 years of military service. (11:38)• I was raised in a very dysfunctional home because my father never recovered from Vietnam. (13:26)• Our operation was compromised and I ended up being abducted. (28:52)• On the surface, everything seemed fine. Then I crashed, had an affair, filed for divorce, and attempted to take my life. The some amazing people came around me and helped us to restore my family and my faith. (32:39)• I tried to build the courage to take my life and I had my Glock 40 caliber pistol, but I was interrupted, and it was enough to pump the brakes. (33:20)• My wife asked me: “How can you do all you did in the military, but when it comes to your family, you’ll quit?” (34:19)• You’re gonna deal with anxiety, depression, and anger, but you could respond to it in a better way that could lead you to a better place. 37:36)• God’s like a centerpiece solution, because a lot of what we deal with are spiritual wounds. (38:31)• President Bush signed the Opportunity for Faith Mission in 2001, then in 2009, President Obama signed a policy to override that, and take funding away from faith-based programs. (53:14)• In Afghanistan, people couldn’t go in to help, but in Ukraine you could drive a bus across the border to do mass evacs. (55:37)• I’ve been getting a lot of heat like: Why are you going over there to help – the governments is corrupt. None of that matters. These people didn’t ask for any of this. They’re being invaded by a super power. (58:15)• Glenn Beck (Radio Show Host) raised 21 million dollars to support our mission. (77:49)• The White House said there were 100 Americans left [in Afghanistan] but without debate there were thousands of Americans still there. (80:38)• You don’t leave Americans behind. The White even promised that they wouldn’t but they did. (81:43)

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus spends some time speaking with retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel Chris Miller, who served as the Acting Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump. Chris also served as Director of the National Counter-Terrorism Center as well as numerous command and staff positions within the 5th Special Forces group (Airborne). He also participated in combat operations in Afghanistan & Iraq.In his role as the Secretary of Defense, Chris was overseeing military departments, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the unified commands, as well as planning and coordinating military deployments and operations.With his vast military knowledge and experience of over 3 decades, Mr. Miller brings to the table an interesting and informative perspective to the role of the U.S military, and it’s function at every level.In this episode you will hear:• This is the book launch, officially. (9:01)• They have all this exclusive intelligence. You know how much got to the ground force? Zero.(15:44)• There were lessons learned, and we’re all about passing it on. That’s what we’re all about now. (18:07)• [Speaking to Marcus] This is the path the Lord put you on. You accept that. You are the face of the war. (21:58) • The [the military] has a structure that will take people in and form them differently and change how they view life in a good way. (25 :00)• The army makes a good man better and a bad man worse. (27:26)• It’s all about selfless service and it’s not about you (32:44)• When my heart and my mind became aligned with being a selfless servant, it was like rocket fuel. (33:28)• When you realize this is how it is might as well just embrace it. It’s a game changer. (33:42)• I was the Secretary of Defense under President Trump for the last 73 days. Not a lot went on. (37:19)• I spent like 35-36 years as a government employee or as a military person. (38:03)• If you are asked to interview for a job, always interview because you’re gonna learn something and you might get the job. (42:28)• Al Qaeda had been seriously weakened from all of our attacks. We call it mowing the grass. Just keep killing them off. Eventually there’s not going to be anybody left – and it worked. (44:32)• I know we can’t defeat terrorism - that’s a verb. We can defeat Al Quada (a noun). (45:26)• [Marcus] If we’re fighting terrorists, we’re trained terrorists, trained to cause terror to them, so much so that there won’t be another group coming up after them. (45:57)• Special Operator: Figure out the network, figure out the incentive system, communicate, execute. (46:50)• The only person who could keep us attacking was President Trump. (47 :04)• We killed off the head of ISIS. This guy was the definition of evil. (47:38)• The President asked me if I wanted to become a political appointee. (48:36)• The purpose of the military is not only to protect and serve, but to defend the constitution and to ultimately protect the people of the United States. (51:43)• I only learn when I screw something up. (64:05)• I was really pissed about the way Afghanistan ended. (65:55)• We will fire a kid who messes up a piece of paperwork, and our generals aren’t held accountable for losing a war. (66:16)• Chris’ Book: Soldier Secretary (85:57)

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus, Melanie, Hunter & John recap the 2022 episodes. It serves as a capsule-form reminder of episodes you may be interested in listening to that you might have missed. “The Crew” is moving onward to a fabulous line-up of guests for the 2023 season. In this episode you will hear: • A big “Shout Out” and “Thank You!” to all our TNQP guests in 2022. Our 2022 guest profiles included the likes of Gold Star widows, Former Navy Seals, bull riders, a Governor, a paralytic experiencing an unbelievable recovery, Marine Corps veterans, authors, a kidnap survivor, an MMA world champion, abduction survivors, a retired Navy Captain, a Retired Green Beret, a VA claims assistance expert, former CIA agents, a Muscular Dystrophy patient, a bilateral arm amputee w bionic arms, a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, a war correspondent, a man who trekked across Antarctica on his own power, a retired Army Ranger, a Green Beret, extreme athletes, an athlete with a disabilities, the first Arab woman to summit K2, a collegiate world record holder in wrestling, an Olympian, a man who’s goal in life is to interviewer every surviving WWII veteran, a celebrity chef and mental health advocate, a retired veteran with so many accomplishments, we had to vet him to confirm that his experiences were true – and they were, and proponents of soldiers killed while saving their comrades in battle. What an amazing line up of guests there were in 2022, and we’re working hard to make our 2023 line up even better. THANKS TO EVERY SINGLE TNQP LISTENER!!! Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY)

America owes a great debt of gratitude to this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Yousef Sediq. Side by side with elite U.S. Special Forces, and as a commander in Task Force-241, Yousef was involved in countless raids, assisted in the capture of thousands of Taliban terrorists, and helped save the lives of innocent Afghan civilians. When Afghanistan fell once again to the Taliban, Yousef helped secure the Kabul Airport in an effort to evacuate Americans from the country. After a suicide bomber killed hundreds, including thirteen U.S. service members at the airport’s entrance, Yousef and his family were airlifted to the United States, where he was forced to start a new life. In this episode you will hear: I lost 2 of my younger sisters when they were little to starvation. We didn’t have enough food. Every part of [Afghanistan] has their own leader, because of the different cultures and languages. There were Afghans killing other Afghans. They would shoot at you for fun. It was their mentality to fight like pirates, sometimes shooting random people walking down the street. They don’t want their people to be educated. Schools are locked down. There is much religious manipulation (i.e. Holy wars; If you fight, you will go to heaven with 42 (or 72) virgins awaiting you. I have studied it and nowhere in Islam does it say that if women have bare feet they should die. But people are uneducated, and nobody’s fighting them, and starvation is rampant. There are people with no brains running the country. I found work at 16 years old when I got a military job using a fake ID saying I was 18. Intel is always taken seriously, even if it’s information from nowhere. One of the main issues between Coalition forces and local Turks is a lack of trust. I was blown up while working with the Canadians. We hit a roadside IED and I suffered a brain injury, resulting in lifelong brain seizures. When that happened, I see the Angel of Death for a second, then I came back. I wanted to stay in the fight. Assign me wherever you want to assign me, send me to whatever base you want to send me, just give me good food and it doesn’t matter where you want to send me. The media gives you what they want you to hear. Yousef’s Book: 5,000 Days of War Support Yousuf Pre-Order 5,000 Days of War https://www.instagram.com/tfblack_ Support TNQ https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

In this week's episode, we learn the vivid details of the events leading up to the courage, love, and self-sacrifice made by Medal of Honor recipient, Corporal Jason L. Dunham of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in Karabilah, Iraq. What a leader by example Jason was - to the point of throwing himself onto a grenade in an effort to save his comrades. Marcus' guests, David Kniess (Veteran & Producer) and Lieutenant Colonel Trent Gibson (Dunham’s Company Commander), not only bring Jason's story to life, but discuss the compelling and engaging upcoming documentary - The Gift. The Gift documentary is a personal project for David, who had a chance to meet with Corporal Dunham. That chance meeting led to lifelong friendships with the Dunham family and a core group of Marines from Kilo Company. David is actively involved in the Veteran community and has volunteered his time, producing content for Veteran Organizations such as Beteran, Stop Soldier Suicide, John Preston Music, and The Boot Campaign. David also served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Normandy (CG-60), a guided missile cruiser. In this episode you will hear: Having the Dunham’s in my life has enriched my life. It’s not just about Jason; it’s about everything that has affected all of you all those years. Our generation and the younger generation is standing up and saying, “I’m not gonna wait for anyone. I’m gonna jump out there and teach guys how to surf, how to sing with dogs, start a podcast, and we’re talking about our shit. [With regard to this film], all I care about is what Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Soldiers think. For veterans who are still struggling, I want them to watch it and say “if these kid can do it, maybe I can do it too.” I want civilians to know what it’s like for young men & women to go to war. [Marcus] If somebody threw one of those “Thank you for service” lines at you – even if you haven’t done something – it’s coming…” I believe in 3 things as a Marine. I believe in leadership by example; I believe in self-sacrifice for the greater good; and one man can make a difference. Jason had the leadership qualities to lead a rifle squad of American sons. Dunham was a big boy. He’s not someone I would choose to grapple with. Any leader who inspires his subordinates through personal example, to then return the favor and take care of him – that’s a true leader. Jason took off his Kevlar helmet, placed in on the grenade, and then laid down on it. Knowing what I know of him now, he loved his marines so much. He didn’t just take care of them, he practiced taking care of them. Who f*cking practices covering a live grenade with their helmet? Support The Gift WatchTheGift.com https://www.facebook.com/THEGIFTDOCUMENTARY https://www.instagram.com/thegiftdocumentary/ Support TNQ https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

If ever there was a man with more military experience than almost anybody, Keith Nightingale is the one. What an incredible military resume he shares with Marcus in this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast. From serving in the U.S. Army for almost 3 decades to serving in 2 tours in Vietnam, to serving as the Director of the Department of Defense (DOD) Counter-drug Task Force in Latin America, which was able to apprehend Pablo Escobar.He developed the present Army Ranger Training Program and initiated the Snowcap Model Training Program for DEA personnel assigned to operational missions in Latin America. His experiences included the liberation of Grenada and Panama and a variety of special operations missions. All of the above doesn’t even touch the surface of Mr. Nightingale’s military experience, not to mention a myriad of awards and honors. Listen in as he and Marcus engage in a lively discussion about all of his military experiences.In this episode you will hear: My family has had some association with the military since the pilgrims, literally. I’m an only child. My parents were old and had arguments. We would give the enemy the maximum opportunity to give his life for his country. [In Vietnam] in the course of less than 24 hours, we went from 450 people to 32 people. [In battle] you don’t fear, you focus. Life is luck and timing. There’s nothing that I did that was planned for before it occurred. Normandy is kinda the Arkansas of France – there hasn’t been a lot of development going on there. We created a task force specifically focused to bring U.S. assets to support the Columbian government in getting [Pablo] Escobar. You don’t think about what might happen you just do what you have to do. It’s later that you get into reflection. In life, if something is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen. There’s nothing you can do to control it. Do your best when you have a chance to do something. You can put 4 people on the same battle sight fighting the same fight, less than 20 meters apart, and they’ve got 4 different views of what actually happened - and every one of them is true. My legacy is the bridge between what the vet said and what the active duty sees and appreciates. Be good to people. Do the best you can when you get a chance to do it, because you may not have another chance.

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus brings Chef Brother Luck (his real name) to the table. Working in professional kitchens since the age of 14, and learning the rewards of hard work, passion, and determination, Brother Luck has earned celebrity status. However, his focus isn’t on fame as much as it is on mentoring the next generation. He sees it as his responsibility – his give back.In this episode you will hear: Perseverance is everything. I was a student of the streets. I had no parental supervision to tell me no. I surrounded myself with drug dealers, gang bangers, and pimps because I idolized what they had: Money, Power, and Respect. Great leaders are good with people, they’re good with their product, and they’re good with money The word Chef means “Chief” and I’ve taken that to heart as a leader. I’m still a corner kid, I just have a corner office. Don’t lead through fear. I discovered the world through food. My success is based on the success of other people. No one can validate you but you. I broke mentally which led to a suicide attempt because I didn’t believe in myself. We create a perception wall. Here’s the image I want you to see of me. I’m grateful to be an American. Your story isn’t meant for you. It’s meant to be heard by somebody else. What are you doing on a daily basis to take care of your mental state? Pressure is either gonna make a diamond or burst your pipe. We're blessed to live in this country and have the rights and freedoms that we have. I’m always gonna be genuine and I’m always gonna be present. Don’t give up. You get one shot at this life. You can persevere beyond your situation. Support Brother Luckhttps://www.instagram.com/chefbrotherluckBrother Luck’s Book: No Luck Given – Life is Hard but There is Hope.Support TNQhttps://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/DisclaimerGambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY),If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MD/MI /NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. VOID IN OH/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Free bets: Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as free bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. No Sweat: Valid 1 offer per customer per day of NFL 2023 Wild Card Round. Opt in req each day. First bet must lose after opting in. NFL bets only. Paid as one (1) free bet based on amount of initial losing bet. Max $10 free bet awarded. Free bets expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms.

Does anyone honor our World War II heroes anymore? In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus has a very fascinating guest – Rishi Sharma – who has been on a mission to interview at least one WWII combat veteran every single day until the last one passes away, since the age of 19. To date, he has interviewed over 1,700 WWII combat veterans, bringing their personal and military lives to the forefront, so future generations can learn to appreciate the lives they had and the sacrifices they made, allowing us to know them and be grateful for the life we have because of it. Those men went in as ordinary boys in extraordinary circumstances and came out as men. In this episode you will hear: I have always been interested in WWII. These men are my heroes. I would go to India as a child and I would observe the contrast between life there and in Southern California. It’s because of bloodshed and sacrifice that the U.S. has become what it is. Seldom have I met veterans who come home from the war and do nothing. They travel, help people, and do things out of the ordinary because they feel like they’ve got a second chance and they’re not gonna waste it. Veterans have such a sense of humor. I meet real Americans, telling real stories. This is everything to me. Veterans do things for no other reason than that it’s the right thing to do. They have every reason to be angry at the world and they’re not. One of the first Iwo Jima veterans I interviewed turned 19 on the ship to Iwo Jima, and everyone in his platoon called him “old man.” That’s how young our WWII soldiers were. During the Warsaw Uprising girls and boys were on the same level. A woman I interviewed saw as much combat as some hardened combat veterans at the age of 15. One D-Day Veteran said he could clearly remember the color of his underwear that day. He said they were brown. I told my parents I’d be gone for a couple of months, and I haven’t been back in 5 years. I’m really scared for a world without World War II veterans because that would leave us without a moral compass. I have conducted over 1,700 interviews, gleaning that kind of wisdom. Support Rishi https://rememberww2.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@RememberWW2/videos Support TNQ https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus has an engaging conversation with Mark Lauren, who revolutionized the U.S. army's training systems, and trained hundreds of U.S. Special Forces operatives. Mark possesses astonishing physical prowess as a Military Physical Training Specialist, Special Operations Combat Controller, triathlete and mixed martial artist. He broke, and still holds, the Department of Defense s long-standing underwater record by swimming 133 meters, on one breath, subsurface, for 2 minutes and 23 seconds. He is also a bestselling fitness author.Mark trained and competed all across Thailand in Muay Thai. His physical and mental development has inspired a new approach to fitness that has allowed millions of people to move better without the confines of a gym. Mark’s book, You Are Your Own Gym was published by Random House. His audience identifies with his minimalist approach to fitness, as well as his stories of overcoming failures.In this episode you will hear: I started working out when I was 12 with pushups and sit-ups next to my bed. I got to the point that I could do indefinite sit-ups. Physical fitness is about fundamentals – it’s about basics. Characteristics like respect and discipline are what parents need to teach. Real character does not reveal itself when everything is great. You only fail when you quit. When you fail, brush yourself off and do it again. Whatever success I’ve had is built on repetitive failures. When I got out of the military, I really missed the comradery and sense of purpose. Exercise doesn’t necessarily relate to improved performance. If your fundamentals are strong, it’s much easier to specialize. You really need to be good at getting from point A to point B – Locomotion. The first 3 things people need to do is to reestablish basic joint functions for the hips, spine, and shoulders. There’s a difference between performance and exercise. An important part of good exercise habits is to engrain good habits. What you put your attention on, and controlling your breathing do a lot to influence your feelings. General health and well-being depends on doing basic things really well. One of the main things that keep people from really getting fit – is doing too much. Start small and progress gradually. Support Markwww.MarkLauren.comMark's Book: Strong and LeanSupport TNQhttps://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

Collegiate wrestling record holder, Team USA Olympian, professional mixed martial artist, and UFC championship fighter. That’s Marcus’ guest – Ben Askren - on this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast. Marcus and Ben discuss how his unorthodox style earned him the nickname “Funky”, as he puts his opponents in scramble situations. Ben credits his dad for introducing him to the sport, and he really got serious when he joined a wrestling club in 6th grade. The combination of natural talent and a relentless workout regimen made him one of the most successful athletes in collegiate history, setting several records, as well as experiencing great success as an MMA fighter as well. In this episode you will hear: I get to work with kids who want to work really hard. They come in the gym and bust their ass. I hated team sports because I really wanted to win and others on my team didn’t share that sentiment. In wrestling, it was just me and the other person. I could always determine my destiny. We don’t want to force kids. We want them to love the sport and know what it’s gonna take to be special. We want to put great coaches in front of kids to give them a good opportunity to succeed in wrestling. There are kids that don’t have a strong role model, so I have such an important role to play. Great things take a long time. The Olympics suck because once you lose, you don’t get another shot for 4 years. Having a high-level background in something is important. You need to find a compliment. Who can impose their will more significantly, is important when skill levels are equivalent. Innovation – learning how to scramble. What I was doing was not working. I had to think outside myself for other options. I wasn’t having the success I wanted, so it was like “Shit, how can I do this?”

Marcus has a great conversation with Nelly Attar, a Lebanese national born in Saudi Arabia, who became the first Arab woman to summit K2, the world's second-highest mountain. As if that weren't enough, Nelly also successfully reached the top of Mount Everest and has scaled 14 other peaks across the world, completed 2 Ironman 70.3 races, ran 6 global marathons/ultramarathons, and has completed about 100 scuba dives in a span of four years. Nelly is also a psychologist, life-coach, and held dance-fitness classes for females in her studio - Move - Saudi Arabia’s first dance studio, and one of the first studios of its kind across the Middle East. Even with such an impressive resume, Nelly states "I still don't know what I want to do in life. I’m still figuring it out." In this episode you will hear: Sports changed my life, and I strive to change the lives of many through movement and sports. In Saudi Arabia, women can drive now. 5 to 7 years ago, everything was still segregated between males and females – even in weddings. Now everything is mixed. Not long ago, women couldn’t even own a gym, and it was taboo for women to train on the streets. Saudi was listed as the least active country in the world. My mindset is: if it works out – amazing. If it doesn’t – come back home. I’m grateful for the kingdom and the king for all the opportunities I have today. In climbing, there’s a fitness component, altitude, and weather. If it’s not a challenge, then why am I there? Why would I train so hard if I knew I could do it? While climbing K2, I got a panic attack on the blue ice just a few hundred meters away from the summit. It took five weeks to climb. If there’s one thing I do consistently right is that I take risks. If you’re curious about something, just do it. You don’t stop training because you age, you age because you stop training. Just move. You’ll be helping yourself. Support Nelly https://www.instagram.com/nellyattar/ http://nellyattar.com/ Support TNQ https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

From a paddle boarding coaching career to becoming physically and mentally unbalanced. That’s the life-changing call for this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Mike Shoreman. Marcus and Mike discuss the affliction of the Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, and Mike’s relentless never quit the pursuit of a “normal” life. His mission to prove everyone wrong not only resulted in walking again, but getting back on the paddle board despite his vertigo, and becoming the first person with a disability to cross from one country to another by paddle board while raising funds and awareness for youth mental health programs and services. He crossed all 5 Great Lakes. Mike encourages all people to change their personal struggles into their greatest weapons and develop confident versions of themselves. In this episode you will hear: My Chicken Pox from when I was a kid re-activated as Shingles. My symptoms developed over five days, and all the nerves in my face shattered and it looks like I had a stroke. I lost my independence, my business, and my identity. I had a significant mental crisis and breakdown. It was so easy to say “I’m fine.” I did that for months but I wasn’t fine. As my physical recovery improved, so did my mental state. I was forced into mental health treatment. I wasn’t eager to go and get it. Mental health is the most underfunded of all healthcare systems. That first crossing set everything in place that we needed to know. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan gave me the most fight. It took me 28 hours to cross. My feet “pruned” and I couldn’t stand. The Canadian Coast Guard and paramedics came to be sure I was okay. The thing that set in was - Who this is for? I was going 2 1/2mph to 3mph for 28 hours. I was literally going to the bathroom on myself every 10 minutes. I had to say to myself “You’ve been through tougher than this and this isn’t going to last forever. Men & women of service are deeply inspirational. Nothing in life is permanent. Life is a series of peaks and valleys. Resilience is built. Support Mike Mike's Book https://www.instagram.com/mike_shoreman/ Support TNQ https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

In this week's Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus has 11-year combat veteran and Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, Benjamin Sledge in the studio. Benjamin served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning 2 Army Commendation Medals. He lost his best friend in combat. These days, Benjamin is a viral writer, graphic designer, and author of Where Cowards Go to Die where he reveals a brutal portrait of war and the cost of returning to a country that no longer feels like home. He travels around the country educating businesses, non-profits, and churches about veterans’ mental health issues.In this episode you will hear: I got to see the best and worst parts of war. Often times we were the first ones in the door, so we either made friends or got shot. I was 21 when I first got to the battle, thinking “I literally have no idea what I’m doing.” There’s a very distinct smell to death. It’s like rotting meat dabbed with knockoff CK1 cologne. Many combat veterans don’t necessarily come home with PTSD; it’s moral injury. It’s the physiological damage that occurs when you violate your sense of right and wrong. Seeing death from that close does something to the mind. It became a real struggle point for me. When I first got home, they didn’t know how to handle me, because I didn’t know how to handle myself. I was drinking myself silly, so I could get the images out of my head. The strangest thing happened to me – I found myself missing war. My wife left me while I was in Iraq. War really is a spiritual experience. What does it look like to live a courageous life and carry that into career and family relationships – Never give up, never accept defeat, and never leave a fallen comrade behind. Inside every man, there’s both a warrior and a poet. Support BenjaminWebsite: https://benjaminsledge.comBook (Where Cowards Go to Die): https://amz.run/5GAbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjamin.sledge/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjamincsledge/Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamincsledgeSupport TNQhttps://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

The ultimate tour de force of human strength, endurance, mental toughness, and unyielding perseverance. That's what this week's Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Mike McCastle is. Listen in as Mike and Marcus engage in a discussion about Mike's seemingly unbelievable feats he refers to as "labors". Endurance athlete - yes; Multiple world record holder - you know it; In-demand performance coach - for sure; Motivational speaker - of course. After serving 11 years in the U. S. Navy, he founded Twelve Labors Project, a charitable initiative driven by a mission to redefine the limits of human potential while inspiring others to elevate beyond their perceived capacity for greatness. Mike is perennially challenging his own physical and mental limits, and he's not anywhere near done yet. In this podcast, he reveals his upcoming 9th labor, and it will blow you away when you hear it.Mike's 8 charitable labors he has accomplished so far include: A 50k run while wearing a 40lb vest for Cancer Research. A 13-mile, 250-pound tire flip for wounded veterans. A Rope Climb that equaled the height of Mount Everest - 29,029 feet in 27 hours for Parkinson's Disease Research. Breaking the Guinness World Record for 'Most Pull-ups in 24 hours after completing 5,804 pull-ups, while wearing a 30-pound pack to represent the heavy burden of the wounded warrior. Pulled a Ford F-150 pickup truck for 22 miles in 19 hours across Death Valley to raise awareness for Veteran Suicide. Ran 20 miles per day for 100 consecutive days to heighten awareness of the Veteran Suicide epidemic. Pulled a full-size pickup truck for 10 miles through the Arctic Circle. Broke the world record for the longest full-body submersion in ice (2 hours and 40 minutes). In this episode you will hear: I basically grew up in a cornfield. I went to BUDS (Navy SEAL Training) and blew my knees out. Then I needed to re-find my purpose because my one-man pity party wasn’t working for me. My dad’s Parkinson’s started to progress, and one day I came home and he was on the floor. He had had a stroke. I decided to take care of my dad and stop the pursuit of sports. But in my mind, I quit. You can fool other people, but you can never fool yourself. Things that pull you away from your purpose are those are things behind the doors in your hallway of life. You’re tested, dragged through the fire, and you feel like you're cursed but you still have a choice. If you put all your eggs in one basket and when it gets taken away from you, you’re left with nothing. Then who the hell am I? I needed to find my purpose again. That’s how The Twelve Labors Project got started. I wanted to create a physical manifestation of the message I wanted to deliver. It’s not a weakness to be vulnerable. Finding your purpose in life requires risk. I don’t give a shit about records. What I care about is “Is this going to deliver my message?” “Are people gonna remember WHY I did it?” Reality isn’t what happens to us, it’s our interpretation of what happens to us. We're all writing our own stories. You cannot only come back after failure, but you can come back stronger after failure. My father always said, "You suffer more in imagination than you do in reality." Finish what you started. If you're gonna do it, go all the way. We're all the heroes of our own story. You go through the crucible you come back, and you share the lessons learned. The reward for finishing a labor is the next labor. The internet is undefeated. Our time on this planet is very limited. The things we do echoes through eternity from the lens of your loved one. The only goal for my son is to leave this world a better place than he found it, like I hope I am doing and I hope that everyone who hears my message does. Follow Mikewww.MikeMccastle.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mikemccastle/Follow TNQ:https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

This week, the Team Never Quit Podcast presents an extraordinary man with an extraordinary military resume. Travis Osborn served as both an Airborne Ranger and a Green Beret in 17 tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic and meritorious service 15 times. Travis played an integral part in the rescue of Navy SEAL "Lone Survivor" Marcus Luttrell. As an 18Delta Special Forces Medic, he treated Marcus while awaiting extraction from an Afghan village. Listen in as Travis chronicles Marcus’ rescue, and the horrific conditions they had to endure to achieve it. In this episode you will hear: • When we got the call, we knew it was abnormal, and something was up – out of the norm. • In the briefing, we were told that we had four SEALs on the run, a helicopter down, and we’re going in. • We decided to put boots on the ground – whatever it takes. So our guys came up with a plan, and we stole some trucks from the marines. • By the time we left, we had 120 people and 50 donkeys headed up the side of the mountain. • None of us had ever worked together before. • [Marcus]: “That’s what showed up to get me out of there.” • We walked almost straight up a mountain for the next 3 days. • We climbed 5,000 feet the first day and only walked a distance of 2 kilometers. • It’s the most ass kick I’ve had in a long time. • It was walking straight up shale, and every type of boots were cut. • There’s a lot of ridiculousness in these situations. • About halfway thru the village and from within a crowd of people, I looked and saw a really tall Afghani and saw that he he had tattoos. • “You must be Marcus.” “Fuck yes, I am…” • “We’re here to get you home.” And he said “Yeah, I’m just ready to go home.” • [Marcus] “When they showed up, the literally looked like death.” • We just recued a fuckin’ American. We walked in with a bunch of donkeys on foot, & found this guy in the middle of nowhere. • To treat him, I threw him into the first thing I could find – it turned out to be a donkey pen with 10,000 years of donkey shit in it. • The next time I see you is gonna be on Oprah. • When you’re in mission mode, you don’t mentally unpack. You put all that shit in the deep freeze, then it takes a while to unpack it because it’s all at the bottom of the freezer.

This week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guests, Mike Sarraille and Rey Baviera bring a gut-wrenching, firsthand account of their collective 35 years of military service as Navy SEALs - most notably witnessing the valor and heroism of fellow SEAL Michael A Monsoor, who willingly jumped on a grenade to save those around him. While the story is heart-wrenching, it is equally heart-warming to know the source of “Mikey's" character and moral fabric. Michael A. Monsoor When US Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor sacrificed his life by throwing his body on a live grenade to save his comrades during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he inspired thousands around the world and reminded us that freedom is never free. On September 29, 2006, Michael Monsoor and three SEAL snipers watched vigilantly for enemy activity from their rooftop post in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. When a grenade thrown from insurgents bounced off Michael's chest, he could have escaped. Instead, he threw himself onto the live grenade, shielding his fellow soldiers from the immediate explosion. Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate sacrifice. Defend Us in Battle is cowritten by Michael’s father George Monsoor, who is himself a Marine veteran, and Rose Rea. It also includes a foreword by Dr. Donald C. Winter, former Secretary of the Navy. Through interviews, military documents, and eyewitness accounts, the authors detail Michael’s remarkable military career and devotion to God and others. The book highlights how Michael prepared for this selfless act all his life—a life that will inspire readers to have a similar generosity of heart. Michael grew up a quiet boy in California, but his childhood of asthma and being bullied made him a staunch defender of justice and passionate about never quitting. It was because of that passion that he achieved his dream of becoming a Navy SEAL and saved numerous lives throughout his deployment. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Michael received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart for his years serving his country. But his greatest legacy is in the hearts of those he inspired to live, and even die, for the sake of brotherly love. “Michael Monsoor was an exemplary SEAL—a man of great integrity, a skilled warrior, and a loyal teammate. That loyalty led to his willingness to sacrifice his life for his teammates.” —Dr. Donald C. Winter (Secretary of the Navy, 2006–2009) Mike Sarraille During his 20-year military career, Mike Sarraille served as a Recon Marine, Scout-Sniper, and U.S. Navy SEAL Officer. Much of his career was in the Special Operations community, including the elite Joint Special Operations Command. He now works with small businesses and Fortune 500 companies on the principles of leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, and living a life of balance and purpose. Rey Baviera Rey Baviera served almost 15 years in the SEAL Teams, with multiple deployments and operations in violent urban environments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also worked as an intelligence and targeting officer at the Special Operations Command Pacific. He co-founded VTH Consulting, with the intent of bridging the gap between medical providers and veterans, helping veterans fight for the VA disability claims they morally, ethically, and legally deserve. May the memory of Michael Monsoor never die. Purchase the book honoring “Mike” - Defend Us in Battle, wherever books are sold: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0785290591/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&ref_=tmm_hrd_swatch_0&sr=&asin=0785290591&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1 In this episode you will hear: Not all Marines are equal, just like not all SEALS are equal. Performance comes into play. Rey: I had no direction, and I joined the military because I had made a promise to my brother. Mike: I’m standing in for Rose Ray who wrote the book Defend Us in Battle alongside George Monsoor, Mikey’s father. My second time in Ramadi, I fired my weapon for the first time. You don’t really know what you’re walking into until guys start getting wounded,. Shark base [one of the places we slept] was once of Saddam’s vacation palaces. We had tents in there. We had to take bottled water showers. Mikey spoke thru actions, not words. It’s highly competitive in the SEAL teams in a good way. With each mission, we learned more lessons. When you step into combat, there’s an inter-service rivalry. But eventually you get past the butt-sniffing phase. But when we mesh together, it’s amazing what we can do as a team. The longer you sit in a position, you lose relative superiority, and the momentum shifts, because you’re static. It’s different than training when you know it’s a live grenade in front of you. Mike did not hesitate. He went right down on it. What came next was brutal. While the SEAL teams may have trained Mike, his character and moral fabric who he was was given to him by his family. His family is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

From 15+ years as an Army Ranger to deploying in Iraq and Afghanistan 15 times, to becoming a film military advisor, and now Senior Content Production Manager at Black Rifle Coffee Company, this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Jariko Denman, has lived a very interesting life. After 54 months of combat experience as part of a Joint Special Operations Task Force, Jariko speaks with Marcus about what it was like to be on the ground at HKIA during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. While he has retired from active duty, Jariko still leads quite an adventure, such as joining with a team of guys who will be skydiving in each of the seven continents over seven days. In this episode you will hear: Wherever something’s happening, I just don’t want to miss out. As a retired guy, I have a lot of freedom. My dad talked to me like a drill sergeant would talk to you, so I had a certain amount of bandwidth. Ranger school sucks, but it’s kind of a speed bump – you just gotta do this to move to the next level. In a 90-day rotation, we’d do 120 raids. We’re locusts. We just come in and destroy. When I got out, I never really decided to do anything. I just rode the wave. As a technical advisor for film, I have the freedom to say, “Screw your movie. I’m not gonna be a part of it.” If there were 2 job offers and 1 was a rad action movie and 1 was a true story, I’d do the rad action movie because it’s more fun. A true story takes the creativity out of it. I didn’t plan on going to Afghanistan for the shit show withdrawal. My function turned into me getting to the gate and plucking as many people out as I could. I had to ask myself: What am I doing here?” Being there in a whole different context was so weird. Coming up soon, me and a team of guys are skydiving in each of the seven continents in seven days. www.BlackRifleCoffee.com www.LegacyExpeditions.net

This week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Colin O’Brady, could be classified as an over-achiever by most standards. As a passionate outdoorsman, his adventurous life took a turn for a worse when he suffered a tragic incident in Thailand. While he was fire jump roping (yes, a rope on fire), the rope got caught around his legs, causing severe burns on over 25% of his body. The burn wounds were so critical that doctors told Colin that he would probably never walk normally again. But Colin was too full of ambition to let his trauma slow him down. His mother challenged him to set a goal for himself and he decided that he would compete in a triathlon. After a year and a half of intense rehabilitation and training, Colin competed in the Chicago Triathlon. He not only competed, but he won. Since then, O’Brady has raced in 25 countries on six continents over six years.As if that weren’t enough, Colin’s biggest claim to fame is that he became the first human being to walk across Antarctica solo entirely on human power. No sled dogs, kites, or powered machines. He consumed 8,000 calories a day while burning off 10,000 calories a day. Colin gained 20 pounds of muscle to prepare for the trip.Colin O’Brady became The Impossible First, which was the name of his amazing attempt to achieve the unachievable.In this episode you will hear: While I like being around people, there’s something beautiful about solitude. I had parents who always gave me positive reinforcement. When we don’t know exactly how we’re going to get where we’re going, you’ve got to create your own reality over time. We’re the net product of the 5 or 10 people we spend the most time with. I started out with a curiosity for nature and adventure in my own back yard. Fun Scale:Type 1 Fun: Laughing, watching a great movie, dancing, drinking a cocktail on a beach while watching the sunset.Type 2 Fun: Is not fun when it’s happening, but a week later you’re telling your friends that it was epic.Type 3 Fun: Is not fun when it’s happening and it’s not fun afterwards.For me, Type 2 Fun is most gratifying. In Thailand, I saw these guys jumping a flaming jump rope, and because I’m 22 years old, I had to try it. I tripped, the rope wrapped around my leg, and I caught on fire. I jumped in the ocean to extinguish the flames, but not before 25% of my body was severely burned. My Doctor said “You’ll probably never walk again.” The emotional trauma was intense, but my mom would come into my room with positivity, and have me set life goals & accomplishments. I call it “a possible mindset.” My mom was a positive influence on me throughout my entire life. All of us as humans have reservoirs of untapped potential to achieve extraordinary things. My body can always handle more. My mind is stronger because of my previous traumas. I’m lit up. I have this aliveness inside of me. Sometimes, you make decisions when you’re 22 years old – Then you wake up and you’re 65 years old and still on that same path. My childhood dream was to climb Mount Everest. What is your Everest? If you’re not on the path that YOU’RE meant to be on, then you’re not living with integrity with yourself. What I was really fascinated about crossing Antarctica is that it had never been done; it was a world first. I couldn’t call up anyone to ask how did you make it? Most people are stuck in what I call the zone of comfortable complacency.

Understanding war and the never-ending effects it has on veterans coming home from it is what this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Ben Kesling, lives to convey. After having joined and served in the Marine Corps as an officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ben went back to school to become a journalist and put his war experience to use reporting for the Wall Street Journal as a foreign and combat correspondent. Because of his experiences, Ben has a unique perspective on the effects of war and spends his time focusing on veteran n affairs and domestic security issues. Ben also authored the book, Bravo Company, telling the inside story of the war in Afghanistan through the eyes of the men of one particular unit, whose war didn't end for those soldiers when they came home. Bravo Company follows the men from their initial enlistment and training, through their deployment, and on to what has happened to them in the decade since. An interesting side note: Ben Kesling is a two-day Jeopardy! champion. In this episode you will hear: To know that you’re talking to someone who’s been there and understands what you’re dealing with opens up a whole world. Being in Iraq and Afghanistan helped me immensely because I was able to see those things and understand what soldiers were dealing with. In my book, Bravo Company, I wanted to tell their story. I didn’t want to tell my story. When you go to the VA, you’re treated as an individual, and we almost forget that we were part of a unit. The reunion that Bravo Company did brought them all together to remind them that they are members of a team. Strength to the group brings strength to the individuals. One thing we can do for each other is to have graciousness and empathy. We all carry the same weight, though some are more publicly known. There’s the trauma we go through just by living our lives. [Melanie]: That’s why we started Team Never Quit. It’s persevering through hard times. No man is an island. We’re not doing this on our own. You need people around you who love and care for you and to call you out on your bullshit. A burden is not a curse. It’s what life gives you. It can be a curse and a blessing. Anytime we try to do something by ourselves, we must remember we’re members of a team. [Marcus]: The irony of life: Some people will have a skillset that you won’t possess. Thru my book, I hope that people who have never served can understand what it’s like to be in combat.

ATV riding on the family farm sounds like a lot of fun - until you strike a live, fallen power line. This week's Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Jason Koger, shares his unbelievable account of the near-fatal injuries he suffered as a result of such an accident.Waking up after 3 days in a coma, Jason's life was forever different, as both of his arms had been amputated below the elbow to save his life, and the first thing he wanted to do was to hold his two daughters in his arms again.In short order, Jason taught himself how to drive again, and went on a turkey hunt and deep-sea fishing. Within a year, he was fitted with prosthetic arms and relearned the essentials of life, including how to feed, dress and bathe himself. These days, life is back to “normal” for Jason and his family. He has a new son and has taken on the mission of encouraging other amputees. Jason’s goal in life to use his story to help others.In this episode you will hear: My arms are body-powered. They basically work off of a cable. When you move your opposite shoulder from your amputation, you’re basically pulling a cable to the opposite hand. My cousin said it looked like the Fourth of July was coming off of me. He thought I was dead. It basically blew my left thumb off. In the helicopter, they cathed me, and my urine looked like Dr. Pepper. By the time I made it to the hospital, they had to immediately amputate to save my life because my kidneys were shutting down. The surgeon said it looked like a shotgun had gone off inside of my arm. The electricity pulled all my tendons off. We’ve always had faith. When I woke up from a three-day coma, I had no idea they had amputated. When my dad says it’s gonna be possible to get through it, it’s gonna be possible. I told the doctor, “I gotta be able to hold my kids. That’s all I care about.” He said he’d make that happen. I’ve always been a strong-willed person. I want to do things myself. I don’t want someone doing things for me. Eventually, my insurance company said yes to two bionic hands. My goal was to be the best prosthetic user in the world. I got a call from CNN, asking if they could run my story. Then amputees all over the world started reaching out to me. I told my wife I think this is my calling - to help others. I want veterans and non-veterans to know there’s a way to live. 95% of being a successful amputee is mental attitude. The hands have an Apple app. My hands know where they are in space at all times. The hardest day I ever had was the first day I was home, because one of my girls laid on my lap. My brother-in-law bought me a shirt that read: “Look Ma, No Hands.” I wrote my first book: Handed a Greater Purpose. You can live life to the fullest, no matter what you go through.

When a rare genetic disorder hits home, it takes someone like this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Stephanie Herzog, to help find strategies to cure it. The Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) diagnosis of her son, Max, was the driving force to connect her with Cure Rare Disease, who is currently developing life-saving therapeutics in collaboration with the world’s leading academics, clinicians, regulatory experts, translational experts, and manufacturing experts. Stephanie serves as a board member. The organization’s ground-breaking research is bringing to fruition the potential for permanent muscular regeneration, which was, at one time, science fiction.In this episode you will hear: When we learned about our son’s condition, we put together a golf tournament to raise funds because it was A: Our only option, and B: Our best option to cure our kid. 80% of boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy have a gene deletion in the dystrophin gene. Max has a duplication of the dystrophin gene. In what should be the best time ever with your child, that’s when we find out he has this horrible disease. We had like a funeral in our house for like a month. The weight of his future was heavy. Our team, through Crispr technology, hope to edit Max’s gene mutation. 6 years ago, this was science fiction. Boys usually get diagnosed between the ages of 4-6. They lose their ability to walk between the ages of 10 and 12. They usually lose their battle in their early 20s. They’re literally knocking out the gene duplication along a string in his DNA on the cellular level. Using the Crispr technology, the muscle cells are auto-correcting, producing dystrophin on their own. You wonder: “How am I going to live with this? And you do.” Faith is everything. You need somebody to pray to. When the going gets tough they have prayer.

What’s the difference between a professor of Criminal Justice and an undercover CIA, and FBI counterintelligence agent? In the case of this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Tracy Walder, the answer is Nothing. They‘re the same person.Listen in as Marcus & Melanie Luttrell discuss Tracy’s first-hand accounts as a CIA officer and FBI field operative – fascinating stories. She successfully hunted down terrorists around the world using aliases and had face-to-face discussions with President Bush and General Colin Powell. Yet, she shares her experiences in a genuine, unexaggerated, and engaging manner.Tracy is the author of The Unexpected Spy, and has appeared on numerous national programs, and has written several national security pieces.In this episode you will hear: I was born with a developmental disability called Hypotonia. (Low muscle tone). It has no cure. I didn’t roll over until I was 1. I didn’t walk until I was 3. I attended USC for free since my dad was a professor there. The CIA polygraph process was annoying. All the questions were very frustrating. One session was 8 hours long and another was 3 hours. My job was to try to get as much information as possible on terrorist training camps. I served in 13 countries. I once had a meeting in the trunk of a car. Having Bin Laden in our sights at one time and not being able to do anything about it was really upsetting. My boss at the CIA was the best boss I have ever had in my life. My target was a guy named Zarqawi who founded ISIS. Zarqawi became enemy number one. That meant going overseas. My job was to manipulate people to give me information. It worked well for me. I worked with SEAL Team 6 a lot. I left the CIA because I didn’t want to live overseas anymore. I was totally burned out. As part of the CIA, you are not entitled to the same benefits as veterans, like mental health care.I love the counter-terrorism mission.

"Navy SEAL Down!" Those are words no soldier in battle ever wants to hear. In the case of this week's Team Never Quit guest, Jeff "Spanky" Peterson, the mission he had trained for as an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter pilot finally came into play in the mountains of Afghanistan. His mission: to rescue this podcast's host - Navy SEAL 10's Marcus Luttrell (code name: "Spider-Man") - after a dramatic & horrific ending to Operation Red Wings. Listen in to Jeff's detailed description of the events leading up to that harrowing rescue, and learn firsthand the degree of risk taken by U.S. soldiers on a day-in-day-out basis. The average American has no idea of the degree of "badassery" occurring in the theater of war by the U.S military around the world. In this episode you will hear: People call us heroes, but I don't think of it that way. “Pack a three-day bag. You’re going up north.” A rocket-propelled grenade brought a Chinook chopper down, killing 16 men. Command picks up a clicking sound on a rescue radio frequency. My crew included a 57-year-old flight engineer, a gunner - a nervous University of Arizona student. My co-pilot was “Skinny”, 40-year-old seasoned by thousands of hours flying a Blackhawk. Are we looking for Americans, survivors, or is this a trap by the Taliban to draw in another chopper and blow it out of the sky? An elderly Afghani man arrives at a small Marine camp, with a note written by Luttrell. We have to fly into hostile Taliban territory to get him out. “It was dark and the weather was bad. It was a black abyss.” Except for the green glow of the rooftop position lights, we were flying black. "It was the Fourth of July out there." “We didn’t even know where we were going and which strobe light was the right one. It was just like a flashlight from God.” Within 10 feet from the ground, the rotors kicked up a storm of dust, sending us into a total brownout. I couldn’t see the wall, the ground, or the cliff. Both of ‘em were wearing Afghani man jammies. Before taking him aboard, we had to authenticate Marcus by asking him to say his dog's name and his favorite superhero. For the record, the answers are Emma and Spider-Man. When we got back, the only thing I wanted to do was talk to my wife, but we couldn't talk openly. All I could say was "Everything is good, "Everything is really, really good." "We stick our butts on the line to save people." "That's our combat mission.”

Excellence, Leadership, and Mentorship. Those words exemplify the life of this week's Team Never Quit guest, Aaron Walker. Aaron and Marcus kick around the adventures of entrepreneurship, a spectacular marriage, and how he applies that which he learns from his experiences – good and bad - to propel him to new heights. After learning tough lessons from a horrific life event, and then being guided by the finest financial and spiritual leaders, Aaron now plays it forward by mentoring others. In this episode you will hear: I didn’t have anything at 18, and I was able to retire at 27. I played golf every day, I fished every day, and you can’t do that but so much, because you gotta have a purpose. While driving, I watched an older man walk across two lanes, he got to the median, and stopped. As soon as I got to him, he took off running to catch a bus, and I ran over him. It was literally like my life came to a standstill. One day I made the decision: I’ve been chasing money since I was 8 years old. I’m 40 now and I’m retiring – I’m through. Through a series of events, I spent 21 years sponsoring Dave Ramsey’s show, and we became best of friends. The Mastermind radically changed my life. We can’t quit. People need you. You can’t sit on the sidelines. We have to get up because nobody can live your life but you. I had great success financially, but I had no significance. I want my legacy to be that those I come in contact with are different as a result of having interacted with me. I want to leave a legacy of helping, giving, supporting, encouraging, lifting people up and helping them accomplish their dreams and goals. God is always working in the background. The thing that I thought was taking me out was the catalyst for transforming the lives of other people. We all need trusted advisors. Don’t do what I did and have a pocketful of money only to come home to a house full of strangers. You can go faster alone, but you can go much further together. Failure is in not trying, not in not succeeding. Go out there today. Go for it. Never quit.

It's hard to imagine how life could possibly go on when someone who has everything to live for commits suicide. How do you respond to such a tragedy? In this week's Team Never Quit Podcast, our guest, Sara Wilkinson, Gold Star wife of Navy SEAL Chad Wilkinson, speaks candidly about her military family life, her love for Chad, and raising their children on her own. Sara is determined to reduce the stigma surrounding the silent epidemic of Veteran suicide and bring awareness to its warning signs and triggers. She brings honor to Chad's legacy, and discusses the importance of fitness, and living large, despite what life brings.In this episode you will hear: My whole life I moved around. I attended 15 schools before I graduated. [For the military guys] it’s really hard to hop off the hamster wheel unless someone tells you to hop off. And no one tells you to hop off. I was a Crossfit trainer and I opened a Crossfit gym in Virginia Beach. Men and women can all suffer from Blast Waves, PTS, PTSD, etc. It’s really important to educate spouses and first responders on the ways that little things may be signs of something way bigger happening. In a partnership, it’s our job to care for one another. If someone is exhibiting symptoms of PTS, PTSD, etc. the only thing you can do is manage the symptoms. It comes down to focusing on sleep. Everybody’s mind is affected by the life they’ve lived. Ask yourself - What are the things you need to function optimally? How do we transition veterans from an operative status to living life independently, regardless of their history? I want my kids to know that this is a chapter in their story, and they have their whole life ahead of them. It’s a backpack they carry that they’ll never put down. But they’ll do some amazing things in their life. Your kids are always watching you. The way they watch you and observe you is the biggest responsibility you have. My motto: Live big. Support Sara:CHAD 1000X website: https://chad1000x.comSara Wilkinson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarawilkinson7/?hl=enThe Step Up Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/thestepupfoundation/?hl=enFollow Us:https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/DraftKings DisclaimersIf you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. New customer offer void in NH/OR/ONT-CA. $200 in Free bets: New customers only.

Can you say “One of the first of two female graduates of the US Army Ranger School and Apache attack helicopter pilot?” Meet this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Shaye Haver. From being a cross country runner and soccer player in high school, to Army brat, to following in her dad’s footsteps as an Apache helicopter pilot, Shaye and Marcus share an engaging conversation about her influences and accomplishments. In 2016, Shaye and Kristen Griest, who also graduated from the US Army Ranger School were ranked 34th on Fortune magazine's list of the World's Greatest Leaders.In this episode you will hear: I grew up as an Army brat which put me in an environment of serving and sacrifice. My dad always said, “Go do something better than me.” ROTC was the beginning of my understanding that the military was about opportunity. You can make it what you want it to be. Good, better, best – Never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better best. I absolutely don’t take no for an answer – especially for myself. I did not go to West Point because of my intellectual prowess. I went on my leadership and physical fitness abilities. Ranger School reminded me that the mission is about the people to the left and right of you. Crisis provides opportunity. The tactic for success I use is to visualize success. The first day one, there was 19 of us; the second day 1, there were 8 of us; the third day one, there were 3 of us. I have had my tab ripped off my shoulder two times. Once by another Ranger. I choose to walk in the responsibility of bearing this thing that I have earned for the duration of my life. You can let it weigh you down, or you can let it inspire you. There’s not a quitting bone in my body. The warrior culture is not just for men. Heroes come in the most unlikely boxes. They’re all around us and everybody has a story.

Unapologetically American, and an all-around badass - That’s who and what Tim Kennedy is – a true patriot. In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus and Tim have a fascinating conversation about Tim’s military service as an active Special Forces master sergeant and sniper and his role in the most elite counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit within the U.S. Army Green Berets. Tim holds a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu and is a former professional mixed martial arts fighter and two-time title challenger. He authored the book, Scars and Stripes, an inspirational memoir offering lessons on how to embrace failure and weather storms to unlock the strongest version of yourself. These days, he lives a remarkable life as a serial entrepreneur owning multiple companies. However, Tim’s most personal accomplishments are that of a husband, father, and lover of this country.In this episode you will hear: When I grew up, all I did was fix the barbed wire and throw Bahia bales. You have to be an involved parent and mentor to your child. Now, every high school graduate has had every decision made for them. And when they arrive at college, they have been force-fed everything to this point, and now they get fed something much more dangerous – ideas. They’re given the freedom to make their own decisions with those dangerous ideas, and what you have is a petri dish for disaster. I want little kids to make all their decisions and learn the consequence of bad decisions, so when they hear someone say something stupid, they’re like, “that doesn’t work.”In Afghanistan they’d “beach ball” babies to the gate with the hopes that some marine would pick them up. It’s not rocket science that you don’t move tactical elements before you get your people out. You don’t give up strategic and tactical positions until you’re ready for a proper withdrawal. There’s nothing more dangerous than a broken man. Jesus didn’t go into the holiest of places. He went to where the prostitutes and tax collectors were. I stepped away from God for almost two decades. I became a narcissist. It wasn’t until my marriage was on the rocks that I was convinced to talk to God about all the horrific things I saw & experienced. They were throwing money at me to get people out of Afghanistan. That was so wrong in my heart to go back there for the money. In ten days we evacuated 12,000 people with our own planes. Follow Us:https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

“Life is a gift, that is why they call it the present. Cherish it always.”That’s the mantra of this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Kevin Hines.Kevin attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Miraculously, a sea lion kept him afloat until the Coast Guard arrived. He is one of only thirty-six (less than 1%) to survive that fall. He shares his compelling story of hope, healing, and his will to live with Marcus. His story was featured in the 2006 film The Bridge by film director and producer, Eric Steel. Kevin has inspired millions worldwide in the art of wellness and the ability to survive pain with true resilience. “Be here tomorrow...”In this episode you will hear: My biological parents had me on a diet of Kool-Aid, Coca-Cola, and sour milk. My parents would leave me and my brother unattended to go score and sell drugs. Then Child Protective Services picked us up and put us in foster care. The only time I ever lost faith was when I stood atop the Golden Gate Bridge looking down. I found it on my way down. There’s a high number of suicidal teens who went through foster care. Many were abused and neglected by the ones in place to protect them. [Marcus] “I think the kids that go through it, are the ones who can fix it.” I finally ended up with foster parents who saved my life. They gave me a beautiful childhood. At 17 my brain broke. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and then things got completely out of control. I had auditory hallucinations telling me I had to die. If somebody would have just asked me, I would’ve just told them the truth of my situation. I left a suicide note in my backpack because I wanted my family knows I loved them. When I was still underwater, I thought, “I’m gonna die here and no one's gonna know I don’t want to. No one's gonna know I made a mistake.” On that [Coast Guard] boat, I made a cognitive decision: I would never again attempt to take my life as long as I should live, no matter the pain I’m in. When you encounter a suicidal person, it’s about being with them in the moment. “What do you need from me to say here? How can I help keep you on this planet?” My new motto is: I’m gonna be here tomorrow, and every day after that, no matter the pain I’m in. Every moment of every day is a good moment. It’s a privilege to exist. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Support Kevin:https://www.instagram.com/kevinhinesstory/https://www.kevinhinesstory.com/Follow Us:https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

In one devastating blow, dreams are shattered. Although this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Cesar Perez, went from rising Hollywood star to miraculously surviving a head-on collision with a drunk driver, he shines brightly with the resilience of the human spirit. Cesar starred alongside Daniel Ratcliff (Harry Potter) in the action thriller Beast of Burden for which he also did graphic design work. He was also cast as a major lead character Javier in the action thriller Blind Trust. Despite his severe brain injury, having his face shattered, and learning how to breathe, walk, and talk again, Cesar lives a life of courage and shows us firsthand that even in the darkest of moments, life has meaning.In this episode you will hear: I did a video tape audition that got me a role with Daniel Ratcliff {Harry Potter}. My life was really on the rise. I was driving to see my girlfriend when a drunk driver hit me head-on going over 70mph. He spun me around and then a big rig hit me – also going 70mph, and then I don’t remember anything for the next 2 weeks. If life had a reset button, I must have pressed it. I was making a statement with my life and then it got cut abruptly. I thought if I can get out of this, there’s nothing I can’t do. The first thing I said to the guy that hit me was “the last thing I ever wanted to see is someone from my country behind bars.” I wanted my life back and no one could give me that back. Talking and facing that demon helped me put the period at the end. My family never left me – they showed me what true love actually is. That was the love that got me through it. My family’s sacrifice gave my life meaning when my life felt meaningless. Once I could finally run, I thought “I’m gonna do more”, and that’s what got me back to where I am. The drive I had as a kid is more intense now. It was running hot, but now it’s running with a different fire. Putting my experience down in words helped me heal. As long as there’s breath in me, it’s still possible to live a beautiful life. If, in the end, I helped save a life, it was worth it.

Using the grief of a husband killed in action to fill a void in estate planning for fellow widows. That’s the mantra of this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Keri Mills. Her transparent story of being a lackluster student to attending law school is inspiring, as she strives to educate other Gold Star families and service members in planning ahead in the event tragedy should strike. Keri’s husband, Special Operations Chief Stephen “Matt” Mills was killed in action along with 29 other Americans and a working dog when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. With one knock on the door and one sentence, Keri went from being a married woman to a widow. Unprepared as she was for that life-changing event, it sparked her decision to help others be better prepared than she was.In this episode you will hear: Standardized tests are not my forte. What I realized about who I am is that I’m a person that does what I say I’m gonna do. I have worked for 8 ½ years to solve this problem. If I can keep someone from having to figure things out – the way I did – it’s worth it to me. The stigma that comes with estate planning is that people think you have to have a pot full of money in the bank. That’s not what it’s about at all. It’s about setting up your legacy. I don’t have any stories to tell about Matt because they’re not my stories to tell. I’m trying to carry on Matt’s legacy. There are 300,000 veterans in Houston. The part that I see myself playing is education for the special operators and our community. [Marcus] “There needs to be a way to teach you how to get out.”

“A government-trained predator.” That’s one description of this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Jay Dobyns. While he participated in hundreds of undercover operations as a federal agent, he is best known for getting past multiple layers of security and becoming a member of the Hells Angels. Jay's book about that investigation - No Angel, My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels - is a New York Times and international bestseller. Dobyns served as a federal agent for twenty-seven years and was driven to succeed at any cost without regard for himself. These days, Jay has gone from a life of daring, undercover operations to becoming a High School football coach in Tucson, Arizona. Listen in as Jay and Marcus share an engaging conversation about Jay’s encounters and adventures. In this episode you will hear: The entertainment industry gets second takes. If they miss a line, they can try again. In real life, there are no second chances. I feel very blessed to have entered undercover work. Nothing really prepares you until you get out there and get your feet wet. I’ve bought pea shooters, rocket launchers, bombs, homemade PVC pipe bombs, and servo-activated C4. I infiltrated home invasion crews. That’s where I got my training to take on the Hells Angels. I didn’t always succeed at things, but I always tried. My undercover persona eventually became who I was. I made a million mistakes in my life, and my wife and family have given me one million and one second chances. We fabricated the murder of a Hells Angels rival, and that is when I was welcomed into the organization. I ruined everything for the mission. It was heartbreaking to see what I had done to get there. God does not build us to intentionally betray people. My agency failed to react to threats against me. I was told “You’re on your own.” When no one cares who gets credit for success, we’re on to something. Want someone to remember your name? You’re gonna have to do something they will never forget. If you want something you’ve never had before, you’re gonna have to do things you’ve never done before. Life is about making mistakes, but don’t remake mine - I can tell you how they turn out. It’s not good.

A path to healing from invisible wounds. That’s the mantra for today’s Team Never Quit guests, Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant John “Spike” Garcia and Marine Clayton "Clay" Cook from The Lone Survivor Foundation. Their sole purpose is to support veterans after their service to this great country. They’re teaching strategies to manage Post-traumatic Stress, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, and chronic pain – taking back your life. The Lone Survivor Foundation offers both Face-to-Face & Virtual Programs, at no cost. All it takes is for you to be ready to take the next step on your journey. Once the Service Member has attended an Individual Program, couples and their families can qualify for the program as well. Service Members (both active duty and Veterans) from all military branches and service eras, experiencing symptoms as a result of service are eligible. In this episode you will hear: How the Lone Survivor Foundation and Team Never Quit go hand-in-hand The Lone Survivor Foundation provides a holistic approach to treatment and addresses the entire family. It’s the only program that does Accelerated Resolution Therapy. "I got more out of it in three hours than I had in 18 years." The spouse is the first one that is affected by what the veteran is going through, followed by family members and friends, and the ripple effect can affect businesses and coworkers as well. Once the vet goes through the treatment, the spouse & family can assist in their recovery. Q: How do you know if you’re a good fit for the program? A: Go to LoneSurvivorFoundation.org and take a self-assessment. You don’t have to be diagnosed, you only need to be suffering from symptoms. Support Lone Survivor Foundation: Donate to the LSF Follow LSF on Instagram Take the Self Assessment Follow Us on Social: https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

Still in the fight of his life – for his life. That’s the real-life story of this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Chris Cathers, a former US Army Green Beret and CIA paramilitary Global Response Staff (GRS) contractor with 12 deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and North Africa. And if Chris’ PTS struggles weren’t enough, Chris speaks openly about the stage 4 bone cancer he has had for over a year. Struggling to find adequate medical care opened his eyes to the difficulty of finding the right team for any aspect of medicine, and he has dedicated himself to encouraging his military brothers and sisters to seek help immediately and not downplay the signs.Chris and his business partner Daniel also aim to raise awareness of the veteran suicide epidemic via a documentary, “Brother’s Keeper”, currently in production.Chris has established a nonprofit organization to help raise funds for a small number of other nonprofit and for-profit businesses, committed to giving our veterans a hand in their fight.In this episode you will hear: At one time, I was feeling really good. I was doing protection for celebrities for 5 years, as well as Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and lifting a lot. My femur was compromised to the point that I was close to snapping it. I always prepare myself for the worst and hope for the best. You have to advocate for yourself, or you won’t have a good success rate. Unfortunately with what I’ve got, radiation & chemo doesn’t work. It’s more of a Hail Mary. My wife calls me a cockroach. “Man, this guy’s stubborn.” Sports is what kept me on the right path. I feel like a sheepdog – I like to keep the wolves at bay. I really enjoy protecting people. If I would redline my body, all the “noise” would settle down. Doing something bigger than you has always been a calling for me. Initially, my outlook wasn’t great - 29% and the 5-year survival rate wasn’t good. I’m a patriot and I love our country, I think we’re the best country on the planet, but we’re doing our damnedest to fuck it up. That’s not acceptable to me. We didn’t think we could have children, 1 - I’m old as dirt and I’m stage 4. So we were not planning on having a child, but… Comparison is the thief of joy. Support the Mission: https://www.wearebrotherskeeper.com/Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_cathers/ Follow Us on Social: https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus brings in a real “Top Gun” – A badass Navy fighter pilot and an incredible investment powerhouse – both the same guy – Matthew “Whiz” Buckley. You’ll have to hang on to your seat when you hear him share his real, firsthand experiences and record-setting flights in Navy fighter jets. Buckley has harnessed the principles of military strategies and applied them to investments and trading success. “Buckle up, buttercup…”In this episode you will hear: I was raised with the belief that the American Dream was real and I could achieve anything I wanted to be as long as I applied myself, worked hard, and cared for others. I loved my country, the ocean and flying so I set out to become a navy fighter pilot. Every landing aboard the ship is graded. The mission is secondary to coming back because you’ve got 5,000 people watching you. I flew an acceptance flight in a new Hornet, and I did some unbelievable things with it, although I didn’t have too much time to enjoy it because all of a sudden the engines were gasping for air. When you’re moving that fast, all your wrinkles go away. At Mach 1.7 I thought, “I should be pulling out of this dive.” At that speed, I can’t eject. I’d be vaporized. When you make a decision, the computers go “If he does that, we’re gonna disintegrate, and we don’t want to do that.” We put our dog tags in our boots because in aviation accidents, that’s usually all that’s left. The jet’s a tattletale. It’s all electronic. Your superiors know how hard you pushed it. You can teach people a lot of stuff, but you can’t teach ‘em leadership. In a debrief, there ain’t no ”we” or ”us”. There’s only “I”. If you sat in a fighter pilot debrief, you’d think we hated each other. It not who’s right, it’s what’s right. Save the apple polishing for the bar – we’re in a debrief. A big leadership moment is when I was told “I could be friendly with you, but we’re not friends.” The Navy does a great job of teaching us to compartmentalize. If Marcus gets smoked, I’ll mourn him later, and guess what? I don’t get to mourn him later, ‘cause it’s on to the next thing. On the medicine, my dad & my sister, who was killed by a drunk driver, were both there. They looked incredible. In that moment, I healed. Forgiveness doesn’t exist in heaven, because there’s no need for it. Support Whiz: https://www.instagram.com/official_ematthewbuckley/https://nofallenheroes.com/Follow Us:https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

In this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Martín Polanco and Marine Ryan Roberts to discuss the clinical psychedelic program specializing in the use of Ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT, and Psilocybin that is being used to treat veterans and their family members. Dr. Martín Polanco has been successfully treating people with traumatic brain injury, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction using psychedelic medicines for over a decade. He is the founder of The Mission Within, a clinical program in Mexico and Costa Rica helping veterans with issues resulting from military service experiences. His mission is to conduct research to prove its effectiveness – with the end goal of its legalization. Marcus speaks from his first-hand experience with Dr. Polanco’s treatment, in an effort to educate and make psychedelic therapy available to every veteran that needs it. In this episode you will hear: We do psychic surgery. [Melanie] “It’s like a car wash for your brain.” So many people come out of the medicine and we wanna get on the biggest mountain and yell: “C’mon, we can help.” My dad was a hippie and involved with some peyote circles. At 21, I had an experience with mushrooms, and everything I saw was infused with source energy. There is a delusional mindset where people can justify their drug use. [Marcus] “The best joy you’ll ever have is in gratitude.” [Melanie] “The medicine took a lot of walls down.” [Melanie] “We were unbreakable before, but now we’re an unstoppable force.” If we can heal the veteran, we can heal the home. Support their Mission: TMW Website: https://www.missionwithin.org Sponsor a veteran's treatment: https://missionwithin.org/sponsor-a-vet/ Donate to Research: https://bit.ly/psychedelicsDellMed Follow Us: https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus has an entertaining conversation with Caleb Francis, a hilariously funny content creator on TikTok who has over 1.5 million fans and over 36 million likes. Caleb has built a brand reaching the globe via Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Cameo. He has a blast doing what he does – speaking his mind with a humorous perspective. Caleb also shares valuable information on getting started in that arena and tells the listener how anyone can get their voice out there, regardless of who they are or where they live. In this episode you will hear: I got my first computer at 9 or 10, although I was never much of a computer person. Watching your favorite personality is like someone watching Netflix, but it’s someone you can interact with. [Marcus] “There’s only a few people that can get away with talking smack: Comedians and the Military.” My favorite parts of childhood were technology, treehouses, and camping, but we were still nerds, too. We did both. My videos are usually brought on by something I’m doing in life. If you want to get started, make the TikTok and post whatever you’re doing. It will be recycled onto every other platform there is. We would do stupid stuff like getting hurt and film it. Then we’d do skits. I just kept doing it after everyone moved away. I’d get inspiration from delivering parts for Advance Auto Parts. I’d get ideas just by talking to myself. I would observe everyday stuff and imagine what was being said and thought, and develop that. Videos are endless. They just keep coming, like recommendation videos. When my friends and I watched Talladega Nights, we were losing our minds laughing so hard.

In this week’s riveting episode, Marcus has a fascinating discussion with Eric O’Neill, former FBI counter-terrorism and counterintelligence operative. Eric played a major role in the arrest, conviction, and imprisonment of one of the most notorious spies in U.S. history - FBI agent Robert Hanssen - who was spying on behalf of the Soviet Union and Russia. Eric’s first-hand accounts of some of his day-to-day activities are events that movies are made of. He has written about his experiences in Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America's First Cyber Spy. Eric is also a public speaker and security expert who lectures internationally about espionage and national security, cybersecurity, fraud, corporate diligence and defense, hacking, and other topics. In this episode you will hear: My job at the FBI was to go undercover. I never came out of cover. There were foreign intelligence officers (spies) who sometimes were some of our own who were spying for other countries. My father told me “You have to chase your dreams, whatever they might be.” I’m going to stop spies & terrorists before they kill our citizens. I was at Quantico [Marine Corps Training Base]. You earn it and you feel like you earned it. When my wife and I were dating and people would ask me what I do, I would say “I work for the Justice Department as a Geo-Political Analyst.” That would immediately end the inquiry. There was an instance where a high-level spy was about to be arrested, and disappear, which told us there was a mole in our intelligence community. The FBI went on a 22-year manhunt for a guy code-named Gray Suit, the biggest spy in U.S. history. Each time you go after somebody who might be the target you’re after, you give them a derivative code name. What made Robert Hanssen such a successful spy, is that he was a hacker. He learned how to break into computer systems. When the FBI had not given him the role he wanted, he volunteered his services to the Russians and gave up 2 of our top spies in Russia for no money to prove he had access. One of them was executed, and the other was sentenced to hard labor. Analysts are the cream of the crop in figuring out how to catch spies. Hanssen was the best, most notorious spy in US history. He was the Michael Jordan of the spy world. Nobody did the damage he did. I was always a bit of a hacker – fascinated by computer systems. Breaking security, not to steal, but so I could understand how to make them stronger. My mother holds the record for the most time watching the movie “Breach.”

“Go One More.” That’s the Nick Bare mantra. That’s his way of life. Nick Bare is this week’s Team Never Quit guest, and he’s encouraging us all to: work one more hour on your business… make one more sales call… run one more mile… one more set at the gym… one more chapter you read… The magic starts to happen when you “Go One More.” From meager beginnings, founding Bare Performance Nutrition in 2012 out of his college apartment while studying nutrition to being commissioned into the US Army as an Infantry Officer, Nick learned the values of leadership, integrity and team building.His biggest passion in life is helping people reach their greatest potential, because most of us severely underestimate our capabilities. Listen in as Nick Bare shares his life’s journey with Marcus and Morgan. Success requires uncompromising consistency. In this episode you will hear: When I first started my business, it was Christmas every morning. There was so much passion in it. There’ve been so many highs and lows, it’s been amazingly rewarding I told my dad, I’m gonna take out this loan, and I’m gonna make a million dollars my first year. His response was, “If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it.” I didn’t take a paycheck from my business for five years. My original plan was to be a chicken farmer. When you get your first win, it builds your level of confidence. [Marcus] The minute you get the idea to do something, the good Lord gives you what you need to be it. Running in the mornings and evenings, I have complete solitude – no distractions. My best business ideas have come during my morning runs. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to turn your passion into a career. Success is a result of compounded consistency. When you want to quit, just show up and keep going. You’ll finally push past your goal with the “one more” mentality.

How does one go from Martial Arts to owning a manufacturing business?Just ask this week’s TNQ Podcast guest, Pete Roberts. He realized that in Martial Arts, the same uniform had been used for over 200 years, so Pete created his own opportunity to build a fresh brand of Jiu Jitsu wearables. He wanted to have control over research and development, textiles, and the design process, and because he knew that Franklin County in Maine had a rich manufacturing heritage, he took action. But his endeavor was seemingly derailed as Pete could not find a U.S. manufacturer who could create his unique line of products.What to do? Pete decided to take matters into his own hands – literally. He built a manufacturing warehouse - spinning yarn, weaving fabrics, textiles, and designs, and began sewing his own line of uniforms and began his marketing efforts with simple, low budget ads.Pete’s company, Origin USA, now has multiple manufacturing facilities, incorporating the ancestry of manufacturing, hiring the older generation and millennials alike.This is the true American entrepreneur spirit at its finest.In this episode you will hear:• My wife and I have been together since we were 16. You do that by buying into each other’s personal goals and ambitions.• I use my ADHD as a superpower.• I’ve used the tools of Jiu Jitsu - timing, leverage, opportunity and applied it to reinventing gear for it.• I started with old, cast iron sewing machines, and no bathroom.• If you embrace the power of the American spirit, you can truly do anything.• Corporate greed chose profit over people.• If we can own the supply chain, we can protect it.• [Morgan] You brought something that was lost and brought it back to life.• Some folks will invest $75,000 in a vehicle. Why not invest that money in yourself? If you have an idea or a dream, don’t be scared of the unknown.• The single most valuable thing is keeping a singleness of purpose. Stay focused on one thing and be great at it.• I know that what we are doing hasn’t been done in 100 years. It’s not unique – it’s hard.• People are born every day that will be more talented than you, but what they don’t have is the ambition to go all in and invest in themselves.• Be a savage of the body, a pioneer of the heart, and an operator of the mind.

For some people, hardships inspire them to do great things. Such is the case with this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Brooke Keaton. She is a Gold Star wife, as the result of her Navy SEAL husband, Charlie being killed in action in Afghanistan. Brooke is the Vice President of The C4 Foundation, which provides neuroscience programs for Navy SEAL families at their San Diego-based ranch. She and her friend Tara Crenshaw have also launched The Gold Star and Stripes Podcast, bringing awareness to the spouse’s military life and now life as civilians. Listen in as Brooke speaks from the heart about her challenging life journey and her relentless pursuit of helping others. In this episode you will hear: If I were in a movie, my animal sidekick would be an elephant. As pets go, dogs are the best. Charlie always had to go wherever the fun was, so it was exhausting but so fun. He lived a mile a minute. We lived on a boat, and every morning, Charlie would jump in the water and go surf. Charlie was very passionate about his family. Charlie was a sniper on a roof fighting against ISIS and was shot near his heart, and continued shooting and holding his ground until he died. The Gold Star community in Virginia Beach is very tight-knit and immediately pulled me in. I thought: “How can we support other Navy SEAL families?” We ended up with a 560-acre ranch, where families can “decompress” after deployment. Fly fish, hike, ride horses, etc. I’m able to talk about Charlie every day. It’s helpful and therapeutic for me to talk about him. We came up with a fun idea of the podcast to help other spouses as a sisterhood - to network with families where you can find any help with anything you may need. I want to bring everyone together and build relationships.

A man on a mission. That is this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Marine veteran Brian Tally. What started out as sudden, severe back pain quickly became an incredible life-threatening ordeal he endured for years after a bad diagnosis at a VA hospital emergency room. His spine was being eaten alive by what turned out to be a tissue-eating staph infection. Because of a law enacted in 1946, Brian was unable to sue for malpractice as the law did not allow independent contractors at the VA facility to be sued. But by the time the VA suggested he pursue legal action in a state court, the state’s statute of limitations had just expired. What to do? If you’re Brian Tally - with no legal background - you draft your own legislative bill and go door-to-door on Capitol Hill until the procedural loophole is closed, ensuring that VA is transparent and fully accountable.https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4526 In this episode you will hear: It was a cold, gloomy morning when I couldn’t get out of bed, in severe pain – pain I can’t describe - after feeling normal when I went to bed. I’m not anti-VA but I was one of those veterans that slipped through the cracks. The only time I ever saw a doctor was when I was laying open on an operating table four months later, and they found a surprise – my spine was oozing with inflammation. I was so doped up and in so much pain, I didn’t even know what was going on. I spent four months in my chair. I became an absolute broken man. The doctor told my wife. “Your husband’s spine looks like it’s been moth-eaten.” I was being eaten alive for four straight months, before finally having life-saving surgery. By then my physical, mental, and emotional health was gone. I have never slandered anyone. I have only operated in an honorable way. I would never dishonorably yell someone’s name. Because we all make mistakes. I had to operate in a different way than I was being treated. Just when I thought they would do the right thing, the VA did an about face, and they left me and my family holding the bag. My wife is the glue that holds everything together. There are tens of thousands of veterans, who have been destroyed by this egregious practice from a 1946 law. The VA is using more and more independent contractors to see their way out of malpractice cases. I went to my bathtub and I knelt down and said “God I’m about to expose made men, and I’m gonna need You for the strength and endurance to draft my own bill – my own solution. I was in a place I knew nothing about. The never quit mentality is what kept me going. I was representing 20.2 million American veterans with my bill. That’s what God has led me to be and to do. You can engage congress and make a difference. I know I’m where God wants me to be.