Team Never Quit

Backcountry hunting, anyone? If ever a man wanted to discover what it takes to become an elite man – mentally, physically, and spiritually tough, training for such a high-end hunt may just be the ticket. This week’s Team Never Quit Guest, Dustin Diefenderfer, explains in detail the grueling athletic training and grit it takes to hunt Deer, Elk, Moose, or Caribou In the backcountry. If you’re looking for an easy way to get there, stay home. When the hunt experience is over, you’re left with the mental and physical ability to reach your personal and professional goals by applying the principles learned in this endeavor – a better life by learning to be comfortable in being uncomfortable. In this episode you will hear: Getting comfortable being uncomfortable is teaching men to handle adversity. If you can handle adversity in the gym, you can handle it better in the field. If you can handle it in the field, you can handle it a lot better at home. When you’re more used to adversity and spend more time outdoors, it makes for a better man. If you’re fortunate enough to harvest an animal on a backcountry hunt, you’re coming out with 80-100 pounds per trip for 3 or 4 trips. Adversity building is one baby step after another. It makes you way tougher than you used to be. It’s cool looking back on God’s footsteps that have brought us to creating Mountain Tough. You don’t need to chase the corporate America stuff; You don‘t need to do what everyone else is doing. Living in Africa taught us not to worry so much about money & finances. The people living there with nothing are pretty happy. They’re not distracted like Americans are, with cell phones and the like. I knew I was gonna do something I was passionate about, and I knew I would do something outside, away from the computer, and engage with building a community. When we’re going thru something stressful, God looks at us like “Do you realize that what you’re looking at right now is ‘this big’ in the grand scheme of life.” We went to Ethiopia on a short mission trip and worked for two weeks where kids lived, slept, and ate in a landfill all day long. It was complete re-entry depression after watching those kids live in the dump. They would rescue the child soldiers and teach them some life skills. We’re creating elite men. Dustin's Website mtntough.com use promo code TNQ for 20% off you first year! Follow Us: https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/mojoluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

A CEO with PTSD. That encapsulates the world of this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Brian Reese. Here’s a military veteran entrepreneur serving other military veterans – over 15,000 vets needing a vast array of help – mental, disability ratings, compensation, and more. Brian, Marcus, and Morgan get “in the weeds’ as it relates to maximizing many forms of help for the veteran through his program, VA Claims Insider. Listen in to Brian’s vulnerable revelations of his personal challenges, and his ability to overcome and create a company whose prime directive is to teach and serve others. It’s okay not to be okay…In this episode you will hear: I’m sort of an amateur singer/songwriter. A lot of vets have never filed a claim because they think “I’m not that disabled. Others have it worse, so I don’t deserve these benefits.” That’s complete bullsh*t. There’s a mental barrier we have about getting help. One of the core values of the Air Force is “service before self”. That doesn’t mean service at the expense of self. If you can’ take care of anybody else, then you’re no good to the mission. It takes less than 5 minutes to get yourself enrolled in VA health care. Get a medical diagnosis of your condition ASAP. First and foremost: Get yourself in VA health care, get a primary care provider, and get your stuff medically diagnosed in a medical record. We’re trying to meet the military veteran before they even take off the uniform, then serve them at every point of life. If I were king for a day, I would completely gut and overhaul the VA disability system. I’d take the word disability out of it. I would call Elon Musk, and ask him to come help me solve our problems. Government organizations are not built for radical innovation. It’s never too late to take advantage of everything veterans have worked for. The VA disability process & the VA benefits process is never over unless you quit.

How does a near-fatal parachute accident equate to becoming an entrepreneur? Ask this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Travis Wilson. He served 21 years in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret and in the Special Forces. When his chute’s canopy collapsed and he “burned in,” Travis spent his recovery time developing his own line of supplement products. Listen in as Travis tells of his life transitions; his successes and failures. From a broken back, knee replacements and over a dozen surgeries to launching Alpha Elite Performance and serving as an Ambassador for the Green Beret Foundation, Travis is a picture of motivation and perseverance. Check it out. In this episode you will hear: • I was on a free-fall team the majority of my military career. • On a night jump, the right side of my canopy collapsed. I was a right below 500’, so there’s no pulling reserve – just pray. • I thought I had landed on a fence post. I broke my back, so I felt like I was impaled. • I went to school for Exercise Science. But did I graduate? No, because “I’m not gonna miss this war.” • I was an Army Medic. • I stated a non-profit – Alpha Elite Performance. It’s a way for me to give back to veterans. • My dad didn’t care if I failed or I succeeded, as long as I tried. • My dad’s attitude was: “You’re not gonna grow up and quit.” • When I got hurt, I thought I was gonna get kicked out, so that’s when I started my nutrition company. • It’s a super challenge owning your own business. • I was a security manager for Five Finger Death Punch, because I had a medical background. • I lost 2 wives and 2 Harleys.

Need a clear decision-maker in high-stress military operations critical to the defense of the United States? Then this week's Team Never Quit guest, Todd Deghetto, is your man. After 30 years as a Navy SEAL officer in Naval Special Warfare, Todd's current mission is to develop future leaders in mental toughness, discipline, & building collaborative teams. Todd, Marcus, and Morgan share an engaging conversation including actual mission details, its personal & mental ramifications, and the steps to recovery. Everyone on Todd’s team has a purpose.In this episode you will hear: It doesn’t matter what people think about you. Do what’s right, regardless of the consequences. If you lose friends over it, they weren’t true friends. Having a dad as a New Jersey State Trooper, I learned about the evil in this world, and I learned about honor – doing what’s right. That’s the nice thing about diving without O2. If you gotta die, that’s the way to go, because you just fall asleep. [In combat] You get real good at completely cutting your head off from the rest of your body - No feelings, no emotion, and no pain. I truly didn’t start processing stuff until after I was done. When things are going sideways is when people show their true colors. When I returned, God put it on my heart to mentor the next generation. I’m a leadership coach & mentor for the University of Tennessee’s MBA program. I may not have the business expertise, but I’ve got a lot of leadership experience. The only way you’re gonna get better is to be able to say “this is mine.” This I made that decision, and this is why I made that decision. We learn more from our mistakes than we ever do when things go right. I took me several weeks after I returned - and all of a sudden I woke up one day feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. All the explosives, the blasts, the mortars, the rockets, the charges, the AC4’s – the damage done to the brain is devastating. The healing journey has been the hardest thing for me. Part of that journey is not quitting om my family. [In military leadership] We’re very good at controlling everything we can control. There’s psychedelics treatment out there to really help us guys. My initial thought was “no way”, but it truly helped me.

The human will to survive can't be underestimated. That's the mantra of this week's Team Never Quit guest, Kara Chamberlain. While watering plants in the front yard of a friend's house, Kara was kidnapped at gunpoint by a serial killer. She was only 15. Making mental notes of every detail along the way in her abductor's car - from memorizing the serial number of the large storage bin he forced her into to counting the turns he made, the music he played, his Marlboro Red cigarettes, details from within his apartment while handcuffed and gagged, Kara used every bit of it to her benefit. She not only escaped after 18 hours, but the details she recalled helped catch him. Kara's case also helped police link the killer to three unsolved murders in other states.These days, Kara's life is dedicated to spreading hope and strength to other survivors.In this episode you will hear: We all have the ability to turn negatives into positives Volunteering to go outside and water the plants made me a victim of opportunity. When that red flag hit me, I felt a gun pressed to the side of my neck. He was fact-gathering about me, and I was doing the same about him. We can decide if we pick up the offense to something or pick up strength. You’re either going to be defined by something that happens to you, or you’re going to be refined by it. I was praying non-stop: “Help me to find an opportunity to escape.” When it was over, I just wanted to go back to normal life – The life of a 15-year old girl. The biggest threat to kids these days is online predators. Have an open communication & dialog with your children. Teach them how to set boundaries and how to respect other people’s boundaries. The best thing we can do for our children is to give them tools to deal with anything bad that happens. “I will never get mad at you.” “Stranger Danger” is not the biggest threat to kids right now. [Melanie] “The inspirational thing is not that you just survived and moved on – it’s that you helped others. That’s the difference between being a survivor and being a hero.” I’ve always felt that what happened to me was so I could help other people.

From mild-mannered High School math teacher to UFC Hall of Famer. That’s this week’s Team Never Quit special guest, Rich Franklin. Rich and Marcus kick it around in an entertaining discussion about the transition from teaching high school math to UFC fighting on a world-class level. His childhood days of taking Karate lessons brought about an interest in Thai Boxing and Jiu-Jitsu, which further developed into a full-time MMA fighting career. Rich has also coached in The Ultimate Fighter, launched a clothing brand, a juice café, and is a prime example of one classy dude. Nice guys can finish first. In this episode you will hear: I didn’t grow up being an amazing athlete. I’m not super explosive, but I can grind. Mathematics, like being a sniper, is a skill. You have to work at it. If you take the grind away from me, then what am I? This grind, this work ethic I have, is not just the way I work out; it’s the way I approach everything in life. When you start worrying about things outside of your circle of control, it’ll take you away from your goals. When you’re fighting somebody on the street that’s not trained, I feel like Neo in the Matrix. When they throw a punch, it’s so slow to me. Q: What’s your favorite cheat meal? A: What’s a cheat meal? I don’t deal well with disrespect, inefficiency, or stupidity. I like being challenged. I’ve never used drugs in my life. I’ve never even had a sip of alcohol. Had my college professor not actually cared, I could’ve folded. He saved me. You never know when a small gesture helps somebody. I don’t think I would be in this place in my life without God. He’s really directed my path. Connect with Rich: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richacefranklin/ Listen to his podcast: https://richfranklin.com/listen-to-the-quite-franklin-podcast/ Visit his website: https://richfranklin.com/ Follow Us: https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

She never made it to the party. Every parent’s nightmare happened to this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Angela Rose. At 17, she was walking to her car after leaving work at a mall and was headed to a graduation party. Angela was abducted at knifepoint by a man with a long criminal history, including murder. In this week’s episode, she recounts the details of her horrific experience, fearing death, hands bound, and eyes covered. Angela survived her kidnapping, sexual assault and currently uses her t to usher in legislation, education, and action to shatter the silence of sexual violence. Triumph over tragedy. In this episode you will hear: I’m letting people know that there is joy after trauma, and a happy joyful life is absolutely possible. It was broad daylight when I was kidnapped at knifepoint. He stalked me and was watching me at the mall. Follow your gut instinct. The detectives didn’t believe me, and so the trauma was replaced by anger. This is not a women’s issue. This impacts all genders. I keep hearing “I never told anybody.” We train parents and teachers on what to do or say if someone discloses. Be careful not to use language that blames the victim. Many people don’t know how to deal with traumatic situations. I would never wish what happened to me on anybody, but I would never change it. Because of what happened to me, I learned an inner strength I didn’t know existed. We need to support each other to rise above adversity.

This week’s incredible guest – Mike Ettore – knows the way, and shows the way. Being the exceptional leader that he is, Mike became the youngest Drill Instructor in the Marine Corps at the age of 20. There’s not a personal or professional challenge he can’t overcome.Mike’s effective combat leadership style resulted in numerous awards and decorations during his career, including the Bronze Star Medal for Valor (with Gold Star denoting 2nd award) and the Combat Action Ribbon (with two Gold Stars denoting 2nd and 3rd awards).These days, his purpose is to teach, coach, and help leaders develop - while he’s alive and after he’s gone.In this episode you will hear: I graduated from my first recruit platoon when I was 20. The Marine Corps trusted me and I tried very hard to live up to that trust. I spent my whole career trying to live up to the legacy of the Marines in World War I. If there’s something the Marine Corps does well is it teaches and honors its history and traditions. We were considered by the battalion commander, to be the strongest lieutenant/staff sergeant team in the battalion. It’s all about trust I was more excited about being an equally good leader in business as I was in the Marine Corps. Pre 9-11, I was dragging an AR-15 in a case through the airport. I was a C-level officer in charge of most of the back office of the non-sales function for a billion-dollar company, with no expertise in any of it. I wasn’t really sure how to save a file. I teach and coach senior executives in the art & science of leadership. I’m 65 years old and have unlimited energy. I just love it. At 65 years old, with over 45 years of teaching leadership, I still learn something every week. I ask myself: ”How in the hell have I gone this long and never heard that?” I am vain enough that to think that 25, 50, 80 years from now - if somebody picks my book up, the Iwo Jima lessons, the Grenada lessons, and the business lesson I’ve learned, just might help out my great, great-grandson or daughter, who never met me. [In life] I was mostly right, somewhat wrong, or completely full of shit [Conversation with son] just because it comes out of my mouth doesn’t automatically mean that it’s bullshit. As you get older, you’re gonna find yourself becoming me. Dale Carnegie: “A man who dies rich dies disgraced.” I’m never gonna have Andrew Carnegie money, but I’ve got a laptop and a thumb drive. Everything that’s up here [in my head] is gonna be out.

A true champion. That describes this week’s guest, Robert Paylor, perfectly. Having broken his neck in the 2017 Collegiate Rugby National Championship, Robert has not accepted defeat in his physical or mental capacities. From living the life of a quadriplegic - unable to even move his hands – much less walk - to rising from his wheelchair and walking to receive his diploma, this guy is as inspirational as they come. Listen in as Robert tells his epic comeback story, which has brought hope and a never-quit mentality to thousands.In this episode you will hear: I was put on this earth to move people. My chin was pushed into my chest; a second player grabbed my legs; I fell forward; my nose slammed against my chest, and when I hit the ground with the top of my head – poof - I couldn’t feel anything. My whole life, I’ve tried to make my parent’s proud. The doctors said: “If, one day, you could take a piece of pizza and bring it to your face, then you made it.” Going under the knife in the area of my spinal cord - they said there was a chance I would not wake up, so I started calling my buddies. I’m a man of faith. I needed prayers. I needed God. The one thing you do have control over is your mindset. Great opportunities comes from great challenges. If I didn’t have humor through all of this, I would be crushed, depressed. This is such a gift. Just to be able to struggle to walk around my house. I had to go through something tough to gain perspective, but it a gift I use in my life, and I can help give it to others. It’s my purpose. When I saw my hamstring twitch I said “Okay. Game on.” It was like smelling blood in the water. No person has stood by my side like my mom. I’m gonna be a damn good man, and I’m gonna live a damn good life, because I have angels around me. I love my life. I’m proud of who I am. We can’t wait to start enjoying our lives until something happens. You don’t have to get out of your wheelchair to live a good life. God gives His toughest challenges to His toughest soldiers.

There are interesting similarities between the streets of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria and the streets of the South Bronx. This week’s Team Never Quit guest is former U.S. Army Master Sergeant., 2-tour veteran, National Guard Paratrooper, and 22 year veteran of the NYPD – Tommy O’Hare. Listen to Tommy’s personal experiences and life lessons from his 2 tours of duty in Iraq (Desert Storm), Mogadishu, Somalia, and his cop career on the streets of the South Bronx of New York. This patriot has a myriad of common sense and positivity he shares with Marcus and you.In this episode you will hear: I am the American success story. A child of Irish Immigrants who came to this country on a boat. The [social] environment’s always changing, always evolving. You never know what the future holds. You’d better catch up with it, adapt to it, or you’ll be left behind. I can be as nice as a British butler, or I can be your worst nightmare. Those same skills I learned in the streets of Brooklyn & the Bronx paid dividends in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. [After 9-11] Who you were, who you voted for – none of that crap mattered. We knew there were people in that building and we had to get them out because that’s our job. I was more stressed working the midnight shift in the South Bronx than I was overseas working recognizance 10 miles from the Al Qaeda camp. I know the dangers, but we’ve got a job to do. We signed up for it. I worked with heroes every day - In the streets of New York and in the streets of Afghanistan. You have moral courage, spiritual courage, and physical courage. The interactions I had with the Iraqis is the same interactions I had with people in the South Bronx. If there is a fight, I’m gonna win. I am undefeated. My mother’s advice to me on my first day as a cop was: “Remember to be just.” What right do I have to complain? I have both my legs. I am alive. I’ve been blessed throughout my career. Don’t quit on yourself. I’m not gonna quit on you, Marcus isn’t gonna quit on you, God’s not gonna quit on you.

This week’s TNQP guest needs no introduction. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry joins Marcus and Morgan, bringing to the table surprising stories of events and experiences with “The Luttrell Boys” – some previously known, and some unknown. Character and heroism are on full display in this episode, and Governor Perry makes no bones about how he feels about both of these patriots. In this episode you will hear: A call comes in from the command post. “Governor, there’s a young man down who said that you told him if he was ever through Austin to come by. Just to let you know, he’s here.” And I said, “Okay, what’s his name?” “Marcus Luttrell.” And I was like, “Hmmm…. Send him in.” [Morgan] We’ve always started at the bottom and worked our way up. It was a fluid transition from the enlisted ranks. If you want to effect change, then it’s time for you to man up and fill the seat. Quit yelling at the TV. I get frustrated with the government from time to time. Dr. Stanley Jones, I will always hold him in a special place because of his agreeing to do that initial work for Marcus. When you [Morgan] crashed and ended up at the same place as Marcus, that was God’s way of tapping Marcus on the shoulder and saying “Hey dude, you gotta take care of your brother.” The thing that amazes me about you guys is your fortitude after catastrophic injuries. You guys have the most amazing discipline and character. You reflect everything as a Texan. Texans and all Americans appreciate what you guys are all about. They need people like you in the United States Congress, to show them what the military should be about. You are fiercely loyal to your family, to your God, and to your state. Team Never Quit is a really interesting concept, and no two people give a better reflection of that than Marcus and Morgan Luttrell. I think America will be better off with another one of the Luttrell boys staying in the fight.

In this week’s incredible Team Never Quit episode, legendary bull rider and Netflix reality superstar Dale Brisby (How to Be a Cowboy) brings a brand of toughness, determination, fun, truth, and faith to the table. From Facebook to Snapchat to TikTok, this guy has attracted thousands with his hilarious cowboy-lifestyle videos. Brisby is the self-proclaimed greatest rodeo cowboy on the planet and shares an engaging conversation with Marcus Luttrell in the Team Never Quit Podcast Studios. You’ll see pretty quickly that Dale Brisby is not your typical rancher. And you’ll hear - firsthand – how a future bull-riding rodeo comes to life at Dale’s Radiator Ranch. In this episode you will hear: I’m the Navy SEAL of Bull Riders. My bucket list is – I don’t want to kick the bucket anytime soon. Marcus Luttrell can call me whatever he wants. I was raised around rodeo & started pro rodeo in college. If you’ll just not quit, that’s what you’re supposed to do. The rule of wearing felt hats is: Use them in months that end in “R”. Texas is a bit more lenient. The most peaceful thing that ever crossed my mind was if my old man was in heaven. It was as sure to me as gravity. [As it relates to Marcus Luttrell’s experience in Afghanistan] A lot of Americans think about what we would do in that situation. There’d be an intense amount of prayer I’d have to be doing. Salvation is like – alight you’ve graduated, but you still need to go to the classes. My dad died, both of my granddads died, and I had this real moment of “Snap, I’m the patriarch now. My family’s gonna be looking to me…” [Telling Marcus Luttrell] If anything devastating were to happen, and I’m sitting here older than you, but I’ve been an accountant, I’m letting you be the boss. Always give 100% unless you’re donating blood. There’s never a time when you can just lay down & wait for something to happen. Offense is the best defense. In business, don’t ask yourself “Is this right or wrong?” Instead ask yourself “Is this wise?” When you have faith, live your life in response to that.

Sharpie + Cardboard = Pearls of Wisdom. This week’s Team Never Quit guest, Zachary Bell, is known as the “Veteran With A Sign”. A former Marine Infantryman, Zachary uses common language related to his experiences in the military on his signs in an effort to bring people together via communication. He has a “Let’s talk about it” mentality. He has become known as a meme philosopher – from light to pointed – with many layers in-between. His signs are photographed and disseminated globally via Instagram, the internet and his analog tools consist of a sharpie and cardboard.In this episode you will hear: I always had this fear of living a life of regret, and it’s driven me to do everything I’ve done, right, wrong, or indifferent. Comments on the internet are first draft thoughts – people just throw them out there. I think that true love is finding the one person who always makes you wanna be the best version of yourself. I asked my girl to marry me. She said yes, and five seconds later we found out she was pregnant with our first child. I was invincible until the moment my daughter was born. They told us we going to Iraq for 90 days. “We’re gonna be in the green zone, you’ll have wifi, you’ll have fast food, you’ll live like a Navy SEAL. When my 2nd daughter was born, I knew my military career was over. My daughters changed my capacity for love. They’ve made me a better person. It’s a really bad pitch to say “Hey, we’re gonna get married, I’ll be around sometimes, and then you’ll be pregnant, and then I’ll be gone, hopefully, I’ll be back.” I’ve always found the best version of myself in service to others. Everything I’ve done in my life has been trying to help people. Community is one of the most important things we have. Marcus Luttrell is a cultural icon. Everyone outside of the military thinks the military is like a high school and like we all meet up in the cafeteria. It would be cool if it was like that. Wearing gators doesn’t make you a SEAL, but writing a book does. If you’ve been kissed by violence, you can see it on other people. I want to be the bridge between the military and the civilian world.

Are you experiencing adversities? When you tell this week’s guest, Dr. Patrick Bisher, that something is physically impossible – like walking – he’ll rise to the highest challenge and become a Navy SEAL. From his lowest of the lowest to the highest of the highest, Patrick shares with Marcus Luttrell how he overcame “impossible adversities” in his life. Patrick authored the book: Warrior of God.If you’re needing some inspiration in your life, this is the podcast to bring it to you. Never say never. In this episode you will hear: My hip bone inside the socket deteriorated. I found out at a young age that kids are mean, they tell the truth, they don’t sugar coat anything. I went from being amazing at physical activities to not being able to do anything at all. At 16 years old that I’d never play sports, but I proved them wrong. In my recovery, my first goal was to get to the mailbox. I don’t care what anybody says… I can do it. I take that mentality to everything I do. It took an assistant coach to see that I was suffering. I opened up to him and my burden was lifted. Be conscious of what you say - You never get your words back. I loved every part of BUD/S because what I had been experiencing my entire life – other people were experiencing for the first time. What comes out is the best version of you if you’re willing to be refined in the fire. I proved the world wrong about what’s possible. My own Kryptonite was my pride. No matter what happens to me, there’s no way you’re going to hurt me to the point I’m gonna give up & quit. I’m never out of the fight. Instead of being selfish, I’m gonna be selfless. It doesn’t matter your rank, what matters is the impact you make for the team. If you are going through terrible scenarios, understand that bricks and stones will eventually build a bridge to cross over to where you want to be. If you never quit & never give up, you can accomplish anything. Connect with Dr.Bisher:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrickbisher/Grab the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-God-Dr-Patrick-Bisher-ebook/dp/B09QLGYJ1R/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1642699958&refinements=p_27%3ADr.%20Patrick%20Bisher&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Dr.%20Patrick%20BisherVisit his website: https://patrickbisher.com/Follow Us:https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

“Speak the complete truth.” That is all our guest Michelle Black is asking from U.S. Army officials and AFRICOM (United States Africa Command), as it relates to the death of her Green Beret husband, Staff Sergeant Bryan Black. Our guest Michelle Black, a Gold Star widow, lost her Green Beret husband in the 2017 Niger Ambush. In her inspiring and revelatory memoir—Sacrifice: A Gold Star Widow’s Fight for the Truth—she used exclusive interviews with the surviving members of ODA 3212 to write what has been hailed as “the best after-action report to come out of the ambush and subsequent events." In this episode you will hear: I reached a point where I realized that my husband and all the men who fought and died alongside him were being completely dishonored. I had to make a decision. If they come after me and take everything, what are they going to do to me? I was doing exactly what I was supposed to do. God was with me. He was giving me the strength. I was the right person at the right time to do the right thing. What a shame if I hadn’t. Once I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to do and God’s behind me, there’s a different boldness that doesn’t exist in any other area of my life. I don’t want to waste what Bryan fought for. We hold those accountable who should be held accountable. I’m pushing for changes in the way military investigations are done, so we have better oversight. How can you lead people if you’re doing a poor job? It’s a good ol’ boy system no matter how good or bad a leader you are. You don’t have to accept what you’re being told if you know it’s not true. The men on the ground want you to know the truth. You can do anything you set your mind to.

Is it possible to grow accustomed to the sight of charred bodies in the battlefield, and worse yet – be responsible for bagging them up and processing their return to loved ones with honor? This week’s Team Never Quit guest, Marine Reservist Chris Bussler, filled that role for the U.S. Marines as part of a Mortuary Affairs Unit in Iraq.Listen to Chris’ account of the reality and consequences of war from a different perspective than most. It’s almost unbelievable that a man could go from being an everyday postal carrier to an active participant in the front lines of battle with a single phone call. 3 tours of duty later, Chris’ book, No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor, came to fruition and provides an autobiographical account of his experiences, and their unforgettable impact on his life.In this episode you will hear: I grew up traveling and never having a place to call home. So I really didn’t want to see the world, but I wanted to serve. I was told the reserve unit near my house accepted grunts, but what they didn’t tell me is that they didn’t do grunt things, so I was assigned to go out on the front lines in a mortuary affairs unit, find the guys that got killed, recover their remains, and bring them back. A 22mm mortar picked me up and threw me off the road and destroyed the radio I was carrying. As a result, I got an ice cream scoop taken – “a shark bite” - out of my calf. I still have a piece of shrapnel near my femoral artery. Family was always big, but now, family is everything. I want to be there as a good father. Even the mightiest of mountains will eventually tumble into the sea. If you let the waves hit you every day, eventually it will knock you down. It takes a village to welcome back the warriors. My book reminds people that the guys that are killed on the battlefield are just the beginning of the sacrifice. The guys that go to war are real people with real aspirations. Soldiers put their families on hold, everything on hold - to do a job that the American people asked them to do. That’s sacrifice. When we heard there were SEALS operating in our area, we thought “Holy cow, we must be high on the totem pole.” I still remember the razor burns to keep a good seal on our gas masks. We were training with World War II manuals and making things up on the fly. Connect with Chris:Facebook: No Tougher Duty, No Greater HonorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/no_tougher_duty/ Grab the Bookhttps://www.amazon.com/No-Tougher-Duty-Greater-Honor/dp/1546604936/ref=asc_df_1546604936_nodl/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312174487654&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18368735048976612618&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9015645&hvtargid=pla-583483912008&psc=1Follow Us:https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

What a distinctive guest we have in the studio for this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast. It is our honor and privilege to have 100-year-old Retired U.S. Army Air Corps Major Joe Balogh with us. This American hero has innumerable stories of his World War II service with an uncanny recollection of detail. In addition to being recognized by President Harry Truman for his bravery during his service, Joe also worked for Henry Ford himself in one of his factories. This is a fantastic, entertaining interview you’re certain to love. In this episode you will hear: • I was the only farm boy that went to high school. •I struggled in school because I couldn’t speak English very well as my parents were both Hungarian. • I had to walk 7 miles to high school. • Luck has been with me all my life. • Henry Ford paid my way to the University of Michigan. • I’ve been shot down twice. • You have 28 seconds to exit a burning airplane if you can’t put the flames out. • You could never get me to jump out of an airplane unless I’m scared. • [Marcus] All my jumps were at night, even during the day because I always had my eyes closed. • In Europe during World War II, 72% of all pilots and crews were killed. • I never thought I’d live this long. • I’ve never had a headache, or a stomach ache, or a broken bone. • My secret to a long life is – I eat bologna sandwiches for lunch every day. • If somebody’s nasty to you, walk off. It’s not worth a fight - walk away. • I don’t like to see guys fight in war & get killed over what’s not worth it. • No matter your field, you’re as great a professional as anyone if you strive for excellence.

Sometimes all you need is “A Small If” – That’s all Elijah Stacy would need to do something that had never been done before –change the shape of his own spine. This week’s Team Never Quit guest brings to the table his incredible story of the phenomenal pursuit of life itself. Elijah suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a fatal disease - which took the life of his younger brother. Yet he maintains a positive outlook on his future, despite the odds.Does Elijah Stacy stay at home in his wheelchair feeling sorry for himself? Not hardly. He launched a non-profit organization – Destroy Duchenne at age 15 in an endeavor to find a cure via gene-editing technology. He is a public speaker and has a passion for business. Listen in as Elijah encourages all of us to be the change that we seek.In this episode you will hear:• When I was 6 years old, I was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.• I have an athlete’s mindset as my dad was a football coach.• My wheelchair symbolizes suffering. Everyone will suffer at some point in their life.• But I sit on top of my wheelchair. I symbolize that you can overcome adversity.• My mind is set on being great.• Be a better version of yourself.• Let me be the difference.• Adversity is an opportunity to improve your character.• One of my priorities is to bring awareness to this disease.• I’m trying to be the Magic Johnson of Duchenne.• If we can learn to edit our DNA, we can cure any disease.• Every day is a never-quit day.• I love when people doubt me. I’m like “Oh, let’s bet on it.”• I hung a picture of my curved spine on my wall, so I could visualize it being straighter.• All I needed was a small ”if”. I just needed to know it’s possible.• Everything I do is in service for other people. Connect with Elijah:https://www.instagram.com/elijahjstacy/https://www.amazon.com/Small-If-Inspiring-17-Year-Old-Disease/dp/1544525079/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1641964594&sr=8-1Follow Us:https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

The CrossFit lifestyle – that’s the ultimate description of this week’s incredible guest - Mat Fraser. Mat is the first athlete in history to have won five consecutive CrossFit Games titles. He is an amazing specimen of an ultra-fit man. What a never-quit story he has to tell – suffering two breaks in his L5 vertebra and still competing in the Junior World Weightlifting Championship in Bucharest, Romania. That injury required him to wear a plastic brace on his torso for four months, but it failed to heal properly. Instead of spinal fusion surgery which would have certainly ended his athletic career, Mat elected instead for experimental surgery to have his back re-broken, inserting a protein sponge to help heal the bone with two plates and six screws attached to his lower spine. The silver lining in this seemingly insurmountable circumstance was finding CrossFit, which helped him achieve different, yet impressive athletic goals.In this episode you will hear:• I’m gonna learn what I don’t know, I’ll fuckin’ hammer it till I’m great at it.• There’s no road trip too long if you have a fun person in the car.• I wasn’t the most naturally gifted athlete. I always had incredible body coordination. I was always the strong one in the group.• Anytime there was something I wasn’t proficient in, I would seek out a professional, seek advice – show me how to do this.• If your outcome is determined by one person that isn’t as dedicated as much as you, it fucks up everyone’s effort.• Absolute max effort today allows me to train tomorrow & the next day.• My mom is 66, and she goes to CrossFit every morning.• [Markus] “Every morning you get down to do 1 pushup – eventually, you’ll do 2.”• Not every time I drank I got in trouble, but every time I got in trouble, I had been drinking.• When I told my coach I hurt my back, he said “there’s a difference between pain and injury.” He assumed I was just young and being a pussy.• Thank God I hurt my back because I would’ve never found CrossFit.• When I was broken & hopeless, I remember thinking, “What good is gonna come of this?”• If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t know it well enough.• I’m a good coach because I didn’t pick up on things naturally.• How you do anything is how you do everything.• The most valuable thing is learning how to learn.

In this week’s episode, we’ll hear from 2 bad-ass entrepreneurs who are driven, creative, and successful. Anthony Milton (CEO of Tilted Concepts) & Michael-David Reilly (Director of Marketing) are a powerhouse team of business concepts plus superior marketing techniques. Together, they have made their business ventures - Tune-Up (The Manly Salon), Balanced Foods, and Martinis & Manicures “take off like a rocket ship.” Listen in to hear these guys bring their stories and personal thoughts on successful thinking, and a pursuit of excellence.In this episode you will hear:• I don’t have a never-quit story – it’s been my entire life. [13:31]• Every time I’d hit something, it would just go to shit. [13:36]• How fast, how far was up to me. [14:56]• How do you ride 100 miles on your bike? I just decide to. It’s one pedal stroke after another. [17:13]• Everything is a choice. [17:34]• I used to be completely paralyzed by fear. [18:54]• You’re in this position because you either made a series of bad decisions that led you here, or you just didn’t react correctly. Fix your shit. [23:09]• The idea of merging a bar and a barbershop all in one. It took off like a rocket ship. [39:25]• We now have 56 stores in 5 states. [40:48]• Where people get bogged down in their ability to pursue their dreams - is the unknown. [51:45]• Our franchisees have a support system to help them be successful. [70:09]• Most people let their day dictate how they feel and what they do. [86:55]• Our greatest commodity is our focus. [87:06]• Before I go to bed, I write down 5 non-negotiables that I will complete the next day. [88:22] • Pressure is a privilege. [89:39]• If my attention is on gaming 24/7, I’m gonna go nowhere. [89:05]Connect with Anthony & Michael-David: https://www.instagram.com/tiltedconcepts/Follow Us:https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/mojoluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/Episode Resources:https://navyfederal.org/https://www.truebill.com/tnqGreenChef.com/tnqp130

Everyone has a story to tell, but in the case of this week’s guest, Phil Klay has the inherent gift of conveying his collection of insights and perspectives in short story form. His writings bring deeper meaning to life as they engage a broad audience. Phil is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and his short story collection Redeployment has won multiple national book awards.Listen in as he joins Marcus & Morgan to tell of his military and personal life experiences.In this episode you will hear:• I’ve always believed in public service.• National service is a standard that everybody should serve in some way.• When I feel like I’ve almost died, it inspires me to convey that intensity in a novel.• Throwing in people together, who are different from each other, but all trying to achieve something in the service of the country, would be almost spiritually healthy.• It’s stupid to climb off trail when there’s no one around.• When you try to figure out how you feel about something, put it in a story.• There are some things that need to be communicated. It’s important to communicate that to people.• The Marine Corps is a very complicated thing.• I started writing about my experiences, outside of the mold of typical conversation.• It’s not that our life experiences themselves are very interesting, it’s that you should reflect on them. It forces you to think more deeply about life.• When you think of your limits, know that there’s a mental component to that.• If you think you can’t, you can always take another step.

If you’re looking for an inspiring story of purpose and overcoming, you’ve come to the right place. This week’s guest, Paul Harris, aka “The Warrior Walker” is a former Royal Marine currently walking around the entire outer perimeter of the UK, and has already walked over 1,000 miles. He is raising awareness to help those struggling with mental health issues.Paul shares many heart-warming and inspiring experiences as he is overwhelmed daily with coffee, meals and accommodations. Because he has no support staff or sponsors, he relies solely on the generosity of the people he meets to help him pursue his mammoth task!This journey has completely changed Paul’s life. He has gone from an average, uninspiring, mentally challenging life, and feeling like a failure, to finding out what he could create with his own momentum, passion, and power.While this endeavor started off as a walk, it has become so much more than that with the amazing community of radiators he has come across on his journey.“Human kindness is real. They want you to win.” In this episode you will hear:• I feel like I’ve gone back in time. I’m breaking bread and having dinner with people all along the way.• My parent’s issues in my childhood is why I’m passionate and positive.• When I was ready to quit the Marines, my grandfather asked me if I wanted to be known as Paul Harris, or Marine Harris. That was all I needed to keep moving forward.• I like to push the boundaries.• We tend to think of the me, me, me, but we should be thinking of others.• Every day is an adventure.• Becoming a Kindergarten teacher was therapy for me.• I’ve had moments in my life when I should’ve done something but I didn’t. I overthought it.• Be careful what you say to yourself, because the warrior within you is lessened by it.• To be in control of what you do is the most freeing thing you can do.• I’m always alone, but I never feel loneliness.• A bad week doesn’t make a bad life.• If you have passion - and you action that passion – you can live the life you want to live.• Don’t ask yourself: What’s the worst that can happen? Instead ask yourself: What’s the best that can happen!• There’s only one time in your life when you’re done, that’s when you’re done.Connect with Paul: https://www.instagram.com/thewarriorwalker/https://thewarriorwalker.co.uk/Follow Us:https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/mojoluttrell/https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/Episode Resources: https://navyfederal.org/https://mtntough.com (Enter Code TNQ for 20% OFF) https://coinbase.com/tnqhttps://www.codecademy.com (Use Code TNQ for 15% OFF)

How do you excel in life? How do you navigate complexity? If you ask U.S. Navy SEAL Commander (ret.) David Sears, he’ll tell you – and show you - how to reframe your thinking. Dave has over 20 years of tactical and strategic experience. He planned, led, and executed hundreds of special ops missions in more than 40 countries on 5 continents, from the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq to the jungles of Colombia and the oceans of the world. Dave Sears has received numerous awards and decorations for his service in the military. He is also the author of Smarter Not Harder, derived from seventeen tried and true Navy SEAL maxims, outlining the principles of excelling in all facets of life. Join us in this week’s podcast, as we “get in the weeds” with the inspirational Dave Sears. In this episode you will hear: • I was always fascinated with Special Forces. • I knew I didn’t want to be part of the conventional military - marching with thousands, because I have always been an independent thinker. • Being a SEAL is a physical and mental challenge. • How do you make it through BUDS? It’s easy – don’t quit. • The deciding factor is your mental attitude. Are you gonna quit or not? • Where you want to go? Just take the next step to get there. • Quitting will result in regret. • The never quit attitude: Keep moving toward your goal. • You don’t drive your car looking in the rear view mirror. You glance at it as a reference, but it’s the road ahead that matters. • You gotta have a future mindset as opposed to a past mindset. • Where you’re at now is not where you’re gonna be forever. • One of the brilliances of UDS is not knowing when what that future is. Not knowing when you’ll be out of the water. So you learn to deal with adversity till whenever. • The way we learn is through storytelling. • Control what you can control. Influence what you can influence. Then navigate the rest – but keep moving forward.

Do you believe that anything is possible? This week’s amazing guest, Shay Eskew, has proven that it is. As an 8-year old, Shay was severely burned on over 65% of his body and was told he could never be a competitive athlete. Now, several decades later, he lives life to the fullest and has a relentless “never quit” attitude. Shay is a team builder, coach, mentor, RCM authority, market disruptor, motivational speaker, best-selling author and proven sales leader. He’s a high-energy innovator, entrepreneur, and has successfully built and sold multiple companies. He has achieved multiple world championships, and after enduring nearly 40 surgeries, Shay is a 4-time IRONMAN, 4-time member of Team USA, 25-time IRONMAN 70.3 athlete, is ranked in the top 1% of IRONMAN worldwide, and has competed in 11 triathlon World Championships in 7 countries on all 6 continents. Equally impressive, Shay is the proud father of 5 children under 13. Shay’s life is overflowing with blessings. In this episode you will hear: • I felt close to God before the race, but He was not there during the swim. • My wife will stand at the exit of the swim and tell me how many women beat me out of the water. • I was accidentally set afire by a neighbor’s kid at age 8, and burned over 65% of my body. • At the University of Tennessee, I never lost a wrestling match. • I was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. • Thank God that doctors told me I’d never play sports. That was the best thing because it pissed me off enough to prove them wrong. • Many times, pain is just a state of mind. • When I started walking in the hallway of my school – there was complete silence. • If people are gonna make fun of me, I’m gonna beat ‘em to the punch. • There’s no reason to blame society. You just gotta make the most of it. You just gotta ask yourself what else can I do that I never thought possible? • The hardest thing is watching your kid suffer knowing you can’t do anything to fix it. • The more chances I’ve taken, the more time I put myself out there, the more opportunities have presented themselves. • Everything I went through prepared me for who I am in life. • On a campus of 30,000 people, nobody looked like me. They remember who you are. • We all struggle, we all face adversity, we’ve all been tempted to quit. We’ve all said God, why me? How am I gonna get through this? • Once you know that somebody else has not only been what you’ve been through, and not only survived but thrived… That’s Impactful. • The things that we cherish are the things we bust our butt to get. • Everybody’s out there racing. It’s not to win, but to finish. To finish is to win.

“For the greater good.” That’s the mantra of this week’s guest, Chris Cruise. It’s amazing how being delivered a setback can cause someone to step up to the plate and take on what turns out to be a patriotic endeavor. After being told that he wasn’t good enough to pursue a football career, Chris enlisted in the U.S. Army and subsequently deployed to Iraq, and learned that there truly is a brotherhood in the military. Chris sees it as the best thing he ever did as it was the path that led him to meet his wife. While re-acclimating to civilian life after his service, he didn’t know what to do with himself or how to adapt his heightened sense of awareness and constant wariness into his new life as a husband and a father. His wife Amber gave him a new mission that grew into what has become Cruise Custom Flags. He figured out that woodwork was therapeutic for him. He’d found his happy place – a place where his mind could both rest and work at the same time, in balanced concentration and clarity of purpose. Amber wanted him to make something tied to Kentucky for his next project. They both also wanted the project to honor military service, as her father is also a veteran. There are not many things that scream “Kentucky” more than bourbon, and not many greater symbols of military service than the flag. So, the first custom flag he made from a repurposed bourbon barrel hung in their home. The next two were Christmas gifts for both of their fathers. The flags were so well received, he made more for some friends and family. Word spread, and requests began pouring in. Chris says, what’s more American than a veteran handcrafted flag made out of a bourbon barrel? Bourbon, after all, is “America Spirit by law.” In this episode you will hear: • It really started when my wife wanted something in our home that represented her Kentucky roots and my service. • I had a vision of having a shop full of veterans making American flags from bourbon barrels. • Bourbon barrels once served a good purpose aging bourbon, and veterans served a good purpose and we help them both find a new purpose. • “Never quit” is not what you do, it’s who you are. • Generosity breeds success. • With a never quit attitude, you’re unstoppable. • I wish someone would have told me that I could have done my passion right out of high school without society telling me I had to climb the corporate ladder. • I’ve got a business degree, but I could have done this right out of high school. • I only did one deployment. That was enough for me. • It’s hard to build a resume after you get out of the military. • I get tunnel vision – nothing else matters – once I get focused on something – it’s on. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cruisecustomsflags/ Special thanks to Speakeasy Podcast Network for giving Chris a place to record his interview!

Are uncertainty and hardship inevitable in this life? Could you use a jump start for pursuing your goals, while living a healthy, fulfilled life? This week’s guest, Erik Korem, is the guy that can equip you to that end. His unquenchable curiosity and eagerness for knowledge made him an expert in high performance. Erik started as a walk-on football player at Texas A&M, and that's where he found two things – a never-quit attitude and curiosity for high performance. After spending over 15 years working as a sports scientist, Erik’s passion for solving the data-to-action gap in the wearable tech and mHealth space came to life. He is the founder & CEO of AIM7, teaching people how to turn data into healthy habits. In this episode you will hear: I dealt with bullying, and I just wanted to change myself. Kids can be cruel. In physical fitness events, I was always last. After watching John Jacobs and The Power Team, I was so inspired and told my dad, “I’ll never be last again.” I learned there was a science to the physical gap I was in. Playing football at Texas A&M, I learned how to suffer well. You can’t fight what you don’t see coming. I could’ve paid attention to how much it sucked, or paid attention to what I could do about it. The Olympic Games are more than winning medals; it’s more like political warfare. I learned about the synchronization of the physical, psychological, technical, & tactical. Wearable devices provide much data, but what do you do with it? Stress is the gateway to improvement, but chronic long-term stress can be a really bad thing if you can’t get it under control. If you don’t get enough sleep, your brain is literally full of crap. In REM sleep, your body is in a state of paralysis. I don’t praise grades; I praise their effort. If you synchronize with the sun, you’ll start sleeping like a baby. There are research studies that show that if you want to reset yourself, go camping. Sports got me into the game, but curiosity launched my career.

This week, the TNQ Podcast brings you the inspiring never-quit journey of Aaron Quinonez – aka “Sgt. Q” – a Marine Corps Veteran, speaker, author, father, and PTSD ambassador.Having been raised in a rough, homeless environment surrounded by people in the drug trade, Aaron became a marine right out of high school. What he didn’t know is that his real battle would be fought in his mind. Sgt. Q suffered from depression, anger, and panic attacks and was diagnosed with PTSD. He nearly ended his own life in the parking lot of a church, where later he was redeemed by Jesus Christ, who gave him a new life.When he volunteered to build housing for a family in Mexico, Quinonez was so inspired by the experience that he founded the organization, Q Missions, to bring Veterans together to construct buildings around the world and bring mental healing through mission service.Quinonez authored the book: Healing Thru Service, The Warrior’s Guidebook to Overcoming Trauma. In this episode you will hear: I grew up with rednecks, hippies, and pot farmers. Everybody I knew growing up was involved in the drug trade. To be homeless as a kid is a trip. My work ethic came from my mom, struggling to raise four kids as a single mother. I was once on the school bus driving thru the pouring rain and saw a lady carrying two garbage bags, and as we passed I realized - it’s my mom. You gotta reposition your mindset from negative experiences to find something positive and focus on that, because what you focus on - your brain will find more of. If you have one trauma, another trauma will stick to it and eventually become PTSD. Your brain is like a weapon – if it’s malfunctioning you do a function check, and you get back in the fight. I went from the battlefield to my front door in less than 48 hours, so there wasn’t any out-processing. It wasn’t until I could overcome the victim mentality that I was able to get my life together. You may have left the battlefield in Iraq, but every day that you wake up and put your boots on the ground, you’re on another battlefield – the battlefield of the mind. You can repurpose military tactics to overcome trauma. When anxiety hits, the first thing to do is return fire – speak truth:There’s no real threat;There’s no real danger:I’m totally in a safe environment.Bring yourself out of that emotional state. 67% of men in America have admitted they’ve struggled with a mental health crisis. You didn’t fight the war alone, so don’t fight PTSD alone. Communicate with people and tell them you’re struggling.

We have an inspiring guest in this week’s Team Never Quit podcast. Brian Kilmeade shares his motivating views about reaching your personal potential, despite apparent failures along the way. Brian is a television and radio presenter and political commentator for Fox News. On weekdays, he co-hosts Fox's morning show, Fox & Friends, and he also hosts the Fox News Radio program The Brian Kilmeade Show. He has authored or co-authored non-fiction and fiction books, and is a New York Times Best-Selling Author. Brian is also a father of three.His attitude related to pursuing a dream, making things happen for a better life, and his love for this country is refreshing.In this episode you will hear:• Coming out of college, I just wanted to talk sports and news.• I played soccer through college. I wanted to be great, but I wasn’t.• If you fire me or don’t hire me, that’s your choice, but I’m not gonna quit.• It’s our job to reach our potential – whatever it is.• If things don’t work out, you can’t blame people.• Newscasters pretend they didn’t put an oar in the water or tell you who to vote for, but by a look - by the way they give one side more power that the other. When you think you’ve heard a straight newscast – no you didn’t.• If you are for an open border, you don’t care about the country. If you destroyed the oil and gas business, you don’t care about the country. If you’re gonna stand down the Army to talk about white supremacy, you don’t care about the country.• If you want to see an example of overcoming obstacles, pick up Andrew Jackson’s book. He was orphaned and he was raised by his town, his county & his country, yet he became a 2 term President.• Don’t get caught up in results. If you fail, your success is just delayed.• The only time you fail is when you quit.• The most rewarding thing to me is helping other people.

Now here’s a guy with an unbelievable vision, drive, and a relentless pursuit of success. Dre Baldwin not only helps athletes get recognized for their talents; he’s a former basketball player, speaker, influencer, YouTuber, and author of The Third Day: The Decision That Separates the Pros from the Amateurs. Tre is a master at teaching discipline, mental toughness, and personal initiative.Listen in as this well-spoken motivator tells of his personal path from his high school team's bench, to the first contract of a 9-year professional basketball career, then pioneering new genres of personal branding and entrepreneurship via an ever-growing content publishing empire, publishing literally thousands of YouTube videos, viewed over 73 million times.If you could use a spark to get your life moving, this is the podcast for you.In this episode you will hear: When I realized I had no talent for baseball, I stopped that, then stumbled across basketball. I did not go pro immediately after college. After college, I attended “Exposure Camp”, a job fair for athletes. After that event and dozens of cold calls and videos to agents, I was finally signed to a contract to play basketball in Lithuania. I gained popularity, not from basketball videos on YouTube, but from the motivational things I said on them. I launched The weekly Motivation on YouTube. I had to find a way to do something I love to do, plus be a computer geek, and make money from it. I’m a very competitive person. At home, I was taught discipline, respect, honoring authority, and respecting elders. I would make up challenging stories in my mind so I’d have a target to shoot at. If I don’t have anything to aim for, I’m not gonna give my best effort. But when I do, it brings out the best in me. Our generation, ages 30-50 – we are the best generation. People are following me, not for basketball videos, but just to watch The Weekly Motivation. This is life stuff – it’s not athlete stuff. Using the challenges of your life to make yourself better for the future summarizes the entire self-help industry right there. When you have the right people around you, you can go further, faster. In life, you just have to show up.

What an incredible saga of a ten-year-old boy, from Baton Rouge, LA, who had been sexually abused by his Karate instructor, then abducted by him and taken to Los Angeles, CA, where he continued to be abused. Our guest this week, Joseph Plauche, tells of the events that led up those scenarios. By way of a traced collect phone call, the FBI rescued “Jody” in LA and his abductor was arrested. To add to the craziness of those events, Joseph’s father waited at a bank of pay phones at the airport and then shot and killed the abductor as he walked by, all of which was captured on film by a local news crew.Plauche has worked in the field of violence prevention since 1995. He wants his story to help others in abusive situations, and he offers direction on protecting children. In this episode you will hear: Plauche authored the book, 'Why, Jody, Why?' During the sexual abuse, there was a physical pleasure, but there was mental anguish. Despite being abused, your body still responds, like a human body responds. He took me to Disneyland. Even though I was kidnapped. It’s not like I was gagged and bound. I can’t say I enjoyed it, but I kinda did. When I finally told the truth, I felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t like him molesting me, but other than that, I thought he was a good guy. For him (my dad) to do what he did, he had to be in so much pain. If he could have seen who I was to become in the future, he probably wouldn’t have done what he did. My dad was the kindest, sweetest man I knew. It’s a parental instinct to eliminate someone that hurts your child. A boy saw me on Geraldo, and then told his mom about being abused by his pastor. The pastor was arrested. That’s the moment that I realized that I could use something negative and turn it into something positive. I wanna help as many as possible. I feel like I can be a role model for victims of sexual assault.

This week’s episode brings you the incredible, first-hand account from Donna Michaels, a US Navy veteran turned police officer – all the while suffering horrifically from depression, nightmares, and PTSD, yet embracing every day of her life with passion and courage. Donna went from victim to solution – she’s now on a relentless mission to stop PTSD suicides. She also authored the book, Courageously Broken - her journey to hell and back. Donna has quite a story to tell, including the candid memoirs of her military life, her association with Navy SEALS, becoming a cop, the dark years of her life, and her unbelievable recovery. In this episode you will hear: My career didn’t pan out anything like I thought it would as a teenager. The last thing I ever thought I’d be is a cop. I didn’t even like cops. In the Navy, I wanted to go where the action was. It was tough, but I volunteered for this shit, and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna walk away from it as a quitter. Women are equally different. The teams (Navy SEALS} are elite for a reason. I love the idea of helping people. In law enforcement, I could be part of the greater good. I won’t be a bitch, unless someone really, really forces me to be one. I made up my mind that I was either gonna get my shit together or put myself out of my pain. The suicide rate among veterans and first responders is a lot higher than people realize. I want to let those who’ve been through hell understand that there are options for them. They just need to know where to look. Once you hit rock bottom, you’ve got nowhere to go but up. Everybody goes through some traumatic event in their life. I want to teach others that there’s hope. Otherwise, I went through all this shit for nothing. I want to be known for inspiring someone to get the help they needed. Never quit.

To say that Dr. Billy Alsbrooks is a driven motivator with a ton of positivity is a gross understatement. Billy gets real about his life’s path from martial arts at the age of 5, achieving his Black Belt at the age of 9, becoming a songwriter and Billboard recording artist, producer, and dealing with the struggles of his dad’s alcoholism, and yet becoming an influencer, author of the book Blessed and Unstoppable, and motivational speaker, with a goal of improving the lives of 1 billion people. If you’re searching for direction, inspiration, hope, and something to believe in, this episode is for you. In this episode you will hear: Alcoholism is not going to happen to me. People go one of two ways and I want nothing to do with it. When I was doing music, I was a huge promoter of that lifestyle, even though I couldn’t stand it. My goal is to reach and positively Impact 1 Billion People in my lifetime. At school, I’d wear a smile, but I was broken inside because we had been up all night, trying to sober daddy up. To make progress, you gotta deal with the hard stuff. I witnessed his father’s death when a blood clot hit his lungs. My motivational career started at the funeral home. When seeing my family’s cemetery plots, I was told “Here’s where you’re gonna lay”. Those words hit me like a ball bat inside my head. How do you sum up a man’s whole life in 2 or 3 sentences for a tombstone? If I was to die right now, what would they put on my tombstone? I had to ask myself that question. Our only purpose for being here is to leave this place better than we found it. God’s not against us having nice things, but He is against those things owning us. The moment my dad died, the mic got ripped away from me. When I say God, I don’t mean religion, I mean relationship. There’s a difference. God is all-powerful, but He needs our invitation to come in. To get to the next level, you gotta get in the ring with those things that scare you the most. I was born a champion. Raised a champion. I have champion in my bloodline. All I’ll ever be is a champion.

What do you get when you serve as a firefighter for 21 years, and get exposed to the toxins during the 9/11 World Trade Center rescue and recovery operations? If you’re retired FDNY firefighter Niels Jorgensen, you come away with an advanced form of Leukemia ten years later, due to those exposures. Even so, Niels is thankful and blessed to be staying ahead of cancer and enjoying full remission. He is the host of the 20 for 20 Podcast, sharing the stories of 20 heroes, keeping their stories alive for future generations. Niels tells about his horrific experiences from that scenario and his fight with cancer that led to his forced medical retirement. In this episode you will hear: When you have a bunch of significant emotional events, you get saturated, and being in a quiet place is best for the mind and soul. I miss the good of New York, but it’s not the city I was born in, unfortunately. Tennessee is family, country, and I know it still exists in Texas. I was in the firehouse at five years old. Those giants with mustaches are laughing and loving life. I want to be like that. I want to go to work and be happy. I loved being a cop, but I realized quickly that people don’t like cops. In 1994 the fire department had a manual with a target on the World Trade Center that said It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when – Be Ready. We were en route to the World Trade Center when the second tower went down. We were overcome with guilt because we were late for the battle. I felt like I failed my men – my best buddies. 20 years after that horrific attack, two families finally have DNA evidence of their loved ones. They finally have closure. In firefighting, we were used to finding whole bodies, but we weren’t gonna find any in the aftermath of the World Trade Center collapse. I’m American, you’re American. And we need to support each other. Politicians are like dirty diapers. They’re full of shit and they stink. I want to bring back the unity of 9/12. The 20 for 20 Podcast is one of the highest honors of my life - to speak about my brave friends because they were the best that this country has to offer. We’re not hearing the stories of the good guys. We’re worshipping the knuckleheads. I say to my kids, look up from your phone. Look at people’s eyes. Look up to your creator above, and be thankful. Come back to faith. Come back to family. Most of all, be grateful for every day. Just be a good person.

Have you ever heard of anyone who was not a United States citizen become one and enlist in the U.S. Military the same day they received their citizenship? In this week’s episode, you will meet and hear from Hernán Luis y Prado – born in Argentina, grew up in France, and became a U.S. citizen, only to join the U.S. Navy on the same day. Hernan is a 15 year Navy veteran, humanitarian, entrepreneur, and CEO of Workshops for Warriors, a nonprofit for transitioning and struggling service members, offering them advanced manufacturing training certification and job placements.His attraction to America is that it is the only nation governed by an idea, which is expressed in the Constitution and not a person or bloodline. That’s what this patriot chooses to support. Listen to this incredible man’s story of aspiration and success in the country he loves so dearly. In this episode you will hear: I sold everything we had to start Workshops for Warriors. We train America's veterans to rebuild America's advanced manufacturing and economic backbone. We harness discipline, an ethical mindset, tenacity, and focus on our skills. You're a badass, you can do anything, improvise, adapt, overcome. It never rains, it only liquid sunshine. When you get out of the military, you go from a suit of armor to the civilian world & are cast adrift in free fall. America needs welders, machinists, and fabricators. You need a skillset. Our school is a velvet funnel. You come from a really tight straw & now you gotta give more liberty until you get to the civilian world. There are 2.3 million unfilled jobs due to unskilled labor in America. Our goal is to rebuild America one veteran at a time. We do the hard things every day. It's the easy things that kick our butts. People come in - shoulders hunched down. By the end of the first week you see them coming back. The most important thing that Americans like and right now is vision. [Marcus Luttrell] “One team, one fight.” Together we can do this, alone we can't.

A second chance at life. That’s the true story of this week’s guest, Kushal Choksi, Investment Analyst for Goldman Sachs turned entrepreneur, 9/11 survivor and author of On a Wing and a Prayer, which chronicles Kushal’s narrow escape from the World Trade Center’s North Tower on that fateful day. It was truly a life-changing event, revealing that there was more to life than pursuing his career. Life became much more spiritual for Kushal as he learned the Sky Bridge meditation techniques, freeing him from impressions and emotional impacts in his sub-conscience. Listen in on Kushal’s compelling recollections from one of the most horrific days in American history, and his path to interpersonal freedom. In this episode you will hear: In my mind, America was that land of freedom where I could become whatever I wanted. 9/11 started out as just another workday for me. There was a huge bang that shook me up. Within a few seconds, the pandemonium started. I’m not programmed to see things like this. It was raining cement, like something out of a movie. When I came out of the building, I looked up and saw a huge, gaping hole in the side of the building. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another aircraft crashing into the other tower, spewing out a huge ball of fire on the other side. I couldn’t conceive that someone could fly a plane into the building. I saw it go into the building like a slab of butter. The smoke cloud was engulfing everything in its way. As I ran as fast as I could, there was a commuter boat leaving the slip, and I leaped onto it as it pulled away. I was perhaps the last person to leave on the last boat. I had become a statistic – A survivor. It was a dream I could not wake up from. On one hand, I was feeling lucky, while on the other I felt I had to go after whatever I was chasing with more gusto. I had a second chance at life. Whenever you go through a life event, it leaves an impression on our sub-conscience. It creates a lesion on our nervous system. This Sky Breath meditation technique that I learned cleanses the nervous system of these impressions. I am more in control of my thoughts, my emotions, and how I respond to situations. 3 rules for meditation: 1) I do nothing for 10 minutes. Let the world around me collapse. 2) I want nothing. 3) I am nothing – no labels on ourselves.

A black leather helmet. Not just any helmet. A circa 1914 FDNY helmet found in Naples, Florida, originating from Ladder 42 in The Bronx, New York. In this week’s episode, Jerry Stanford, FDNY veteran, details his adventure in returning that incredible helmet – and presenting it back to Ladder 42 in The Bronx on September 10, 2001 - the day before the attacks of 9/11. Jerry returned to service as a volunteer after the attacks on the World Trade center and authored the book: It Started with a Helmet. You’ll appreciate Jerry’s compelling story, and his straightforward personality as he details the path of the helmet from Naples to The Bronx. In this episode you will hear: • We flew out from La Guardia Airport 2 hours before the attacks. I could’ve been on one of those hijacked planes. • Everyone’s running out of the buildings while we were running into the building. • We lost 343 Firefighters from all ranks. With all those years of experience gone, it was difficult to fill those voids. • After 10-12 days, it changed from a rescue mission to a recovery mission. • The jet fuel kept the fires burning. • On September 12, 2001, we were all New Yorkers. • You couldn’t buy a flag. • The government officials told us that it was fine to be in the area with no masks or breathing gear. 6 years later, I was diagnosed with lung cancer, as were many others. • Back then, I could go to the World Trade Center site, and any hour of the day or night. People were cheering us on. • Now they want to cut back funding for police, while they have private security. That’s crazy. • Life is so different now. We have to adapt to it. • We were taken aback at the difference in two or three years in New York City. • In Afghanistan, the Taliban has taken over in three short weeks. What the hell is going on there? • We let the fox back into the hen house. • What happened to our leadership? • If you need to talk to somebody, please do it. Don’t do anything drastic. A lot of departments have mental health people that are there to help you. • It doesn’t cost anything to be nice to people. Support Jerry https://www.tiktok.com/@itstartedwithahelmet https://www.facebook.com/itstartedwithahelmet https://www.instagram.com/itstartedwithahelmet

Are you looking to accomplish some goals in your life? Take a listen to John Chambliss, our guest in this week’s episode. John is a career firefighter, personal trainer, owner of 48 Str8 Fitness and 48 Str8 Supplements, nutritionally designed for First Responders, Veterans, and health-conscious gym-goers. This is what hard work and a “get-it-done” attitude look like. John conveys the seemingly impossible obstacles he has overcome to become a successful entrepreneur and servant to the community, without anyone’s help. Truly a self-made man with a positive outlook on everything he pursues.In this episode you will hear:• You gotta figure out which way you wanna go – find your own path. • Quit worrying about money & bills. Chase your dream.• Success in the gym is having a connection/relationship with your trainer.• If I’m gonna put you on a program, I’m gonna do it with you.• Mediocracy is what kills us.• If you ever find yourself on a crotch rocket, a tank top, and shorts - that’s a set up.• The doctor told me I’d never walk again and never work out again. I have 6 plates and 32 screws in my left hip.• I need to do something better for my community as a first responder, fire, police, military and the general public.• The name48 Str8 comes from my work shifts.• When is my shit gonna come pick me up to take me to the success lane? You gotta build that shit.• When you make a mistake, learn from it, and move on.• When you hit rock bottom – good – now you know what it feels like, and you don’t wanna be back there again.• Why do something that not gonna propel you in the direction you wanna be going?• There is no option to give up.

In this week’s episode, we bring you Part 2 of Dr. Donnely Wilkes’ personal and amazing story of his experiences on the battlefield of Fallujah. With 2 combat tours in Iraq under his belt, Dr. Donnely Wilkes shares his first-hand experiences with refreshing transparency. While one would think someone with that kind of experience would be tough as nails, Wilkes describes his true feelings and fears of being in a real-life battle with people wanting to kill him, all the while serving as a medic in battlefield conditions. Wilkes is the founder, president, and medical director of Summit Health Group in Thousand Oaks, CA, and authored Code Red Fallujah, his first-hand narrative of his role in the Battle of Fallujah. He served seven years on active duty and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions in the battle of Fallujah in April of 2004. Upon completion of his naval service, Dr. Wilkes was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant. He is a devoted husband, father, and Christian. In this episode you will hear: I hadn’t fully accepted my fate, and I wasn’t quite all the way in. And I said to myself, “you gotta be all the way in right now, or you’re gonna do something stupid or emotionally not make it.” I finally came to terms with “If this is my fate, so be it.” As a regular occurrence, I would take cover in the corner of the building when rockets were landing around us, but that was life in Iraq. One night when I pushed the button on my laptop to end a movie, it was like the hiss of a thousand snakes descending upon me and rockets shook our entire building. When rockets would blow through our buildings and tents, I would get pissed since I couldn’t fight back in the dark of night. I tried to do what I could to be a good human. Everybody, in some capacity, should serve. It will help everyone understand and appreciate the benefits of providing service. Writing the book was really therapeutic for me. In the time of your greatest fears, God will meet you there, and you will persevere. Beware of what you pray for – you may get it.

With 2 combat tours in Iraq under his belt, Dr. Donnely Wilkes shares his first-hand experiences with refreshing transparency. While one would think someone with that kind of experience would be tough as nails, Wilkes describes his true feelings and fears of being in a real-life battle with people wanting to kill him while serving as a medic in battlefield conditions.Wilkes is the founder, president, and medical director of Summit Health Group in Thousand Oaks, CA, and authored Code Red Fallujah, his first-hand narrative of his role in the Battle of Fallujah. He served seven years on active duty and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions in the battle of Fallujah in April of 2004. Upon completion of his naval service, Dr. Wilkes was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant. He is a devoted husband, father, and Christian.Part 1 of 2. In this episode you will hear: I never thought I would join the military, much less do two tours in Iraq. My grandfather was a P-38 pilot in WWII and was shot down over North Africa, and survived. My dad always pushed me to seek higher levels. I wasn’t the smartest kid in the class. I would just outwork. A key question for a battlefield medic: Can you operate under pressure, be sleep-deprived, and yet do procedures well? Going on simulated night raids was like being in a movie- but I didn’t know I wasn’t quite ready for this movie. As much as I trained, I thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t. When the “S” hits the fan, you have a file drawer of skills, and you have to access it. Fallujah was like the Wild West. It was unbelievable what the United States military could mobilize and put on wheels. The Marine Corps motto is to do more with less. I came to the point where I realized I just needed to finish the mission so I could go home. When mortar attacks began, that’s when I knew there was somebody out there wanting to kill me. I couldn’t accept being there and being in harm’s way. I really struggled to keep it together. When I experienced my first surgical casualty, it was a horrible moment, but after the team gathered around and prayed, it was a beautiful moment.

It’s hard to imagine living life without hearing, especially if you lost your hearing forever at the age of 18. But in the case of this week’s guest, Mandy Harvey drove her stake into the ground and pursued her endeavor to sing, write music, and “hear” with her feet – to the point that Simon Cowell was moved to press the Golden Buzzer after Mandy’s original song performance on America’s Got Talent. Since that time, Mandy has earned a degree in Vocal Music Education and has become an ambassador to No Barriers USA with a mission to encourage, inspire and assist others to break through their personal barriers.In this episode you will hear: The mindset of abilities vs disabilities is just a lack of education, because everyone has barriers they have to deal with. I didn’t overcome anything, it just took me a little bit of time to figure it out. The mother of all invention is being innovative. I write a lot of music based on how it feels, instead of what I think it sounds like. I’ll write specific notes that tickle behind my eye or bother my face, so that I know that I’m right. I’m feeling the floor, and then just opening my mouth and letting go. The most precious gift you can have is communication. I can’t seem to explain how joyful I am now vs how broken I was before. I’m living my life and this part of my story – part of who I am. I’m thrilled to be who I am. The phrase “some people struggle and some people don’t” - Everybody struggles. It just looks different. Not every single person gets the opportunity to understand joy, or feel love. Be compassionate to people – we have no idea what’s going on in their life. With every struggle you have, you have two choices – you can either let it beat you, or you can learn from it. I really don’t believe that there was one eureka moment that made me feel not depressed anymore. It was collection of moments – a collection of people being there. I got up once. I’ll get up again. Let’s go… The getting up and starting over is the hardest part. This is a messy broken world, full of messy broken people. That’s just life.

After a seven-year battle with a rare form of cancer, Richie McPeak, Cancer amputee warrior, is living life to the fullest while inspiring others towards their goals and dreams. In this week’s episode, this incredible man shares details about his Cancer fight, with over 400 hours of chemo that resulted in an above-the-knee amputation. Despite that, he co-founded McPeak – maker of the world’s first non-GMO vegan gummy supplements and ready-to-drink plant-based powders for adults and children.Listen in and be inspired by Richie’s never-quit mentality. In this episode you will hear: From our darkest moments can rise our brightest hours. I’ve been through some fires, but I’ve truly come to believe that every step is a finish line. When you make it to the next moment, you have finish line, after finish line, after finish line. Then you can stay in the game. We have too many options in life. Make success and making it to the end your only goal. You can be exhausted physically and mentally, but you’re never out. There are people that stepped up like brothers and uplifted me. When you lose someone, there’s only one question to ask yourself – did you love them? It took 4 guys 15-20 minutes to take my brother out, as he fought with every breath he had. They’re gonna have to cut my heart out before I quit. Never quit, no matter what you’re up against. I feel I have a duty to inspire others as best I can. No matter how dark it gets, you’re never out of the fight. Every step is a finish line. You don’t have to make it to the end of the day – just make it to your next moment with everything you’ve got.

What does an Army squad leader do in a battlefield situation when his platoon encounters three floors of insurgents and is pinned with rooftop snipers firing away? If you're Davis Bellavia, you lead your team into action. David single-handedly saved his entire squad, risking his own life to allow his fellow soldiers to break contact and reorganize when trapped by overwhelming insurgent fire. He then voluntarily entered and cleared an insurgent strong point, killing four and seriously wounding another. His actions stand as a testament to those who put everything on the line as they do the grim work required to keep each other safe and alive on the battlefield. David Bellavia is the only living recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah, Iraq. Bellavia has also received the Bronze Star Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross. In this episode you will hear: We not only have to live for ourselves and our families, but we have to remind people who our lost soldiers are, because they didn't drop dead of a heart attack, or were killed by some misfortune or bad luck; they voluntarily chose to stand up when the bullets were coming and they voluntarily said “I'll do this for you”. You're not a man until you acknowledge that you don't have a father. Peer pressure makes you smoke cigarettes when you're 11. Peer pressure ca also make you charge a machine gun nest at Normandy beach. It all depends who your peers are. When the voices in your head say quit, don't. You really can't appreciate life until you've gone through combat. There's no education like the United States military. Never bring a hairdryer to basic training. You can't mourn on the battlefield. In the case of fallen soldiers, we should exchange the word “memorialize” for the word “celebrate”. America is still the shining city on the hill.

There are people in this world who experience and endure almost unbelievable events in their lifetime. This week’s amazing guest, Sebastian Junger, is one of them.Sebastian shares graphic details of his undiagnosed, life-threatening aneurism that burst, causing a 90% blood loss – all internally. He is an award-winning journalist covering major international news stories as well as a documentary film-maker. He has been nominated for an Academy Award. He also has an amazing grasp of human and military-related psychology.In addition, Sebastian is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of The Perfect Storm, Fire, A Death in Belmont, War, Tribe, and Freedom. Sebastian Junger is the founder and director of Vets Town Hall, with the purpose of increasing communication and understanding between veterans and civilians in their communities. In this episode you will hear: If you can’t out run ‘em and you can’t out fight ‘em, you’re gonna have to out think ‘em. When things get physically hard, you gotta figure out how to turn off your mind – don’t let your mind negotiate with you. I was a lackluster student in college, but writing a thesis is the most exciting thing I’d ever done. I made a mistake and hit my leg with a chainsaw. There are really dangerous jobs out there with a mortality rate of combat soldiers. The majority of veteran suicides are primarily Vietnam-era veterans. It may not be caused by a combat issue as much as it could be life issues. While working as a journalist In Liberia, I was accused of being a spy. They came to get me and I hid on the roof of my hotel, with the embassy 300 yards away. In combat, you’re proactive. You have urgency. You can affect the outcome. There is a moral burden in killing the enemy. I had an undiagnosed aneurism – a deformity - in my Pancreatic Artery. It ballooned out & it burst, causing me to bleed out into my own abdomen. I lost 90% of my blood, and as I was dying, and my dead father showed up above me – trying to comfort me. If you can’t defend yourself and your community, you’re not going to be free for very long. The trick for human freedom is to be militaristic enough and organized enough to defend yourself against an enemy, but also create an equitable society at home. Humans don’t survive in nature by themselves – they need other people. How do you return a warrior to society? You can leave the front lines, but eventually, it’s gonna find you. We walked almost 400 miles and most nights we were the only people in the world who knew where we were. There are many definitions of freedom but surely that is one of them. If you can separate your body & your mind, you can do almost anything. My daughter once said: “Daddy, I’m small, but I’m huge when I stand in the light.” Public accounting of what it felt like to serve your country overseas can be very cathartic.

In this week’s podcast, you will hear the incredible story of the mission to locate and kill Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade center by one of two dozen Navy SEALs, Will Chesney, who was a K9 handler in that operation. Will’s dog, “Cairo”, was instrumental in helping to successfully accomplish the mission. After that mission, only one name was made public: Cairo’s. Will’s story is one of an irrevocable tie to his dog, as well as straightforward talk about his personal struggles with depression, migraines, chronic pain, and memory loss. In this episode you will hear: On SEAL Team 4, I got the trifecta: Com, Sniper, and Gen Tech. I loved it. Being part of that mission was like being part of a movie. When you’re going through a tough time, don’t quit. Reach out to somebody. There’s so many good people out there. There’s so many modalities for help. Try something – give it a good shot – if that doesn’t work, try something else. Get on your knees and pray to God every day. Try to do good things. Help people out. How many times do you get to go home? How many minutes do you get to spend with family? Don’t live to regret not reaching out to your family more. You can go away at any time. If you don’t keep up – if you don’t perform. If you’re not an asset, but a liability – you’re fired. When I got to the point that I was a liability, after so many great guys and years of my life - to walk away from that - that was amazing. This is my family. The biggest thing I got from all my experiences is my connection with God. I love dogs, and I’ll take on that [dog handling] responsibility to save a friend. Everybody that had something to do with that mission: from the intel to almost dying in a helicopter crash, was incredible. Even with all that, the way things flowed was incredible.

Have you ever tried shooting not one, not two, but three rifles? Then add in the seemingly impossible task of hitting multiple targets… While cross-country skiing!!! If you’re 3-time Olympian “twin biathletes” Lanny & Tracy Barnes, it’s just another day at the office. In this week’s episode, you can get a glimpse into their world of hunting, shooting, and skiing, and their pursuit of excellence as they represent the Red, White, and Blue on a global awareness scale. In this episode you will hear: We did see early success, but it wasn’t because we were any good; we just stuck our head down and gutted it out through the race. If one of us is doing well, the other can do just as good, because we’re exactly the same. No matter what, don’t give up. If you’re gonna dot it, then go all the way. With your biggest competition and your best friend competing with you every day – pushing you every day - you can get to a higher level. The Olympics is the most intense thing ever. When Lanny fell ill and didn’t make the Olympic team, Tracy, after being announced as having made the team said to their coach, “I decline my spot on the Olympic team.” It was the easiest decision I’ve ever made. When we combine our forces, it’s that much better. I can put in my best effort, but together, we can make amazing things happen. We live in the best country in the world. Even in losing, the thing we learned most, is that we didn’t quit… even if we came in dead last. The “Never Quit” mentality is “Train the Brain.” We can sum up our entire career in these words – “We pursue hard.”

Now here’s a guy who’s not hesitant to speak speaking openly about his dark years – his addiction to heroin, then make a dramatic switch from heroin addict to successful businessman. In this week’s TNQ episode, Aaron Singerman shares the unlikely story of his life, his troubles, and eventually his accomplishments, and the importance of empathy for others going through difficult situations. Aaron and his wife, Darielle are the founders of Redcon1, the fastest growing sports supplement brand in history, positively changing people’s lives, and took their company from 5 to over 150 employees. They also founded the Redcon1 Foundation, making a positive impact on families of the Unites States Military heroes. In this episode you will hear: My life has not been easy, but it shaped me. The mistakes I made are all my own. If I had joined the military, I probably would’ve been kicked out because I wouldn’t have been able to take orders. Darielle: Boarding school was a great thing for me. I was a Heroin and cocaine intravenous addict. 98% of intravenous heroin users never come out of it. It was easy to get OxyCon because doctors were getting incentives to prescribe it, and I became addicted to it. Sometimes the best thing in business is to simply walk away. I had parents that told me they loved me. Redcon1 has always been purpose-driven – especially serving the military. I spent every ounce of effort and time I had into writing articles for fitness magazines for free. The drive to believe in yourself is very unique. It’s not about the goal as much as it is enjoying the journey & getting to the next level. People focus too often on the negative. They look at the door that was closed and feel sad about that, versus looking for the next open door. Embrace humility.

In this week’s podcast, you will hear from inspiring Gold Star Wives, all whom have lost their husbands in battle. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will learn what these amazing ladies are doing with their lives – serving other military families and humanity, while bringing hope and strength to everyone around them. Don’t miss this one. It’s well worth the listen. In this episode you will hear: • When tragedy hits and men give everything, you see what it means to be an American. • If you wake up every day & say “I can’t” – you won’t. And if you wake up and say “I can”, you will. • If you want your life to change, what are you gonna do today to make that change? • Turn sadness into something positive. • Now it’s my role to not quit for him, because he didn’t quit for us. • Heroes are keeping us safe in this country. • In a weird way, the loss of our husbands bonded us women. • When powerful people go through such a loss, they can improve the world. • Our main focus is: We love our country. • Some of the funniest stories are born during our lowest moments. • We can either to give up, or get up and live for him. • When what you thought your life was gonna be like is no longer, you’ve gotta figure out who you are, and what you’re gonna do. • With time, pain will slowly find a purpose. • There is hope. You will be happy again. You will smile again. • Find purpose in your pain. • You get so much by giving. • Life doesn’t prepare you for some things. • We’re making sure to honor these men and women who gave up their tomorrow so we could have our today. • We stand tall in the memory of our husbands. • Find gratitude in every day – find one thing positive in each day. • 60 seconds of unhappiness is a minute of happiness taken out of your life. • Breathe in positivity and exhale negativity. • It’s hard to feel sorry for yourself when you write down that which you’re grateful for. • How we deal with tragedy will either define us as humans or redefine us as humans. • We are the authors of our story. No one else can do that for us.

If you’re looking for an overcomer’s story, look no further than this week’s episode with Matthew Long, a life-long competitive athlete with the strength and endurance few have achieved, including qualifying for the Boston Marathon, and competing in Ironman competitions. As he was cycling to work one day as a New York City firefighter, he was run over by a 20-ton bus, literally spilling his intestines on the street, and requiring 68 units of blood in the first hours after the accident. It took a miracle, and Matthew’s never quit mindset to walk again, and eventually compete in the New York City Marathon. He has authored the book: The Long Run, and founded the I WILL Foundation to help people overcome by adversity and challenges caused by traumatic injury. In this episode you will hear: • This [accident] was supposed to happen to me. • The bike cut me right in half. • My mom was the one who was my pillar of strength. • I had 43 surgeries in a 5-month period. • I can’t image what he [the bus driver] felt like when he thought he hit a garbage can, and saw 2 legs laying out of the bus. • Even the homeless, knew who I was. • For 5 months, every night – dinner was served from a different firehouse in the city. • I went through 1 ½ years of dark thinking. • Within 3 years of the accident I ran a marathon. • I get after it every day. • Every tattoo should tell a story. • I always have to have something going on in my life physically – and a goal. • I can’t’ run anymore. If I run 3 miles, I’m in bed for 3 days because of my gate. My upper body ticks to the left. • You have to let go of the anger. • We don’t overcome shit. Adversity is something you have to learn to live with. • When you learn to live with adversity, you’re gonna be stronger and more powerful, and impactful than you could ever believe.

In this week's episode, we highlight one of our most popular episodes as June marks the anniversary of Operation Redwing. Char's husband, Jacques Fontan, was one of nineteen servicemen killed when the helicopter he was in was shot down during Operation Redwing in Afghanistan (from which the film Lone Survivor is based.) As a result, she has written a book, A Beautiful Tragedy, in which she speaks openly about the anger and bitterness that experience birthed, and her battle to regain her life, to heal within, and to serve others in the process. In this episode you will hear: Jacques was killed when Char was only 29 years old. We heard car doors shut. And they came to the door in uniform. I remember asking them, “So there’s still a chance?” and he couldn’t answer me. I’ve accepted that Jacques is gone, and he’s not coming back, but he’s not going away. I wanted to find somebody that would allow me to still respect and honor Jacques, and not just put him away on a shelf and act like that never happened. With my faith and my love for him, I saw how he was there hearing me through the darkest and hardest times. With faith in God, you can be mad and you can have your moments. God wants to hear that. If, on social media, you see the name of a fallen, look them up and get to know them personally. That helps them to never die. Losing Jacques wasn’t beautiful but what I’ve been able to make of the situation and make my life from it is the beauty in it. There’s a lot to think about when you start to date after the tragedy of losing your husband. We all want to honor the men who paid the ultimate price, but we also need to lift up the women they leave behind. I was lucky enough to find amazing love twice.

Q: What does a Marine Corps veteran, former police officer, former firefighter, motivational speaker, and international touring comedian all have in common?A: They all live inside this week’s most entertaining guest, Travis Howze. Travis has come from a horrific experience as a firefighter when nine of his “brothers” were killed in a building collapse. He volunteered for the recovery team that pulled the bodies from the smoking building, causing him to sink deeply into post-traumatic stress and alcoholism. After Travis’ incredible defeat of his PTS, he has had a successful career in comedy and authored Create Your Own Light, an encouragement to stay in the fight and to never quit. In this episode you will hear: • If you’re gonna laugh at other people, you’d better be able to laugh at your damn self. • I don’t think about all the things I went through in my past. It’s a huge form of therapy for me not to. • Every day is a grind. • There are “character-building” days – you gotta recognize it, you gotta work on it, and you gotta build on it. • I have an older sister, so I did a lot of Barbie doll shit when I was young. • We’re more comfortable around our type of people because we have experienced some of the same things. • Non-stop fuckery – I had to have that. • If you knew what your tax dollars really went to, you wouldn’t pay fuckin’ taxes. • I was a cop, when you could still be an effective police officer, and you didn’t have cell phone cameras ruining your life. You could actually go out and do your job. • There’s consequences to our actions, whether in law-enforcement or a civilian. • When the military deploys and they go over, they leave that shit over there. They bring some of that back, but they don’t have to live in the environment that fucked them up. • You can’t un-see, or un-taste, or un-smell a lot of things you go through in life.