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/tnq GreenChef.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/tnq https://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.

Jeff Tiegs is an amazing difference-maker. He uses his extensive experience in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency to counter sex trafficking in the United States. With over 25 years in U.S. Army Special Operations and combat experience and multiple tours in Afghanistan & Iraq, Jeff is applying that expertise in his endeavors. He is the Chief Operating Officer of Guardian Group, whose mission is to prevent and disrupt the sex trafficking of women and children while enabling partners to identify victims and predators in the United States. Jeff is also The Chief Operating Officer at All Things Possible Ministries, whose mission is to identify, interrupt, and restore those affected by trauma.   In this episode you will hear:   In the U.S., we are unbelievable consumers of prostitution, and what comes with that is minors. You’re on deployment every time you walk out of the house. One in four women is sexually assaulted or sexually abused. The sex trafficking crime is so open. It’s openly advertised. There are people that think we should defund the police. I think more reasonable people think we should reallocate funds and figure out ways to do this better. There are people out there who can augment what law enforcement is lacking. The [funding] money is gonna go where the people demand it. [Our organization], All Things Possible does everything from simple counseling to freeing sex slaves. Find strength in simply being alive.  What comes off of your tongue – what you speak – is what you become. The term “Yahweh” is the sound of breathing. The mere fact that we, as humans, are breathing, we’re saying the name of our Creator every time we breathe. What is God’s name? The thing that gives breath to everything that lives. The first thing a baby says is that breath of life.  One family, who lost their son on the battlefield, found relief in the fact that the last breath their son took was the name of our creator. Find strength, find solace, and find peace, in that simple act of breathing. If you’re alive, you’re saying God’s name, and He’s there to help to you. 

This week’s episode features Ryan Michler, Founder of Order of Man and all-around exceptional guy, whose goal in life is to restore masculinity and fight for the hearts and minds of men. Ryan’s podcasts reach millions of listeners each week.   In this episode you will hear:   Ryan Michler Quotes “If you’ve identified the hill you’re gonna die on; the battle you’re engaged in, don’t quit, because when you see how important it is, it would be impossible to throw in the towel.” “Men on the right path aren’t yapping about it. People that aren’t doing anything are the loudest, and if we don’t counter those conversations, it becomes a trend.” “We're never at a shortage of people telling us the bad we're doing.” “Plant your flag towards something.” “Think about why you’re doing what you’re doing.” “You can’t keep blaming your boss, the economy, your wife, or everyone else for your problems. Fix yourself.” “Sports, coaches, mentors, and the military, can help teach you what it is to be a man, especially when there are no male influences at home.” “I found solutions to my own problems, and then made a rewarding, fulfilling, and lucrative career out of it.” “We all screw our kids up in some ways.” “Introduce your kids to hardships. Teach them to bend, not break.”  “Be a father, not a buddy to your kids.”  “A lot of people experience hardships and it doesn’t make them; instead it  breaks them.”  “There’s nothing you can do about another person's attitude.” “People you influence will change because they see you changing, positively or negatively.”  “When people listen to you, you better show up and pay your words and actions the respect they deserve.” “Tell the truth.”  “Help kids in your community. Help reshape misguided notions of what it is to be a man.”  “Question everything.”  “You need some sort of qualifier for people who are invited in your circle.”  “Be the solution. Not the problem.”  “No one wants to hang out with someone with a “Nice Guy Syndrome.”  “Redefine yourself. Try something new.”   John Maxwell quote:  “Every man, deep in his heart, longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.”   Marcus Luttrell quotes:  “When the big boat goes down, make sure you’re sitting in the life raft.”   “If you shut your engines down and you’re in the front, there’s gonna be train coming up behind you that’s gonna smack you right off the track.”   Morgan Luttrell quote:  “The ones who think they have enough forward momentum and do not widen their gaze, fail.”

While the deep-rooted effects of traumatic brain injury are not yet fully understood, Andrew Marr, retired Special Forces, Green Beret, Warrior Angels Foundation Chairman and Co-Founder, as well as co-author of Tales from the Blast Factory, brings to life his actual experiences and transparency as it relates to bringing resolve to his brain injury issues, and coming back to a fulfilled life serving others with similar conditions. Listen in as Andrew gets real with our listening audience. He has an epic testimony to tell.    In this episode you will hear:   Andrew’s story is that of the principles of resiliency after traumatic brain injuries. You don’t have an emotional problem. You have a brain health problem. There are real solutions available. I lost complete control of all emotions. Depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and the inability to make good decisions were daily occurrences. Define what it is you want to be and start being that. I realized at that moment that I was of no value to him [my son] or my family in the condition that I was in. My mental state was going to ruin the things I said I loved in my life. 3 promises I made to myself: 1. I was going to return to be the man of my pre-injury status. 2. I was going to find a way to come off all the medication I was told I would have to be on for the rest of my life. 3. After accomplishing #1 & #2, I was going to spend the rest of my life helping other people just like myself to get thru it and get to the other side. Even though none of my problems were fixed yet, I now had a compass, direction, and destination. There are not words to describe what I experienced in that state of consciousness [with psychedelics). Any identification of self completely evaporated. I understood the interconnectedness of all things. I was engulfed in intelligent love. What the microscope is to biology and what the telescope is to astronomy, psychedelics is to human psychology. 

What an incredible couple we have in the studio this week. Mike Sauers - Navy SEAL, combat veteran who fought alongside Marcus Luttrell in Ramadi, philanthropist, and owner of Forged Apparel. In selfless fashion, Forged has raised millions of dollars to assist the families of fallen heroes. Mike is an exceptional story-teller, and his stories about military life, extensive travel experiences, and his subsequent entrepreneur life, are authentic and entertaining.   Sam Bonilla is an amazing soul in her own right. As a marine with a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security and a certificate in intelligence, marketing manager and concept producer for Forged, social media influencer, model, and Instagram celebrity, Sam is as down-to-earth as they come. She is a joy to listen to as she shares her experiences and perspectives, and a humble servant of people alongside Mike.   In this episode you will hear:   Ideas can be birthed in any setting; they’re limited to the imagination. You should always take pride in your country. Follow through. America was forged – Everything great was forged. It’s too bad that some establishments that have existed for over 100 years, are probably not going to make through this pandemic. Never question an order from a marine [in battle]. If you don’t have pride in your country, then what do you really have? Just like great team guys, we busted out some bungie cords and tied a karaoke machine to our golf cart. Every great nation, has to have pride. You have your real life, and then you have your social media life. Being a marine is not as sexy as it looks on TV. There are criteria for what is considered a dive bar: Mainly whiskey selections A picture of Burt Reynolds Christmas Lights Smokey & the Bandit memorabilia A Juke Box Spilled Beer Stains on the pool table Huge “mints” in the urinals No separation between the urinal & the toilet  Register for THE MURPH CHALLENGE at TheMurphChallenge.com

Though we might not have believed there could be another lone survivor story, we bring David Eckermann of the Houston Fire Department into the TNQ Podcast Studio. David survived one of the largest, most unpredictable fires in HFD history. The Southwest Inn fire in Houston, Texas on May 31, 2013, was a fire in a restaurant that spread to an adjoining hotel. The fire claimed the biggest casualty loss for the Houston Fire Department since its inception.  David speaks publicly about this harrowing day for the first time to discuss the stigmas around mental health in the first responder community and to honor the lives of his fellow firefighters.     His experience that day sparked the development of his company, Lone Star Tactical Buildings, providing fire and police training facilities nationwide.   In this episode you will hear:   I had no idea I wanted to be a firefighter, but thankfully it was supposed to happen. It was meant to be. If you’re gonna be a fireman, you’re never gonna be rich. Besides getting married, graduating from the fire academy was the best day of my life. I’ve always been a faithful guy, but after my friend’s suicide, I questioned it.  When we went into the building, the smoke didn’t match what I was expecting. The building collapse was totally unexpected. It catapulted us out the front. I was the only one alive from the first companies.   Those firefighters went out like heroes. This episode is in memory of Robert Bebee, Robert Garner, Matthew Renaud, Anne Sullivan, and Captain Bill Dowling. 

Is it possible to develop an idea birthed in bodybuilding and powerlifting, and create a health, nutrition, and strength company as well as the highly popular RP app? If you’re Nick Shaw, the answer is a resounding yes. Nick is the founder and CEO of Renaissance Periodization and has sold hundreds of thousands of books on nutrition, training, recovery, and creating healthy habits.  Nick is a former competitive powerlifter and bodybuilder and has also personally coached numerous world-class athletes, including CrossFit Games Champions, international medalists, Olympians, UFC fighters, professional athletes, and Navy SEALs.  He is a co-host of the RP Strength podcast with wife - and RP colleague - Lori Shaw. Nick, Marcus, and Morgan bring a very interesting and informative discussion about the complexities and “I can use it now” strategies for strength and nutrition.   In this episode you will hear:   I’m an accidental entrepreneur. If you just bust your ass and get after it, you can get better. In fitness or sports, there's always a little bit more, you can do. You can get a little bit faster, you can get a little bit stronger, you can do a few more reps, whatever it is, you can grow a little more muscle. I thought: What if we take people with elite genetics, and then combine the scientific approach? You could probably have some pretty cool athletes. You have to nail the calorie balance first. Stop snacking, just start eating lean proteins with every meal - more fruits and veggies, your healthy fats, avocados, olive oil, things like that. Calorie balance is the number one overall thing. You can give somebody the perfect diet, but if they're never going to follow it, is it any good? It’s not a diet. It’s more of a lifestyle. You can't out-train a bad diet. Be prepared to work your tail off. My wife's a warrior. She’s way stronger than me. 2020 was such a crappy year for so many people, and I knew there was going to be a way to help people. Instead of trying to compete for little plastic trophies, it's better to prioritize family. You can learn so much from really successful people.

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 inventions 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 a 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. 

In this week’s episode, Marcus and Amber Capone continue sharing their fascinating journey and offer much detail on finding a solution to Marcus’ struggles affecting their whole family. Finally – after Amber’s relentless research - a ray of hope arrives in the form of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Marcus and Amber transparently discuss the steps it took to get the help, and a detailed narrative of the treatment and its incredible effects and psychiatric benefits. It was this revelation that caused them to develop the VETS foundation – helping combat veterans get life-saving help. They have now assisted hundreds of vets providing the resources for the therapy and improving the quality of life for them and their families as well.   In this episode you will hear:   I almost craved going back to the dysfunction because I knew how to live in the dysfunction.  I never wanted to quit [our marriage]. The treatment saved his life, and saved our family. Micro doses of Ibogaine are physiologically changing the brain in a positive direction.  Several of the men that have been treated come out never wanting to touch alcohol again. It’s like having a backpack on loaded with hundreds of bricks. And as you go through the [treatment] journey, it’s like bricks are being thrown out. At the end of it, you have an empty backpack. You face the demons, then they go away. You’re cleansing yourself. Some of what you experience is dream-like, while other experiences are real. Everyone is reporting massive cognitive improvement. Amber: I was like “What just happened?” I was so grateful. If we don’t speak out; if we don’t find the courage and conviction to share something that could work; then we’re really doing a disservice to the community. I attained a level of awareness and grace over the course of years as I was working on myself. Psychedelics take you there almost overnight.

Here’s a real couple with a real family – and real personal issues - that have overcome with the help of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy alternatives. Marcus and Amber Capone share their struggles and successes, bringing hope and restoration to others with seemingly impossible mental struggles. Their non-profit organization – VETS – provides the resources, research, and advocacy to improve the quality of life for U.S. Special Operations Combat Veterans seeking unconventional therapy alternatives.   In this episode you will hear:   Thank goodness we didn’t have internet in college. You can’t get away with anything. We really can’t take credit for the work we’re doing [helping other combat vets]; it seems like it’s just happening. It’s meant to be. We’re just vessels helping it [our non-profit] come to life. It’s been an honor & a privilege to pay this forward. Marcus [Capone] watched GI Jane and decided to become a Navy SEAL. Amber: My dad is a big part of how resilient I’ve been. Marcus Capone to Marcus Luttrell: I was the first person you saw [in Germany after your Operation Red Wing injuries].    A surprised Marcus Luttrell: “THAT WAS YOU???!!!”   We were deployed, and we couldn’t find out about anything going on. We were getting updates from our wives back in the states. What we’ve been doing [our non-profit organization] has organically grown. 2008 was a particularly tough year. At every deployment, somebody wasn’t coming home.

What an encouraging and powerful testimony Marc Little brings to the table in this week’s Team Never Quit episode. Having been shot in the right leg as part of a gang initiation, and dealing with resulting complications and infections, Marc’s leg had to be amputated. Since defeat is not part of Marc’s mentality, he said “yes” to life and lives life to the fullest. Now through his work as a lawyer, author, entrepreneur and community builder, he teaches others how to say “yes” to life as well.   In this episode you will hear:   Don’t give up, because the next try may be the try that leads to success. This is a life worth living. God gives us a story for a reason. He gives us a story so that we can help a neighbor.  We’re all going thru a tough season, but God is in it A peanut butter and jelly sandwich has to be done right. You have to have white Wonder Bread, and you gotta have creamy Jiff or Skippy peanut butter, with grape jelly. From the time I was shot and the time that the ambulance came, life was literally leaving me. It was clear that I had a choice, and I decided to stay. The difficulty of being a dad with a 6-year-old child, and not being able to run with him, has become part of who I am. I claim victory because I now know that tomorrow is not promised. Everybody has to lean on God because this journey is not easy. Life is not about us – it’s about what we can do for the kingdom. Many of us are struggling, because we’re not understanding who we are – whose we are. [God] connects our calling to who and what He is. So many people today are just sitting and watching. We have a role to play today. A role to shine the light of Christ. We are not lost – have faith. God has not left us. He will never forsake us. The church is anemic because they don’t understand their calling. All of our experiences are intended to bring us closer to the creator. After 4 years of never giving up – never quitting I decided I’m picking up the pieces of my life, and you’re not gonna tell me I can’t do it. It may not be right now, but the victory is coming. When the righteous are in power the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people moan. We are called to pray over our leaders and elect Godly leaders over us. When u are pushing back against darkness you are taking back ground of the enemy. When we are being mocked for praying, that is evidence that we are taking back ground that was lost.  The Lord has a special way of giving you what He wants you to have. God sees you – and He has something for you. Start your family and let the Lord bless you – Don’t wait. Never quit in trying to start a family. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel!

What do you do when you witness a Chinook helicopter with 31 guys you know get shot out of the sky by an RPG, enter into spiraling depression, fail your team, as well as yourself, and then experience a horrible accident that causes you to lose your hand and forearm?   In Aaron Kendle's case, who refuses to be defined by failures, you pick yourself up, and lean on a never quit mindset to live life to its fullest, and achieve an incredible life.   Mr. Kendle is a retired Navy SEAL where he served as a specialized medic, sniper, airborne leader, and jump school instructor. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, a father, a husband and a Scottsdale Charro. Mr. Kendle is a decorated member of the United States Navy, served as a member of SEAL Team 7, NSWG-1 Training Detachment, and Naval Special Warfare Development over a 15-year career and has dedicated his post-military professional career to helping his fellow brothers in arms transition back into civilian life. Aaron comments: “My resume may read great — but what they don’t see is all of those fails between the lines. For me, those failures stay between the lines.”   In this episode you will hear:   Obstacles and failures aren't your defining moments. It's everything that comes after that you grow from. A major physical injury doesn't define you. When major things change your life in the physical, figure out ways to do things the best you can. Make every day better than the day before. You can dwell on how great Plan A would've been. But when Plan A fails, you gotta come up with a plan B. Never leave a human hand in the freezer of your hotel room, where the cleaning staff can find it. After a devastating accident, the prevailing thought should be “I'm alive”. Terrible occurrences in your life can actually be used to give others, who are in despair, hope, and encouragement. Perspective, attitude and determination go a long way in life. There's a lot more to life. You just gotta figure out what it is. You don't get any better than the SEALS mentorship program. Everything we accomplish in life is based on failures. Pain and suffering unites us all. If there's one thing I think we're good at is stuffing emotions. Watching a Chinook helicopter with 31 guys you know get shot out of the sky with an RPG, is like watching a horror movie.

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 is 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.”

In a heart-wrenching testimony of tragedy and perseverance, country singer/songwriter Granger Smith recounts the horrific event that took his 3 year old son from this earthly life. He and his wife Amber used their life-changing experience to learn the hard way – the path to overcoming, endurance, and life-giving counsel and encouragement to others. Amber is the founder of Yee Yee, an American lifestyle brand of clothing.   In this episode you will hear:   • After being invited to appear on Granger’s first video, Amber didn’t know if they might take her out in the middle of nowhere and murder her.   • There’s more to the meaning of a tragedy than reason because reason doesn’t always make sense.   • What can we learn from [River’s] one thousand days?   • After facing death, it opens your eyes as to what truly matters.   • Another day forward is so valuable. What about today? Today is what we have. Even if you can deal with today, deal with this hour. If you can’t deal with this hour, deal with the next minute. If you can’t deal with this minute, deal with the next breath. Pretty soon, there comes a perspective, and your brain becomes more clear.   • I hate five year plans.   • When we came home, our kids had written on the driveway with chalk,     “Welcome Home River.”   • [Musically], I know there’ll be some River stuff comin’   • Rivers organ donations saved two adults.   • You gotta take care of yourself. Wake up at the same time every day, brush your teeth and comb your hair.   • You’re not gonna have these days forever.   • I try not to think about why because that mental slide show plays over and over.   • “One more kiss”   [Amber] • I can’t think of the future, I need to focus on the now.   [Melanie] • There is a purpose for disaster. It’s not ever going to be understandable. It’s never going to be logical. 

If ever there was a man who exemplified what a first-class police officer is, it’s this week’s guest, Sam Bonilla. It’s refreshing to hear Sam’s view of police work, and the measures he takes to teach new recruits the discipline and self-sacrifice it takes to be such an officer. In his 34 years’ experience as a police officer in the Chicago area, Sam has become the Program Director for the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, a Master Firearms Instructor, and uses his extensive experience to benefit the relationship between civilians and police officers in his area of influence. Sam Bonilla also served as a U.S. Marine during the Gulf War and has been an attorney for over 16 years. It’s people like Sam that raise the bar in police work, community relations and raising the standard for new officers.   In this episode you will hear:   In our police department, we invite the community in our “home” to see exactly what we do, so it’s not a mystery. We introduce our police officers and the citizens learn we’re pretty normal. Our mission is to help. You don’t realize how bad an environment is when you grow up in that environment. Where you land is not necessarily where you’re going to end up. The Marine Corps is the first thing in my life I ever succeeded at. Never stop pushing for what you want, even if it sucks at the time. There are things you have to do to get to where you want to be. Your mission’s not over yet. You have to keep moving forward in your journey. Your experiences will eventually help you gravitate to the top. The only regret I have is not spending time with the family. Police officers are second-guessing themselves these days because of the way things are.   If we, as a profession, don’t adapt to society, we will never advance as a profession, and things will not get better. Police work is a profession that is self-sacrificing. You have to be willing to accept that. You can’t forget why you got into this profession. You don’t know how you’re changing someone’s life with just a smile. My calling is to focus on our civilians that are trying to learn more about the police and the recruits that are trying to be the police. Never stop serving. It’s your mission in life to keep going. 

In July 2018, 12 youth soccer players and their coach found themselves trapped 6 miles deep in a cave with no food or water and depleting oxygen. The rock formed maze became almost completely submerged as the water rose to levels nearly impossible for survival. There was no light and no way to communicate with the outside world. The first season of Wondery’s new original series Against the Odds takes you into the incredible events of when an adventurous group of teens found themselves fighting to save their lives, and the brave heroes that gave them their only chance at survival. Though you may know these stories, you’ve never heard them quite like this. With step by step recounts, experience for yourself what it was like to be in their shoes, and how they survived against the odds. Listen to Against the Odds at wondery.fm/teamneverquitATO. 

What an emotional and incredible visit we have in store this week with special guest, Taya Kyle, widow of US Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. She is an author, political commentator, mother, and military veteran's family activist.   Taya speaks openly about her life with Chris Kyle, her heart-wrenching experiences, powerful dreams, and a strong faith which has helped keep her moving forward in life with positivity since Chris’s death. She is nothing shy of an astonishing woman – an inspiration to all.   In this episode you will hear:   I’m really been surprised at how horrible some things have been along the way, yet I realize that I’m happy that I got to experience them and get them out of the way. Now I am who I am and I’ve learned a lot. The joy with [Chris] and the way he was able to love is extraordinary to me still. I don’t know of another man who loves the way [Chris] loved. [Chris] was a game-changer, and he was the person I changed for. There’s nobody else that is the right mix of things to make me see how it could be better. It’s different when you really love somebody and you’re ready to have your soul forged. [Chris] had an all-encompassing gentleness. It was like a spirit that wraps you up and says “you are cared for.” Even after [Chris] died I could feel that he was still lifting me up. Tragedy becomes part of your story. We have the opportunity to turn losing friends into an appreciation of every minute we do have. I feel good to have absorbed as much as I did, but when they go, it’s never enough. Some people have a need to put their feelings into anger because when you’re angry you don’t have to feel hurt. It says more about them than you. I’ll be a lifelong learner. I’ve changed in that [Chris’s] death doesn’t define me or take me out of the game. God will heal me in time.