Team Never Quit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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