Team Never Quit

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/