Team Never Quit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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