Team Never Quit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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