Team Never Quit

This week we catch up with Zach Even-Esh, a physical powerhouse of a human being. Zach has an amazing reputation in the world of fitness, strength, and conditioning. While Zach himself has been training non-stop since 1989, he has also trained thousands of athletes - from the youth level to the college level; from military personnel to the Olympic level, and has inspired countless athletes around the world to achieve greater success in both sports and life. In this episode you will hear: I get to help kids change their lives. You want to have the horsepower of a Ferrari, with the grinding strength of a tow truck. Strength and condition is just a vehicle for changing lives – especially of our youth. Kids sometimes need time to turn the corner. Not every kid has the attitude that can he run through a brick wall. You never know when a kid’s gonna change. He could be a train wreck for two or three years, then he turns it around and he’s your star. You never know – that’s why you can never give up on a kid. If there’s a never a challenge – or you wait too long to challenge a kid, then it’s completely foreign territory for them. The work is the gift. You should be chasing that work – not avoiding it. If you think you’re having a bad take day, take the focus of off of you. Make the person next to you better. For people to have a breakthrough, they must have a breakdown. It has to be hard – not stupid – it has to be tough. Training has to be hard. The “we”, not the “me” mentally is the game-changer. You need great team mates. To start a basic fitness effort, start by walking – we can all do it. If you make one change, you’re at 100% past zero. Don’t beat yourself up. Just get better. Accountability to somebody else changes everything. Perfection never happens. There’s beauty in the imperfection. You gotta fall in love with the process, vs the end result. With fitness & health, there’s never really an arriving point. When you achieve something, go and work at the next thing. One of the best thing you can do for yourself, is be healthy and strong. One of the most important tricks is – don’t follow the fads or gimmicks. I was taught that to be normal was to be strong. You don’t have to like it. You just have to do it. The biggest thing is to see the emotional/Internal change people experience through hard training.

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

Ever wonder what happens when the fight is over and a soldier puts his rifle down for the last time?  In this episode, you'll hear the story of Jake Wood, a Marine who now doesn't just serve his country, but serves his fellow man throughout the world when disaster strikes. The co-founder of Team Rubicon, a non-profit organization made up of over 100,000 ex-military volunteers who travel to assist wherever disasters occur, shares his desire to make the world a better place by never quitting his service. Hear his viewpoint on how things aren't always hunky-dory and what to do when there is no playbook.  You'll soon find yourself wanting to restore your sense of purpose and be a part of something bigger than yourself.

In today’s podcast, we are excited to bring you Ryan Manion - an incredible woman who has dedicated her life to supporting our nation’s military, veterans, and families of fallen heroes. She is inspired by the character, leadership, and sacrifice of her brother 1st Lt. Travis Manion, USMC, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Al Anbar province of Iraq while drawing fire away from his wounded comrades on April 29th, 2007. Drawing on her personal experiences, Ryan inspires us to become the best versions of ourselves, while also serving the greater good. She has created a culture of servant leadership in her company and community, and her approach to personal thriving demonstrates how strong relationships and service to one another promotes personal well-being and leads to collective success. Ryan has learned that personal thriving is a by-product of personal challenges. She inspires us to meet challenges head-on, and perform at our highest potential by harnessing our innate abilities and character strengths. Ryan’s book – The Knock at The Door – was co-written with two other Gold Star women, linked forever by their unimaginable losses. They share their inspiring, unlikely journey that began on the worst day of their lives. Support the show.

In this Best of TNQ Podcast episode we here the compelling, emotional series of events Tiggs has endured. From a four-year old daughter with a massive brain tumor and multiple surgeries; a husband battling PTSD and falling into the darkest mental places, to having one of her best friends of her lifetime pass away, Tiggs gives a riveting account of how her friends supported her and her family, and how her relationship with God brought healing in the worst of circumstances anyone could ever imagine.

Joe Torillo recounts his first-hand experience as a firefighter on September 11, 2001. Joe was directly below the North Tower looking up as the second commercial airliner slammed into it. What transpired in the next few seconds, minutes, hours, and days are nothing shy of unbelievable. He was propelled in the air by the concussion of the falling debris of the North Tower and was literally buried alive under the falling debris, with his skull open, arm snapped and suffocating in darkness. He was rescued and placed in a boat to cross over the Hudson River for medical treatment. That effort was disrupted by falling building debris that covered the boat, where he was buried alive again. Joe’s story is a gripping account of a series of miracles that kept him alive, while hundreds of others suffered a different fate. You won't want to miss this interview as we remember September 11th, 2001.

What an emotional and heartfelt visit we have in store this week with special guest, Taya Kyle, widow of US Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. She is an author, political commentator, mother, and military veterans family activist. Taya speaks openly about her life with Chris Kyle, her heart-wrenching experiences, powerful dreams, and a strong faith which has helped keep her moving forward in life with positivity since Chris’ death. She is nothing shy of an amazing woman – an inspiration to all.

3 brilliant minds. 3 difference-makers. These 3 never-quit individuals have come together using unconventional ways to study and understand the human brain and how to apply supercomputers, data, and other innovative technologies to develop advancements in brain treatments. From the electrical properties of the brain, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, and polypharmacy, these individuals have teamed up to influence government decision-makers in developing multi-department data sharing to bring healing, treatments, and to improve the lives of their fellow man.

There are events and circumstances in life that catch us by surprise, knock us down, and hand us seemingly overwhelming adversity. JJ Watt explains how, and more importantly why he was able to “get back on the horse” and move forward in life after a season-ending injury, remaking himself to an amazing degree by relentlessly working on being the best. His inspiring attitude towards life, and his never quit mentality, has paid handsome dividends. JJ describes his upbringing, his family, his college and professional football pinnacles and downfalls. His successes have prompted him to give back to the community in a myriad of areas, making him one of the most loved and recognizable names in Houston and throughout the country. Support the show.

Imagine being a normal kid for eleven years and then due to an unbelievable rare condition, spending the next four years of your life literally trapped inside your own body inside a hospital, unable to communicate with the outside world, suffering through non-stop seizures, while your condition worsens and the doctors offer no sliver of hope to your family...all the while you're still lucid in mind and spirit, desperately trying to get back to the life you once knew. At the age of eleven, Victoria Arlen developed two rare conditions known as Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, which rendered her “locked” within herself. She went from being a completely healthy, normal kid to a complete vegetable in three months. She lost the ability to walk, talk, move, and function. Everything began to shut down, including all of her cognitive abilities. Victoria Arlen not only suffered and survived through this unbelievable battle but has gone far beyond the norm to thrive and has mastered the “never quit” attitude to fuel her extraordinary accomplishments. She is a current television personality for ESPN, as well as an actress, speaker, model, and World-record setting Paralympian swimmer.