Ephraim Mattos: Navy SEAL to Frontline Humanitarian—Risking It All to Aid Civilians in War Zones

From Combat to Community: The Legacy of James Lorraine In this week’s Team Never Quit episode, Marcus and Melanie welcome James Lorraine, a distinguished veteran with over 22 years of service in the U.S. Air Force as a flight nurse and military operations leader. Jim's extensive career spans multiple combat zones, and upon retirement, he became a trailblazer in veteran advocacy, founding the United States Special Operations Command Care Coalition—a gold standard organization serving over 8,000 special operations forces members and their families. Following his government service, Jim established America’s Warrior Partnership, an organization impacting the lives of over 60,000 veterans by enhancing their quality of life, reducing homelessness, and improving access to critical services.  James Lorraine’s Notable Achievements: • Bronze Star Medal and Secretary of Defense Outstanding Civilian Medal recipient. • Founding Director of the U.S. Special Operations Command Care Coalition and America’s Warrior Partnership. • 2015 Presidential Leadership Scholar and active member of various veteran advisory committees. Join us for an inspiring conversation that sheds light on the unwavering spirit of our veterans and the vital role of community in their journey to find purpose post-service. In This Episode You Will Hear: • I’d wake up at 5am, throw my hockey equipment on, and walk in below freezing weather, like about ½ mile to the ice rink for practice at 5:30am. Practice until 7am, then from there, with my hockey bag, I’d go to school, all sweaty and nasty, and when I was finished, I’d go back to the hockey rink. (4:31) • When I was getting recruited to go into the Air Force reserve, I was in a terrible car accident, and I amputated my left foot.  And through a series of miraculous events, the next morning I woke up – best sight I ever had in my life. I woke up, looked down; I had sheets over my legs, and there were two points. (9:52) • I went to the recruiter to join the Air Force, and realized I was color blind. I couldn’t fly but I had a nursing degree. They had flight nurses, and you can fly in the back of the plane. • The drive is: “I want to serve.” (12:10) • On the 4th of July, I make my kids read the constitution. (23:44) • [Marcus: Medical Training on live animals] That was the best training. Every time I had to work on a human, it was actually easier [because of it]. (27:06) • [When they attempted to reassign me] my response was “You made the hardest decision of my life the easiest. I’m out.” (30:29) • [Melanie] “When you have your mind, you can do anything.” (37:08) • Everything you did Monday thru Friday prepares you for the following Monday. (37:16) • I went thru a lot of shit, I went through things I should have never done. So how has that made me better? Don’t look at it as “I’m disabled” How does that make you better? (37:29) • All these experiences led me to found the Care Coalition. (37:49) • I’m a stalker on Social Media. I don’t post a lot, but I watch. I’m friends with most of the real high risk [people] – because I started to watch their social media. (44:28) • I have a friend that has a text train with his platoon. No suicides. They all stay in touch. (48:01) • If you say to somebody: “I have your back. No matter what happens to you. You’re gonna get thru this. I’m here with you. I think this is why we were successful at the Care Coalition. (50:04) When I talk to and help folks, I’ll ask: “Where do you want to be in 5 years? If they can’t tell me where they want to be in 5 years, and can only tell me where they want to be tomorrow, that is a huge red flag for me. (50:22) • I think the biggest thing you can do is give a shit. (51:49) • I’m not gonna sit back and watch something. I’m gonna take action. (52:01) • Our approach is: Go find the vets; Connect; educate them about opportunities they have to improve their quality of life; and advocate for them when the hit a roadblock. Own the relationship – don’t own the service. (55:00) • The last bar fight I ever got in was with Chris [Kyle]. (56:40) • There’s a lot of people who try to do what they can do, but they don’t have the background and expertise to handle it. (58:42) • What we offer at America’s Warrior partnership is a group of social workers that are freaking experts at this. (58:49)  Socials:  -  https://www.americaswarriorpartnership.org/ - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - GoodRX.com/TNQ   -  kalshi.com/TNQ    - PXG.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

Courage and Sacrifice: SEAL Team 10 and Operation Red Wings with Ben Souders In this week’s episode, Marcus and Melanie are honored to sit down with former Navy SEAL Ben Souders, who served on SEAL Team 10 during one of the most challenging and heroic moments in modern military history—Operation Redwing. Ben takes us through his incredible journey as a Navy SEAL, sharing stories from his time in Afghanistan and reflecting on the courage and sacrifice of his teammates. We dive deep into the challenges faced on the battlefield, and how experiences like Operation Redwing shaped his outlook on life and leadership. Ben reflects on the bravery of fallen teammates, including Marcus’ account in Lone Survivor. He also shares about his life after service - the transition from active duty to civilian life. Tune in to hear Ben’s firsthand account of courage, brotherhood, and the lessons he learned during his time as a Navy SEAL. Ben also shares some of his personal journal notes with the listening audience as well. This is an episode you won’t want to miss! In This Episode You Will Hear: • [Michael Murphy] was well respected. He and a couple of officers everybody loved. (15:30) • The physical part [of BUDS] was the hardest for me. I never thought I would quit, but I didn’t know if I would make it. I asked the Lord, “If you want me to do this, show me a sign.” And He did. I saw a Trident up in the sky. (18:12) • I wanted to go to SEAL team 4 because of watching all the Vietnam documentaries. (27:06) • They were passing out a paper and everybody had to write down why you joined, and I wrote “Patriotism.” (31:20) • I’ll tell you somebody else that doesn’t get recognition – divers. (38:49) • I was wanting to go to Afghanistan more so than Iraq just because I was never really interested in the urban-style of combat. (38:49) • Team 10 was really cool. (41:06) • [Danny Dietz] was a good guy from the start. When I first showed up, he always went around without a shirt. He was ripped like Bruce Lee. (43:09) • [Danny Dietz] was always trying to mentor, no matter who they were. • [Melanie] Q: How many people in a bee hut? A: 6 maximum. They were like mini chicken coops. (46:06) • I hated wearing body armor. (48:59) • Excerpt from Ben’s “Green Book:” I’m tired of all this so-called professionalism crap. I can’t wait to get out – be my own man instead of a peasant in the military. (59:31) • How were we that close to one another when we were only there a couple of months? Just sitting around the fire talking. (78:42) Socials: - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - GoodRX.com/TNQ   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]    - PXG.com/TNQ   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

From Navy SEAL to AI Innovator: Protecting Kids Online with Josh Thurman In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus and Melanie sit down with Navy SEAL veteran and tech entrepreneur Josh Thurman. As the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Angel Kids AI, Josh is at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to create a safer, age-appropriate internet experience for children. Josh shares insights into his 12+ years of service as a SEAL officer, where he completed 11 overseas deployments in support of the Global War on Terror and was awarded three Bronze Stars, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Two Joint Commendation Medals, Three Navy Commendation Medals, a Navy Achievement Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, and a Joint Meritorious Unit Award as well as multiple combat and valorous distinctions. Following his transition to civilian life in 2018, Josh applied the leadership and problem-solving skills he honed in the military to the tech world. His groundbreaking platform, Angel Kids AI, empowers parents to protect their children online by enforcing parental guidelines across the digital landscape. In this episode, Josh talks about the challenges of building a tech startup, the future of AI in safeguarding children, and his personal journey from the battlefield to the boardroom. Tune in to hear about his incredible story, the vision behind Angel Kids AI, and how he’s making the internet a safer place for kids. In This Episode You Will Hear: • Riding my bike home; car doesn’t see me. Pulls out and we crash at 20 mph. I fly over the hood, my right leg hits, immense pain. I had broken my hip. But now I’m starting to think about the military. I crutch my way to the recruiter’s office. • Every generation, since the beginning of America has fought to preserve our freedom. • [Marcus] When you’re checking into BUDS, check in on Friday after 4:30pm.  • Always choose the hard things because even if you fail, you’re gonna learn a ton. • Things are gonna hit you in life that you have almost no control over, and you’re gonna want to have those experiences that you build up doing the things you chose to be hard, so you can survive those moments. • My wife’s a nurse practitioner, she’s tracking the baby on the Doppler. As she’s laboring, our son passes away. Been through all this stuff: Training, deployments… I’m grateful for those things, because they all sort of prepared me for this thing that happened in life that I had no control over. •There’s suffering to be dealt with and that loss – you’ve gotta get through it, assigning meaning to that suffering. I’m not suffering for nothing, I’m suffering for something. • [Marcus] A lot of times, you just go though it with them, and not talk ‘em through it. • Recognize that God gives us that pain to keep us close to that person so that we don’t forget ‘em. • I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. In many ways, I wanted to serve as long as I could, as hard as I could, but I knew on the other side this is what I wanted to do. • You may have thousands of followers on whatever platform it, but do you have someone you can call to move a couch? • Social media is a democracy killing force. It wields way too much power in our lives. • Technology should be a tool to help us fulfill the dreams of our lives. It’s totally inverted right now. • AI has been working for big tech, it serves their purposes. It serves up products to advertisers. This is the big machine. Frankly, we’re getting played by it. • If you want this incredible thing called America to persist, you’ve gotta be part of the solution. • We’re all getting played, and the house always wins. • There’s value in getting information, organizing, shopping, people finding love on line. But it shouldn’t be massively destructive. • Kids have access to this online virtual world all the time that’s terrible for their mental health. It’s teaching them that the most important things in life is how many likes and followers you get. • The surgeon general put out a warning: If kids are spending 3 or more hours on social media, they’re 50% more likely to be depressed. • At Angel Kids, our mission is to use AI to make the internet safe for kids.  Socials: - IG: jpthurman        - https://www.angelkids.ai/ - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - Tonal.com [TNQ]    - PXG.com/TNQ    - GoodRX.com/TNQ   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

From Navy SEAL to Humanitarian: Ephraim Mattos on Courage, Sacrifice, and Saving Lives in War Zones. In this powerful episode, Marcus and Melanie meet with Ephraim Mattos, a former US Navy SEAL and founder of Stronghold Rescue & Relief. After leaving the SEAL teams in 2017 at the age of 24, Ephraim made a bold decision: instead of returning home, he volunteered on the front lines of the war against ISIS in Mosul, Iraq. His experiences there would change him forever. Ephraim shares harrowing details from his time with the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian group that provides aid to civilians in war zones. He recounts the unimaginable horrors he witnessed, from civilians fleeing the brutality of ISIS to the daring rescue missions he and his team conducted under constant enemy fire. One of these missions, during which Ephraim was shot while rescuing a young Iraqi girl, exemplifies the courage and sacrifice required to save lives in the most dangerous places on Earth. We dive deep into Ephraim's personal journey, chronicled in his book City of Death: Humanitarian Warriors in the Battle of Mosul, coauthored with American Sniper writer Scott McEwen. The conversation explores what it's like to face death on a daily basis and how Ephraim and his fellow volunteers embodied the credo: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." In this episode, Ephraim reflects on the emotional and physical scars of war, his recovery from his gunshot wound, and his unwavering commitment to helping those in need, even in the most perilous conditions. His stories of bravery, resilience, and humanity will leave you speechless. In This Episode You Will Hear: • Probably the biggest thing I learned in training that applies to everyday life is when things go really, really bad, one of the best ways of dealing with it, and actually pushing through is to laugh at it. (1:29) • I had my finger on the trigger. I had pressure on the trigger, just waiting for them to come out so I could get a body shot, and 2 heads pop out. It turns out it’s two little girls. One was maybe ten; the other may five or six. They were weeping, crying, and they were running straight at me. And they were both wearing backpacks just like the backpacks that are just like the backpacks we just blew up an hour earlier. And they’re running straight at me. (25:22) • I was in a firefight in Iraq, technically before my last day in the Navy. (29:19) • [The Iraqi army] They weren’t super organized , or marksmanship, but as far as their courage and willingness to go toe to toe with ISIS, and I watched multiple time – an Iraqi tank would drive up, get blown up by an ISIS car bomb. And they would keep going. (31:25) • We assist every way we can, and we build relationships, by showing them we care, we’re here to help, we’re not crazy, we’re not her to get in a gunfight. We just want to help you. (33:43) • We provide frontline mentorship for active security threats. If a tribe is facing genocide, we’ll advise them on how to best use the resources they already have. (34:09) • There’s a certain level of evil that people just don’t see or understand. They don’t understand a military unit would go into a village and just slaughter everybody. (36:06) • For people who actually care, what do you do? How do you help? (42:48) • If you care about what’s going on in these conflicts, find multiple organizations that you like and give a little bit so several of them. You can make an impact, without having to take all the risk. (43:50) • 99.9 percent of our job is logistics, medical care, training medical care, suffering in the jungle. Yes, you’re armed, but you’re not there to get your rocks off. (48:11) • We bring in primarily guys with medic training. We don’t bring in full-fledged doctors because the kind of stuff we’re dealing with is emergency care – people stepping on land mines or getting shot. (50:38) • A couple of American missionaries were killed in Haiti. Stuff like that happens all the time. Nobody hears about it. It gets instantly buried under celebrity gossip and such. (53:19) Socials: - IG:  Strongholdrescue.org        - overwatch.co - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - Tonal.com [TNQ]    - PXG.com/TNQ    - GoodRX.com/TNQ   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

A Lifeline for Babies in Crisis – Featuring Monica Kelsey In this powerful episode, Marcus and Melanie sit down with Monica Kelsey, founder and Executive Director of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing infant abandonment by providing mothers in crisis a safe, legal, and anonymous option to surrender their newborns. Monica’s journey is deeply personal. Born after her teenage mother was raped and hidden away during pregnancy, Monica was abandoned at birth. Her life story has fueled her passion to advocate for infants like herself and to create compassionate solutions for birth mothers who face unthinkable challenges. Through Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Monica is on a mission to ensure that no child is abandoned unsafely, and no mother is left without options. We also explore Monica's role as a firefighter and paramedic, where she has firsthand experience with the life-saving impact of Safe Haven laws. Her dedication to working with first responders has been crucial in creating awareness and ensuring these boxes are accessible nationwide. Tune in as Monica shares her inspiring story, the incredible work her organization is doing, and how Safe Haven Baby Boxes are making a difference—one life at a time. In This Episode You Will Hear: • I grew up adopted, but I never knew the back story. (4:36) • I joined [the U.S. Navy] and got my love for firefighting there. (5:40) • I never longed for love. (6:35) • I just called [my biological mother] and she says “I’ve been waiting for your call.” (9:30) • I always wanted that connection of “Hey, she does that, and I do that.” (10:31) • The question comes up: “Who’s my biological father?” And she just got up and walked out. (11:34) • If abortion was available in 1972, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today. (12:30) • I had to come to grips with the fact that I was whisked into this world by violence, and then thrown away like trash. (14:03) • I had to go back to my faith because I had stumbled away from it.(14:10) • The more I started reading scripture, the more it started pointing to my life. (14:24) • Controversy is horrible around the baby boxes. (19:23) • We launched the very first baby box in April; 30 days later our son was in a deadly accident. (20:26) • [Melanie] The thought of putting a baby in a box is crazy; but the box of putting a baby in a dumpster is crazier. (25:29)  Socials: - IG:  https://www.instagram.com/safehavenbabyboxes/        - https://www.shbb.org/         - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5PQX9JG5U3gSwcIAciYCPQ        - https://www.tiktok.com/@safehavenbabyboxes?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - Tonal.com [TNQ]    - PXG.com/TNQ    - GoodRX.com/TNQ   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

From Navy SEAL to Private Contractor: The Journey of Daniel Corbett In this gripping episode, Marcus and Melanie sit down with Daniel Corbett, a former elite Navy SEAL operator turned private military contractor. Daniel takes us through his fascinating journey from joining the Navy in 2002, right out of high school, to serving in some of the most renowned and secretive SEAL Teams, including SEAL Team 5, SEAL Team 6, and SEAL Team 17. Hear about his deployment to Iraq in 2005, his global missions with SEAL Team 6, and his experiences instructing the next generation of SEALs at the Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command. We also delve into Daniel's transition from active duty to private military contracting—a world where high-stakes missions take on new meaning. Daniel shares the story of his 2017 arrest in Belgrade, Serbia, where he was imprisoned for eighteen months. Now back in the States, Daniel continues to apply his expertise in unconventional problem-solving for clients in need of unique solutions. Whether he’s monitoring international events or getting unexpected phone calls, Daniel’s post-military career is anything but ordinary. Tune in for an inside look at one of the most high-stakes careers on the planet, and hear firsthand what it takes to thrive as a SEAL, contractor, and global problem-solver. In This Episode You Will Hear: • [Growing up] We lived in Germany. My dad was stationed there. We’d just drive around and see castles. It was cool. (3:06) • What got me [to join the SEAL teams] is that they interviewed one operator, and he goes “What makes you guys so good?” The team guy responded with: “It’s not that we’re that good, it’s just that everybody else sucks.” (6:35) • [Marcus] Q: What do you think the best job in the SEAL teams is? Best rank. [Daniel} A: E5 Mafia. Cause you have some power, but you’re not responsible for shit. (9:47) • I was a triathlete and cross-country runner. (13:39) • [Marcus] There’s a thing that we don’t talk about. It’s not in the books or the documentaries. You sign up knowing you’re gonna fail all the time, so naturally, you wanna be a shit bag. (18:16) • I’m the man at weddings, because I do bring my sewing kit. Buttons? I got you. (23:55) • I was a young hot shot guy. I was at the squadron. It’s nice, but nothing has ever compared to when I had a Platoon OIC, LPO or chief come up and say “Hey, these kids you put through CPC, they’re awesome. You did a really good job.” (26:34) • I coined the terms: “Falsely Intuitive.” (29:18) • [Melanie – While escorting cargo ships] Q: What would you do if pirates did roll up on you? [Daniel] A: Get on the Bridgeway and take your iron sight, and try your best. (34:25) • In Belgrade, Serbia, I was arrested and locked up. I wasn’t charged for 11 months. I looked up, and there was a 21 year old kid with a gun pointed at my head, terrified. I could hear the magazine springs rattling with his finger on the trigger. And I’m like “After all the stuff I’ve done. Not like this.” (35:49) • When I was being interrogated, they asked: “You’re not CIA, DEA? You’re not here to kill the president?” (37:35) • I came home to $86,000 in debt to the IRS, and a credit score of 530. (43:28) • Love is the antagonist to fear. (46:12) • I know I’m loved. That’s really what got me through. (46:26) • There’s no responsible journalism anywhere anymore. (48:18) Socials: - IG:  american_mercenary        - www.danieldavidcorbettiii.com          - https://a.co/d/7XstytC  <------ (Get the book here) - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - Tonal.com [TNQ]    - PXG.com/TNQ    - GoodRX.com/TNQ   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

From Battlefield to Whitetails: The Journey of Bill Thompson & Spartan Forge In this Team Never Quit episode, Marcus and Meanie sit down with Bill Thompson, founder of Spartan Forge, to explore his incredible journey from serving on the frontlines to revolutionizing the way hunters pursue whitetails. Bill, who grew up in rural North Dakota, has always been passionate about the outdoors and hunting, especially the pursuit of mature whitetails with a bow. His 22 years of service in the military, particularly his time in Iraq, helped shape the foundation for Spartan Forge—a cutting-edge hunting app that applies military intelligence techniques to deer hunting. Bill shares how the concept for Spartan Forge came to him in 2010, inspired by the "Find, Fix, Finish" targeting cycle used in military operations. He realized the similarities between tracking enemy targets and pursuing trophy whitetails, and Spartan Forge was born out of this unique combination of experiences. Now, with Spartan Forge, hunters can automate the intelligence-gathering process to increase their chances of success in the field, no matter their goals. Tune in to hear Bill's story of how his love for hunting, combined with his military background, led to the creation of an invaluable tool for hunters everywhere. In This Episode You Will Hear: • I try to write poetry once in a while. I’m an engineer, and I was a soldier. I try to write poetry just to be more of a rounded person. (2:34) • I was in the Southern Philippines. One of the mayors was having a dinner. They were mourning the loss of their dog that this guy had forever. We ate the dog. (7:48) • I joined the military because I was trying to get out of North Dakota. (11:27) • Do the work, and then enjoy stuff later. (13:02) • I did signals intelligence and then transitioned into computers. Think of it as ethical hacking. (22:16) • I got to contribute to the targeting cycle in a real meaningful way. (26:38) • In the beginning, you may not be doing what you signed up for. And I didn’t for the first six years. But eventually I got to do everything and more than ever thought. (32:49) • The whole trajectory of my life and reason why I’m sitting here with you guys today is because I forgot my driver’s license. (38:15) • [Spartan Forge] it’s built around mapping. But it does journaling. We’ve got a feature in it called Blue Force Tracker where you can share pins and locations with your buddies. There’s a predictive artificial intelligence that does animal movement. (40:44) • My framework is: Are we embolding the autonomy of the individual? Are we giving them something that is actually useful at a price point that they can afford? Are we elevating the experience of the individual? (46:34) • That ability for people to be like “I can do this on my own”. I can do this. (59:46) • What are the elements that are gonna contribute to the success or the failure of this? Let’s identify every one of them. (67:56) • Strangeness of life can’t be explained. (75:42) • It’s much better to be a king-maker than it is to be a king. (81:08) • I’ve never been the smartest guy, I was never the most technically or tactically competent I was never anything. I can always recognize good people. (81:43) • It was my experience in the military, for me it was always a Puerto Rican platoon sergeant. (83:21) • I was a platoon sergeant, and then I became a warrant officer, because I wanted to focus on technical stuff. (83:59) Socials: - IG:  spartan.forge         - spartanforge.ai   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - Tonal.com [TNQ]    - PXG.com/TNQ    - GoodRX.com/TNQ   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

In this week’s Team Never Quit episode, Marcus and Melanie are thrilled to welcome Alex Bonamarte, a passionate entrepreneur, lifelong optimist, and father who lives by the principle of the Golden Rule. Alex wears many hats, from being a gentleman farmer to running the unique brand Firecracker Farm, where he is responsible for branding, marketing, web development, and daily operations. Firecracker Farm is home to the famous Hot Salt, a coarse sea salt infused with some of the world’s hottest peppers like Ghost, Carolina Reaper, and Scorpion. Tune in as Alex shares his journey of building this spicy empire, offering tips on entrepreneurship and his love for unique flavor experiences. Beyond the world of Hot Salt, Alex dives into his background in web and app development, design, and system design—skills that have played a crucial role in shaping his approach to business. As an active member of the Trading Tribe, Alex embraces continuous learning and collaboration, striving for growth and excellence in every area of life. Join us for an engaging conversation about fatherhood, the art of balancing business and personal life, and what it means to live optimistically while cultivating a brand that brings the heat! In This Episode You Will Hear: • My sister and I would travel back and forth to France – alone – which is kinda crazy. They’d put us on a plane doing layovers. I was 5 and she was 3. (7:09) • The most valuable thing I learned was to be able to just be who you are – take it or leave it.  (9:38) • I don’t quit, and I won’t fight unless I can win. (11:27) • People can do things of value from pretty much anywhere. (20:51) If you’re not a good man, you should probably try harder. (29:26) • [At the 9/11 scene] on the ground it did not look like what had happened. There was all sorts of glass and body parts, not from people on the plane, but from stuff that fell down. (35:01) • It wasn’t until the second impact people realized what was going on. (35:37) • The first people weren’t jumping intentionally. They were coming down like burning plastic – drip…1, 2,…1, 2, 3, 4. (36:52) • [Melanie] in the 9/11 museum, they have an exhibit on the jumpers .It’s one of those things that you don’t want to watch out of respect, and you do want to watch out of respect. The reason to watch is to understand the magnitude of what happened. (37:18) • [Marcus – After 9/11] No matter what you’re staring at – what kind of human it is looking at you – what they’re dressed in. It’s like “Hey brother, what’s up? You aight? Need something? The solidarity was amazing. (42:27) • Still there are lot of people who don’t like the American view of how things should be. (43:11) • [Melanie] it is important to remember, and it is important to teach the young generation. Or history will repeat itself if we forget and brush it under the rug. (44:28) • I’m a firm believer in our generation. (45:52) • Life is full of longshots. Everybody pick their longshot and go. (46:45) • I’ve always been a sucker for a nice, printed thing. (49:50) • [With regard to packaging my product] I think the whole experience makes it that much more satisfying. (51:05) • You have your own idea of what somebody else thinks because you never ask them. It’s such a weird thing that we live in our own heads, and if you just take the time to ask how you feel about this, and they will tell you. And you’re like “Holy shit. That was there the whole time?” (63:36) Socials: - IG:  ultrahotpeppers         - https://firecracker.farm/         - fathergoods   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - Tonal.com [TNQ]    - GoodRX.com/TNQ   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - PXG.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

In this week’s Team Never Quit episode, Marcus and Melanie sit down with Bedros Keuilian, a true embodiment of the American Dream. Born in Armenia, Bedros and his family fled communism to seek freedom and opportunity in the United States. From these humble beginnings, Bedros has become a highly successful American entrepreneur, demonstrating the power of determination and resilience. Bedros is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a hand in over a dozen industry-leading brands and businesses. He is the founder of Fit Body Boot Camp, a fitness franchise that has been recognized by Inc. Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the 100 fastest-growing franchise brands in the world. He is also the author of the Wall Street Journal Best Selling book "Man Up – How to Cut the BS and Dominate In Business and In Life." His work focuses on empowering individuals to eliminate excuses, take control of their lives, and achieve greatness. Bedros believes in the power of the human spirit and the potential that lies within each of us. Through his life story, Bedros aims to inspire people to break free from their limitations and realize their full potential. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Bedros Keuilian, where he shares his journey, insights, and strategies to help you get unstuck and achieve the success you’ve always dreamed of. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or someone looking to improve their life, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways that can help you reach your fullest potential! In This Episode You Will Hear: • In 1980 [my dad] bribed an official in the Soviet government to allow us to go on vacation to Italy, where we then went to the American consult. (11:08) • If [my dad] didn’t accept the privilege of being in the communist party, he’d be shipped off to Siberia. (11:38) • One time a rooster gave chase to me, and I’m like 4 or 5 years old, and this rooster is angry and` pecking at me, and I’m running. And the only place I could run into was the outhouse to get away from it. So I ran into the outhouse – a giant hole in the ground. While I’m in here, I’m gonna take a piss. And I squat over it, took my pants off, and I fall in. (18:40) • What my dad told me [America] was gonna be like – he kinda lied. (19:33) • I had a tight green sweatshirt with Herman Munster on it, and it said “Herman” underneath. And so they took me took school, and the kids started calling me Herman, and I answered to it. (21:06) • The life that he (my dad) gave by risking his life was huge. (26:13) • I’m a kid, and within the first year I learned the language, and I’m good to go. (26:53) • It was a horrible disease [Dementia] to have your mom not know your name. (28:40) • The way that disease kills you is it eats away at the part of the brain that controls your breathing. (33:31) • I remember a kid named Robby. He & I, behind a baseball backstop, we would try to dig a hole to China and we’d cover it up with twigs so no one would fill it in. (37:23) • I hated school. (38:44) • No good thing comes from being fat. I’m not body shaming. (45:06) • I believe that you can only love the people around you to the capacity that you can love yourself. (45:47) • My physical transformation going from fat to fit is how I got into fitness. (52:04) • [Marcus] Q: Boils down your success to one thing. What is that? Discipline? What are we talking about? [Bedros] A: Discipline and singularity of focus. (53:17) • I graduated because they didn’t want a man with a beard in high school. (54:30) • Confidence is built when you make a promise to yourself and keep it. (57:00) • Self-development metaphorically take the critic, duct tape him, gag him, and put him in the trunk. Then take the advocate ungag him, unbound him, put him in the front seat so you can hear him more often. (60:01) Socials: - IG:  bedroskeuilian         - https://bedroskeuilian.com/        - https://www.youtube.com/c/BedrosKeuilian      - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org          - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - GoodRX.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]    - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ    - Shopify.com/TNQ   - PXG.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ    - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ

Living the Dream, Facing the Nightmare: An Interview with Alan C. Mack This week's Team Never Quit guest is a decorated war hero and an extraordinary pilot whose military career spanned nearly 36 years, including 17 years in Army Special Operations. Alan C. Mack, a retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5), shares his incredible journey from a young man with a passion for flying to a highly respected leader in some of the most elite units of the U.S. military. Alan's expertise and leadership saw him involved in numerous high-stakes operations, many still classified. One of the most notable missions he discusses is the Battle of Takur Ghar, also known as the Battle of Roberts Ridge, during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. Alan's bravery and skill under fire, including crash-landing a helicopter and attempting multiple rescue missions under heavy enemy fire, highlight his exceptional courage. Alan's distinguished service has earned him numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars, ten Air Medals (one with a Valor device), and many more. His impressive flight record includes over 6,700 flight hours, with more than 3,200 hours under Night Vision Goggles. After retiring from the military, Alan continued to serve his community. He now works as the Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services for Orange County, New York, a role that he appreciates for its peaceful nature compared to his military experiences. Alan's story is one of resilience, dedication, and the pursuit of one's dreams. Despite the adversities and challenges faced in combat, his journey is a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome and find meaning in serving others. His life is an inspiration, showing that with determination and courage, it's possible to live out your dreams while also facing and conquering the nightmares. This episode will leave you both inspired and reflective. In This Episode You Will Hear: • The biggest cause of an air refueling incident is the grohe – it’s a big hose – you are actually only 19’ from rotors to tanker. (26:26) • [During air refueling] You’re doing 110-120mph over the water. (27:00) • I’ve done air refueling as low as 100’ off the coast of Iraq. (27:08) • I get a missile fired at me so now I drop down between buildings. I’m down on the rooftops and you know what’s in front of me? Kites. Hundreds and hundreds of kites. (34:10) • The older [Chinook helicopter] Delta models just had handheld maps. (43:34) • [During Operation Red Wings] I sat down with the A10’s and the AC130’s with my map and the imagery and said “I need you to either suppress or creative a diversion that’s so big no one could help but look. (50:15) • Crew Chiefs sometimes see things that aren’t there (and I hate to say it that way) but sometimes they’ll see lights of a car and think they’re seeing signal light signals. (53:28) • Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. (55:00) • My youngest son was a Night Stalker Flight Engineer, and my oldest son is a Navy F18 wizzo (back seater) He’s a Goose. (58:05) • I did 17 years with the Night Stalkers, plus about 10 years of deployment. (59:03) • Every aircraft munition has a probable kill ratio. A surface to air missile has a “PK” of 75%, meaning that if they fired at you, you have a 75% chance of killing you. The ground has a 100% PK. (64:23) • I’ve got about 3,500, maybe 4,000 hours of night vision time, which is a lot. (67:51) • Anaconda was a conventional operation, such as Red Wings. There’s no soft component to it. (68:57) • We had 4 or 5 people on the aircraft tail, and we are diving at about 150, [one of our men that fell out but is tethered] while they’re shooting at us and his toes are tickling the trees. The crew chief is returning fire with an M60 machine gun. He looks over and pulls our guy up, and I learned we had lost Neil [another guy] and decided we’ve gotta go back. So I turned inbound and climbed back up and the controls stopped moving. Imagine you pulled the keys out of your car. That’s what it’s like with no hydraulics. So I’m like “Guys… we’re done,” as in “We’re going to die.” (79:03) • In the spirit of never quit, there’s a saying: ”Never quit flying the aircraft.” (83:22) • Everything I do in life, I associate with movies I’ve seen. (88:12) Socials: - IG:  alancmack2015         - https://alancmack.com/        - https://www.facebook.com/ BUY HIS BOOK HERE->  Razor 03: A Night Stalker’s Wars https://www.amazon.com/Razor-03-Night-Stalkers-Wars/dp/1399018698    - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org          - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - GoodRX.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]    - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ    - Shopify.com/TNQ   - PXG.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ    - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ