Phil Heath: 7X Mr. Olympia on the Mindset to Win and Stay Hungry at the Top

The Gift: Phil Heath on Greatness, Grit, and the Mr. Olympia Mindset In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus and Melanie are joined by none other than Phil Heath, a seven-time Mr. Olympia champion and one of the most iconic names in modern bodybuilding. Known as “The Gift,” Phil shares his journey from a basketball scholarship at the University of Denver to becoming one of the most genetically gifted and mentally driven athletes in bodybuilding history. In this conversation, Phil opens up about his early days as a collegiate athlete, how he transitioned into bodybuilding, and what it truly takes to stay at the top of your game—physically and mentally. He also discusses and what discipline looks like when the lights are off and the crowd is gone. Listen in as Phil also shares his endeavors in life after the stage—and what lies ahead. Whether you're into fitness, personal development, or stories of rising to the top against all odds, this is a powerful episode packed with wisdom from a true champion. In This Episode You Will Hear: • I was an athlete my whole life. (3:36) •  I was born in ’79. What a time to be alive. You saw greatness right in front of you through the athletes. (3:41) • Violence is everywhere. You just have to play life with your eyes open. (6:19) • I chose to be different. I was willing to be ridiculed by other people. I didn’t care. I just wanted to be focused, and always be competitive with myself. (7:04) • I always wanted to be stronger, faster, and show more grit. So, I always wanted to be leading at the front. (7:41) • Seeing other people’s life choices, and realizing that you have choices, and you have consequences. (8:13) • [I thought] maybe, just maybe, God’s got something for me. (18:04) • In my fifth year of college, I was looking for identity. (23:09) • Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron.” (24:19) • Do your best. If you’re going to use social media, look at experts first. (29:00) • I wanted to understand the champions. (30:07) • I didn’t hire a coach or anything like that. I just trained with my friends and kinda - trial and error. (32:43) • Be honest with yourself, and never say quit. (32:54) • When I won the Mister USA competition in Las Vegas, 20 years ago – right before I go on stage, they come to my hotel room and they go “Here you go. You got the cover.” (36:13) • It’s so amazing how God works. We meet (Jay Cutler), we take this photo, and we become best of friends. (41:23) • Body building really is about validation in a way. (46:12) • On my worst day, I have to make that day the best day in the gym. (48:30) • [My dad used to say] “If I could put 2 feet on the ground, lace ‘em up, I can go to work.” (50:52) • I put in the work. I had no training partner. I don’t even know how I did it. (53:16) • I just knew that no matter what happens, I’m gonna be immortalized in history. (58:13) • Your nickname is “The Gift”. What a better way to do that by honoring God. (74:23) • I don’t want to latch on to something that ain’t for me, or for my wife, because I’ve gotta be the protector of her, too. (85:00) Support Phil   - https://phillipheath.com/  YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAappHS4hPvOe7ko1g_VRIw IG: philheath Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   -  cargurus.com/TNQ    - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

No Sight, No Sound, No Surrender: The Aaron Hale Story This week’s Team Never Quit episode features the incredible Aaron Hale—a man who has stared down adversity, twice over, and answered with resilience, grit, and chocolate. A 14-year military veteran of both the Navy and Army, Aaron was serving his second deployment in Afghanistan as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team Leader when an IED explosion took his sight and altered the course of his life. But Aaron didn’t stop moving forward—he started climbing. Aaron shares how he turned tragedy into testimony, going from the battlefield to building a life filled with purpose. From teaching at the EOD school post-injury to completing the Boston Marathon and climbing mountains, Aaron’s journey is one of extreme perseverance. In 2015, another blow—bacterial meningitis—left him completely deaf, but with cochlear implants, the support of his incredible wife McKayla, and a “Challenge Accepted” mindset, Aaron continues to thrive. We also dive into Aaron and McKayla’s passion project turned thriving business—Extra Ordinary Delights, an artisan chocolate and fudge company born out of love, grit, and a relentless pursuit of joy.  Aaron Hale doesn’t just inspire—he challenges all of us to rise, to reinvent, and to find joy even in the most unexpected places. From bombs to bonbons, his life is a powerful reminder that adversity is not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of a better one. In This Episode You Will Hear: •  I became one of the personal chefs for the 3-star Admiral, commander to the 6th fleet (1:10) •  I wanted to be in a tight knit brotherhood. I wanted a technically challenging career field.  (14:40) •  Being that evidence collector guy that I wanted to be, I made my approach with a metal detector. 20 yards or so from the primary device was a secondary device that hadn’t been found yet. It vaulted me into the air. I reached up to fix my helmet and it was gone. And I thought “Oh, no - this is bad”. At Walter Reed, I was told I’d be blind for the rest of my life. (28:05)  •  Total blindness comes with a bonus gift of sleep disorder. You can’t rest you circadian rhythm. (30:50) •  I had those demons in my head asking the What if’s; the Why me’s. (31:37) •  I don’t have a monopoly on pain. (33:36) •  I don’t have any good answers, any good reasons to quit (33:43) •   Instead of “Why me? or “I can’t” I just try to figure out how I can. (34:00) •  For about 6 months, I learned how to be blind. (36:03) •  I’m having an awesome time. (38:59) •  I contracted Bacterial Meningitis. That came closer to killing me than the bomb had. (39:20) •  That’s when I felt bad - when I was just thinking about myself (42:37) •  I might as well keep working hard to do hard things. (46:08) •  For ten years I’ve been running marathons and ultra marathons (46:30) •  Everything in my life is a team sport (49:49) •  You can look at it as “I have to” or “I get to” (50:16) •  Maybe one day, the story of your struggle might be the blueprint for someone else’s survival (52:35) Support Aaron   - https://pointofimpactpod.com/ - Link tree: https://linktr.ee/aaronhalepointofimpact  Fb:  https://www.facebook.com/aclayhale IG: https://www.instagram.com/aclayhale/ Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   -  cargurus.com/TNQ    - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

Duty, Sacrifice, and Character: The Unshakable Resolve of LTC Daniel Gade This week’s Team Never Quit guest, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Gade, brings us a story of courage, sacrifice, and resilience that will leave you deeply inspired. A two-time Purple Heart recipient, LTC Gade served with distinction in Iraq, where he led soldiers in some of the most hostile environments and endured life-altering injuries in the line of duty. But as you’ll hear, his story didn’t end in combat—it began a new chapter of leadership, healing, and purpose. Born on a North Dakota farm and raised with a strong sense of patriotism, Daniel always knew he was destined to serve. After graduating from West Point, he rose through the ranks as an armored officer, company commander, and eventually a wounded warrior whose leg injury nearly claimed his life. Through a long and painful recovery, his faith, family, and unrelenting grit propelled him to become a policy expert, White House veteran, Ph.D. holder, and educator at the very academy that shaped him. This conversation goes beyond the battlefield to explore themes of honor, duty, and the character that defines true greatness. Whether you're in the military or not, Daniel’s story will challenge you to reflect on your own purpose and what you’re willing to sacrifice for it. In This Episode You Will Hear: • I worry about whether the wars that we fought in – were they the right thing to do? I wonder if our national leadership is courageous enough to understand that these young men and women - their blood should not be sacrificed in vain. (9:53) • I hope our generation will do a better job of deciding when and where to go to war. (10:59) • I graduated West Point in ’97 (13:47) • [Marcus – On 9/11] They sat us down. They hey had all the TVs on the wall. As we were watching it, the second one [plane] hit. (18:46) • My tank was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on November 10th, and it killed the soldier next to me and wounded me mildly. (23:35) • I remember looking at him and the next day was veteran’s day. And I remember thinking: “I know he’s dead, but his parents don’t know he’s dead yet. And they’re gonna find out on Veteran’s Day.” (25:53) • At 26:25 Daniel recalls the experience of being hit by an IED. • It’s a miracle that I’m alive, honestly. (28:41) • I end up spending a year in the hospital. (28:57) • People ask me if I have PTSD and I don’t, but when I was unconscious, I had horrible, horrible dreams. (30:55) • I went from user-level wounded warrior, just a guy in a hospital bed, to being the guy whose office is overlooking the west wing from across the street. (38:05) • The book is called “Wounding Warriors”. It’s on Amazon. (43:4) • The generosity that we do have for veterans is actually too much and in the wrong direction because it incentivizes all the wrong behaviors. (44:18) • The system itself disincentivizes wellness and positivity. It causes people to quit and to disengage from society. (48:08) • The whole system is basically welfare. (50:24) • What we need to do is re-orient the system towards employment and thriving, and towards changing goals from seeing how much money people can get to seeing how good an outcome they can get. (55:06) • We ought not label someone disabled until they’ve gone through the full rehabilitation process. (55:28) • If you want more of something, incentivize it. If you want less of something, tax it. (56:15) There’s 6million people getting disability compensation, and 3.2 million of them are getting it for Tinnitus – ringing of the ears. (58:40) • We should take care of veterans the right way. Not turn them into welfare queens. (64:41) Support Dainel   - Buy his book here ---> https://a.co/d/5XJ9UAM Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   -  cargurus.com/TNQ    - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

Defying the Odds — Vance Walker’s Back-to-Back Ninja Warrior Victories This week on the Team Never Quit podcast, we welcome American Ninja Warrior legend Vance Walker, the first athlete in the show’s history to win back-to-back million-dollar championships. At just 19 years old, Vance has become a beacon of perseverance, grit, and unstoppable belief. Born with spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy that affected his ability to walk, Vance was told he may never walk without braces. But through years of determination and relentless training, he not only walked — he ran, jumped, climbed, and conquered Mount Midoriyama... twice. In this episode, Vance shares His journey from leg braces to Ninja Warrior champion, the mental and physical challenges of competing in two seasons back-to-back, and what it means to represent those born with disabilities on a national stage,  Whether you're chasing a personal dream or overcoming an obstacle of your own, this is an episode that will inspire you to keep climbing. In This Episode You Will Hear: • [My mom] She gave me the mindset I’ve had ever since then, which is “Whatever it takes.” (5:19) • At 17 months old I was diagnosed with cerebral Palsey and was told I might never be able to walk without braces on my legs. (5:37) • If you don’t have hard things, you can’t get stronger. (13:26) • I always wanted to be good at something, and there was always something that would keep me from being the best. And when I found Ninja, I was able to make my own scheduled, because Ninja Warrior is not a team sport. (15:39) • I can make my own path in this. I can train any way I want to. If there’s an obstacle, there’s not [just] one way to do it. (18:59) • Just like in life, you need a mentor. You need somebody who’s done things before to be able to see how to do things. (29:39) • When was 12, I won my first national championship. (26:59) • I want to get into speaking and sharing my story because that’s such as important part of this. (44:22) • When I was a kid in school, I was always different from the other kids. I never fit in with anybody. The only thing that kept me going was the mindset that my mom gave me. (44:57) • To become the best at something is already such an insane challenge, but I started from below everybody else. (45:30) • Any challenge, any obstacle – Never give up. (47:14) • The show is always the one thing I’m the best at. That’s where I’m at home. (53:57) • I get that dismount, I hit the buzzer about a thousand times, and I just start bawling my eyes out, because I knew at that point no one was beating me on the rope. I did it. And I ended up winning a million dollars. (62:41) Support Vance   - https://youtube.com/@vancewalkerninjawarrior?si=WcAQTH4fhJbm7-cM   - https://www.instagram.com/vance_walker_anw?igsh=MWpseTcxeDR0NnRmbA== Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   -  cargurus.com/TNQ    - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

From Battlefield to Boardroom: The Journey of Chase Rowan This week, Marcus and Melanie meet with the remarkable Chase Rowan—a former Army Ranger turned creative visionary, financial strategist, and vocal advocate for alternative healing. With a career spanning combat zones to creative studios and boardrooms, Chase embodies the spirit of resilience, innovation, and transformation. Listen in on Chase’s powerful story of serving as an Army Ranger and the ridiculous challenges he faced returning to civilian life, healing the Invisible wounds, and his personal experiences with ibogaine and 5meo-DMT, and how these treatments helped him overcome addiction and trauma. Chase discusses his work with the Texas Ibogaine Initiative and reveals why he’s passionate about sharing these solutions with fellow veterans. Chase Rowan worked as a Land Development Project Manager for 17 years, helping build residential neighborhoods all over North Texas. He spent his career working for two of the largest land developers in Texas, managing everything from early planning and design to construction and final delivery of large-scale communities. In This Episode You Will Hear: •  I had a lot of experiences walking in on things no boy wants to walk in on. (12:45) •  I’ve struggled with alcohol for a long time. But I did it kind of quietly, especially when I got in the military. (19:57) • [While parachuting] I hit the runway going 40-50 mph. I had an 8” gash in the back of my head. I was out-unconscious. (30:44) • There’s nothing worse than opioid withdrawal to me. (30:44) • My sole focus when I got up, when I was deep in my addiction – my first thought was “How am I gonna get something?” (38:15) • In 2016, my life was in shambles. I decided I needed help. (39:10) • [Marcus] No matter how strong you are. It’s like being a prisoner of war. (41:47) • I felt like such a failure, and so many times I thought about how much better my kids and my wife would be if I just ended my life. (53:26) • When I was at my weakest, and I’d start crying, all of the sudden I’d feel power within me. (58:49) • Being sober is a super power. (63:15) • [Post Ibogaine treatment] I’ve never wanted to be alive more than I do now, and people need to know about this. (72:21) • There’s nothing I like more than seeing people happy. (78:02) • It’s not what you want. It’s what you need. (84:27) • There are so many things that trauma is from, and this [Ibogaine] can heal it. (90:28) Support Chase  - t4gmh.org Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   -  cargurus.com/TNQ    - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

A Father’s Mission: Honoring the Legacy of Navy SEAL Nathan Gage Ingram  In this deeply moving episode, Marcus and Melanie sit down with Chet Ingram, the father of Navy SEAL Nathan Gage Ingram, who was lost at sea in January 2024 during a mission off the coast of Somalia. Alongside fellow SEAL Christopher J. Chambers, Gage perished while attempting to board a vessel suspected of smuggling Iranian weapons bound for the Houthi rebels. The mission turned tragic when Chambers was swept overboard, and Gage, in a heroic act of brotherhood, dove in after him — both were lost to the ocean’s current. Chet, and Gage’s best friend Ryan, reflect on Gage’s remarkable journey from Roanoke, Virginia, to the elite ranks of SEAL Team Three. He shares how his son’s determination and selfless character defined every part of his life, including his final moments. Chet also opens up about the heartbreak of losing a son, the holes left behind, and the hope he’s now pursuing through the Nathan Gage Ingram Foundation — a mission to support military families in their own times of need. We also discuss the Navy’s investigation into the incident, which pointed to preventable failures, and how Chet has chosen to turn pain into purpose, even participating in a memorial paddle just miles from where his son is honored in San Diego. From personal grief to public service, from private tears to lasting legacy — this conversation is a powerful tribute to a son, a hero, and a father's unwavering love. In This Episode You Will Hear: • American Airlines pilots, called “100 Vets Who Give a Damn” are retired pilots. They give me opportunity to speak, and make a little money for the foundation. (3:21) • I’m that dad that when the kids are 4 years old and they’re looking for a soccer coach, I volunteered. (16:47) • I teach biomechanics and fast pitch softball. (16:55) • He [Gage] had a lot of heart, played football - still the smallest guy in the world, but as a cornerback, he’d fight you for that ball. (18:05) • He [Gage] was watching this movie one night. Afterwards, he decided to go for a 4-mile run in the ice. He came back and said “Dad, I’m gonna be a Navy SEAL. (21:50) • Financially all I ever asked God for was to be comfortable. Never more than I deserved. (28:17) • Gage and I did the 100k – (6.23 miles) and we did it in just under 4 hours. (42:40) • Gage loved the kiddos and the puppies. (53:49) • In an attempt to board the Dhow, going up that unstable ladder, and with the proximity of the boat, it jumped the rail. Chris attempted it and didn’t make good contact and fell 9 feet. (59:14) • The biggest reward was that between his graduation and boot camp, I asked him to accept Jesus, and he did. (60:20) • I can’t change the past, but how can I help change the future, based on my experience. (62:27) • As far as we know those boys are still kickin’ water. He’s still sittin’ in a bar drunk, just waiting for people to come. (62:43) • [Marcus] We have to have a bar under the sea. (62:47) •  I tell people, he can walk in that door any minute. You don’t know, man. (66:17) • That’s what happened that day. They knocked on the door, and we’re till living that nightmare. (70:26) • There are guys getting out now that are able to talk to me about certain things. The incredible impression that Gage made on them. (81:28) • I want to represent Gage in the highest way possible. (81:47) • I want the foundation to represent what he would’ve been, what I knew him to be, how he was raised to be, and being validated by stories that are coming back from other people. I think I’m on the right path to basically be a damn good human. (82:11) • I feel like I’m walking uphill backwards. But at least I’m moving forward. (83:16) • There aren’t big problems; it’s how you choose to approach them (87:57) • Think across the horizon. (88:11) • I can’t offer medical therapy, but I ain’t seen anybody with an issue having a problem when their having fun. (90:35) •  Gage’s retreat – Adventure Therapy Program - is what is what it’s titled. (90:51) • People always remember him laughing. He never thought he was better than anybody else. He always treated people with love and respect. (107:53) Support Chet and Nathan Ingram www.nathangageingram.org Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   -  cargurus.com/TNQ    - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

Solo in the Death Zone: Brian Dickinson’s Blind Descent from Everest This week’s Team Never Quit guest is no stranger to adversity. Brian Dickinson, a former U.S. Navy Special Operations Aviation Rescue Swimmer and elite mountaineer, joins us to share the harrowing true story of his solo summit and descent of Mount Everest after being left without a guide—and without sight. After his Sherpa fell ill near the South Col, Brian pushed onward alone to the top of the world, only to be struck by sudden snow blindness on the way down. What followed was a seven-hour descent with no vision, no oxygen, and no margin for error. Brian holds the record for the highest solo blind descent and has completed the Seven Summits, conquering the tallest peaks on each continent. Before his mountaineering feats, Brian served six years in the U.S. Navy with the elite NSO (Naval Special Operations) community, deploying on high-risk rescue and combat missions in the Persian Gulf. Now the host of Calm in the Chaos, a podcast that highlights raw, untold rescue stories from America’s unsung heroes, Brian brings the same courage, insight, and humility to this conversation. Whether you're a fan of extreme adventure, military resilience, or human endurance—you won’t want to miss this one. In This Episode You Will Hear: • {Marcus] I’m a Charlie Sheen SEAL. (8:19) • It’s weird when you go from jumping put of helicopters to something less interesting. (14:11) • You can’t really plan for giving up in the death zone – 26,00 feet. But you can train for the things in your control. (18:07) • You can’t acclimate to 26 [thousand feet]. You’re slowly dying. Like if you cut your finger, it won’t heal. There’s not enough air. (23:23) • At Camp 3, this is where you see a straight up ice wall. If you fall, you’re falling for a mile. (24:32) • When I got about a thousand feet above Camp 3, I had to anchor off to get some water. I had an oxygen mask and goggles, and I took my goggles off to put them around my wrist, and as I was getting my mask off to drink water, my foot slipped, I went to grab the rope, and my goggles slid off and 4they’re just like… down. And you don’t bring extra gear. (25:35) • There’re over 300 bodies still on the mountain. (30:38) • You live and die by the decisions you make in life. (31:34) • When you climb any mountain at night, the sun is your first indication of hope. (37:33) • According to the Himalayan Database, I’m one of two people to ever have the summit to myself on a given day. (39:07) • Everything just went completely white. I went Snowblind. And I remember at that moment, dropping down, grabbing the rope, and assessing the situation thinking: I’m at the highest point in the world, I’m completely blind; no one’s coming to get me. (41:07) • I just witnessed a miracle. It was like someone reached down and picked me up. An unexplained energy. The first thing I did was try the extra oxygen bottle and it started working, and I got 5 full beaths – reeling it in – and it burned. It felt like fire going through my veins. (48:02) • Everyone loves a survival story. They could care less about the survivor. (53:43) • That whole time, Jesus was walking alongside me. I felt that presence. (47:05) Support Brian PERSONAL SITE: Https://briandickinson.net CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST: Https://calminthechaospodcast.com BLIND DESCENT: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1414391722 CALM IN THE CHAOS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1493078534 INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/BrianCDickinson FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/BrianCDickinson YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCalmintheChaosPodcast X: https://x.com/BrianCDickinson Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com   - cargurus.com/TNQ - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

From Combat to Clarity: The Healing Journey of Mark Keller This week’s Team Never Quit episode features Lieutenant Commander Mark Keller, a retired U.S. Navy Naval Flight Officer who served his country with distinction in combat zones around the world—including Kosovo, Iraq, and post-9/11 Afghanistan. But after two decades of intense operational service, Mark faced a more insidious enemy at home: the devastating mental, emotional, and physical toll of war. In this powerful conversation, Mark opens up about his early years as a thrill-seeker, his journey from the Air Force to earning his commission into the Navy, and the harrowing missions that left scars no one could see. He recounts the mission that haunted him most—the unintended loss of innocent life—and how that moment triggered a years-long battle with PTSD, addiction, broken relationships, and near-death experiences. But Mark’s story doesn’t end in darkness. He takes us inside his transformational healing journey, made possible by plant-based neurogenesis therapies including Ibogaine and 5-MEO-DMT. Supported by the nonprofit Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) and inspired by fellow veterans like Marcus Luttrell and Marcus Capone, Mark discovered not only deep healing—but a new purpose. Now an advocate for alternative PTSD treatments and featured in the upcoming documentary No Fallen Heroes, Mark shares how love, neuroplasticity, and hard-fought self-discovery helped him reclaim his life.  If you or someone you love is a veteran struggling with PTSD, you’re not alone. Reach out, share this episode, and explore the healing resources shared today. In This Episode You Will Hear: • When you’ve got 2 Lieutenants with 15,000 pounds of gas and an hour to kill in an F-14, what are you gonna do? (18:46) • If there’s any flat earthers listening to this… the earth is round. (19:28) • As I look over on my left, I start seeing bright orange, all over the place. And I switched around on my seat, and the whole back of the plane’s on fire. Holy shit! (25:30) • A lot of guys got in the habit of making sure they had a mag in there. They wanted to be sure to take themselves out, before the Taliban got ‘em. (36:22) • [Marcus: a buddy of mine] came over the wood line and dropped down over our crawfish boil, you could see him come down; rolled over to do a panel check; and hung us the finger. (43:53) • Why are you gonna strap an explosive-laden rocket to your ass, if you can’t do something fun with it? (44:44) • Detailed discussion related to lasers and precision bombing. (48:27 to 55:30) • People have different experiences, and you make decisions based on what you know. (59:21) • I got home to my wife and my 2 young sons, and I wasn’t the same. (75:35) • Every time you launch, you gotta be on the ball. You’re at 100% all the time. You have to. Mission success, and sometimes survival requires it. (77:19) • The life of a fighter air crew in the Navy: Poor quality sleep, not the best nutrition, constant high stress for months at a time, bathing in and drinking water contaminated with jet fuel, the G-forces associated with catapult shots and arrested landings deform your brain rather violently, you’re flying with a 10,000 watt radar down by your feet, when you’re at altitude, there’s nothing between you and God but a piece of plexiglass. Why are guys getting prostate cancer? I don’t know. We can guess about that, can’t we? (78:09) • There were times that I was so screwed up that I knew that next one was gonna kill me and I said I don’t care and I did it anyway. I don’t know why I’m not dead. (95:47) • Ibogaine doesn’t give you what you want, it gives you what you need. (124:45) • Ibogaine is a medicine that works on cellular metabolism and neuro transmitters and happens to have some psychedelic-like effects. (128:45) • I’ve just learned to not be too attached to what other people think. (164:42) Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com   - cargurus.com/TNQ - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

From the Mountains to the Mission: Commander J.D. Donaldson & Captain Bradley Geary’s Journey of Service and Sacrifice This week, Marcus and Melanie welcome Commander Jed “J.D.” Donaldson, and Captain Bradley Geary to the Team Never Quit Podcast. J.D Donaldson, a West Virginia native whose journey from small-town athlete to elite Navy SEAL leader is nothing short of remarkable. Raised in Hedgesville and shaped by strong family values and athletic discipline, J.D. earned a U.S. Naval Academy appointment and went on to win two national boxing championships before graduating with a degree in Physics (Oceanography). Selected for SEAL training alongside a small group of peers, J.D. would go on to serve in multiple SEAL Teams across global deployments, holding command positions at SEAL Team Eight and SEAL Team Four, and leading strategic operations in Africa with Special Operations Command. His time at the elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) marks the pinnacle of a career defined by leadership, courage, and brotherhood. Now, as Training and Facilities Manager at GBRS Group, J.D. continues to serve the veteran and first responder community, equipping them with the tools and training to thrive. In this episode, we explore how his experiences shaped his approach to leadership, resilience, family, and life after service. Captain Bradley Geary is a retired Navy SEAL officer with 24 years of distinguished service in Naval Special Warfare. A 2000 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and SEAL Qualification Training Class 234, he led elite teams across the globe—from SEAL Team Four to commanding SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One. He most recently served as Commanding Officer of Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command. Captain Geary holds a master’s in Defense Analysis and has spent his career training, leading, and mentoring some of the most elite warriors in the world. In This Episode You Will Hear: • I was first chair trumpet in high school. Muscular lips. (22:38) • One of the psych’s did a study of all the attributes access the teams to find out what’s consistent across all the force. The only attribute he could find consistent with 100% of us the sense of levity – humor. (32:12) • In the darkest moments of our careers, you’ll find the funniest things (33:20) • There’s this one young officer standing there, smiling ear to ear. I said “Yo dude, I just cancelled your Christmas break, they got you wet and sandy. Why are you smiling? [His response was] “This is everything I was waiting for, and everything I hoped it would be.” (35:59) • Press into the suffering. All of a sudden, it’s not enjoyable, but it changes your mindset. (36:47) • [Marcus] McGraw had more fractures than he had legs. No quit in this dude. (47:18) • The guy next to me, Greg Klein, a huge Green Beret and Marine Force Recon. The instructor says “Klein, what’re you doing here? You’re Army Green Beret; you’re Marine Force Recon. He’s like “I thought I’d take a break.” (48:07) • Danny [Dietz] was probably the best pilot I’ve ever seen. He was amazing. (68:31) • We were in Chesapeake Bay, and I’m looking at the bearings. All of a sudden, I’m like “Hey! Danny!  We’re like 90 degrees off course. What are you doing? Next thing I know, we bounce off the bottom. He had fallen asleep driving the STD. We had been out there so long that night. (68:52) • It comes back to Who’s under the boat? Who’s carrying their weight? Who’s sacrificing for their teammates? And Danny [Dietz] was always that guy. (79:32) • [Danny Dietz is the] most selfless dude I’ve ever met. (79:58) • Whatever he [Danny Dietz] did, he did with excellence. He just owned it. (80:25) • It was the first time that I’d lost anybody close, and I walked out to the gravel, looked up to the heavens and I got to thinking. He was probably one of the key elements of my success in my entire career. I looked up to the stars and thought: “Alright Lord, If I was up there and Mike was down here, what would I say to him?” I’d say: “Think well of me and get back to work.” 120:54) • I hadn’t brushed my teeth in like 84 hours. (121:53) • Leonidus didn’t choose the 300 [Spartans] because they were the best warriors. He chose them because they had the best women. (139:21) • Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope. All the answers are right in this book. (143:18) dannydietzmemorial.com Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   - armslist.com/TNQ   - partnersinbuilding.com   - cargurus.com/TNQ - Navyfederal.org        -    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

Beyond the Green Beret — Healing, Creativity, and Advocacy In this week’s powerful episode, Marcus and Melanie sit down with Beau Dooley, a former Green Beret whose journey has taken him from the frontlines of war to the frontlines of mental health advocacy. Clint reflects on his years cycling between combat zones and home life—navigating the difficult shift between being a soldier and a loving husband. Though proud of his military service, Clint shares why he no longer lets the title of Green Beret define him. Instead, he has embraced writing and public speaking to help remove the stigma surrounding mental health treatment for veterans. Clint opens up about the invisible battles many veterans face when trying to reintegrate into society and how creative outlets like poetry have been a source of healing and purpose. His mission: to encourage fellow veterans to find their own voices, their own paths, and a renewed sense of belonging. Beau shares about his life as a Green Beret and the toll of constant transition, the identity struggles veterans face after service, the therapeutic power of creativity and poetry, breaking the stigma around PTSD and mental health treatment, and building a supportive community for veterans In This Episode You Will Hear: • That resentment or that hurt that you didn’t deal with is affecting every other relationship in your life. (10:51) • A person that constantly needs to hide behind their successes is not gonna let you in emotionally. (12:06) • It’s totally okay to just want to be where you need to be and then realize “Oh, it happened again”. It was knee jerk reaction. I’ve been doing this since I was younger. I kinda lost my way. I need to check in with myself spiritually. I need to take better care of myself. I need to go say I’m sorry to some people. (12:29) • I was born with an innate wanting to know “What have you been through, and wonder what it’s like to be them. (14:30) • You never want to make joining the military an emotional decision. (19:58) • No one else can be you. (25:58) • I don’t tell a single war story in the book. It’s a collection of poetry and prose, and the narrative about the healing process. I take people into my sickest, darkest spots. (40:01) • You’re not you right now. Once they can convince me – I see it in their eyes – my brother – okay, you’re good. That was a dangerous spot and you needed for someone to sit on you for 72 hours, and just be there for you. Don’t let you keep drinking, take you guns, and make sure you’re okay before you give all that stuff back. (44:04) • I realize my wife needed me, but there was no freaking way I was gonna let my team go back to Afghanistan without me. That’s when I realized I had 2 masters. (45:52) • When you leave your heart at home and you go to a place like that, it’s easy to lose yourself in the violence, because you no longer have your moral compass leading the way. (46:18) • I just reminded myself of all the times I didn’t pull the trigger. (47:25) • There’s a great divide between “Do I go left, or do I go right?” sometimes, don’t go either way. You wait. Waiting is something, because you’re allowing the situation to develop. Who knows? There might be a door right there in front of you that you don’t see yet. (60:03) • There’s a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path. (63:13) Support Beau  - https://amzn.to/42ZHaOX Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:   - armslist.com/TNQ - Navyfederal.org           - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]