Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

209. Rocky Bleier. Independent Super Bowl Special. Vietnam Vet & The Only Purple Heart Recipient to Win a Super Bowl (4 Times!). Fighting for Open Primaries in Pennsylvania. State of the Union. Chinese Balloon Drama. The Grammys. Football & America.


Listen Later

Super Bowls are a time for leaders to step up. And for heroes to me made. 

But they’re not real heroes. They’re football players. And most of them are not real heroes. 

But a generation ago, there was a real hero playing in the Super Bowl. 

A true legend. And that legend was established the moment he stepped back on an NFL field. And was elevated after he made it to the Super Bowl. And after he won FOUR of them. 

Against all odds, he became the only purple heart recipient in history to win a Super Bowl. And the only one to win FOUR!

For more than two years, he drove himself. Little by little he overcame obstacles and fought his way back. He not only made the Pittsburgh Steelers, but also eventually became a starting running back on a team that won four Super Bowls and became the greatest football team of the 20th century.

The hard lessons Rocky Bleier (@RockyBleier) learned early in his life that helped him overcome adversity and reach his goals, have paid off after football. These lessons are seen between the lines in the popular book on his life, "Fighting Back" and on stages of speaking appearances around the country.

Rocky Bleier is a true hero. A true champion. Not just a Super Bowl champion. But a champion for veterans. A champion for America. And, now, a champion for independents everywhere. He’s leading an effort in his home state of Pennsylvania to end the ridiculous and un-American closed primaries. And continuing to inspire millions. 

Welcome to a conversation with a true champion. Welcome to Super Bowl week. Welcome to a Super Bowl Special episode of the best independent podcast in America. 

Every episode of Independent Americans breaks down the most important news stories–and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s independent content for independent Americans. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. Stay vigilant, America. 

-Get extra content, connect with guests, attend exclusive events, get merch discounts and support this critical show that speaks truth to power by joining our IA community on Patreon

-Learn more about Operation Liberty—founded by Paul, Amy McGrath and Allison Jaslow (and mentioned by Paul on the show). 

-As mentioned, Jake Wood (our guest in Ep 54 and Ep 107) and Team Rubicon are springing into action to provide support to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. Learn more, donate and/or volunteer to deploy with them. 

- Watch video of Paul and Rocky’s conversation here on our YouTube channel.

-Check out this NFL films story with footage of Rocky playing: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6E9uuPoBkY

-Watch Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story is a 1980 made-for-television movie about Rocky portrayed by Robert Urich.

-Get Rocky’s book: Fighting Back.

-Visit his website: http://www.rockybleier.com

-Learn about Rocky’s work with Ballot PA to open primaries in Pennsylvania for independents

-Listen to Paul on KBLA with Tavis Smiley

-Watch Paul’s weekly segment on NewsNation TV with Marni Hughes

-Find us on social media and www.IndependentAmericans.us. Where you can also get some very cool IA merch. 

-Wanna advertise on the pod? Hit us up

-Also check out new episodes of other Righteous Media podcasts including the B Dorm Podcast, The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra and Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed

Independent Americans is powered by Righteous Media. Righteous is an independent, American, Veteran-owned and led content company. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Independent Americans with Paul RieckhoffBy Righteous Media

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

817 ratings


More shows like Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

View all
Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast by Chris Hayes, MSNBC

Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

9,430 Listeners

The Michael Steele Podcast by The Bulwark

The Michael Steele Podcast

3,427 Listeners

The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

The Bulwark Podcast

12,110 Listeners

Talking Feds by Harry Litman

Talking Feds

4,601 Listeners

The Al Franken Podcast by The Al Franken Podcast

The Al Franken Podcast

8,549 Listeners

The Dispatches with Paul Rieckhoff by Righteous Media

The Dispatches with Paul Rieckhoff

19 Listeners

Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner by Crossover Media Group

Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner

2,889 Listeners

Impolitic with John Heilemann by Audacy | Puck

Impolitic with John Heilemann

4,672 Listeners

#SistersInLaw by Politicon

#SistersInLaw

10,435 Listeners

The Lincoln Project by The Lincoln Project

The Lincoln Project

9,203 Listeners

Everybody & Their Mother Has a Podcast by Righteous Media

Everybody & Their Mother Has a Podcast

0 Listeners

The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra by Righteous Media

The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra

24 Listeners

B Dorm Podcast by Righteous Media

B Dorm Podcast

18 Listeners

Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed by Righteous Media

Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed

6 Listeners

Rick Wilson's The Enemies List by Black Pearl Studios

Rick Wilson's The Enemies List

4,047 Listeners

Main Justice by MSNBC

Main Justice

7,038 Listeners

The Warning with Steve Schmidt by iHeartPodcasts

The Warning with Steve Schmidt

1,133 Listeners

George Conway Explains It All (To Sarah Longwell) by The Bulwark

George Conway Explains It All (To Sarah Longwell)

3,480 Listeners

The Home Front by Reed Galen

The Home Front

674 Listeners

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes by Charlie Sykes

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

715 Listeners