Some people are afraid to climb 5 flights of stairs and then look down while others, like today's guest, jump out of airplanes for fun. This is a guy who doesn't back down from a challenge or a thrill and intentionally lives his life in a way where he's constantly pushing himself to be greater. Andy Stumpf is a good friend of Jocko Willink and Apogee Co-Founder Tim Kennedy- it's clear why. Great men only surround themselves with other great men. We were incredibly grateful to have Andy on our Friday Apogee call to pour into the young leaders of tomorrow.

ANDY STUMPF

Today's guest is Andy Stumpf, a retired SEAL, professional gravity enthusiast, public speaker, and podcaster.

Stumpf was born and raised in Northern California. From the age of 11, he knew that he wanted to become a Navy SEAL- it became the single driving force in his life. He enlisted in the Navy while still a Junior in high school, entering military service in 1996. After completing boot camp he began the most grueling training program in the US Military - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL, known as BUD/s. Nearly 90% of all candidates are unsuccessful in completing the six-month program. Andy graduated and began his SEAL career attached to SEAL Team Five, in Coronado California.

In 2002 he screened for and joined the most elite counterterrorism unit in the military, SEAL Team Six. This unit is tasked with conducting the nation's most critical missions, many of which have become the focus of Hollywood movies and books.

Throughout his 17-year career, Andy executed hundreds of combat operations throughout the world in support of the Global War on Terror. He was medically retired in June of 2013. His awards and decorations include 5 Bronze Star Medals (Four with Valor), the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor, Three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons, and the presidential Unit Citation.

Although no longer wearing a uniform, Andy continues to fight for the SEAL community and their families. In 2015 he set two World Records after jumping from 36,500 feet and flying over 18 miles in a wingsuit in an effort to raise 1 Million Dollars for the Navy SEAL Foundation. Andy is a sponsored skydiver and BASE jumper, constantly traveling the world creating content for his sponsors.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Confusing who you were in the past with who you are now 3:00

Public school doesn’t help you learn who you are 7:48

Making decisions based on how it will enhance your life- not money 10:00

Andy’s Mentors 15:20

Jujitsu allows you to see what is possible 23:34

Avoiding putting your heroes on a pedestal 28:29

Linear thinking vs 3D thinking 30:37

Actionable steps for developing non-linear problem solving 52:06

What is the meaning of life to Andy 56:25

What Andy is looking for in the people he hires 57:40

You can’t short-circuit the system 1:00:28

PLACES YOU CAN FIND ANDY STUMPF

Instagram - @andystumpf212

Twitter - @AndyStumpf77

YouTube - Cleared Hot Podcast

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So very few people have the perspective on life and the mindset that this man has because so few people have had to go through what he has. Marcus has been, by far, one of my favorite Apogee Friday call guests that we have had to date. And with a name like Marcus Aurelius Anderson, none of that comes as any surprise. Grateful to have people like him pouring into the young men of Apogee and being a living example of the savage gentleman.

MARCUS AURELIUS ANDERSON

Today's guest is Marcus Aurelius Anderson, a proud Veteran, Bestselling Author of “The Gift of Adversity”, TEDx & International Keynote Speaker, Mindset Coach to Leaders, CEO’s and Entrepreneurs, Lifelong Martial Artist, creator of the Acta Non Verba Movement, and host of the Acta Non Verba Podcast.

While preparing to deploy with the U.S. Army Light Infantry, Marcus suffered a severe spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. After dying on the operating table twice, the surgeons saved his life but told him he’d never walk or use his hands again.

After months of anger and suicidal depression, having no other option, Marcus started doing some brutally honest soul searching, looking for the lesson to be learned from his injury. Once he started seeing his Adversity as a gift instead of a curse, something miraculous began to happen…

Marcus now speaks, inspires, and teaches others to use their Adversity as a catalyst to actualize their personal definition of success in every area of life and business. His message teaches us how we can use our own Adversity to make us into better warriors, leaders, entrepreneurs, and human beings to create a better world.

MORE PLACES YOU CAN FIND MARCUS

Instagram - @marcusaureliusanderson

Twitter - @thereal1marcus

Website - https://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/

Book - The Gift of Adversity: Overcoming Paralysis and Pain to Find Purpose

Today's guest is Josh Blue. Following his groundbreaking win on NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2006, Josh Blue has risen through the ranks to become a well-established headliner at venues throughout the world. In 2018, Josh crushed his set on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In the same year, he was honored with a performance at the William H. Macy Gala at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada. He wrapped up 2018 by recording his fifth-hour special at his home club, Comedy Works in Denver, CO. Josh does over 200 shows a year, continuing to spread laughter and break down stereotypes of people with disabilities. His stand-up routine is in a constant state of evolution and his off-the-cuff improvisational skills guarantee that no two shows are alike.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

PLACES YOU CAN FIND JOSH

Instagram - @joshbluecomedy

YouTube - Josh Blue Tube

Website - www.joshblue.com

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Today's guest is Sevan Matossian. Sevan has been involved in CrossFit Media since the start of CrossFit itself. He is a producer and director, known for Our House (2003), Pulling John (2009), and Every Second Counts: The Story of the 2008 CrossFit Games (2009).

Sevan is a content king. From creating tremendous value for the CrossFit community to now creating content with his three young sons on fitness, running a personal podcast, and a podcast with himself, Josh Bridges, and Mat Fraser.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

PLACES YOU CAN FIND SEVAN

Instagram - @sevanmatossian

Podcasts - The Sevan Podcast , Josh Mat Sevan

YouTube - 3 Playing Brothers

Today's guest is Josh Tyler, a professional fighter and survivalist. He is the co-founder of Savage Gentleman, a retail brand and ethos that believes that men are both savages and gentlemen. Josh is also the host of a podcast by the same name.

I've followed Josh for a long time, within the fighting sphere and his brand Savage Gentleman. The concept of the Savage Gentleman is something that has deeply resonated with me. It's a phrase that I use to describe the qualities of a man who is a good man and is good at being a man. This is the foundational mentality that we're working to create in the young men in Apogee. Much of the credit for that goes to the mindsets of men like Josh Tyler.

THE SAVAGE GENTLEMAN "The world is full of savages and gentlemen. Rare is it to find the man who can be both. It is not ideal void of all traits of masculinity, nor is it suitable to succumb to one’s every base desire. There must be a balance struck between the two sides of the same coin that is manhood. This is the plight of the savage gentlemen, to cultivate both aspects of his being and achieve his full potential.

We frequently talk about the importance of mindset on the Essential 11, particularly how your mindset will affect how you handle tough situations, how resilient you are, and how your mindset can drive your success. But what if we told you your mindset directly correlates to how long you live, the very expression of your genes, and shape the anatomy of your brain?

That's exactly the scientific-based info that today's guest Dawson Church brings to this episode. Dawson is a researcher and the author of several award-winning science books. Research teams led by Dawson have published many clinical trials. His studies with veterans have shown that, using advanced psychological methods, over 80% recover from PTSD.

He'll talk about his own journey- starting way back 100,000 years ago (don't worry, he summarizes)- and covers his own battle with depression and anxiety as a young person, how he came to look in the mirror and ask himself "why"? His journey in psychology and spirituality began to answer that question then solve it for so many others.

We also touch on how cortisol was once a necessary anatomical response to danger but is now a direct threat to health, how optimism can allow you to live longer, and the only kind of drugs Dawson would recommend.

More places you can find Dawson:

Website - https://dawsonchurch.com/

Get his book for free - https://blissbrain.com/

We've decided to change things up a bit on The Essential 11. Today's special guest kicks off a new format that we'll be adding to the mix of episodes. While we normally ask our guests the set of questions from the 1,500 youth that was surveyed, in today's episode we get the questions directly from the mouths of the young people who want to ask them- our very own savage gentlemen participating in the Apogee program.

It was an honor and a pleasure to kick-off this format with someone who is making waves in today's culture. Zuby has been featured on The Joe Rogan Experience, BBC, Fox News, Sky News, The Adam Carolla Show, The Rubin Report, The Candace Owens Show, and The Ben Shapiro Show. If you don't know him by name, I can guarantee that you've seen a Twitter screenshot of one of his posts. Zuby is a rapper, podcast host, author, public speaker, creative entrepreneur, and he's well-known by many for beating the British women's deadlifting record and posting it on Twitter. Oh, and did I mention that he identified as a woman while he did so? He wanted to challenge the trendy idea that there is no biological difference between men and women- especially not in sports. And challenge it he did.

Now, hear his answers to the questions our Apogee men have for him.

More places you can find Zuby:

Instagram - @zubymusic

Twitter - @ZubyMusic

Website - https://www.zubymusic.com/

YouTube - Zuby Music

When we were establishing Acton Academy Placer, we actually had our founding students choose our mascot. Groups of students created and gave a pitch for their idea and then everyone voted. Lions won. We refer to all of the young heroes at Acton as Lions to reaffirm in their minds that they are independent thinkers, learners, and doers that are courageously leading their own journeys. Someone who whole-heartedly embodies those qualities is our guest on today's podcast.

Sean Whalen is a father, entrepreneur, public speaker, podcaster, business coach, and the founder of LIONS NOT SHEEP. Sean's viral social media posts have been engaged with over 600,000,000 times, and he speaks at business and marketing events with the likes of Gary Vaynerchuk, sharing his story of success, divorce, suicide, and how telling the truth both personally and in business not only saved his life but gave him the opportunity to build a globally recognized company.

While we get into the Essential 11 questions, our conversation gets into the importance of focusing on what you can control- the present. Anything beyond this present moment, specifically the past, is not worth your time or energy. But using the opportunity that you have in the present to make for a better future for yourself is not only beneficial, it is your obligation. And the best part is that you get to define what a better future for yourself looks like- it doesn't have to be what society says it should be. We also get into how young people can take advantage of knowing what they want to do, and how to discover what that may even be if they don't know right now. It's all about experience and self-awareness.

More places you can find Sean:

Instagram - @seanwhalen | @lionsnotsheep

Website - https://seanwhalen.com/

Book - How to Make Sh*t Happen

Today's guest is someone who Matt has known personally for quite a while. Performance coach for almost 8 years with over 6,000 hours of one-on-one coaching experience, Jason Drees is an expert on using elevated mindset to achieve elevated growth. In this conversation, Jason talks us through how he works with clients to shift their mindset to operate at a higher vibrational frequency to match the frequency of their goals, and why this works so thoroughly. We also cover why most people set their sights too low, the social conditioning that instills limiting beliefs from a young age, how this often puts us in our own way from achieving our goals, and how to reshape our belief system in a way that makes anything possible.

More places you can find Jason:

Instagram - @jasondreescoaching

Website - https://www.jdcmindsetacademy.com/

Anyone who knows Matt, knows that he's an avid carnivore. Meat is pretty much the only thing he eats because it's one of the only foods that keep him at peak performance. He's certainly not the only one who follows and thrives on this kind of diet. We've previously had Mikhaila Peterson as a guest, we've had Chris and Mark Bell, but today, we have the Carnivore King. Shawn Baker is credited with the popularization of the carnivore diet, one of his most well-known discussions of his diet taking place on the Joe Rogan Podcast. As a multisport elite-level athlete, medical doctor, CEO of MeatRx, and author of The Carnivore Diet, Baker shares a unique perspective on the Essential 11 questions. In this episode, he shares the benefits of starting the day with a cold shower, why the mission is always the boss, why he never sits down after 6 pm, and much more.

More places you can find Shawn:

Instagram - @shawnbaker1967

Twitter - @SBakerMD

Website - https://shawn-baker.com/

Book - The Carnivore Diet