Team Never Quit

What does an Army squad leader do in a battlefield situation when his platoon encounters three floors of insurgents and is pinned with rooftop snipers firing away?
If you're Davis Bellavia, you lead your team into action. David single-handedly saved his entire squad, risking his own life to allow his fellow soldiers to break contact and reorganize when trapped by overwhelming insurgent fire. He then voluntarily entered and cleared an insurgent strong point, killing four and seriously wounding another. His actions stand as a testament to those who put everything on the line as they do the grim work required to keep each other safe and alive on the battlefield.
David Bellavia is the only living recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah, Iraq. Bellavia has also received the Bronze Star Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross. 
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There are people in this world who experience and endure almost unbelievable events in their lifetime. This week’s amazing guest, Sebastian Junger, is one of them.Sebastian shares graphic details of his undiagnosed, life-threatening aneurism that burst, causing a 90% blood loss – all internally. He is an award-winning journalist covering major international news stories as well as a documentary film-maker. He has been nominated for an Academy Award. He also has an amazing grasp of human and military-related psychology.

In addition, Sebastian is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of The Perfect Storm, Fire, A Death in Belmont, War, Tribe, and Freedom.    Sebastian Junger is the founder and director of Vets Town Hall, with the purpose of increasing communication and understanding between veterans and civilians in their communities.
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In this week’s podcast, you will hear the incredible story of the mission to locate and kill Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade center by one of two dozen Navy SEALs, Will Chesney, who was a K9 handler in that operation. Will’s dog, “Cairo”, was instrumental in helping to successfully accomplish the mission. After that mission, only one name was made public: Cairo’s. Will’s story is one of an irrevocable tie to his dog, as well as straightforward talk about his personal struggles with depression, migraines, chronic pain, and memory loss. In this episode you will hear: 

Have you ever tried shooting not one, not two, but three rifles? Then add in the seemingly impossible task of hitting multiple targets… While cross-country skiing!!!If you’re 3-time Olympian “twin biathletes” Lanny & Tracy Barnes, it’s just another day at the office. In this week’s episode, you can get a glimpse into their world of hunting, shooting, and skiing, and their pursuit of excellence as they represent the Red, White, and Blue on a global awareness scale. In this episode you will hear: 

Now here’s a guy who’s not hesitant to speak speaking openly about his dark years – his addiction to heroin, then make a dramatic switch from heroin addict to successful businessman. In this week’s TNQ episode, Aaron Singerman shares the unlikely story of his life, his troubles, and eventually his accomplishments, and the importance of empathy for others going through difficult situations.   Aaron and his wife, Darielle are the founders of Redcon1, the fastest growing sports supplement brand in history, positively changing people’s lives, and took their company from 5 to over 150 employees. They also founded the Redcon1 Foundation, making a positive impact on families of the Unites States Military heroes. In this episode you will hear: 

 

In this week’s podcast, you will hear from inspiring Gold Star Wives, all whom have lost their husbands in battle. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will learn what these amazing ladies are doing with their lives – serving other military families and humanity, while bringing hope and strength to everyone around them. Don’t miss this one. It’s well worth the listen. In this episode you will hear: • When tragedy hits and men give everything, you see what it means to be an American. • If you wake up every day & say “I can’t” – you won’t. And if you wake up and say “I can”, you will. • If you want your life to change, what are you gonna do today to make that change? • Turn sadness into something positive. • Now it’s my role to not quit for him, because he didn’t quit for us. • Heroes are keeping us safe in this country. • In a weird way, the loss of our husbands bonded us women. • When powerful people go through such a loss, they can improve the world. • Our main focus is: We love our country. • Some of the funniest stories are born during our lowest moments. • We can either to give up, or get up and live for him. • When what you thought your life was gonna be like is no longer, you’ve gotta figure out who you are, and what you’re gonna do. • With time, pain will slowly find a purpose. • There is hope. You will be happy again. You will smile again. • Find purpose in your pain. • You get so much by giving. • Life doesn’t prepare you for some things. • We’re making sure to honor these men and women who gave up their tomorrow so we could have our today. • We stand tall in the memory of our husbands. • Find gratitude in every day – find one thing positive in each day. • 60 seconds of unhappiness is a minute of happiness taken out of your life. • Breathe in positivity and exhale negativity. • It’s hard to feel sorry for yourself when you write down that which you’re grateful for. • How we deal with tragedy will either define us as humans or redefine us as humans. • We are the authors of our story. No one else can do that for us.

If you’re looking for an overcomer’s story, look no further than this week’s episode with Matthew Long, a life-long competitive athlete with the strength and endurance few have achieved, including qualifying for the Boston Marathon, and competing in Ironman competitions. As he was cycling to work one day as a New York City firefighter, he was run over by a 20-ton bus, literally spilling his intestines on the street, and requiring 68 units of blood in the first hours after the accident. It took a miracle, and Matthew’s never quit mindset to walk again, and eventually compete in the New York City Marathon. He has authored the book: The Long Run, and founded the I WILL Foundation to help people overcome by adversity and challenges caused by traumatic injury. In this episode you will hear: • This [accident] was supposed to happen to me. • The bike cut me right in half. • My mom was the one who was my pillar of strength. • I had 43 surgeries in a 5-month period. • I can’t image what he [the bus driver] felt like when he thought he hit a garbage can, and saw 2 legs laying out of the bus. • Even the homeless, knew who I was.  • For 5 months, every night – dinner was served from a different firehouse in the city. • I went through 1 ½ years of dark thinking. • Within 3 years of the accident I ran a marathon. • I get after it every day. • Every tattoo should tell a story. • I always have to have something going on in my life physically – and a goal. • I can’t’ run anymore. If I run 3 miles, I’m in bed for 3 days because of my gate. My upper body ticks to the left. • You have to let go of the anger. • We don’t overcome shit. Adversity is something you have to learn to live with. • When you learn to live with adversity, you’re gonna be stronger and more powerful, and impactful than you could ever believe.

In this week's episode, we highlight one of our most popular episodes as June marks the anniversary of Operation Redwing. Char's husband, Jacques Fontan, was one of nineteen servicemen killed when the helicopter he was in was shot down during Operation Redwing in Afghanistan (from which the film Lone Survivor is based.) As a result, she has written a book, A Beautiful Tragedy, in which she speaks openly about the anger and bitterness that experience birthed, and her battle to regain her life, to heal within, and to serve others in the process. In this episode you will hear: 

Q: What does a Marine Corps veteran, former police officer, former firefighter, motivational speaker, and international touring comedian all have in common?A: They all live inside this week’s most entertaining guest, Travis Howze. Travis has come from a horrific experience as a firefighter when nine of his “brothers” were killed in a building collapse. He volunteered for the recovery team that pulled the bodies from the smoking building, causing him to sink deeply into post-traumatic stress and alcoholism. After Travis’ incredible defeat of his PTS, he has had a successful career in comedy and authored Create Your Own Light, an encouragement to stay in the fight and to never quit. In this episode you will hear: • If you’re gonna laugh at other people, you’d better be able to laugh at your damn self. • I don’t think about all the things I went through in my past. It’s a huge form of therapy for me not to. • Every day is a grind. • There are “character-building” days – you gotta recognize it, you gotta work on it, and you gotta build on it. • I have an older sister, so I did a lot of Barbie doll shit when I was young. • We’re more comfortable around our type of people because we have experienced some of the same things. • Non-stop fuckery – I had to have that. • If you knew what your tax dollars really went to, you wouldn’t pay fuckin’ taxes. • I was a cop, when you could still be an effective police officer, and you didn’t have cell phone cameras ruining your life. You could actually go out and do your job. • There’s consequences to our actions, whether in law-enforcement or a civilian. • When the military deploys and they go over, they leave that shit over there. They bring some of that back, but they don’t have to live in the environment that fucked them up. • You can’t un-see, or un-taste, or un-smell a lot of things you go through in life.

Jeff Tiegs is an amazing difference-maker. He uses his extensive experience in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency to counter sex trafficking in the United States. With over 25 years in U.S. Army Special Operations and combat experience and multiple tours in Afghanistan & Iraq, Jeff is applying that expertise in his endeavors. He is the Chief Operating Officer of Guardian Group, whose mission is to prevent and disrupt the sex trafficking of women and children while enabling partners to identify victims and predators in the United States. Jeff is also The Chief Operating Officer at All Things Possible Ministries, whose mission is to identify, interrupt, and restore those affected by trauma. In this episode you will hear: