On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, for a provocative conversation about vaccines, informed consent, medical freedom, censorship, and who should ultimately have authority over the medical decisions we make for ourselves and our children.

Barbara has spent more than four decades challenging America’s approach to vaccine policy after her son experienced what she describes as a severe reaction to a DPT vaccination in 1982. That experience launched a lifetime of advocacy centered around one principle: no individual should be forced to accept a medical risk without voluntary and informed consent. 

And Barbara believes America still hasn’t learned that lesson.

She makes the case for eliminating vaccine mandates altogether, arguing that medical, religious and philosophical exemptions still leave government or medical authorities with the ultimate power to determine whether an individual can refuse vaccination. Instead, she wants informed consent and bodily autonomy explicitly protected in public-health law. 

John, Ken and Barbara dive into some of the most controversial questions surrounding vaccination today, including:

• Should all vaccine mandates be eliminated?
• Has vaccination become a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to account for biological differences?
• Are Americans getting enough information to genuinely give informed consent?
• What did COVID reveal about government public-health powers?
• What does the future of mRNA technology mean for medicine?
• Why was the National Vaccine Information Center removed from major social-media platforms?
• Should parents be able to reject a vaccine recommendation without being pressured or shamed?
• Are expanding public-health surveillance powers threatening medical privacy?
• And has society become so committed to vaccination that questioning it has become almost taboo?

Fisher also discusses the censorship her organization experienced during COVID. She says NVIC was removed from Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, and later lost access to PayPal; she argues that those actions demonstrate how difficult it became to publicly challenge prevailing vaccine policy during the pandemic. 

One particularly provocative moment comes when the conversation turns to whether society’s faith in vaccines has taken on characteristics of a religion. Barbara goes even further: she describes it as a “cult,” arguing that people have been conditioned to accept certain assumptions about vaccination without adequately questioning them. 

The conversation ultimately comes back to something much bigger than vaccines:

Who owns your body?

Barbara argues that medical freedom isn’t about telling people whether they should or shouldn’t vaccinate. It’s about having access to information, understanding potential benefits and risks, knowing your own medical and family history, and being free to make the final decision without coercion.

After more than 40 years fighting this battle, Barbara leaves listeners with one simple piece of advice:

“Before you take a risk, find out what it is.” 

🎙️ Episode #87: Are Vaccine Mandates a Violation of Our Human Rights? — with Barbara Loe Fisher

Available on Rumble, Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

Support the show

RE-POST: ORIGINAL AIR DATE: APRIL 23RD, 2025

This week on The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with returning guests Shawn Needham and Karl Lambert—two health freedom trailblazers who’ve broken away from the traditional medical model to champion a new path toward healing, autonomy, and truth.

From bioidentical hormones and ozone therapy to the rise of alternative health cooperatives, this episode unpacks how Needham and Lambert are helping people exit the broken insurance-based system and reclaim control over their wellness. Hear stories from the front lines of the Medical Freedom Northwest Conference, the eye-opening power of like-minded community, and why these practitioners say, “We were MAHA before MAHA was cool.”

If you’ve ever questioned mainstream healthcare or wondered how to live with more vitality outside the sick-care system—this one’s for you.

🎧 Plus:

• The truth about COVID vaccine injuries and media silence
• How DMSO and other biohacks are changing outcomes
• Why freedom in medicine is a non-negotiable right

👉 Tune in and discover what it truly means to Make American Medicine Great Again.

Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, Brianne Dressen returns to sit down with John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers for an explosive update on COVID vaccine injuries, React19, Anthony Fauci, and the information now emerging about what federal health officials were discussing behind closed doors.

Brianne’s story will already be familiar to longtime listeners. After volunteering for a COVID vaccine clinical trial, she says she experienced a severe reaction following her first dose and was later studied at the NIH and diagnosed with post-vaccine neuropathy. Her experience ultimately led her to help establish React19, a nonprofit advocating for people who report serious and lasting injuries following COVID vaccination. 

But this time, Brianne isn’t simply returning to tell her story.

She’s bringing updates.

Brianne discusses recently surfaced records involving Anthony Fauci and other senior health officials and argues that they provide new insight into what government agencies knew about reported adverse reactions during the early vaccine rollout. She describes the conversations she says were happening among figures including Fauci, Francis Collins, Janet Woodcock and Peter Marks—and asks why the public wasn’t given more information about the injuries her organization was reporting. 

John, Ken and Brianne also dive into the ongoing investigations led by Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, the legal protections surrounding pandemic countermeasures, vaccine-injury compensation, and why Brianne says many injured Americans are still struggling financially and medically years later. 

The conversation explores Brianne’s frustration that even under new leadership, she believes changing the culture inside America’s health agencies is proving far more difficult than many expected. As she puts it, the problem goes far beyond any single individual. 

Brianne also gives a deeply personal update on her own health. After once falling below 100 pounds and struggling with debilitating symptoms, she says her condition today is dramatically improved. She shares what she’s learned about pacing, sleep, nutrition, stress, complementary therapies and—perhaps most importantly—having patience and compassion for yourself during chronic illness. 

What did Fauci and other officials know? When did they know it? Why do vaccine-injured Americans still say they’re fighting for recognition? And after five years, are we finally beginning to get answers?

🎙️ Episode #86: What Did Fauci Know — and When Did He Know It? Brianne Dressen Returns

Available on Rumble, Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Pastor Tony Spell, whose refusal to close his church during the COVID pandemic made headlines around the world. 

Pastor Spell recounts the events that led to multiple arrests, house arrest, criminal charges, and years of legal battles after continuing to hold in-person church services despite government shutdown orders.

He explains why he believed closing the church violated his religious convictions, how his congregation grew throughout the pandemic, and what ultimately happened when his case reached the Louisiana Supreme Court.

The conversation covers:

• Why he refused to close his church
• His arrests and house arrest
• Government mandates during COVID
• Religious liberty and constitutional rights
• Fear, courage, and civil disobedience
• The role of churches during times of crisis
• Why he believes Americans must remain vigilant in protecting freedom

Whether you agree with his conclusions or not, Pastor Spell offers a firsthand account of one of the most controversial church-state conflicts of the COVID era.

🎙️ Episode #85: Pastor Tony Spell — They Arrested Me for Holding Church

Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with elite performance coach Chase Jackson, founder of Wired to Win, for a fascinating conversation about what truly separates good athletes from great ones. 

While most performance programs focus on strength and conditioning, Chase believes the real advantage begins somewhere else: the nervous system.

Drawing from his work with elite athletes and high performers, Chase explains why optimizing the brain, feet, breathing patterns, hormones, and identity may unlock levels of athletic performance most coaches never address.

The conversation explores:

• Why elite athletes often train the wrong things
• The surprising role your toes play in speed, balance, and power
• Engineering identity for peak performance
• Breathwork and nervous system regulation
• Why confidence can be trained
• Building resilience under pressure
• Recovery, sleep, and high-performance habits
• Why mindset without physiology isn’t enough

Whether you’re an elite athlete, weekend warrior, coach, or simply looking to perform better in everyday life, this episode offers practical insights into becoming “wired to win.”

🎙️ Episode #84: What If Elite Athletes Have Been Training All Wrong? – with Chase Jackson

Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with former NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko for one of the most personal conversations yet about professional sports, COVID-era policies, medical freedom, and life after football.

Breiden shares his firsthand experience entering the NFL as a young player during the height of the pandemic, describing the pressure he felt as teams, agents, and league policies increasingly centered around COVID vaccination status. He reflects on the difficult position many young athletes faced: chase the dream they’d worked their entire lives for—or risk losing it by standing on principle. 

As the conversation unfolds, Breiden discusses health concerns he says developed after receiving the COVID shot, why he sought independent medical opinions, and why he ultimately decided to speak publicly about his experience despite knowing the criticism it could bring.  

John, Ken, and Breiden explore:

• What life inside NFL locker rooms was really like during COVID
• The pressure young players felt regarding vaccination
• Why some veteran players could speak freely while younger players could not
• Medical freedom, informed consent, and player representation
• Life after the NFL and discovering purpose beyond football
• Helping troubled youth and creating second chances through workforce development
• Why legacy matters more than fame or money
• What Breiden hopes the next generation of athletes learns from his experience

The episode closes on a hopeful note as Breiden explains why his greatest passion today isn’t football—it’s helping young people realize they have choices, opportunities, and a purpose far beyond sports. His message is simple: success isn’t defined by one career, but by the lives you impact along the way. 

Whether you’re a sports fan, parent, athlete, or someone interested in leadership, resilience, and personal conviction, this episode offers an honest conversation about standing firm when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

🎙️ Episode #83: Did the NFL Force Players to Take the COVID Shot? – with Breiden Fehoko

Available on Rumble, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Chris Downey, founder of VAX Calc, for an important conversation about informed consent, parental responsibility, and how families can make confident healthcare decisions in an increasingly complex medical system. 

Chris believes one of the biggest challenges facing parents today isn’t simply deciding whether to vaccinate—it’s navigating a healthcare system that often pressures families to make decisions before they feel fully informed. Drawing on years of research and software development, he explains why he created VAX Calc to help parents prepare before they ever walk into a pediatrician’s office. 

The conversation explores:

• Why informed consent starts long before the doctor’s appointment
• The pressure many parents feel during well-child visits
• Why Chris believes healthcare decisions should be individualized—not one-size-fits-all
• How parents can build their own trusted healthcare “roundtable”
• The importance of asking better questions instead of accepting automatic recommendations
• How artificial intelligence could help families make more informed decisions in the future
• Why courage, intuition, and personal responsibility matter when making healthcare choices

John also shares several personal experiences navigating vaccine discussions with physicians, while Ken discusses preparing the next generation of parents to confidently advocate for their children. Throughout the conversation, the focus remains on empowering families to think critically, ask questions, and make decisions they believe are best for their own children. 

Whether you’re expecting your first child, raising young children, or simply interested in medical freedom and informed consent, this episode offers practical strategies for becoming a more informed advocate for your family’s health.

🎙️ Episode #82: Are Parents Losing the Right to Choose? – with Chris Downey (VAX Calc)

Available on Rumble, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with longtime acupuncturist and performance specialist Dr. Bob Greczanik for a fascinating conversation that challenges the way we think about healing, health, and human performance.

After more than three decades treating everyone from everyday patients to elite professional athletes, Dr. Bob shares why he believes the body is capable of far more healing than most people realize—and why modern medicine often focuses on managing illness rather than optimizing health. He explains how his journey into acupuncture, ancient healing traditions, and performance science completely changed the way he approaches patient care. 

EP 81 EDIT DR BOB .txt

The conversation explores:

• Why acupuncture is about much more than pain relief
• The connection between breathing, the nervous system, and peak performance
• Working with professional athletes from the NBA, NFL, MLS, and beyond
• Why mindset and consciousness can influence recovery
• Ancient healing methods that are still being used today
• How stress quietly affects nearly every system in the body
• Performance enhancement without relying on stimulants
• What elite performers understand about focus, recovery, and flow
• Why Dr. Bob believes every person has the potential to function at a much higher level

John also shares personal experiences working with Dr. Bob, including how his son avoided surgery after a broken hand and recovered far faster than expected, while discussing his own treatment experiences and what drew him back over the years. 

EP 81 EDIT DR BOB .txt

Whether you’re an athlete looking for an edge, someone dealing with chronic pain, or simply curious about the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern performance science, this episode offers a thought-provoking perspective on what it really means to heal.

🎙️ Episode #81: Could We’ve Been Thinking About Healing All Wrong? — with Dr. Bob Greczanik

Available on Rumble, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Papa John’s founder John Schnatter for a wide-ranging and unfiltered conversation about business, food, freedom, cancel culture, regenerative farming, and what happens when the people who build companies get replaced by people who only manage them.

Schnatter reflects on the early days of Papa John’s, explaining how the company grew from a simple commitment to better ingredients, better pizza, and taking care of people into a global brand with thousands of stores. He credits focus, humility, fundamentals, hard work, and a strong store-level culture as the real engine behind the company’s success. 

But the conversation quickly moves into more controversial territory.

Schnatter argues that many great companies lose their way when bureaucracy, corporate boards, private equity, and short-term financial thinking begin to overshadow the people doing the real work. He shares his frustration with what he believes happened to Papa John’s after his departure, saying the brand was built “brick by brick” and later damaged by leadership disconnected from the stores, employees, and fundamentals that made it successful.  

The episode also explores Schnatter’s next chapter: Papa Farms, his regenerative farming project focused on soil health, nutrient density, clean food, and helping people live healthier lives. He explains why he believes better soil leads to better food, why processed food is contributing to declining health, and how his farm is being used as a real-world experiment in improving quality of life through food, water, movement, and community.  

John, Ken, and Schnatter discuss:

• How Papa John’s grew from a small operation into a global pizza brand
• Why “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing”
• The difference between builders, doers, talkers, and bureaucrats
• What corporate America often gets wrong about frontline workers
• Why Schnatter believes private equity and short-term thinking can destroy brands
• Regenerative farming, soil health, nutrient-dense food, and clean ingredients
• Processed food, Big Ag, Big Pharma, and the modern health crisis
• Cancel culture and what it’s like to live through a media firestorm
• The importance of focus, incentives, humility, antifragility, and truth

Schnatter also opens up about cancel culture, saying he “lived it” and describing how quickly a media narrative can take hold when someone with influence speaks their mind. 

Support the show

Support the show