While there have been veterans who have competed in the reality show: Survivor: Season 43, never has there been a non-veteran winner who gave away the entirety of the $1,000,000 prize to veteran organizations. Until now. In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, meet Mike Gabler who did just that. What an engaging conversation Mike and Marcus have, as Mike shares some of the behind the scenes stories related to the program. Mike, a Texas native, comes from a family of veterans, but he serves his country in a significantly different way. He is a heart valve specialist, working with top surgeons and cardiologists - a multicultural group of people with a common focus - to take care of the patient. At age 43, Mike was the oldest contestant of the season, and the second oldest competitor in the history of Survivor. The lack of food and nourishment was really getting to him, yet he excelled in individual competition. He explained that he gained strength by thinking about the military members who are currently fighting, as well as those who’ve passed, and who’ve sacrificed so much for our nation. “I’m gonna donate the entire prize – the entire million dollars – in my father’s name, Robert Gabler, who’s a Green Beret, to Veterans in need who are struggling from psychiatric problems, PTSD, and to curb the suicide epidemic.” “Lot of heroes served in our military. We do this for fun; they do this for real.” Thumbnail Image: - CBS via Getty Images In this episode you will hear: • Everybody on Survivor likes Type 2 fun, because that’s what it was. (6:33) • We all became really close. We’re friends to this day. (6:38) • I went into the game at 200 pounds, and came out at 176. (8:41) • One day Ryan came back with a 2 foot clam. There were 2 pieces as big as 12oz filet mignons, and tasted just like scallops. (10:29) • [At first] it’s a punch in the face, but after about a week you start assimilating. (19:43) • [Growing up] whatever your dad yells at the TV or cheers for is what you cheer for, so we became Steelers fans. (24:23) • In Arab culture, when you like something, they’re inclined to give it to you. (26:40) • It was really an amazing experience as a child to traverse the world. (30:40) • I stood on the great wall [of China] when I was in middle school. (30:50) • When you travel around the world, you realize what a small place it is, and how similar people are at their core. (32:01) • Crocodiles can strike half the length of their body. (41:23) • The harder you work, the luckier you get. (49:56) • In 2011, this brand new technology called TAVR (Trans Aortic Valve Replacement) came out. (51:01) • I would look to the next bend in the road and I’d tell myself to get there. (54:12) • I was on an endurance challenge where I had to hold on tight. The record for it in 22 seasons was 25 minutes. My spirit exploded, and we broke the all-time record for that at over 45 minutes. (56:15) • Man can survive (and woman) if you can find meaning in your suffering. (58:41) • “Doing something bigger than yourself” drove me to persevere. (65:32) • When you go deep into yourself, big things can happen. (81:33)

What an engaging and compelling guest Marcus brings to the table in this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast. Jordan Harbinger, one of the most successful podcasters in the world, reveals his crafty (and illegal) but brilliant, stealthy methods for tapping into land line telephone conversations, and circumventing credit card machines in his early teenage years. While working out of the country, he details the experience of being kidnapped twice. His inquisitive mind was fascinated by the internet at an early age, and later became a Wall Street lawyer, followed by launching The Jordan Harbinger Show, where he deconstructs the playbooks of the most successful people on earth and shares their strategies. These days, Jordan’s biggest motivation is to help people succeed by teaching them to think better. In this episode you will hear: • When I was a kid, I wasn’t exactly inspirational to anyone. (4:13) • I didn’t have any money and listening to phone conversations and wiretapping got really interesting. I did that with cell phones, line pairs, and the green boxes on the side of the road. (7:13) • Listening to adults talk when they don’t know kids are around is completely different experience. (7:33) • [As a kid] you learn that adults have feelings, and problems just like you do. (10:25) • Are all adults just children that are winging it? Kind of – in a lot of ways. (12:25) • I learned to convince people to do things that I probably shouldn’t have convinced them to do. (15:55) • One of the things that I did that I got caught for was to go into a cell phone store’s dumpster at night and take the duplicate receipts from a carbon printer and use that information to program phones. (21:04) • I figured out how the credit card payment system worked at a pizza chain and you could use a number that would work in their machine and the machine didn’t reconcile the transactions until Friday’s. (22:12) • If there was a girl that I liked I would figure out what she liked by hacking into her computer. (27:46) • The coolest thing that I ever did was to help the FBI catch sexual predators. (36:09) • [In Mexico City] “Am I getting kidnapped right now?” “No, that can’t be it.” “Then I thought why can’t that be it?” I couldn’t open the door. (44:55) • Later when I lived in Panama, the same thing would happen, and dudes would get in the cab and say you’re going to the bank to take out as much money as you can, or we’re gonna stab you, or shoot you. (54:10)  • Two of the most addicting and destructive things in the world are heroin and a steady paycheck. (57:43) • Now I’ve got kids and the nightmares are outsourced. (62:27) • I try to teach people how to think better. (63:17)

A man’s man. A Patriot’s Patriot. A distinguished veteran as a U.S. Navy SEAL. And now a newly elected U.S. congressman. What a resume this week’s Team Never Quit Guest brings to the table as he brings an eye-opening discussion related to the role of a Congressman. Once a co-host of this very podcast, Morgan’s conversation with his twin brother Marcus Luttrell makes for an episode you don’t want to miss. Morgan’s life has perennially been one of service to others. A 5th generation Texan raised on a horse ranch. At an early age Morgan learned the importance of hard work, discipline, and personal responsibility. He turned his strong values, deep love for his country, and his passion for helping others into a career of distinguished service.  Morgan Luttrell brings bold leadership, and a “Put America First” mentality to his role as a U.S. Congressman. In this episode you will hear: • There’s an energy that lives [in a mob situation] and if you become a part of it, you may find yourself in a situation like “I didn’t intend to be here.” (3:59) • The DC Police did an amazing job of showing restraint [at the January 6th situation]. There were situations where they were getting close to death. (4:41) • The criminal justice system [in DC] is, you could say, “broken.” (5:38) • DC is a dumpster fire. They wanted everybody that lives in DC to have the right to vote, even if you’re a Chinese citizen working for the Chinese government; if you’re a Russian citizen working for the Russian embassy. (6:27) • Another role and responsibility of the lower chamber of congress is we control the purse strings. (9:19) • Passing legislation and controlling government money is what congress men and women do. (11:18) • We’re not at the cliff edge; we’re over it. We spend more than we take in. (13:14) • I don’t care about red or blue anymore. We’re here – 31 Trillion dollars in debt. I don’t care which administration did it.  (13:49) • We, in the past decades, have been increasing our debt limit, all the way up to 31 Trillion. (14:32)  • It needs to be said that if we don’t increase the debt ceiling and we default – that’s a problem. (21:52) • There’s a point in time we’ll be paying more on the interest of our debt, than we pay on our defense budget. (23:19) • When the cameras are on, people will turn the switch on and they become actors. (24:59) • Abraham Lincoln coined the word “lobbyist” because people would hang out in the lobby of his hotel and when he’d come down, they would just bum rush him and say we this, this, and this, and this is what we’ll do for you. (30:14) • I would never complain about this job, because I fought so hard to get it. (39:03) • The border’s a dumpster fire. (42:23) • It’s very humbling to walk through the hall of the Capitol. There’s so much history. (43:33) • The best part of my job is I get to meet so many people. (63:51) • The hardest part about campaigning is that it’s 24/7. (64:37)

A life of service. That’s the best description for this week’s guest and friend of the Team Never Quit Podcast. Marcus brings to the table Sidney Blair, who has served on a SWAT Team, Gang Unit, Detective, Air Marshal for Homeland Security, then retired, and has once again returned to police work for the Walker County Texas Sheriff’s Department. If ever there was a man with a relentless heart of service to people, coupled with character and integrity, it’s Sidney Blair. In this episode you will hear: • My first paying job was as the [Piggly Wiggly] Pig in the 4th of July Parade in Huntsville, Texas. (12:53) • Troopers have great uniforms. They’re like a recruiting poster. (14:38) • In Texas, a Peace Officer, is a Peace Officer, is a Peace Officer - whether you’re a Game Warden, a State Trooper, or City Cop or County Cop. (21:42) • Your job is to protect and serve. You go out to the good citizens of your county, or city, or state, or your federal jurisdiction, and you protect from any evils that exist, including themselves. (25:52) • Al lot of police officers will become calorically challenged. (26:58) • Fear is forced. Respect is earned. (29:32) • The government is paying my salary. My job is to get out there and change your tire. (33:27) • I still have some fight left in me. I still want to serve my community. I still want to help the people that need help. (37:34) • I spent 19 of my 20 years at the Air Marshals. (44:06) • I had a retirement party from the Air Marshals that I didn’t know about. (57:18) • You should serve something larger than yourself if you have the ability to do it. (64:11) • If you have never stood before a man with a badge in handcuffs, and he held your freedom and life in his hands, and he gave you a break, and you knew what a break you got – you ain’t qualified to be a cop. (66:49) • You see someone get out of hand - I don’t care if they’re in uniform; you pull them off. You physically remove them from the scene. You save them from themselves. (68:10) • People feed off of bad news. (76:25) • The worst thing in the world that we have is the breakdown of the nucleus of the family that people don’t have upbringing where they learn to respect other people. (80:05) • Soft times build soft people. (81:37) • When you defund the police, I can tell you the very first place it comes from – training. (88:45)

What an incredible guest we have on this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast. Marcus engages in a compelling discussion with former Force Recon Marine, Chad Robichaux. With eight deployments to Afghanistan as part of a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Task Force, Chad overcame his personal battles with PTSD after nearly becoming a veteran suicide statistic. Chad is the founder of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, serving the active duty, military veteran and first responder communities around the world with highly successful faith-based combat trauma and resiliency programs. He has spoken to over 450,000 active-duty troops and led life-saving programs for over 4,600 active military and veterans at four Mighty Oaks Ranches around the U.S. He has served as an advisor to former President Trump, Congress, the VA, and the Department of Defense. Another one of Chad’s personal endeavors, Save Our Allies, is focused on the evacuation and recovery of Americans, our allies and vulnerable people still trapped in Afghanistan. His original mission was to rescue his long-time friend and Afghanistan interpreter, but the mission quickly evolved because of Chad’s compassion for people and his servant heart. Since its inception, Save Our Allies has safely evacuated over 17,000 people that were trapped in Afghanistan and he is now helping in Ukraine. As if that weren’t enough, Chad is a lifelong martial artist. He holds a 4th degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and is a former Professional Mixed Martial Arts Champion having competed at the highest levels of the sport. In this episode you will hear: • My family has 84 years of military service. (11:38) • I was raised in a very dysfunctional home because my father never recovered from Vietnam. (13:26) • Our operation was compromised and I ended up being abducted. (28:52) • On the surface, everything seemed fine. Then I crashed, had an affair, filed for divorce, and attempted to take my life. The some amazing people came around me and helped us to restore my family and my faith. (32:39) • I tried to build the courage to take my life and I had my Glock 40 caliber pistol, but I was interrupted, and it was enough to pump the brakes. (33:20) • My wife asked me: “How can you do all you did in the military, but when it comes to your family, you’ll quit?” (34:19) • You’re gonna deal with anxiety, depression, and anger, but you could respond to it in a better way that could lead you to a better place. 37:36) • God’s like a centerpiece solution, because a lot of what we deal with are spiritual wounds. (38:31) • President Bush signed the Opportunity for Faith Mission in 2001, then in 2009, President Obama signed a policy to override that, and take funding away from faith-based programs. (53:14) • In Afghanistan, people couldn’t go in to help, but in Ukraine you could drive a bus across the border to do mass evacs. (55:37) • I’ve been getting a lot of heat like: Why are you going over there to help – the governments is corrupt. None of that matters. These people didn’t ask for any of this. They’re being invaded by a super power. (58:15) • Glenn Beck (Radio Show Host) raised 21 million dollars to support our mission. (77:49) • The White House said there were 100 Americans left [in Afghanistan] but without debate there were thousands of Americans still there. (80:38) • You don’t leave Americans behind. The White even promised that they wouldn’t but they did. (81:43)

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus spends some time speaking with retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel Chris Miller, who served as the Acting Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump. Chris also served as Director of the National Counter-Terrorism Center as well as numerous command and staff positions within the 5th Special Forces group (Airborne). He also participated in combat operations in Afghanistan & Iraq. In his role as the Secretary of Defense, Chris was overseeing military departments, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the unified commands, as well as planning and coordinating military deployments and operations. With his vast military knowledge and experience of over 3 decades, Mr. Miller brings to the table an interesting and informative perspective to the role of the U.S military, and it’s function at every level. In this episode you will hear: • This is the book launch, officially. (9:01) • They have all this exclusive intelligence. You know how much got to the ground force? Zero.(15:44) • There were lessons learned, and we’re all about passing it on. That’s what we’re all about now. (18:07) • [Speaking to Marcus] This is the path the Lord put you on. You accept that. You are the face of the war. (21:58) • The [the military] has a structure that will take people in and form them differently and change how they view life in a good way. (25 :00) • The army makes a good man better and a bad man worse. (27:26) • It’s all about selfless service and it’s not about you (32:44) • When my heart and my mind became aligned with being a selfless servant, it was like rocket fuel. (33:28) • When you realize this is how it is might as well just embrace it. It’s a game changer. (33:42) • I was the Secretary of Defense under President Trump for the last 73 days. Not a lot went on. (37:19) • I spent like 35-36 years as a government employee or as a military person. (38:03) • If you are asked to interview for a job, always interview because you’re gonna learn something and you might get the job. (42:28) • Al Qaeda had been seriously weakened from all of our attacks. We call it mowing the grass. Just keep killing them off. Eventually there’s not going to be anybody left – and it worked. (44:32) • I know we can’t defeat terrorism - that’s a verb. We can defeat Al Quada (a noun).  (45:26) • [Marcus] If we’re fighting terrorists, we’re trained terrorists, trained to cause terror to them, so much so that there won’t be another group coming up after them. (45:57) • Special Operator: Figure out the network, figure out the incentive system, communicate, execute. (46:50) • The only person who could keep us attacking was President Trump. (47 :04) • We killed off the head of ISIS. This guy was the definition of evil. (47:38) • The President asked me if I wanted to become a political appointee. (48:36) • The purpose of the military is not only to protect and serve, but to defend the constitution and to ultimately protect the people of the United States. (51:43) • I only learn when I screw something up. (64:05) • I was really pissed about the way Afghanistan ended. (65:55) • We will fire a kid who messes up a piece of paperwork, and our generals aren’t held accountable for losing a war. (66:16) • Chris’ Book: Soldier Secretary (85:57) 

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus, Melanie, Hunter & John recap the 2022 episodes. It serves as a capsule-form reminder of episodes you may be interested in listening to that you might have missed. “The Crew” is moving onward to a fabulous line-up of guests for the 2023 season. In this episode you will hear: • A big “Shout Out” and “Thank You!” to all our TNQP guests in 2022. Our 2022 guest profiles included the likes of Gold Star widows, Former Navy Seals, bull riders, a Governor, a paralytic experiencing an unbelievable recovery, Marine Corps veterans, authors, a kidnap survivor, an MMA world champion, abduction survivors, a retired Navy Captain, a Retired Green Beret, a VA claims assistance expert, former CIA agents, a Muscular Dystrophy patient, a bilateral arm amputee w bionic arms, a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, a war correspondent, a man who trekked across Antarctica on his own power, a retired Army Ranger, a Green Beret, extreme athletes, an athlete with a disabilities, the first Arab woman to summit K2, a collegiate world record holder in wrestling, an Olympian, a man who’s goal in life is to interviewer every surviving WWII veteran, a celebrity chef and mental health advocate, a retired veteran with so many accomplishments, we had to vet him to confirm that his experiences were true – and they were, and proponents of soldiers killed while saving their comrades in battle. What an amazing line up of guests there were in 2022, and we’re working hard to make our 2023 line up even better.  THANKS TO EVERY SINGLE TNQP LISTENER!!! Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY)

America owes a great debt of gratitude to this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Yousef Sediq. Side by side with elite U.S. Special Forces, and as a commander in Task Force-241, Yousef was involved in countless raids, assisted in the capture of thousands of Taliban terrorists, and helped save the lives of innocent Afghan civilians. When Afghanistan fell once again to the Taliban, Yousef helped secure the Kabul Airport in an effort to evacuate Americans from the country. After a suicide bomber killed hundreds, including thirteen U.S. service members at the airport’s entrance, Yousef and his family were airlifted to the United States, where he was forced to start a new life.  In this episode you will hear: I lost 2 of my younger sisters when they were little to starvation. We didn’t have enough food. Every part of [Afghanistan] has their own leader, because of the different cultures and languages. There were Afghans killing other Afghans. They would shoot at you for fun. It was their mentality to fight like pirates, sometimes shooting random people walking down the street. They don’t want their people to be educated. Schools are locked down.  There is much religious manipulation (i.e. Holy wars; If you fight, you will go to heaven with 42 (or 72) virgins awaiting you. I have studied it and nowhere in Islam does it say that if women have bare feet they should die. But people are uneducated, and nobody’s fighting them, and starvation is rampant.   There are people with no brains running the country. I found work at 16 years old when I got a military job using a fake ID saying I was 18. Intel is always taken seriously, even if it’s information from nowhere. One of the main issues between Coalition forces and local Turks is a lack of trust. I was blown up while working with the Canadians. We hit a roadside IED and I suffered a brain injury, resulting in lifelong brain seizures. When that happened, I see the Angel of Death for a second, then I came back. I wanted to stay in the fight. Assign me wherever you want to assign me, send me to whatever base you want to send me, just give me good food and it doesn’t matter where you want to send me. The media gives you what they want you to hear.  Yousef’s Book: 5,000 Days of War  Support Yousuf Pre-Order 5,000 Days of War https://www.instagram.com/tfblack_  Support TNQ https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

In this week's episode, we learn the vivid details of the events leading up to the courage, love, and self-sacrifice made by Medal of Honor recipient, Corporal Jason L. Dunham of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in Karabilah, Iraq. What a leader by example Jason was - to the point of throwing himself onto a grenade in an effort to save his comrades. Marcus' guests, David Kniess (Veteran & Producer) and Lieutenant Colonel Trent Gibson (Dunham’s Company Commander), not only bring Jason's story to life, but discuss the compelling and engaging upcoming documentary - The Gift. The Gift documentary is a personal project for David, who had a chance to meet with Corporal Dunham. That chance meeting led to lifelong friendships with the Dunham family and a core group of Marines from Kilo Company. David is actively involved in the Veteran community and has volunteered his time, producing content for Veteran Organizations such as Beteran, Stop Soldier Suicide, John Preston Music, and The Boot Campaign. David also served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Normandy (CG-60), a guided missile cruiser.   In this episode you will hear: Having the Dunham’s in my life has enriched my life. It’s not just about Jason; it’s about everything that has affected all of you all those years. Our generation and the younger generation is standing up and saying, “I’m not gonna wait for anyone. I’m gonna jump out there and teach guys how to surf, how to sing with dogs, start a podcast, and we’re talking about our shit. [With regard to this film], all I care about is what Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Soldiers think. For veterans who are still struggling, I want them to watch it and say “if these kid can do it, maybe I can do it too.” I want civilians to know what it’s like for young men & women to go to war. [Marcus] If somebody threw one of those “Thank you for service” lines at you – even if you haven’t done something – it’s coming…” I believe in 3 things as a Marine. I believe in leadership by example; I believe in self-sacrifice for the greater good; and one man can make a difference. Jason had the leadership qualities to lead a rifle squad of American sons. Dunham was a big boy. He’s not someone I would choose to grapple with. Any leader who inspires his subordinates through personal example, to then return the favor and take care of him – that’s a true leader. Jason took off his Kevlar helmet, placed in on the grenade, and then laid down on it. Knowing what I know of him now, he loved his marines so much. He didn’t just take care of them, he practiced taking care of them. Who f*cking practices covering a live grenade with their helmet? Support The Gift WatchTheGift.com https://www.facebook.com/THEGIFTDOCUMENTARY https://www.instagram.com/thegiftdocumentary/ Support TNQ https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/ https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/ https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/

If ever there was a man with more military experience than almost anybody, Keith Nightingale is the one. What an incredible military resume he shares with Marcus in this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast. From serving in the U.S. Army for almost 3 decades to serving in 2 tours in Vietnam, to serving as the Director of the Department of Defense (DOD) Counter-drug Task Force in Latin America, which was able to apprehend Pablo Escobar. He developed the present Army Ranger Training Program and initiated the Snowcap Model Training Program for DEA personnel assigned to operational missions in Latin America. His experiences included the liberation of Grenada and Panama and a variety of special operations missions.  All of the above doesn’t even touch the surface of Mr. Nightingale’s military experience, not to mention a myriad of awards and honors. Listen in as he and Marcus engage in a lively discussion about all of his military experiences. In this episode you will hear: My family has had some association with the military since the pilgrims, literally. I’m an only child. My parents were old and had arguments. We would give the enemy the maximum opportunity to give his life for his country. [In Vietnam] in the course of less than 24 hours, we went from 450 people to 32 people. [In battle] you don’t fear, you focus. Life is luck and timing. There’s nothing that I did that was planned for before it occurred. Normandy is kinda the Arkansas of France – there hasn’t been a lot of development going on there. We created a task force specifically focused to bring U.S. assets to support the Columbian government in getting [Pablo] Escobar. You don’t think about what might happen you just do what you have to do. It’s later that you get into reflection. In life, if something is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen. There’s nothing you can do to control it. Do your best when you have a chance to do something. You can put 4 people on the same battle sight fighting the same fight, less than 20 meters apart, and they’ve got 4 different views of what actually happened - and every one of them is true. My legacy is the bridge between what the vet said and what the active duty sees and appreciates. Be good to people. Do the best you can when you get a chance to do it, because you may not have another chance.