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Team Never Quit

Team Never Quit

By: Marcus Luttrell
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 Each week join Retired Navy SEAL and Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell, Melanie Luttrell, and their son and Producer Hunter Juneau as they’ll take you into the "briefing room" to chat with incredible guests who share their greatest never quit stories. This humorous, heartfelt, and entertaining podcast is changing lives and has become a beacon of hope and resilience to those who are facing the impossible. One of the best ways we can support our community is to share their stories so that we might inspire others to Never Quit.Team Never Quit Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Kegan "SMURF" Gill: The Fighter Pilot Who Survived The Fastest Ejection In History, Surviving The Sound Barrier & PTSD (Rebroadcast)

    Kegan "SMURF" Gill: The Fighter Pilot Who Survived The Fastest Ejection In History, Surviving The Sound Barrier & PTSD (Rebroadcast)
    Dec 24 2025
    Fighter Pilot Survival: Kegan Gill's Battle Beyond the Battlefield In this extraordinary episode, Marcus and Melanie meet with retired U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot Kegan Gill, whose story is nothing short of miraculous. Kegan survived a catastrophic ejection from his aircraft during a training mission over the Atlantic Ocean, where he ejected directly into the sound barrier. The injuries he sustained in that moment were severe enough to kill most people – his limbs torn apart and a traumatic brain injury among them. But Kegan's ordeal was only beginning. Plunged into the icy waters of the Atlantic with his parachute still attached, his wetsuit torn, and his arms unable to move, Kegan was forced to endure a two-hour battle with hypothermia as rescue teams raced to find him. Miraculously, his hypothermic state prevented fatal blood loss. Following this harrowing experience, Kegan faced months of grueling recovery, eventually achieving a perfect Physical Fitness Test score and returning to flight duty. However, Kegan’s journey didn’t end with physical recovery. He began experiencing severe psychotic episodes due to his brain injury, leading to a stint in a VA Mental Health Facility. Pharmaceutical treatments only worsened his symptoms, and he endured dehumanizing treatment from caregivers who misunderstood his unique needs. Now, Kegan is finding renewed hope through alternative treatments for brain health. Through the Warrior Angels Foundation, he has discovered the power of nutraceutical and hormonal interventions, offering a glimmer of healing. Beyond his personal health battles, Kegan is a dedicated father and husband, working tirelessly to support his young family. Join us as Kegan opens up about his incredible journey of survival, resilience, and healing. His story is as inspiring as it is shocking – a testament to human strength and the will to overcome even the darkest of circumstances. Tune in to hear a story of grit, determination, and the relentless pursuit of healing against all odds. In This Episode You Will Hear: • When I was about 10 years old, my family had a friend that had a Cessna, and he took me up on this lawnmower with wings, and we went buzzing around, and it felt like a freakin’ rocket ship. I absolutely loved being above the earth, and I felt so free. (6:36) • In May of 2012, I graduated as a winged aviator, and I got those wings pinned on my chest. (23:40) • [Marcus] It’s an absolute transition into a different human being the minute those wings touch your chest. (24:02) • [In flight school] you showed up there, and you had your wings, and you thought you made it. They made it very clear you have not made anything yet. (26:40) • It just so happened on this day there was a 16 foot, 3,500 pound Great White Shark named Mary Lee directly under my airspace, and my buddy pointed out, “Hey man, Today would be a terrible day to eject,” and an hour after having that conversation, I found myself out on what turned into a pretty freaking wild experience. (36:23) • [Melanie] Q: Is it common to eject?” [Keegan] A: It happens more than you hear about in the news. We lose a few naval fighter jets every year to mishaps. (37:16) • When you show up at flight school, they say “Look to your left and look to your right. One of you is gonna have a serious mishap or be dead choosing this job. Are you sure you wanna be here?” (37:49) • You think you’re invincible, and you don’t really think anything of it. (38:04) • Keegan tells the detailed story of that fateful day. (Starting at 41:21) • When I punched out, I got the initial blast from the ejection seat, and then immediately impacted the sound barrier with my body. At that speed, the human body is not aerodynamic. (50:58) • The aircraft impacted the water so fast, it just vaporized. (52:50) • They ended up wheeling me in, and treated me for severe hyperthermia. They took my core body temperature. I was at 87 degrees. [Marcus] “That should’ve killed you.” (60:13) • One of the more senior guys takes me into his office and he goes: “Congratulations, Lieutenant Gill. If you can figure out how to get your body working again, we’ll get you back in a Super Hornet. (68:14) • My brain was just not working the way it was supposed to from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). (75:04) • I had a deep sense of betrayal from all that thought I had served. To see the treatment, it seemed like everything I was fighting for was a joke. (89:53) • I’ve had a number of psychedelic-assisted therapies that have been really helpful. (95:54) • Ibogaine has been studied pretty thoroughly at this point. It’s showing that it triggers neuro-regeneration. (102:21) Support Kegan: - IG: kegansmurfgill - https://kegangill.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabtNw03Fww-lVt1LHf5b2iWrga-lLxSr_uJYqbNYUMN_NKoEMDqtfBd-Cw_aem_v5m2wI-nx5AKPUoeOA77pA Order His Book Here --> https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/phoenix-revival/...
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    2 hrs and 2 mins
  • John Dustin Ledford: A Brother’s Story Of Unimaginable Loss After The Devastating Kerrville Flood

    John Dustin Ledford: A Brother’s Story Of Unimaginable Loss After The Devastating Kerrville Flood
    Dec 17 2025
    This episode includes sensitive content and may be difficult for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. On July 4th, a devastating flood swept through Kerrville, Texas, forever altering countless lives. Among those impacted was John Dustin Ledford, whose world was turned upside down as he began a desperate search for his sister, brother-in-law, and young nephew in the chaotic aftermath of the storm. In this heartbreaking and deeply human episode of the Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus and Melanie meet with Dustin, who courageously shares the raw details of those terrifying hours and days — the uncertainty, the fear, and the relentless determination to find his family amid overwhelming destruction. His story offers a firsthand look at what it’s like when celebration turns to catastrophe in an instant, and how faith, grit, and community become lifelines when hope feels fragile. This conversation is not just about loss and tragedy — it’s about love, perseverance, and the unbreakable bonds of family. Dustin’s account reminds us of the real people behind the headlines and the lasting emotional impact disasters leave behind long after the waters recede. In this episode, we discuss: • The events leading up to the July 4th Kerrville flood • The moment Dustin realized his family was missing • The emotional toll of searching amid chaos and uncertainty • The role of community, first responders, and strangers during tragedy • How grief, hope, and resilience collide in moments of crisis This is a powerful, sobering episode that honors those affected by the Kerrville flood and gives voice to the families who continue to carry its weight. In this episode you will hear: • Went to the police academy fulltime while working full time at the fire department. Got into arson investigating. (20:18) • [His sister, Brother-In-Law, and nephew] were in a camper on their truck in Ingram right next to the river. (43:24) • Starting at 45:12 John begins to share the heart-wrenching details of his search for his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. The story continues through the end of the episode describing the conditions, the myriad of people and departments participating in the search for friends, family, and loved ones. • I don’t even know if they knew it was raining because it was hot and they had the generator going. It’s loud. (45:12) • When I got there, it was very chaotic. A lot of parents down the parking lot. (53:13) • It was about midnight on July 4th when I called to report them missing. (60:20) • One of the ladies [at the church] said “we’re out of air mattresses, but I’ve got a spot for you. She takes me upstairs and gives me a prayer room with a couch (63:31) • Sitting at these tables with these dads – I can’t even begin to fathom. (67:30) • Starting at 45:12 John begins to share the heart-wrenching details of his search for his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. The story continues through the end of the episode describing the conditions, the myriad of people and departments participating in the search for friends, family, and loved ones. Support John: Support TNQ - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 - https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors: - Tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes - Navyfederal.org - mizzenandmain.com [Promo code: TNQ20] - Dripdrop.com/TNQ - ShopMando.com [Promo code: TNQ] - meetfabiric.com/TNQ - masterclass.com/TNQ - Prizepicks (TNQ) - cargurus.com/TNQ - armslist.com/TNQ - PXGapparel.com/TNQ - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ - Groundnews.com/TNQ - shipsticks.com/TNQ - stopboxusa.com {TNQ} - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ] - kalshi.com/TNQ - joinbilt.com/TNQ - Tonal.com [TNQ] - greenlight.com/TNQ - PDSDebt.com/TNQ - drinkAG1.com/TNQ - Hims.com/TNQ - Shopify.com/TNQ
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    2 hrs and 33 mins
  • Sean Rogers: The Green Beret Who Escaped Chaos, Earned His Place in Special Forces, & Now Serves His Community

    Sean Rogers: The Green Beret Who Escaped Chaos, Earned His Place in Special Forces, & Now Serves His Community
    Dec 10 2025
    Rising Above: From Runaway Kid to Green Beret, Cop, and Creator This week’s Team Never Quit episode brings you a raw, unfiltered, and deeply inspiring conversation with Sean Rogers - a man who has lived several lifetimes’ worth of adversity, discipline, transformation, and impact. From a desert town to the global stage, Rogers’ story is one of resilience forged under pressure. Born in California and raised in Phelan, his early years were marked by chaos and instability. After running away from home as a teenager, he refused to let hardship dictate his future. He finished high school on his own terms and made the bold choice to enlist in the military, setting into motion a journey that would change everything. While on active duty, Sean began his formal education and pushed himself academically with the same intensity he brought to training. He earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership—all while pursuing the grueling path to become a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret. Two deployments later, he transitioned to a new mission: serving his community as a police officer. What he witnessed on the streets during the riots following the death of George Floyd would reshape his understanding of leadership, culture, communication, and human behavior. But Sean’s story didn’t stop there. Driven to help the next generation of warriors, he founded The FNG Academy, an online platform designed to prepare aspiring Special Forces candidates for the mental, physical, and emotional challenges of selection. What started as a simple resource has grown into a thriving YouTube community, a robust online store, and a dedicated team committed to equipping others to step into their potential with confidence. He later chronicled his incredible life journey in his autobiography, Rising Above, a book that captures the honesty, grit, and self-discovery that have shaped his path. Sean Rogers embodies what it means to overcome circumstances, own your story, and turn pain into purpose. Whether you’re chasing personal growth, preparing for a demanding path, or simply looking for motivation to push through your own challenges, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. In this episode you will hear: • Recently, I finally figured out that God is what I needed to be chasing. (5:27) • I got a Master’s Degree. I ran marathons. I ran ultra marathons. Trying to fill that void. I got Special Forces; I went police officer. Everything I thought would help – none of it helped. (6:49) • They develop this fear in you that if you get found out by CPS, you’re gonna get separated from your siblings. So, you start learning how to hide what’s going on at home. (11:06) • I used to run away constantly – to all my family member’s houses, and the cops would go get me and bring me back. (18:03) • [I wanted to die] I had one of two directions to go: either get worse, and then she’s gonna look back one day and say she made the right decision, or I can get better and I can look back one day and say that was the best thing that ever happened to me. (38:59) • I had to make a decision. I don’t want this to define me that someone got to choose my fate. (39:53) • If I can’t get my act together enough to follow through on a plan, maybe the Army will be the place where they will let me be kinda wild and refine me a little bit. (44:56) • At 67:12 to 70:30, Sean speaks about an awful mistake he made in a gunfight. • Writing books. Of all the things I’ve done, I’ve hated that the worst. (78:00) • I trust people that talk about God now. A lot of SF guys idolize. We say “Look at me.” (78:06) • What stoked my fire with God was the show “Chosen.” (80:29) • I’m claiming to be Christian, and I don’t even know how cool Jesus is. (80:57) • At some point you have to say. “I’m buckling down, this is where God wants me. I’m here – thick or thin, and we’re gonna get through this.” (104:52) • [Marcus] from 0-40 it’s an opinion; 40-60 it’s perspective; and 60+ is wisdom. • Self-help books are broken people talking to broken people to give you some temporary encouragement. Treat them as what they are. (109:16) Support Sean: - IG: seanbuckrogers - Website - https://www.thefngacademy.com/ - Link to his book "Rising Above" --> https://amzn.to/48FTGpF - Link to his book "Better Broken" --> https://amzn.to/48OHkff Support TNQ - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 - https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors: - Tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes - Navyfederal.org - masterclass.com/TNQ - Prizepicks (TNQ) - mizzenandmain.com [Promo code: TNQ20] - Dripdrop.com/TNQ - ShopMando.com [Promo code: TNQ] - meetfabiric.com/TNQ - cargurus.com/TNQ - armslist.com/TNQ - PXGapparel.com/TNQ - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ - Groundnews.com/TNQ - shipsticks.com/TNQ...
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    1 hr and 59 mins
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