Cleared Hot - Powered By BRCC - Episode 223 - Angel Cortes

Episode Date: March 7, 2022

You are not your mistakes.... Angel Cortes grew up in Orange County in what can only be described as very difficult and challenging circumstances. By the time he was in high school he was already a gang member, but he chose to pursue a desire to be an Army Ranger and changed the trajectory of his life. Angel successfully became and Ranger and completed deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the military Angel attends school full time with the goal of becoming a registered dietician, as well as creating and hosting military veteran-based events. He has competed in Jiu-Jitsu and Muy Thai, and owns OG Pumpkin Apparel and Gear: https://rangercortes.com/

Well, good morning, everybody. I hope that this Monday finds you with a good beginning to your week. Hopefully you're not listening to this one. It comes out at 5 o'clock in the morning mountain time because that's just far too early to actually be awake. Today's episode and all the episodes for the rest of this year are brought to you by Black Rifle Coffee. I've known Evan, the alleged founder of Black Rifle Coffee, for quite some time. He's become a very close friend and I could not be more proud to be more deeply involved with the organization. I know the founders. They're great people. I know what the organization stands for.

I understand what they're doing behind the scenes. And I actually really love their coffee. And if you do not want your coffee to taste like it was percolated in a hobo's asshole, I recommend you go to Black Rifle Coffee.com and check out what they have to offer. They got a variety of blends or standalone. You can get their monthly ECS. They also now have a merch subscription or it's getting ready to come out. So you can basically have whatever you want delivered to your door.

as often as you want to. And in doing so, like I said, you'd be supporting an amazing brand and one that could not be more proud to be a part of. And that's it. Let's get to my guest today. Repeat guest. His name is Angel Cortez. And on this episode, we talked less about his background than we did the first time he was here. So I would recommend if you want to dive deeper into where Angel comes from, go to episode number 141. So it was about a year ago. Actually, about a year and a half, given the math. He grew up in Orange County, and I'm going to describe his upbringing as pretty challenging and difficult.

He has spent some time as part of a gang. Maybe he chose to sell some guns and some drugs. And then decided it was time for a shift. Went into the military, became a ranger. Completed deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq. And he's now full time in school still. Looking forward to becoming a registered dietitian. He has the company, the OG Pumpkin.

He's got a pretty unique daily driver in a white limousine. And I think my favorite thing about him is his headspace and his approach to life. Episode number 2.23 with Angel Cortez. Enjoy. Why do you have a notebook? You're making me nervous. I came with notes. You came with notes?

Yes. Where are we beginning then since you apparently have a strategy for this? Where should we begin? Well, first things first. I want to say thank you. Yeah, my pleasure, man. You last time I was here, it helped me a lot, and I didn't know what was going to come out of it. And it was life-changing.

You changed my life. I think we might be starting off with you exaggerating just a little bit. No. No, you, because I was looking forward to just having this conversation here at a coffee shop or whatever. You know, with you, Mike Lover, Kevin, and Mike Ridland is almost immediately, I went on your guys' podcast, like, within a couple months, right? Yeah, it was quick. And it really changed my life because then it changed. It had changed my life. It affected my kid's lives for the better and then affected my wife's life with a sort of relationship between her and I. Yeah. And one of the things that we talked about

last time was, you know, me growing up, you know, emotionally and physically abused. Yeah, we talked a lot about your parents. Yeah. And you brought up something that, you know, I said that the relationship is a lot better now. But we haven't like, you know, forgiven. And then you said something like, oh, I'm just waiting for it to be brought up or something or I don't know when to bring it up. And then you're like, maybe you should bring it up. And that stuck in my head.

And when I came back to when I went back to California, it wasn't in my head. Like, you should probably do it. And. Let's not forget that you drove back to California. Yeah. Did you drive back to California? Montana this time? I didn't. I flew in. The drive last time. It is beautiful, but it lasts for exactly 17 days.

Yeah. Yeah, it was, yeah, the last time I was here, I was tired from the drive because I underestimated how long it was going to take. I was tired. I was nervous. I felt like I was like in the in the news when you have 30 seconds to say something. I felt rushed. This time I'm more relaxed. I'm that's the beauty of this format is there's no reason to be rushed at all yeah and so so when i went back after your podcast um and and it aired uh somebody who uh he's your friend uh paul gummis who'd been at hurley for a while and stuff like that reached out and i got a DM he said hey man i i heard you on andy's dumbs podcast um you know i want i want to talk to you you know buy you lunch and then we talked for like

three hours and he said that my story, you know, um, hit home with him because we, we had similar things growing up and, and, uh, one of the things that he brought up was, uh, and it kind of surprised me within the three hour conversation. He was like, he's like, I think you should go forgive. You should talk to your parents and not for them, but for you. And it was, you were already implanted in my head and I was like, I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. And then him reaching out and saying like, you know, long story short, he's going to help me. Um, he's going to going to, you know, I'm guiding me as much, and then after a while, let me fly. And if I can fly, I can fly, and if I can't, then I'm sorry, you know, he helped. And so immediately I, I drove

from Irvine Spectrum to, to my house, which is like a 30-minute drive, and I call my dad. And I was like, what are you doing today? And he's like, oh, so-and-so, and I was like, let's have dinner. And like, my heart's pounding. Like, I'm on the freeway, my heart's pounding when I'm talking to him. And then I call my mom, was like, what are you doing today? She's like, nothing. And I was like, perfect. Come, we're going to, we're going to, we're going to have. have dinner. And the way it played out was to my mom's like, oh, well, I can't be there until so-and-so time. And then, and then so it was my dad first. And I told him, Alia, like, real cool, my wife, Analia, I told her, like, as fast as I could, because my dad was going to come in like 30 minutes.

I was like, oh, Paul Gomez told me this, this, this and thatty. And so I called my dad to forgive him. And obviously just surprised her. Like, you went for, to meet up this guy. And then, and then now you're calling your dad to forgive him. And she knows, you know. I've known my wife since I was seven years old, so she knows. You know, she's seen a lot of this stuff that I was going through. And my heart was pounding. And I told my dad, I was like, Dad, I met a gentleman named Paul Gomez. He said he's going to help me, guide me as much as he can.

And one of the things that he brought up, you know, was that I, to have my head straight because I'm in a new chapter. and I clearly am in a new chapter in my life and I think it's time that we talk about the past I think it's I know you were young when you had me and when you had all of us I don't understand you know everything that was going on in your life

and I forgive you for everything for the abuse and I can tell I surprised him and then he spoke in a way that I had never heard my dad speak. Like, I remember I was 12 years old, and he was drunk, and it was Christmas, and he told me he loved me. And before that, I don't know, I don't remember a time where he told me, I love you. And then just that one minute when he had his arm around me, and he told me that, it was so awkward,

because that's how much we didn't have a certain, you know, that, that love in the relationship. And then he just opened up and he said, you know, I can hear him. him in his voice that he's tearing up, which I've never seen my dad do. And he's like, you know, I'm all this, he's like, I can't take anything back, you know, all this stuff that I, that I've done. I'm going to have to live with. I've been living with it. And I can't kill myself over it. And I can only, I can only move on and do the best that I can. He's like, which is why you see me now interact with your kid the certain way, interact with you. I call you. I call you. you, hey, you need any help around the house?

Because he's really, he's a good handyman. You know, because he was born and raised in Mexico. You got to do everything on your own, you know. So he knows everything. Like security cameras. He's like, yeah, I'll wired it. And he wired it up. And then, or, you know, the sink wasn't working.

He's like, I got it. And he was just doing all this stuff. And, and then my, and then so we had a beer. And then my mom kind of came like 40 minutes. it's later and then it was kind of like the same thing but she brought her husband over and um i told my mom was a mom uh you know basic same thing and then i told her i'm sorry i forgive you you know um and and she got surprised and she kind of said the same thing like we were really young i didn't know any better you know i i went to religion and and and that helped me and and i wish i would have done her a long time ago

um and then afterwards um when they all were left And he was like, how do you feel? I was like, I feel like a thousand pounds was lifted off my shoulder. And I remember just thinking like, wow, like you hear it, you know, forgive others. You know, and stuff like that. And it's only really been my parents that I've not forgiven or, you know, we just, I just didn't talk about. And then after that was done, I was like, I'm clearly in a new chapter of my life. I feel so much better

And then almost immediately The relationship between us even got close Like we were cool at that point, right? And they were great with my kids But it even got better And then and then it was like Things that we never talked about I feel like especially in the Hispanic community

They just don't talk about certain things And I don't think that's good I don't think that's healthy What do they avoid? lot of stuff like for example and um just you name anything and it's like oh it's your dad or it's your uncle forgive them or or you know so and it's like that's not how that goes you know like or don't talk about it you know it's like not necessarily forgive them it's don't talk about it something happens and and and they don't talk about it they don't want to talk about it you know

because in the especially the old school Mexican way you just don't talk about it you know if if your wife, if you beat your wife because you were an alcoholic or something like that, and the next day no one talks about it. Like, hey, we're just not going to act like we heard you beat on her, you know, or this or this or that. They just don't talk about it. And I thought it was only with my family. But since I'm going to school to become a rest of dietitian and I have a class called

cultural foods, we dove deep into each culture to really understand that we can't tell them like, hey, you have to eat, you know, organic this, organic that. And when they're like, hey, you're basically dismissing their whole identity. Yeah. And then I found it that in the Hispanic, not just Mexicans, they tend to be family-oriented, right? And they kind of almost gloss over or neglect certain things because of the family, you know. It's for the family. And it helped me in that way, right?

And honestly, that alone would have been, would have been great. And then clearly there's the me having OG pumpkin and being on the podcast like helped my business so much, which then- You started your own podcast, Sucker. I did. Because of you and not because of me, because you went out and you started it yourself. Yeah. I mean, but it helped me, you know, being on here and talking to you and kicking it with the field craft crew and, and Mike Rilling and I was like, you know what? I'm just going to, I'm just going to I'm going to just do it.

And it helped me so much that, again, like, it affected my kids' life because then now I have more time to be with my kids. You know, the kids that, not because I was out partying or neglected them on purpose, it's just I was in the military and I was not around for their births, for their first steps, for a lot of it. So now it gave me time to heal that relationship and then same with my wife. And like I said, so I was saying that you my life has changed dramatic dramatically, you know, so thank you. I mean, I don't know if I, if I deserve that thanks. I mean, when we were talking about family, I view conversations and I'm sure that I made that suggestion based off of my own experience with my own parents. There were periods of time, and I'm sure this happens with all parents and children. where it's closer, farther apart, closer farther apart.

Something will say something happens and you don't talk about it, right? And so what does that do? Fissure, right? So it drives people apart. And I remember specifically when you were talking about your mom and dad thinking about my mom. And I just wish I had had a chance. She died of cancer and I was on a deployment in 2010. And I didn't get much time with her when I got back.

And I have, I have regretted ever since then not having one, a better final conversation, but it was my own. I shouldn't have waited that long. But, you know, time is the most valuable thing that we have. And it's free. But once it's gone, it's gone. So I've never had that chance to have that conversation with my mom. And I think about it every day. So when I talk to people and when people talk to me and they talk about things that they have

unsaid. It's like, hey, you don't know how much time you have. Have that conversation with your parents. And I bet your parents thought about it often before you had that conversation, their mistakes. For myself, in my own head, I can get really caught in negatively thinking about the shortcomings that I have had in my life. I haven't been a perfect parent for sure. You know, the decision to leave my first marriage, it really fractured how much time I have with my kids. My oldest son didn't talk to me for almost 18 months. It completely cut me out of his life. My middle son and my daughter, we would spend time together, but it was uncomfortable for a while.

Now it's much, much better. Like I have a much better relationship with all three of my kids. But I could do so much better. I wish I had done so much better. And I'll think about that. there'll be 40 and I'm still going to be thinking about that. Yeah. And I'm sure that your parents were,

we're thinking about it in the same way. So I think it's an incredible thing to be able to sit down and have that conversation. And it doesn't surprise me that you guys ended up being closer because of it. And like you said, like the weight of thoughts, it's fucking real.

Yeah. You have those conversations. I don't, I mean, it's like gravity is less effective somehow. Yeah. Yeah, it works, man. And truly,

I remember you sitting right where you're are right now having that conversation thinking about my mom and wishing I had I had at least had the chance and maybe it's selfishly you know maybe she had the chance to say what she wanted to but I wish I would have had the chance to say more and that's I mean anybody listen to this if you have something you need to say to somebody you better say it as soon as possible because we're not guaranteed any more time yeah so I mean because again obviously it'd be a horrific situation but let's say on your drive home something would have happened to you or in the time between you wanted to talk to your parents, something would have happened to them. You don't want that hanging over your

head for the rest of your life, or you would imagine them not having been able to have that conversation with you at that dinner and what came from it because it never would have presented itself. Definitely. And it came out like a great outcome for me, but, you know, people should still do it. And if the other individual doesn't respond in a positive way, it's nothing you can do about that. Yeah, just focus. It's going to help you. It's going to, it's for you, not for them. And yeah, you know, just you don't, we don't have all the time in the world, you know, as much as we think we do. We don't. And, you know, I've had some people who have taken the advice and talk to somebody.

And I like, well, that fucking sucked. It didn't go the way that I wanted to. They were super angry. And I'll ask them. Like, did you, did you say what you felt like you needed to say? And most of the time, if not always, they'll say yes. I'm like, okay, imagine that there is a rope between you and the person that you were talking with. Put down the rope.

Like they can hold on to it if they want to, but put down your side and move on with your life. That's all you can do. Yeah. And it's easier said than done. Some people put the rope down, but they tie it around their foot. You know, and another thing that came out of it was Michael Dowd, right? He's the seal that I couldn't get. His last name.

I was like, Mike, oh, Neil, oh, it's oh something. So when I saw him again, he's like, man, I heard it and thank you for bringing me up, you know. And I was like, man, you know, you help me, you know. And I'm a big believer in, especially within the veteran community. Nobody eats their own more than veterans, I believe. But we got to help each other, you know. So there are a core individual groups that they are helping each other and building

each other up. You know, and Michael Dowd helped me out, you know, like almost right after that, he started his own company, Defense Strategies Group, and he brought me on. And we were doing great things, you know, but one of the things that he did was, well, he gave me a job because before, with each semester, I was working at a yogurt shop, you know, getting yelled at by teenagers, like, hey, why is my asai bowl not ready? And I'm just like, you just placed the order, like, a minute ago, I have to cut the strawberries and bananas myself. Yeah, you're about to be wearing this I say, you're like, man, I was trying to tell him, like, man, I don't think you get it, man,

like you gave me a job, man. And then after getting to know him more, and he went through the same thing. You get out and it's not that great. And, and you, but you got to keep going and you got to meet people who are helping each other out. And I'm a big believer in that even more. And I, again, whether you guys want to take the credit or not. me as a veteran and he not even just special operations veteran just a veteran seeing what I consider the first wave to be you the all field craft you know Matt best and his crew you know

with Evan and and and all these people or all these veterans who get out and and yes you guys didn't come out in the same time but I consider you guys the first wave like the first I know what you mean Yeah, so the first wave of being successful in something that you're passionate about. And, you know, because I remember I saw the first person was Matt Best. And I remember thinking like, damn, him his crew are making funny videos and they're doing this. And good for them. No one else can do it. And that's how I thought because I was still active duty.

I was like, they will never be done. No one else can do it. And then other veterans did it. And so when I got out, there was this whole wave of veterans who were doing it. and and and and and then speaking with you like you know I'm like you know what maybe I can't too you know maybe maybe I can too and then and then I met Mike and then I met Benji Benji's the owner of thrash and raid which is skateboard company which the shirt I'm wearing and sick shirt by the way thank you man and Benji's a great guy he he spent like 17 years

in Marsock right and then got out early uh because he got a call from his wife like I went to the doctors some was wrong with my kidney so I went and guess what I'm I have kidney failure oh shit she's in her 30s now now she's stage 5 got out and and and he thought he was a lifer and got out and went to school for business at USC and then and then started thrashing raid and it kind of just picked up and it almost it was he almost started right when I came from this podcast left. And then, and then,

you know, one of my friends, Rod was killed overseas. And, uh, Hero Games charity was having an event in Virginia. And he, and they were like,

hey, man, um, from Rod's friend, uh, who's still active duty, he called me. He's like, hey, man,

um, Ronnie, his wife, for Rod's wife, was like, hey, Ronnie's going to go to this charity event. Um,

and it's in Virginia. and bed for Virginia and she doesn't I can't make it man and can you go so she has somebody she kind of knows and I was like yeah I'll go man whatever whatever it is I'll go like so I flew to

to Virginia I had no idea what to expect the Hero Games charity is a nonprofit who hosts like SF selection type things events and civilians just go through it right It's a team building exercise and all the money raised goes towards the family.

But what I like that they did is that they weren't just giving money and then or doing something for them and then shaking their hands off. And then, okay, next family. It was like, no, they want to be there for them after this event. So when I went over there, I was like, you know what? I'll be a student in the thing. So it was the first time in a long time since I've been out that I've been. was being yelled at to do push-ups in the mud, you know, with a ruck on and put it over your head. You're like, God, damn it, this is familiar.

I know. I was like, oh, my God. And it was a, it was a great event, but like, I mean, not that it went, not that it was over. I mean, yeah, after it, it was great, but I, I, I don't know what I ate, but it was bad. And halfway, I was like, dude, I am going to pee out of my ass right now. So I ran off into the woods, came back, and I had to have. sleeves and then somebody was one of the civilians and it's like where your sleeves go and then another the guy's like what do you think and i must have ran out to the side to pee out of my ass

probably like three more times i don't i don't know what it was what i ate but afterwards um i mean it was it was fun because i saw a community come together uh go through the suck together you know the best as close as you can to an actual sf selection did they pay for for the privilege of being hammered like that. Yeah. Yes. So they pay. And it's active duty SF guys being a cadre.

Can you imagine stroking a check to just get your dick kicked in like they do in selection courses? They did it. I mean, I get it. I know that it's been probably romanticized since the GWAT and people want to test themselves in the crucible. But I just look back. I'm like, I would pay money not to do that shit again. I would not pay money to do it again.

I'm not there yet. I'm still in the like, fuck yeah, let's do it. You're younger than me, so you got less miles on you. I know. Probably in a couple years I'll be like, Andy, you know how you were saying? Yeah. At some point, the allure wears off of paying somebody money to scream at you with a bullhorn and a garden hose. It's like, I'm so set on this.

I don't need this anymore in my life. Man, yeah. But I did the event. And then I noticed that one of the sponsors was thrashing rate. And so it's JD and Johnny, right? So JD is the active duty guy. Johnny's his brother. They're from Bedford.

And they have a place across the gym there. So a great place to work out if you're there. But he's like, hey, man, aren't you from California? And I was like, yeah. And I was still digesting what had occurred, right? The talk with my dad and my mom being on the podcast. where the direction clearly I'm going right because where I was going is that's not where I was at in my life and and he goes hey man that company's from California you should you should hit him up

and I was like okay I will I when I flew back I was like I messaged and was like hey man I'm my name's Andrew Cortez Rob was my friend and thank you for sponsoring this charity event if I host events as well for for the community if everyone will come out come out And he's like, I do too. And he's like, I have a toy drive. Come out. Come out. And a bunch of veterans are, and this needs to be said.

And people do. But veterans say like, yeah, reach out, reach out. Well, I will reach out. But they don't. Right. So I took it as me telling him, hey, come to an event. And he's like, I have an event right now. You know, because how many people I'm pretty sure I've told him, yeah, I'll make it, man.

Oh, yeah, don't worry. I'll go. And then they don't go. And then they don't show up. And it's like, well, well, man, yes, we have to reach out. but other people have to be willing to be like take that step and take that, you know, and take that invitation and come out. So I went to Oceanside.

I bought some toys, brought my family, and then Benji rolls up in this busted ass, Honda vehicle that he has. And he opens it up and it's a trunk full of like brand name, skate everything, because that's his world, right, the skate world. Yeah. And brand name everything. And he's giving it out to the kids. and I see how his kids interact with him

and immediately I was like that's a good dude because kids don't lie right and his little see right through the bullshit. Yeah and his little ones were acting super cool with him and he was genuinely wanting to teach them how to skate and stuff like that and I was like man this is a cool guy and he just started his company right

I didn't know about his wife I don't know about this I was like this is just a one happy joyful individual and then you hear about all this you know and he was you know using that as fuel to do positive things in the community. And one of the big things that goes on when you get out is that you lose your purpose and you lose your community. Whether you know it immediately or not, that's what's happening.

So you have to find your purpose, your next purpose, and your community. And that's what he was doing. And that's what I was doing with OG Pumpkin. I found my purpose, right? I found my community and he was doing the exact same thing on the other end. right and then we just teamed up and then mike starts his company and i truly believe and then hero games comes in too and i truly believe that we are the second wave of to show the the younger generation dude you can get out and you can be successful and you can do whatever it is you want to

do whether it's sell leather belts uh coffee um surfboards whatever whatever he doesn't even have to be like in our realm right it can be something else and you can be successful um and it's the power of teamwork. Yeah, I think people, a lot of people would find a lot more enrichment if it was completely different or out of the realm. Like podcasting as an example. Somebody had asked me this the other day of what I do for living and I always struggle like, I don't actually know what the fuck I do for living. The good answer that I have now, my business partner and I were talking about this a few days ago. So we're opening up a black rifle coffee shop. It's like literally three blocks, no, two blocks west of where we are.

But now when people ask me what I do, I go, oh, I have a coffee shop. And it ends all the other questions. Because before, like, what do you do? I'm like, well, I have conversations with people. And then I'll say, about what? I'm like, all sorts of shit. What else do you do? I do public speaking.

Like, okay, what do you talk about? I'm like, this is just terrible. I need a better answer for all this. Yeah. But I never, the podcast was the antithesis of the, quiet professional. And occasionally people will send me emails basically like, hey, fuck you. You're supposed to be a quiet professional.

How could you come out and talk like this? And my response to them always is like, hey, I appreciate the feedback. I'm not, I'm not negative to people. I try not to be negative to people on either social media or the direct email. But hey, I appreciate the feedback. I actually try as hard as I can to talk as little as possible about me. And the things I do talk about, trust me, you could find on Google. You know, I do reference things from seal training because it provides the opportunity for good analogies.

But yeah, if you want to put me in the same categories of the people out there, the term recently in an email was pimping the Trident, which is a common term inside of the SEAL teams, you know, putting the Trident on a book or a hat or fill in the blank. And my theory on all that is is people's experiences, they're free to do with them whatever they want to do. Yes. If you want to get the Trident tattooed on your face, I mean, don't, but also I'll pay for it if you want. to and then I want to document that for content. But if you want to do that and you earn the Trident, do whatever you want to do. Yeah. I'm not ever going to write a book because I don't have anything to write a book about.

But I do love sitting down and talking to people. I don't know. I think that's a lot. I think you got a lot to talk about that can be helpful for a lot of people. It's already been all written. So Glover always pushes the shit on me too. He's like, I'll write the book and I'll narrate it. I'm like, do you even need me there?

Can we just like, what are we talking about? But it's, you know, so people, some people will push back on it. Oftentimes they're from other branches of the service. Yeah. One of the most common ones I get is, well, Army guys would never start a podcast like you are. I'm like, okay, like, cool. Do whatever they want to. This podcast, to me, has been the most enriching, potentially the most enriching thing that I've ever done.

Because I can sit here and have conversations with guys like you. And then have you talk about the impact that the conversation had on your life and what you were able to do from it. and where other people who were able to accomplish amazing things. It's like, I'm sorry that that's the background that I have. I try to tread on it lightly, but I'll never be able to escape it. And so people think that I'm pimping the tried, then cool. Thanks for the feedback. You know, like move along.

See, with something like that, when people make these statements, years ago, I used to almost immediately just attack that, right? But then everything's deeper than that. for somebody to take their time. They're usually unhappy in and of themselves. Yeah, because I don't know of anybody who is successful in life. And I don't mean successful as in money. I mean successful as in has a loving relationship with a significant other or their friends

or whatever the community is, has all that, right? Kids are happy, they're happy, they feel fulfilled and still decides to write negative stuff like that. Because before, I think you asked me, oh, do you get any negative stuff? And I was like, no. And at the time, I didn't. But now, oh, man. Welcome to the club. I've been called a race trader.

I've been called. Really? Yeah. I've been called, you know, I'm still a thug. That I'm stupid for doing this or stupid for doing that or people will not take me serious. just about almost everything and anything and people just wow you know and and

so here's the danger in that too and let me know if you fall into this trap let's say you get a hundred messages two of them are fuckballs and they're negative yeah do you ever spend more time focusing on those two no positive 98 because I do that's the trap you're like I will put the energy back into thinking about the two negative and you'll disregard

the 98 positive. I've received emails and messages from people who, and I don't understand why this would be the case, but I'm very grateful that it is who said that they made the decision not to kill themselves because of the podcast. Yeah. Or made a relationship decision. And a lot of them come to be, a lot of them are based on the conversations I'll have with my dad, whose call sign is Dick Broom actual because of this glorious Dick Broom that he has. Yeah. Like it makes Bert Reynolds look like a child. That's how good his mustache is. All right. But people will say that they listen to those episodes and they went and talked to their dad, you know, or talked to their mom. And it's the power of the power of that is unbelievable. And then I'll get these two messages and you're just like, motherfucker. It's on.

No, you can't be doing that. I don't though. I try to. Oh, okay. Well, I just lied to you. Sometimes I do. Oh, no. I try not to.

No. I got an email the other day, the guy's signature block, it said, Cagalicious. I'm like, you must be in the Army, son. I don't because, one, my friends clown on me more than those messages. For sure. And they actually know you. Yeah, and they actually know me.

And I have a good group of friends that I don't have yes men around me. As in anything I say, they're like, yeah, yeah. No, it's like if I'm fucking up, they tell me, right? Well, that's an actual friend. Friends tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Yeah, so I don't, so they are always telling me, you know. Mike, Mike was like, hey, you better not put hydraulics on your limo. And I was like, Glover said that?

No, not, no. Okay. I was going to see Glover going the other way with that. Hydraulics, off-road tires, rooftop tent, even though you could probably sleep inside of that thing. No, Michael Dowell is like, he's like, hey, you better not put it. hydraulics on that limo. I heard you talking to Benchie that you want to put hydraulic on it. I was like, yeah, and he's like, no.

But I did it. Anyways, but so then it's like, I don't attack those people, but I do I like to see, put myself in their shoes and where are they coming with this? Yeah. You know, with like the, you're still, so people who

don't know my background is long story short, you know, grew up poor, got into gangs, eventually started selling guns and drugs. Then went into the Army. I was fortunate enough to be part of the Simplifth the Ranger Regiment. I spent some time in Iraq, Afghanistan. I got out.

Now I'm going to school to become a registered dietitian. I compete and train in Muay Thai and Jitsu. And I competed while I was active duty. So in these all little worlds, right? It's easy for me to because I'm from there. Or I'm doing these things. And so people like from, the low income community, the gang world, the hood, all that, like, not all of them.

This isn't a representation of all of them, but like, I'll get one or two, like, you're a race trader. And they're like, you love America more than you love your people. And I'm like, first of all, I'm born here. So like, these are my people. I'm American. My family comes from Mexico. And so I'm the first one in my family, be born here. So, yes, I was raised with certain Mexican traditions.

traditions and stuff like that, but I'm more Americanized than anything. I love them both, but I'm American. And just because I serve this country and I clearly identify more as Americanized than, you know, doesn't mean I'm a race trader, you know, and or people that are like, well, you're still a thug. You know, it doesn't matter. He's like, I hate when people change and they think that it can justify their wrongdoings. And I've never been that way where how I am and the work I'm doing in the vending community does not erase what I did. You know, I don't see it that way.

But at the same time, I don't kill myself over after during my past. Well, you also don't seem to be unwilling to take accountability for it. There's a huge difference between people who will say, well, this is who I am now. So nothing that I did in the past matter. or look at what I'm doing now, so nothing I did in the past matters versus, hey, I am constantly trying to improve myself. I'm trying to learn from my mistakes. I'm completely accountable for the things that I have done in the past, and I will be held accountable for those things, but this is still the positive direction I'm trying to go. Those two people are very, very,

very different beasts. Yeah. Yeah. And that's my mindset. I've surrounded myself with individuals like that, that we are always improving. We're always trying to, and it's hard. Because, you, You can't just do it for a week or a month. Like, that's you every single day. And it might sound overwhelming to some people. But what I like to say is that I don't see it as something people message me. Like, how do you do this all day every day? I'm like, well, I don't do it all day every day.

I just do it for that one day. And then I go to sleep and wake up and then I make the decision and do it again. And then there are days where I fail. There are days where, hey, I don't go a workout or I make an excuse and don't go to the GEE class, even though my professor said, hey, you got to go to the geek class to get better. You could do one today, you sound rich. And so I do fail, but it's like you just have to keep going. And you're going to, you know, rack up more successful days and days of progress than you don't, you know.

And eventually good stuff is going to happen and you'll get there. Micro failures, they happen. What you want to avoid is macro failures. Yes. And people will ask me the same thing Or how do you accomplish a goal? It's like, listen, set a huge goal that scares the living shit out of you.

That's probably a point where you realize it's valuable. Because if you set a goal and you know you're going to accomplish it, to me, that's kind of a waste of time. Like actually put yourself out there, list out everything that you need to do, like all these small sequential steps, and then just focus on the next step.

And if you have a setback or a failure, like just focus on the next small step you need to take and don't let something micro like skipping a, a jiu-jitsu class, which I've never done. Tired or hungover or whatever it would be. But I didn't skip a week. Like, I'll take a day and then I get back on the horse. So I'll allow for a micro failure, even though I'm not aiming to have those.

But I don't allow it to impact the macro goal. Yeah. And when you vocalize these goals even more, if it scares you, that's a good thing. That's when you know when you start living. You know, I remember when I told myself, I was going to start taking jihitsu serious. and and I just because I said it and I told the jiu-suitous coach too

from I train a classic fight team in Fountain Valley the head coach is Tyler Wombles phenomenal coach he's like his one of the biggest names right now that he's helping train was T.J. Dillosh for his last fight

he was cornered him the jiu-jitsu program is by Sid and Miles they run a phenomenal jiu-jitsu program and what I love most is that they have they're great with kids

because just Because you're a, since we're talking about jihita, just because you're a blackout, it doesn't mean you're a great instructor. You know, being. It doesn't mean you're a great person either. 100%. And they are great with kids, you know? And I love that, that they know how to teach and talk to the kids. Yeah.

So, like, of course, me being the father of my 10-year-old son and my 8-year-old girl, I want to teach them everything, but you can't teach them everything. Sometimes things that you're saying, they're going to learn from somebody else. It's almost as if your children don't listen. But if somebody else says exactly the same thing, they sit there and they go, uh-huh. Yep. Uh-huh. And in your head just like, motherfucker, I just told you that for the last year. I know.

But that's how I was. But then I was like, you know what? Do you care more about that you taught them or just like that they learned? They learned. And so big props to them. But I, and to Sid and Miles. And so I told Sid, I was like, and Miles was like, I'm going to go to Jitza now because before that I'd only compete. and trained in Muay Thai.

And Tyler was the head coach, but Diego Paias was the assistant coach, and he's my main trainer. And once I told Sid, I was going, I put it out there in the world. Yeah. Right? And it's not like I was not going to see him. We're in the same gym. They teach my kids. So, you know, was that goal scary?

Yeah, because, one, I don't know anything about the ground. So when I met you here, I think it had only been a few months. And then now since then, I mean... I have, see, you posted enough pictures of you competing. Yeah, I've competed three times in the last year. I've placed silver and two bronze. That's awesome. And you were competing in no-gee, right?

Yeah, no-gee. Yep. Do you realize that people actually wear clothes often? You know, that... I'm joking. I have no issue with no-gue whatsoever. No, no, I'm right there with you. I am right there with you because I was like, what is going on

with some of these outfits, I'm like, bro, well, you're wearing it's skin tight. It is, but I also deeply respect the fashion game that is involved with Nogi. Oh, it's big. I didn't realize it. I went to the origin camp in Maine, which anybody listening to this who likes Jiu Jitsu needs to go to the origin immersion camp. It's fucking Jiu Jitsu summer camp for adults. I'm trying to go.

You should absolutely go. I message Peter? Yeah, Pete, yeah. There's hundreds of people, and they'll do Ghi and Nogi. I the school we train at They teach a couple no-gey classes Most of them are ghee But we'll get no-gee rolls in

And open-back because you can just pop your kimono top off Yeah But most of the classes are in ghee So I And there's a couple guys there who really like no-gee But I only got a chance to see them With their rash guard top and like gey bottoms Yeah

We roll into the immersion camp Holy shit I feel like some of these people Before coming to the camp We're doing full like Zool-L lander fashion shows. Yeah. Mix match top and bottom.

Oh yeah. Dragon suits where it's like off to this side and the legs or this side. There's a guy there in a full Deadpool outfit. Spats and long sleeve rash guard. They're fucking rainbows, unicorns. I would just marvel. I would just sit back and be like this, the fashion game here is understated but overwhelming. They go hard.

They go hard. We're talking deep internet shopping sessions. Yes. Yeah. And somebody told me, though, like, hey, man, your art is perfect for rash guards. It actually is. And I was like, no, no. And then a bunch of what made me pull the trigger on making rash guards was some

Rangers from First Battalion were like, hey, man, like, dude, can I just get a custom-made rash guard? Yes, for $178. Yeah. I mean, and that's, you do one-offs, you're going to pay for one-offs. Yes. So I contact. I was like, you know what? I'm going to do it for the boys.

and I contacted a couple people and they all left me on red and then I just I just was like you know what I went with Edgar from Eager Ones who makes all the rash guards for the 10 planets Okay And I was like well he's probably going to say no He's gonna and then he's like hey man yeah

Oh oh make you an order and I was like can I just I just want like five And he's like five because he's used to doing big orders Yeah I was like yeah there's really from a just for my friends and I'm not even trying to make a profit. I don't want to sell them. And he's like, yeah. And then he told me the price and I was like, oh shit.

Can I get two? Yeah. And I was like, okay. And then word spread. And then so I made 10, 12 more. And then they sold, but I made no profit. And then I made 30 more and I barely made a profit. And then I asked me, like, how much are you selling these rash guards for?

and they're like, how much are you selling them for? I was like $40? And he's like, no, man. Did he start laughing at you on the phone? Yeah, yes. He's like, you, that's why you're not making a profit. I was like, well, because I don't want, the first it was for the boys. It wasn't to make a profit off them.

The way I see it, yes, I serve, but they're the ones serving. Yeah. Right. That's me, but that's, that's an old book. They're right now. They're current. So my hat goes off to them, you know, the men and women who are doing this now. So I didn't want to make a profit.

And then, so now I eventually did place big orders. And adjusted your price point? Yes. Yes. And I'm not sure if you got it, but I sent you one. Did you send me a rash card? I did. I didn't get it.

Oh, that sucks. You son of a bitch. I sent it like right when I made it. Damn it. No, I didn't. I don't think I got it. Well, I tell you what, I'm bummed that you're here. Well, I'm not bummed that you're here today, but Friday I have some new rash cards coming out.

I'll send you some as well, too. I made some for the podcast. I bought one and you know how there's like a slight difference. So I don't like to wear my rash cards like skin tight. We've all seen those no geek dudes. You're a little bit more of a baggy? Yeah, just a little bit, right? The origin ones are they have a little bit more, I'm going to use a technical term,

grippy material. Yes, because you're a little bit tighter fit. Because when I bought it and I put it on, I was like, I'm watching you get in the mirrors, you're just like, ugh. Yeah, but I was like, that's just not my. style and I was like, this is skin tight and I try to go for a large sold out. And then when you made more sold out. And then I was just like, I missed it by what happened. They sell fast, man. I completely underestimated and still have absolutely no idea the quantity

that I should order for rash cards. Because podcasting, as you know that you have one now, you hit upload and you have no control whatsoever as to where it goes and who downloads it. Yeah. So I don't know. I'm assuming that the only two types of people that would buy a rash guard that I make would be a surfer and a jiu-jitsu player. Yeah. I'm assuming you could use the jiu-jitzy rash guards for surfing. I'm not an expert in raskards by any stretch.

But those are the only two genres of people other than John Danaher that were a rash guard for an activity. Yeah. So I don't know how many listen, though. And I don't necessarily know where they are. Well, you got a triple card triple that number because they sell out. That check gets really large that you have to write to the company that's making. Yes. People forget about that.

I'm like, so there's certain ways you can make products, right? And I learned this all the hard way. There's like a made-to-order with T-shirts, DTG, right? So you big computer printer, but for like a T-shirt and you make it in and there. Or you can do screen. Low margins. Yeah, low margins. Or you do screen printing.

Which is also low margins until you can order large numbers. Yes. Not that there's not margin there, but if people think that you. make 10 t-shirts and are going to pay your rent off of 10 t-shirts? No. No, you're going to make like 20 bucks. Yeah. And then if you're like me and it only be like, well, I'm only, I paid this much.

I'm going to up at $5. That'll work. No, no, that's not going to work. I went through that phase, though, too. So I am just now, I think, five years into the podcast and maybe three years into having any merchandise associated with it, it's a learning process for sure. I still, to this day, couldn't tell you which shirts are going to sell better than others. I'm still trying to figure out the numbers.

The rash guard is a baffling one to me. Yeah. Until it made a little bit more sense once I saw the origin came like, oh, you guys have a lot of these. Yeah. So it's the people who use them to participate in Jiu-Jitsu, they're like, well, I have seven, but I think nine is the number. Yeah. No, no. I know dudes with just, they're like, oh, I have more rash guards than T-shirts.

Yeah. And, and. But I still don't know how many to buy to sell. So I have, since my first order, I have, I doubled it, then doubled it, then doubled it, and doubled it again. You're going to have to double to double. I am not writing that check. Yeah, that's right. That's right.

I refuse to do that because I pay for it up front. Yeah, yeah, same, same as I someone. People are like, you should do this and then I want to, but I just don't have that much money to make that big order. And you said something funny, like you never know what sells. There's art that I've paid like $5.50 to $600. and I sold two t-shirts. And then there's art that my friend Jacob, who's been of a huge part of OG Pumpkin,

was he just made it for the fun of it, and I've sold thousands of those t-shirts. And he probably would have bet on the one you paid the money for it to sell better. Yeah, I do like the art. The fact that it didn't sell, that's another thing, but I love that art, but I'm just like, that's a banger. And then he goes up for sale, and it's not. And you're like, son of a bitch, I'm the worst at this ever, I give up.

Yeah. No, the struggle's real with that shit. And so the ones who've sold the most, it's called Just Keep Going, right? And it's a ghost with a heavy backpack on it, a rucksack, and then a rifle. And we made it because, you know, he was a Marine, Jacob was a Marine. And when you're in the suck, we all know that feeling, right? We know that feeling when you're in the suck and maybe you want to quit, maybe you don't want to quit. But it's just fucking sucks.

But you just got to keep going. just keep going and and I put it up there and people were like when is when are you going to sell it when you're going to sell it and then and then but it also because now I'm a veteran it's when you get out you know I've been at my lowest point where I thought I was going to get divorced I wasn't seeing my kids I was sleeping on the futon in my aunt's house and asking her for five dollars so I can go put gas in my car to go to the shop where the teenagers were yelling at me well how come their assai bowl isn't done right and i remember being like i i wouldn't do it but i i can see why people just say you know what man i've had enough i've had enough so i said you know and it's also

just keep it going because it gets rough out here in life you don't have this isn't just because the company isn't it's moving in certain directions it's not just for veterans and active duty it's man you just got to keep going yeah the suck has nothing to do with the military the military has a unique type of suck. Yes. But life in general will provide that for you regardless of what you do. Yes. And the number is 305 right now.

I have 305 people who've got that design tattooed on them. Just keep going? Yeah. Well, it varies from some other OG pumpkin designs, but it's about that many people. And I was talking to Ball Bros, the leather patch company. And I was like, man, I remember when I started, people were like, it's not going to work. It's not going to work. There's no market for Halloween.

wing stuff, art and stuff. Made in October, that's not true. Yeah, right? And he was telling me something that I knew, but I had not said it out loud. And he's like, well, your art, I like your art, man, it's cool. But I think you know that it's not your art, why it sells. I think you know that it's what the company represents, what you're doing, and the work speaks for itself.

and and people see it and they feel it and it hits them and it orientates it hits that at a home that that that's why they're willing to like I've had I've had multiple squads sent me the pictures like hey month the whole squad got it cops me like hey man I changed it and it instead of a rifle it's a pistol and then my badge number or medical professionals or firefighters you know like oh I put an axe and a hose on it and and And people from militaries from like Spain, the UK, you know, who've gone in. They're like, hey, I heard you on Andy Stum's podcast. I was getting coffee.

And somebody was like, I heard you on Andy Stump's podcast. And I was like, man. And they love it. And like, I started following you, started seeing what you're doing. And like, man, that's so cool. And first of all, I know when people see my page, my personal page, it kind of throws them off. Because you're like, what does this guy do? What does he not do?

Because I got a truck. I got a truck because I put the limo on hydraulics. And Mike's like, hey, man, since you put hydraulics on that limo, I don't want to hear. And he said it in a nice way, right? But he's like, I don't want to hear why you can't make it to work. And I was like, you're right. You're right. And I was like, so I got the truck business.

Business is good. Yeah. So defense strategies group, what we do is. is we teach anywhere from we've trained SWAT teams to mothers who've never touched a firearm. Yeah. We do private security, we do consulting, you know, private training.

And I can't say their names, but we've, because us being based out of LA, we train people who I never thought would be into firearms, especially what's happening. Recognizable names. Yes. Yeah, a Grammy award-winning people and people in certain businesses and that I can't mention, I'll tell you.

Yeah, for sure. And especially what's happening not just right now, you know, not just in Ukraine, but what happened in COVID and in the beginning, yes, it's not like this zombie producer thing that we thought it was, but nobody knew what it was in the beginning, right? People were scared. There was looting, and especially me being from SoCal, I saw it all. I saw the riots. I saw all this and people got scared.

And then there's muggings and then and, you know, there's certain things that are in place right now that are not helping law enforcement that these thugs, me being a former, you know, you know, individual sold guns and sold drugs. If I was, if that version of me was here now, it would be the golden era right now because I know. they can't do anything. I know law enforcement has, they're going to catch me and release, catch and release. If they're even going to engage. And even if they're going to engage, right?

Because law enforcement, they don't feel backed. They don't feel like they're supported. I have friends who are, you know, SWAT teams and family members who are in SWAT teams and local PD and they're like,

we don't feel like we have the backing of our people. And he's like, and it bummed me out because he was a family member. He's also a SWAT team member. and he was like, when people ask me, what do I do? I don't tell them I'm in law enforcement. Because automatically they're going to think something of me.

Fuck, that's a sad state of affairs. Yeah, and that, I was like, man, that's fucked up. And he's like, I tell him I'm a garbage man. I take out the trash for the city. And I remember being like, man, like, that's where we're at a point. And then almost the same people who are, you know, portraying law enforcement in a certain way and maybe their heart is in the right area, but they're like, you know, guns are bad. It's kind of funny to see those are the same people right now that are praising the Ukraine civilians

that, yeah, defend yourself, give them more guns, give them more this, you know, to fight against Russia. And they probably very quietly show up at your training events. And hey, I just got this new tool. I don't know how to use it. I'm new to the scene. Maybe you can teach me some things. And you know, what's happening, business is booming for us because of that, but I don't like, I don't like it. I don't like that business is booming for DSG because, like, I'm not sure if you've seen the video.

This happened in LA. It was a very rich area. It's a mother open the gates to her home. She had a stroller, and she was walking in two individuals came and mugged her. I did not see that video. That sucks. And we were having a class, and one of the guys was like, yeah, Have you seen that video?

And I was like, yeah, we've all seen it. And he's like, yeah, man, that was near me. And then as a class progressed, he's like, as a matter of fact, I live a couple of houses down. Oh, shit. That's why I'm here. And I remember thinking, like, yeah, dude, I like that you're here, but like, I don't like why you're here.

Well, some people, they have to have that visceral experience thrown in their face before they're going to believe. I wish I could go around and think the best of people. people and assume that everybody has the best of intentions, but I cannot anymore based off my experience. I'd rather prepare for the worst case scenario and have all the tools that I could possibly want, but not need. And I think especially in that town, I mean, let's be honest, that town is largely built off of make-believe. Yeah. I think it's easy to bury your head in the sand. Yeah. And the biggest thing was we called it, like a lot of us when we have these conversations,

and I think it's important to have conversations and not just say the same little one-liners that I hear. I love the gun community. I love the veteran community, but some portion of it is very toxic, and they'll say things like libtards and... Oh, yeah. You're just turning people off. Yeah, you're turning people off. And then also like, hey, man, aren't you a grown man? What are we doing here?

Is this elementary school in the playground? We're making up, you know, funny. names for them like or how about we have conversations and and address how we're going to to fix things or what are we going to do action right I'm more of an action than then then just let me just fucking spew out negativity all day every day you're taking it back to the email response like you were saying you try to see it through somebody else's eyes I wasn't born and raised in LA I was born raised in Santa Cruz so just up the coast but I lived a bunch of time in San Diego in LA and let's view it through the lens of somebody who comes from a very high net worth area in

LA County, like, you know, maybe near Beverly Hills or fill in the blank. Their odds of encountering violence in earlier time periods, I would say, pre-COVID, super low. I can totally understand somebody's headspace being a completely different lens and optic on the world growing up there versus our experience of going overseas and actually seeking out violence. There's no way we're going to view it the same. Yeah. And it makes, I may not agree with what they think, but it makes more sense to me when I can sit back and try to view it through their eyes and have a conversation. But to me, I don't know if it's the same with you. The second somebody starts with Lib Tarter, it's like I'm done.

Like I'm out of the conversation. I have no interest in it whatsoever. And also, for the people who talk like that, you're actually your own worst enemy. Whatever point you're trying to make, you're actually standing in the way of that point ever actually being made because you're just turning people off. Oh, 100%. And what people don't like to hear, I was having a conversation with somebody. we were we were ever treating there was downtime right and and and and he he was black well i'm

going to say he was black because he was black and this is very important uh the individual he was like hey man he's like how is the military for you how was it like you know you being you know mexican and um you know what did you experience racism and i was like yeah man and and and then and he's and i was like but you got to change that through through action you know and it's not going to be fast and you're not going to change someone's opinion by 30 seconds simple-minded one-sided video or a meme or you yelling at them calling their names it takes action and then he wasn't agreeing with me on that you know i gave him the example he's like no he's like it's it's you have to basically almost the opposite of what i just said you know like the protest and being

and like protesting okay that's cool and vocalizing but like that's using anger it's not going to work I gave him the example of there's this one guy who, when I was in the military, he was like, hey, man, he's like, for a Mexican, you're not that bad. And we joke, you know, if civilians who don't know, we joke about everything and anything in the military. So it's all on the table. Yeah. Race, color to the skin, religious belief, like, it's on the table.

Yeah. So, and I took it as a joke, but then he kept saying that after a while. And then I remember thinking, like, that's not really a joke. And then I would see how he would carry. himself and who he would talk to and not talk to you and who he liked to listen and not like to listen and then after like about a year he was like you know how i used to say you know you're not bad for mexican i wasn't joking and i was like yeah i've kind of figured that and and he's like and he's like but i learned that from my dad you know i was i was told that all you just come generational yeah i was

told that all you guys just come and try to just rape this country and and and and i love my dad and and And so that's what I was taught. But I see that that's not true. And it took time. And I gave him that example. And he was like, no, because it has to be now. And I'm like, it's not the way it works. That is not the way it works, you know?

So for, you know, to take it back to the gun thing, it's like these people who never who never faced that danger. Now they're facing that danger. Now they're like, holy shit, I should probably learn how to defend myself. If I had people who I never thought would message me to begin of COVID like, what gun should I buy? And I was just like, yes. So you can either be like, I fucking told you so, see you dumbass.

Which is pointless. Or you can be like, as a matter of fact, here, education, you should do this. You should do that. I can help you. And then now it's not even a team thing or a side thing. It's like, now they see this. And they're like, okay, well, I was wrong about this. I was wrong about that.

And so now I'm doing this. Have they changed the concealed carry laws at all in Cali? Because having a gun at your house is great, assuming that you're at your house all the time with the gun. But my experience, especially in San Diego, like, good luck getting the CCW. I hear it's a lot easier. I hear that the sheriffess are a lot easier. And a lot of people have told me like, hey, man, your time is now. Like if you want one, you should do it.

And I should do it because it's the right thing to do. But like, I mean, I've been carrying a gun since I was like 15, 14. So like I, the idea of a concealed carry, I was just like, well, I'm going to go pay and waste my time. But I hear. So you don't go to jail. Yeah. Yeah. You know, but it's like.

Especially if you're teaching firearms, I'd probably get one. Yeah. Yes. Follow the law on that one. Yes. Yeah. So not that I'm doing that. Well, I'm actually, I am doing all the paperwork and all that stuff.

Yeah. Well, if they are actually handing them out at this point, I would do it because, again, never living in L.A. county, I heard nightmares about people trying to get concealed weapons permits. Yeah, it was never going to happen. But because I'm so into the law enforcement community as well, they tell me, you know, we're like, hey, man, for people who don't know, there is a huge gun community in California. You know, there's, there's what social media shows you about a lot of things. And then there's a reality of things. And California is not filled with gun haters. There is a huge gun community in California. And when we talk, when we're talking about this, people are like, we don't care about those Americans, you know, these civilians doing it.

We care about the gangbangers with the guns. That's what we're after. We're not trying to, you know, there's all the veterans who have guns. We're not after them. You know, we're just after the criminals and stuff like that. But, yes, I'm doing the right thing because now the company is growing. It's getting big to the point where, you know, I mean, we all bought trucks. You know, we're all.

What'd you buy? I bought a Ford Ranger. A Ranger for a Ranger. Ford Ranger. So you got like a little mini truck. Well, it's the biggest version of them because I've seen. It's the biggest version of their small truck. Don't try to church this shit.

It's smaller than an F-150, which in my mind is the entry-level truck. Well, because I used to have – because I need it just for work, right? So because my daily driver is my limo on hydraulics. When people don't – they picture the long limo, but it barely qualifies as a limo. It's a presidential limo. Like, you have seats facing this way, and then you have seats facing like you're facing me. Yeah. In the back, right?

Four seats. Yes. Yeah. And so that's my car and kind of hard with traffic and stuff like this. And I was like, I need something just to carry when we do have range days, the steel, the paper targets and everything. And at first, I was like, you know what? Let me just get one of those like little Nissan bands. And then, and then Analia was like, why not a truck?

And I was like, okay, you said it first. You said truck. Once you go truck, you never go back, man. They're the way to go. Yes. Yes, but before my first vehicle that I had was this huge, huge old shabby truck, like the old school. I like those body shapes. And it was the extended cab long bed.

Oh, sweet. Probably about the same size as your limo. Yes. And on a huge lift. And people would always make fun of me when they saw me when I was, they were still in the military. They see me go into it. They're like, dude, that is such a huge. truck and it's a small human being driving it.

They're probably going to associate that with little dick syndrome. Yeah. Little dick, big truck. And speaking of that, so what is above average dick vehicle? Because above average dick vehicle, probably a lifted F-150. Okay. Average, little above. Okay.

Because like, I never understood that. They're like, so if you have a muscle car, little dick. And I was like, you have a huge truck. It's the assumption. you have a little dick. Yeah. So if you have a Prius, does that mean you got the world's biggest?

If you have a Prius, it means you're just walking around with fucking Thor's hammer between your legs. I think that's what that is. Mule near, just dragging on the ground. Can't even be lifted.

So I wanted to get a big truck just like that old one I had. But I was like, man, I was like, do I really want another long big vehicle? Not in L.A. Yeah, and I was like, man, parking fucking sucks.

I was like, I just need it to do the job. What do you have covering the bed? Nothing. All right. I'm going to get you one of those Diamondback covers. Those things are badass. And I'm actually one of their ambassadors, so that'll be an easy one. You can put like 1,600 pounds on the top of that thing.

It's lockable. They're badass. Oh, good. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. So that's what I have. It's like it's a four door, the beefed up version of the Four Ranger, which I love.

It does the job. But yeah. Let's be honest. You bought it because of the name. I made sure to make that. joke first in the group chat because I was like so this this is you had to get it out of the way yes because this is so so DSG in the group chat it's it's we have a bunch of active duty Navy SEALs we have Adam um he was a seal uh some of them are very in their position in the SEAL teams so but

I know they don't mind me to name it but it's just SEALs yeah just best to leave them out of it so so Mike's a SEAL uh Benji's Mar-Marxar Fran was a SF officer and then you have a ranger so late it's you basically have all the special operations in the company which is in the group chat and I was like if I don't make this jug right now they're going to fucking clown it it will literally be the first thing that they type in there if you don't do it first yeah that was actually the varsity move yeah so and I can tell it because somebody was like somebody was like they said something like well that you take the fun out of it that was the point yeah

Moving on to the next. Yeah, onto the next. Dude, did you get your limo sorted? I saw on your social media, it got detonated by a garbage truck. Was this before I came here? No, it was after. After, right? This was like the last few months.

Yes. So I was getting ready. So I do DSG, and so that's my income, right? And I also go to school, do GI Bill, get that PAH. And then OG Pumpkin as well. You know, DSG wasn't to where it's at now. So I pull from everything. But now it's to the point because DG is paying me so well that OG Pumpkin has basically become a nonprofit, so I can do a lot.

And I was getting ready to link up with some veterans and law enforcement for Jiu-Jitsu, right? And I was going to give a rash guard and stuff like that because, yes, I do have to sell some stuff to make a profit to keep it going. The products don't pay for themselves. Yes. Unless you make them pay for themselves. And I was literally putting a rash guard on. And I hear a loud bang, my car alarm, and then my son go, Dad, somebody hit your car.

And I was like, and I walk out in my rash guard, in my shorts. I open the door and the front end of my 1992 Lincoln Town car limo is fucking smashed. And I have cameras all around my house, so it's parked in front of my house so I can see it. And the first thing that driver tells me, he's laughing. And he's like, shit happens. And he was around my age, right? Mind you, this was a garbage man. Yeah, garbage man.

So he's around my age. And I'm not sure if, like I said, I like to put myself in other people's shoes. Maybe he was nervous, maybe whatever. But I was like, I remember thinking like, if you hit him, now you're in trouble. Oh, yeah. And then they may not want to fix your limo as quick or at all. And then not to mention you're in front of your son. and if you're trying to teach them perfect times

and when you should defend yourself, it's not that, even though that's fucking made me upset, but that's not, just because someone made you upset, doesn't mean you have to go hit them. Well, it's a good lesson too, and I try to highlight this with my kids,

that things really don't matter. Like you can get upset. Obviously, you care deeply about that car, what it means, what you use it for business. But at the end of the day, it's not a risk to life, limb, or eyesight. So you can show your kids there are things to get upset about.

And there are things that, you know what, we're just going to take this unique challenge as it comes our way and work our way through it. Like there's a lot of learning that can come from that. Yeah. And so then they hit it. They brought out a representative. And he told me, he's like, hey, man, you're going to, we're going to call you. We're going to call you. We'll get this worked out.

And I was like, I got. And then I looked at the security cameras after he left. the dude didn't cut a right as he should have hit it and then he backed into it and I was like so so it just turned out that I told him I gave them my wife's contact info too because I was like we're we're going to a private ranch to train some people up north you don't have signal at all you only have Wi-Fi and when you're at their base camp yeah Um, so, uh, when I come back after three days and I was, they're like, nothing, we haven't got anything. And people were already telling me like, hey, man, you should, you need a lawyer up.

You need a lawyer up. And finally, somebody calls me, uh, after eight days. So there's eight days of, of the limo just being there. I've, I also make income, like I said, to sell shirts. I go to gyms that I set up and I sell t-shirts and, and, and it's sometimes as high as like $1,800. Yes, just in that afternoon. That's awesome, man. and nobody

fucking called me for a week and I remember struggling in my head for two weeks because I was like I was like what am I going to do? Like all the OG pumpkin money I fucking spent because but I was like man the ranch money will cover this and that but like I still

I still need to cover all my other bills and so for two weeks I had to figure it out but then private training with DSG covered that but for two weeks I was like what am I going to do? you. And then so after the two weeks, then I felt less stress, but I was like, I feel like they're ignoring me. And then I, I, somebody calls me, the lady calls me. And she's like, we're just going to total it. And I was like, no, no, no, I was like, she's like, what is the price of a,

of a town car? And it was like, $1,200. And I was like, no, no, I have a Lincoln town car limo that is part of my business. Yeah, I relatively unique, not just a normal Lincoln town car. Yeah, I sell T-shirts based off the limo, you know, like it's a, I made it into art and it sells. And, and when I host events, you know, SWAT teams want to take pictures in front of the limo because they've seen the limo. They heard about the limo. It's, I use it to transport, you know, product so I can set up and sell. Like, it's a huge part of my business. Like, I, I, I, I do this and that for the community.

I, and she literally told me, well, there was no. prove to what you're saying is true. And I remember like I took that to heart and upset me. And so I sent her pictures with blurred out faces of SWAT teams of veterans of the art that that is that is on based off the limo of my websites and interviews like this podcast and articles written about the company. And it mentions the limo. And I was like, this is such a huge part of my life. life in my business and my livelihood and she was she got all that info and I didn't hear anything for two weeks and then and then they're like we need bank statements and then I send her all the bank statements and then it was my first year of being running a business so I didn't know the good how to that I should separate business account and personal account and so I send her all this she's like what about your taxes I was like I failed to do my business taxes because two individuals died And I remember I was when it was my fault because I was waiting for the last month of taxes and then and then on my wife's side two individuals one died and then one's on the way out and

So I just like hey let's focus on that screw the taxes And they're like well we can and so that's what they want it on oh well there's no taxes so we can't we can't show proof that what you're saying how much how much money This this thing is producing you and I was like I just want it fixed I don't want I don't want more money I just want it fixed and then and then somebody told me they're like at the gym uh my friend matt and erika uh Erica was like what are you claiming for your loss of income and i was like what and they're like yeah this whole time you're losing money so you're lost of income they're going to pay for that i was like i don't even know that i was just so used of getting screwed over for childhood military whatever that i was like i was like just fix the limo and we call it good yeah

they're like no they're gonna they should pay you loss of income so then i told them how much i made And then they're like, there's no proof of that. And then I was like, here's the bank statement. They're like, it doesn't show. I'm like, well, some of my sales are through Venmo and cash. And so then I told her in a nice polite way because arguing is not going to get there. I was like, I was like, ma'am, I'm like, here are pictures of me dropping off $1,000 with the food at a food bank. Where as a child, I used to be there waiting for food.

Now I'm giving money to them. Here's an event where I bought vehicles and we shot to and from them. I had a taco guy there, a band. I live in California in a three-bedroom apartment. I have four kids, two dogs, and a wife. How do you think I support all this? Like if you're saying that I'm lying or, you know, how much money do you think I make them?

And then they were, and then months and months passed by. And unfortunately, it's sad, but I had to take it to social media to where I made a post and I screenshot the email to how they were playing me now it's six seven months of them playing around

and then the support came like so many people emailed them called them sent messages on their on their Instagram and Facebook that they made a post

they're like okay they're like we have heard your concerns pertain to a certain issue we are addressing it and and And we're going to take care of. We're going to handle the white limo issue.

Yeah. So then immediately that day, somebody calls me. And I'm pretty sure I can't confirm, but I'm pretty sure I was on speaker. And it's this gentleman that I've never talked to. And he's like, hey, first of all, I want to say that, that, you know, thank you for your service. We support you. We support the veterans. And this and this is.

And then I was like, sir, I'm like, and he's like, but you're asking because I told him $10,000. and then and then they're like because it just happened that it was a weekends two weekends of my biggest events my money making events and and they're like uh there's no way we're going to pay you that and then i told him again i was like sir i i i buy vehicles a whole day i buy vehicles we shoot to and from them i buy the ammo i buy the taco guy i like to support veteran company so like for unkana I bought enough CBD for 65 people. And I like to leave them with something to remember that, not just a picture. And I buy an algae bottles and I put OG pumpkin stickers in there so they can take it,

something they can hold. And I buy food and a band. And I'm like, I have these events. And I live in California. This and this. How much do you think? How much is fair? He's like, well, we can give you 10 grand.

And I was like, okay. They're like in their first offer before. this phone call was $500. I was like to move the vehicle was probably be $500 yeah. It was $6.50. I was like it doesn't even cover me moving the vehicle to the

shop and they're like okay 500 plus you're $650 and I was like now it was just an insult so then now they're like okay what can even work? I was like look I want this to end I don't know I was like I was like fuck it like give me half and then because I cut it in half they're like oh no we can't do that because maybe they can

bring it down and I was like look you say all this stuff. You're saying all these words, right? That we support veterans. We support what you're doing. We support your mission. But yet you're over here, you know, not answering my questions where I'm asking you to, I'm not just saying stuff. I want an answer. How much money do you think I make then if I live in California and I have the power to do all this and that? And then he, and then he would like, let me hold you and put you on pause. And it said like, I think the incident. So then he talked to wherever he was on. They sit around the table and Yeah, and they're like, 3,000.

And I was like, done, done. And then I told him, by the way, sir, I was like, when this check comes, I'm going to take that money, and I'm going to buy food and drop it off at the food bank that were, I was a kid waiting in line to get food and to see what clothes I would get for the year. And then he just, like, didn't say anything. And I was like, have a great day, sir. And then it felt good for it to be over.

Yeah. So is the limo fixed? Yeah, it's fixed. Long story short, it got fixed. But it was such a huge headache. Yeah, that's a nightmare. I saw you posting on that on social media. I've been down the rabbit hole a few times with companies like that where you just get lost in the bureaucracy.

It's rough. I'm glad that it ended the way that it did. I mean, I've been on the receiving end where they eventually just say, no. And what are you going to do? Yeah. Nothing is the answer. You fix it yourself and you move on because that's what you do. Right at the end of the day, you're like, you can figure out a solution.

You're going to move on to something else. Yeah. So how crazy does it feel for you to be training cops? It, it, um, Mike, and I didn't know how important my, my story was until speaking with you and then people telling me, like, hey, that's where I'm at in my life. Like, I want to get out of gangs. I want to, you know, I used to sell. And then those same pictures, like, they didn't go necessarily the special operations route,

but they're like now I'm an EMT, now I'm a firefighter. Now I'm something, right? So when Mike was like, dude, you got to bring up your pass because it helps a lot. So we were in New York to train some SWAT teams and I'm like, my name is Gortez. You know, and I told him my background. And you can just, the jaws just dropped, right? Because they're fighting all this. And it's through action and through that you change people's minds because one of the SWA officers pulled me to the side.

He was like, hey man, he's like, he's like, I used to think all criminals were bad. Like that people who sold guns and drugs, like, they're all bad. They're just evil pieces of shit. But hearing you, they're like, hey, man, that is, it's easy to be on the outside and been like fucking thug, fucking idiot. Yeah, fuck all of them. Yeah. But when you have, when your parents basically are not there, they physically abuse you.

When they are there, emotionally abuse you, you are fucking. poor you don't have food like but you see people with money and they're like well if that fucking works well let me do it so then that so then i'm buying food for my kid for my sister and my brother and and we're buying clothes and all the stuff that we were denied just as simple as van's shoes i was like now we can have them man like let's go to the mall and he's like and he's like and you just got that that was your thing at the time and then once you were old enough to join the military you left because that that that's even way better and you knew that was bad and he's like I never saw it that way.

So it trips me out. And it trips me out so bad that so much to this day. Like I was hosting UFC fights on my house, which huge shout out to Julian Marquez, who is a OG pumpkin athlete. He's a huge UFC star, right? He's a big name. And he's up and coming. He's having some great fights. That's always a show when he's on there.

And so when I reached out to sponsor, him. He's like, I like what you're doing. You can send me the rash gardens and cheese t-shirts, but don't send me any money. Put that money into veteran events. So I had two TVs in my house, a projector outside, the taco guy coming out, 65 people in my house, veterans, some civilians. And at this point, my neighbors probably thought I was a drug dealer, to be honest. to yeah to be honest they they don't know what the hell's going on i live in a predominantly

uh older community they're they're wider asian and and a lot of them wouldn't talk to me and a few of them would say hi and uh and some of them because of the projector some of the guys came to watch the fight and there's people in their balcony there's people through the window and you see cops roll up what this lights on and and he's a friend he's it's some of the guys came to watch the fight and and body he's a friend now but he's a supporter of the company um and um we had a my friend who christian christian the beast who's a professional fighter uh he he opened up a a wink spot right so i said like hey man meet up there and i'll have some swag for anyone who shows up and then this individual showed up with the ogy pumpkin t-shirt and turned out to be a cop for found valley and

that's where i live right and and and he rolls up with put his lights on and I'm like, man, we're gonna shut it down. We got the music blasting. We got, but then I was like, but I also have active duty special operations guys in my house and people from triple litter agencies at my house. And so it's like, they're like, dude, you're not going to be in trouble. Look at the time, right? And it's a friend.

And I was like, oh, what's up, man? And he's like, hey, I got a buddy who, uh, he just, I guess just started working there. And he's like, he doesn't believe you live here. and so then he came in it looked like he came in hot he came in with his lights on he didn't want to miss the party and he's like oh shit dude like what's up I love what you're doing I love what you're doing for the community and so now all my neighbors are watching

they're like this dude's busted yeah for sure got two cop cars coming in hot lights are on and it throws them off and they're like man can we get a picture and I was like yeah we'll get a picture for a limo and then I can and as I'm taking a picture I see my neighbors from the balcony looking through the windows and the one who came by the projector. The next day, one of them was like,

what are you? They're like, what do you do? And then I told them. And then I, because they all talk, I know they talk. And so they're like, wow. So when somebody, when the cops are like,

dude, let me take a picture. These are the people I used to run away from. These are the people who, who, I don't hold them against them. You know, when they would catch us. Sometimes they would beat us, you know? And, and, and I don't, hold it against them. I know what I was doing. And for them to, to want to shake my hand,

want to take a picture, tell me that like they, they love my story and, and they talk about me to the people they are now encountering, you know. You're using an example. Yeah. It means a lot. And it feels, not necessarily fake, but it just feels like sometimes I say I feel like I lost my mind a long time ago and in reality I'm in the loony bin because how good life is right now do you so now that you're working with law enforcement and you have a better understanding of what they do and how they do it if you look back at what you were doing before getting involved in gangs and selling guns and and narcotics do you even think that there is a law enforcement solution to what it is that you used to be doing?

Man, that's tough. Like, for example, let's take something that's already changed, right? Marijuana. Like, when I was selling it, man, you were getting years, like serious years. Like, I knew, like, hey, man, I can go for double-digit years right now. But now, and I was a Cameroon, I was a thug, and I was a scumbag. But now, if you're in that world, now you're smart. you're a businessman, now you are on top of the world, and now you're seeing differently, right?

So I think certain things that are people I've gotten in trouble for or are you getting in trouble for should not. Hopefully it changes. People used to think, like, we would never be legalized, you know? Yeah. I'd give it a few years before it's probably nationwide. Yeah. And then now look at it. So I have faith.

I'm always more of a couple. But that's not a law enforcement solution, right? So that's more people go into the voting box. is there anything that the cops could have done that would have stopped you from doing what you were doing? I guess. No. Oh, no. And now that you're working with them, I'm saying, because you have that lens of the world that you came from and people are like, well, the solution is police. And it's like, I don't know if the answer to that problem is the police.

I don't know if they actually have the tools necessary to combat it appropriately. No, because that is a whole big thing that we can attack in many little areas. I don't want to forget, a lot of the cops when they would tell me what I was doing was bad, I knew they were. right and and and not maybe immediately but their words that get through me you know I have dozens of people they talk to I'm not sure how many of the words I should get through but it I knew they were right but like that what am I going to do so them talking helps um um instead of us getting beat like when they beat me I didn't I didn't fucking learn anything from it just hey don't get caught because or you might have more hatred for them yeah or you're my you're pushing them

against. It's like the example when we said when we're like Lip-Tards, this and this, you're not gaining them. You know, you're fighting them. And the ones who would talk to us and stuff like that and said a good example, he'd be like, man, I want to be like him, you know, look at him. He's got, it looks tough. He's, he's got guns. He carries himself. The way how he carries himself, you know, the way you present yourself is very huge.

But they're also now more than ever underfunded. and people would think that defund the police like that that doesn't as a criminal former criminal defunding the police is not what you want you have certain issues and certain issues are because in many areas they are under trained understaffed and when you live in a and when your work is a very tenseful you know high stress high stress occupation it builds up and so they may not perform the best. So what is the actual answers? Well, it's more funding and quality training.

Yeah. Which most departments, at least anecdotally from what I hear, are saying they don't have the money and they can't find the time. It's like, I don't know what to say then at that point. We have so many cops that come out and they're like they're taking our courses and they're like because... Are they paying for it themselves too? Yes, but we always get... Very common, yeah. Yeah, we always give them a discount.

Because we are a business, we need to make some money. Oh, I wasn't saying it negatively. It's, I find it the same with police officers who find Jiu-Jitsu. Yeah. They're not doing it on duty, even though actually I take that back. A buddy of mine who may have gotten me into J-Jitsu, sometimes on lunch, we'll attend class. Or maybe check on to shift an hour late, you know, but have his radio nearby. Most of the people, though, and it comes to even.

training ammo. You know, they're shooting maybe 100 rounds per year authorized or issued from their department. I'm sorry, that's not enough. It's not. Oh, my God. That's not enough for, that's like 15 minutes training if you're going super slow, like 100 rounds. Like you've got to be shitting it. And it's not. And you have to train and you have to train with with professionals and you're always got to be testing your limits and improving and getting better. And there's, and everyone is so quick to, because now more than ever, there's footage of law enforcement, you know, interacting and shooting, stuff like that, and one of the most... You know what footage never makes the news? The interactions of any of the police officers talking with somebody like yourself when you were younger saying, hey, man, what you're doing is wrong. And they're slowly and incrementally chipping away at your psyche without you even knowing it. Or helping people out on the day to day. They are all the positive interactions that go exactly like.

like what you would want a first responder interaction to go with. That shit's never on Fox News, which I get it's far less exciting than the running chess cam and then full presentation. Like I get that, but also if that's all you see, that's all people think happens. Yeah.

Which is total disservice to the occupation. It is. And I've seen so many echo chambers saying all this stuff. And it's because of what you just said, because one media would just post this and this, this and that. And it's like, man, you're not helping. Well, the narrative gets out of control. And everybody likes to use the term misinformation or disinformation in the modern era.

There's a lot of that shit, too, from mainstream media. And the narrative, once it gets out of control, you never see the effort to bring it back to where it actually is. But like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I'd love this news story. Breaking news today at whatever fucking time they did. do news 6 p.m. Yesterday we were completely wrong in the story that we told you because we didn't have the complete information. So here's what actually happened. I've never heard that story. Never. I also don't watch the news anymore. Which is why I believe when they do stuff like that

is why their ratings are going down. No one's trusting them, you know? Yeah. And one of the things that I don't like that's kind of recently being attacked is science. So I'm going to school to become a rest of your dietician. Science or the science. Yeah. Yeah. So. It's an interesting qualifier. Yeah. People say you have to trust these science. Yeah.

I thought it was just trust science. Yes. And so I'm going to school to become a registered dietitian and some people might think like, what the fuck is that? It's basically the professional name for a nutritionist, right? Because a nutritionist can be anybody. There's no legal backing. Like, for example, I can't call myself a doctor or a lawyer and do certain things because

then I'm going to get in trouble because that's against. the law, right? So nutritionists, there's no legal backing. Anybody can call themselves. But just because they're a nutritionist does not mean they don't know anything. There's a bunch of UFC nutritionists out there who are big names and they don't have any actual education, but they know what they're doing. When I say education, I mean by like an actual degree. Yeah. But then there's also people who are nutritionists who just saw a couple of documentaries, maybe took a weekend course, and then now boom, they have a certificate. I'm going to school to become a registered dietitian and I thought I was going to learn, hey, spinach is good, done.

No. I'm taking microbiology classes, organic chemistry, biochemistry, human anatomy. So you're taking all these courses and you're like, well, why would you take chemistry? Because you have to understand the building blocks of just food, of what it's at at a molecular level. And why is that important? And what does that do for the body? What are the all the human chemical reactions that happen on a daily basis and why we need certain vitamins and minerals and stuff like that? So going to school for this, it's deep into the science world, right?

But now because of what's happening in the country of left and right, you know, people are saying like, well, science is, there's nothing wrong with science. What there's wrong with right now is with people are. on the left, who are saying who have certain credentials and because they care more about their ideology and their standings that they are harming science itself. They're like, well, it's this and this. It's the science. And it's like, dude, you care more about your ideology

and your beliefs in that way than science. Well, because research scientists are not going to be, like I am and vocalize and. you know what they're doing they're researching that's what they do that is their world right they do all this stuff and and and and they put all this time and then it's not that oh well last time they said this and then now it's no it's it's it's what we knew at the time yeah and then now it's changing um so i actually think you just hit on the on the biggest problem is that i don't think that there's a problem with science i think there's a problem with the way people portray the science

as if it's always, it's like, this is everything that we're ever going to know about it. Dot, dot, dot, dot, the end. Yeah. I think one of, talking about COVID as an example and maybe even masks would be a better example. You could argue about the efficacy of masks all day long. There's a reason that people wear them in the emergency room and, you know, I think there could be some positive benefit to it. What I think fuck the government was their messaging.

Yeah. The flip flow. the back and forth. It's this today and it's that tomorrow. I just think we'd be so much better off and through the entire pandemic. If we had opened from the beginning with, we don't know what the fuck is going on right now. Of course, they could choose different language if they wanted to. But if they wanted me to pay attention and they said that, I'd be like, what? Tell me more. What's going on? We don't know what's going on. We're going to give you the best information we have up to date. We're going to give you the best protective measures that we have up to date. And if they change,

we're going to let you know when they change and why. I think we'd be far better off. I think the whole thing got weaponized. I think the right is just as culpable as the left when it comes to weaponizing information and delivery. Like both sides are completely fucked and they seem to be in an environment where their survival of their ideology is primary over everything else. And I don't know, maybe that's just I don't understand that world at all. but the messaging and just being honest with what we actually know and what we don't and being okay with saying, I don't know.

Yeah. I think we'd be so much better off. A hundred percent, you know, and both sides are at fault. And again, these people who, they're nerds, they're not going to fucking stand here and tell you this and that. So I'll do it for them. So when people say, oh, trust the science, it's like, okay, you got to think smarter, man. So is it the science that's wrong or bad? Or is it that somebody who comes from the medical field is choosing their ideology first

and then doing a disjustice to the actual science community? Yeah, they can easily weaponize the information, regardless of what side of the aisle you fall on to. Yeah. So I'm just like, man, all these nerds aren't going to stand up for themselves. I was like, I got to mention it. They may not appreciate being called nerds. I know, my bad. I'm sorry.

They've helped me out with my homework so much. They're going to be on the mats. The nerd assassin on the mat is the dude you have to watch out for. You know, that is. It's real. Real. My biggest issue on the mats is people who are technical. My, my jesus coach is like, dude, he's like, you have, when you roll, you look like

you're going to kill somebody. You have this look on your eye, in your eyes. and he's like you have this natural aggression that most jih Tzu guys don't have like you're just naturally aggressive and he's like but you need to be more technical it's uncontrolled is what he's saying yes yes but how long have you been doing jiu jitsu now year and a half a year and two months okay so you're probably creeping up on a blue belt yeah my coach brought it up um i i i didn't i didn't care about the belt like i didn't i want to get something when i earn it you know so so he actually just brought it up um up. He's like, you're going to get your blue belt out soon, man. And I'm thinking like, hell yeah. But when it came, it came. I want it. I want it earned. And so I become more technical, little by little, but each time where I don't get gold is I've lost because the individual was technical. And he's like, dude, you got to become a nerd with this, you know. It's amazing how much you can deflect that raw aggression. I mean, there's, people will say that

strength and size and weight don't matter in jiu-jitsu those are called liars because that's why they have weight classes and different categories and belts and all that's like yes and 100% matters like you know it's not it's not a magic it's not a magic formula you know just because you go to jihitsu class doesn't mean that you're harry potter right there's no wand and if you're a hundred pound woman and you encounter a 250 pound guy on the street i don't really care if you're a black belt. You probably at best are going to be able to defend yourself until a higher level of authority or care gets there, which is an amazing thing because an 100 pound woman who encounters a 250 pound dude and she isn't trained at all, you're fucksville. Oh yeah. But let's just not pretend like

it's this magic tool that allows you to dominate everybody. Some of the smaller guys who can get a step ahead and just take all of the weight and energy and just go, hmm, and it's like, and like son of a bitch that to me is the beauty of it it's not magic but it can seem like that if you're a few steps ahead and and that's why sid was telling me he's like dude he's like you got to come to glee class because it's going to slow you down it is slower because you got grips yes and these are and you're going to learn these finer details where you're not going to get through through you know no gey and and um so i started going to to the gea classes um but i should I should go more.

I mean, how fun is it to choke a motherfucker with a collar, though? It's, it is. It makes you look at sweatshirts differently. Yes, it does. Or zipper hoodies, oh my God. Can you imagine getting one of those zippers across? When people, even though I don't do ghee a lot, when people are like, they're like, oh, I'm never walking around with a jacket.

And I'm like, dude, you can't talk like that because. Come to Montana, first off, six, seven months out of the year. Yeah. I was like, you can't talk like that because there's cool places in the world where people have hoodies or a jacket on. And I'm like, bro, us leaving in California, anything below 70 degrees, people start wearing little sweaters and jackets. I'm like, bro, it can work. You can use this. What are you talking about?

You can choke this shit out of somebody with a T-shirt. Yeah. You know, I don't know if people realize this, but the shirts that Hulk Hogan used to, like, rip off. Yeah. They're modified. Or he was on enough windstrawl to. kill a donkey or both. Yeah, Mexican supplements, yeah.

Correct. I'm sure they were totally legal somewhere else. Most, like, you can get a nice grip on a T-shirt and you could pop somebody's head off with T-shirts. Yeah. Would it potentially rip? Maybe a little bit. Are you still going to be able to accomplish what you're trying to?

Yes. Do most people walk around cloth? Yes. Yeah. Unless you're like in, I don't know, on the beach or something. Yeah. But, man, I love. fall back on your noogie. Yeah. I love Jitsu. Like I competed and it's not a knock on boxing or

Muay but I, I, I, my boxing gym is raw talent boxing. Chooey's a head coach, amazing guy, um, out of Costa Mesa and then and then I competed in training in Muay Thai for six years and I got close with a lot of guys. But in Jiu-Jitsu, I got close with them fast. Like within a couple of months, they're in my house, you know, we're watching the fights. We're like super close, you know. And I think there's something special, the fact that, and I think it has to do with the proximity that you're at, right? You're face to face.

Well, there's a lot of trust. Yes. It's, I don't, I've only been at you, JC for about three and a half years. You can go really, really, really hard and not hurt your training partner and not hurt yourself if you trust them. Yeah. You know, catching a submission but not putting it on all the way. Catch and release.

Well, not necessarily catch and release, but grab it quick, but finish it slowly. The difference between that, you know, getting your arm caught and you know you're going to get into an arm bar and you can tap early versus somebody who just cranks it before you have a time to tap. You get those training partners. I don't know anything else where you can go that hard and not end up hurt, but the trust required in both training partners. I mean, we're talking catastrophic potential risk to. Yes. I mean, look at Camorra. I mean, I've had it been put on before.

You're like, my elbow is going to blow out. My shoulder's going to blow out. And you're probably going to take my wrist with you, too. We're talking massive surgery two years off of the mat, if I'm ever able to return. But I trust the person because I've trained with them a bunch. Like, there's a level of closeness that comes from that. Oh, 100%. Because I would spar in boxing and Muay Thai.

And at the end of each round or whatever, we weren't, like, giving props. Like, you're doing jujitsu, you're like, oh, good round, man, good round. And you also didn't have your arm around their neck choking the life out of them and letting them go because you want to keep like, okay, cool, tapped starting over again. Like, again, it's just, it's different. I mean, if you didn't let go and you held on long enough, that dude's, he's done. That's why I tell people, I tell the veterans, dude, when you get out, you need to find your purpose and your community and stay active.

I'm not saying wake up like you did and morning PT and zero 400 bro. Yeah. Take a picture of your watch. Yeah. I love that guy. He's a little bit out of his mind. Maybe consider sleeping in Jocko occasionally or don't, whatever you want to do. Remember when you tell me he was my height?

He is. He's slightly shorter than you. No, he's not. You had to be. Because I was on here being like, man, all those famous special operation guys are monster. So when that's what people message me like, dude, how did you deal? You know, I talk about mindset and stuff like that and mental toughness because I'm, you know, fucking 5-5, 5-6 on a good day. And then you're like-john-old's 5-4.

And you said that in my face. You were like, oh, I was like, really? And you're like, no, I know, I was like, damn. Yeah, he's like 5-11. That dude's a monster. He's a beast for sure. He'll be at origin camp. He comes there and teaches.

Yeah. Dean Lister was there last year, a man who I never want to have holding onto my feet. That's strength. Jiu-jitsu strength is different. He has divvits in his forearms. From choking motherfuckers out. No, from leg locks. Oh.

Straight ankle locks. From just like he can break baseball bats by getting. Oh, fuck. Yeah. So that's how much he's like practiced scoop in and getting that. It's like just, I would just scream tap the second that he even started grabbing my legs. Like, fuck this. Yeah.

So that's why I say go. And I used to say going to martial arts, but now I, going with just like go to a jiu jitzy gym. Well, if they don't have a choice or maybe jiu jitzy would turn them off, I would say martial arts just because it gets them like doing something. I think, you know, a lot of people talk shit about traditional martial arts. We're literally above a karate studio right now. I'm going to have a totally brand new custom studio built near the coffee shop, which is going

to be amazing later this year. But, I mean, I have no knock on people who want to go and do karate. My fiance is a black belt and karate. She's also a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu as well. Nice. And she grew up doing karate because her mom got her into it. And it's, I mean, you know, my daughter plays softball and my kids played soccer. None of them are going to be pro athletes by any stretch.

But they're going to learn about teamwork and communication and integrity and showing up when you don't necessarily, you know, putting in the hard work and the things that come from that. Traditional martial arts is just like that too. Yeah. I'm not going to recommend using karate in a bar fight. But I am going to recommend doing karate over doing nothing, you know? Or if you do want to test your karate out, I would say do it in some type of sanctioned where like go to do an amateur MMA fight or something or like something where it's karate versus whatever else it may be.

And maybe you'll find your way to Jiu-Jitsu and maybe you won't. But as long as you're doing something, like I have no knock whatsoever on any type of martial art unless they never test it and claim it's like the. undefeatable undefeatable philosophy. Yeah, yeah. Oh no, definitely.

And I love it all. But I gotta admit, Jichitsu has won me. I, man, I don't even... I resisted it for a... People don't believe me when I tell them this.

So my buddy who got me into it, um, the only reason that I went and tried a class was get, to get him to shut the fuck up. He chipped away at me for like, it had to have been six months. Hey bro, dude, I'm getting ready to go to Jitsu. You should come and Jib, Jih Tjitsu.

So one day we're downstairs in my house, not sober. And he's talking about Jiu Jitsu and he's just like, yeah, man, if you came to class, and I remember we were standing there and he basically tried to get me in a standing head and arm triangle. And I don't know what the fuck he was doing. I'm like, this is super tight. And he goes, if you started right now, you will never tap me out. I'm like, when's the next class? Yeah.

And then I asked. him if I go to class, will you shut the fuck up about J.J. He's like, yes. Yeah. And so I went to a class. I'm like, oh, this shit's pretty awesome. So I wish I had started years ago. Oh, man.

Yeah, same, same. But I don't want to, before I forget, black raffle coffee. Yes. And the fact that Wall Street, that is huge. With all that, all those people involved, what they're doing for the better community is huge to is showing that, hey, we can do something. We can get all the way to this level. And tell me more about the coffee shop.

So now is it going to be like Starbucks? It is not going to be like Starbucks. Terrible analogy. I mean, like, I think. I don't know Evan's plans when it comes to physical locations. I'm very, very lucky. I've known Evan for quite a few years now. So I had the ability to just go directly to him and say,

I want to open a coffee shop here in Calispell. I went through the normal, they have a franchising, you know, paperwork and all of that stuff. So myself and my business partner, we were lucky because I didn't, I didn't have to like apply or submit anywhere.

I do believe that they are going to open up more. I don't think they'll ever, I don't think they have the desire to have as many as Starbucks. I mean, I can't even imagine for the size of his company right now already. He has a team of high, hundreds of people just to manage the coffee business. If they tried to have as many locations as Starbucks,

you'd have to hire 50 times that much just to manage that, you know what I mean, that aspect of the business. So there will be some. I'm not sure how many. And I don't know his future plans on it. Well, I hope to make one around us because L.A.? We have a huge community. It would have to be the right spot.

It would, but it would kill. There's so many. Not in Beverly Hills. No. But there be I mean it is there's Matt support we we have created something very special And it's weak because it's a team and backed by now even We're in the Hollywood world and we are gaining the hearts and minds of all of these people who were against all this and they're seeing and they're like wow And they're coming so I hope they do want because I drink a lot of coffee now and the only time I get to buy any black raffle coffee

is when I go to the store to the 8 p.m. Whatever the fuck it is. Oh, the ready the cans. Yeah. And it bumps me out when they don't have the one I want because I want it now. Like most people, you want to have your thing now. And I'm like,

you know, what class is in, you know, an hour and a half? Let me get mine and I'll go over there. I'll walk and it's not there. And I'm like, oh, got to have my cold bruce. They just have one spot right next to my martial arts gym. that would be nice. It would be optimal. Yeah.

It's going to be, for me, I'm thinking about it. Like, I'll have the coffee shop over there, Jiu-Jitsu right over here, a warehouse for the podcast stuff and a brand new, like, custom-made studio, small mat area as well for the podcast guests that get a little lippy. If you know what I'm talking about, fuck them right up. Unless they're a jihitsy person, then they'll probably just fuck me up. But it'll be cool. How do you like to make your coffee? Well, I used to be black ony, right? Yeah.

Just black coffee. Through like a percolator or just a normal coffee pot or how do you make it? Normal coffee pot. And then kicking in with all the seals. You seals. I remember we're on the way to go train somewhere and Mike's like, what do you want? I was like, just black coffee. And he's like, bro, we get it.

You're hard. I'm telling you, they clown. We all clown on each other so hard. And he got me a black coffee. He's like, here you go, tough guy. And I was like, and he's like, take a sip of this. And he had, Mike's a killer. They're all killers.

but he had this almond, soy, something, something, something. And I taste it. I was like, yo, this is good. And then little by little, they want me. So now I don't drink black coffee.

I mean, if it's just black, I'll drink it, whatever. But I'll take a vanilla hot latte with a little bit of whipped cream. And I'm glad. You just fell down the ladder in the book. You didn't go down a rung. You just bounced off the goddamn ground.

I mean, the only way you could make that worse is to say you would make that in a fucking French press. No, I don't even know how to make that. I just, what I do is normally a small with four shots in it and then a little bit of whipped cream. I'll send you some of the coffee that he made for me.

I have my own cleared hot blend, a black rifle. It's fucking good. It'll be good in a coffee pot if you have one at the house. Have you ever explored a ChemX? No, what is that? All right. I'll take care of you. Thank you.

One of the things, one of the beauties of coming on the podcast now that they did an ad buyout is everybody who comes along gets a free year. subscription to their coffee club. Really? Yes. Oh, man. Except for you. Because you like vanilla lattes like a bitch.

Well, my... Can I get a little bit of cream on there? Not too much cream, please. I'm watching my figure just a little bit. My wife was like, just get the app. You buy so much Starbucks coffee because it's right next to the house. Convenience. And I was like, no, because if I get the app, then I'm making it official.

She's like, no, you are a fiend. You are a fiend. How much per day? in the morning I'll have four shots in the afternoon I'll have a little pick-me-up so if you're talking shots wise probably like six shots a day okay you have just like drip coffee in between there sometimes one of the like the black rifle small cans RTD I think you're ready to drink yeah yeah I'll have one of those I try to try to buy a black rifle as much as I can.

I just like to support veteran companies as much as I can't, you know. What he was able to do, I mean, God, I love the story of, because I know people who knew Evan long before I did, I like, yeah, this fucking nerd, like, roasting coffee over a goddamn 55-gallon drum overseas somewhere. I'm like, that's awesome. Because it was totally built by a passion for himself. and then built to like him roasting all the coffee and bagging it to what it is now to being listed on the stock exchange. That is huge.

And I forget the exact number, but I think it was a half a million shares that they gave to the Black Rifle Foundation. And as that value of that company grows, that, I mean, that foundation is designed to help veterans and veteran companies. Like, fuck yes, man. I heard him on Joe Rogan's podcast. and a lot of things that he said hit home. And I, he said, you know, like, if I can just help one person, if I can just employ one. And that's, that is huge because that's what I want to do now. I want to, my goal this year or next year, it's just to employ one veteran.

I do sponsor veterans, but like I want to employ one. And what their Black Rifles doing is huge, right? They're leading the way. They're employing these people. They're affecting their livelihoods, which then, you know, affects, you know, the relationship with their kids, with their wife, but just how they go through the world. And that is huge.

That is powerful. And, you know, because you get out and a bunch of veterans are, or they find, it's hard, right? It's hard. And suicide is a thing. And, and I'm a person of action. I love action. I don't, if you're in an echo chamber and you're just spewing out negativity all day, every day.

you're not, what are you doing? You're not acting and they're acting. They're putting it there. You know? So that's huge, man. It was a bum to see them, him catch some fucking slack. Well, he was put into a position and I know is that we're talking about and this with, is all tied to the Kyle Rittenhouse situation or a lot of it was. And most of the people who are very critical of the statement that he made have never been into a position that he is in and having to make or being forced into a position where he needed to say something. And the bottom line is 50% of the people on Eastside were going to get offended either way. He did the best he could.

A lot of the people that criticize Evan and what he's doing, they don't fucking know him at all. I've spent a lot of time with him with no cameras around whatsoever. And I can absolutely vouch for his character. So for those people who want to voice that opinion, like, I get it. You're entitled to it. But I hate to tell you, in this particular instance, you're very. misguided in the things that you're saying. So we have to engage in hand-to-hand combat in about, well, in 10 minutes or so we'll go and

we'll get changed out. Did we cover everything in your notebook? Did we cover anything in your notebook? Nah, I mean, yeah, I just, the one thing, before I forget, so I teamed up with Thrasherry, which is a skateboard company, and he, Benji's doing shit. You brought one of the decks, right? Pull that thing up here. As a matter of fact, it's for you.

First off, I'm never getting on that. Have you not watched my Instagram stories? All I like to do is post people. eating shit, which I would be one of the videos that I posted. So this is wall art for you. Okay. Oh, awesome. I'll put that up in the new studio for sure. I was like, I was like, he's not, I was like, what can I, because last time I brought you stickers, right? Yeah, the OG pumpkin stickers. And at the time, that was, that's all,

that's what I could do, you know. Throw that thing up on the table, do. Let me check this thing out. Oh, hell yeah. And I was like, I wanted to give him something. And I'm like, well, he doesn't need another black t-shirt. Okay, I know that. First off, how dare you? Can you ever have too many black t-shirts. So then I was like, I'm going to give him some wall art. This would be what I would end my life on. Not intentionally. But before I forget, so Benji is moving up real quick in the skateboarding world.

Like he's at Tony Hawk's house. He's with Jamie Thomas. He's with all these big companies. And it was all within the year because of the work that he's doing. So June 11th, we have, when we first teamed up him and I, So at this Oceanside Skate Park, right, I told him, hey, let's do another event, a skate event at my house. And I bought a meeting ramp, and I had cash money prizes for the amateur skaters with the best trick on the meeting ramp. And 65 people showed up.

And then he's like, let's do another event. He's like, I got a friend who's going to let us use this private property in Paul, California. And we'll have skate ramps and vendors come out and see you from the Ramones played. And we didn't know. We did it all in three weeks. and we had 400 people show up. Holy shit. 400 people showed up.

Vendors came. So many people saw videos and pictures. And they're like, dude, like one of the guys from the crew from C.J. from the Ramones, he's like, this is the most organized, illegal thing I've ever been to. Take that as a compliment. Yeah. So now we're going to do it again. It's going to be June 11th. It's a skateboarding and music festival.

The Aquabats. will be headlining. Seger from the Ramones. I think he'll just come. I'm not sure he was going to play. It's to raise awareness for suicide and prevention and stuff like that. And it's not just, hey, do the event, say suicide, say prevention. No, no, no.

Benji is having these retreats, right, where he's bringing skaters, veteran skaters and active duty guys from various levels coming out and just talking. Like, yes, we go to professional skaters, private warehouses to go skate at. but he also has the retreat part where he's really good in guiding conversation and stuff like that. So we're going to have that June 11th. Tickets are going to go for sale March 5th. So it's going to be in Paul, California. Where can people buy tickets? If you go to thrash and rate.com or six feet above, which is the nonprofit, you can buy the tickets there.

And then, you know, John DeWain Freeman, I told him about it. So he's from Cook of the Day. I'm not sure if you know that page. I'm familiar with what happens on that page. So I told that. I'm going to tell my friend Bobby Tribal, who's from Tribal. He's huge in the hip-hop, graffiti, breakdancing world.

He's been helping me guide me through mentoring me for the business. So that's the big event that we got going on. Other than that, thank you for having me on. You know, and a huge thing. Thank you to my wife. I did a ketamine therapy because Mike told me to do it. I did four sessions through it and it helped my relationship and it made me really, really realize how much my wife has put, I put it through a lot, you know.

Anytime she would let me do something, I would push the envelope. I would do more and more and more. And she always stuck with me. And I told her, you know, coming out of therapy, I was like, I realized the version that you've been getting for the last year is not what you got for for the other 11 years we were married. I'm sorry. You know, she, you know, she's like, I wanted to tell you that, but I didn't want you to hear those words. I wanted you to feel that and it come from you and that therapy helped me. So a huge thank you to my wife. I would not be here if it weren't for her. And what you're doing and everyone else is

doing for the community, Tim Jocko, it's huge, man. So I know you guys don't like to take credit, but fuck, man. You guys are a... helping people. I hope so. I mean, it's helpful for me. So, I mean,

there's an essence of doing this podcast that is very selfish because it's enriching and rewarding for me as well. So. Yeah. And I know you don't like to take credit,

but dude, keep it up, man. I don't care what people are saying. I know you're, don't dive into it. Don't dive into the comments. Sometimes.

You ready to go train? Yes, I'm ready to go train. Hell yeah. It's going to be ghee too. Rashgar wearing cissies out there.