Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 35 minutes ago
Skating Across America for Sobriety and Purpose
In this week’s Team Never Quit episode, Marcus and Melanie are joined by the incredible Chad Caruso — a skateboarder, YouTuber, and Guinness World Record holder who skated 3,000 miles across America in just 57 days, from Venice Beach, CA to Virginia Beach, VA.
Chad didn’t just break records — he used this cross-country journey to raise money for Natural High, a nonprofit youth drug prevention program, and to share his powerful story of overcoming addiction and injury. Skateboarding became more than a passion — it became a lifeline, helping Chad find sobriety, resilience, and purpose.
In this episode Chad shares about:
•His record-setting skate across the U.S.
•What pushed him to keep going — physically, mentally, and emotionally
•How skateboarding saved his life
•His work raising awareness for addiction and mental health
•The creation of his book, “Pushing Through America”
•What’s next in his mission to inspire and uplift others
Chad’s journey is one of grit, growth, and giving back. Whether you’re a skater, in recovery, or just need a push to chase your own goals — this episode is for you.
Follow Chad on Instagram: @chad_caruso
Check out his book: Pushing Through America
In This Episode You Will Hear:
• I’ve been skateboarding for a little over 25 years. That’s really all I’ve devoted my life to. (3:19)
• I definitely recommend finishing school. (5:36)
• It doesn’t happen overnight. You go to a party here, a party there. Then you’re 26, 28. The habit thing. I didn’t want to be a part of the system. I was just all about rebelling. (7:40)
• That was the real turning point [when facing jail time] I had to look around and say “Alright, what are you doin?” (10:02)
• [I got into the Guinness Book of World Records] It was this year. (13:30)
• It’s nice to get the pat on the back, but ultimately, it was about much more than that. It was about giving up the drinking, focusing on something positive. I did the Skate Across America to raise money for charity. (13:40)
• When you’re at the start line it’s all fun. Everyone’s there filming, talking, it’s exciting. Then you push off, and then a couple of miles in, you’re like “Oh, I’m gonna be doing this for the next 2 months. (18:32)
• [I completed the entire distance with] 1 board; I didn’t change the wheels or the bearings, or anything. (23:56)
• Even if it’s way slower than you normally go, if you keep treading that ground, you’re gonna make it there. (28:55)
• I figured out that if I skate head-on to trucks, like tractor trailers; they’re coming at me at 70 mph. If I made myself seen, I could take over the whole lane. So, I would basically play chicken with them, and wave them out of the way. (30:14)
• [At the finish] The mayor put his hand up for a high five. I skated right past him, I didn’t even notice. (35:23)
• “If you keep pushing, you’re gonna get there.” (36:17)
• When you’re out there alone for so many hours, all the noise of society and people’s opinions kinda fades away. (36:26)
• When you’re left to yourself, you realize how simple life is. (36:35)
• Quitting drinking and focusing on my hobby turned my life around. (41:34)
• Whatever you’re most interested in or gets you excited – just pursue that. (41:52)
• If I can help to make this life a little bit better, that’s a win. (47:41)
Socials:
– Chad’s Website: chadcaruso.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop-itFsFDe1VaizcL5bdyRpDn-edp0YecWQ-SdGcoBmGKkCH3lo
– Chad’s YouTube: youtube.com/@ChadCaruso
– Chad’s Instagram: instagram.com/chad_caruso/?hl=en
– Chad’s TikTok: tiktok.com/@chadcaruso
Support TNQ
– IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13
– patreon.com/teamneverquit
Skating Across America for Sobriety and Purpose
In this week’s Team Never Quit episode, Marcus and Melanie are joined by the incredible Chad Caruso — a skateboarder, YouTuber, and Guinness World Record holder who skated 3,000 miles across America in just 57 days, from Venice Beach, CA to Virginia Beach, VA.
Chad didn’t just break records — he used this cross-country journey to raise money for Natural High, a nonprofit youth drug prevention program, and to share his powerful story of overcoming addiction and injury. Skateboarding became more than a passion — it became a lifeline, helping Chad find sobriety, resilience, and purpose.
In this episode Chad shares about:
•His record-setting skate across the U.S.
•What pushed him to keep going — physically, mentally, and emotionally
•How skateboarding saved his life
•His work raising awareness for addiction and mental health
•The creation of his book, “Pushing Through America”
•What’s next in his mission to inspire and uplift others
Chad’s journey is one of grit, growth, and giving back. Whether you’re a skater, in recovery, or just need a push to chase your own goals — this episode is for you.
Follow Chad on Instagram: @chad_caruso
Check out his book: Pushing Through America
In This Episode You Will Hear:
• I’ve been skateboarding for a little over 25 years. That’s really all I’ve devoted my life to. (3:19)
• I definitely recommend finishing school. (5:36)
• It doesn’t happen overnight. You go to a party here, a party there. Then you’re 26, 28. The habit thing. I didn’t want to be a part of the system. I was just all about rebelling. (7:40)
• That was the real turning point [when facing jail time] I had to look around and say “Alright, what are you doin?” (10:02)
• [I got into the Guinness Book of World Records] It was this year. (13:30)
• It’s nice to get the pat on the back, but ultimately, it was about much more than that. It was about giving up the drinking, focusing on something positive. I did the Skate Across America to raise money for charity. (13:40)
• When you’re at the start line it’s all fun. Everyone’s there filming, talking, it’s exciting. Then you push off, and then a couple of miles in, you’re like “Oh, I’m gonna be doing this for the next 2 months. (18:32)
• [I completed the entire distance with] 1 board; I didn’t change the wheels or the bearings, or anything. (23:56)
• Even if it’s way slower than you normally go, if you keep treading that ground, you’re gonna make it there. (28:55)
• I figured out that if I skate head-on to trucks, like tractor trailers; they’re coming at me at 70 mph. If I made myself seen, I could take over the whole lane. So, I would basically play chicken with them, and wave them out of the way. (30:14)
• [At the finish] The mayor put his hand up for a high five. I skated right past him, I didn’t even notice. (35:23)
• “If you keep pushing, you’re gonna get there.” (36:17)
• When you’re out there alone for so many hours, all the noise of society and people’s opinions kinda fades away. (36:26)
• When you’re left to yourself, you realize how simple life is. (36:35)
• Quitting drinking and focusing on my hobby turned my life around. (41:34)
• Whatever you’re most interested in or gets you excited – just pursue that. (41:52)
• If I can help to make this life a little bit better, that’s a win. (47:41)
Socials:
– Chad’s Website: chadcaruso.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop-itFsFDe1VaizcL5bdyRpDn-edp0YecWQ-SdGcoBmGKkCH3lo
– Chad’s YouTube: youtube.com/@ChadCaruso
– Chad’s Instagram: instagram.com/chad_caruso/?hl=en
– Chad’s TikTok: tiktok.com/@chadcaruso
Support TNQ
– IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13
– patreon.com/teamneverquit


![Politics and Ukraine with Chad Robichaux
What an incredible guest we have on Team Never Quit Podcast.
Marcus engages in a compelling discussion with former Force Recon Marine, Chad Robichaux. With eight deployments to Afghanistan as part of a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Task Force, Chad overcame his personal battles with PTSD after nearly becoming a veteran suicide statistic.
Chad is the founder of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, serving the active duty, military veteran and first responder communities around the world with highly successful faith-based combat trauma and resiliency programs. He has spoken to over 450,000 active-duty troops and led life-saving programs for over 4,600 active military and veterans at four Mighty Oaks Ranches around the U.S. He has served as an advisor to former President Trump, Congress, the VA, and the Department of Defense.
Another one of Chad’s personal endeavors, Save Our Allies, is focused on the evacuation and recovery of Americans, our allies and vulnerable people still trapped in Afghanistan. His original mission was to rescue his long-time friend and Afghanistan interpreter, but the mission quickly evolved because of Chad’s compassion for people and his servant heart. Since its inception, Save Our Allies has safely evacuated over 17,000 people that were trapped in Afghanistan and he is now helping in Ukraine.
As if that weren’t enough, Chad is a lifelong martial artist. He holds a 4th degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and is a former Professional Mixed Martial Arts Champion having competed at the highest levels of the sport.
In this episode you will hear:
• My family has 84 years of military service. (11:38)
• I was raised in a very dysfunctional home because my father never recovered from Vietnam. (13:26)
• Our operation was compromised and I ended up being abducted. (28:52)
• On the surface, everything seemed fine. Then I crashed, had an affair, filed for divorce, and attempted to take my life. The some amazing people came around me and helped us to restore my family and my faith. (32:39)
• I tried to build the courage to take my life and I had my Glock 40 caliber pistol, but I was interrupted, and it was enough to pump the brakes. (33:20)
• My wife asked me: “How can you do all you did in the military, but when it comes to your family, you’ll quit?” (34:19)
• You’re gonna deal with anxiety, depression, and anger, but you could respond to it in a better way that could lead you to a better place. 37:36)
• God’s like a centerpiece solution, because a lot of what we deal with are spiritual wounds. (38:31)
• President Bush signed the Opportunity for Faith Mission in 2001, then in 2009, President Obama signed a policy to override that, and take funding away from faith-based programs. (53:14)
• In Afghanistan, people couldn’t go in to help, but in Ukraine you could drive a bus across the border to do mass evacs. (55:37)
• I’ve been getting a lot of heat like: Why are you going over there to help – the governments is corrupt. None of that matters. These people didn’t ask for any of this. They’re being invaded by a super power. (58:15)
• Glenn Beck (Radio Show Host) raised 21 million dollars to support our mission. (77:49)
• The White House said there were 100 Americans left [in Afghanistan] but without debate there were thousands of Americans still there. (80:38)
• You don’t leave Americans behind. The White even promised that they wouldn’t but they did. (81:43)
—
For More Fun, Follow:
Team Never Quit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/team_neverquit/
Marcus Luttrell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcusluttrell/
Morgan Luttrell:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mojoluttrell/
Andrew Brockenbush:
https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush/
—
Support the Show
http://patreon.com/teamneverquit
—
Special Thanks / Credits
Executive Producer & Artwork - Andrew Brockenbush
Audio Engineer - Joey Garza
Video Editor - John Fritzsching
—
About TNQ Podcast:
Each week join Retired Navy SEAL and Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell, Morgan Luttrell, and Producer Andrew Brockenbush as they’ll take you into the “briefing room” to chat with incredible guests who share their greatest never quit stories. This humorous, heartfelt, and entertaining podcast is changing lives and has become a beacon of hope and resilience to those who are facing the impossible. One of the best ways we can support our community is to share their stories so that we might inspire others to Never Quit.
We’re bringing you real-life stories of men and women who took life’s toughest challenges and met them head-on, radically changing their own lives and inspiring others to do the same. Politics and Ukraine with Chad Robichaux](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tu4C-15rC0E/mqdefault.jpg)





![PHIL DONLON & GABE MANN: Forged in Fire: The True Stories of Americas Hotshot Wildfire Warriors
Into the Fire: Storytelling and Survival with Phil Donlon & Gabe Mann
In this week’s Team Never Quit podcast, Marcus and Melanie dive deep into the art of storytelling—both on stage and in the heat of real-life danger. Our guests are two visionary filmmakers with unique, gripping perspectives on their craft: Phil Donlon, award-winning actor, filmmaker, and theater veteran, and Gabe Mann, director and cinematographer of the groundbreaking wildfire documentary Hotshot.
Phil Donlon takes us through his journey from the blue-collar streets of Chicago to the bright lights of Hollywood. A founding member of The Gilead Theater Company and a passionate storyteller, Donlon shares his experiences acting in renowned theater productions, signing with WME, and ultimately finding creative fulfillment by writing and directing his own films. His latest project, High & Outside: A Baseball Noir, is now streaming worldwide.
On the other end of the spectrum, Gabe Mann puts us directly in the line of fire—literally. His documentary Hotshot is a heart-pounding, first-person account of elite wildfire fighters who battle the flames without water, capturing their raw courage with breathtaking cinematography. After six years running alongside these real-life heroes, Mann shares the intensity, sacrifice, and unexpected pull of wildfire that changed his life forever.
From the front lines of nature’s most destructive force, this episode is about the power of storytelling, survival, and the relentless pursuit of passion.
Tune in for a conversation that will leave you inspired, shaken, and ready to chase your own fire.
In this episode you will hear:
• There’s something about when you witness wildfire firsthand. It does something to you. The actual firefighters call it “The Firebug.” It taps into something primal in men. I caught it. 6:00
• Most of the photojournalists who actually do this right, are former firefighters. They actually have that certification. But for the most part, the kinds of people who are reporting for the Washington Post or The New York Times – they have no clue. 7:56
• I’m a storyteller. So however I’m doing it, whether I’m an actor, whether I’m producing something, writing it – I just want to tell good stories. 9:46
• We wanted to make a film that played like a narrative feature. 11:15
• They’re so distracted with the climate change narrative, which really has nothing to do with wildfires. It’s the accumulation of fuel. 12:08
• I’m the only dude in LA who’s actually from LA. 12:37
• When you continue to put it on something that we don’t have control over – like the weather – it’s a completely disempowering narrative. 14:04
• A wildfire is composed of 3 things. It’s called a fire triangle. You need all 3: Drought, Fuel, Ignition. 17:02
• People were crying over all these giant Redwoods and Sequoias that were getting burned down back in 2020. And nobody ever asked the very obvious question. These trees are 2,000 years old, but the fire cycle in that forest is once every 300 years – you get a purging wildfire – How did get to be 2,000 years old? What happened 2,000 years ago that made these trees so robust? 17:39
• There’s some people who have this gene that compels them to serve their country. 25:32
• If we can get some people in Washington to see this film, I think we could help make change. 27:03
• We have agency over wildfire. We can be proactive. We could solve it tomorrow, if we know what we’re supposed to do. If we look at what a hotshot crew does – literally all they do is get rid of plants. They’re either cutting them or burning them. That’s it. They don’t use water. 28:05
• We started the film with a question. I think doing that gives people the opportunity to engage with the art in the appropriate way, which is – they answer the question. 47:34
• Our motto when we were making this film was “Show, don’t tell.” 52:22
• This is what art is for. It is for explaining and getting people to feel the things that you cannot adequately convey with words.
Socials:
Support HOTSHOT
– https://www.hotshotmovie.com/
– https://www.instagram.com/teamsiqfuti/#
– IG: phil.donlon
Support TNQ
– IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13
– https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit
Sponsors:
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– Robinhood.com/gold
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– qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]
– Hims.com/TNQ
– Shopify.com/TNQ
– Aura.com/TNQ
– Policygenius.com
– TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]
– usejoymode.com [TNQ]
– Shhtape.com [TNQ] PHIL DONLON & GABE MANN: Forged in Fire: The True Stories of Americas Hotshot Wildfire Warriors](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X3mTwt8ng-Q/mqdefault.jpg)

![EPHRAIM MATTOS: Navy SEAL to Frontline Humanitarian—Risking It All to Aid Civilians in War Zones
From Navy SEAL to Humanitarian: Ephraim Mattos on Courage, Sacrifice, and Saving Lives in War Zones.
In this powerful episode, Marcus and Melanie meet with Ephraim Mattos, a former US Navy SEAL and founder of Stronghold Rescue & Relief. After leaving the SEAL teams in 2017 at the age of 24, Ephraim made a bold decision: instead of returning home, he volunteered on the front lines of the war against ISIS in Mosul, Iraq. His experiences there would change him forever.
Ephraim shares harrowing details from his time with the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian group that provides aid to civilians in war zones. He recounts the unimaginable horrors he witnessed, from civilians fleeing the brutality of ISIS to the daring rescue missions he and his team conducted under constant enemy fire. One of these missions, during which Ephraim was shot while rescuing a young Iraqi girl, exemplifies the courage and sacrifice required to save lives in the most dangerous places on Earth.
We dive deep into Ephraim’s personal journey, chronicled in his book City of Death: Humanitarian Warriors in the Battle of Mosul, coauthored with American Sniper writer Scott McEwen. The conversation explores what it’s like to face death on a daily basis and how Ephraim and his fellow volunteers embodied the credo: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
In this episode, Ephraim reflects on the emotional and physical scars of war, his recovery from his gunshot wound, and his unwavering commitment to helping those in need, even in the most perilous conditions. His stories of bravery, resilience, and humanity will leave you speechless.
In This Episode You Will Hear:
• Probably the biggest thing I learned in training that applies to everyday life is when things go really, really bad, one of the best ways of dealing with it, and actually pushing through is to laugh at it. (1:29)
• I had my finger on the trigger. I had pressure on the trigger, just waiting for them to come out so I could get a body shot, and 2 heads pop out. It turns out it’s two little girls. One was maybe ten; the other may five or six. They were weeping, crying, and they were running straight at me. And they were both wearing backpacks just like the backpacks that are just like the backpacks we just blew up an hour earlier. And they’re running straight at me. (25:22)
• I was in a firefight in Iraq, technically before my last day in the Navy. (29:19)
• [The Iraqi army] They weren’t super organized , or marksmanship, but as far as their courage and willingness to go toe to toe with ISIS, and I watched multiple time – an Iraqi tank would drive up, get blown up by an ISIS car bomb. And they would keep going. (31:25)
• We assist every way we can, and we build relationships, by showing them we care, we’re here to help, we’re not crazy, we’re not her to get in a gunfight. We just want to help you. (33:43)
• We provide frontline mentorship for active security threats. If a tribe is facing genocide, we’ll advise them on how to best use the resources they already have. (34:09)
• There’s a certain level of evil that people just don’t see or understand. They don’t understand a military unit would go into a village and just slaughter everybody. (36:06)
• For people who actually care, what do you do? How do you help? (42:48)
• If you care about what’s going on in these conflicts, find multiple organizations that you like and give a little bit so several of them. You can make an impact, without having to take all the risk. (43:50)
• 99.9 percent of our job is logistics, medical care, training medical care, suffering in the jungle. Yes, you’re armed, but you’re not there to get your rocks off. (48:11)
• We bring in primarily guys with medic training. We don’t bring in full-fledged doctors because the kind of stuff we’re dealing with is emergency care – people stepping on land mines or getting shot. (50:38)
• A couple of American missionaries were killed in Haiti. Stuff like that happens all the time. Nobody hears about it. It gets instantly buried under celebrity gossip and such. (53:19)
Socials:
– IG: Strongholdrescue.org
– overwatch.co
– IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13
– https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit
Sponsors:
– Navyfederal.org
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– Hims.com/TNQ
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– Moink.com/TNQ
– Policygenius.com
– TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]
– usejoymode.com [TNQ]
– Shhtape.com [TNQ]
- http://mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ EPHRAIM MATTOS: Navy SEAL to Frontline Humanitarian—Risking It All to Aid Civilians in War Zones](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XAoIeMTMELI/mqdefault.jpg)