Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
BRIAN TALLY
Former Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, National Veteran Advocate, Creator of The Tally Bill
A man on a mission.
That is this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Marine veteran Brian Talley.
What started out as sudden, severe back pain quickly became an incredible life-threatening ordeal he endured for years after a bad diagnosis at a VA hospital emergency room. His spine was being eaten alive by what turned out to be a tissue-eating staph infection.
Because of a law enacted in 1946, Brian was unable to sue for malpractice as the law did not allow independent contractors at the VA facility to be sued. But by the time the VA suggested he pursue legal action in a state court, the state’s statute of limitations had just expired.
What to do? If you’re Brian Talley – with no legal background – you draft your own legislative bill and go door-to-door on Capitol Hill until the procedural loophole is closed, and ensuring that VA is transparent and fully accountable.
congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4526
In this episode you will hear:
• It was a cold, gloomy morning when couldn’t get out of bed, in severe pain – pain I can’t describe – after feeling normal when I went to bed.
• I’m not anti-VA but I was one of those veterans that slipped through the cracks.
• The only time I ever saw a doctor was when I was laying open on an operating table four months later, and they found a surprise – my spine was oozing with inflammation.
• I was so doped up and in so much pain, I didn’t even know what was going on. I spent four months in my chair. I became an absolute broken man.
• The doctor told my wife. “Your husband’s spine looks like it’s been moth-eaten.”
• I was being eaten alive for four straight months, before finally having life-saving surgery.
• By then my physical, mental, and emotional health was gone.
• I have never slandered anyone. I have only operated in an honorable way. I would never dishonorably yell someone’s name. Because we all make mistakes.
• I had to operate in a different way than I was being treated.
• Just when I thought they would do the right thing, the VA did an about face, and they left me and my family holding the bag.
• My wife is the glue that holds everything together.
• There are tens of thousands of veterans, who have been destroyed by this egregious practice from a 1946 law.
• The VA is using more and more independent contractors to see their way out of malpractice cases.
• I went to my bathtub and I knelt down and said “God I’m about to expose made men, and I’m gonna need You for the strength and endurance to draft my own bill – my own solution. I was in a place I knew nothing about.
• The never quit mentality is what kept me going.
• I was representing 20.2 million American veterans with my bill.
• That’s what God has led me to be and to do.
• You can engage congress and make a difference.
• I know I’m where God wants me to be.
—
For More Fun, Follow:
Team Never Quit
Instagram: instagram.com/team_neverquit
Marcus Luttrell
Instagram: instagram.com/marcusluttrell
Morgan Luttrell:
Instagram: instagram.com/mojoluttrell
Andrew Brockenbush:
instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush
—
Support the Show
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.
BRIAN TALLY
Former Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, National Veteran Advocate, Creator of The Tally Bill
A man on a mission.
That is this week’s Team Never Quit guest, Marine veteran Brian Talley.
What started out as sudden, severe back pain quickly became an incredible life-threatening ordeal he endured for years after a bad diagnosis at a VA hospital emergency room. His spine was being eaten alive by what turned out to be a tissue-eating staph infection.
Because of a law enacted in 1946, Brian was unable to sue for malpractice as the law did not allow independent contractors at the VA facility to be sued. But by the time the VA suggested he pursue legal action in a state court, the state’s statute of limitations had just expired.
What to do? If you’re Brian Talley – with no legal background – you draft your own legislative bill and go door-to-door on Capitol Hill until the procedural loophole is closed, and ensuring that VA is transparent and fully accountable.
congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4526
In this episode you will hear:
• It was a cold, gloomy morning when couldn’t get out of bed, in severe pain – pain I can’t describe – after feeling normal when I went to bed.
• I’m not anti-VA but I was one of those veterans that slipped through the cracks.
• The only time I ever saw a doctor was when I was laying open on an operating table four months later, and they found a surprise – my spine was oozing with inflammation.
• I was so doped up and in so much pain, I didn’t even know what was going on. I spent four months in my chair. I became an absolute broken man.
• The doctor told my wife. “Your husband’s spine looks like it’s been moth-eaten.”
• I was being eaten alive for four straight months, before finally having life-saving surgery.
• By then my physical, mental, and emotional health was gone.
• I have never slandered anyone. I have only operated in an honorable way. I would never dishonorably yell someone’s name. Because we all make mistakes.
• I had to operate in a different way than I was being treated.
• Just when I thought they would do the right thing, the VA did an about face, and they left me and my family holding the bag.
• My wife is the glue that holds everything together.
• There are tens of thousands of veterans, who have been destroyed by this egregious practice from a 1946 law.
• The VA is using more and more independent contractors to see their way out of malpractice cases.
• I went to my bathtub and I knelt down and said “God I’m about to expose made men, and I’m gonna need You for the strength and endurance to draft my own bill – my own solution. I was in a place I knew nothing about.
• The never quit mentality is what kept me going.
• I was representing 20.2 million American veterans with my bill.
• That’s what God has led me to be and to do.
• You can engage congress and make a difference.
• I know I’m where God wants me to be.
—
For More Fun, Follow:
Team Never Quit
Instagram: instagram.com/team_neverquit
Marcus Luttrell
Instagram: instagram.com/marcusluttrell
Morgan Luttrell:
Instagram: instagram.com/mojoluttrell
Andrew Brockenbush:
instagram.com/andrewbrockenbush
—
Support the Show
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.
