JAY DOBYNS: Federal Agent of 27 Years, New York Times Best-Selling Author @TeamNeverQuitPodcast

Uploaded July 2022 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago

“A government-trained predator.”
That’s one description of this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Jay Dobyns. While he participated in hundreds of undercover operations as a federal agent, he is best known for getting past multiple layers of security and becoming a member of the Hells Angels. Jay’s book about that investigation – No Angel, My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels – is a New York Times and international bestseller. Dobyns served as a federal agent for twenty-seven years, and was driven to succeed at any cost without regard for himself.
These days, Jay has gone from a life of daring, undercover operations to becoming a High School football coach in Tucson, Arizona. Listen in as Jay and Marcus share an engaging conversation about Jay’s encounters and adventures.

In this episode you will hear:
• The entertainment industry gets second takes. If they miss a line, they can try again. In real life, there are no second chances.
• I feel very blessed to have entered undercover work. Nothing really prepares you until you get out there and get your feet wet.
• I’ve bought pea shooters, rocket launchers, bombs, homemade PVC pipe bombs, and servo activated C4.
• I infiltrated home invasion crews. That’s where I got my training to take on the Hells Angels.
• I didn’t always succeed at things, but I always tried.
• My undercover persona eventually became who I was.
• I made a million mistakes in my life, and my wife and family have given me one million and one second chances.
• We fabricated the murder of a Hells Angels rival, and that is when I was welcomed into the organization.
• I ruined everything for the mission. It was heartbreaking to see what I had done to get there.
• God does not build us to intentionally betray people.
• My agency failed to react to threats against me. I was told “You’re on your own.”
• When no one cares who gets credit for success, we’re on to something.
• Want someone to remember your name? You’re gonna have to do something they will never forget.
• If you want something you’ve never had before, you’re gonna have to do things you’ve never done before.
• Life is about making mistakes, but don’t remake mine – I can tell you how they turn out. It’s not good.

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Support the Show
patreon.com/teamneverquit

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Special Thanks / Credits

Executive Producer & Artwork - Andrew Brockenbush
Audio Engineer - Joey Garza
Video Editor - John Fritzsching

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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.

JAY DOBYNS: Federal Agent of 27 Years, New York Times Best-Selling Author

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