September 11, 2025 • 11 mins
John Feal talks with Mendte in the Morning about the anniversary of 9/11, his personal experience with the tragic day, and the work he is still doing to fight for those effected.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, this is a day to share memories and thoughts
about what happened twenty four years ago.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is the perfect day to remember nine to eleven.
This morning is calm, clear and beautiful, just like it
was on nine to eleven until that first plane hit.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
And then first responders came down after the first plane
and then the second plane hit, and workers were there
for months and years trying to rebuild New York. And
while they were rebuilding New York, they were rebuilding America.
And a supervisor on that day was John feel And
(00:41):
John Feels now from that day kept trying to fix
America and help first responders by going to Washington all
the time. I've been on bus trips with him for
years and years and years now making sure that they
know that there are still people herding from nine to eleven,
(01:04):
that there are still people dying from nine to eleven.
He is a hero. I consider him a friend, and
I'm so proud that he is joining us this morning,
John Feel from the Feel Good Foundation, John, thank you
so much that this day must bring back a flood
of memories.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Hello, and thank you for having me again. You know
I just left an old friend and you're right this
morning felt like twenty four other memorial.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Hey, John, we're gonna we're gonna cut it off for
a second because we're having some problem with your phone line.
If you could call back. I think we just need
a better phone line. Everybody knows John Feel. John Feel
is a national hero, not just a New York hero,
because they were nine to eleven first responders from every
(01:58):
state in this country. More importantly, there's nine eleven first
responders who are sick, and there's nine to eleven first
responders who died in every state in this country. And
he has been the one out in front fighting for
every single one of them, just like he was there
at nine to eleven to rebuild America. Now, I think
(02:19):
we have a better phone line, John Feel from the
Feel Good Foundation. John talk about the memories of this day.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Yeah, like you said, today feels eerie to the same
day as twenty four years ago, same type of weather.
And I just left the memorial just in a slew
of interviews, and you know, today's every day of reflection.
Today's a day to remember those that we lost to
sent for violence, but it's also a day to remember
that tens of thousands of people didn't die that day,
(02:52):
but they got sick. And that's where we come in.
And well, today we will pause and take a hiatus
from nadvocating. We'll be added again tomorrow fighting for those
who are sick and die or have died. And these
numbers are growing each and every day, and Congress fails
to do the right thing. And I can guarantee the
(03:12):
nine to eleven community, and I'll bet my one kidney
that we get a bill passed by the end of
the year to ensure the World Traits and Help Program
continues its mission.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
How can you not? I mean, I'm embarrassed that you
have to fight this fight. I'm embarrassed for America that
you have to go down there all the time and
basically beg for the money. But the fear of being
shamed if they don't do this, I think is what
drives them. And it's a shame that they don't just say,
as soon as you show up, John, and I've been
(03:41):
down there with you, as soon as you show up.
I'm ashamed that they don't just say, yes, yes, whatever
you need. Are you running into resistance now you seem
confident and something's going to happen.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Well, I think something's confident that's going to happen is
because you know, listen, we have a day like today,
we had a week like we had were there on
Monday and Tuesday. This week, we had over one hundred meetings.
We have eighty three co sponsors. We can't be ignored anymore.
You know, this is my three hundred and eighty fifth
trip to DC, over twenty seven hundred meetings. And you know,
(04:15):
a Capitol Police officer came up to me and said, hey, dude,
me and my son are wearing a T shirt this weekend.
You know this shows you that it's my home away
from home. And I feel selfish, and I'm the least
selfish person. I know. I'm a kinney donor to a
complete stranger. But I continue to bring these men and
women down, uniform and non uniform responders, volunteers, survivors who
(04:38):
have cancer or survived cancer, who have COPD, who have
pulmonated by grosses, and they walk about eight miles a
day in the halls of Converse, and you walk those holes.
They're not forgiven, and they have to tell their stories
over and over and over again. The redundancy, the physical, mental,
and emotional pain the College is causing these men and
(04:59):
women who are risking their own lives again just like
they did twenty four years ago. For the masses, and
there's one hundred and forty two thousand people now in
the world trades and a health program. It's a lifeline
for them. It's a lifeline for the forty eight thousand
plus that have a certified nine to eleven lady of cancer.
One in three people now have a cancer for nine
(05:20):
to eleven. That is staggering. And the fact that Congress,
you know, we're a mandatory program. Congress can't stop it
without a two thirds vote, which would never happen. But
what they can do is delay and stool and put
obstacles and hurdles in our way. And we used to
have to go around them. Now we go through them.
And we have a no nonsense approach, and we're going
(05:42):
to attack and play offense instead of defense. We're talking
about human life, we're talking about humanity, and today, especially today,
everybody should put away their titles. No man, no woman,
no Republican, no Democrat, no black, no white, no castlic
no Jewish, whatever, and no American, be a human being
and give of yourself, giving yourself to those less fortunate,
(06:04):
and that's how that's what we do when we go
to DC every time.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Well, I know you, and I know the men and
women that you travel down there with, and I know
you're going to be successful, and I know you're going
to hit walls, and I know you're going to go
through those walls because I've seen you do it. Uh,
And so I'm not worried at all. I think your
confidence is warranted because the people that you have behind you,
and you are the leader of that, and you are
(06:30):
leading the way. The people you have behind you will
be able to convince Congress to do the right thing.
And if not, the media is just going to shame
them because this is so obvious that this should be done.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
The medias are one of the tools in all toolbox.
You guys have a responsibility to continue to tell our
story and it's just another tool that we have at
our disposal to you know, it's it's David versus Coliath
and the media is our sleep shot with a rock
in it. You know, I don't know how else, So
now you know, that's just it. We will continue to
(07:03):
put boots on the ground in DC. We will continue
to use the media as our sword, and we will
continue to fight until we get legislation passed. And you know,
getting legislation passes it's hard. But the harder part is
once it gets passed, we have to protect it. We
have to guard it. We have to guard it, we
have to ensure that it mature is to help as
many people as possible, and that's where the real work starts.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I'm just going to give you a warning right now
that we are going to cut out of this interview
John in just a couple of minutes for the time,
and I'm sure you understand when the first plane hit,
just for the moment of silence, but we have we
have a little bit of time left, about two minutes
left before that time. And John, we can talk about
the fight every single time you're on and please come
(07:45):
back anytime. It's open door, anytime you want to talk
about it, anytime you need help, please come to us.
But give me a memory of when you were there
helping to rebuild America that really stands out to you.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
You know, I think what stands out besides the smell.
I choose not to remember what I saw, and the
only thing that I choose to remember is to watch
grown men, uniform non uniform unions, tradesmen, grown men with mustaches,
the sides of poodles, and burly men like Vikings with
(08:21):
tattoos on their necks. And there was a lot of hugging.
There's a lot of crying. There was a lot of
leaning on shoulders. There's a lot of handshakes. There's a
lot of hugs. You know, that bro hug, that tight embrace.
And to see that kind of empathy, to see that
kind of humanity, to see that kind of bond and
(08:42):
of just strangers. That's what I'm gonna choose to remember
from my five days Background zero because that's what motivates me.
I don't want to remember the negative. I don't want
to remember the cornage, the devastation, destruction.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Yeah, I mean you want to remember the heroes and
and John. We're gonna wrap it up right now, but again,
come in, come back anytime you want. John feel head
of the feel good Foundation, fighting the good fight to
make certain Yeah. I love you too, Thank you so much.
Let's get the Ground zero.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Brother.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
We're watching Ground zero and waiting now just for the
moment when the first plane hits, so we can join
everyone there and everyone across America in a moment of silence.
Most of the radio stations and TVs go silent at
this point. We're praying for you heard the bell that
(10:43):
you're used to by now, the moment when flight eleven
went into the North Tower and their people are now
at the site with their heads down and praying. I'm
so glad we get to watch this moment. As you're looking,
there are tears on some eyes. A twenty four years later,
it still hurts, doesn't it. It still hits, especially if
(11:06):
you knew someone on that day, especially if you were here. Now,
people I can see at ground zero just holding up
pictures of the people they lost on nine to eleven,
while hundreds of people holding up their loved ones, just
making certain that America remembers and that everyone remembers their
sacrifice on that day. And of course we do here.
(11:29):
We appreciate you so much. Anyone that was down there
on that day, we appreciate it. We are going to
continue our coverage with the ceremonies at nine to eleven
that are now underway. Twenty four years of remembrance and emotion.
Wr's Natalie Migliori is down there. We will go to
(11:50):
her next
Well, this is a day to share memories and thoughts
about what happened twenty four years ago.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is the perfect day to remember nine to eleven.
This morning is calm, clear and beautiful, just like it
was on nine to eleven until that first plane hit.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
And then first responders came down after the first plane
and then the second plane hit, and workers were there
for months and years trying to rebuild New York. And
while they were rebuilding New York, they were rebuilding America.
And a supervisor on that day was John feel And
(00:41):
John Feels now from that day kept trying to fix
America and help first responders by going to Washington all
the time. I've been on bus trips with him for
years and years and years now making sure that they
know that there are still people herding from nine to eleven,
(01:04):
that there are still people dying from nine to eleven.
He is a hero. I consider him a friend, and
I'm so proud that he is joining us this morning,
John Feel from the Feel Good Foundation, John, thank you
so much that this day must bring back a flood
of memories.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Hello, and thank you for having me again. You know
I just left an old friend and you're right this
morning felt like twenty four other memorial.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Hey, John, we're gonna we're gonna cut it off for
a second because we're having some problem with your phone line.
If you could call back. I think we just need
a better phone line. Everybody knows John Feel. John Feel
is a national hero, not just a New York hero,
because they were nine to eleven first responders from every
(01:58):
state in this country. More importantly, there's nine eleven first
responders who are sick, and there's nine to eleven first
responders who died in every state in this country. And
he has been the one out in front fighting for
every single one of them, just like he was there
at nine to eleven to rebuild America. Now, I think
(02:19):
we have a better phone line, John Feel from the
Feel Good Foundation. John talk about the memories of this day.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Yeah, like you said, today feels eerie to the same
day as twenty four years ago, same type of weather.
And I just left the memorial just in a slew
of interviews, and you know, today's every day of reflection.
Today's a day to remember those that we lost to
sent for violence, but it's also a day to remember
that tens of thousands of people didn't die that day,
(02:52):
but they got sick. And that's where we come in.
And well, today we will pause and take a hiatus
from nadvocating. We'll be added again tomorrow fighting for those
who are sick and die or have died. And these
numbers are growing each and every day, and Congress fails
to do the right thing. And I can guarantee the
(03:12):
nine to eleven community, and I'll bet my one kidney
that we get a bill passed by the end of
the year to ensure the World Traits and Help Program
continues its mission.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
How can you not? I mean, I'm embarrassed that you
have to fight this fight. I'm embarrassed for America that
you have to go down there all the time and
basically beg for the money. But the fear of being
shamed if they don't do this, I think is what
drives them. And it's a shame that they don't just say,
as soon as you show up, John, and I've been
(03:41):
down there with you, as soon as you show up.
I'm ashamed that they don't just say, yes, yes, whatever
you need. Are you running into resistance now you seem
confident and something's going to happen.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Well, I think something's confident that's going to happen is
because you know, listen, we have a day like today,
we had a week like we had were there on
Monday and Tuesday. This week, we had over one hundred meetings.
We have eighty three co sponsors. We can't be ignored anymore.
You know, this is my three hundred and eighty fifth
trip to DC, over twenty seven hundred meetings. And you know,
(04:15):
a Capitol Police officer came up to me and said, hey, dude,
me and my son are wearing a T shirt this weekend.
You know this shows you that it's my home away
from home. And I feel selfish, and I'm the least
selfish person. I know. I'm a kinney donor to a
complete stranger. But I continue to bring these men and
women down, uniform and non uniform responders, volunteers, survivors who
(04:38):
have cancer or survived cancer, who have COPD, who have
pulmonated by grosses, and they walk about eight miles a
day in the halls of Converse, and you walk those holes.
They're not forgiven, and they have to tell their stories
over and over and over again. The redundancy, the physical, mental,
and emotional pain the College is causing these men and
(04:59):
women who are risking their own lives again just like
they did twenty four years ago. For the masses, and
there's one hundred and forty two thousand people now in
the world trades and a health program. It's a lifeline
for them. It's a lifeline for the forty eight thousand
plus that have a certified nine to eleven lady of cancer.
One in three people now have a cancer for nine
(05:20):
to eleven. That is staggering. And the fact that Congress,
you know, we're a mandatory program. Congress can't stop it
without a two thirds vote, which would never happen. But
what they can do is delay and stool and put
obstacles and hurdles in our way. And we used to
have to go around them. Now we go through them.
And we have a no nonsense approach, and we're going
(05:42):
to attack and play offense instead of defense. We're talking
about human life, we're talking about humanity, and today, especially today,
everybody should put away their titles. No man, no woman,
no Republican, no Democrat, no black, no white, no castlic
no Jewish, whatever, and no American, be a human being
and give of yourself, giving yourself to those less fortunate,
(06:04):
and that's how that's what we do when we go
to DC every time.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Well, I know you, and I know the men and
women that you travel down there with, and I know
you're going to be successful, and I know you're going
to hit walls, and I know you're going to go
through those walls because I've seen you do it. Uh,
And so I'm not worried at all. I think your
confidence is warranted because the people that you have behind you,
and you are the leader of that, and you are
(06:30):
leading the way. The people you have behind you will
be able to convince Congress to do the right thing.
And if not, the media is just going to shame
them because this is so obvious that this should be done.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
The medias are one of the tools in all toolbox.
You guys have a responsibility to continue to tell our
story and it's just another tool that we have at
our disposal to you know, it's it's David versus Coliath
and the media is our sleep shot with a rock
in it. You know, I don't know how else, So
now you know, that's just it. We will continue to
(07:03):
put boots on the ground in DC. We will continue
to use the media as our sword, and we will
continue to fight until we get legislation passed. And you know,
getting legislation passes it's hard. But the harder part is
once it gets passed, we have to protect it. We
have to guard it. We have to guard it, we
have to ensure that it mature is to help as
many people as possible, and that's where the real work starts.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I'm just going to give you a warning right now
that we are going to cut out of this interview
John in just a couple of minutes for the time,
and I'm sure you understand when the first plane hit,
just for the moment of silence, but we have we
have a little bit of time left, about two minutes
left before that time. And John, we can talk about
the fight every single time you're on and please come
(07:45):
back anytime. It's open door, anytime you want to talk
about it, anytime you need help, please come to us.
But give me a memory of when you were there
helping to rebuild America that really stands out to you.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
You know, I think what stands out besides the smell.
I choose not to remember what I saw, and the
only thing that I choose to remember is to watch
grown men, uniform non uniform unions, tradesmen, grown men with mustaches,
the sides of poodles, and burly men like Vikings with
(08:21):
tattoos on their necks. And there was a lot of hugging.
There's a lot of crying. There was a lot of
leaning on shoulders. There's a lot of handshakes. There's a
lot of hugs. You know, that bro hug, that tight embrace.
And to see that kind of empathy, to see that
kind of humanity, to see that kind of bond and
(08:42):
of just strangers. That's what I'm gonna choose to remember
from my five days Background zero because that's what motivates me.
I don't want to remember the negative. I don't want
to remember the cornage, the devastation, destruction.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Yeah, I mean you want to remember the heroes and
and John. We're gonna wrap it up right now, but again,
come in, come back anytime you want. John feel head
of the feel good Foundation, fighting the good fight to
make certain Yeah. I love you too, Thank you so much.
Let's get the Ground zero.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Brother.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
We're watching Ground zero and waiting now just for the
moment when the first plane hits, so we can join
everyone there and everyone across America in a moment of silence.
Most of the radio stations and TVs go silent at
this point. We're praying for you heard the bell that
(10:43):
you're used to by now, the moment when flight eleven
went into the North Tower and their people are now
at the site with their heads down and praying. I'm
so glad we get to watch this moment. As you're looking,
there are tears on some eyes. A twenty four years later,
it still hurts, doesn't it. It still hits, especially if
(11:06):
you knew someone on that day, especially if you were here. Now,
people I can see at ground zero just holding up
pictures of the people they lost on nine to eleven,
while hundreds of people holding up their loved ones, just
making certain that America remembers and that everyone remembers their
sacrifice on that day. And of course we do here.
(11:29):
We appreciate you so much. Anyone that was down there
on that day, we appreciate it. We are going to
continue our coverage with the ceremonies at nine to eleven
that are now underway. Twenty four years of remembrance and emotion.
Wr's Natalie Migliori is down there. We will go to
(11:50):
her next
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.