June 20, 2025 • 32 mins
Lyubim Kogan shares his incredible life story with Dr. Pete. A global leader, finance expert, best-selling co-author, 9/11 survivor, winter olympian AND the Founder of Wings4Heroes- Lyubim is a true hero and has built an amazing organization we can all be proud of.
To learn more about Lyubim and wings4Heroes - please visit the website below:
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Hello and welcome back to On Air with Dr Pete.
It's officially summer and Ihope that you're all out there
enjoying all the fun that summerbrings Hopefully some fun and
some relaxation.
I focus on I know I have beendoing my best, of course, to do
that as we get into the summermonths.
I'm really excited abouttoday's episode.
We have Lubin Kogan.
(00:37):
He's here to share about hislife experience with all of us,
with all of us.
Lubim is a global leader, afinance expert, a best-selling
co-author, 9-11 survivor, awinter Olympian and founder of
Wings for Heroes, these amazingorganizations.
I can't wait to share all thiswith you today.
That list is so intense.
(00:57):
Welcome, lubim to the show.
Thanks so much for being here.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Thank you so much for having me, dr Pete, I'm really
excited and looking forward tothis's gonna be a good
conversation.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
So, uh, we're in much different time zones, so I
appreciate you.
You know making the time andyour, your bio is really, really
impressive and I'm not evensure where to begin, so let's
just start like where'd you growup?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I grew up in the former Soviet Union in the 70s.
Okay.
And I was a product of Cold War.
My image of the United Statesgrowing up was that President
Reagan was sitting next to a redbutton and he could hit it any
time and it would be the end forall of us.
So, that's my childhood.
I grew up during Afghanistanwar.
(01:43):
I was five when it started,okay, and uh, it ended when I
was 16.
So my entire conscious life andgoing through school, you know,
yeah, it was on the backgroundand the possibility of going to
fight that war was alwayspresent, and I think that's one
of the big reasons why I amdoing right now what I'm doing
(02:07):
which we'll get into.
Yeah, so I pre that.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I mean, I think for a lot of most of our listeners
going to be probably us based,I'm going to assume maybe you'll
bring in some others from um,but they might be confused about
afghan wars and okay.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
So so, basically, you know, I um, I moved to the
states in 92.
It was one year after theSoviet Union broke up.
Well, first the Berlin Wallfell and then the Soviet Union
broke up.
That's right, I am from arepublic that was Ukraine.
Now it's an independent countryand everybody knows what's
going on about the war that isgoing on right now in Ukraine
(02:40):
and maybe we'll talk about it alittle bit later.
But I came in 92.
I am, I would say, one of thoseimmigrant stories.
I was 17 years old, I was aprofessional skier and I knew
that I wanted to ski.
So I came with one bag that hadmy ski boots, a jumping suit
and a helmet.
I wore my training suit and Idid not even have socks to wear,
(03:05):
so you know which this might bea stupid question, but which
event like are there?
Speaker 1 (03:09):
are there different events that you do?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
yeah, I my my sport is ski jumping, so we're the
guys.
Wow, fast down the road downthe ramp and we go 60 miles an
hour head forward and we splitour skis and we try to get in
between and fly as far aspossible.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
So I guess I'll learn more about this, lubin, but I'm
going to say you're a riskjunkie.
Maybe you like these adrenaline.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Well, you know, everybody says that, but I am
the guy who cannot live with myfears.
So, if anything, scares me, I'mdoing it with my fears.
So if anything scares me, I'mdoing it.
I'm not really in that for athrill, but I am in that I'm the
type of person that fearactually motivates me to move
(03:57):
forward.
So if I'm afraid, I'm actuallypushing forward and I'm going
towards my goals.
And the more scary it gets, themore I know that I'm doing the
right thing.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
That is so impressive and I know that's going to help
a lot of listeners.
I mean, it helps me to hearthat because we say it, but to
really live it and you'reabsolutely living it.
So wait, okay, so you ended upat NYU.
So New York University at somepoint, mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, it was my dream to go to school in New York
City and it was my dream to workin the World Trade Center and
at the same time it was a dreamto go to the Olympics.
So you know how they say becareful what you wish for.
I'm training in Lake Placid,new York, which was a 600-mile
round trip, and I was afull-time student at NYU.
And I was a full-time studentat NYU and on Thursday nights I
(04:43):
would get on the bus at the busstation on 42nd and go to Albany
, and in Albany I would pick upmy car and I would drive to Lake
Placid, I would train and Iwould come back on Sunday night
or, when it was the competitionseason, I would come back on
Monday morning for my Mondayclass.
So I spent two years actuallycommuting 600 miles every
(05:07):
weekend, so I could ski jump.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
You know that's really a commitment.
So were you studying finance?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Finance and accounting.
I double majored.
I have two degrees from NYUaccounting and finance.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I mean, why am I not surprised that you double
majored?
Yeah, it's this high achieverover here.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Why are you not surprised.
But basically, when you'repaying that tuition then, where
you was always expensive, ifthey offer you a second major,
it's like a 50 discount you knowI like a good deal too.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, yes, so wall street was always a goal.
Would you say that, like we do?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
you knew you wanted to be on wall street finance was
the goal, even though I had noidea what it was.
You know, it was alwaysfascinating, like seeing big
buildings, seeing that energy.
Being in new york, I came tonew jersey.
You know we had um familymembers who lived in new jersey
just right across the river, andI know, jersey.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I'm in jersey I'm in jersey, lupim.
I know jersey very, very well Iknow you.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
When you were talking about rodgers, I knew that yeah
, yeah we used to be neighbors.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I used to live in weehawken oh yes, I used to live
in jersey city, so, uh, okay,and they used to take uh the
train yeah, I used to take theboat from um haboken yeah, well,
that was fancy, the, the boat,the boat is fancy.
I was, uh, you know, taking thepath train or uh, there were
these jitney buses too, okay,back in the day.
(06:31):
But yeah, that's, it's abeautiful ride and I always say
that we had the best, uh,skyline, you know, like compared
to brooklyn now.
This is kind of interestingbecause you started by saying
your image of the us was alwayslike reagan sitting by a red
button, so it wasn't positive.
And yet no, here and then thereyou were, like always, with
this dream to come to new yorkto study.
I mean, that evolved over timeactually it was, you know, when.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
it was my dad who decided that we were going,
because early 90s, when sovietunion broke up ukraine it was,
you know, it was um.
The crime was everywhere.
It was chaos.
It was real chaos BecauseAfghanistan was going on.
When I was growing up, my dadalways told me that we are
leaving.
He will not let me go.
(07:15):
He would do whatever it takesso I don't have to wear those
boots, because it's not likewhen you are joining the army in
the United States it's an honor, but in the former Soviet Union
they would draft you and sendyou somewhere to kill people.
So you know, our family doesnot subscribe to that.
(07:35):
Even though I deal withveterans, you know for them, the
war is over.
My mission is peaceful.
I'm taking care of people whotake care of us, amen.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
So how long did you work in finance?
We're gonna get to that,because that's like the whole
really big piece of what you'redoing today, but how long did
you work in finance for?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
my whole entire life was 24 years.
I lived 24 years in the states.
I ran my own practice for uh 12years.
It was my own business.
Before that I worked foramerican express.
Yeah, but you know, I the onlything that I know is finance and
uh investments, and you knowpersonal interest was taxes, but
(08:14):
I've been away for 10 years soI am not up to speed.
I know general principles, butyou know exactly what's going on
.
I kind of stepped away fromthat.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Well, and for good reason.
So one of the things that youhave talked about in the intro
being a 9-11 survivor.
So, after living in New YorkCity for all those years in
college, when you talk aboutWall Street, all of us that
lived there during that time weknow that you experienced that.
So can you share that personalexperience with us?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
It's definitely one of the most traumatic days in my
entire life.
Yeah, um, I actually in this.
It was february of this yearwas the first time when I went
back, oh wow.
So on the day on 9-11, I walkedaway and the city was shut down
.
They moved in the NationalGuard.
It looked like a war zone.
(09:13):
Oh yeah.
And they closed the roads.
But as soon as they opened upthe roads I knew that I'm done
with New York.
You know, I went to school, Iworked in the World Trade Center
, where I wanted to work, andnow it doesn't exist anymore.
So I knew I'm not a city person.
You know I'm a skier.
I love nature and I wanted togo away for a long time.
But that was the final push forme.
(09:38):
I will always remember how bravethey were.
I remember when everyone wasrunning out, how police and
firemen were running in.
Yeah, yes, yes.
That is.
That is really memorable.
I have a lot of respect forthose men and women and I
actually went to fire engine 10and on our website I post all
(09:59):
the public videos and actuallymade a little tribute of what it
means to me.
But I realized what PTSDtsd is.
You know when you go 25 yearslater and you look where you
your buildings used to be andit's like yesterday.
You know it's like just yeah,everything though that those
emotions they flush through youand to me it made it very real
(10:23):
what our veterans go through.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
You know, yeah, I mean I really appreciate you
saying that.
I mean I think it's again thatwill help a lot of people,
because that was really such atraumatic event.
I was, you know, close by.
I wasn't in the city,thankfully, because I know it
was really hard to get out, andso you were.
You know you were at work inthe, in the, in the buildings,
yeah I was downstairs and youknow when I I did not.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
When you're downstairs you don't know what's
happening.
Like it looked like ourbuilding burnt overnight because
it was light gray smoke, yeah,coming out.
But then when the secondbuilding so north tower is our
tower got hit first, yeah, whenthe south tower got hit and I
was on the north side, so theplane flew from the south and
the flame went towards the northand I was standing on the side
(11:11):
where you could see that flame.
I was a block away and it wasreally shook the whole.
And then I went to NYU, becauseNYU was the second largest
property holder after theCatholic Church in New York City
.
And if you look at the SternSchool of Business, like you see
(11:31):
, I think it's like nine storybuilding above the ground, but
all the classrooms you go downbelow.
So it's.
I knew it was a bunker and Ithought, if we're being attacked
, I'm going to school, there arevending machines, there's
security, there are phones andyou are deep down.
So I just I walked towards, Iwalked towards NYU.
By the time I got there, I knewwhat was going on because all
(11:53):
the businesses, you know peoplewere rolling out TVs, turning on
radios, so you didn't need tostop, you know you would.
And I cell phones were jammedand I had my ID and there was
like one or two pay phones thatwould work and there were lines
of people lined up and I wouldjust walk off, show the ID and
everybody's like.
(12:13):
And then there was one cab, drP, there was one cab and I
really I needed to go northbecause our friends live on the
west side, I think in 120thStreet.
Oh, wow.
Yeah, up there the guy workedfor Reuters, so they had a squat
box.
They could talk directly withCantor Fitzgerald, the company
that lost most of the traders.
(12:34):
There were just a few floorsabove us.
We were on 83rd and I thinkthey were like 89 and up.
So people let you use the phone, they give you, you a taxi, and
I don't know why it's allcoming back like it was
yesterday.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
So I yeah well, it's, it's the brain, you know, and
again, I think it's a verypowerful story and I I really
appreciate you sharing it andeven sharing that this february.
So we're recording this in 2025.
So this past february, 2025,was the first time you went back
since 9-11 since 9-11, soalmost 25 years yeah, almost 25
years.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah so, and you said you felt the emotions like it
was yesterday yeah yeah you walkout and you look, it's one big
hall, yeah, surrounded with amonument, with people who used
to work in the building yeah andyou feel like really blessed.
You know that absolutely.
You came home and they didn't.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah, it's like, oh no, thank you.
I mean, and and you know youhave to believe in something
bigger than you when the one cabis there, you know, when you
think to go to nyu, to get downinto the basement, like those
were, you know, lubing, likethat's really, really impressive
, like your brain and somethingabove you was helping you.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Survival.
You know, it's a real instinctand I think that if everything
shuts off and you probably knowit because you know how brain
works it will work automaticallyto save us.
You know, I think, people wholive in the normal environment,
our brain tries to save us fromimaginary issues, you know, and
then we create real issues.
But when we come into anextreme situation, then
(14:13):
something you know, that the oldbrain, what do you call it?
the kicks in and it's just yousurvive, you go, it's absolutely
no thinking it's just going,and for me it was go north, go
to school, go down yeah, it'sjust, it's the nervous system,
it's the reptilian brain.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
It just says like I gotta keep this person alive and
that's exactly what we do.
So, uh, and so you weren't acity person, so even though you
had this dream to live in thecity, so then you're like that
moment okay, I'm done with newyork yes and you end up in
Ukraine.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Oh, actually, yes, we're talking about 2001,.
Right, so 2001,.
I moved to California, then Imoved to Texas, then I moved to
Colorado.
Oh geez.
And it was a really long journeyof finding my home, and because
, the way the situation happened, I was technically classified
as a displaced person and one ofthe organizations that helped
(15:08):
me was the Red Cross.
They sent me a check for$15,000 and they told me go
rebuild your life.
Wow.
So I know there's a lot ofcontroversy about that
organization, but for me itmeans a lot, yes, lot, yes.
And it means a lot not onlybecause they helped me, but
because I actually went aroundthe world to find out for myself
(15:29):
of how different societies keeppromises to people who want to
protect us.
And one of my stops was the redcross museum in geneva, and I
found out that it was um.
In 1859, a swiss banker namedhen Dunant.
He traveled for business toItaly and he arrived on June
25th, on the day when the Battleof South Arena was fought.
(15:52):
And at that battle.
at the end of the day there were40,000 dead and wounded
soldiers on that field and therewas not one person helping.
So Henry Dunant organized allthe villagers and at that time,
because men were fighting wars,there were women and they were
pulling people out.
For like more than one weekthey filled all the churches.
(16:13):
It was just a big mess.
And he was so touched by hisexperience that he went back to
Geneva and he wrote a bookthat's called A Memory of
Salferino, and that book gotsuch wide attention that less
than one year later the RedCross was started.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
So that check was after 9-11 in 2001.
And then with that you start tolike, hey, where am I going to
land?
And so you try California, youtry Colorado, all these US.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
So I went to California, texas.
Actually, in Texas I worked forone year, but it was not my
place.
It was really hot.
You have to drive 20 hours tofind snow.
Yes.
And it's really super, superhot.
We were in Austin, Texas.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Great city, but no snow there.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Right.
And then American Express inDenver hired me, and that's how
I moved to my homes.
I call it home, you know?
Wings for Heroes isincorporated.
It's a public servicecorporation.
It's a Colorado-basedcorporation.
And the only reason why I am notin the States, because in order
for me to start something likethis in the States, it would
(17:24):
take me hundreds of thousands ofdollars in legal fees and years
in paperwork.
Where in Turkey I foundsomebody?
You know, I found the companywhere pilots flew people with
disability and I said, look, Ihave this idea.
I want to take an amputee whojust came back from war and I
want to scare them so much thatthey will forget that they're
missing legs and they said okay,let's try it.
(17:47):
And that's how we flew.
Our first guy who is actuallyhe is on our logo.
It's our first passenger.
His name is Valik.
He's a 21-year-old who you know.
He went to defend his countryand he got shot in the leg.
And you, he is an mpt and oneof the things that I wanted to
share with you, dr pete, becauseI think it's important for
(18:10):
people to know and, uh, yourprofessional opinion.
You see, he went to defend hiscountry and he sacrificed the
part of his body, but two yearslater he has not had one
psychological treatment oh, ohyeah, it's really terrible.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
So is it not United States we're talking about
Ukraine.
Ukraine okay.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
You know this mission is going to the States in
November.
I'm planning on bringing it toTorrey Pines, san Diego, right
next to the naval base.
Yeah.
Because they have a flyingchair and have pilots who can
fly people with disabilities orlimited mobility I want to get
to this because that's wings forheroes, so that's what I want
(18:50):
to hear.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
But in you asking that, I mean I think that it's.
It's such an importantobservation that you're making.
Uh, and I'm not saying theunited states does it better by
any means.
I'm saying that there is apolicy in place now that every
veteran that returns has to haveat least one meeting with a
psychologist in the us okay andso I think that's a policy of a
step in the right direction, uh,and so I don't know, that's the
(19:12):
.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
It's probably not the case for most countries I have
a great, I have a very vastexperience with what going,
what's going on in the unitedstates, because I opened my
practice.
My first client was 2000, uh,2004 yeah and he was a vietnam
veteran who had a, who became asmall business owner.
His business was asbestosremoval, you know he had an
asbestos removal company, andone time he went to see a doctor
(19:37):
who told him his name was Bill.
She said, Bill, you've beenaround people for 30 years.
You haven't killed anybody, youhaven't hurt anybody.
Please tell me what's going onin your head.
And he felt comfortable enoughto tell her what was going on in
his head.
And 2004,.
It was a big.
2003 and 2004 were big yearswhen there was a lot of uprising
(20:01):
with the population that ourveterans are not being taken
care of and Congress was passinglaws.
And actually Bill was one ofthose lucky people who received
a check for all the past.
I think they gave him 110percent disability for all the
years since the day he came backfrom vietnam wow since I know,
(20:21):
you know I was handling theirretirement plans.
they actually gave uh after hisdeath, his wife wife received
benefits for 10 years, so shegot a pension for 10 years.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
That's amazing.
So tell us about Wings forHeroes.
I want to make sure that we getthat, because that's your thing
.
So you go to Turkey becausethey're able to format.
So tell us about Wings forHeroes.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
I was working.
Now we're fast forwarding.
So 2014, when the war startedin Ukraine, when Russia annexed
Crimea, I was in Ukraine and Isaw how scared people were
Because 2008, 2009, that'sactually my claim to fame all my
(21:05):
clients out of the marketbecause I found $50 billion loss
on footnotes of Citibank.
It was not on financialstatements, but it was in
footnotes, which means it wouldeventually make it to the
financial statements, and Imoved all my clients out of the
market.
And then it wasn't enough.
I started a radio show and myradio show actually grew.
(21:26):
I was in seven states on 11different stations.
Nice actually grew.
I was in seven states on 11different stations nice and uh
yeah so I met a lot of peoplearound the united states after,
after the crisis started.
I remember how people, howscared people were, that
everyone was paralyzed I mean itwas just do nothing.
Don't talk to me about finance.
It's just what we have to getthrough it and when they came to
(21:48):
Ukraine, it was exactly thesame thing.
People were looking forleadership and I was that guy
who came from the United Stateswith an education, with
experience, and they were askingfor help and I said okay,
without really thinking orrealizing what I was getting
(22:09):
myself into.
And I was running aninfrastructure company, as they
say.
You know, I had no paycheck, Ihad no plan, I had no margin for
error.
And I was at one of the gasstations and I saw a double MPT
roll out in the wheelchair andhe went.
He was one of our highwaystations and he went towards the
highway and I noticed it andI'm like where is this guy going
(22:30):
?
You know there is no, there isno walkway, forget about pathway
or wheelchair.
And I carried on with my work.
20 minutes later, a hugethunderstorm rolls in.
I mean, we're talking about itwas just massive, One of those
really strong thunderstorms.
And I called my driver and Isaid look, you got to get the
(22:52):
truck, get the pickup truck.
We are an infrastructurecompany, we had a lot of cars.
I said I need you here with thepickup truck now.
So he came really fast and wefollowed the guy and we found
him by the side of the road,splashed and mud.
You know all the trucks aregoing by in the right lane and
he was in such bad shape Even ifyou clean him up, you know the
guy was really hurting.
(23:13):
So we put him in the car, weload the chair.
We drove him to his place and Iwas like that was the beginning
in the moment when I knew thatif I get a chance to do
something, I will definitely doit so that's how wings for
Heroes was born.
That was the thought.
Yeah.
But the way it was born isactually.
Now we fast forward to 2015 or16.
(23:35):
Now we fast forward to nowbeginning of the full-scale
invasion.
I saw a teenage girl walk outin front of a stadium full of
people and she said you knowwhat?
They can take a part of ourland, they can take a part of my
body, but they're not going tobreak me.
(23:55):
The reaction she had on thestadium it was like that was the
moment that I said okay, I'mnot thinking, I'm doing
something.
That was the actual beginning.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Tell us about it.
What is it?
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Wings for Heroes is an evolving mission.
It's a humanitarian mission.
I don't have any flags.
I don't have any.
It's not.
There are no borders.
You know, like I said, inNovember we will be in the
States and in a few years, Ithink, we will be all around the
world.
It started with an idea that ifI can't scare somebody to death
, they will forget that they'remissing legs or arms or whatever
(24:35):
.
And that actually worked,because I remember going
paragliding the first time.
You know, I ski jumped and Itried all the crazy things in my
life, but that really scared me.
I said goodbye to my dad,goodbye to my brother.
I don't even know the guybehind me right, we're flying,
there's no fuselage, it's likethe chair lift looks like this
(24:57):
big, and I said, look, stop.
And then I was like this at thebottom and I kind of combined
the two experiences, thinkingthat when we take them flying,
that's the moment where theywill forget flying, that's the
moment where they will forget,and you, as a professional, know
that sometimes we need thislife-changing one experience
(25:17):
that can reset them mentally.
Yeah, so we reset them mentally.
Then we add physical therapy,then we added psychologists this
year and it's just things thatare.
It was a seven day.
We take them out, we take ourveterans out of their
environment and we place them inthe.
It's like this is the reallyloving environment quiet, where
they're on the beach, they'resubmerged into culture.
(25:37):
So they ask we need a few moredays.
Seven is not enough.
We need three more days tosleep.
So last mission was April 9 to19.
We had one amputee and onedeath veteran who came out and
they spent days here and at aphysical therapy and the first
Psychological treatment that aguy who lost his hearing because
(25:59):
the hand grenade went off nextto him and took off half of his
face.
Mmm, they had to stitch his ear.
He was his first.
He spent almost three years inthe front lines.
Yeah, and it was his first,first Psychological session.
So now it's just evolving.
You know, dr Pete, it's just, Iknew that if I build it, that
people would come.
I kept telling myself justbuild it, they will come.
(26:20):
Build it, they will come.
Well you're building.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Luby, you are building and I know that you've
said you want to be able tooffer this for 50,000 heroes,
and I think that that's reallyimpressive.
How do you plan to reach thatgoal?
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Well, by talking to people like you, yeah just
getting the word out there.
Yeah, getting the word out, andyou know I have, because I was
an athlete all my life.
I have this work ethics thatyou know helped me get through
school, build a business,survive in the States, then go
back to Ukraine, survive there.
I'm a survivor and I takemassive action.
(26:57):
I went to Denver early thismonth and I saw that there are
no people.
Downtown is empty and it reallyscared me.
So I thought how am I going toreach people now if nobody's
even going to the office?
Right.
And you know, I just I starteddoing podcasts and you know, in
(27:19):
the first month.
I'm already.
I just scheduled my 49thappearance today and I'm working
.
I'm sleeping maybe three, fourhours a day.
I took a little nap before wemet, but I'm doing it for people
.
It's like this, dr Pete thereis war and there's peace, and
that space is occupied by menand women who said, no, you're
(27:41):
not coming my way.
And, by the way, the war wantsto go west all the time.
Oh it's coming from the east andit's going west.
Of course.
These people are so importantbecause if they are gone, the
east is going to come reallyclose and I don't want it ever
to come to the states.
United States is my home.
I am here temporary, I am aguest, I'm doing a work where I
(28:02):
can do it.
I couldn't do it anywhere elseas efficiently.
It was all one man show for twoyears, no sponsors, no
donations, donations, no crew,no employees, no office, nothing
.
I just wanted to answer thisquestion that people always ask
that well, beam, you're just oneguy.
This is meant for thegovernments to do.
Yeah, our government should doit or their government should do
(28:25):
it, and I was like no I can doit.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
You're.
You're a man of action.
You're not gonna let, you'renot standing by to let anybody
do it.
Wait, can you like?
Before we have to wrap up,believe it or not, but can you?
Um, is there like one storythat stands out for you that
maybe you would share with aveteran that has kind of gone
through this?
I know you mentioned a few, butis there one really memorable
kind of impact that this uh hashad?
Speaker 2 (28:47):
I think the I think what would be appropriate for
your audience is that, you know,we always think we don't know
how much strength we have inside, we don't know how much
resilience we have the mentalpart, the emotional part.
But when you meet somebody whois, look, 23 years old, is a kid
(29:10):
, you know, I think back.
I went to the Olympics when Iwas 23.
And I think about that 27 yearsfrom then till now, how rich
and full my life was.
But then I see how many peopledropped off on the way because
they doubted themselves.
Now you take the people wholost a part of their body and
you tell them do you want to dothis?
(29:30):
Yes, do you want to do this?
Yes.
Do you want to try this?
Yes.
So one thing that I learnedfrom them that they are so
inspiring.
They show us how much strengthwe have.
Like, this is temporary, youknow.
Like the body, it will stopfunctioning at some point.
Absolutely.
What's inside of us If we livefrom from inside.
(29:54):
I call it the.
You know the heart compass.
We are unlimited.
They really showed us that weare unlimited.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Lubim.
That is such a great place toend with the heart compass you
know thinking about.
All listeners have a heartcompass and I know there's gonna
be a lot of listeners that arereally impacted by your story.
So how can they find you andhow can they learn more about
Wings for Heroes?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Thank you for asking, dr Pete, because
wingsforheroesorg has all theinformation.
I wanted people to know whatone man can do, so first it was.
This is what I will do Now.
The website is snapshot of whathas been done and if you scroll
down to the bottom of any pageyou will see the videos that I'm
making and telling the story.
(30:34):
So all the story.
As best as I can, I am tellingthe story on WingsForHeroesorg.
So if you have the link in thedescription it's all there.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
And to reach me.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
You hit the contact button and you get the guy.
Perfect.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Head right to this episode description.
We'll have the link in therefor you.
Lubim, thank you so much forbeing here.
You truly are remarkable and Iappreciate you sharing your
story today and your emotion and, obviously, your passion.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
I hope I inspired some of your listeners to take
action and follow their dreams.
We're not going to be on thisplanet for a long time.
That's right.
If one person decides I'm goingto go after my dreams.
That meant everything to me andI'm really grateful for this
invitation, because without you,I cannot spread the word, and
that's what I need to do, justto let people know that we can
(31:26):
do a lot, and I am doing it forthose who don't have the time
yes or whatever.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
So thank you so much yeah, so we'll keep spreading
the word, that's for sure.
So, uh, check out the shownotes to learn more about that.
And, lou Beam, thank you allfor listening at home.
Your support is what keeps usgoing and I look forward to
bringing you some new contentall summer long.
Please like, follow and shareeverywhere's at
officialdrpetecom, and I'll seeyou back here next week.
Until then, spread a littlekindness and stay well.
Hello and welcome back to On Air with Dr Pete.
It's officially summer and Ihope that you're all out there
enjoying all the fun that summerbrings Hopefully some fun and
some relaxation.
I focus on I know I have beendoing my best, of course, to do
that as we get into the summermonths.
I'm really excited abouttoday's episode.
We have Lubin Kogan.
(00:37):
He's here to share about hislife experience with all of us,
with all of us.
Lubim is a global leader, afinance expert, a best-selling
co-author, 9-11 survivor, awinter Olympian and founder of
Wings for Heroes, these amazingorganizations.
I can't wait to share all thiswith you today.
That list is so intense.
(00:57):
Welcome, lubim to the show.
Thanks so much for being here.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Thank you so much for having me, dr Pete, I'm really
excited and looking forward tothis's gonna be a good
conversation.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
So, uh, we're in much different time zones, so I
appreciate you.
You know making the time andyour, your bio is really, really
impressive and I'm not evensure where to begin, so let's
just start like where'd you growup?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I grew up in the former Soviet Union in the 70s.
Okay.
And I was a product of Cold War.
My image of the United Statesgrowing up was that President
Reagan was sitting next to a redbutton and he could hit it any
time and it would be the end forall of us.
So, that's my childhood.
I grew up during Afghanistanwar.
(01:43):
I was five when it started,okay, and uh, it ended when I
was 16.
So my entire conscious life andgoing through school, you know,
yeah, it was on the backgroundand the possibility of going to
fight that war was alwayspresent, and I think that's one
of the big reasons why I amdoing right now what I'm doing
(02:07):
which we'll get into.
Yeah, so I pre that.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I mean, I think for a lot of most of our listeners
going to be probably us based,I'm going to assume maybe you'll
bring in some others from um,but they might be confused about
afghan wars and okay.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
So so, basically, you know, I um, I moved to the
states in 92.
It was one year after theSoviet Union broke up.
Well, first the Berlin Wallfell and then the Soviet Union
broke up.
That's right, I am from arepublic that was Ukraine.
Now it's an independent countryand everybody knows what's
going on about the war that isgoing on right now in Ukraine
(02:40):
and maybe we'll talk about it alittle bit later.
But I came in 92.
I am, I would say, one of thoseimmigrant stories.
I was 17 years old, I was aprofessional skier and I knew
that I wanted to ski.
So I came with one bag that hadmy ski boots, a jumping suit
and a helmet.
I wore my training suit and Idid not even have socks to wear,
(03:05):
so you know which this might bea stupid question, but which
event like are there?
Speaker 1 (03:09):
are there different events that you do?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
yeah, I my my sport is ski jumping, so we're the
guys.
Wow, fast down the road downthe ramp and we go 60 miles an
hour head forward and we splitour skis and we try to get in
between and fly as far aspossible.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
So I guess I'll learn more about this, lubin, but I'm
going to say you're a riskjunkie.
Maybe you like these adrenaline.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Well, you know, everybody says that, but I am
the guy who cannot live with myfears.
So, if anything, scares me, I'mdoing it with my fears.
So if anything scares me, I'mdoing it.
I'm not really in that for athrill, but I am in that I'm the
type of person that fearactually motivates me to move
(03:57):
forward.
So if I'm afraid, I'm actuallypushing forward and I'm going
towards my goals.
And the more scary it gets, themore I know that I'm doing the
right thing.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
That is so impressive and I know that's going to help
a lot of listeners.
I mean, it helps me to hearthat because we say it, but to
really live it and you'reabsolutely living it.
So wait, okay, so you ended upat NYU.
So New York University at somepoint, mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, it was my dream to go to school in New York
City and it was my dream to workin the World Trade Center and
at the same time it was a dreamto go to the Olympics.
So you know how they say becareful what you wish for.
I'm training in Lake Placid,new York, which was a 600-mile
round trip, and I was afull-time student at NYU.
And I was a full-time studentat NYU and on Thursday nights I
(04:43):
would get on the bus at the busstation on 42nd and go to Albany
, and in Albany I would pick upmy car and I would drive to Lake
Placid, I would train and Iwould come back on Sunday night
or, when it was the competitionseason, I would come back on
Monday morning for my Mondayclass.
So I spent two years actuallycommuting 600 miles every
(05:07):
weekend, so I could ski jump.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
You know that's really a commitment.
So were you studying finance?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Finance and accounting.
I double majored.
I have two degrees from NYUaccounting and finance.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I mean, why am I not surprised that you double
majored?
Yeah, it's this high achieverover here.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Why are you not surprised.
But basically, when you'repaying that tuition then, where
you was always expensive, ifthey offer you a second major,
it's like a 50 discount you knowI like a good deal too.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, yes, so wall street was always a goal.
Would you say that, like we do?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
you knew you wanted to be on wall street finance was
the goal, even though I had noidea what it was.
You know, it was alwaysfascinating, like seeing big
buildings, seeing that energy.
Being in new york, I came tonew jersey.
You know we had um familymembers who lived in new jersey
just right across the river, andI know, jersey.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I'm in jersey I'm in jersey, lupim.
I know jersey very, very well Iknow you.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
When you were talking about rodgers, I knew that yeah
, yeah we used to be neighbors.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I used to live in weehawken oh yes, I used to live
in jersey city, so, uh, okay,and they used to take uh the
train yeah, I used to take theboat from um haboken yeah, well,
that was fancy, the, the boat,the boat is fancy.
I was, uh, you know, taking thepath train or uh, there were
these jitney buses too, okay,back in the day.
(06:31):
But yeah, that's, it's abeautiful ride and I always say
that we had the best, uh,skyline, you know, like compared
to brooklyn now.
This is kind of interestingbecause you started by saying
your image of the us was alwayslike reagan sitting by a red
button, so it wasn't positive.
And yet no, here and then thereyou were, like always, with
this dream to come to new yorkto study.
I mean, that evolved over timeactually it was, you know, when.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
it was my dad who decided that we were going,
because early 90s, when sovietunion broke up ukraine it was,
you know, it was um.
The crime was everywhere.
It was chaos.
It was real chaos BecauseAfghanistan was going on.
When I was growing up, my dadalways told me that we are
leaving.
He will not let me go.
(07:15):
He would do whatever it takesso I don't have to wear those
boots, because it's not likewhen you are joining the army in
the United States it's an honor, but in the former Soviet Union
they would draft you and sendyou somewhere to kill people.
So you know, our family doesnot subscribe to that.
(07:35):
Even though I deal withveterans, you know for them, the
war is over.
My mission is peaceful.
I'm taking care of people whotake care of us, amen.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
So how long did you work in finance?
We're gonna get to that,because that's like the whole
really big piece of what you'redoing today, but how long did
you work in finance for?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
my whole entire life was 24 years.
I lived 24 years in the states.
I ran my own practice for uh 12years.
It was my own business.
Before that I worked foramerican express.
Yeah, but you know, I the onlything that I know is finance and
uh investments, and you knowpersonal interest was taxes, but
(08:14):
I've been away for 10 years soI am not up to speed.
I know general principles, butyou know exactly what's going on
.
I kind of stepped away fromthat.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Well, and for good reason.
So one of the things that youhave talked about in the intro
being a 9-11 survivor.
So, after living in New YorkCity for all those years in
college, when you talk aboutWall Street, all of us that
lived there during that time weknow that you experienced that.
So can you share that personalexperience with us?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
It's definitely one of the most traumatic days in my
entire life.
Yeah, um, I actually in this.
It was february of this yearwas the first time when I went
back, oh wow.
So on the day on 9-11, I walkedaway and the city was shut down
.
They moved in the NationalGuard.
It looked like a war zone.
(09:13):
Oh yeah.
And they closed the roads.
But as soon as they opened upthe roads I knew that I'm done
with New York.
You know, I went to school, Iworked in the World Trade Center
, where I wanted to work, andnow it doesn't exist anymore.
So I knew I'm not a city person.
You know I'm a skier.
I love nature and I wanted togo away for a long time.
But that was the final push forme.
(09:38):
I will always remember how bravethey were.
I remember when everyone wasrunning out, how police and
firemen were running in.
Yeah, yes, yes.
That is.
That is really memorable.
I have a lot of respect forthose men and women and I
actually went to fire engine 10and on our website I post all
(09:59):
the public videos and actuallymade a little tribute of what it
means to me.
But I realized what PTSDtsd is.
You know when you go 25 yearslater and you look where you
your buildings used to be andit's like yesterday.
You know it's like just yeah,everything though that those
emotions they flush through youand to me it made it very real
(10:23):
what our veterans go through.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
You know, yeah, I mean I really appreciate you
saying that.
I mean I think it's again thatwill help a lot of people,
because that was really such atraumatic event.
I was, you know, close by.
I wasn't in the city,thankfully, because I know it
was really hard to get out, andso you were.
You know you were at work inthe, in the, in the buildings,
yeah I was downstairs and youknow when I I did not.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
When you're downstairs you don't know what's
happening.
Like it looked like ourbuilding burnt overnight because
it was light gray smoke, yeah,coming out.
But then when the secondbuilding so north tower is our
tower got hit first, yeah, whenthe south tower got hit and I
was on the north side, so theplane flew from the south and
the flame went towards the northand I was standing on the side
(11:11):
where you could see that flame.
I was a block away and it wasreally shook the whole.
And then I went to NYU, becauseNYU was the second largest
property holder after theCatholic Church in New York City
.
And if you look at the SternSchool of Business, like you see
(11:31):
, I think it's like nine storybuilding above the ground, but
all the classrooms you go downbelow.
So it's.
I knew it was a bunker and Ithought, if we're being attacked
, I'm going to school, there arevending machines, there's
security, there are phones andyou are deep down.
So I just I walked towards, Iwalked towards NYU.
By the time I got there, I knewwhat was going on because all
(11:53):
the businesses, you know peoplewere rolling out TVs, turning on
radios, so you didn't need tostop, you know you would.
And I cell phones were jammedand I had my ID and there was
like one or two pay phones thatwould work and there were lines
of people lined up and I wouldjust walk off, show the ID and
everybody's like.
(12:13):
And then there was one cab, drP, there was one cab and I
really I needed to go northbecause our friends live on the
west side, I think in 120thStreet.
Oh, wow.
Yeah, up there the guy workedfor Reuters, so they had a squat
box.
They could talk directly withCantor Fitzgerald, the company
that lost most of the traders.
(12:34):
There were just a few floorsabove us.
We were on 83rd and I thinkthey were like 89 and up.
So people let you use the phone, they give you, you a taxi, and
I don't know why it's allcoming back like it was
yesterday.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
So I yeah well, it's, it's the brain, you know, and
again, I think it's a verypowerful story and I I really
appreciate you sharing it andeven sharing that this february.
So we're recording this in 2025.
So this past february, 2025,was the first time you went back
since 9-11 since 9-11, soalmost 25 years yeah, almost 25
years.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah so, and you said you felt the emotions like it
was yesterday yeah yeah you walkout and you look, it's one big
hall, yeah, surrounded with amonument, with people who used
to work in the building yeah andyou feel like really blessed.
You know that absolutely.
You came home and they didn't.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah, it's like, oh no, thank you.
I mean, and and you know youhave to believe in something
bigger than you when the one cabis there, you know, when you
think to go to nyu, to get downinto the basement, like those
were, you know, lubing, likethat's really, really impressive
, like your brain and somethingabove you was helping you.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Survival.
You know, it's a real instinctand I think that if everything
shuts off and you probably knowit because you know how brain
works it will work automaticallyto save us.
You know, I think, people wholive in the normal environment,
our brain tries to save us fromimaginary issues, you know, and
then we create real issues.
But when we come into anextreme situation, then
(14:13):
something you know, that the oldbrain, what do you call it?
the kicks in and it's just yousurvive, you go, it's absolutely
no thinking it's just going,and for me it was go north, go
to school, go down yeah, it'sjust, it's the nervous system,
it's the reptilian brain.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
It just says like I gotta keep this person alive and
that's exactly what we do.
So, uh, and so you weren't acity person, so even though you
had this dream to live in thecity, so then you're like that
moment okay, I'm done with newyork yes and you end up in
Ukraine.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Oh, actually, yes, we're talking about 2001,.
Right, so 2001,.
I moved to California, then Imoved to Texas, then I moved to
Colorado.
Oh geez.
And it was a really long journeyof finding my home, and because
, the way the situation happened, I was technically classified
as a displaced person and one ofthe organizations that helped
(15:08):
me was the Red Cross.
They sent me a check for$15,000 and they told me go
rebuild your life.
Wow.
So I know there's a lot ofcontroversy about that
organization, but for me itmeans a lot, yes, lot, yes.
And it means a lot not onlybecause they helped me, but
because I actually went aroundthe world to find out for myself
(15:29):
of how different societies keeppromises to people who want to
protect us.
And one of my stops was the redcross museum in geneva, and I
found out that it was um.
In 1859, a swiss banker namedhen Dunant.
He traveled for business toItaly and he arrived on June
25th, on the day when the Battleof South Arena was fought.
(15:52):
And at that battle.
at the end of the day there were40,000 dead and wounded
soldiers on that field and therewas not one person helping.
So Henry Dunant organized allthe villagers and at that time,
because men were fighting wars,there were women and they were
pulling people out.
For like more than one weekthey filled all the churches.
(16:13):
It was just a big mess.
And he was so touched by hisexperience that he went back to
Geneva and he wrote a bookthat's called A Memory of
Salferino, and that book gotsuch wide attention that less
than one year later the RedCross was started.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
So that check was after 9-11 in 2001.
And then with that you start tolike, hey, where am I going to
land?
And so you try California, youtry Colorado, all these US.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
So I went to California, texas.
Actually, in Texas I worked forone year, but it was not my
place.
It was really hot.
You have to drive 20 hours tofind snow.
Yes.
And it's really super, superhot.
We were in Austin, Texas.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Great city, but no snow there.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Right.
And then American Express inDenver hired me, and that's how
I moved to my homes.
I call it home, you know?
Wings for Heroes isincorporated.
It's a public servicecorporation.
It's a Colorado-basedcorporation.
And the only reason why I am notin the States, because in order
for me to start something likethis in the States, it would
(17:24):
take me hundreds of thousands ofdollars in legal fees and years
in paperwork.
Where in Turkey I foundsomebody?
You know, I found the companywhere pilots flew people with
disability and I said, look, Ihave this idea.
I want to take an amputee whojust came back from war and I
want to scare them so much thatthey will forget that they're
missing legs and they said okay,let's try it.
(17:47):
And that's how we flew.
Our first guy who is actuallyhe is on our logo.
It's our first passenger.
His name is Valik.
He's a 21-year-old who you know.
He went to defend his countryand he got shot in the leg.
And you, he is an mpt and oneof the things that I wanted to
share with you, dr pete, becauseI think it's important for
(18:10):
people to know and, uh, yourprofessional opinion.
You see, he went to defend hiscountry and he sacrificed the
part of his body, but two yearslater he has not had one
psychological treatment oh, ohyeah, it's really terrible.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
So is it not United States we're talking about
Ukraine.
Ukraine okay.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
You know this mission is going to the States in
November.
I'm planning on bringing it toTorrey Pines, san Diego, right
next to the naval base.
Yeah.
Because they have a flyingchair and have pilots who can
fly people with disabilities orlimited mobility I want to get
to this because that's wings forheroes, so that's what I want
(18:50):
to hear.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
But in you asking that, I mean I think that it's.
It's such an importantobservation that you're making.
Uh, and I'm not saying theunited states does it better by
any means.
I'm saying that there is apolicy in place now that every
veteran that returns has to haveat least one meeting with a
psychologist in the us okay andso I think that's a policy of a
step in the right direction, uh,and so I don't know, that's the
(19:12):
.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
It's probably not the case for most countries I have
a great, I have a very vastexperience with what going,
what's going on in the unitedstates, because I opened my
practice.
My first client was 2000, uh,2004 yeah and he was a vietnam
veteran who had a, who became asmall business owner.
His business was asbestosremoval, you know he had an
asbestos removal company, andone time he went to see a doctor
(19:37):
who told him his name was Bill.
She said, Bill, you've beenaround people for 30 years.
You haven't killed anybody, youhaven't hurt anybody.
Please tell me what's going onin your head.
And he felt comfortable enoughto tell her what was going on in
his head.
And 2004,.
It was a big.
2003 and 2004 were big yearswhen there was a lot of uprising
(20:01):
with the population that ourveterans are not being taken
care of and Congress was passinglaws.
And actually Bill was one ofthose lucky people who received
a check for all the past.
I think they gave him 110percent disability for all the
years since the day he came backfrom vietnam wow since I know,
(20:21):
you know I was handling theirretirement plans.
they actually gave uh after hisdeath, his wife wife received
benefits for 10 years, so shegot a pension for 10 years.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
That's amazing.
So tell us about Wings forHeroes.
I want to make sure that we getthat, because that's your thing
.
So you go to Turkey becausethey're able to format.
So tell us about Wings forHeroes.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
I was working.
Now we're fast forwarding.
So 2014, when the war startedin Ukraine, when Russia annexed
Crimea, I was in Ukraine and Isaw how scared people were
Because 2008, 2009, that'sactually my claim to fame all my
(21:05):
clients out of the marketbecause I found $50 billion loss
on footnotes of Citibank.
It was not on financialstatements, but it was in
footnotes, which means it wouldeventually make it to the
financial statements, and Imoved all my clients out of the
market.
And then it wasn't enough.
I started a radio show and myradio show actually grew.
(21:26):
I was in seven states on 11different stations.
Nice actually grew.
I was in seven states on 11different stations nice and uh
yeah so I met a lot of peoplearound the united states after,
after the crisis started.
I remember how people, howscared people were, that
everyone was paralyzed I mean itwas just do nothing.
Don't talk to me about finance.
It's just what we have to getthrough it and when they came to
(21:48):
Ukraine, it was exactly thesame thing.
People were looking forleadership and I was that guy
who came from the United Stateswith an education, with
experience, and they were askingfor help and I said okay,
without really thinking orrealizing what I was getting
(22:09):
myself into.
And I was running aninfrastructure company, as they
say.
You know, I had no paycheck, Ihad no plan, I had no margin for
error.
And I was at one of the gasstations and I saw a double MPT
roll out in the wheelchair andhe went.
He was one of our highwaystations and he went towards the
highway and I noticed it andI'm like where is this guy going
(22:30):
?
You know there is no, there isno walkway, forget about pathway
or wheelchair.
And I carried on with my work.
20 minutes later, a hugethunderstorm rolls in.
I mean, we're talking about itwas just massive, One of those
really strong thunderstorms.
And I called my driver and Isaid look, you got to get the
(22:52):
truck, get the pickup truck.
We are an infrastructurecompany, we had a lot of cars.
I said I need you here with thepickup truck now.
So he came really fast and wefollowed the guy and we found
him by the side of the road,splashed and mud.
You know all the trucks aregoing by in the right lane and
he was in such bad shape Even ifyou clean him up, you know the
guy was really hurting.
(23:13):
So we put him in the car, weload the chair.
We drove him to his place and Iwas like that was the beginning
in the moment when I knew thatif I get a chance to do
something, I will definitely doit so that's how wings for
Heroes was born.
That was the thought.
Yeah.
But the way it was born isactually.
Now we fast forward to 2015 or16.
(23:35):
Now we fast forward to nowbeginning of the full-scale
invasion.
I saw a teenage girl walk outin front of a stadium full of
people and she said you knowwhat?
They can take a part of ourland, they can take a part of my
body, but they're not going tobreak me.
(23:55):
The reaction she had on thestadium it was like that was the
moment that I said okay, I'mnot thinking, I'm doing
something.
That was the actual beginning.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Tell us about it.
What is it?
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Wings for Heroes is an evolving mission.
It's a humanitarian mission.
I don't have any flags.
I don't have any.
It's not.
There are no borders.
You know, like I said, inNovember we will be in the
States and in a few years, Ithink, we will be all around the
world.
It started with an idea that ifI can't scare somebody to death
, they will forget that they'remissing legs or arms or whatever
(24:35):
.
And that actually worked,because I remember going
paragliding the first time.
You know, I ski jumped and Itried all the crazy things in my
life, but that really scared me.
I said goodbye to my dad,goodbye to my brother.
I don't even know the guybehind me right, we're flying,
there's no fuselage, it's likethe chair lift looks like this
(24:57):
big, and I said, look, stop.
And then I was like this at thebottom and I kind of combined
the two experiences, thinkingthat when we take them flying,
that's the moment where theywill forget flying, that's the
moment where they will forget,and you, as a professional, know
that sometimes we need thislife-changing one experience
(25:17):
that can reset them mentally.
Yeah, so we reset them mentally.
Then we add physical therapy,then we added psychologists this
year and it's just things thatare.
It was a seven day.
We take them out, we take ourveterans out of their
environment and we place them inthe.
It's like this is the reallyloving environment quiet, where
they're on the beach, they'resubmerged into culture.
(25:37):
So they ask we need a few moredays.
Seven is not enough.
We need three more days tosleep.
So last mission was April 9 to19.
We had one amputee and onedeath veteran who came out and
they spent days here and at aphysical therapy and the first
Psychological treatment that aguy who lost his hearing because
(25:59):
the hand grenade went off nextto him and took off half of his
face.
Mmm, they had to stitch his ear.
He was his first.
He spent almost three years inthe front lines.
Yeah, and it was his first,first Psychological session.
So now it's just evolving.
You know, dr Pete, it's just, Iknew that if I build it, that
people would come.
I kept telling myself justbuild it, they will come.
(26:20):
Build it, they will come.
Well you're building.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Luby, you are building and I know that you've
said you want to be able tooffer this for 50,000 heroes,
and I think that that's reallyimpressive.
How do you plan to reach thatgoal?
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Well, by talking to people like you, yeah just
getting the word out there.
Yeah, getting the word out, andyou know I have, because I was
an athlete all my life.
I have this work ethics thatyou know helped me get through
school, build a business,survive in the States, then go
back to Ukraine, survive there.
I'm a survivor and I takemassive action.
(26:57):
I went to Denver early thismonth and I saw that there are
no people.
Downtown is empty and it reallyscared me.
So I thought how am I going toreach people now if nobody's
even going to the office?
Right.
And you know, I just I starteddoing podcasts and you know, in
(27:19):
the first month.
I'm already.
I just scheduled my 49thappearance today and I'm working
.
I'm sleeping maybe three, fourhours a day.
I took a little nap before wemet, but I'm doing it for people
.
It's like this, dr Pete thereis war and there's peace, and
that space is occupied by menand women who said, no, you're
(27:41):
not coming my way.
And, by the way, the war wantsto go west all the time.
Oh it's coming from the east andit's going west.
Of course.
These people are so importantbecause if they are gone, the
east is going to come reallyclose and I don't want it ever
to come to the states.
United States is my home.
I am here temporary, I am aguest, I'm doing a work where I
(28:02):
can do it.
I couldn't do it anywhere elseas efficiently.
It was all one man show for twoyears, no sponsors, no
donations, donations, no crew,no employees, no office, nothing
.
I just wanted to answer thisquestion that people always ask
that well, beam, you're just oneguy.
This is meant for thegovernments to do.
Yeah, our government should doit or their government should do
(28:25):
it, and I was like no I can doit.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
You're.
You're a man of action.
You're not gonna let, you'renot standing by to let anybody
do it.
Wait, can you like?
Before we have to wrap up,believe it or not, but can you?
Um, is there like one storythat stands out for you that
maybe you would share with aveteran that has kind of gone
through this?
I know you mentioned a few, butis there one really memorable
kind of impact that this uh hashad?
Speaker 2 (28:47):
I think the I think what would be appropriate for
your audience is that, you know,we always think we don't know
how much strength we have inside, we don't know how much
resilience we have the mentalpart, the emotional part.
But when you meet somebody whois, look, 23 years old, is a kid
(29:10):
, you know, I think back.
I went to the Olympics when Iwas 23.
And I think about that 27 yearsfrom then till now, how rich
and full my life was.
But then I see how many peopledropped off on the way because
they doubted themselves.
Now you take the people wholost a part of their body and
you tell them do you want to dothis?
(29:30):
Yes, do you want to do this?
Yes.
Do you want to try this?
Yes.
So one thing that I learnedfrom them that they are so
inspiring.
They show us how much strengthwe have.
Like, this is temporary, youknow.
Like the body, it will stopfunctioning at some point.
Absolutely.
What's inside of us If we livefrom from inside.
(29:54):
I call it the.
You know the heart compass.
We are unlimited.
They really showed us that weare unlimited.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Lubim.
That is such a great place toend with the heart compass you
know thinking about.
All listeners have a heartcompass and I know there's gonna
be a lot of listeners that arereally impacted by your story.
So how can they find you andhow can they learn more about
Wings for Heroes?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Thank you for asking, dr Pete, because
wingsforheroesorg has all theinformation.
I wanted people to know whatone man can do, so first it was.
This is what I will do Now.
The website is snapshot of whathas been done and if you scroll
down to the bottom of any pageyou will see the videos that I'm
making and telling the story.
(30:34):
So all the story.
As best as I can, I am tellingthe story on WingsForHeroesorg.
So if you have the link in thedescription it's all there.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
And to reach me.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
You hit the contact button and you get the guy.
Perfect.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Head right to this episode description.
We'll have the link in therefor you.
Lubim, thank you so much forbeing here.
You truly are remarkable and Iappreciate you sharing your
story today and your emotion and, obviously, your passion.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
I hope I inspired some of your listeners to take
action and follow their dreams.
We're not going to be on thisplanet for a long time.
That's right.
If one person decides I'm goingto go after my dreams.
That meant everything to me andI'm really grateful for this
invitation, because without you,I cannot spread the word, and
that's what I need to do, justto let people know that we can
(31:26):
do a lot, and I am doing it forthose who don't have the time
yes or whatever.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
So thank you so much yeah, so we'll keep spreading
the word, that's for sure.
So, uh, check out the shownotes to learn more about that.
And, lou Beam, thank you allfor listening at home.
Your support is what keeps usgoing and I look forward to
bringing you some new contentall summer long.
Please like, follow and shareeverywhere's at
officialdrpetecom, and I'll seeyou back here next week.
Until then, spread a littlekindness and stay well.
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