Lost His Legs, Found His Strength: A Blueprint for Resilience

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with a Marine veteran, Rob Jones, who lost both legs to an IED—but didn’t lose his drive, purpose, or grit.

 

Instead, he came back stronger, running 31 marathons in 31 days, winning a Paralympic medal, and building a powerful life rooted in service, family, and leadership. His story is a masterclass in resilience, perspective, and unstoppable mindset.

 

If you’ve ever felt stuck, defeated, or uncertain about your path, this episode will show you what’s possible when you choose purpose over pain—and keep showing up, no matter what.

 

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:48 Meet Rob Jones

01:11 Life lesson from the Marines

02:36 From selfish college kid to selfless soldier

03:47 Why selflessness matters for success

04:57 Can selflessness be taught in schools?

06:14 Ego, avoidance, and the courage to take responsibility

08:16 The IED that changed Rob’s life

09:59 The power of perspective after trauma

11:23 Dark moments: Waking up after the blast

14:15 Projecting a hopeless future vs. choosing to live

15:02