August 10, 2025 • 27 mins
Professional bullfighter Trevor Wells returns to discuss his journey through recovery after a career-threatening knee injury and his decision to retire from bullfighting after his upcoming final three rodeos.
• Suffered tears to ACL, LCL, MCL and fractured kneecap during a rodeo in May 2024
• Underwent surgery in September 2024 and has regained 85-90% mobility
• Found the mental challenge of watching others fight bulls while injured was the hardest part
• Feels called by his faith to pursue a different path including church ministry work
• Currently working as a welder and helping with church bus routes on weekends
• Planning final three rodeos including hometown show in Dothan and last ever appearance in Niceville
• Family adjusting to life off the rodeo circuit with mixed emotions
• Looking at property with space for small arena setup
• Father developing 30-acre property with plans for rodeo events and clinics
• Considering future involvement in rodeo through announcing or production
Shoutout to :
Trevor Wells and the Wells Family.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Trevor Wells.
Good old Trevor Wells.
Welcome back, man.
How are you Doing good?
How are you, dude, I am doinggreat.
It's been a while.
It's been almost two years.
Can you believe this?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yes, sir, man, my eyes went by quick.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
yeah, november november 28th would be exactly.
Well, that's when I publishedthe last episode that we had.
Would be two years.
It's crazy.
November 28th I published Ithink we met before thanksgiving
that year but yeah, man, twoyears crazy.
(01:07):
I'm still doing this.
You're still doing your thing.
How are things going with you?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
well, everything's been great.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
A lot of changes, a lot of changes, a lot of changes
, man, here, there, everywherein between in my life.
You know, since then, you know,I had cancer, since then lost
my father-in-law and then, rightbefore that, a couple months
before, I lost my dad.
So I mean, dude, it's been aroller coaster ride.
(01:35):
You, yeah, you know, overcome,you know.
So you, the other hand, youused to take some licks, man,
all right, you took some licksand I would text you or message
you when you show me thesevideos.
I'm like, bro, you can't be hit.
You can't be getting hit likethis every single day or during
(02:00):
a run.
You know the run, you knowmultiple, multiple days.
You're here, you're there,everywhere in between.
You know, and, dude, here youare.
One day you send me a messageof your knee, just all jacked up
, dude, jacked up.
I was like, bro, I don't wantto see this, I don't want to see
(02:21):
this.
So you send me some I'm likeman thoughts and prayers, and
then that was pretty much thelast time I actually heard from
you until recently.
We text every now and then andsay, hey, I hope all is good,
this and that, but how's theknee first off?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Knee's doing good, it's healed up.
I got about 85%, almost 90mobility left in it.
It's been a journey.
I had it had knee surgery backin September, 7th of last year
of 24.
So I was out.
Well, I got injured Memorialweekend of 24.
(03:07):
Yeah, um, I was out.
Well, I got injured Memorialweekend of 24.
Yeah, yeah, man, the.
I was down in Inverness,florida, for elite bull riders
association for um Robert Swint,and, uh, a bull slung this boy.
He hang on a little longer thanI thought and when he came back
around he slung him off rightinto my knee and it snapped.
(03:27):
It Ended up tearing my ACL, lcland MCL, kind of fractured my
knee a little bit as well.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Kneecap.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I was out most of last year because of it All of
last year actually actually thatwas tough for you, right and it
was real tough mentally,physically, and you know it's
all around tough trying to getback after surgery, get back
into shape and trying to workthat leg out.
(04:02):
It was just.
You know, it's been a hassle,so it's all pretty much better
now.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yes, sir what was the worst part of it, though?
Man like, was it with you?
Know the camaraderie?
Did you miss that mostly?
I mean like because you knowyou, bullfighters are a
different breed you guys are adifferent breed, so you can be
saying mentally, physically,emotionally, but something else
deep down you're missing.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So what was that?
One thing you were missing, man.
The worst part was being out.
I was still going to the rodeoshelping the backpans and stuff
before I had surgery.
I tried to fight bulls once ortwice more and it just kept
buckling under, buckling under,like every time I twist or
something it just snapped over.
So going to these rodeoshelping the backpins and
(04:53):
watching the bulls and stuff andwatching these bullfighters
fight, it was just kind of—ithit me hard.
It's like I want to be out outthere and I want to get into it.
I want to grab them bulls bythe horn, basically, and you
can't.
You can't till it heals up,till you get surgery and heals
up.
So it's that that had to beenthe worst part of it all.
(05:16):
Be honest with you.
Okay, I'm just right there atyour grasp on your hands.
You know you just can't.
You want to reach for it, butyou know you can't yeah, but
that before that wasn't you man.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
You had those horns and you were taking a licking
man.
I'm just like, ah, bro, thisguy, okay, I know how.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
How hot is it out there, man in alabama well,
right now it's only shootingabout 85, humidity is probably
about 90 92 and that's what hityou.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
So you're in your vehicle.
So you know, I don't want youto, you know, waste all the gas
on this episode.
You know that, this and that,but I I want to talk a little
bit more now, now that you'rehealed.
When did your season fullystart this year?
Did it start early or fairlynew?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
It started.
I think it started at thebeginning of this year in March
is when it started the rodeoassociation.
I fought for the pca for delrayat the three yard rodeo company
.
Hey, they called me up earlythis year saying, no, am I
wanting to fight bulls this year?
If so, what shows do I want?
So I told them, hey, I justwant the, the ones closest to
(06:38):
the house.
Yeah, and then after this year,after my last one, I'm hanging
it up.
Yeah, I'll still come and help,like, if you need me to come
help back dance or you hangingit up, I'll still come and help.
Like, if you need me to comehelp backpins or you know
anything like that, I'll stillcome to help.
But fighting bulls in generalI'm just, you know, kind of wore
out a little bit.
So my season started back inMarch in Nosehark, alabama, only
(07:00):
20 minutes from the house.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Okay when you say you're done.
Do you?
Do you think, dude, I am notquestioning any manhood?
Are you just afraid of hurtingagain man, not questioning the
manhood, not?
Do you think?
No, no?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
uh, not, not, not afraid to get hurt.
I know it comes with the job.
So, like at my first rodeo back, I wasn't mentally prepared
with my knee, yeah, and didn'tknow if it was going to hold up
or not.
So I was kind of I was slow,you know, I was still a little
out of shape and it's just.
But after that first night thesecond night went a whole lot
(07:43):
better because my knee held upthe first night.
So it worked a lot better.
And then, after my second rodeo, a couple weeks later, my
second rodeo went 10 timesbetter, like it never nothing
even happened.
So it's not really that.
It's really.
You know, me and my wife andthe kids, we're back in church,
(08:04):
we're doing them, we're involvedwith our church over here in
Dothan, we're involved with busroutes and stuff, and I just
felt like the Lord was pushingme somewhere else to do
something else for a living.
Either for a living or justevery other weekend, on the
weekends, or something like that, going ministry.
So that's really one reason outthere.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yeah, sir, and I, I know you, I know.
You know what I meant bymanhood.
I want the listeners to know,dude, I tell you what man I tore
my meniscus while rock climbing.
You know wall climbing and Ihaven't been back.
I haven't been back.
I'm afraid of re I'm afraid ofre-injuring it, not re-injuring
it, you know, while doingmountains and trekking or doing
(08:50):
CrossFit, because you know, I'vebeen doing that ever since
cancer.
I was like dude.
I want to be more well-rounded,so, but I don't go to rock
climbing gyms because I'm dude,I'm a sissy bro.
I don't want a torn meniscusagain.
That stuff hurts.
I can only think of what youwent through.
(09:11):
But I had that torn meniscusbecause of the rock climate.
I don't go back because youknow what, not based on manhood,
I'm just scared, bro.
So people, people who arelistening, even the rodeo guys,
I man, I don't question you guys.
You guys are freaking rockstarathletes.
I'm just asking a fair question, up straight up.
Question Be like dude.
(09:32):
Are you scared?
Because I would be and I amwhen it comes to rock climbing.
So that I just wanted toclarify now that you're now that
you're in a different situation.
You went to the Lord and he'sswayed you somewhere else.
Where are you going?
(09:52):
What are you doing, man?
Tell the people what you're upto.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I went back.
So after surgery, after allthis, I actually came back home
off the road because I went onthe road to work for a little
bit as an elevator mechanic.
But I came off of that and Iwent back to the welding here at
the house and you know, I workMonday through Thursday,
sometimes on Fridays and then onthe weekends.
If I'm, if I'm not helpingsomebody work, like this
(10:20):
afternoon, I'm going to helpBuddy Schnaufer, a cowboy friend
of ours, over here in Geneva,alabama, put up panels, put up
some rope and pin panels andstuff like that.
So if I'm not helping doingthat, I'm helping at the church
doing the bus route.
We have a bus route that picksup kids that come to church on
Sundays and stuff, and we'reusually that on Saturday
(10:41):
mornings and then on Saturdayafternoons, man, we just chill.
We have some friends of oursthat we go, we have movie nights
, so we just chill.
I'm not talking about old times, because we grew up with each
other and stuff and we enjoy it.
We enjoy it.
And every now and then we'll goto my dad's hang out over there
(11:01):
.
You know either, he's beenbuying and breaking horses and
selling horses and stuff, soI'll go help him every now and
then.
I ain't done it in a minute,but we'll go over there and hang
out.
Yeah, that's about what life isright now.
It's different not being on theroad.
Huh, oh yeah, it's different.
It was a big, like the kidswere talking about it the other
(11:24):
night.
They're like well, mom anddaddy, why don't we go to rodeos
?
No more.
No, you know, I explained.
You know daddy's getting out ofit a little bit.
And then, you know, when y'allget a little older, y'all want
to start rodeoing.
We'll, we'll put y'all in therodeo.
If y'all don't, that's fine,you know.
So it was kind of like a bigshock not really shock, but
change for for all of us.
(11:46):
Yeah, for my wife, for the kids,for me, dad, you yeah, go ahead
yeah, yeah, it's just workingout for the best and then it's
just, you know, things have beenbeen fun, I mean even even not
being on the road.
Now we were talking about it.
(12:07):
You know we missed.
We missed the traveling, um,even though it, man, sometimes
it sucked.
It sucked to travel six, seven,eight hours away sometimes.
Yeah, but man, it was justfight.
See stuff at different storeson the way up there and stuff.
It was fun.
It was like a mini vacation.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Yeah, mini short vacations.
Yes, sir, yeah, yeah, yes, sir,so you're on your final run.
You got three more left, as yousaid prior to this episode, you
know, before we went live.
Yes, sir, how's it all feelingman?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Oh man, I'm ready.
I'm ready to get back in thearena to do these last three
shows.
I got one in Panama City it'sgoing to be on the beach.
And then I've got one in Dothan, right here at the house.
I've got one in Knoxville,florida.
I'm anxious to be back in itand just do my thing and see all
(13:04):
my old friends and stuff andyou know, get to hang out with
them and talk with them.
Yeah and um, and I'm justexcited.
I'm excited about it, but it'slike a bittersweet thing and I
know when that last one hitsit's gonna hit hard and it's
gonna be like a bittersweetthing.
I enjoy the ride, but it's timefor a different chapter in my
(13:25):
life.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Okay, and so so work, kids, family and basically
welding.
Yes, sir, okay now.
Now there was talks of youmight have that farm, because
last time we talked you you weregetting some things going there
.
You're thinking about puttingup some pens and stuff like that
(13:47):
.
But what's what's going on,right?
How's that going?
How's that holding up?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
now we are looking to buy a house.
We actually been looking at ahouse right now that has about
four acres on it and it alreadyhas a horse barn put up and
everything and and it's superlong and it's somewhat wide
where we could put like a smalllittle either bucking sheets or
a little round pin out there.
(14:17):
You know, just to have some fun.
Yeah, nothing crazy.
Now my dad has bought a wholearena.
He um, he's in a process offencing off his whole property.
He has about 30 acres.
He's where we used to live outon the outskirts of his property
.
So he he's fencing off hiswhole property currently.
(14:37):
And he bought a whole big arenato throw on ropings and barrel
races.
And then we got a set ofbucking suits.
We just ain't gotten them.
They're sitting at somebodyelse's place right now for the
past couple of years, but Idon't know if he's wanting to go
get them and bring them over tothe house and setting them up
out there when he gets the arenaset up.
(14:57):
And then we even throw on somebull riders.
So that's actually looking likeit's going to go well.
He's been working really hardto get it coming along.
It's been great.
He has a nice little setup.
He's laying his house for us.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
You're going to take a step forward in that.
Those parts with dad yeah, ifhe asks me to, you know, help
out, you know.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
You know he is oh yeah, definitely, I know you
will and I'll definitely helphim out.
He's wanting to throw on.
His main thing is he's wantingto throw on some clinics.
So the cowboy friend of ours,buddy snper, he's actually on a
show called the Ultimate CowboyShowdown with Trace Atkins as
one of the judges.
Okay, so he's on a lot ofclinics, either horsemanship or
(15:50):
ropings and stuff like that, orcutting horses and stuff.
He throws on a lot of clinics.
My dad is wanting him and mydad and Buddy Snopfer are
wanting to get together to throwon these clinics here at the
house and see how it goes andstuff, which I'm really excited
because my wife, she's stillwanting to learn to run barrels
(16:14):
or either cut horses or evenrope, and so that will be a
great opportunity for her to getout there and start learning as
well.
That will be a greatopportunity for her to get out
there and start learning as well.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Have you thought about, just maybe, contracting
with your dad?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
maybe one or two things a year still get your
feet dirty.
Maybe we never actually talkedabout it, but there's always
that opportunity in case we dothrow on something.
Yeah, um, out there at hisplace and that, yeah, I'll
definitely, I'll probablydefinitely throw on something.
It wouldn't be like a part ofthe association, just be like an
open deal yeah, yeah yeah,jackpot or something like that.
Yes, sir, yeah, yeah, okay well, it depends on if dad wants to
(16:59):
get bigger.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Say that again before .
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Oh, I was just saying .
If he ever talks to me about it, I'm sure we, you know, we'd
probably do something.
I think my brother's involvedwith it as well as putting up
the fence in the arena as well,so we'll definitely have to
include him.
He'll be more on the ropingside of it, and his wife will be
more on the barrel racing side,and my stepmom as well.
What?
Speaker 1 (17:23):
about production.
Man, People that get out, theywant that production.
Think about it.
Have you thought about it?
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Man, with everything going on, I have it to be honest
with you, that's stillsomething that my dad's my dad's
getting out of judging with megetting out of fighting bulls.
You know, if we wanted, youknow to still pursue you know
rodeo careers later on, yeah, Imight do some like announcements
(17:57):
or something along that line.
You know, with production andstuff, there's a lot of good
guys that do it, a lot oftalented guys and man, it'll be
great to learn from them.
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Oh yeah, well, you got it, man, you got that
personality, you got that accent, dude, that deep southern drawl
I mean deep southern bro.
Sometimes I have to bring myears together.
I'm like, yeah, okay, alright,alright, yeah, alright.
(18:33):
So we're almost done because,dude, you're in that humidity.
The heat doesn't bother me,it's the humidity, man, and if
it's the same, the humidity is,and if it's the same, the
humidity is the same, at thesame range as the temp.
I'm, I'm good bro, I'm like acand ac all day, you know.
So take, take me to the last,your last fight.
(18:58):
Right, it's coming up, right,what day, what day so nice will
be the last one.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I want to say it's in november, okay, about
mid-november.
I'm excited about that onebecause that was at the college
over there and it's behind abaseball field.
It packed out the first year.
We had it packed out, I think,around like 3200, 35500 people
the first night and the secondnight it rained and there were
still about 2,500 people.
So it packed out and that showhas always been good.
(19:29):
It packed out last year too.
But my favorite one that's goingto come up, which is going to
be Dothan.
It's man, dothan's my hometown.
So like I'm really MidlandCity's my hometown but Dosen's
where everybody goes to to go dosomething.
So I grew up out here in DosenDoing it at home.
There's just something about it, man, it's going to hit hard
(19:52):
because I know it's going to bethe last time I'll probably
fight bulls in that arena.
It won't be the last time I'llgo help there, because I know
I'll help out and stuff and youknow, work the backpins, but
fighting bulls, that's probablygonna be, you know, my last time
at that arena.
Now nice bill will be my lastone ever.
That was gonna hit home, forsure, but you know, not as much
as the one in dojo all right,I'm sure you're gonna shed a few
(20:15):
tears, especially at your lastone, even your hometown.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Well, let's, let's go to the last one that you'll be
fighting.
Right, what's the first thingyou're going to do after the
last bull man?
What's the first thing?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I'll probably cry.
I ain't going to lie to you.
I'll probably cry.
Cry it out for a minute or two,yeah, then go find some off the
house somewhere.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
You boys, the waffle house man yep, that's.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
That's what we'll probably do.
Just go find some waffle housejeez, all right.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Favorite thing at waffle house, do you always get
it, or do you, you know, do avariety on the menu?
Speaker 2 (20:59):
no, every time texas bacon cheesesteak melt, you do.
Double the bacon, double thecheesesteak, onions and then
onions on the hash browns andcheese on the hash browns.
Lots of waffle house sauce lots.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Okay, all right, it's a man.
It's been a while since I'vebeen a waffle house, but I'll.
It's always waffle house islike after a party, bro, but
that's your go-to and you'regonna stick to it right after
the tears yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
That's what we're gonna go do with the fam with
the family and friends.
Whoever wants to come, allright trevor.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Anything else you want to add?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
man.
Uh, to be honest, I don'treally think we have anything
else going on besides all that.
Other than that, what'sprobably going to replace a
little bit of my traveling fromrodeo is probably you know, I
felt like, like I said before, Ifelt like the Lord was pushing
us somewhere else.
Yeah, probably a little bit ofpreaching every now and then,
(22:02):
traveling to different churchesor something along that line.
Other than that, that'sprobably about the newest thing
probably gonna come up.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
It's crazy, it's crazy how two years have just I
mean, went by.
I'm, I'm going on 2021, this is2025, four years, and last time
when I saw you was almost twoyears.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Nuts, man, nuts I know you don't feel that way.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
No, that long and you know, the more I look at it,
the more I'm like man, I've beenin this scene for a bit and,
you know, a lot of people haverecognized me and noticed me.
They don't, they don't noticeme until I start talking.
Like man, I heard that voicebefore and they're like you're
the guy with the podcast.
So, like I go to these ringsand they're like you got the
podcast right.
(22:49):
I'm like, yeah, yeah, well,didn't recognize you until you
started talking.
I'm like, oh, okay, that's cool, but no, I've been awesome.
Yeah, it's awesome, it's, it'spretty uplifting, man, it's.
It's uplifting because it, youknow, I I get the guys that's
just starting.
They're trying to make a namefor themselves.
They come on, contractors, dude, for some reason contractors
(23:12):
listen Right and they want thosethey want those boys.
They're hungry.
They see those boys hungry LikeI, like.
I like the you know just thetalent.
They're hungry.
I see that I'm a coach.
They're hungry.
I see that I'm a coach, youknow, at high school, so I know
a few things of you know talentand what to look for.
And these contractors, you know, listen, put them out and dude.
(23:34):
They're working nonstop andit's just like it's uplifting to
see and hear these stories ofthese boys, you know, and girls,
but mostly the boys, becauseyou know contractors want tough
guys.
Just move up in the ranks, man,and it's just it's awesome to
see and hear them, you know, andtheir uplifting stories of
(23:56):
started from the bottom.
Now they're here.
You know what I mean.
So I love it, I love it, I loveit.
So, but yeah, two years man, sodid.
I did a run with with wileycoyote I don't know, he's a
steer wrestler just got done atthe the.
The college nfr ranked eighththere, but I did.
(24:20):
He's a not a local guy, but downthe road in yakima valley, but
he's like dude, I want you totravel with me and the boys and
this, and that I was like allright, I'll do that, I'll do
that, but not this round.
I have to drive, but dude, yeah, second round that's awesome
yeah, second round in august,this you know, in two weeks
(24:42):
we're gonna be riding with himand the boys and let me tell you
it's gonna be crazy.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
He's 22 man, you want to send me some pictures,
videos, for sure for sure.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got, I got, I got your text, so
I I got your number.
But yeah, it's, it's fun, man,it's fun it, it brings joy to
you.
You know, just sitting backhelping with the horses and just
you know, seeing everybody gettheir game face on behind the
pin, yeah, behind the ring.
It's cool, man, because themore I sit back there, the more
(25:17):
I'm a fan of man, breakaway dude.
And I'm a fan of breakaway dude, I'm telling you, and then the
roping, the team roping, there'snothing like it.
So the more I sit back there,I'm like, all right, okay, all
right, this is what to look for.
Three seconds or 2.4 seconds,it's like you blink, it's done.
(25:38):
You know.
But, yeah, dude, I love everyminute of it, looking forward to
it.
Man and man, I want to sharemore behind the scenes and I'm
getting there.
I'm getting there.
I'm thinking about getting amedia card and then working my
way up there.
But we'll see.
But trevor, trevor, I know it'shot man, I know there's some
(26:01):
changes.
I know you got some questions.
You know, out there, we won'tget there.
But I know, whatever you do,man, you're going to persevere
and conquer it like nobody'sbusiness man To know where you
came from, to know, like, whereyou hurt yourself and where
you're at.
Now, dude, you're in a betterplace and you can tell dude.
(26:25):
So I want you to continue onthis journey, dude.
Never question yourself, neverdoubt yourself.
Dude, just know that you gotpeople all around you who love
and cherish you, dude, and whocare for you.
And if you ever need anything,traver, if you ever need
anything, let me know.
All right?
I'm here for you, I'm here foryou, yeah, and and if you ever
(26:46):
want to get back on the podcastnot because, you know, just of
just being on there, you know,let me know.
You always have a spot.
Always, it'll be in the dirtwith Trevor Wells.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
All the time Promise.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Promise All right man .
Promise, promise alright man.
So let's keep in touch and Istill want to hear about your
journey and I'll be sending youphotos and everything else,
alright?
Yes, sir till next time tillnext time alright, trevor.
Thank you, yes, sir.
(27:31):
Bye, bye, bye.
Trevor Wells.
Good old Trevor Wells.
Welcome back, man.
How are you Doing good?
How are you, dude, I am doinggreat.
It's been a while.
It's been almost two years.
Can you believe this?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yes, sir, man, my eyes went by quick.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
yeah, november november 28th would be exactly.
Well, that's when I publishedthe last episode that we had.
Would be two years.
It's crazy.
November 28th I published Ithink we met before thanksgiving
that year but yeah, man, twoyears crazy.
(01:07):
I'm still doing this.
You're still doing your thing.
How are things going with you?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
well, everything's been great.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
A lot of changes, a lot of changes, a lot of changes
, man, here, there, everywherein between in my life.
You know, since then, you know,I had cancer, since then lost
my father-in-law and then, rightbefore that, a couple months
before, I lost my dad.
So I mean, dude, it's been aroller coaster ride.
(01:35):
You, yeah, you know, overcome,you know.
So you, the other hand, youused to take some licks, man,
all right, you took some licksand I would text you or message
you when you show me thesevideos.
I'm like, bro, you can't be hit.
You can't be getting hit likethis every single day or during
(02:00):
a run.
You know the run, you knowmultiple, multiple days.
You're here, you're there,everywhere in between.
You know, and, dude, here youare.
One day you send me a messageof your knee, just all jacked up
, dude, jacked up.
I was like, bro, I don't wantto see this, I don't want to see
(02:21):
this.
So you send me some I'm likeman thoughts and prayers, and
then that was pretty much thelast time I actually heard from
you until recently.
We text every now and then andsay, hey, I hope all is good,
this and that, but how's theknee first off?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Knee's doing good, it's healed up.
I got about 85%, almost 90mobility left in it.
It's been a journey.
I had it had knee surgery backin September, 7th of last year
of 24.
So I was out.
Well, I got injured Memorialweekend of 24.
(03:07):
Yeah, um, I was out.
Well, I got injured Memorialweekend of 24.
Yeah, yeah, man, the.
I was down in Inverness,florida, for elite bull riders
association for um Robert Swint,and, uh, a bull slung this boy.
He hang on a little longer thanI thought and when he came back
around he slung him off rightinto my knee and it snapped.
(03:27):
It Ended up tearing my ACL, lcland MCL, kind of fractured my
knee a little bit as well.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Kneecap.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I was out most of last year because of it All of
last year actually actually thatwas tough for you, right and it
was real tough mentally,physically, and you know it's
all around tough trying to getback after surgery, get back
into shape and trying to workthat leg out.
(04:02):
It was just.
You know, it's been a hassle,so it's all pretty much better
now.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yes, sir what was the worst part of it, though?
Man like, was it with you?
Know the camaraderie?
Did you miss that mostly?
I mean like because you knowyou, bullfighters are a
different breed you guys are adifferent breed, so you can be
saying mentally, physically,emotionally, but something else
deep down you're missing.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So what was that?
One thing you were missing, man.
The worst part was being out.
I was still going to the rodeoshelping the backpans and stuff
before I had surgery.
I tried to fight bulls once ortwice more and it just kept
buckling under, buckling under,like every time I twist or
something it just snapped over.
So going to these rodeoshelping the backpins and
(04:53):
watching the bulls and stuff andwatching these bullfighters
fight, it was just kind of—ithit me hard.
It's like I want to be out outthere and I want to get into it.
I want to grab them bulls bythe horn, basically, and you
can't.
You can't till it heals up,till you get surgery and heals
up.
So it's that that had to beenthe worst part of it all.
(05:16):
Be honest with you.
Okay, I'm just right there atyour grasp on your hands.
You know you just can't.
You want to reach for it, butyou know you can't yeah, but
that before that wasn't you man.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
You had those horns and you were taking a licking
man.
I'm just like, ah, bro, thisguy, okay, I know how.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
How hot is it out there, man in alabama well,
right now it's only shootingabout 85, humidity is probably
about 90 92 and that's what hityou.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
So you're in your vehicle.
So you know, I don't want youto, you know, waste all the gas
on this episode.
You know that, this and that,but I I want to talk a little
bit more now, now that you'rehealed.
When did your season fullystart this year?
Did it start early or fairlynew?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
It started.
I think it started at thebeginning of this year in March
is when it started the rodeoassociation.
I fought for the pca for delrayat the three yard rodeo company
.
Hey, they called me up earlythis year saying, no, am I
wanting to fight bulls this year?
If so, what shows do I want?
So I told them, hey, I justwant the, the ones closest to
(06:38):
the house.
Yeah, and then after this year,after my last one, I'm hanging
it up.
Yeah, I'll still come and help,like, if you need me to come
help back dance or you hangingit up, I'll still come and help.
Like, if you need me to comehelp backpins or you know
anything like that, I'll stillcome to help.
But fighting bulls in generalI'm just, you know, kind of wore
out a little bit.
So my season started back inMarch in Nosehark, alabama, only
(07:00):
20 minutes from the house.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Okay when you say you're done.
Do you?
Do you think, dude, I am notquestioning any manhood?
Are you just afraid of hurtingagain man, not questioning the
manhood, not?
Do you think?
No, no?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
uh, not, not, not afraid to get hurt.
I know it comes with the job.
So, like at my first rodeo back, I wasn't mentally prepared
with my knee, yeah, and didn'tknow if it was going to hold up
or not.
So I was kind of I was slow,you know, I was still a little
out of shape and it's just.
But after that first night thesecond night went a whole lot
(07:43):
better because my knee held upthe first night.
So it worked a lot better.
And then, after my second rodeo, a couple weeks later, my
second rodeo went 10 timesbetter, like it never nothing
even happened.
So it's not really that.
It's really.
You know, me and my wife andthe kids, we're back in church,
(08:04):
we're doing them, we're involvedwith our church over here in
Dothan, we're involved with busroutes and stuff, and I just
felt like the Lord was pushingme somewhere else to do
something else for a living.
Either for a living or justevery other weekend, on the
weekends, or something like that, going ministry.
So that's really one reason outthere.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yeah, sir, and I, I know you, I know.
You know what I meant bymanhood.
I want the listeners to know,dude, I tell you what man I tore
my meniscus while rock climbing.
You know wall climbing and Ihaven't been back.
I haven't been back.
I'm afraid of re I'm afraid ofre-injuring it, not re-injuring
it, you know, while doingmountains and trekking or doing
(08:50):
CrossFit, because you know, I'vebeen doing that ever since
cancer.
I was like dude.
I want to be more well-rounded,so, but I don't go to rock
climbing gyms because I'm dude,I'm a sissy bro.
I don't want a torn meniscusagain.
That stuff hurts.
I can only think of what youwent through.
(09:11):
But I had that torn meniscusbecause of the rock climate.
I don't go back because youknow what, not based on manhood,
I'm just scared, bro.
So people, people who arelistening, even the rodeo guys,
I man, I don't question you guys.
You guys are freaking rockstarathletes.
I'm just asking a fair question, up straight up.
Question Be like dude.
(09:32):
Are you scared?
Because I would be and I amwhen it comes to rock climbing.
So that I just wanted toclarify now that you're now that
you're in a different situation.
You went to the Lord and he'sswayed you somewhere else.
Where are you going?
(09:52):
What are you doing, man?
Tell the people what you're upto.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I went back.
So after surgery, after allthis, I actually came back home
off the road because I went onthe road to work for a little
bit as an elevator mechanic.
But I came off of that and Iwent back to the welding here at
the house and you know, I workMonday through Thursday,
sometimes on Fridays and then onthe weekends.
If I'm, if I'm not helpingsomebody work, like this
(10:20):
afternoon, I'm going to helpBuddy Schnaufer, a cowboy friend
of ours, over here in Geneva,alabama, put up panels, put up
some rope and pin panels andstuff like that.
So if I'm not helping doingthat, I'm helping at the church
doing the bus route.
We have a bus route that picksup kids that come to church on
Sundays and stuff, and we'reusually that on Saturday
(10:41):
mornings and then on Saturdayafternoons, man, we just chill.
We have some friends of oursthat we go, we have movie nights
, so we just chill.
I'm not talking about old times, because we grew up with each
other and stuff and we enjoy it.
We enjoy it.
And every now and then we'll goto my dad's hang out over there
(11:01):
.
You know either, he's beenbuying and breaking horses and
selling horses and stuff, soI'll go help him every now and
then.
I ain't done it in a minute,but we'll go over there and hang
out.
Yeah, that's about what life isright now.
It's different not being on theroad.
Huh, oh yeah, it's different.
It was a big, like the kidswere talking about it the other
(11:24):
night.
They're like well, mom anddaddy, why don't we go to rodeos
?
No more.
No, you know, I explained.
You know daddy's getting out ofit a little bit.
And then, you know, when y'allget a little older, y'all want
to start rodeoing.
We'll, we'll put y'all in therodeo.
If y'all don't, that's fine,you know.
So it was kind of like a bigshock not really shock, but
change for for all of us.
(11:46):
Yeah, for my wife, for the kids,for me, dad, you yeah, go ahead
yeah, yeah, it's just workingout for the best and then it's
just, you know, things have beenbeen fun, I mean even even not
being on the road.
Now we were talking about it.
(12:07):
You know we missed.
We missed the traveling, um,even though it, man, sometimes
it sucked.
It sucked to travel six, seven,eight hours away sometimes.
Yeah, but man, it was justfight.
See stuff at different storeson the way up there and stuff.
It was fun.
It was like a mini vacation.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Yeah, mini short vacations.
Yes, sir, yeah, yeah, yes, sir,so you're on your final run.
You got three more left, as yousaid prior to this episode, you
know, before we went live.
Yes, sir, how's it all feelingman?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Oh man, I'm ready.
I'm ready to get back in thearena to do these last three
shows.
I got one in Panama City it'sgoing to be on the beach.
And then I've got one in Dothan, right here at the house.
I've got one in Knoxville,florida.
I'm anxious to be back in itand just do my thing and see all
(13:04):
my old friends and stuff andyou know, get to hang out with
them and talk with them.
Yeah and um, and I'm justexcited.
I'm excited about it, but it'slike a bittersweet thing and I
know when that last one hitsit's gonna hit hard and it's
gonna be like a bittersweetthing.
I enjoy the ride, but it's timefor a different chapter in my
(13:25):
life.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Okay, and so so work, kids, family and basically
welding.
Yes, sir, okay now.
Now there was talks of youmight have that farm, because
last time we talked you you weregetting some things going there
.
You're thinking about puttingup some pens and stuff like that
(13:47):
.
But what's what's going on,right?
How's that going?
How's that holding up?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
now we are looking to buy a house.
We actually been looking at ahouse right now that has about
four acres on it and it alreadyhas a horse barn put up and
everything and and it's superlong and it's somewhat wide
where we could put like a smalllittle either bucking sheets or
a little round pin out there.
(14:17):
You know, just to have some fun.
Yeah, nothing crazy.
Now my dad has bought a wholearena.
He um, he's in a process offencing off his whole property.
He has about 30 acres.
He's where we used to live outon the outskirts of his property
.
So he he's fencing off hiswhole property currently.
(14:37):
And he bought a whole big arenato throw on ropings and barrel
races.
And then we got a set ofbucking suits.
We just ain't gotten them.
They're sitting at somebodyelse's place right now for the
past couple of years, but Idon't know if he's wanting to go
get them and bring them over tothe house and setting them up
out there when he gets the arenaset up.
(14:57):
And then we even throw on somebull riders.
So that's actually looking likeit's going to go well.
He's been working really hardto get it coming along.
It's been great.
He has a nice little setup.
He's laying his house for us.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
You're going to take a step forward in that.
Those parts with dad yeah, ifhe asks me to, you know, help
out, you know.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
You know he is oh yeah, definitely, I know you
will and I'll definitely helphim out.
He's wanting to throw on.
His main thing is he's wantingto throw on some clinics.
So the cowboy friend of ours,buddy snper, he's actually on a
show called the Ultimate CowboyShowdown with Trace Atkins as
one of the judges.
Okay, so he's on a lot ofclinics, either horsemanship or
(15:50):
ropings and stuff like that, orcutting horses and stuff.
He throws on a lot of clinics.
My dad is wanting him and mydad and Buddy Snopfer are
wanting to get together to throwon these clinics here at the
house and see how it goes andstuff, which I'm really excited
because my wife, she's stillwanting to learn to run barrels
(16:14):
or either cut horses or evenrope, and so that will be a
great opportunity for her to getout there and start learning as
well.
That will be a greatopportunity for her to get out
there and start learning as well.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Have you thought about, just maybe, contracting
with your dad?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
maybe one or two things a year still get your
feet dirty.
Maybe we never actually talkedabout it, but there's always
that opportunity in case we dothrow on something.
Yeah, um, out there at hisplace and that, yeah, I'll
definitely, I'll probablydefinitely throw on something.
It wouldn't be like a part ofthe association, just be like an
open deal yeah, yeah yeah,jackpot or something like that.
Yes, sir, yeah, yeah, okay well, it depends on if dad wants to
(16:59):
get bigger.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Say that again before .
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Oh, I was just saying .
If he ever talks to me about it, I'm sure we, you know, we'd
probably do something.
I think my brother's involvedwith it as well as putting up
the fence in the arena as well,so we'll definitely have to
include him.
He'll be more on the ropingside of it, and his wife will be
more on the barrel racing side,and my stepmom as well.
What?
Speaker 1 (17:23):
about production.
Man, People that get out, theywant that production.
Think about it.
Have you thought about it?
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Man, with everything going on, I have it to be honest
with you, that's stillsomething that my dad's my dad's
getting out of judging with megetting out of fighting bulls.
You know, if we wanted, youknow to still pursue you know
rodeo careers later on, yeah, Imight do some like announcements
(17:57):
or something along that line.
You know, with production andstuff, there's a lot of good
guys that do it, a lot oftalented guys and man, it'll be
great to learn from them.
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Oh yeah, well, you got it, man, you got that
personality, you got that accent, dude, that deep southern drawl
I mean deep southern bro.
Sometimes I have to bring myears together.
I'm like, yeah, okay, alright,alright, yeah, alright.
(18:33):
So we're almost done because,dude, you're in that humidity.
The heat doesn't bother me,it's the humidity, man, and if
it's the same, the humidity is,and if it's the same, the
humidity is the same, at thesame range as the temp.
I'm, I'm good bro, I'm like acand ac all day, you know.
So take, take me to the last,your last fight.
(18:58):
Right, it's coming up, right,what day, what day so nice will
be the last one.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I want to say it's in november, okay, about
mid-november.
I'm excited about that onebecause that was at the college
over there and it's behind abaseball field.
It packed out the first year.
We had it packed out, I think,around like 3200, 35500 people
the first night and the secondnight it rained and there were
still about 2,500 people.
So it packed out and that showhas always been good.
(19:29):
It packed out last year too.
But my favorite one that's goingto come up, which is going to
be Dothan.
It's man, dothan's my hometown.
So like I'm really MidlandCity's my hometown but Dosen's
where everybody goes to to go dosomething.
So I grew up out here in DosenDoing it at home.
There's just something about it, man, it's going to hit hard
(19:52):
because I know it's going to bethe last time I'll probably
fight bulls in that arena.
It won't be the last time I'llgo help there, because I know
I'll help out and stuff and youknow, work the backpins, but
fighting bulls, that's probablygonna be, you know, my last time
at that arena.
Now nice bill will be my lastone ever.
That was gonna hit home, forsure, but you know, not as much
as the one in dojo all right,I'm sure you're gonna shed a few
(20:15):
tears, especially at your lastone, even your hometown.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Well, let's, let's go to the last one that you'll be
fighting.
Right, what's the first thingyou're going to do after the
last bull man?
What's the first thing?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I'll probably cry.
I ain't going to lie to you.
I'll probably cry.
Cry it out for a minute or two,yeah, then go find some off the
house somewhere.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
You boys, the waffle house man yep, that's.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
That's what we'll probably do.
Just go find some waffle housejeez, all right.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Favorite thing at waffle house, do you always get
it, or do you, you know, do avariety on the menu?
Speaker 2 (20:59):
no, every time texas bacon cheesesteak melt, you do.
Double the bacon, double thecheesesteak, onions and then
onions on the hash browns andcheese on the hash browns.
Lots of waffle house sauce lots.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Okay, all right, it's a man.
It's been a while since I'vebeen a waffle house, but I'll.
It's always waffle house islike after a party, bro, but
that's your go-to and you'regonna stick to it right after
the tears yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
That's what we're gonna go do with the fam with
the family and friends.
Whoever wants to come, allright trevor.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Anything else you want to add?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
man.
Uh, to be honest, I don'treally think we have anything
else going on besides all that.
Other than that, what'sprobably going to replace a
little bit of my traveling fromrodeo is probably you know, I
felt like, like I said before, Ifelt like the Lord was pushing
us somewhere else.
Yeah, probably a little bit ofpreaching every now and then,
(22:02):
traveling to different churchesor something along that line.
Other than that, that'sprobably about the newest thing
probably gonna come up.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
It's crazy, it's crazy how two years have just I
mean, went by.
I'm, I'm going on 2021, this is2025, four years, and last time
when I saw you was almost twoyears.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Nuts, man, nuts I know you don't feel that way.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
No, that long and you know, the more I look at it,
the more I'm like man, I've beenin this scene for a bit and,
you know, a lot of people haverecognized me and noticed me.
They don't, they don't noticeme until I start talking.
Like man, I heard that voicebefore and they're like you're
the guy with the podcast.
So, like I go to these ringsand they're like you got the
podcast right.
(22:49):
I'm like, yeah, yeah, well,didn't recognize you until you
started talking.
I'm like, oh, okay, that's cool, but no, I've been awesome.
Yeah, it's awesome, it's, it'spretty uplifting, man, it's.
It's uplifting because it, youknow, I I get the guys that's
just starting.
They're trying to make a namefor themselves.
They come on, contractors, dude, for some reason contractors
(23:12):
listen Right and they want thosethey want those boys.
They're hungry.
They see those boys hungry LikeI, like.
I like the you know just thetalent.
They're hungry.
I see that I'm a coach.
They're hungry.
I see that I'm a coach, youknow, at high school, so I know
a few things of you know talentand what to look for.
And these contractors, you know, listen, put them out and dude.
(23:34):
They're working nonstop andit's just like it's uplifting to
see and hear these stories ofthese boys, you know, and girls,
but mostly the boys, becauseyou know contractors want tough
guys.
Just move up in the ranks, man,and it's just it's awesome to
see and hear them, you know, andtheir uplifting stories of
(23:56):
started from the bottom.
Now they're here.
You know what I mean.
So I love it, I love it, I loveit.
So, but yeah, two years man, sodid.
I did a run with with wileycoyote I don't know, he's a
steer wrestler just got done atthe the.
The college nfr ranked eighththere, but I did.
(24:20):
He's a not a local guy, but downthe road in yakima valley, but
he's like dude, I want you totravel with me and the boys and
this, and that I was like allright, I'll do that, I'll do
that, but not this round.
I have to drive, but dude, yeah, second round that's awesome
yeah, second round in august,this you know, in two weeks
(24:42):
we're gonna be riding with himand the boys and let me tell you
it's gonna be crazy.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
He's 22 man, you want to send me some pictures,
videos, for sure for sure.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got, I got, I got your text, so
I I got your number.
But yeah, it's, it's fun, man,it's fun it, it brings joy to
you.
You know, just sitting backhelping with the horses and just
you know, seeing everybody gettheir game face on behind the
pin, yeah, behind the ring.
It's cool, man, because themore I sit back there, the more
(25:17):
I'm a fan of man, breakaway dude.
And I'm a fan of breakaway dude, I'm telling you, and then the
roping, the team roping, there'snothing like it.
So the more I sit back there,I'm like, all right, okay, all
right, this is what to look for.
Three seconds or 2.4 seconds,it's like you blink, it's done.
(25:38):
You know.
But, yeah, dude, I love everyminute of it, looking forward to
it.
Man and man, I want to sharemore behind the scenes and I'm
getting there.
I'm getting there.
I'm thinking about getting amedia card and then working my
way up there.
But we'll see.
But trevor, trevor, I know it'shot man, I know there's some
(26:01):
changes.
I know you got some questions.
You know, out there, we won'tget there.
But I know, whatever you do,man, you're going to persevere
and conquer it like nobody'sbusiness man To know where you
came from, to know, like, whereyou hurt yourself and where
you're at.
Now, dude, you're in a betterplace and you can tell dude.
(26:25):
So I want you to continue onthis journey, dude.
Never question yourself, neverdoubt yourself.
Dude, just know that you gotpeople all around you who love
and cherish you, dude, and whocare for you.
And if you ever need anything,traver, if you ever need
anything, let me know.
All right?
I'm here for you, I'm here foryou, yeah, and and if you ever
(26:46):
want to get back on the podcastnot because, you know, just of
just being on there, you know,let me know.
You always have a spot.
Always, it'll be in the dirtwith Trevor Wells.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
All the time Promise.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Promise All right man .
Promise, promise alright man.
So let's keep in touch and Istill want to hear about your
journey and I'll be sending youphotos and everything else,
alright?
Yes, sir till next time tillnext time alright, trevor.
Thank you, yes, sir.
(27:31):
Bye, bye, bye.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.