All Episodes

September 10, 2025 131 mins
Mindset Matters.
In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, we are honored to host a remarkable individual who has not only mastered the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but has also conquered the world's highest peak – Mount Everest. Join us as Marcus and Melanie delve into the incredible journey of Cesalina Gracie. Hailing from a family that pioneered and revolutionized this martial art, Cesalina has carried the torch forward, dedicating her life to mastering the intricacies of Jiu-Jitsu. Cesalina shares insights into the mental and physical preparation required for both the Jiu-Jitsu arena and the formidable slopes of Everest. How do the principles of discipline, resilience, and focus intertwine between the mats and the mountains? Listen in and be inspired by this incredible woman of purpose and power.
Whether you're a Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast, an aspiring mountaineer, or someone navigating life's challenges, Cesalina's journey offers invaluable insights that transcend boundaries.

In this episode you will hear:
• Back in the day, there were eighteen martial arts, different clans that had different practices in Japan, and they all ended with “Jitsu.” (7:08)
• There are no bad kids. There’s bad environments for kids. (10:41)
• [Jiu Jitsu] is an equalizer of emotions for kids. Jiu Jitsu is gonna honor your personality. (11:04)
• Nobody needs to tell us where you’re gonna find the environment, because when you walk in, the systems that are in place teach you before you hear a word from your coach. (12:54)
• [My grandfather] saw immediately what the power of that art was and the incredible responsibility that came with it. (13:45)
• This [Jiu Jitsu] is a tool for self-development. I’m not here to learn how to fight. I’m here to feel powerful and feel capable without having to look powerful and look capable. (14:00)
• That’s the beautiful thing about Jiu Jitsu, is that it lives on the inside. (14:21)
• [My family] proved the efficiency of Jiu Jitsu to the rest of the world. (20:43)
• If the whole world learns these tools, we’re gonna live in a society that is more peaceful, that is more respectful, because when you have human beings that are self-confident and compassionate, you start changing the way we interact with each other, and we start changing the way we live our lives. (21:19)
• As a grown up, I understand the difference between winners and champions. (30:06)
• The most important thing about Jiu Jitsu that it builds and internal constitution that is so strong that you can deal with anything in life. (38:26)
• The greatest value of Jiu Jitsu is applied outside of the mat. (42:29)
• Ultimately, the greatest skill you can have is awareness. (45:54)
• We have to be brutally honest with ourselves as to where we’re standing in life. (55:51)
• What’s actually gonna take you to the top are the mindsets that you’ve created in your journey in Jiu Jitsu. (61:20)
• [While climbing Mount Everest] the one question that I did not ask myself was “should I go back to Everest Base Camp?” (63:35)
• Another part that was really hard [while climbing Mount Everest] was when I saw dead bodies in the mountain for the first time. (63:47)
• I hope everyone gets to experience something in their lives that they have a hard time describing. (72:22)
• When I got back to base camp, I immediately called my family, because I didn’t tell anybody I was climbing Mount Everest. (82:21)
• Champions are still champions even when they lose. (87:27)
• When you have confidence in yourself, you solve so many problems. (118:28)

Support Cesalina:
- IG: cesagracie
- https://cesalina.com/

Support TNQ
 
- IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13
  - 
https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit

Sponsors:
  - masterclass.com/TNQ
  - Prizepicks (TNQ)
  -
Dripdrop.com/TNQ
  -
meetfabiric.com/TNQ
  - 
cargurus.com/TNQ
   -
.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}
Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

24/7 News: The Latest
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

The Charlie Kirk Show

The Charlie Kirk Show

Charlie is America's hardest working grassroots activist who has your inside scoop on the biggest news of the day and what's really going on behind the headlines. The founder of Turning Point USA and one of social media's most engaged personalities, Charlie is on the front lines of America’s culture war, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of students on over 3,500 college and high school campuses across the country, bringing you your daily dose of clarity in a sea of chaos all from his signature no-holds-barred, unapologetically conservative, freedom-loving point of view. You can also watch Charlie Kirk on Salem News Channel

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.