August 7, 2025 • 58 mins
Andrew Mayne is an Army Veteran and endurance athlete with an amazing comeback story. Drew's life has taken him from addiction to recovery by becoming a voice in mental health advocacy and a testament to resilience.
Connect with Drew on Instagram @maynedrew and Linkedin @andrewmayne. You can find all of his race accomplishments at UltraSignUp.
Thank you to our sponsor Honor The Brave.
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Connect with Drew on Instagram @maynedrew and Linkedin @andrewmayne. You can find all of his race accomplishments at UltraSignUp.
Thank you to our sponsor Honor The Brave.
Want more The On Purpose Podcast?
Find full episodes and more!
Check in on Instagram, Facebook
Connect with Jerrod!
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Get My Book!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You are listening to the on Purpose podcast, your guide
to living a more purposeful life. What's up, everybody? Welcome
to this week's edition of our Purpose podcast, where it's
our pleasure to serve you each and every week to
bring you stories to get you moving and get your thinking,
get your wander at han. Did I give it my
all today? And if not, we'd rather do different tomorrow,
(00:24):
right because we're not guaranteed tomorrow, So let's make the
most of our today. And I want to want to
thank you for being here and we can't do it
without you. This week's episode is coming to you from
the beautiful Black Hills in Wyoming, which a lot of
people don't realize. Ashley, Wyoming has a little sliver to
Black Kills. You think the Black Kills, you think of
South Dakota, Mount Rushmore. If you've ever driven on I ninety,
(00:48):
you think of the Wall Drug because you get those
crazy signs for like thousands of miles it feels like.
But yeah, Wyoming has a little sliver and it's where
we spend most of our summer and we can do
stuff like this record podcast off grid while immersed in
the beauty of nature. So I hope your summer is
going well. I hope you're getting time and nature to reflect,
(01:11):
to ground, to reconnect and maybe reevaluate was really important
for us and what's important for you and your families
and the people you lead in your life, and let
us know what you come up with. We're always excited
to hear from our audience and from our listeners to
see what's resonating with them, where they're going, what are
(01:32):
some challenges. Maybe we've got somebody to community can help
you out. So if you're fighting something, let's not do
it alone. That's what this community is for. So let's
get to this week's interview on me. I'm excited to
sit down and talk with a man who knows what
it means to push the limits physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Andrew Drew Maine is a military veteran an ultra endurance
(01:54):
athlete who has conquered races like the Moab two forty,
Big Foot two hundred, and the Monster three hundred mile
or recently. But what really drew me to want to
bring Drew Maine on the show is that his journey
is about a lot more than distance and racing. It's
about fighting battles and life as well overcoming addiction, surviving
(02:17):
an overdose, and emerging as an advocate for mental health
and plant based medicine. Drew's story proves that no challenge
is too great and no comeback is impossible if we
stay in the fight. If we stay in the fight,
So get ready for a conversation about resilience, healing, and
(02:40):
what it takes to keep moving forward when a lot
of times it feels like we can't. But before I
bring Juwan, do me a favorite get over to your
favorite social media platforms YouTube, like, subscribe, share, give us
some comments, share your challenge to share your what you're
getting from the episodes. Anything like a little comment does
(03:01):
so much to help us grow in the algorithms that
do control social media and who finds us. So do
that like subscribe, share, tell your friend about it, and
now sit back and enjoy this week's conversation with my
friend Drew Maine. Honor the Brave was founded by retired
law enforcement officer Jeff Wolfgang and his wife Xana after
(03:23):
Jeff was injured in the line of duty. It's their
way of giving back to the first responder and military
community through real estate. If you're a military or first responder,
past or present, buying our selling a home. Honor the
Brave connects you with trusted realtors nationwide and gives back
through their Brave Benefits. You receive an amount equivalent to
ten percent of your agent's commission as a thank you,
(03:45):
and additional five percent goes to a charity you choose,
impacting first responders or military families, and you'll receive a
handmade wooden flag honoring your service. Visit Honor the Brave
dot com. We've got your six. Drew, my newest friend.
Finally I got you on the show. Welcome to the
On Purpose Podcast.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Thanks Jared. It's it's great to great to come on, Joe.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I'm excited to get to your story. Here's somebody that
I met through another friend, and I watched you when
you didn't even know I was watching you because you're
out the Monster three hundred. I was following the live
tracking and Tasha told me they followed my friend Drew.
You're gonna want to talk to him someday. And did
(04:28):
I could imagine going three hundred miles self propelled, only
your shoes and your feet taking you.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Yeah, it was uh that was definitely a wild one. Uh,
definitely the hardest, hardest one I've done.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The date.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
You know, I think for many reasons. You get the desert,
you know, the mountains and all that, and yeah, but
it was that was definitely a grind.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You put out a good reel on Instagram or you
were on a show and they put out a reel
with you. I just shared that today talking about like
I think he had a broken toe or broke a
foot or something.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Well, yeah, it's I was, so I didn't It wasn't
actually broken, but I thought so about seventy five miles in.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, fifty seventy five miles in. It was actually you know, Tasha.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Was actually at one of the the the aid stations,
and you know, my dad was there crewing me. She
came over to check on my feet and she was like,
what the hell's going on with you with your foot?
And I mean it was like I had And it
was funny because I had heat rash, but the thing
was swollen like a balloon, like my left foot compared
to the right. And I just said, oh, it's just
(05:37):
just heat rash, and but I knew something was going
on with it, and I got to one point before
a big climb, and I I thought to myself, like,
I like, I was thinking a bone on the top
of my foot might have you know, whether it was
a stress for actual or a broken like it it
was bad, you know, But then I believe, you know,
after all of it, the thing was so swollen just
(06:00):
you know, painful that I couldn't figure it out. But
I believe it was just like like some sort of
torn you know ligament, like right where the ankle and
the foot meat. Because then, you know, it got to
the point where, you know, my foot like every time
I raised it, it wouldn't come out. I had like
drop foot, so it would just stay down and it
would get caught on rocks, and I could just there
(06:21):
were times I could just feel it, you know, keep
like tearing every time it would catch a rock, and
I'm like, I you know, but I just I said
to myself, I'm gonna try to make it like fifty
more miles so that I if the medics start giving
me a hard time, I can at least say, well,
I just traveled fifty miles on it, and the next thing,
you know, I'm like two hundred and fifty miles in
(06:44):
and that's when I thought, I like, I made it
that far, and I'm like, I could barely even walk,
and you know, and that's when I sent you know,
I was, as my son sent the text, like kind
of you know, getting me jacked up, you know, saying like,
you know, Dad, you've always taught me, you know, to
never give up, and you know, and anything's possible. He's like,
(07:06):
you know, we'll just give it your best, and that
just got.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Me all jacked up. I'm like, I don't care about
the PA, you know, but yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
It was definitely interesting because I hadn't had anything like
obviously you have like the regular you know, aches and
pains that come with an Ultra and even being it,
you know, you get to the point where sometimes you
can barely walk.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
But yeah, this was, uh, it was different. But it
was pretty cool to like, you know, just have it
happen and then overcome it.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
And that was the inaugural Monster three hundred, right, Yeah. Yeah,
so you're always part of the history of one, you know,
finishing the very first one they ever offered.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
You know, sometimes you think, you know, you know, a
lot of times I think the mentality is like, well,
I'll wait, you know, a couple of years until they
kind of work out the kinks, you know, because the
first one is always like you know this usually you know,
whatever whoever's running the race, it's usually like a lack
of food or whatever, you know, just because they're trying
to work out the kinks. But like, no, you know what,
(08:09):
I'm going to do this one, you know, the first
year while it's while I still can and yeah it was.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
You know how insane that sounds that you're like, I
just want to do fifty more miles and then I'll
reevaluate fifty miles. Dude.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yeah, it's funny because I had my dad out there,
Like I said, he's never seen any of these, Like,
my dad's a runner, and you know, he's like, you're
crazy doing this stuff. And I say to him, I'm like, Dad,
you're you know, I think you're crazy. You're you're almost
you know. I think he's turning seventy this year. And
he he runs, you know, about six miles every day,
(08:44):
and I'm like, that's you know, that's a level of
crazy too. That takes, you know, to consistently do that
every day. But he you know, he was out there.
He's like, this is just crazy. You guys are out
of your mind.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So did he have a good time?
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Yeah, he did. It was definitely, Uh. I think it
was definitely a different experience for him. You know, my
little brother had told him before he came out, like,
you know, you realize you're gonna be like out there,
you know for a week, and so but yeah, he
had you know, he had a good time. It was
a good you know, it was a good like bonding moment.
(09:21):
And it was cool because he got to run like it.
So with like three miles left, you come out of
the mountains and you hit the pavement and I actually
had Tasha pace me like the last section. And so
we come out of the mountains and this Border Patrol
vehicle keeps passing by us, and I'm like, i start thinking, like,
(09:44):
you know, back like it's ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I'm like, have I it is everything? You know, is
there anything I've done or anything?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Because they kept passing and then finally, you know, they
stop and my dad gets out of the vehicle. So
the Border Patrol they they dropped him out. They gave
him a ride out there, and he got to do
like the last few miles to the finish with me.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
So it was pretty that was awesome.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
That's hilarious. All right, before we get into too much
your story, do I gotta warm you up. We can't
just jump in and go for the hard climb right
off the bat, my friend, I gotta get you warmed up.
You ready for this?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
All right?
Speaker 1 (10:17):
All right, Drew? What's the best one word description of you?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
M best one word description, like I'd use the descriptive
of like perseverance. I'm trying to think, like you get
me on the spot.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
That's a good one. Good. Yeah, that been with you
throughout your life, you think, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I mean I've always been like I feel like, you know,
I grew up playing hockey in like a big hockey
area in Massachusetts, and uh, you know, I was never
the most talented, but like just hard work has always
been my thing. It's you know, and I try to
like instill that and the kids too, and you know,
(11:04):
just like you know, especially in my adult life, you know,
kind of overcoming a lot, I've just I feel like,
you know, it's just always a saying it's like all right,
just persevere through this, like you know, you get through
the hard times, you know, keep going and you know,
just get.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
To the other side. So yeah, i'd say so I've
always been about like just hard work, all right.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
If your life has a theme song, what's your song?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Jeez, he's a good too. I just get off a
meeting him work mode. Themes.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
I'd almost say, like I just think like the maybe
like the Rocky dude.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
I was just thinking Rocky for you.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
That's just yeah, it just comes to mind, you know,
like when he keeps getting knocked down and keeps getting
knocked down and then he just kind of rises.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, I go with that.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
That's a good one, all right. Uh, it's a favorite
book or a book you read commonly.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Me, I get, you know, I do a lot of
I read a lot of like kind of feel like
I lean towards like mindfulness and meditation books.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
But you know, I'd.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Probably have to go with you know, just because I'm thinking,
like when I originally got started with you know, running
and whatnot, I think, like, you know, can't hurt me
by gogs, like I got to give it to you
know that That really that really got me going, Like
I was sitting you know, just because I can give
(12:34):
you the story of it. But I was sitting in
the in the VA hospital and I remember I read
that and I was just in a rough place and
and I needed just that real and raw, you know view.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
That's just how how I kind of work. I see
how some.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
People were like, oh, it's too much, you know, but
for me, it's exactly what you know, I needed.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
So yeah, I'd go with them.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
What was it? What was it about the book to
hit you at that moment to get you to pick
yourself up.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
You know, just seeing it's like anything, you know, seeing
somebody else who like overcame you know, all the odds
and was able to do something.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
And you know, there was something that really stuck.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
With me about about Goggins because like I realized, I
have this mindset even going into like you know, I
went from running a fifty k to mowab two forty.
And there was when he gives a speech one time
he says like he has his mentality like what if,
like what if I could do that? You know, we're
always thinking and I've always done this, you know, you
(13:36):
start thinking of the issues that could arise, But then
if you just keep like what if I could pull
that off, and like even when I first did Moab,
it was just like a leap of faith, you know,
and it's like, well, what if I could do this?
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Like what you know, other humans can do this, so
why can't I? You know, if I just put in
the work.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
I love it. You get to have dinner with one person, Drew,
who do you want to have dinner with? And what
are you going to ask them?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Mhmm, you know I do almost want to make it too,
But it's kind of under the general theme. I'd say, like,
you know, my grandfathers and and just like you know,
because they were both World War Two veterans, and so
I think to be able to sit down with them
and like talk to them, you know now that I'm older,
(14:22):
and and just really like pick their brain about you know,
what things were like, what things were like back then,
and like what they used to overcome things. Just I
just have like a ton of respect for them, Like
both World War two veterans. My one of my grandfathers
was you know, he was a cop for thirty five years.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
And yeah, just tons of respect for them. So definitely
go with them.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Yeah, it's always man, I think about that too, right,
Like when when you're kids and you have your grandparents,
they're fun to be around, right, and you enjoy them.
Not till we get to like this age in life,
we're like, man, I wish I could go back and
actually understand what they did because you don't have that
perspective as a kid, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, and it's it's almost taught me, you know, like
my dad coming out to coming out to the monster,
you know, was huge for me because like I had
always thought, like I'm telling you, like within a year prior,
I was thinking, you know, it was almost manifesting and
just like I want my dad to be able to
do this, you know, with me, because a lot of times,
(15:30):
you know, you learn from other people, like they lose
a parent, and then you know you start thinking like, man,
I would have loved this, or I wish I could
do this with them now, you know. So that was
just it was really cool to be able to like
do that with him and you know, share that experience.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Yeah, I love it. And then you also had your
kids involved, right like they're texting you, like we talked
off the area, You're taking them on runs with you,
And I think that's the best application of our life
experiences when we try to made what we didn't have
growing up, right, Like we wish we'd have had opportunities
like this, but making those happen while we still can.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah. Oh and that's you know.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I you know how like as a parent you always
want to like we always tell our kids certain things.
Well I finally realized, I'm like, well, you know what
with with all this running, you know, it's just kind
of like to be able to like just show them
like lead by example and kind of like you know,
the whole do as I say, not as I do,
(16:28):
sort of like it's just you know, if they see that,
they because I remember, I mean for me, like growing up,
I always remembered my dad going out for.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Runs and I'm like, God, this guy, how does he
do that? You know, what is he doing?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
But like I've always told the kids, and like, you know,
it's just something you can always have and lean on,
you know, throughout life and just kind of teaching the
lesson you know that just you can do anything, you
just have to apply yourself and go for it.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
That's such an important thing that So my kids are
older than yours. We got an almost thirty year old
at twenty four and a twenty two year old, And
one of the things that I constantly hear from them is, Dad,
you showed us you and mom were doing right, because
the kids aren't going to necessarily remember what you tell them,
but they're always going to remember what they see, right, Yeah,
(17:19):
And if we want to impact them, do it, like
do what you're asking them to do. You want them
to take risk? You got to take some risk.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Right, Yeah, No, absolutely, And you know, and I try
to be like blatantly honest with the kids, like even
you know, a lot of times, you know, especially guys,
we try to put up that front and like not
show any vulnerability. But I've really the past few years especially,
I try to just like show that vulnerability, and like,
(17:49):
you know, even you know, in the process of like
starting a business and doing like, you know, a mindfulness.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Meditation practice with.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
With clients, and you know, I've a days by my
son sees me working on certain things, and I talked
to him about, like, you know, how fear has held
me up on this like project for a couple of
years because you start thinking, like, well, you know what,
if this arises and or this comes up, it's going
to be hard to do this and is it is
(18:18):
it too much of a risk, and you know, so
just being open with him and explaining that sort of stuff,
you know, I just I feel like that'll be helpful
because you know, we all have some sort of you know,
fear that arises at some point. But just to know
that you're not alone in that or if they you know,
say the kids look at me like, oh, you know,
he can do anything, but just to know that there's
(18:41):
also that fear, you know, so when it comes up
for them, it's like all right, you know, I can
have this fear, but I just have to like, you know,
push through it.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
I think that there's a valuable lesson.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
That It's huge. Man, who else is going to teach
your kids that about you?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Right?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Right? It is nobody else's job.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yeah, right.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
You know you want courageous, be a courageous parent, You
want courageous teams around you, to be a courageous leader. Right.
It's contagious, and that's I think too many times we
get in our own way, especially in today's age where
we have so much information, we get so slowed down
by always gathering information, we never take the action steps.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Right, Yeah, And that's all it is is just like
it's just taking that action and then figuring it out
along the way.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
You know. It's like going out on an ultra.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
You just get The biggest thing is just getting to
the start line, and then you know, you could be
the most trained you've ever been in your life and
things will go south, you know, but you just have
to navigate it. So it's just about like getting to
the start line, you take that first step and then
just navigate things as they as they come.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Which I think is what's drawn me to trail run
at this age of my life because I never really
cared for running running my whole life. I've been an athlete,
but running was either something we did to cut weight
for fights or as punishment because we didn't play our
sport well, we had to go run extra, right, So
it's never been my jam. But now I love it
and I think it's just what you said it. One,
(20:08):
it makes me want to quit a lot, so I
have to face that part of me. And two allows
me to problem solve because nothing's ever going to be perfect,
which is a good microcosm for how we should live life.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Right, Yeah, and that the whole mentality, like you know,
do hard things. You know, it really does make life easier, Like,
you know, it makes everything in life easier or not
seem as drastic. So like with you know, it's like
you do these hard things and your face with these
you put yourself in these situations and you have to
(20:42):
face challenges, so you know, and then I've noticed as
things arise, you know, real world life issues come up,
you know, they're just easier to deal with or navigate
because you've been through and put yourself in harder situations
that you've you've made it through, so you have that
kind of like reassurance that you know, oh, Okay, this
(21:05):
was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do,
but I found a way to do it.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Yeah, it's all you like Goggins. Goggins refers to it
as a cookie jar, right, like when things get dark,
he goes back to past success and if he knows
if he did that, he can do.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
This, yeah, right exactly, which.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Is I think is a mental training, right, and that's
what we got to teach our kids and our younger
generation is yeah, things would be challenging, but pull your
past success, like train yourself to know what you've already done,
not what you can't.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Do, right.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Yeah, it's the skill, right, It's just like working out,
you gotta work your mind.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Right, Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
And it's like for me, like I just never bought into,
you know, meditation really over the years, Like once I
got out of the military. You know a lot of
people are like, oh, you should meditate, And to me,
I said the same thing that, Like people say to
me this day, They're like, I can't get my mind
to calm down. It's like, well, yeah, you, you and
(22:03):
everyone else, and that's not the point. But I've realized
that Like just like you know, when you go to
the gym, you know, you want to get physically stronger,
you know, you just you know, you do more reps,
and the more reps you do, the stronger you get.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
And it's it really is the.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Same thing you know with the with the mental side too,
like because the mind controls everything, you know them like them, Yeah,
the mind control. Like a lot of people would say, well,
the most important thing for an ultra is the physical part.
It's like no, I mean, because you need your mind
needs to be right in order to.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
You know, do the physical part as well.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah, And I think that ties into so many things, right,
Like you could have all the talent you want to
start a business, but if your doesn't mind, doesn't believe
that you can be successful in the business, A lot
of people never take action, yeah, or to write that book. Yeah, yeah,
you're anything.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, yeah, it's you know, a's that like I've talked
to a lot of people about it. It's like, you know,
that sort of thing holds people up because you start,
you know, with social media and everything nowadays too, you
start comparing yourself and it's subconscious too.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
It's like you start comparing yourself.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Well, I haven't done you know, somebody could say like,
well I haven't done what Goggins has done, so I
don't I'm not really qualified to do this. And and
you know that imposter syndrome where it's.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Just a lie.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
But yeah, no, that's that's important. I want to kind
of talk to you about that, Drew, because you you've
overcome a lot addiction, you know, being very open about
your mental health struggles, coming back with the military, even
surviving an overdose at one point that you shared what
what what was the turning point for you to make
(23:54):
you decide to fight for a different path, you know, I.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Think it was.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
It was actually pretty clear, like a clear moment where
I decided, like, all right, it's time to it's time
to change, like this isn't me. And unfortunately it took
something that drastic, but it kind of makes sense because
of my mentality. It's like, just like it will take
me a lot to break in an ultra it'll take
me a lot to change if I'm you know, on
(24:23):
that other path, like I just because being able to
handle I think a massive amount of pain that that
can be a positive or negative thing. But yeah, I
mean when that happened to me, like when I spoke
on the other podcast about the overdose, Like it's interesting
because I honestly maybe two people knew about that, and
that was got six seven years ago. It was a
(24:45):
while ago, and they were really like for that long
nobody knew and I I was just keeping it, keeping it.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Real close, but like it was.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
The thing is I finally decided, I'm like, well, you know,
it's time to talk about it, so that that way
somebody else sees that it can help them.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
But you know, I think like waking up or like
coming to.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
After that, I just I had this, you know, obviously yeah,
I was scared, you know, but there was just at
the same time, there was this feeling it's like all right,
it's it's go time, Like that's it, Like there's you know,
it's time to like live up to, you know, a
certain standard and you know and be who I know
(25:29):
I am, you know, and just kind of move past
all that stuff. And you know, it definitely took, but
there was that like clear moment then and then you know,
over time, I think, and so right that then I
made a decision, all right, it's time to you know,
do better live in a better way however you want
to say it. But you know, obviously with that it
(25:53):
comes challenges. So like I really had to focus on
you know, there was a time somewhere in there shortly
after where like I was you know, yeah, I was
out of the you know, addiction side of things, but.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
I I struggled.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
I was still struggling with something and I couldn't pinpoint it.
It's like, yeah, I'm not hooked on anything right now,
but like mentally, I you know, it was like insecurity
or something. And at one point I was you know,
even even sober. I was, you know, I dealt with
like a period of time where I was like suicidal and.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
You know it was and it's.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
You know, which is pretty heavy, but I you know,
I remember like even like the thought of it all,
and like I had, you know, at one point.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
You know, I had you know, my nine mil like
in my.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Mouth, and I was thinking about it and and it
was like almost the you know, the gun proud of
the residue smell, like it brought me back like weirdly,
and it brought me back to you know, just I
remember the smell clearly, and it brought me back to
like the military, and you think that, you know, one
could think like, oh, that might not be good, but
to me, it was like those were like amazing times
(27:15):
and it really just stopped me.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
It's like all right, you know, what are you doing?
Speaker 3 (27:18):
And and at that point, you know, luckily, I have
a lot of good people around me, so you know,
I what I did is I got that's when I
really got into the mindfulness. So my friend of mine,
he connected me with you know, a navy vet who
does a lot of you know, work around meditation, mindfulness
(27:40):
and you know, plant medicine as well, and you know,
but that was like really that was a turning point where.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
You know, where things like really changed.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
And I was able to work out a lot because
you know, going to you know, getting sent off and
doing a plant medicine retreat, you know, I had to.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
It was like ten or.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Fifteen years of therapy compacted into a few days because
it made me like face things that I didn't even
know I was ignoring, you know. So that was like
a major turn you know, turning point just as far
as like clarity, because it's like, yeah, you take away
you know, the addiction piece. But but people you know
(28:23):
who are in addiction, they're not doing it because they like,
you know, they have a good time. Like you're you're
doing it to subdue you know, something I believe. But yeah,
so that was and that's when I it led me
to really get into meditation, you know, for the first time,
like on a daily basis. So it really you know
(28:43):
that that helped tremendously.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
I want to ask about that, right because you know,
what we've gone through as a country since two thousand
and one is the longest continuous war countries ever fought,
right between Iraq, Afghanistan, all the other stuff that pops up,
and it's the first time ever that we've had like
dads and sons fighting the same wars because they've gone
(29:09):
so long.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Yeah, and I.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Don't think we were prepared as a nation for the
toll we were putting on our young people.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Yeah, oh yeah, I mean I agree. Yeah, you think
about that was it was so long and I think,
you know, one time I was talking, I was I
think it was my one of the kids, so my yeah,
even like my daughter is seventeen, and like I one
(29:39):
day I just asked them, like I never thought about this.
I'm like, hey, did they talk about you know, nine
to eleven in school and all that stuff? And I
just realized, like, you know, how long ago that happened
when you know, you know, we have kids that you know,
weren't even alive, like my daughter's seventeen, and she wasn't
even like close to a lot at that.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
So yeah, it just really was.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Such a long period of time and when we were
when we were in it, you really don't stop and
think about, you know, how long it was and how
big of a toll it took. And I feel like
now people are reflecting on that much more.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
Yeah, I think we're doing better, but there's still so
much more we can do, right, because one of the
greatest ask we can have is a country, is for
young people to give up a substantial part of their
life to go fight across the world on our behalf
and then bring them home and not have the best
because when we send people over, we have the best technology,
(30:39):
the best weapons, the best we come home and then
we don't have the best treatments, we don't have the
best counsel. We make it hard for them to get
even though we know they're struggling.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Right, Yeah, And like one thing I noticed, which you
think would be pretty common sense, but so I went
and got my master's degree in social work so I
could be a therapist, you know, at one point, because
I had all these ideas.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
And.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Just one very common sense thing is, you know, all right,
whatever branch you join, you go to boot camp, you
go to basic training, whatever it is, and you you know.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Learn to become, you know, a war fighter.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
And but when you get out, the only thing there
is it's like you get this briefing and it's like,
all right, don't beat your wife, don't kick the dog.
Is everyone feeling all right? And of course at that
point you're going to just say yes because you want
to get home. But you know, I even thought, I'm like, wow,
there should just be something, you know, if you train,
(31:39):
say twelve weeks when you first get in the military,
there should be some training to go back into the
civilian world. That seems pretty common sense.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
But we still don't do it. But you know, there's
a lot of.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
I feel like, one thing I've seen is there's a
lot of you know, veterans and first responds like kind
of stepping up and a lot of good nonprofits because
you know, it's like, all right.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Well save the VA.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
For instance, It's like, you know, so many people have
had friends, you know, you know, pass away after coming
home from.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
From sewer suicide or overdose and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
And I think it's like, all right, well the VA
if they're not the best at.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Helping out, you know, what can we do?
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Like and so you see a lot of vets and
first responders like starting nonprofits to help people and like
kind of you know, leading the way on that front.
So I feel like it's you know, there's a lot
more focus on it, you know.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Now I think we have a lot more information available
and like even shows like this, right, like one of
the reasons I started this is when I left law
enforcement early, retired earlier than most, is to still have
a voice in the community, right, and to still make
sure they understand that when it's time to hang up
(32:57):
that badge and move on, there's plenty of your life
to go, right, you just gotta get out and live it. Yeah,
you gotta surround yourself with other people that are living it.
And yeah, don't take no financial like you said earlier.
If somebody else can do some shit, I can.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Do it, right. Yeah, And I think I.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Think that's what we're making progress, Drew. Is enough people
are saying, wait, it's not the VA's job, Like they're
gonna do what's best for them, not what's best for Drew,
what's best for Jared. I gotta do what's best for me,
and if I share that might help somebody else, right.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Absolutely, So talk to me, Drew a little bit about
plant medicine, because I think that's a place we can
really improve, is getting our veterans off of the pharmaceutical
stuff that just keep people in this loop. I'm not
saying everybody, but I've seen my share of friends. Yeah,
talk to me about how plant medicine helped you and
how how you think that is part of your future
(33:56):
or part of the mental health recovery process.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Yeah, I mean you know, like I think back to
like when I got back from my last IRAQ deployment,
and you know, at one point I was like I
was prescribed and this is what led to my kind
of like addiction downfall, was you know, all these medications.
I was like, yeah, I'm kind of you know, depressed,
(34:20):
I'm anxious and anything. I'd say, they just hand me
a different pharmaceutical for which and I didn't know any better,
you know, so I'm like, okay, I'll listen to the doctor,
and before you know it, I'm on like ten different
medications like to do everything, whether it's like to sleep,
you know, for anxiety, depression, like just every aspect of life.
(34:42):
You know, I'm on a different pharmaceutical. And you know,
that's when just life took a downturn and I was
almost like I was just like medicaid and felt like
a zombie that you know, was just being subdued a
little bit. So then and you know, after yeah, I
(35:03):
ended up getting off all that stuff, and like to
this day, you know, I'm not prescribe one pharmaceutical. And
I'm and like the thing is, I'm not saying there's
not a place for it, you know, for certain things,
but for me, I just didn't need that, Like I
needed to be outside, go for you know, workout, do
(35:26):
meditation like I think that Like thinking back, you know, now,
it's like, okay, so I can do more with just
like my breath. My breath can help me more nowadays
than any of those ever did. So I was a
little you know, at the beginning, I was a little
there was some fear around, you know a few different things,
like just a general fear like oh, I know, I'm
(35:48):
gonna have to really face stuff that you know, some
stuff inside my head.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
And then you know, and the fear.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Of judgment like oh god, you know, people are gonna
think that's you know, I'm going to do you know,
drugs or whatever, you know, because of you know, just
the stigma that's on it. But like when I realized
the person who suggested it to me, he's you know,
I've known him for years and he's been.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Clean and sober for like twenty six years, and he's like.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
I think you should, you know, try this, so you know,
I connected with them in you know what it did
Like the first time I went it, really it felt
like I had this thousand pounds weight, you know, off
my shoulders and I experienced the most relief that I
(36:40):
had really my entire life.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
And you know, going through the journey.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
I got this message like that everything is going to
be all right. And I realized it like ninety nine
percent of the stuff that I worry about on a
daily basis, like it's not even reality, Like it's just
all like made up in the different fears or insecurities
(37:06):
you know that I had, so and it just it
helped me like start moving towards the direction where like
I can live my truth, which is you know, which
is the goal for everyone. And I think, you know,
whether it's a lot of people try to like be
(37:27):
a certain type of person to different groups or like
you know, and to fit in in certain places, and
it's like, you know, if you just you know, we're
all good enough. You know, it's just like realizing that
and just being who you are.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Who you want to be.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
So yeah, just helped me in so many different areas,
like even my yeah, level of level of confidence. But
I mean the biggest thing is just relief and then
to see to be around like a bunch of grown
men who are are able to like be vulnerable and
talk about certain things that we we out we shouldn't
(38:05):
talk about or it doesn't make you like a tough guy.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
You know.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
It's yeah, it was. It was helpful in so many
different ways. And you know, I think, you know, as
far as like my place in that, Like I don't
think I don't see myself ever really facilitating any of that,
but I but like almost.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
I think where I fit in is like between the.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
You know, the therapy you know that I went to
school school for and you know, I think I can
help a lot of people with you know, the mindfulness
of meditation aspect, whether it's you.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
Know, you have the integration.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
Like so if somebody came to me and they were like, hey,
you know I want to do that, like I could
help them with the the pre and post integration and
then connect them with a reputable source that I know
is good. You know, but I do think they're you know,
breaking ground because a lot of this, like unfortunately most
of the stuff like for years, you can't you know,
(39:06):
you can't technically do it in the US, so you know,
you've got these veterans and first responders who are like
going down to Mexico and in South America just to
get help.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
So it's I mean it's good to see like.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
In I think like in Texas and Kentucky they're doing
a lot of.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
You know, there's a.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
Big breakthrough on like I begain therapy, which you know,
the people I've seen, it's like I'd say it's the
most successful thing to help somebody who's in addiction, you know,
to the point where like I'd be confident if one
of my kids struggled one day, I would be okay
with sending them to that. You know, that's how much
I believe in it.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
So yeah, yeah, I watched Marcus Littrell testifying about that
process to I think it was like Texas state representatives
or whatever. It's pretty powerful to hear him top about
what the traditional VA treatment options led in his life first,
what this alternative did for him.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
Yeah, oh definitely.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
And you know it's yeah, I think like people are
finally becoming comfortable with with talking about it because you know,
there's just that fear of judgment, like oh, you know,
especially for I mean think about especially for for you know,
military and and even more so for first responders because
(40:30):
like if you have if you have a cop who's
still working, you know, the last thing they're going to
want to do is like you know, there there'll be
so much fear around that when the reality is it
could it could make whoever that is, you know, that
much better at their job.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
If it makes better if it makes them better in life,
they're going to be better at their job. Yeah, you
know what I mean, Like we try to. I think
that's probably one of the problems. We try to compartn't
mentalize their their life and their job. They're not. They're
the same. It's one human. Yeah, you're not going to
thrive places unless you're thriving in all your places. Yeah,
(41:12):
you know, And I think you hit on the head right.
There's that stigma around plant based medicine and alternative medicine.
So how do we continue to move past that, Drew?
How do we how do we make sure that our
people that need some help realize there's other alternatives available.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
I think it's just to continue to you know, to
talk about it and connect with you know, with people
and just like be okay with it like even me
doing this or you know, saying this stuff right now.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
I never thought i'd like openly.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Talk about it on like a public platform, but it's like, well, yeah,
I mean if somebody can realize like it's out there
and if they're struggling, then then great, you know, that's
all that matters.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Like if anyone wants to judge me, don't you know,
I don't care.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
But it's yeah, I think it's just a continue to
you know, really really talk about it because you know,
I have I have a friend who works with you know,
mainly for US responders, So like that's good, but it's like,
you know, how do you connect with with them to
let them know it's there? Because I still believe, you know,
(42:18):
it's probably good. I mean, you you know, well, like
I'm sure there's still a stigma attached to it, but
you know that what I tell people is like, the
most interesting thing is any retreat that I go on,
or anyone that I've been to, or the people I've
been around at that they are all if not like
(42:40):
completely clean and sober, then if they're not, then they're
working towards becoming that way or or and it's not
even in like a very like black and white way.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
It's like a lot of people like they may just
like to they may like to drink, you know whatever normally.
Speaker 3 (43:04):
And but even after that, like I've heard people say
they're like, yeah, there's no place for that in my life.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
They just start thinking.
Speaker 3 (43:12):
They're like, yeah, it's not it's just not important to
me because they're so kind of focused on.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Going after their goals or just like being okay with
who they are.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
Yeah, it's almost it's almost like an enlightenment, right, Like
you if you think about it, For a lot of people,
when we consume alcohol or we abuse drugs, whether they're
pharmaceuticals or drugs or choice, it's usually because we're hiding
from something, we're suppressing something, we're trying not to face something.
Right when you do plant medicine journeys, you're like, no, no,
(43:45):
let's go to this, let's go figure this shit out.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
Right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:50):
And it's I think sometimes it's funny because you know
when people don't know, oh, they're like, oh, well you know,
oh you're going to have a fun weekend or whatever,
it's like, ah, like that's the thing. It's not like
it's not like you see in movies where it's like
you know your take'. It's it's completely different from when
you you know, say somebody was to go to a
(44:13):
concert and they're like, I'm gonna smoke weed at the
concert to have fun. It's not that sort of thing.
It's like you're gonna, like a heroic dose of mushrooms
is gonna make you face what you've been hiding. Like
I compare it like you know, being you know, having
done some like one on one therapy with people. You know,
a lot of clients will not tell the full truth,
(44:36):
and that's I think it's just I think it's completely normal,
like they don't so they might talk about, you know,
give you half half truths and whatnot. But with a
heroic dose of psilocybe and all that stuff, it's like, oh,
you're gonna you're gonna face it. And I mean, but
in a safe way where you're gonna probably realize like
that thing that you've been subduing. You know, say it's
(45:00):
like somebody had trauma from childhood. It's going to provide
them so much relief because they're just going to be
able to see it through a different lens in like
a safe way, so like something that and then you're
able to like kind of see the different patterns in
things that it's caused you to, like these patterns that
it's caused for you throughout your whole life where you
(45:22):
can kind of you know, adjust and not do those things,
like you know, whether it's you know, self sabotage or
you know just some sort of kind of low key
self harm thing. You know, it just helps people in
so many ways.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
Yeah, and I think it's it's funny right as technologically
advanced as we are, a lot of this treatment is
going back in time to things we've known for a
long time.
Speaker 3 (45:51):
Yeah, And it's funny because like when you talk when
you talk about like evolution, I said this recently, Everyone's like, oh,
you know, we've evolve so much, And I'm like, I'm like,
I yes, technically technical, uh, technologically absolutely, Like there's we
have things that we never.
Speaker 2 (46:10):
Thought we'd see in our lifetime.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
But with that, I think it comes at a cost
because we're so wrapped up in you know, in these
things in our in our phones, like like every you
can do anything you have to do on that phone.
Everything can be done on that phone. So like I
feel like as humans, we've almost like as actual human beings.
(46:34):
I don't think we've evolved or we've gone backwards in
a lot of ways with technology. So like and like
even for me, like I realized, like something, if I
go on to retreat, I'm like, God, when was the
last time I just sat outside or like went outside
for a walk and just looked around and just enjoyed
you know, nature, And it just makes you realize, like, wow,
(46:59):
all right, so I've feel great when I'm like outside.
And this is what ultra running has done a lot
for me, is it started as running races, but the
best thing is like I get to go out in
all these cool ass places that you know, like Moab,
like with the red Rocks and you know, the mountains
you see, it's just incredible, like and it's more about
(47:23):
that than it is about like competing in some race.
But yeah, so I feel like, especially like you know,
going back with plant medicine, it's just it helps you,
I think, just get more grounded in the way that
we were meant to live. I don't think we were
meant to live with all this you know, technology.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Clearly not right if you look at the numbers you're
in the mental health field now, depressions record numbers, people
feeling lonely and isolated. Yeah, we're more connected and ever,
yet we have the fewest connections we were at if
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (48:01):
Yeah, yeah, I mean think about it. Everyone's like we
live more in this like virtual world, like social media
or like even if you think back, like if somebody
all these like dating apps and stuff, so people aren't
even meeting each other out in society. It's just like
there's this virtual world, and I think we spend more
(48:22):
time in the virtual world than we do in reality.
Speaker 2 (48:25):
It's you know, it's wild when you think about it.
Speaker 1 (48:28):
Yeah, And I think that's that's a trend that's going
to change. I don't know how your kids are, but
even my kids, which are a little older than yours,
are much more in tune to be in present, putting
their phones down. So I think it's a we're going
to make progress. You know, the pendulum always swings in society.
We swing hard one way, we swing back, and then
ultimately hopefully we find our way in the middle. But
(48:49):
you I came across something you had said that I
wanted to touch on, and that was that you want
people to know they can bounce back from anything that
was So what is bounce same back?
Speaker 3 (49:01):
Look like for you today, it's just like constant progression,
I'd say, like progressing towards you know, whether it's goals,
the way that you want to live life, so like
you know, it's not making something happen overnight or being
(49:24):
perfect like.
Speaker 2 (49:25):
Because that's if you if I'm.
Speaker 3 (49:27):
Chasing perfection, that's never gonna happen, you know. So it's
just like it's progressing. And you know, because you can
go like we're either evolved, you know, moving towards our
goals or what not. Like I'm not a huge black
and white thinking person you know nowadays, but with that,
it's like, you know, it's true, like so.
Speaker 2 (49:50):
I'm you know, I think it's just like you know.
Speaker 3 (49:52):
Some people say like one percent better every day or
you know whatever, but it's just like you know, waking
up and just being the best you can you know today,
and then if you know, I think for me, it's
like my goals I've seen like a little bit of
a shift. It might not be so big on you know,
(50:15):
doing these two or three hundred mile races, you know,
and it's more like around like Okay, like I've learned
some lessons doing this, let's let's you know, start like.
Speaker 2 (50:31):
Living this way like towards you know, business. You know.
Speaker 3 (50:34):
So a big thing for me is like I've wanted
to do this for years, but it's just taking that step.
And the way I see it, it's like, Okay, if
I do this, I'll be my life will be more
lined up with the.
Speaker 2 (50:47):
Way that I want to live it, yeah, which is
great instead of you know, staying in the corporate world.
Speaker 3 (50:55):
You know, like I've been in sales for for years
and it's just time.
Speaker 2 (51:01):
For time for a change.
Speaker 3 (51:02):
Like, yeah, I'm good at it, I can do it well,
but it's just not all about you know, money, yes,
per se, like you can make money really anyway.
Speaker 2 (51:11):
But yeah, so I.
Speaker 3 (51:12):
Think it's just like constantly like progress, you know, just
progressing a little better every day. But yeah, just like
coming from because you know, when I say bouncing back,
it's like, all right, if somebody knows that I was
literally laying there, you know, basically lifeless, you know, and
(51:33):
then I'm where I'm at today, which to me isn't
some special place, you know what I mean, But it's
not where it's not where I was, right, I don't
have it all figured out, but but just to go
from there to there, Like I've always had the mentality,
it's like, you know, all you need is like you know,
(51:56):
like if you're like with poker, it's like a chip
in a chair. You know, it's all you need, you know,
and then just you know, for for running, it's like
literally all you need. You can be completely broke and
not have anything, but you can still run. It's like
all you need is literally a pair of sneakers and
(52:16):
some water to make sure, you know, even if you
don't have sneakers, you can you know, run barefoot. But yeah,
it's just like doing what you can with what you have,
and then just kind of growing from there.
Speaker 1 (52:29):
I think, Yeah, I think you hit it on the head.
Is you doing things?
Speaker 2 (52:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (52:35):
Right, life isn't going to be what we want if
we sit idly by, right, Yeah, the idle life is
never rewarded. Oh no, that's your quote, dude, I just
gave you your quote.
Speaker 3 (52:54):
I was I was actually thinking of that too, Like
I normally wouldn't ever have like.
Speaker 2 (52:59):
A Walt Disney quote.
Speaker 3 (53:01):
I don't think that like fits by personality, but like that,
like the quote like if you can dream it, you
can do it.
Speaker 2 (53:07):
The Walt Disney said that like it you know, yeah,
within reason, you know, it's it's true. But it just
starts with, you know, having the belief and confidence in yourself.
Speaker 3 (53:22):
And that's the one thing, like, you know, I think
it's just like it's really like you got to believe
in yourself.
Speaker 2 (53:28):
It doesn't matter. Like I've had.
Speaker 3 (53:30):
People who have believed in me, you know, but I
didn't believe in myself and that doesn't do anything for me.
Like people can believe all the day. It's just like
about like we have to believe, you know, in ourselves.
Speaker 1 (53:44):
Yeah, I think, well, you said something earlier that is
very true. One of the greatest ways I can start
to believe in myself is by giving up this idea
that I have to be perfect at anything. Yeah, one,
perfection never happens. There's always ways to improve. But if
I'm just in the process, I start to develop my
belief because I challenge myself. I did something hard that
(54:04):
day by taking a risk believing that I could even
do it.
Speaker 3 (54:09):
Yeah right, yeah, and it's it's I feel like it's
you know, for like military, you know, cops, anything in
that arena. It's getting past that like perfection or like
because I feel like we have the ability to like
be hard, extra hard on ourselves in order to like
try and be perfect, you know. So that's I think
(54:32):
that's a big piece is just to you know, know
that it's nobody's perfect and you just you know, do
what you can, but also like giving yourself a break, yeah,
and not being so hard.
Speaker 1 (54:46):
On little grace here and there does wonders for the soul?
Speaker 2 (54:50):
Right, Yeah, Drew, where.
Speaker 1 (54:52):
Can our audience follow you? Where can they connect with
you to to stay in touch with what you got
going on? My friend?
Speaker 3 (54:58):
Yeah, So I mean I'm I mean, I'm on like Instagram.
It's I think it is at my last name, so
it's Maine Drew, It's m a y any you know,
and then Drew, you know.
Speaker 2 (55:12):
And I think my plan is.
Speaker 3 (55:14):
To launch the Mindfulness of Meditation practice, like I think,
you know, really working with anybody, but like I think,
you know, focused in on athletes and business executives, but
also there's like I'm working on a kid's program as well,
so you know, for the fall, my goal is to
you know, do a few speaking engagements at like you know,
(55:36):
some whether it's elementary, middle high schools, you know, to
just on uh you know, building this this speech about
like called Stronger Inside, you know, for for kids just
to like educate them and help them with mindfulness because
like I've seen, you know, with my with my ten
year old for example, like it helps him drastically, and
(55:58):
you know, whether it's to just be have a clear
mind before sports, but it's amazing to see. And so
I think it's important, you know, for kids to be
able to get a grasp on that early on. So anyways,
I'm you know, I'm working on launching that for like August,
and you know, I'll have I don't have a website
(56:21):
or anything like that at the moment, but it's going
to be called the Primal Mind of It.
Speaker 2 (56:26):
And yeah, so yeah, just on Instagram and Facebook.
Speaker 1 (56:32):
All right, We'll be sure to get you connected. Drew.
I got one final question for you before I let
you go. Yeah, when you were in the thick of it,
the doubt, the fear, failure, what truth do you wish
you had known?
Speaker 2 (56:49):
I wish I had known that. I wish I had
known that.
Speaker 3 (56:58):
You know that I'm that, I'm that I was okay
the way I was, because I always felt like I
had to be something else and it was just all
like an illusion, you know, it just wasn't It was
all like a lie and that you know, I mean,
(57:19):
and just that you know, there's there's people who you
know who love me, who care about me. It just
you know, And then I wasn't alone. I think that
was the biggest thing, because I felt really alone at
that time.
Speaker 1 (57:32):
So powerful. Drew, thank you so much for joining us.
It's been an honor to share your story and I'm
proud to call you one of our friends.
Speaker 2 (57:41):
Absolutely, Thanks Jared, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (57:45):
Well, everybody, I hope you enjoyed that conversation with our
friend Drew Maine. It's a powerful reminder that even in
our hardest moments, there's wisdom waiting on the other side.
So to everyone listening, if you're in a sick of
it right now, I hope this conversation reminds you that
you're not alone. And then our gross is often in
the struggle. So if this episode spoke to you, share
(58:08):
it with someone who might need to hear it. And
A's always my friends, keep on living and leading on purpose.
You are listening to the on Purpose podcast, your guide
to living a more purposeful life. What's up, everybody? Welcome
to this week's edition of our Purpose podcast, where it's
our pleasure to serve you each and every week to
bring you stories to get you moving and get your thinking,
get your wander at han. Did I give it my
all today? And if not, we'd rather do different tomorrow,
(00:24):
right because we're not guaranteed tomorrow, So let's make the
most of our today. And I want to want to
thank you for being here and we can't do it
without you. This week's episode is coming to you from
the beautiful Black Hills in Wyoming, which a lot of
people don't realize. Ashley, Wyoming has a little sliver to
Black Kills. You think the Black Kills, you think of
South Dakota, Mount Rushmore. If you've ever driven on I ninety,
(00:48):
you think of the Wall Drug because you get those
crazy signs for like thousands of miles it feels like.
But yeah, Wyoming has a little sliver and it's where
we spend most of our summer and we can do
stuff like this record podcast off grid while immersed in
the beauty of nature. So I hope your summer is
going well. I hope you're getting time and nature to reflect,
(01:11):
to ground, to reconnect and maybe reevaluate was really important
for us and what's important for you and your families
and the people you lead in your life, and let
us know what you come up with. We're always excited
to hear from our audience and from our listeners to
see what's resonating with them, where they're going, what are
(01:32):
some challenges. Maybe we've got somebody to community can help
you out. So if you're fighting something, let's not do
it alone. That's what this community is for. So let's
get to this week's interview on me. I'm excited to
sit down and talk with a man who knows what
it means to push the limits physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Andrew Drew Maine is a military veteran an ultra endurance
(01:54):
athlete who has conquered races like the Moab two forty,
Big Foot two hundred, and the Monster three hundred mile
or recently. But what really drew me to want to
bring Drew Maine on the show is that his journey
is about a lot more than distance and racing. It's
about fighting battles and life as well overcoming addiction, surviving
(02:17):
an overdose, and emerging as an advocate for mental health
and plant based medicine. Drew's story proves that no challenge
is too great and no comeback is impossible if we
stay in the fight. If we stay in the fight,
So get ready for a conversation about resilience, healing, and
(02:40):
what it takes to keep moving forward when a lot
of times it feels like we can't. But before I
bring Juwan, do me a favorite get over to your
favorite social media platforms YouTube, like, subscribe, share, give us
some comments, share your challenge to share your what you're
getting from the episodes. Anything like a little comment does
(03:01):
so much to help us grow in the algorithms that
do control social media and who finds us. So do
that like subscribe, share, tell your friend about it, and
now sit back and enjoy this week's conversation with my
friend Drew Maine. Honor the Brave was founded by retired
law enforcement officer Jeff Wolfgang and his wife Xana after
(03:23):
Jeff was injured in the line of duty. It's their
way of giving back to the first responder and military
community through real estate. If you're a military or first responder,
past or present, buying our selling a home. Honor the
Brave connects you with trusted realtors nationwide and gives back
through their Brave Benefits. You receive an amount equivalent to
ten percent of your agent's commission as a thank you,
(03:45):
and additional five percent goes to a charity you choose,
impacting first responders or military families, and you'll receive a
handmade wooden flag honoring your service. Visit Honor the Brave
dot com. We've got your six. Drew, my newest friend.
Finally I got you on the show. Welcome to the
On Purpose Podcast.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Thanks Jared. It's it's great to great to come on, Joe.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I'm excited to get to your story. Here's somebody that
I met through another friend, and I watched you when
you didn't even know I was watching you because you're
out the Monster three hundred. I was following the live
tracking and Tasha told me they followed my friend Drew.
You're gonna want to talk to him someday. And did
(04:28):
I could imagine going three hundred miles self propelled, only
your shoes and your feet taking you.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Yeah, it was uh that was definitely a wild one. Uh,
definitely the hardest, hardest one I've done.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The date.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
You know, I think for many reasons. You get the desert,
you know, the mountains and all that, and yeah, but
it was that was definitely a grind.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You put out a good reel on Instagram or you
were on a show and they put out a reel
with you. I just shared that today talking about like
I think he had a broken toe or broke a
foot or something.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Well, yeah, it's I was, so I didn't It wasn't
actually broken, but I thought so about seventy five miles in.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, fifty seventy five miles in. It was actually you know, Tasha.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Was actually at one of the the the aid stations,
and you know, my dad was there crewing me. She
came over to check on my feet and she was like,
what the hell's going on with you with your foot?
And I mean it was like I had And it
was funny because I had heat rash, but the thing
was swollen like a balloon, like my left foot compared
to the right. And I just said, oh, it's just
(05:37):
just heat rash, and but I knew something was going
on with it, and I got to one point before
a big climb, and I I thought to myself, like,
I like, I was thinking a bone on the top
of my foot might have you know, whether it was
a stress for actual or a broken like it it
was bad, you know, But then I believe, you know,
after all of it, the thing was so swollen just
(06:00):
you know, painful that I couldn't figure it out. But
I believe it was just like like some sort of
torn you know ligament, like right where the ankle and
the foot meat. Because then, you know, it got to
the point where, you know, my foot like every time
I raised it, it wouldn't come out. I had like
drop foot, so it would just stay down and it
would get caught on rocks, and I could just there
(06:21):
were times I could just feel it, you know, keep
like tearing every time it would catch a rock, and
I'm like, I you know, but I just I said
to myself, I'm gonna try to make it like fifty
more miles so that I if the medics start giving
me a hard time, I can at least say, well,
I just traveled fifty miles on it, and the next thing,
you know, I'm like two hundred and fifty miles in
(06:44):
and that's when I thought, I like, I made it
that far, and I'm like, I could barely even walk,
and you know, and that's when I sent you know,
I was, as my son sent the text, like kind
of you know, getting me jacked up, you know, saying like,
you know, Dad, you've always taught me, you know, to
never give up, and you know, and anything's possible. He's like,
(07:06):
you know, we'll just give it your best, and that
just got.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Me all jacked up. I'm like, I don't care about
the PA, you know, but yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
It was definitely interesting because I hadn't had anything like
obviously you have like the regular you know, aches and
pains that come with an Ultra and even being it,
you know, you get to the point where sometimes you
can barely walk.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
But yeah, this was, uh, it was different. But it
was pretty cool to like, you know, just have it
happen and then overcome it.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
And that was the inaugural Monster three hundred, right, Yeah. Yeah,
so you're always part of the history of one, you know,
finishing the very first one they ever offered.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
You know, sometimes you think, you know, you know, a
lot of times I think the mentality is like, well,
I'll wait, you know, a couple of years until they
kind of work out the kinks, you know, because the
first one is always like you know this usually you know,
whatever whoever's running the race, it's usually like a lack
of food or whatever, you know, just because they're trying
to work out the kinks. But like, no, you know what,
(08:09):
I'm going to do this one, you know, the first
year while it's while I still can and yeah it was.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
You know how insane that sounds that you're like, I
just want to do fifty more miles and then I'll
reevaluate fifty miles. Dude.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yeah, it's funny because I had my dad out there,
Like I said, he's never seen any of these, Like,
my dad's a runner, and you know, he's like, you're
crazy doing this stuff. And I say to him, I'm like, Dad,
you're you know, I think you're crazy. You're you're almost
you know. I think he's turning seventy this year. And
he he runs, you know, about six miles every day,
(08:44):
and I'm like, that's you know, that's a level of
crazy too. That takes, you know, to consistently do that
every day. But he you know, he was out there.
He's like, this is just crazy. You guys are out
of your mind.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So did he have a good time?
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Yeah, he did. It was definitely, Uh. I think it
was definitely a different experience for him. You know, my
little brother had told him before he came out, like,
you know, you realize you're gonna be like out there,
you know for a week, and so but yeah, he
had you know, he had a good time. It was
a good you know, it was a good like bonding moment.
(09:21):
And it was cool because he got to run like it.
So with like three miles left, you come out of
the mountains and you hit the pavement and I actually
had Tasha pace me like the last section. And so
we come out of the mountains and this Border Patrol
vehicle keeps passing by us, and I'm like, i start thinking, like,
(09:44):
you know, back like it's ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I'm like, have I it is everything? You know, is
there anything I've done or anything?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Because they kept passing and then finally, you know, they
stop and my dad gets out of the vehicle. So
the Border Patrol they they dropped him out. They gave
him a ride out there, and he got to do
like the last few miles to the finish with me.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
So it was pretty that was awesome.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
That's hilarious. All right, before we get into too much
your story, do I gotta warm you up. We can't
just jump in and go for the hard climb right
off the bat, my friend, I gotta get you warmed up.
You ready for this?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
All right?
Speaker 1 (10:17):
All right, Drew? What's the best one word description of you?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
M best one word description, like I'd use the descriptive
of like perseverance. I'm trying to think, like you get
me on the spot.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
That's a good one. Good. Yeah, that been with you
throughout your life, you think, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I mean I've always been like I feel like, you know,
I grew up playing hockey in like a big hockey
area in Massachusetts, and uh, you know, I was never
the most talented, but like just hard work has always
been my thing. It's you know, and I try to
like instill that and the kids too, and you know,
(11:04):
just like you know, especially in my adult life, you know,
kind of overcoming a lot, I've just I feel like,
you know, it's just always a saying it's like all right,
just persevere through this, like you know, you get through
the hard times, you know, keep going and you know,
just get.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
To the other side. So yeah, i'd say so I've
always been about like just hard work, all right.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
If your life has a theme song, what's your song?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Jeez, he's a good too. I just get off a
meeting him work mode. Themes.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
I'd almost say, like I just think like the maybe
like the Rocky dude.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
I was just thinking Rocky for you.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
That's just yeah, it just comes to mind, you know,
like when he keeps getting knocked down and keeps getting
knocked down and then he just kind of rises.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, I go with that.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
That's a good one, all right. Uh, it's a favorite
book or a book you read commonly.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Me, I get, you know, I do a lot of
I read a lot of like kind of feel like
I lean towards like mindfulness and meditation books.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
But you know, I'd.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Probably have to go with you know, just because I'm thinking,
like when I originally got started with you know, running
and whatnot, I think, like, you know, can't hurt me
by gogs, like I got to give it to you
know that That really that really got me going, Like
I was sitting you know, just because I can give
(12:34):
you the story of it. But I was sitting in
the in the VA hospital and I remember I read
that and I was just in a rough place and
and I needed just that real and raw, you know view.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
That's just how how I kind of work. I see
how some.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
People were like, oh, it's too much, you know, but
for me, it's exactly what you know, I needed.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
So yeah, I'd go with them.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
What was it? What was it about the book to
hit you at that moment to get you to pick
yourself up.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
You know, just seeing it's like anything, you know, seeing
somebody else who like overcame you know, all the odds
and was able to do something.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
And you know, there was something that really stuck.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
With me about about Goggins because like I realized, I
have this mindset even going into like you know, I
went from running a fifty k to mowab two forty.
And there was when he gives a speech one time
he says like he has his mentality like what if,
like what if I could do that? You know, we're
always thinking and I've always done this, you know, you
(13:36):
start thinking of the issues that could arise, But then
if you just keep like what if I could pull
that off, and like even when I first did Moab,
it was just like a leap of faith, you know,
and it's like, well, what if I could do this?
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Like what you know, other humans can do this, so
why can't I? You know, if I just put in
the work.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
I love it. You get to have dinner with one person, Drew,
who do you want to have dinner with? And what
are you going to ask them?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Mhmm, you know I do almost want to make it too,
But it's kind of under the general theme. I'd say, like,
you know, my grandfathers and and just like you know,
because they were both World War Two veterans, and so
I think to be able to sit down with them
and like talk to them, you know now that I'm older,
(14:22):
and and just really like pick their brain about you know,
what things were like, what things were like back then,
and like what they used to overcome things. Just I
just have like a ton of respect for them, Like
both World War two veterans. My one of my grandfathers
was you know, he was a cop for thirty five years.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
And yeah, just tons of respect for them. So definitely
go with them.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Yeah, it's always man, I think about that too, right,
Like when when you're kids and you have your grandparents,
they're fun to be around, right, and you enjoy them.
Not till we get to like this age in life,
we're like, man, I wish I could go back and
actually understand what they did because you don't have that
perspective as a kid, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, and it's it's almost taught me, you know, like
my dad coming out to coming out to the monster,
you know, was huge for me because like I had
always thought, like I'm telling you, like within a year prior,
I was thinking, you know, it was almost manifesting and
just like I want my dad to be able to
do this, you know, with me, because a lot of times,
(15:30):
you know, you learn from other people, like they lose
a parent, and then you know you start thinking like, man,
I would have loved this, or I wish I could
do this with them now, you know. So that was
just it was really cool to be able to like
do that with him and you know, share that experience.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Yeah, I love it. And then you also had your
kids involved, right like they're texting you, like we talked
off the area, You're taking them on runs with you,
And I think that's the best application of our life
experiences when we try to made what we didn't have
growing up, right, Like we wish we'd have had opportunities
like this, but making those happen while we still can.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah. Oh and that's you know.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I you know how like as a parent you always
want to like we always tell our kids certain things.
Well I finally realized, I'm like, well, you know what
with with all this running, you know, it's just kind
of like to be able to like just show them
like lead by example and kind of like you know,
the whole do as I say, not as I do,
(16:28):
sort of like it's just you know, if they see that,
they because I remember, I mean for me, like growing up,
I always remembered my dad going out for.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Runs and I'm like, God, this guy, how does he
do that? You know, what is he doing?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
But like I've always told the kids, and like, you know,
it's just something you can always have and lean on,
you know, throughout life and just kind of teaching the
lesson you know that just you can do anything, you
just have to apply yourself and go for it.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
That's such an important thing that So my kids are
older than yours. We got an almost thirty year old
at twenty four and a twenty two year old, And
one of the things that I constantly hear from them is, Dad,
you showed us you and mom were doing right, because
the kids aren't going to necessarily remember what you tell them,
but they're always going to remember what they see, right, Yeah,
(17:19):
And if we want to impact them, do it, like
do what you're asking them to do. You want them
to take risk? You got to take some risk.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Right, Yeah, No, absolutely, And you know, and I try
to be like blatantly honest with the kids, like even
you know, a lot of times, you know, especially guys,
we try to put up that front and like not
show any vulnerability. But I've really the past few years especially,
I try to just like show that vulnerability, and like,
(17:49):
you know, even you know, in the process of like
starting a business and doing like, you know, a mindfulness.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Meditation practice with.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
With clients, and you know, I've a days by my
son sees me working on certain things, and I talked
to him about, like, you know, how fear has held
me up on this like project for a couple of
years because you start thinking, like, well, you know what,
if this arises and or this comes up, it's going
to be hard to do this and is it is
(18:18):
it too much of a risk, and you know, so
just being open with him and explaining that sort of stuff,
you know, I just I feel like that'll be helpful
because you know, we all have some sort of you know,
fear that arises at some point. But just to know
that you're not alone in that or if they you know,
say the kids look at me like, oh, you know,
he can do anything, but just to know that there's
(18:41):
also that fear, you know, so when it comes up
for them, it's like all right, you know, I can
have this fear, but I just have to like, you know,
push through it.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
I think that there's a valuable lesson.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
That It's huge. Man, who else is going to teach
your kids that about you?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Right?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Right? It is nobody else's job.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yeah, right.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
You know you want courageous, be a courageous parent, You
want courageous teams around you, to be a courageous leader. Right.
It's contagious, and that's I think too many times we
get in our own way, especially in today's age where
we have so much information, we get so slowed down
by always gathering information, we never take the action steps.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Right, Yeah, And that's all it is is just like
it's just taking that action and then figuring it out
along the way.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
You know. It's like going out on an ultra.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
You just get The biggest thing is just getting to
the start line, and then you know, you could be
the most trained you've ever been in your life and
things will go south, you know, but you just have
to navigate it. So it's just about like getting to
the start line, you take that first step and then
just navigate things as they as they come.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Which I think is what's drawn me to trail run
at this age of my life because I never really
cared for running running my whole life. I've been an athlete,
but running was either something we did to cut weight
for fights or as punishment because we didn't play our
sport well, we had to go run extra, right, So
it's never been my jam. But now I love it
and I think it's just what you said it. One,
(20:08):
it makes me want to quit a lot, so I
have to face that part of me. And two allows
me to problem solve because nothing's ever going to be perfect,
which is a good microcosm for how we should live life.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Right, Yeah, and that the whole mentality, like you know,
do hard things. You know, it really does make life easier, Like,
you know, it makes everything in life easier or not
seem as drastic. So like with you know, it's like
you do these hard things and your face with these
you put yourself in these situations and you have to
(20:42):
face challenges, so you know, and then I've noticed as
things arise, you know, real world life issues come up,
you know, they're just easier to deal with or navigate
because you've been through and put yourself in harder situations
that you've you've made it through, so you have that
kind of like reassurance that you know, oh, Okay, this
(21:05):
was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do,
but I found a way to do it.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Yeah, it's all you like Goggins. Goggins refers to it
as a cookie jar, right, like when things get dark,
he goes back to past success and if he knows
if he did that, he can do.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
This, yeah, right exactly, which.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Is I think is a mental training, right, and that's
what we got to teach our kids and our younger
generation is yeah, things would be challenging, but pull your
past success, like train yourself to know what you've already done,
not what you can't.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Do, right.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Yeah, it's the skill, right, It's just like working out,
you gotta work your mind.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Right, Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
And it's like for me, like I just never bought into,
you know, meditation really over the years, Like once I
got out of the military. You know a lot of
people are like, oh, you should meditate, And to me,
I said the same thing that, Like people say to
me this day, They're like, I can't get my mind
to calm down. It's like, well, yeah, you, you and
(22:03):
everyone else, and that's not the point. But I've realized
that Like just like you know, when you go to
the gym, you know, you want to get physically stronger,
you know, you just you know, you do more reps,
and the more reps you do, the stronger you get.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
And it's it really is the.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Same thing you know with the with the mental side too,
like because the mind controls everything, you know them like them, Yeah,
the mind control. Like a lot of people would say, well,
the most important thing for an ultra is the physical part.
It's like no, I mean, because you need your mind
needs to be right in order to.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
You know, do the physical part as well.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah, And I think that ties into so many things, right,
Like you could have all the talent you want to
start a business, but if your doesn't mind, doesn't believe
that you can be successful in the business, A lot
of people never take action, yeah, or to write that book. Yeah, yeah,
you're anything.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, yeah, it's you know, a's that like I've talked
to a lot of people about it. It's like, you know,
that sort of thing holds people up because you start,
you know, with social media and everything nowadays too, you
start comparing yourself and it's subconscious too.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
It's like you start comparing yourself.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Well, I haven't done you know, somebody could say like,
well I haven't done what Goggins has done, so I
don't I'm not really qualified to do this. And and
you know that imposter syndrome where it's.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Just a lie.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
But yeah, no, that's that's important. I want to kind
of talk to you about that, Drew, because you you've
overcome a lot addiction, you know, being very open about
your mental health struggles, coming back with the military, even
surviving an overdose at one point that you shared what
what what was the turning point for you to make
(23:54):
you decide to fight for a different path, you know, I.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Think it was.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
It was actually pretty clear, like a clear moment where
I decided, like, all right, it's time to it's time
to change, like this isn't me. And unfortunately it took
something that drastic, but it kind of makes sense because
of my mentality. It's like, just like it will take
me a lot to break in an ultra it'll take
me a lot to change if I'm you know, on
(24:23):
that other path, like I just because being able to
handle I think a massive amount of pain that that
can be a positive or negative thing. But yeah, I
mean when that happened to me, like when I spoke
on the other podcast about the overdose, Like it's interesting
because I honestly maybe two people knew about that, and
that was got six seven years ago. It was a
(24:45):
while ago, and they were really like for that long
nobody knew and I I was just keeping it, keeping it.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Real close, but like it was.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
The thing is I finally decided, I'm like, well, you know,
it's time to talk about it, so that that way
somebody else sees that it can help them.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
But you know, I think like waking up or like
coming to.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
After that, I just I had this, you know, obviously yeah,
I was scared, you know, but there was just at
the same time, there was this feeling it's like all right,
it's it's go time, Like that's it, Like there's you know,
it's time to like live up to, you know, a
certain standard and you know and be who I know
(25:29):
I am, you know, and just kind of move past
all that stuff. And you know, it definitely took, but
there was that like clear moment then and then you know,
over time, I think, and so right that then I
made a decision, all right, it's time to you know,
do better live in a better way however you want
to say it. But you know, obviously with that it
(25:53):
comes challenges. So like I really had to focus on
you know, there was a time somewhere in there shortly
after where like I was you know, yeah, I was
out of the you know, addiction side of things, but.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
I I struggled.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
I was still struggling with something and I couldn't pinpoint it.
It's like, yeah, I'm not hooked on anything right now,
but like mentally, I you know, it was like insecurity
or something. And at one point I was you know,
even even sober. I was, you know, I dealt with
like a period of time where I was like suicidal and.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
You know it was and it's.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
You know, which is pretty heavy, but I you know,
I remember like even like the thought of it all,
and like I had, you know, at one point.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
You know, I had you know, my nine mil like
in my.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Mouth, and I was thinking about it and and it
was like almost the you know, the gun proud of
the residue smell, like it brought me back like weirdly,
and it brought me back to you know, just I
remember the smell clearly, and it brought me back to
like the military, and you think that, you know, one
could think like, oh, that might not be good, but
to me, it was like those were like amazing times
(27:15):
and it really just stopped me.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
It's like all right, you know, what are you doing?
Speaker 3 (27:18):
And and at that point, you know, luckily, I have
a lot of good people around me, so you know,
I what I did is I got that's when I
really got into the mindfulness. So my friend of mine,
he connected me with you know, a navy vet who
does a lot of you know, work around meditation, mindfulness
(27:40):
and you know, plant medicine as well, and you know,
but that was like really that was a turning point where.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
You know, where things like really changed.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
And I was able to work out a lot because
you know, going to you know, getting sent off and
doing a plant medicine retreat, you know, I had to.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
It was like ten or.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Fifteen years of therapy compacted into a few days because
it made me like face things that I didn't even
know I was ignoring, you know. So that was like
a major turn you know, turning point just as far
as like clarity, because it's like, yeah, you take away
you know, the addiction piece. But but people you know
(28:23):
who are in addiction, they're not doing it because they like,
you know, they have a good time. Like you're you're
doing it to subdue you know, something I believe. But yeah,
so that was and that's when I it led me
to really get into meditation, you know, for the first time,
like on a daily basis. So it really you know
(28:43):
that that helped tremendously.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
I want to ask about that, right because you know,
what we've gone through as a country since two thousand
and one is the longest continuous war countries ever fought,
right between Iraq, Afghanistan, all the other stuff that pops up,
and it's the first time ever that we've had like
dads and sons fighting the same wars because they've gone
(29:09):
so long.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Yeah, and I.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Don't think we were prepared as a nation for the
toll we were putting on our young people.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Yeah, oh yeah, I mean I agree. Yeah, you think
about that was it was so long and I think,
you know, one time I was talking, I was I
think it was my one of the kids, so my yeah,
even like my daughter is seventeen, and like I one
(29:39):
day I just asked them, like I never thought about this.
I'm like, hey, did they talk about you know, nine
to eleven in school and all that stuff? And I
just realized, like, you know, how long ago that happened
when you know, you know, we have kids that you know,
weren't even alive, like my daughter's seventeen, and she wasn't
even like close to a lot at that.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
So yeah, it just really was.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Such a long period of time and when we were
when we were in it, you really don't stop and
think about, you know, how long it was and how
big of a toll it took. And I feel like
now people are reflecting on that much more.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
Yeah, I think we're doing better, but there's still so
much more we can do, right, because one of the
greatest ask we can have is a country, is for
young people to give up a substantial part of their
life to go fight across the world on our behalf
and then bring them home and not have the best
because when we send people over, we have the best technology,
(30:39):
the best weapons, the best we come home and then
we don't have the best treatments, we don't have the
best counsel. We make it hard for them to get
even though we know they're struggling.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Right, Yeah, And like one thing I noticed, which you
think would be pretty common sense, but so I went
and got my master's degree in social work so I
could be a therapist, you know, at one point, because
I had all these ideas.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
And.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Just one very common sense thing is, you know, all right,
whatever branch you join, you go to boot camp, you
go to basic training, whatever it is, and you you know.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Learn to become, you know, a war fighter.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
And but when you get out, the only thing there
is it's like you get this briefing and it's like,
all right, don't beat your wife, don't kick the dog.
Is everyone feeling all right? And of course at that
point you're going to just say yes because you want
to get home. But you know, I even thought, I'm like, wow,
there should just be something, you know, if you train,
(31:39):
say twelve weeks when you first get in the military,
there should be some training to go back into the
civilian world. That seems pretty common sense.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
But we still don't do it. But you know, there's
a lot of.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
I feel like, one thing I've seen is there's a
lot of you know, veterans and first responds like kind
of stepping up and a lot of good nonprofits because
you know, it's like, all right.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Well save the VA.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
For instance, It's like, you know, so many people have
had friends, you know, you know, pass away after coming
home from.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
From sewer suicide or overdose and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
And I think it's like, all right, well the VA
if they're not the best at.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Helping out, you know, what can we do?
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Like and so you see a lot of vets and
first responders like starting nonprofits to help people and like
kind of you know, leading the way on that front.
So I feel like it's you know, there's a lot
more focus on it, you know.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Now I think we have a lot more information available
and like even shows like this, right, like one of
the reasons I started this is when I left law
enforcement early, retired earlier than most, is to still have
a voice in the community, right, and to still make
sure they understand that when it's time to hang up
(32:57):
that badge and move on, there's plenty of your life
to go, right, you just gotta get out and live it. Yeah,
you gotta surround yourself with other people that are living it.
And yeah, don't take no financial like you said earlier.
If somebody else can do some shit, I can.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Do it, right. Yeah, And I think I.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Think that's what we're making progress, Drew. Is enough people
are saying, wait, it's not the VA's job, Like they're
gonna do what's best for them, not what's best for Drew,
what's best for Jared. I gotta do what's best for me,
and if I share that might help somebody else, right.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Absolutely, So talk to me, Drew a little bit about
plant medicine, because I think that's a place we can
really improve, is getting our veterans off of the pharmaceutical
stuff that just keep people in this loop. I'm not
saying everybody, but I've seen my share of friends. Yeah,
talk to me about how plant medicine helped you and
how how you think that is part of your future
(33:56):
or part of the mental health recovery process.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Yeah, I mean you know, like I think back to
like when I got back from my last IRAQ deployment,
and you know, at one point I was like I
was prescribed and this is what led to my kind
of like addiction downfall, was you know, all these medications.
I was like, yeah, I'm kind of you know, depressed,
(34:20):
I'm anxious and anything. I'd say, they just hand me
a different pharmaceutical for which and I didn't know any better,
you know, so I'm like, okay, I'll listen to the doctor,
and before you know it, I'm on like ten different
medications like to do everything, whether it's like to sleep,
you know, for anxiety, depression, like just every aspect of life.
(34:42):
You know, I'm on a different pharmaceutical. And you know,
that's when just life took a downturn and I was
almost like I was just like medicaid and felt like
a zombie that you know, was just being subdued a
little bit. So then and you know, after yeah, I
(35:03):
ended up getting off all that stuff, and like to
this day, you know, I'm not prescribe one pharmaceutical. And
I'm and like the thing is, I'm not saying there's
not a place for it, you know, for certain things,
but for me, I just didn't need that, Like I
needed to be outside, go for you know, workout, do
(35:26):
meditation like I think that Like thinking back, you know, now,
it's like, okay, so I can do more with just
like my breath. My breath can help me more nowadays
than any of those ever did. So I was a
little you know, at the beginning, I was a little
there was some fear around, you know a few different things,
like just a general fear like oh, I know, I'm
(35:48):
gonna have to really face stuff that you know, some
stuff inside my head.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
And then you know, and the fear.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Of judgment like oh god, you know, people are gonna
think that's you know, I'm going to do you know,
drugs or whatever, you know, because of you know, just
the stigma that's on it. But like when I realized
the person who suggested it to me, he's you know,
I've known him for years and he's been.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Clean and sober for like twenty six years, and he's like.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
I think you should, you know, try this, so you know,
I connected with them in you know what it did
Like the first time I went it, really it felt
like I had this thousand pounds weight, you know, off
my shoulders and I experienced the most relief that I
(36:40):
had really my entire life.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
And you know, going through the journey.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
I got this message like that everything is going to
be all right. And I realized it like ninety nine
percent of the stuff that I worry about on a
daily basis, like it's not even reality, Like it's just
all like made up in the different fears or insecurities
(37:06):
you know that I had, so and it just it
helped me like start moving towards the direction where like
I can live my truth, which is you know, which
is the goal for everyone. And I think, you know,
whether it's a lot of people try to like be
(37:27):
a certain type of person to different groups or like
you know, and to fit in in certain places, and
it's like, you know, if you just you know, we're
all good enough. You know, it's just like realizing that
and just being who you are.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Who you want to be.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
So yeah, just helped me in so many different areas,
like even my yeah, level of level of confidence. But
I mean the biggest thing is just relief and then
to see to be around like a bunch of grown
men who are are able to like be vulnerable and
talk about certain things that we we out we shouldn't
(38:05):
talk about or it doesn't make you like a tough guy.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
You know.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
It's yeah, it was. It was helpful in so many
different ways. And you know, I think, you know, as
far as like my place in that, Like I don't
think I don't see myself ever really facilitating any of that,
but I but like almost.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
I think where I fit in is like between the.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
You know, the therapy you know that I went to
school school for and you know, I think I can
help a lot of people with you know, the mindfulness
of meditation aspect, whether it's you.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
Know, you have the integration.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
Like so if somebody came to me and they were like, hey,
you know I want to do that, like I could
help them with the the pre and post integration and
then connect them with a reputable source that I know
is good. You know, but I do think they're you know,
breaking ground because a lot of this, like unfortunately most
of the stuff like for years, you can't you know,
(39:06):
you can't technically do it in the US, so you know,
you've got these veterans and first responders who are like
going down to Mexico and in South America just to
get help.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
So it's I mean it's good to see like.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
In I think like in Texas and Kentucky they're doing
a lot of.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
You know, there's a.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
Big breakthrough on like I begain therapy, which you know,
the people I've seen, it's like I'd say it's the
most successful thing to help somebody who's in addiction, you know,
to the point where like I'd be confident if one
of my kids struggled one day, I would be okay
with sending them to that. You know, that's how much
I believe in it.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
So yeah, yeah, I watched Marcus Littrell testifying about that
process to I think it was like Texas state representatives
or whatever. It's pretty powerful to hear him top about
what the traditional VA treatment options led in his life first,
what this alternative did for him.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
Yeah, oh definitely.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
And you know it's yeah, I think like people are
finally becoming comfortable with with talking about it because you know,
there's just that fear of judgment, like oh, you know,
especially for I mean think about especially for for you know,
military and and even more so for first responders because
(40:30):
like if you have if you have a cop who's
still working, you know, the last thing they're going to
want to do is like you know, there there'll be
so much fear around that when the reality is it
could it could make whoever that is, you know, that
much better at their job.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
If it makes better if it makes them better in life,
they're going to be better at their job. Yeah, you
know what I mean, Like we try to. I think
that's probably one of the problems. We try to compartn't
mentalize their their life and their job. They're not. They're
the same. It's one human. Yeah, you're not going to
thrive places unless you're thriving in all your places. Yeah,
(41:12):
you know, And I think you hit on the head right.
There's that stigma around plant based medicine and alternative medicine.
So how do we continue to move past that, Drew?
How do we how do we make sure that our
people that need some help realize there's other alternatives available.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
I think it's just to continue to you know, to
talk about it and connect with you know, with people
and just like be okay with it like even me
doing this or you know, saying this stuff right now.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
I never thought i'd like openly.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Talk about it on like a public platform, but it's like, well, yeah,
I mean if somebody can realize like it's out there
and if they're struggling, then then great, you know, that's
all that matters.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Like if anyone wants to judge me, don't you know,
I don't care.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
But it's yeah, I think it's just a continue to
you know, really really talk about it because you know,
I have I have a friend who works with you know,
mainly for US responders, So like that's good, but it's like,
you know, how do you connect with with them to
let them know it's there? Because I still believe, you know,
(42:18):
it's probably good. I mean, you you know, well, like
I'm sure there's still a stigma attached to it, but
you know that what I tell people is like, the
most interesting thing is any retreat that I go on,
or anyone that I've been to, or the people I've
been around at that they are all if not like
(42:40):
completely clean and sober, then if they're not, then they're
working towards becoming that way or or and it's not
even in like a very like black and white way.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
It's like a lot of people like they may just
like to they may like to drink, you know whatever normally.
Speaker 3 (43:04):
And but even after that, like I've heard people say
they're like, yeah, there's no place for that in my life.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
They just start thinking.
Speaker 3 (43:12):
They're like, yeah, it's not it's just not important to
me because they're so kind of focused on.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Going after their goals or just like being okay with
who they are.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
Yeah, it's almost it's almost like an enlightenment, right, Like
you if you think about it, For a lot of people,
when we consume alcohol or we abuse drugs, whether they're
pharmaceuticals or drugs or choice, it's usually because we're hiding
from something, we're suppressing something, we're trying not to face something.
Right when you do plant medicine journeys, you're like, no, no,
(43:45):
let's go to this, let's go figure this shit out.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
Right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:50):
And it's I think sometimes it's funny because you know
when people don't know, oh, they're like, oh, well you know,
oh you're going to have a fun weekend or whatever,
it's like, ah, like that's the thing. It's not like
it's not like you see in movies where it's like
you know your take'. It's it's completely different from when
you you know, say somebody was to go to a
(44:13):
concert and they're like, I'm gonna smoke weed at the
concert to have fun. It's not that sort of thing.
It's like you're gonna, like a heroic dose of mushrooms
is gonna make you face what you've been hiding. Like
I compare it like you know, being you know, having
done some like one on one therapy with people. You know,
a lot of clients will not tell the full truth,
(44:36):
and that's I think it's just I think it's completely normal,
like they don't so they might talk about, you know,
give you half half truths and whatnot. But with a
heroic dose of psilocybe and all that stuff, it's like, oh,
you're gonna you're gonna face it. And I mean, but
in a safe way where you're gonna probably realize like
that thing that you've been subduing. You know, say it's
(45:00):
like somebody had trauma from childhood. It's going to provide
them so much relief because they're just going to be
able to see it through a different lens in like
a safe way, so like something that and then you're
able to like kind of see the different patterns in
things that it's caused you to, like these patterns that
it's caused for you throughout your whole life where you
(45:22):
can kind of you know, adjust and not do those things,
like you know, whether it's you know, self sabotage or
you know just some sort of kind of low key
self harm thing. You know, it just helps people in
so many ways.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
Yeah, and I think it's it's funny right as technologically
advanced as we are, a lot of this treatment is
going back in time to things we've known for a
long time.
Speaker 3 (45:51):
Yeah, And it's funny because like when you talk when
you talk about like evolution, I said this recently, Everyone's like, oh,
you know, we've evolve so much, And I'm like, I'm like,
I yes, technically technical, uh, technologically absolutely, Like there's we
have things that we never.
Speaker 2 (46:10):
Thought we'd see in our lifetime.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
But with that, I think it comes at a cost
because we're so wrapped up in you know, in these
things in our in our phones, like like every you
can do anything you have to do on that phone.
Everything can be done on that phone. So like I
feel like as humans, we've almost like as actual human beings.
(46:34):
I don't think we've evolved or we've gone backwards in
a lot of ways with technology. So like and like
even for me, like I realized, like something, if I
go on to retreat, I'm like, God, when was the
last time I just sat outside or like went outside
for a walk and just looked around and just enjoyed
you know, nature, And it just makes you realize, like, wow,
(46:59):
all right, so I've feel great when I'm like outside.
And this is what ultra running has done a lot
for me, is it started as running races, but the
best thing is like I get to go out in
all these cool ass places that you know, like Moab,
like with the red Rocks and you know, the mountains
you see, it's just incredible, like and it's more about
(47:23):
that than it is about like competing in some race.
But yeah, so I feel like, especially like you know,
going back with plant medicine, it's just it helps you,
I think, just get more grounded in the way that
we were meant to live. I don't think we were
meant to live with all this you know, technology.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Clearly not right if you look at the numbers you're
in the mental health field now, depressions record numbers, people
feeling lonely and isolated. Yeah, we're more connected and ever,
yet we have the fewest connections we were at if
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (48:01):
Yeah, yeah, I mean think about it. Everyone's like we
live more in this like virtual world, like social media
or like even if you think back, like if somebody
all these like dating apps and stuff, so people aren't
even meeting each other out in society. It's just like
there's this virtual world, and I think we spend more
(48:22):
time in the virtual world than we do in reality.
Speaker 2 (48:25):
It's you know, it's wild when you think about it.
Speaker 1 (48:28):
Yeah, And I think that's that's a trend that's going
to change. I don't know how your kids are, but
even my kids, which are a little older than yours,
are much more in tune to be in present, putting
their phones down. So I think it's a we're going
to make progress. You know, the pendulum always swings in society.
We swing hard one way, we swing back, and then
ultimately hopefully we find our way in the middle. But
(48:49):
you I came across something you had said that I
wanted to touch on, and that was that you want
people to know they can bounce back from anything that
was So what is bounce same back?
Speaker 3 (49:01):
Look like for you today, it's just like constant progression,
I'd say, like progressing towards you know, whether it's goals,
the way that you want to live life, so like
you know, it's not making something happen overnight or being
(49:24):
perfect like.
Speaker 2 (49:25):
Because that's if you if I'm.
Speaker 3 (49:27):
Chasing perfection, that's never gonna happen, you know. So it's
just like it's progressing. And you know, because you can
go like we're either evolved, you know, moving towards our
goals or what not. Like I'm not a huge black
and white thinking person you know nowadays, but with that,
it's like, you know, it's true, like so.
Speaker 2 (49:50):
I'm you know, I think it's just like you know.
Speaker 3 (49:52):
Some people say like one percent better every day or
you know whatever, but it's just like you know, waking
up and just being the best you can you know today,
and then if you know, I think for me, it's
like my goals I've seen like a little bit of
a shift. It might not be so big on you know,
(50:15):
doing these two or three hundred mile races, you know,
and it's more like around like Okay, like I've learned
some lessons doing this, let's let's you know, start like.
Speaker 2 (50:31):
Living this way like towards you know, business. You know.
Speaker 3 (50:34):
So a big thing for me is like I've wanted
to do this for years, but it's just taking that step.
And the way I see it, it's like, Okay, if
I do this, I'll be my life will be more
lined up with the.
Speaker 2 (50:47):
Way that I want to live it, yeah, which is
great instead of you know, staying in the corporate world.
Speaker 3 (50:55):
You know, like I've been in sales for for years
and it's just time.
Speaker 2 (51:01):
For time for a change.
Speaker 3 (51:02):
Like, yeah, I'm good at it, I can do it well,
but it's just not all about you know, money, yes,
per se, like you can make money really anyway.
Speaker 2 (51:11):
But yeah, so I.
Speaker 3 (51:12):
Think it's just like constantly like progress, you know, just
progressing a little better every day. But yeah, just like
coming from because you know, when I say bouncing back,
it's like, all right, if somebody knows that I was
literally laying there, you know, basically lifeless, you know, and
(51:33):
then I'm where I'm at today, which to me isn't
some special place, you know what I mean, But it's
not where it's not where I was, right, I don't
have it all figured out, but but just to go
from there to there, Like I've always had the mentality,
it's like, you know, all you need is like you know,
(51:56):
like if you're like with poker, it's like a chip
in a chair. You know, it's all you need, you know,
and then just you know, for for running, it's like
literally all you need. You can be completely broke and
not have anything, but you can still run. It's like
all you need is literally a pair of sneakers and
(52:16):
some water to make sure, you know, even if you
don't have sneakers, you can you know, run barefoot. But yeah,
it's just like doing what you can with what you have,
and then just kind of growing from there.
Speaker 1 (52:29):
I think, Yeah, I think you hit it on the head.
Is you doing things?
Speaker 2 (52:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (52:35):
Right, life isn't going to be what we want if
we sit idly by, right, Yeah, the idle life is
never rewarded. Oh no, that's your quote, dude, I just
gave you your quote.
Speaker 3 (52:54):
I was I was actually thinking of that too, Like
I normally wouldn't ever have like.
Speaker 2 (52:59):
A Walt Disney quote.
Speaker 3 (53:01):
I don't think that like fits by personality, but like that,
like the quote like if you can dream it, you
can do it.
Speaker 2 (53:07):
The Walt Disney said that like it you know, yeah,
within reason, you know, it's it's true. But it just
starts with, you know, having the belief and confidence in yourself.
Speaker 3 (53:22):
And that's the one thing, like, you know, I think
it's just like it's really like you got to believe
in yourself.
Speaker 2 (53:28):
It doesn't matter. Like I've had.
Speaker 3 (53:30):
People who have believed in me, you know, but I
didn't believe in myself and that doesn't do anything for me.
Like people can believe all the day. It's just like
about like we have to believe, you know, in ourselves.
Speaker 1 (53:44):
Yeah, I think, well, you said something earlier that is
very true. One of the greatest ways I can start
to believe in myself is by giving up this idea
that I have to be perfect at anything. Yeah, one,
perfection never happens. There's always ways to improve. But if
I'm just in the process, I start to develop my
belief because I challenge myself. I did something hard that
(54:04):
day by taking a risk believing that I could even
do it.
Speaker 3 (54:09):
Yeah right, yeah, and it's it's I feel like it's
you know, for like military, you know, cops, anything in
that arena. It's getting past that like perfection or like
because I feel like we have the ability to like
be hard, extra hard on ourselves in order to like
try and be perfect, you know. So that's I think
(54:32):
that's a big piece is just to you know, know
that it's nobody's perfect and you just you know, do
what you can, but also like giving yourself a break, yeah,
and not being so hard.
Speaker 1 (54:46):
On little grace here and there does wonders for the soul?
Speaker 2 (54:50):
Right, Yeah, Drew, where.
Speaker 1 (54:52):
Can our audience follow you? Where can they connect with
you to to stay in touch with what you got
going on? My friend?
Speaker 3 (54:58):
Yeah, So I mean I'm I mean, I'm on like Instagram.
It's I think it is at my last name, so
it's Maine Drew, It's m a y any you know,
and then Drew, you know.
Speaker 2 (55:12):
And I think my plan is.
Speaker 3 (55:14):
To launch the Mindfulness of Meditation practice, like I think,
you know, really working with anybody, but like I think,
you know, focused in on athletes and business executives, but
also there's like I'm working on a kid's program as well,
so you know, for the fall, my goal is to
you know, do a few speaking engagements at like you know,
(55:36):
some whether it's elementary, middle high schools, you know, to
just on uh you know, building this this speech about
like called Stronger Inside, you know, for for kids just
to like educate them and help them with mindfulness because
like I've seen, you know, with my with my ten
year old for example, like it helps him drastically, and
(55:58):
you know, whether it's to just be have a clear
mind before sports, but it's amazing to see. And so
I think it's important, you know, for kids to be
able to get a grasp on that early on. So anyways,
I'm you know, I'm working on launching that for like August,
and you know, I'll have I don't have a website
(56:21):
or anything like that at the moment, but it's going
to be called the Primal Mind of It.
Speaker 2 (56:26):
And yeah, so yeah, just on Instagram and Facebook.
Speaker 1 (56:32):
All right, We'll be sure to get you connected. Drew.
I got one final question for you before I let
you go. Yeah, when you were in the thick of it,
the doubt, the fear, failure, what truth do you wish
you had known?
Speaker 2 (56:49):
I wish I had known that. I wish I had
known that.
Speaker 3 (56:58):
You know that I'm that, I'm that I was okay
the way I was, because I always felt like I
had to be something else and it was just all
like an illusion, you know, it just wasn't It was
all like a lie and that you know, I mean,
(57:19):
and just that you know, there's there's people who you
know who love me, who care about me. It just
you know, And then I wasn't alone. I think that
was the biggest thing, because I felt really alone at
that time.
Speaker 1 (57:32):
So powerful. Drew, thank you so much for joining us.
It's been an honor to share your story and I'm
proud to call you one of our friends.
Speaker 2 (57:41):
Absolutely, Thanks Jared, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (57:45):
Well, everybody, I hope you enjoyed that conversation with our
friend Drew Maine. It's a powerful reminder that even in
our hardest moments, there's wisdom waiting on the other side.
So to everyone listening, if you're in a sick of
it right now, I hope this conversation reminds you that
you're not alone. And then our gross is often in
the struggle. So if this episode spoke to you, share
(58:08):
it with someone who might need to hear it. And
A's always my friends, keep on living and leading on purpose.
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