Show Notes
What happens when a fourth generation coal miner who shoveled coal 600 feet underground, eight miles in, decides to walk away from the only life his family has ever known to chase a dream that doesn't even exist yet? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Cory Gregory, the fitness entrepreneur who built Muscle Farm from $1 million to $170 million in sales, lost it all, and came back to build something even more authentic. This conversation is packed with raw honesty, brutal wisdom, and the kind of discipline that only comes from working underground with your back rubbing the ceiling for 93 hours a week. Cory opens up about growing up in a coal mining family in Ohio, his great grandfather Joseph who died in a coal mine explosion in 1935, and his grandfather who taught him how to lift weights at 12 years old. He shares the story of working underground at 18, shoveling coal on his knees for six to eight hours straight, and the W2 moment when he saw his mom's annual salary and thought, I'm going to make that in a month. Cory talks about the pain of watching his mom struggle to pay $150 rent on a trailer with a caving roof, the decision to save every paycheck and move to Columbus to become a personal trainer, and why Rich Dad Poor Dad and the Abraham Lincoln quote about believing in the unseen changed his life forever. Then comes the Muscle Farm story. Cory walks AJ through meeting his business partner Brad in 2008, starting with protein, pre workout, and amino acids, and doing $1 million in sales the first year. He shares the moment they did $4 million the next year, then $20 million, then $70 million, and why he thought he could build a $20 million company when he had no idea where that number even came from. Cory talks about raising capital, going public on the OTC, signing UFC fighters at UFC 96, and the lime green and black rebrand that made Muscle Farm look like the Nike of supplements. Then comes the story of Muscle Island. Cory walks AJ through finding a 1.5 acre island on Zillow that had been untouched since 1866, swimming over to it after seeing it from another island, and standing in the middle of the vines and 100 year old poison ivy asking himself, is this me? He shares the two questions he asked: could you be okay if five years from now someone else did it, and what could this be? Cory talks about buying it in two weeks with part owner financing, getting two of the three utilities under the water in four months, and building a shipping container house and gym with four 40 foot containers and two 20 foot containers. 00:00 Intro: Arnold's Office, Life-Size Predator & The Magazine That Changed Everything 06:20 Ireland, Guinness on Tap & The Culture of Being Present 09:47 Pain From Regret or Pain From Discipline: Lessons From Dad 11:38 Four Generation Coal Miner: The Family Legacy Underground 15:43 600 Feet Down, 8 Miles In: What It's Really Like Underground 26:55 The W2 Moment: I'm Going to Make That in a Month 30:09 Mastering Your Emotions: The Hothead Athlete's Biggest Challenge 1:02:32 The Anabolic Fasting Protocol: How Corey Stays Shredded at 48 1:06:41 The Pump 30 Workout: Why 30 Minutes Is All You Need 1:18:06 Building Muscle Farm: From $1M to $170M in Sales 1:28:32 The Arnold Pitch: Pumping Iron, Bodybuilding.com & 100 Million People 1:32:23 What Arnold Taught Me: No Cap in This Life 1:42:02 Fatherhood: What My Kids Taught Me & The Time That Matters Most 1:44:59 Rachel: The Kindergarten Teacher Who Believed From Day One 1:51:01 Muscle Island: Swimming to an Untouched Island & Trusting Intuition 2:01:10 The Next Level: Coaching Entrepreneurs & Being the Mentor I Never Had 2:01:57 Papa: The World War II Vet Who Taught Me to Lift at 12 Years Old 2:03:59 The Rally Day: 30 Minutes With My Grandfather Before He Died 2:08:23 AI, Analog & Why the Heartbeat Can't Be Replicated Follow Cory G Fitness Instagram https://www.instagram.com/corygfitness/?hl=en Facebook https://www.facebook.com/corygfitness/ Cory Greg
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26-year-old Ethan Benard went from 660 lbs to losing over 200 pounds, surviving intubation, beating food addiction, and rebuilding his life for something bigger—his future wife and kids. In this Real Fake Seal episode, Ethan shares his full journey: childhood struggles, gaming escape, Twitch growth, Valorant streams, and the near-death moment that changed everything. Thank you to everyone who has supported Ethan on his journey—his Twitch community, the gaming fans from League of Legends, Valorant, and Riot’s playtests, and all who’ve encouraged him along the way. A special thank-you to Chris Pratt, Jocko Willink, Jelly Roll, and Bert Kreischer for taking the time to send Ethan well-wishes. Your kindness truly meant a lot and helped fuel his transformation. *Timestamps:* 00:00 – They Finally Meet in Person & Talk Future Family 01:28 – “If I Fail, I Fail My Future Family” – Mindset Shift 03:25 – 660 lbs, Self-Hate & Realizing Life Could Be Enjoyed 06:16 – Small-Town Michigan, Antique Jewelry & EMT Dad 08:44 – Only Child, Video Games, Isolation & Early Obesity 16:43 – Danny: A 21-Year Friendship & Lifelong Support 20:40 – From YouTube to Twitch: Renting an Office to Stream 22:40 – The 90-Second Riot Games Trailer That Changed His Career 25:30 – 4,000 Live Viewers, Twitch Rivals & Esports History 27:56 – Twitch Partner Email & Sudden Health Collaps 29:38 – COVID, Pneumonia, Intubation at 580 lbs & Surviving 42:32 – Post-Hospital Depression, Losing Everything & Relapse Cycles 47:24 – “I’ve Lost 200 lbs as an Addict” & Dealing with Online Critics 53:42 – AJ Reaches Out, Coaching, Burnout & Jocko Fuel Partnership 1:01:54 – “I Can’t Fail My Future Family” – Discipline, Mental Health & The Future Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% off http://aj.purerx.co write "Time to shine" In notes http://www.bornofdiscipline.com http://www.coretrex.com #weightlossjourney #motivation #transformationstory #obesityawareness #discipline #faithjourney #mentalhealthmatters #inspirationdaily #AJBuckley
What happens when a three year old boy escapes Vietnam on a wooden fishing boat, drifts for 30 days left for dead in the South China Sea, survives refugee camps in Indonesia, lands in Fayetteville, North Carolina surrounded by Green Berets, and grows up to become a Special Forces warrior who fights for the oppressed before finding Christ and walking away from everything to share his story? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Tu Lam, the former Green Beret, author of The Way Ronin, and the man whose journey from genocide to grace is packed with raw emotion, brutal honesty, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from dying to your ego and surrendering to God. Tu opens up about escaping Vietnam at three years old when his family paid a fishing boat to smuggle them out after the fall of South Vietnam in 1974, the 30 days drifting in the South China Sea when their ship broke down, the tropical storm that washed them further out into the ocean, and the Russian supply boat that picked them up and dropped them off at refugee camps in Southern Indonesia. He shares the story of living in a grass hut in the jungle, sleeping on a dirt floor, witnessing murders and survival at four years old, and his uncle who was an American Special Forces Green Beret sponsoring their paperwork to get to the United States after a year and a half. Tu walks AJ through landing in Fayetteville, North Carolina at five years old, growing up surrounded by Green Berets and Vietnam era warriors, getting picked on and spit on in a predominantly black school, and the moment at 10 years old when he saw a samurai documentary that changed everything. He talks about the power of Bushido, the way of the warrior, Miyamoto Musashi and the Book of Five Rings, and why a broken refugee boy needed that image of discipline and strength. Tu reflects on turning his eyes toward his stepfather at 13 years old and realizing this is the warrior's path, the Special Forces motto de oppresso liber meaning to free the oppressed, and why God put him in a family of Green Berets to understand the mission and give him the tools to go back and fight for the oppressed. 00:00 Intro: Escaping Vietnam at 3 on a Wooden Fishing Boat 00:46 Meeting Tu Lam: From Refugee to Green Beret Warrior 05:35 The Three Minds: Understanding Thought, Heart & Gut 06:48 The Ripple Effect: Life Is Here & Expands Outward 09:04 Letting Go of Thought: The Nine Year Journey 16:25 Childhood Trauma: Refugee Camps & The Subconscious Mind 26:07 From Oppressed to Free: The Special Forces Mission 27:16 Fayetteville & The Samurai: Finding the Warrior's Path at 13 37:32 PTSD & The Enemy's Greatest Weapon: Shame 39:06 God Wakes His Warriors First: The Spiritual Battle 48:53 Psychedelics & Plant Medicine: The Four Year Journey 53:55 Accepting Death: The Light & The Tunnel 57:05 Reincarnation vs. Christ: The Dalai Lama & The Warrior's Death 59:04 The Nine Year Death: Confronting the Shadow 1:08:19 Surrender & The Morning Routine: Feeding Spirit vs. Flesh 1:12:41 Breath Is Reality: Yahweh & The Wisdom in Stillness 1:33:02 The Vessel: Let Your Will Be Done, Father 1:33:57 Your North Star: Wife, Family & Walking with Christ 1:47:08 Emotional Regulation: Conscious of the Subconscious 1:50:40 The Warriors Are Coming: God's Army & AJ's Journey Follow Tu Lam Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tulam047/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ronintactics/?hl=en) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/p/Ronin-Tactics-100064816893518/) Ronin Tactics Inc - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGbWCJCruG_3HlRlMaIq6xA) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: htt
What happens when a child star who grew up in front of the world opens up about the real growth that happened when no one was watching? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Josh Peck, the actor, father, YouTuber, entrepreneur, and author whose journey from Drake and Josh to sobriety at 21 and finding peace in fatherhood is packed with raw honesty, brutal wisdom, and the kind of vulnerability that only comes from surviving Hollywood and coming out the other side as a better man. AJ and Josh dive deep into the reality of being a lifer in this business, the salmon run of surviving 30 years in Hollywood, and why the only true touchstone of who someone is comes from time in the game. Josh reflects on the chaos of show business, the constant struggle of never being comfortable, and why he loves the unpredictability of a career that never makes sense. He talks about the importance of saying no to protect family, the power of no involved with every yes, and why turning down a 12 hour day for a four hour gig was one of the most important decisions he's ever made as a father. Josh also opens up about his addiction, getting sober at 21, and the principle that changed his life: esteemable acts build self esteem. He shares the wisdom he learned in recovery about being self centered whether you think you're the greatest or the worst, the importance of doing things for other people, and why he spent his entire 20s trying to be a good man. Josh talks about the difference between being defined by your work and being defined by your character, the virtue of storytelling as a way to distract people from their hard lives, and why he's still sitting in acting class at 38 getting notes on his forward energy. Josh also reflects on his time on Turner and Hooch, shooting for eight months in Vancouver at the height of COVID, and the responsibility of being the lead who sets the tone for the entire set. He talks about showing up prepared, showing up relaxed, making the mistakes his and the wins everyone else's, and why if the lead knows their lines, everyone else will too. Josh shares the story of getting cast in Oppenheimer, sending in a two page monologue audition in November, getting the text that Nolan liked his tape, and surviving three months of callbacks before finally getting the role. He opens up about spending two months in New Mexico for 90 seconds of screen time, working with Killian Murphy who was the sweetest guy on set, and watching Christopher Nolan care about everything from the number 30 on the call sheet to shooting on 70 millimeter IMAX film. Josh also opens up about life after being the peak, the danger of thinking you've arrived, and why he auditioned the same way at 18 after Drake and Josh as he did at 38 after Oppenheimer won the Academy Award. He talks about the importance of being a worker amongst workers, going to acting class, and staying humble even after 25 years in the game. Josh reflects on the hardest thing emotionally he had to deal with growing up in the spotlight, the need to be honored as a human being instead of just for his achievements, and why he tells his son Max that the thing that makes him the happiest is when a teacher says he's kind, sweet, and listens. Follow Josh Peck Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shuapeck/?hl=en Facebook https://www.facebook.com/joshpeckofficial/ Josh Peck (@joshpeck) | TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@joshpeck?lang=en Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% o
What happens when a kid from Memphis who grew up in the cycle of poverty gets deplowed by the Marines two days after his first daughter is born, deploys to Afghanistan without calling home for 90 days, loses his first friend to suicide in 2011, and turns a piece of cardboard into one of the most powerful veteran advocacy platforms in the world? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Zachary Bell, the creator of Veteran with a Sign, whose journey from combat Marine to viral content creator is packed with raw emotion, brutal honesty, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from breaking generational curses and refusing to let another veteran die alone. Then comes the story that will break you. Zach opens up about getting out in 2011, working night shift at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital while going to school during the day, sleeping in his car, and getting the call that his first friend had taken his life. He talks about going back through old text messages, realizing they were both struggling but too scared to have a real conversation, and the moment he decided this shit stops with me. Zach reflects on the three years he spent stacking little wins, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, magnets on his head, men's groups, whatever he could find to help himself and his friends, and why he open sourced everything so no one would have to figure it out alone. Zach also shares the origin story of Veteran with a Sign, the moment during COVID when he thought what if I was a veteran holding up a piece of cardboard, the first 90 days of brutal comments about his tattoos and why he wears the same thing every day, and the Captain Crozier post that changed everything. He talks about walking off his ship to a standing ovation after getting relieved of command for trying to help his sick sailors, the moment Zach's post went viral with 10,000 followers in a week, and why he realized the creative had finally found him again. Zach opens up about meeting the Unsub guys, Fat Electrician, Brandon Herrera, and finding his creative community, the podcast journey from After Action to Underwhelming, and why doing it alone is impossible. 00:00 Intro 00:55 Meeting Veteran with a Sign: From Trailer Parks to Movie Premieres 04:28 The Fat Electrician, Unsub & Finding Your Creative Community 05:54 The Podcast Journey: After Action to Underwhelming 09:39 Jimmy Grimes: The Coolest Thing I've Done & The Power of Community 14:28 Veteran with a Sign Origin: Captain Crozier & The Post That Changed Everything 19:16 September 11th & Enlisting: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty 22:07 The Cycle of Poverty: No One Gives a Shit About Poor White People 30:03 Boot Camp: The Double Rations Kid Who Gained 30 Pounds 35:37 First Deployment: Two Days After Daughter's Birth to Afghanistan 45:23 The French Reporter Story: Finding Out Your Daughter Was Born 50:46 Fatherhood: Dad Stuff & Being Present for Every Moment 56:25 Getting Out in 2011: When Your First Friend Takes His Life 1:11:35 Depression, Faith & Finding God Again After 12 Years 1:14:32 Community Over Everything: Why You Can't Do This Alone 1:15:46 Brandon Herrera: The Man Running for Governor & Why He's Different 1:17:47 North Star: My Wife Saw Something in Me I Didn't Know Existed 1:21:44 Legacy: It Stopped With Me & Shoot for the Moon 1:23:40 Final Words: Just Do It & Stop Chasing the School of Fish Follow Zachary Bell - Veteran With A Sign Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/veteranwithasign/?hl=en) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/veteranwithasign/?ref=NONE_xav_ig_profile_page_web#) @veteranwithasign | Free Dental Care for Veterans Aspen | Beacons (https://veteranwithasign.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAaeMw23hgkW6VTXKxGR1lx5tiU3fnI5HoA6yuZJKvUVp8vjK3vcMBqSpQNB1BQ_aem_-ABUXREAoPfDA4i99PpLtA) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https:/
What happens when two actors who created one of the most beloved comedy duos in television history reunite to pull back the curtain on Ghost Facers, the show that almost was, and the friendship that changed everything? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Travis Wester, the actor who played Ed Zedmore on Supernatural and became AJ's comedic soulmate in what they call space docking, a chemistry so rare it only happens once in a lifetime. Travis opens up about meeting AJ at the Warner Brothers audition for Supernatural, rubbing his sides on the desk to get the nerves out, and the slow motion moment they locked eyes in the wardrobe trailer in Vancouver like the chariots of fire were playing. He shares the story of shooting their first scene together in knee deep mud with goggles on, the English director asking if they knew each other, and the instant realization that they had synced up like a double dock. Travis reflects on the rare gift of being granted authorship as guest stars, the freedom to improvise and riff, and why Phil Sgriccia was the champion who allowed them to play. AJ and Travis dive deep into the birth of Ghost Facers, the moment Travis got on the plane with Brittany Ishibashi and realized he hadn't read the script, the panic of turning every page and seeing his character on every single one, and the improv session with Austin Basis and Dustin Milligan where they answered Phil's questions and built out who these characters were. Travis talks about the magic of shooting eight or nine pages in one take with 15 cameras rolling, Phil planting surprises like rats and spider webs, and the day they finished shooting by lunch because the comedy was flowing so fast the crew went outside to play hockey. Then comes the story of the meeting at Warner Brothers where they thought they were getting a cease and desist order, walking into the conference room with Eric Kripke and six or seven executives, and being told we're thinking about building a show around you guys. Travis shares the surreal moment of crashing the Supernatural panel at Comic Con, the GMA ghost martial arts bit they came up with at Phil's house, and the Misha Collins video they shot with the whole squad at McG's office. He also opens up about the UK Facers trip to York, running around with no permits at three in the morning, and the moment he slipped on wet stone steps and went nipple deep into the river called the ooze while everyone stayed in character. AJ and Travis also open up about the final Ghost Facers episode, the director who told AJ his Hebrew tattoo about laying his father to rest on the rock of Calvary was wrong right after AJ's dad had just died, the combativeness that erupted on set, and the apology Travis had to give to the entire crew for a joke he made during rehearsal. They reflect on the heartbreak of how it ended, the new showrunner who didn't understand their characters, and why they were never invited back for the Supernatural finale. AJ gets emotional talking about wishing he could go back in a time machine and change that one experience, the gratitude for the fans who kept Ghost Facers alive, and why Ed Zedmore is one of his two favorite characters he's ever played. This conversation is raw, hilarious, nostalgic, and packed with wisdom about chemistry, comedy, friendship, loss, and what it means to create something magical with your best friend. If you grew up watching Ghost Facers, if you're an actor searching for your comedic partner, or if you just want to hear two brothers talk about the best years of their lives, this episode will make you laugh, cry, and believe in space docking. Follow Travis Wester Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/westerspace/?hl=en) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckl