Ep 172: Fight For The Forgotten with Justin Wren
Click here for full transcript.
Ep 172: Fight For The Forgotten with Justin Wren
Episode 172: Show Notes
The most important battles are not being fought in the octagon, on wrestling mats, or in the boxing ring – they are taking place at home, in the workplace, and in the hidden sanctuaries of those who have long been forgotten. And today’s guest, MMA fighter-turned-humanitarian Justin Wren, has answered an innate yet magical call to be a champion for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Justin is the founder of Fight for the Forgotten, an NPO dedicated to defending the weak, loving the unloved, and empowering the voiceless worldwide. Coupled with his inspirational podcast, Overcome (which focuses on overcoming childhood trauma to find your purpose), Justin uses his platforms to give voice to those who can’t speak for themselves while actually implementing long-term projects of sustainability and opportunity.
We begin our riveting conversation with Justin detailing his relationship with Joe Rogan and how Joe has helped him widen his audience, why vulnerability and synchronicity were the keys to surviving the Brooklyn Bridge, why he decided to reach out to Joe and other platforms to share his story, and the story of his life and how he found himself in a battle with depression and addiction.
Our guest also explains how bullying led him to wrestling and how the sport ultimately gave him all the confidence in the world! Then, we hear all about Justin’s trip to The Congo, including the supernatural vision that led him to Africa, his harrowing journey flying into the war-torn area, how this experience changed his perception of success and everything that Justin remembers about the endearing Bambuti (Mbuti) Pygmy’s and other African tribes.
Justin has so many wonderful stories to share, and after his invigorating tales of passion and perseverance, we have just enough time for him to walk us through the incredible work being done by his organization, Fight for the Forgotten, and how it’s become the master of building wells for communities in need. You are absolutely going to love this one, so press play now!
Key Points From This Episode:
Introducing the remarkable MMA fighter-turned-humanitarian Justin Wren.
How Joe Rogan has helped Justin’s story reach bigger audiences.
Vulnerability and synchronicity; surviving Brooklyn Bridge.
What inspired Justin to reach out to Joe (and other podcasts and shows) to tell his story.
Our guest’s childhood, background, and influential people from his journey.
How he began his fights against depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts.
Why being bullied drew him to wrestling, and how the sport helped boost his confidence.
What it takes to be a champion: finding your why.
How Justin’s perception of success has changed over time.
Why he retired from fighting at the tender age of 23, and what his life’s plan was at the time.
A life-changing vision, and the African trip that birthed Justin’s NPO, Fight for the Forgotten.
Fascinating details about Justin’s exploits in The Congo and learning about the Bambuti.
How suicidal thoughts are a confusing concept for people who have to fight for every meal.
The way that Justin put his plans into action after returning from Africa.
How Fight for the Forgotten became experts at building wells and providing for the needy.
Parting words of wisdom and hope from Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren.
Quotes:
“There's never a moment you're more present than whenever someone's trying to take you down and put you on your back, or punch you in the face. So, you're not in regret of the past – you’re just here, right now.” — @TheBigPygmy [0:31:19]
“[To] the untrained eye, it's the person with the strongest muscles, or the best cardio and strongest physique that wins. But I truly believe it's the person with the strongest reasons who wins – why are you out there? Why do you fight? Who do you fight for?” — @TheBigPygmy [0:32:08]
“I wanted to get my life right, and I just found out [that] I was fighting against people, but really, I was supposed to be fighting for people.” — @TheBigPygmy [0:39:51]
“Opportunity is greater than charity. Charity can be great, but [providing] opportunity is mostly always better.” — @TheBigPygmy [0:54:28]
“We have learned a lot from the people from – I wouldn't say the past, but that live more like [the] original man. We've lost or forgotten a lot of things that are really meaningful to the human soul.” — @TheBigPygmy [1:11:45]
“I think we forget that each day is truly a gift.” — @TheBigPygmy [1:14:10]
Longer Quotes
“‘If you think you're too small to make a difference, try to sleep in a closed room with a mosquito.’ I love that Swahili proverb, because I have fought guys six foot seven, six foot eight, and six foot ten. Skip six foot nine. I finished those fights in the first round. Some of them were bloody, some of them I was beat up. But none of those guys, six foot ten, 260 pounds took me out as much as less than a one-gram mosquito. If that little thing can make that much of a difference in my life, how much more of a difference can each one of us make in the lives of somebody else, or in our community, in our company, in our family, in our country, and in the world?” — @TheBigPygmy [1:23:21]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Justin Wren on The Joe Rogan Experience
Southern Plains Regional Championships
Denver Children's Hospital Colorado
Bambuti | African Hunter-Gatherers, Culture & History
‘Are the men of the African Aka tribe the best fathers in the world?’