WARRIOR WEEK

Brian Q Davis, graduate of multiple Warrior Weeks, and neurosurgeon Dr. Omar Ibrahim providentially crossed paths a world away. Together they join Coach Sam in this critical episode of Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit. The purpose of this conversation is to give voice to the children of war who did not get the chance to speak. Parable #1: COVID-19 COVID-19 has put a pause on human momentum everywhere around the world. With all the bad that has come with it, one of the good things is that it has allowed us to pause and reflect on what we are doing and who we have become. Coach Sam explains, “It is in times like this that it is important for us to become a voice for the children that died thirty years ago in the chemical war; for the children who put the Warrior of God bandanas around their heads and cleared the minefields.” QUESTION What are some of the things you have taken the time to pause and reflect upon during the COID-19 pause? Parable #2: Scars On Your Soul Living in a war area leaves scars on your soul, and you don’t have time for your soul to heal. Dr. Ibrahim has been a first-hand witness, as has Coach Sam, to the horrors of war and its far-reaching effect on men, women, and children. As a doctor on the frontlines, Dr. Ibrahim has witnessed unspeakable crimes against children., and amid all the chaos, he explains, “You have to stay calm. You have to hold yourself together and do your job as perfectly as needed.” QUESTION How have you gone about healing scars from your childhood?   Parable #3: Shining Light On Evil If we don’t learn the lessons from the past, then the children who have died in wars will have died in vain. For the most part, there’s no interest in sharing this kind of pain that ultimately brings awareness to the masses. “People are sharing absolute minor issues every two to three seconds on social media vs. sharing major human issues like unjustness and unfairness to the children. It’s not only the killing of children in war zones, but it’s also the raping, the pedophilia, and the sexual abuse of children across the world by a network of evil people,” shares Coach Sam. QUESTION What can you do to bring awareness to the pain and injustices of others? Parable #4: Civil War Horrors There’s a significant difference between soldiers fighting soldiers vs. civil wars. Civil wars include women and children. It includes rape, it violates and loots, burns people’s homes, and kills them in their sleep. “The images of the horror these children experienced remain in their minds for the rest of their fucking lives. Who will quench their thirst for revenge for the deaths of their brothers and sisters?” QUESTION What are your feelings about all of this?   Parable #5: Separation What’s happening today in the United States stems from hate, anger, and fear. Many of the actions and demands are filled with hypocrisy, and the complaints would not stack up against the unspeakable horrors that Dr. Ibrahim and Coach Sam witnessed first-hand. As the only neurosurgeon on-site, Dr. Ibrahim had to determine which of the many patients were most likely to survive. In many cases, he treated their wounds and injuries without all of the necessary tools, and at the same time, taking on the roles of many different types of doctors. QUESTION How are their stories and experiences speaking to and inspiring you? “Parables from the Pit“ “When you witness this as a child, it does not go away. The horrors of war remain as a scar in your soul.” –-Sam Falsafi “I would like the world to know that war is the most dangerous thing. It doesn’t affect one or two generations; it affects multiple generations.” –Dr. Omar Ibrahim, Neurosurgeon “When others picked up a gun, you picked up a doctor’s coat, a stethoscope, and bandages. You brought your knowledge to heal instead of bringing bombs and weapons like so many others.” –– Brian Q Davis

Matthew first heard the call of Warrior in 2013 and initially rejected it. But in 2015, when he hit what he calls his second rock bottom, it put him in enough pain to realize that his life wasn’t working. Thus began his personal journey of discovery. Welcome to Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit, with your host Coach Sam Falsafi and his special guest Matthew Lee. Parable #1: The Call of Warrior Matthew first heard the call of Warrior in 2013 and initially rejected it. But in 2015, when he hit what he calls his second rock bottom, it put him in enough pain to realize that his life wasn’t working. Thus began his personal journey of discovery. As he traveled to his first Warrior event, he knew that the man he left behind in Chicago was dead. He was ready for change, and from the moment he stepped into the room with the other guys, Matthew knew this was the place he was meant to be. QUESTION What was taking place in your life when you first heard the call of Warrior? Parable #2: The COVID-19 Pause COVID-19 has created a lot of emotion. When emotions are high, intelligence tends to be low. Coach Sam reflects, “Worldwide, we have put human momentum on pause because of fear of the unknown; because of the lack of faith to take a leap. We’ve decided to walk back and pause. And today, I have a huge appreciation for this pause.” This pause has given all of us the time to look at our reflection in the mirror at who we are today and what we’re becoming. The anger, blame, guilt, and shame that we feel is driving who we’re becoming rather than being driven by compassionate, unconditional love. QUESTION How are you using this time in history to reflect?   Parable #3: The Knock At the Door Matthew explains, “In life, we have these knocks at the door; times when we fall down. These are simply an opportunity. When I feel something, that’s a trigger, a sign, a knock at the door that I need to go discover. It’s the sound that someone or something wants to gain entry.” But oftentimes, we will use our “already always listening voices” to silence the knocks at our door. The gift is found in recognizing that things that happen in our lives happen FOR us, not to us. “I had to have all of that pain unleashed on me to be open and ready.” QUESTION How are you responding to the knocks at your door? Parable #4: Feel the Pain The genesis of any change comes down to daily decisions and defining decisions. A change in the way we perceive ourselves and others happens over time, not overnight. It’s a process and a commitment, dedication, and devotion to a cause. “If you truly don’t understand the “why” behind why you must change, then you’re just putting a bandage on the wound. Which means you’re no longer feeling the pain. But if you feel pain, you have begun the investigation into why this thing matters. You must feel the pain, and you must have tactical empathy.” QUESTION What are you doing to understand they “why” behind change?   Parable #5: Separation As human beings, we don’t all witness the same unfairness, which is why it is difficult to understand one another. Coach Sam is a child of war who unspeakable horrors while the rest of the world was in denial. “For over thirty years, I have kept this pain inside of me. How come nobody heard our cry? How the fuck do I purge that?” Most of us have been taught that there is me, there’s we, and there’s them. Matthew explains, “I’ve been taught to look across at “them” and pick apart everything they’re doing wrong. That’s a test. If I learn to love, I pass the test. I let go of what I’ve been hanging onto and try on a new perspective.” QUESTION Are you passing the test? “Parables from the Pit“ “One of the misconceptions about Warrior is that weak men go to become strong. But that’s not it. Powerful men come to Warrior and recognize the weak game they have been playing. It’s not the man that is weak; it’s the cheap games he’s been playing.” –-Sam Falsafi “How we show up in the world in one way is how we show up in all ways.” –– Matthew Lee

Internationally renowned CrossFit athlete Christian Lucero is Coach Sam’s special guest in this episode of Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit. Parable #1: Born For Something Bigger Christian is a professional CrossFit athlete whose background is sports and martial arts. He always felt there was something bigger he was here to do; that he had something more to offer the world. From a very young age, he was mentored into this role as an athlete. At one point, it was football, which pivoted into mixed martial arts, and eventually, that pivoted into CrossFit, where he found great stride. “I started at the bottom and worked my way into worldwide recognition in CrossFit.” QUESTION Where in your world do you feel like you have more to offer the world? Parable #2: Heros to Emulate null In this journey of life, it’s important to have people you can look up to and admire; people who have traits you want to emulate in your own life that you’re going to remember when the going gets rough, and you feel you can’t go on. “It’s taking things that are important to you and doing them to the best of your ability across all areas of your life. It’s being obsessed with that drive of excellence and taking pride in everything you do.” QUESTION How are you showing up as a hero to your wife and children?   Parable #3: Willing to Die null There are going to be people who are willing to die for the win. If that’s not your goal, you’re going to get run over by those who have that as their goal. When you’re willing to die for something, you’re not going to suck ass for long. When you’re willing to die to prove someone wrong or avenge wrongdoing, that’s linked to a state of mind that goes beyond the pain. QUESTION What are you willing to die for? Parable #4: Ego The ego tries to make what others think or say about you, all-important. It puts traps and road-blocks in front of you to get you out of your own focus and your ability to be in a true zen state of mind, and instead move you into a state of questioning. “Ego=1/Knowledge. What this means is the more the knowledge, the lesser the ego,  the lesser the knowledge, the more the ego.” At the end of the day, the more knowledge you have, the smaller your ego becomes. QUESTION What do you do to shrink your ego?   Parable #5: Quest “It’s about enriching the lives of the people you see on a daily basis and helping them to be the best versions of themselves. I feel like that’s the biggest thing you can do with whatever gifts you’re given, to make other people’s lives better.” “When it comes to competitions, these people [spectators] have taken time out of their day to be here, so as competitors, we owe it to them to “die” here; to give all of ourselves to this event.” QUESTION How are you sharing your gifts with others?   “Parables from the Pit“ “It’s human nature to seek this feeling of significance.” –-Sam Falsafi “It’s about enriching the lives of the people you see on a daily basis and helping them to be the best versions of themselves. I feel like that’s the biggest thing you can do with whatever gifts you’re given, to make other people’s lives better.” –– Christian Lucero

Scott was initially introduced to Warrior in 2015 but couldn’t pull the trigger, which left him with all sorts of regrets. He thought he had missed his chance. But as fate would have it, he once again heard the Warrior call and jumped at the opportunity to be part of it. Like thousands of others, Garrett’s message resonated deeply with him. Welcome to the Warrior Week podcast with your host, Coach Sam Falsafi, and his special guest, Scott White, graduate of Warrior Week 55. Parable #1: The Warrior Call Scott was initially introduced to Warrior in 2015 but couldn’t pull the trigger, which left him with all sorts of regrets. He thought he had missed his chance. But as fate would have it, he once again heard the Warrior call and jumped at the opportunity to be part of it. Like thousands of others, Garrett’s message resonated deeply with him. “I felt Garrett was speaking to me and figured this was my last hope. I was in a bad place mentally and physically and was very much overweight. I felt terrible, and my wife was ready to leave me. Although I was making money, everything else in my life was horrible. I had hit rock bottom.” QUESTION Where were you when you heard the call of Warrior? Parable #2: Exposed Many men are wary of exposing details about problems they are experiencing inside their marriage relationships. They believe it’s a private matter, but they also fear being judged in the future, or that somehow others will take advantage of the information. As a result, they keep things inside and end up convincing themselves that things are “good.” “This is a fear of men because there’s a risk that comes with expressing, so we are very careful with what we share. As we start disconnecting ourselves from the false value that we give to the various circles of people we surround ourselves with, it is then that we realize that the thing that matters is our own expression, and with that comes the price of losing some of those associations.” Coach Sam QUESTION What fears to you carry when it comes to sharing your problems?   Parable #3: Connected Scott experienced a lot of success by participating in the KingsKit challenge and then felt he could continue doing it on his own. He started scaling back on his CORE 4 and found himself getting off track. However, a series of extraordinary experiences during WC3 changed all of that. Coach Sam shared the various encounters he’s experienced throughout the years that led him to the gates of Warrior, the unfolding of which was quite astounding “Everything is connected. There are all of these angels that come into our lives to show us a path.” QUESTION What are some of the extraordinary encounters you have experienced in your lifetime? Parable #4: Unlocking Buried Trauma Scott’s experience with the lead up to Warrior Week was very enlightening and tough. “It did a great job at blowing shit up. You never knew where that missile was coming in. It came in hot, and you had to deal with it. It definitely prepared me for a baseline of what to expect at Warrior Week.” During Warrior Week, Scott was continually wondering how and when he was going to be exposed. “It wasn’t just soul-bearing pain; it was physical pain. It brought me back to a place deep within me that I had locked away and exposed secrets and trauma from my childhood.” QUESTION What have you done to deal with childhood trauma you experienced?   Parable #5: Awaken & Remember A lot of people are reacting irrationally to situations that seem completely unfair. The animal inside is being triggered. It’s in those moments that we are reminded by the Voice to awaken and remember, which in turn slows down the reactions. Those who listen react differently to unfairness than the guy who carries rage. But many are not listening. “When I’m in situations where people are being triggered, I don’t match their level of rage. I try to figure out what’s going on and discover the real issue. When I’m operating at a high-frequency vibrational level, it allows me to see through all kinds of bullshit. This is what makes the Stack such a valuable tool.” QUESTION How do you handle the triggers that come your way?   “Parables from the Pit“ “My son is my experiment. I get to be the leader of that, I get to guide that. I get to protect him from the pain and position him to the possibilities.” –-Sam Falsafi “When you start tearing down the walls and the layers and layers of shit that have built up inside of you throughout the years, that is how you transform. That is what takes place at Warrior Week. But you’ve got to actually be vulnerable enough to go there and unlock that.” –– Scott White

Shawn was led to the gates of Warrior by nothing less than perfect timing and divine intervention. After searching for answers to his wife’s eighteen-year condition, it was during a month-long stay at the Mayo Clinic while waiting for his wife that Shawn randomly opened up Facebook. Enter Garrett J White promoting a 30-day challenge. Welcome to the Warrior Week podcast with your host, Coach Sam Falsafi, and his special guest, Shawn McDonald, Warrior Week 54 graduate. Parable #1: Divine Intervention null Shawn was led to the gates of Warrior by nothing less than perfect timing and divine intervention. After searching for answers to his wife’s eighteen-year condition, it was during a month-long stay at the Mayo Clinic while waiting for his wife that Shawn randomly opened up Facebook. Enter Garrett J White promoting a 30-day challenge. At the time, Shawn’s relationship with his wife had gotten to an all-time low, and they were moving closer to divorce. “I was financially very successful, career-wise very successful; I was an executive doing very, very well. Inside? I was literally dead. I was hopeless as to where my wife’s situation was and very hopeless where I was mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. So… I took the challenge.” QUESTION Where were you when you were first introduced to the message of Wake Up Warrior? Parable #2: The Garage The first evolution in the Kings Kit Challenge takes place virtually in the guy’s garages. Previously organized because of his wife’s skills, his garage was now a complete mess, which was a vivid and glaring reflection of the shit taking place in his life, in his heart, and in the relationship with his wife.  “The whole process of bringing practical circumstances to the forefront of my perspective, and helping the other men and me literally walk through a journey of breaking things down piece by piece, helped me to completely get out of my pit and was the beginning of a revolution for me.” QUESTION What is your garage a reflection of in your life?   Parable #3: Exposed One challenge led to another until Shawn eventually found himself in the throes of the crucible, Warrior Week. During the Inquisition process, it felt like someone had peeled back the vale and had exposed where he had been for over 20 years of his life. Although he was ready to understand what was going on inside of him, admittedly, it was so much harder than he expected it to be. “When you finally get down to an understanding of things you have danced around forever, that awakening means everything.  The biggest thing for me was literally coming to a place of acknowledging that I hate myself and that I’ve never loved my wife.” QUESTION Where in your world is it time to shine a light to expose what you’ve been hiding? Parable #4: You’re Not Alone All around us, families are being crushed and shattered. Men are operating at the lowest version of themselves and have been conditioned to believe they have to go through this life alone. But that is simply not the case. “We underestimate the importance of men who have gone before us. In order to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with somebody, you have to have been tested by the fire yourself. You’ve had to have gone into your own pit, and trust another man to help you walk out of that pit.” QUESTION Who has your back in this world? Parable #5: Own Your Why On the second day of Warrior Week, Shawn experienced the next major step in opening his eyes to the work that lay ahead of him. He began identifying and imprinting into his soul the purpose for his existence, shouting to the world the names of his wife and children. “This is why I’m alive! This is my family that’s been entrusted to my care.”He realized it was his unwillingness to show up for himself and his family that led to a path of destruction for all of them. “It led me to five affairs, two bankruptcies, kids who didn’t want to have anything to do with me, a son who got on drugs, and a daughter that got raped.” QUESTION What is your why?   “Parables from the Pit“ “The majority of men don’t have the courage to admit their faults because they don’t want to remind themselves of their mistakes. And so they hide and hang with “positive” people who are also liars, and who will never have the fucking balls to remind them of their mistakes and lies.” –-Sam Falsafi “It’s one thing to point out another man’s lies; it’s a completely different thing to help lead him to the light.” –– Shawn McDonald

During the closing weeks of 2018, John found himself in a deep pit. Unbeknownst to him, his world was moments away from changing in a massive way as he ate lunch with a friend at a restaurant in San Diego. Welcome to this special episode of Warrior Week: Parables from the Pit with your host, Coach Sam Falsafi, and his special guest, John Estefanso, graduate of Warrior Week 56. Parable #1: Right Place, Right Time During the closing weeks of 2018, John found himself in a deep pit. Unbeknownst to him, his world was moments away from changing in a massive way as he ate lunch with a friend at a restaurant in San Diego. A group of guys donning black “Do More, Suck Less” t-shirts walked through the doors of that restaurant, and two days later, after devouring hours and hours of Warrior content, John found himself on a phone call with Coach Sam Falsafi preparing to attend Warrior Week. QUESTION When were you at the “right place, right time?” What happened? How did your life change? Parable #2: The Awakening Warrior Week 56 was captured in a movie and has since touched the hearts of thousands of people. Of the many highlights of that week, the surprising actions taken by one Warrior coach demonstrated the power of Warrior Week and how it filters all serpents and liars. Notorious for being both intense and powerful, the month-long build-up to Warrior Week 56 was an interesting awakening and journey of self-discovery for John. “I realized how full of shit and stories I really was.” QUESTION What has been exposed about your life on your journey of self-discovery?   Parable #3: Abandoned One of the common themes among the men of WW 56 was abandonment issues. For John, it was his father. “Having to face that, look at it, and really live with it showed me who I was. For me, I ended up loving my father a lot more because I realized throughout that abandonment, he helped make me who I am.” Coach Sam adds, “The common theme in WW 56 was the conflict that took place with our fathers. There were a lot of alphas, big mother-fuckers, big muscles, and rough guys.” The idea was to investigate the truth, rather than rely on one’s memory. QUESTION Do you have abandonment issues? What are they? Parable #4: The Pit As chaos settled in on day one, it channeled its way into the night into a place where every man was no longer going to hold anybody’s hand. It was all about what every man was going to have to face, what they would allow themselves to feel, and what they would ultimately surrender to while facing the fears of the past and the prisons of the present. John recounts, “The build-up to the pit experience was surreal. I was battling the thoughts of questioning why the fuck I was even there, and why I was putting myself through it. There were physical challenges as well, and it was an emotional roller-coaster ride. It was in the pit that I was able to let go of everything I had been hanging onto and replaying in my head my entire life.” QUESTION What is one story you know it’s time to let go of?   Parable #5: Hand of God The second day of Warrior Week takes place on the beach and is one of the most pivotal experiences for the majority of the guys. For John, that proved to be the case. “The Hand of God evolution was one of the deepest things I have felt in my entire life. The second I was perceiving that God was answering me, the clouds parted, and the rays of the sun literally and completely hit me. I felt that I was completely connecting with a higher source and power, something I tap into regularly to this day.” QUESTION When was the last time you opened yourself up to the higher power? “Parables from the Pit“ “Stop living in your fucking memories. Transcend from that place to the place of what is right now. Be willing to open up and investigate.” –Sam Falsafi “During my morning run as I looked at the sunrise, I found myself understanding that there IS something bigger than me out there that created all of this.” — John Estefanso

Parable #1: Rock Bottom Finding himself in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere, David prayed to God for the first time in ten years. “God, I’ll do anything you want me to do if you will help me; if you’ll help save my marriage. About a week later, a KingsKit video showed up on social media out of nowhere – David’s first exposure and introduction to this thing called Wake Up Warrior. Something in that video touched him on a deep level, which led him to take the plunge. QUESTION Where were you and what was your state of mind when you first heard the message of Warrior? Parable #2: The Garage Warrior created an opening for David to question his stories for the very first time in his life. It also gave him permission to start telling the truth about where he was in his life, what he had done, how he felt, and that it was ok to be open about the messes in his life. “The first time I saw Coach Sam speak with authenticity and certainty in his garage surrounded by all of his shit, I felt and knew that this guy wanted me to speak my pain; that he wanted to help me and others get out of our Pits.” QUESTION In what way has Warrior “given you permission” to do something for perhaps the first time in your life?   Parable #3: Physician, Heal Thyself David cheated on his wife, lied, and tore down everything he had built or wanted to build. During this time, he made the most money ever as a physician because he threw his entire life into his work. He believed his worth was determined by what he was doing. During Warrior Wealth, David felt so broken that he was ready to give up everything, even being a doctor. “During Warrior Week, I finally received the certainty that I am a fucking healer and that I didn’t default into this path.” But he knew he first had to heal himself mentally QUESTION What areas of your life are calling to you to heal? Parable #4: Mom David had a lot of rage and pain in the way his mother acted toward and treated him. That first night in the Pit opened up the floodgates of emotions and feelings towards her. David ultimately went to therapy and completed three to four hundred Stacks about his mother and his relationship with her. “It was so suffocating how I felt about myself, and as a result, everything else was fake. Once I allowed myself to feel anger, rage, pain, and joy – at myself – I could then be honest with other people.” QUESTION Describe your experience in the Pit. Parable #5: The Beach The second day of Warrior Week was David’s favorite day. In the Pit, he felt like God was talking to him, but it was on the beach where David had a back and forth conversation with him. A lot of what he was told is now coming pass, although, at the time, it didn’t make sense to him. One of the most significant messages he received from God was, “Why are you fighting the fucking waves? Let me take you. Trust my process. You trust Warrior, so trust the divine process. Just let go. Let go and let the waves carry you.” QUESTION Are you listening to God? What is he telling you? “Parables from the Pit“ “I want you to consider that what this is, is an opportunity for you to ask yourself, “What the fuck are you hearing? What do you need to hear today to guide you toward an action that you have been called to do?” —Sam Falsafi “Authenticity is currency no matter what you do for a living.” –Dr. David Fedor

Parable #1: “Who the Fuck Coaches You?” As a student and leader inside of many transformational trainings throughout his life, Demian had always been a seeker of growth and improvement at a fundamental level. However, once he found himself smack dab in the middle of the “trifecta of insanity,” aka a married businessman with children, it became apparent that what had been working was no longer working for him. Through the conversations, arguments, and collisions with his wife, it became clear to Demian that something needed to change and shift. Having been instrumental in the breakthroughs of hundreds if not thousands of others, one day, his wife asked him, “You coach everybody else, but who the fuck coaches you?”  QUESTION How do you open yourself up to coaching when you are the one usually doing the coaching? Parable #2: Rise & Remember When the conversation of Warrior entered Demian’s world, he had been dabbling in some old patterns and behaviors that weren’t at all serving him. On top of that, things were fizzling out sexually inside of his three-year marriage.  About this time, a video on Facebook caught Demian’s attention showing men in extreme conditions who were being called to “rise and remember that you are a king.” Over sushi one evening, he shared this with his wife – an intuitive – who blurted out, “That's it! Sign up right now!” What Demian experienced in the next 45 minutes was a foreshadowing of the wild, life-altering adventure yet to come. QUESTION Describe your intro to Warrior. Parable #3: Buried Alive It was during one of the evolutions at Warrior Week 49 that Demian came face to face with one of his greatest fears. After being blasted with water while reciting Invictus, Demian was immediately taken to a plot of ground where he was instructed to dig his own grave. His greatest fear? That of being buried alive. And yet, that is exactly what happened next as dirt began covering him, and men started piling on top of him, all the while a muzzled German Shepherd began barking ferociously in his face. At that moment, in order to survive, Demian disconnected from the chaos and panic. What happened next proved what would be a pivotal moment for him. QUESTION What is one of your greatest fears? Parable #4: That One Time in India… During his travels to India ten years ago, Coach Sam had a very unusual and memorable experience. As he sat on a park bench one morning, he suddenly heard all of this laughter and set out to find out where it was coming from. Imagine his surprise when he discovered a group of people being led in a laughter meditation! After joining in the contagious laughter, Sam asked the guru a question that had been burning inside of him for a while. The guru answered Sam’s question by sharing an unforgettable story. QUESTION What burning question do yoi have inside of you? Parable #5: Discover the Gift In 2011, Demian’s movie, “Discover the Gift,” screened at the Sundance Film Festival. During the Q&A that followed, Demian heard a loud noise followed by someone suddenly standing up and abruptly leaving the room. A few minutes later, as Demian stood outside the theater, a large, tall man wearing an intense expression on his face came barreling towards him. Demian instinctively raised his hands to protect himself. But as the man drew closer, he noticed tears running down the stranger’s cheeks as he asked Demian, “What did you do to me?” QUESTION How did you feel when you heard Demian recall this story? Parables from the Pit“ “You truly don’t know another man if you don’t know his pain.” —Sam Falsafi “…as your father, I will always love you. As your king, I command you to rise! Rise..and rise again!” –Demian Lichtenstein   warriorweeknow.com

Parable #1: The “Dream Life” Illusion At the time Daniel was first introduced to the conversation of Warrior, he had what most would consider a dream life. He had the beautiful home overlooking the pacific ocean, a successful law firm, not a lot of debt, a vacation home in Cabo, a wonderful wife & kids…he seemingly had it all. But he had reached the boredom stage and was starting to go crazy. And underneath the surface, he had some health and relationship issues and knew he had to make a shift. Enter Garrett’s infamous video in Vegas that completely resonated with Daniel. QUESTION What is the message that spoke to you when you were first introduced to Wake Up Warrior? Parable #2: Feelings Daniel grew up on the opposite spectrum of financial wealth. He was raised by a single dad who worked all the time, and as a result, Daniel took on the mentality of “go to work, do what I say, leave me alone, and let me drink when I want.” He had a fear of losing everything he built and knew how quickly it could all disappear. But the last thing he wanted to do was talk about it because it was like ripping off a scab, and he didn’t want to feel that pain. So he spent a lot of energy and time focusing on everything BUT that. QUESTION How do you feel about expressing your feelings and facing your fears? Parable #3: Fuck Date Night The first six months following Warrior Week, Date Night between Daniel and his wife, was anything but romantic. She had a “fuck you” attitude about it, but they continued to go, week after week, oftentimes dining or watching movies in complete silence. Over time, his wife began to trust the change she saw in Daniel, and Date Night became something she looked forward to. What Daniel never foresaw, however, was the feedback and response from others wanting to know their “secret” and asking for marital advice, which placed an unexpected expectation around Date Night and his wife. QUESTION What are you doing to keep Date Nights fresh, consistent, and sustainable, especially during this lockdown season? Parable #4:  Facts vs. Law As a lawyer, there are two ways Daniel presents arguments: 1- the facts and 2- the law. When it comes to the facts, you can’t argue them; facts are facts. The law, however, is gray and can be manipulated. Through Warrior, Daniel has learned to frame the conversation through the lens of certainty and spends more time wanting to focus on the facts than on the law. “When you have the facts on your side, it doesn’t matter what the law says.” QUESTION What has been one of the most significant shifts in your life since your Warrior journey began? Parable #5: Certainty & Value Your energy precedes you; therefore, if you are certain or uncertain, it is obvious the moment you step into a room. As such, Daniel trains his lawyers to over-prepare through role-playing every conceivable worst-case scenario his clients may face. The conversation of value goes hand-in-hand with the conversation of certainty. What are you willing to walk away from or stand up for because of the value you place in it? Do you place that value in yourself? At the end of the day, you must have certainty in your value; otherwise, you will be exposed. QUESTION What is one thing you can do today to demonstrate more certainty in your value? Parables from the Pit “We are sacrificing time that we can never get back for a fucking story that may or may not happen in the future.” —Sam Falsafi “You are not broken. You have to tell the truth, especially to yourself. Get clear about what you really want and what is important enough for you to let everything else go.” –Daniel Hitzke

Brian Holloway, Coach Sam’s guest in this episode of Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit, was a self-proclaimed quitter for years. A break up with his first wife led to disconnection, guilt and shame, and a ruined relationship with his daughter. We discover how his commitment to living the Warrior’s Way and developing this one superpower changed everything for him. Parable #1: Intro to Warrior Brian’s first introduction to Warrior was the infamous Vegas video. At the time, Brian was struggling and didn’t know what direction his life should take, and everything Garrett was saying rang true for him. Shortly thereafter, Brian found himself in a conversation with Coach Sam, where he was able to fully open up and express himself while feeling absolutely zero judgment from him. Although Warrior Week was placed on the back burner for a time, Coach Sam shared relevant information that Brian could implement into his life immediately, which left a lasting impression. QUESTION What about Warrior’s message rang true for you the first time you heard it? Parable #2: WARRIOR X Three months later, Brian was immersed inside the wild two day Warrior X event, the most intense physical version of Warrior that was nonstop, unpredictable, included very little sleep and it was almost as if time was folded in half. “It was an ass-whooping experience spiritually, mentally, and physically. From the moment we showed up, I knew we were in for a ride! For me, the experience brought out exactly what I needed in order to refocus and shift.” QUESTION What impact do experiential events have on your life that a classroom-type setting doesn’t begin to have? Parable #3: DSYSYWGD Immediately following Warrior X, Brian enrolled in the 90-day one-on-one program with Coach Sam called, “Do the Shit You Said You Were Going to Do.” It was all about continuing to do the work and being held accountable for keeping your word. Brian recalls the time when he and his wife were driving in his truck during a call with Coach Sam. In an unexpected move, Brian was instructed to jump out of the truck and do pushups on the side of the road as a consequence of being unprepared for the call. QUESTION How do you hold yourself accountable for the things you say you’re going to do? Parable #4: The Shifts Brian had three significant shifts with the relationships that meant the most to him – his wife, his son, and his daughter. He had reached a point in his life where his patterns and routines were preventing him from connecting meaningfully with them. He began making a conscious and intentional effort to share, listen, pay attention, ask questions, pay attention, and be fully engaged with them rather than giving up and quitting, which was his previous pattern. Eventually, his relationships were healed. QUESTION What do you know you must do for healing to take place in one of your key relationships? Parable #5: Don’t Ever Quit One of the most powerful things Warrior has taught Brian – and something he considers to be his superpower – is that he just doesn’t quit. Having spent ten years of his life quitting, he embraced this new way of being, which has empowered him to lead his family and business. His advice? “Invest in yourself, and you will gain confidence, then teach what you learn, and don’t ever quit. The thing about obstacles… you can get around them.” QUESTION What is one of the most important things living the Warrior’s Way has taught you? Parables from the Pit “Children and wives are the backbone of our workforce.” —Sam Falsafi “The work I did then, created the environment we have now.” –Brian Holloway

Coach Sam’s guest in this special episode of Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit is elite tattoo artist, Jasen Workman, who has created masterpieces for Coach Sam, Garrett, and many of the Warrior brothers. We find out how he was introduced to the conversation of Warrior, what caused him to take a healing journey of over 600 miles, and how an “out of the blue” phone call led Jasen to make a decision that changed the trajectory of not only his life but also the lives of hundreds of men. Parable #1: The Healing Journey While building a million-dollar company and team, at the young age of 34, Jasen’s body began to shut down from the incessant hustle and grind. After discovering a brain tumor, doctors suggested surgery, but Jasen was unwilling to take chances with potential consequences. Much to the chagrin of medical experts and family members, and after being told he would eventually go blind and ultimately die if he did nothing, Jasen took matters into his own hands and decided to go on a spiritual journey of healing. Most thought he was absolutely crazy, but Jasen felt called to go on a 635-mile healing walk from San Francisco to Portland within 32 days. QUESTION What have you been called to do in your life that didn’t make sense to anyone but you? What were the results? Parable #2: The Great Escape During his month-long walk, Jasen met many people, mostly businessmen who were trying to escape the hustle of their every day lives to gain clarity and to reinvent themselves.  It was in isolation where Jasen gained clarity for his life through journaling and by asking himself questions. He wanted real connection and authenticity with his family, both of which were lacking on his part, and that his kids “just needed their fucking dad.” QUESTION How are you showing up for your kids? Parable #3: More Than Art Jasen and Coach Sam describe the tattoo experience as two old souls meeting and coming together. It’s a pivotal life-changing moment in time, a transformational experience. “It’s an experience where I get to share a slice of life with another human being …where they have a piece of me on their body. There’s an energetic exchange, a footprint.” QUESTION What message or story does the art on your body describe? Parable #4: The Phone Call It was December 2018. Jasen was in the airport waiting to board his flight to Florida when he received an urgent call from Warrior headquarters. A series of events had transpired, causing Jasen to become disconnected from Warrior for a time, so this call was totally unexpected. What transpired next was like witnessing a slow-motion scene in an epic Hollywood movie where one is kept on the edge of their seat until the very last possible second. QUESTION Describe a turning point in your life that came out of left-field. Parable #5: The Hand of God As Jasen sat in the audience of WC3 with over nine hundred other brothers, he suddenly heard Coach Sam call out his name. Only moments before, he had a premonition he would be called to the stage. Although he had healed in many ways, Jasen felt that his heart hadn’t fully healed. Coach Sam recalls, “I was sitting there holding your heart, you turned the candle on, and I asked everyone to come forward. Nine hundred guys got up from their chairs, kneeled down, and all of their hands were on your heart. It was like a giant tree of arms with the healing coming through those 900 brothers and dads.” QUESTION What lasting impact has this experience had on your life? Parables from the Pit ” We both had pain, and in the midst of it we had this pure joy and connection. We laughed, we cried, we listened to music, we were eating… we were kids again.” —Sam Falsafi “Sam is a fucking healer. He takes men into a place they never thought they could be.” –Jasen Workman

Dr. Todd Wendell is Coach Sam’s special guest in this eye-opening, compelling, and fascinating episode of Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit. Their conversation resonates at a high frequency and invites you to step up and connect in ways you may have never before considered. Parable #1: What’s Your Blueprint? The conversation of Warrior entered Todd’s realm when the conditions of his life could easily be described as “good.” Always one seeking more growth and information, Todd consumed the entire audio of WarriorBook during his six-hour drive to a hunt in Utah and afterward found himself in a pivotal conversation with Coach Sam. “Based on society’s standards, things are “good” for you. But is good going to be good enough in the future? What assurance do you have that as each of you change over the next several months, especially your children, that what you’re doing is going to be good enough? What is your blueprint? What’s your strategy?” QUESTION How does society’s definition of “good” show up in your life? Parable #2: Connection With God Todd entered Warrior Week 55 with a spiritual disconnect. He knew there was a God, and he believed in him, but he had spent years leaning on man for that connection. It was during that week that Todd was able to shed long-held beliefs and stories and begin to have a personal connection for himself with God, which was a significant turning point for him. QUESTION How has your connection with God opened up and improved? Parable #3: Healer’s Hand   Up until Warrior Week 53, Coach Sam saw the mechanical aspect of chiropractic but remained uneducated about the deeper scope and meaning of it, and became a slave to his stories. We tend to dismiss and make up stories about that which we do not understand. After suffering for over nine months with an injury, Coach Sam turned to Chiropractic, which ultimately shifted his beliefs through his personal experience. “It is biological and spiritual. That is where the alignment happens with the universe, which is this bigger connection.” QUESTION How do you feel about it? Have you had a personal experience? Parable #4: Remove Resistance The nervous system is a reaction to the environment we surround ourselves with. If we can remove some of these interferences, and improve and tighten that awareness, the body starts to thrive and resonate at a higher frequency. “What creates resistance inside of our bodies? Drama, trauma, psychological, and physical issues which are ofttimes a manifestation of our emotions. As we begin removing those blocks of resistance built up inside of us, the electrical currency has the ability to circulate at full capacity.” QUESTION As you look within yourself, what do you believe is holding you back and impeding your circulation capacity? Parable #5: Awareness In our modern era, the man who is aware is a man who sees life through the blended lens of science, spirituality, and his own philosophies. He is a man who exercises confidence and certainty as he leads his wife and children. Listening to the voice inside of you as you raise and lead your children is crucial in our day and age, especially when others are quick to tell you what to do. Remember, your children were given to you…not them. Trust your intuition. QUESTION What has been your experience with choosing the blended lens of beliefs? Parables from the Pit “I’d rather my kids get lack of sleep than lack of me. And…I’d rather spend a fucking hour with my son than read a book about raising sons.” —Sam Falsafi “Lose the shame and guilt, and step up to connection. It’s all around you. Stop sedating it, stop running away from it…step into it.” –Dr. Todd Wendell “Our bodies are nothing more than a television receptor for a frequency that’s beyond us.” —Bruce Lipton .

Coach Sam’s guest in this episode of Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit is Jeff Oldroyd, graduate of Warrior Week 55, the week it never stopped raining! What did Jeff realize that first night in the Pit? What does he treasure most in this world? How does he show up for his kids and the kids in their small community? What simple but important message do Coach Sam and Jeff have for the fathers listening to this podcast? Parable #1: Precursor to Warrior About ten years prior to finding Warrior, Jeff created a symbol and statement of his life based upon a book his friend had written. “By having a balance between my belief in God, my family, my business, and my active, adventurous lifestyle, I will achieve my life’s goals and dreams.” When Warrior came into his life, Jeff was already heavily into the habit of Core 4 (Body, Balance, Being, and Business), but now had the tools to not only back it up but to also take it to the next level. [mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size[mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size="24" bg_color="#dd3333" txt_color="#ffffff"]QUESTION[/mks_pullquote] What were the conditions of your life when Warrior was introduced to you? Parable #2: The Pit Upon entering Warrior Week, Jeff had no clue why he was there, but he was committed to submitting to the process. During that first night in the Pit, what opened up for him was the love he had for his family. One of the most significant moments for Jeff was the introduction of the Dark and Light Warrior and the amount of power and love that he felt when they were both joined together. [mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size[mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size="24" bg_color="#dd3333" txt_color="#ffffff"]QUESTION[/mks_pullquote] What has been your experience with the Dark and Light Warrior? Parable #3: A Voice to Be Heard Pre Warrior, Jeff’s life was pretty much on an even keel. His relationship with his wife was more functional than passionate, and he had reached the point where he was sick of mediocrity. Post-Warrior, Jeff has opened up more with his children and has been able to have deeper conversations with them. As dads in today's world, you have to have massive amounts of influence and persuasion over your children, as there's an over-abundance of information available to them that will over-ride your voice if it’s not clear and cannot be heard by them. [mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size[mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size="24" bg_color="#dd3333" txt_color="#ffffff"]QUESTION[/mks_pullquote] How have your conversations with your children changed since taking on the Warrior lifestyle? Parable #4: The Land of Yes or No Once you label yourself as a Warrior inside this game of life you become someone who has been awakened, and there comes an understanding of and subscription to what Warrior is, which is found in the land of yes or no, but never in the land of maybe which leave things unresolved. “What is Wake Up Warrior? We wake up, and then we live in the land of yes or no. If I tell you I’m going to be there tomorrow by eight, I will be there by eight.” Ultimately, that is how you must operate with your children; otherwise, you leave things unresolved." [mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size[mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size="24" bg_color="#dd3333" txt_color="#ffffff"]QUESTION[/mks_pullquote] What can you do to strengthen your resolve to live in the land of yes or no more often?   Parable #5: Be Present As a martial arts instructor, Jeff teaches many kids whose dads aren’t around. As a result, he and his boys have become their role models, causing Jeff to wonder why dads aren't stepping up to take care of their kids. Both Jeff and Coach Sam advise fathers "to just show up and be present. That’s it. Just be there and let it happen. Put your phone down and be consumed by your child and the energy of their environment. Don’t delegate it to your wife, the nanny, or the big brother." [mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size[mks_pullquote align="left" width="300" size="24" bg_color="#dd3333" txt_color="#ffffff"]QUESTION[/mks_pullquote] How do you show up for your children? What is one thing you can do to improve that? Parables from the Pit "Believing is not enough. You can have a story that you believe, but if you don’t act on those beliefs, you’re a fucking liar." --Sam Falsafi "I didn’t realize how much I had to tear down in order to build myself back up." --Jeff Oldroyd   www.warriorweeknow.com

Joey Gindi is Coach Sam’s special guest in this episode of Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit. What did he discover in his Pit? What was a pivotal point for him at Warrior Week? What does this mean, Comfort vs. Combat? How do we help our children face and triumph in their modern-world battles? Parable #1: Is This All There Is? Joey’s initial introduction to Warrior came through his physical trainer, who had found Warrior and had developed his own version of it. Eventually, Joey and his father attended WC3, where they both signed up for a Warrior Week interview with Coach Sam. At the time, Joey felt like he was searching for something outside of himself to give purpose to his life. He felt trapped, almost as if he were living someone else’s life. On the surface, all looked good and was working, but on the inside, there was a nagging question, “Is this all there is?” QUESTION Where in your world does evertything appear to be “good” on the outside, but in reality is far from it? Parable #2: The Pit Inside the Pit on that first night at Warrior Week, Joey couldn’t get angry or pissed off. He was going through the motions trying to find his Pit but felt out of place. He came to the realization that he had been coasting through life without any emotions. “I had blocked myself from feeling sadness and hurt, which stopped me from feeling joy.” QUESTION How do you relate to Joey? Parable #3: Pivotal Point On the beach during the Hand of God evolution, Joey finally got that God was with him. “In that moment, I felt that all I searched for, I had been searching in the wrong fucking places.” Throughout his life, Joey felt that the answers he was seeking were found outside of himself, when, in the end, he discovered they are all found within him. “I am no longer searching for a shiny object outside of myself.” QUESTION Describe a pivotal point has changed the trajectory of your life. Parable #4: Comfort vs Combat For years, men have been compliant inside this game of comfort. But the piece that has been forgotten among many modern men is combat. Combat is conflict; being able to collide for what you want, not physically but by telling the truth and not lying; by being honest about everything about your life. It’s the ability to go and create conflicts and handle them not so that you create problems, but so that you get what you want. QUESTION What domain do you find yourself avoiding collision?   Parable #5: Judgement null As Coach Sam began telling the truth, he found himself casting judgment on others and holding them to his newfound standard. As he started mastering the art and science of telling the truth, he accepted that he was going to be among people who may not be the same wavelength and that it wasn’t his job to identify the liars. QUESTION Where do you find yourself casting judgement and holding others accountable to your own standards? Parables from the Pit “I am not abandoning; I am upgrading. I am fighting for progress to get out of this comfort zone, and I am willing to accept the mission to the unknown” —Sam Falsafi “We get to teach our kids to believe in themselves and be their own fuckin gurus.” –Joey GindI

John Blackburn, graduate of Warrior Week 52, joins Coach Sam in today’s episode of Warrior Week: Parables From the Pit. We learn about the very special person who loved John unconditionally, why that person was so important to him, and how he continues honoring their relationship inside of his life and business today. Parable #1: No More Secrets John was introduced to Warrior via one of his best friends who had been through Warrior Week himself and dubbed it as one of the most emotionally and physically difficult experiences of his life. The first thirty days into the build-up of Warrior Week was one of the most interesting, eye-opening, and liberating experiences for John. He was ultimately thrown into a pod with 16 other men where they shared their deepest, darkest secrets with coaches calling them out on their shit for not being completely truthful and honest. QUESTION Why are men uncomfortable telling the truth? Parable #2: Anchors The first night in the Pit was very emotional for John as he carried his sandbag filled with guilt, shame, and fear, dragging it along like an anchor. The weight he had been carrying was the guilt and shame around his marriage, his father, and his mother.  The heaviest pain he was carrying was the loss of his mother, who was John’s best friend. “She was in my corner all my life. I watched her suffer for ten years, as she wanted to be alive to watch me get married and have kids. I was her reason to live.” QUESTION What anchors are you carrying that are weighing you down?   Parable #3: Going to War For Your Wife Warrior Week was a game-changer for John. Not only did he find his power, but it was also a place to step up, shed the weight of guilt and shame, and get clear. One of the biggest shifts for John was the realization that he wanted to be married to his wife for the rest of his life. “I have 100% gone to war for this woman and have left it all on the field. It feels fucking fantastic not to hold anything back.” QUESTION What evidence do you have in your life that shows you have actually gone to war for your wife? Parable #4: Light on Earth John’s mother showed up in an unconditional manner day in and day out, no matter what he did or what was going on. “I always knew there was nothing I could do that would take her love and support away from me and what I was doing.” “Reflecting on the moments together, I can’t remember a time in our interaction when there wasn’t love present. She always had an open heart, and her ability to give and share love in any situation was her light on this earth.” QUESTION How does it feel to be around people who spread light wherever they go?   Parable #5: Unconditional Love Pam, John’s mother, delivered joy inside of her heart despite the horrible complexity of her situation. She was able to cultivate joy inside of John’s heart during her ten-year illness. The biggest git he received from her was that of unconditional love. The lessons John gleaned from his mother have immensely affected how he shows up in his marriage, particularly around unconditional love, where saying yes to your spouse means that no conditions are placed on the love that you give and show them. QUESTION What conditions do you place on your loved ones? How can you begin letting go of those conditions? Parables from the Pit “It’s a one-way deposit.” —Sam Falsafi “You married this person for who they are, not for who they are going to become in the future.” –John Blackburn