DiscoverThe Eternal Optimist“Excuses Don’t Burn Calories”: A Veteran’s Journey From Darkness to Discipline with Brian Conwell
“Excuses Don’t Burn Calories”: A Veteran’s Journey From Darkness to Discipline with Brian Conwell

“Excuses Don’t Burn Calories”: A Veteran’s Journey From Darkness to Discipline with Brian Conwell

Update: 2025-05-06
Share

Description

Matt sits down with Brian “Big Country” Cornwell—a decorated veteran, para-athlete, and father of six—who shares his journey from the military to battling depression and PTSD to becoming a national champion in adaptive sports. Brian opens up about how youth coaching, nutrition, and purpose-driven work at Veterans Battle Grounds helped him reclaim his life and mission. This episode will leave you inspired to turn your struggles into strength.

Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 - Welcome to a Story of Grit and Gold
  • 00:01:01 - Introducing Brian ‘Big Country’ Conwell
  • 00:01:18 - Trading a D1 Scholarship for the Front Lines
  • 00:03:12 - Crushed, Broken, and Determined to Rise
  • 00:06:50 - Ownership: The Moment Everything Changed
  • 00:10:52 - Rebuilding Through Adaptive Sports and Healing
  • 00:14:04 - The Birth of Veterans Battle Grounds
  • 00:25:33 - Final Reflections and Rapid-Fire Wisdom

Links And Resources:


Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Comments 
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

“Excuses Don’t Burn Calories”: A Veteran’s Journey From Darkness to Discipline with Brian Conwell

“Excuses Don’t Burn Calories”: A Veteran’s Journey From Darkness to Discipline with Brian Conwell

Matt Drinkhahn