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Imagine running 850 miles across Texas—through the heat, the wind, and the endless highways. That's exactly what Matt Johnson is doing right now. In today’s episode, we sit down with Matt before he embarks on this monumental journey to uncover the deep "why" behind his challenge. We dive into the mental, physical, and spiritual preparation it takes to tackle a feat of this scale, and how Matt’s faith has been a guiding force through it all. This isn't just a story of endurance—it's about the power of belief, resilience, and the incredible things that happen when you align your body, mind, and spirit.
We also dig into Matt’s remarkable comeback from injury and how he's preparing his body and mind for the 850-mile trek. His philosophy on life, running, and the role faith plays in pushing past limits is something we can all learn from. If you're curious about how faith can fuel a calling, this conversation is one you can't miss.
What we cover:
- Faith's role in Matt’s journey and growth.
- Matt’s philosophies to life and running.
- Coming back from injury and preparing for the 850-mile run across Texas.
- The mental and physical grind of challenging yourself and how it builds resilience.
- Using faith to navigate adversity, especially in high-pressure endurance events.
Matt Johnson is an ultra-endurance athlete and entrepreneur, driven by faith and a relentless desire to push his limits. From running 30-mile races to preparing for 850 miles across Texas, Matt shares how his physical pursuits tie into his deeper spiritual journey and what it means to stay grounded while chasing bigger goals.
Timestamps:
(00:02) Ultra Marathon Challenges and Triumphs
(08:50) The Rollercoaster of Endurance Racing
(15:12) Proving Oneself Through Endurance Challenges
(18:02) Clarifying the Motivation for Endurance Challenge
(21:21) Managing Pressure in Endurance Challenges
(24:36) Staying Grounded Amidst Success
(29:13) Building Future Wealth With Success
(33:41) Understanding Faith Amidst Uncertainty
(43:04) God's Guidance Through Endurance Challenges
(49:59) Excitement for Future Endeavors
*** LINKS***
Check out our Newsletter - Food for Thought - to dramatically improve your health this year!
Join The Meat Mafia community Telegram group for daily conversations to keep up with what’s happening between episodes of the show.
Matt Johnson is an ultra-endurance athlete and entrepreneur, driven by faith and a relentless desire to push his limits. From running 30-mile races to preparing for 850 miles across Texas, Matt shares how his physical pursuits tie into his deeper spiritual journey and what it means to stay grounded while chasing bigger goals.
Timestamps:
(00:02) Ultra Marathon Challenges and Triumphs
(08:50) The Rollercoaster of Endurance Racing
(15:12) Proving Oneself Through Endurance Challenges
(18:02) Clarifying the Motivation for Endurance Challenge
(21:21) Managing Pressure in Endurance Challenges
(24:36) Staying Grounded Amidst Success
(29:13) Building Future Wealth With Success
(33:41) Understanding Faith Amidst Uncertainty
(43:04) God's Guidance Through Endurance Challenges
(49:59) Excitement for Future Endeavors
*** LINKS***
Check out our Newsletter - Food for Thought - to dramatically improve your health this year!
Join The Meat Mafia community Telegram group for daily conversations to keep up with what’s happening between episodes of the show.
Connect with Matt:
RunAcrossTexas Website
Valorfit.org (to donate)
Connect with Meat Mafia:
Instagram - Meat Mafia
Twitter - Meat Mafia
YouTube - Meat Mafia
Connect with Noble Protein:
Website - Noble Protein
Twitter - Noble Protein
Instagram - Noble Protein
AFFILIATES
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Creators & Guests
What is The Meat Mafia Podcast?
The Meat Mafia Podcast is hosted by @MeatMafiaBrett and @MeatMafiaHarry.
We're two guys who walked away from the typical path to carve out something different. Based in Austin, we’re on a mission to figure out what it takes to live a fulfilled life in a world that often pushes us away from meaning.
We have conversations with people we believe can help us, diving deep into the pillars of health, wealth, and faith, as the cornerstones of our mission.
Whether it's challenging the modern food system, questioning conventional health advice, or building something from the ground up, we're here to explore the tough questions and share the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
If you're tired of the noise and ready to find meaning, tune in and join us!
369 - Matt Johnson
===
[00:00:00] Should we tell the story quick before we get into it about you? Yes. For the audience. Yeah. For the American flag. Ultra. Yes. You didn't do anything for the American flag. So this is for my benefit. So this is great. So I turned 30, June 28th.
Every year Matt does an ultra marathon with the American flag. Matt's girlfriend, Amanda grew up going to the Jersey shore, not far from where I'm from. So we were like, Hey, let's combine. You want to do 30 miles. I want to do the American flag. Ultra. Let's do an ultra marathon together. The kicker is that I quit nicotine two weeks before that race.
And I was so overheated and miserable that I was like, I told Dan, I was like, I need, I need a couple of citruses right now. So I chameleon licked a couple of them as sustenance to get me through. But the worst part was, is that like, he was trying to hold off. Like I was like, come on brother, just do one.
And he's like, no, I can't, I can't, I can't. We're like 18 miles deep and like, Dana's on her way. Like, like she's on her way to like crew us with Amanda and I'm like, just do one, bro. She won't even know. She won't [00:01:00] even know. And then like she gets there and he just spilled the beans. He's like, I really needed some nicotine.
And I just, you know, I just need it right now. I'm gonna throw it in. And it's like, okay. Like, all right. Well, to be fair, I couldn't even see at that point. Yeah. Yeah. You know, brother, leave me, leave me, leave me. All right. So. We get to mile, so we did, where do we start? Wildwood? No, we ran down to Wildwood. We ran to Wildwood and that was That was 15.
And then, and then we turned around and like, that was on the head on the way back. So we did 30. So 30 miles there. I think the horse flies, the horse flies took your soul. Yeah. Like, like, like, so we were in Avalon, New Jersey, really, really nice part of the Jersey shore. Like you think it's bone flat. July 4th, Ocean's there, Matt's got the American flag, we got a police escort, all these people came out to support him.
I'm like, oh, this is gonna be like a walk in the park. What we didn't forecast, David Goggins girl, uh, fiancee, Kish, she's from Avalon. So he talks about in his second book, [00:02:00] the horse flies that come after you. So we hit mile 15, I'm matching his fueling strategy, which is nothing but two cans of Coke for 30 miles and Zins.
At that point I was like 205, so I was cooked. And so we hit mile 18. We hit mile It's just like a huge, like, just mental battle. Yeah. Yeah, dude. Dude, he was fried when he showed up because he had, he had like, there was like a wedding before the night before, the night before that he was up like doing receipts for Noble and I pulled it all nighter doing customer service tickets.
Tell him, tell Harry and the listener about the horse flies and then when Kane showed up and yeah. Yeah. So we're at, we're at 17, you know, like we're making our way back and he's kind of like, he's kind of like, I'm like, like, like just to be, just to be blunt there, like, you know, and this is at like 15 and I'm like, Oh boy, like this is going to be a long 15 miles.
So we get back and we hit, we hit 20 and at 20 you hit like the lowest point, like we're already at like zero, right? Like sea level, but you hit this like lower point. Where you're in like this, like almost like Florida [00:03:00] marsh, right? And next thing, you know, like i'm like ow and I like hit my neck and as I look over His back is just covered in these black things.
Yes, and i'm like Something's on your back. So then next thing, you know, he's like slapping himself I have the american flag and i'm like Whacking it around like trying to get these bugs I mean it was probably a good like we had to speed up like I mean we didn't like sprint out of there Like we had to speed up.
It was probably a good It was a good 30 seconds of like absolute chaos of just getting like, imagine, imagine a bee sting literally as you were described. I've been bitten by those things. Yeah, I like felt like I was getting bit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And there was, I mean, honestly, there was probably eight, eight to 10 of them on his back and it was right at that low point.
They just like chose like suck. Yeah. And the funny thing was, is, you know, fast forward, like we get done in the police officer that we were talking to were like, Yeah, you know these horse eyes like yeah down in the marsh. He's like, yeah, I forgot to tell you guys about that I'm like, I'm like, oh, it's like this is like a normal [00:04:00] thing Like like don't run there because you will get eaten alive
Horseflies
---
and then we hit mile 18 And this guy Kane shows up who lives at the Jersey Shore.
He's like six five mutant training for a hundred miler Matt has followed Matt for like a year. Big BPN guy. So he, he meets us a mile 18. He hadn't run a mile yet. So he's like whistling Dixie. Biggest thing is during an ultra marathon, like you need to meet your runner at the intensity that they give you.
And Brett had zero, he had nothing left. And I had you know, I was just like I was matching Brett like i'm like i'm like fuck it Like we're just we're just gonna just we're gonna just take this bad boy in like somehow we're gonna get there You were smoking and smoking and and kane shows up and he's like, yeah
And and like within a mile like like brett looks at me and he's like I hate this guy I hate this guy. I can't stand this guy And it was just this like evil like mantra just took over his body Sometimes you need an evil Yeah, it's like over [00:05:00] when Leach told us, dude, we were doing a, we were doing a, the Habanero 100 that we didn't train for.
Like we, we'd just finished the marathon, like 26 miles. And one of our buddies who was crewing us was like, yo, do you guys mind like picking up the pace? And we were like, we were both just like, dude, you're screaming.
Kane
---
But then it was like, it was like, once we got to like, we got to Wawa at mile 26, literally 26.
2 right at the marathon point. Like we had. We had 3. 8 miles to go and like, like I, like I had to give a, I had to give like a, like, like a super bowl halftime, like, like, like pep talk here. Like, I'm like, Oh, Hey buddy, like we got 3. 8 miles to go. Like you're the greatest thing that's ever happened. And he's like, yeah, yeah, I am.
I am. He's like, I can do this. It's like, yeah, yeah. And I was like, it was like, we ain't walking, are we? And he's like, hell no, we ain't walking. They got me like a quarter mile before I started walking. He's right back in the shit.
SB halftime pep talk
---
Was this before or after you shotgun the Red Bull? This was this was right after.
But but the funny thing is, like, I went into [00:06:00] Wawa. Like, I, I, I truly wish that this was like dark, like, because the, the video camera, the camera followed me into Wawa, but I wish it just stayed out there with Brett. Because we get there and he's like, dude, he's like, just give me some ice and a blue Powerade.
He's like, I'll be alright. I'm like, okay. So we walk in, and I come out, and this dude is, Hanging over the ledge, like, like, head on the ledge, and Dana, his girlfriend, is just rubbing his back. Like, like, you're okay, little buddy. You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay. And, like, it was just, like, I come out, it was just, it was chaos, too, because then, like, Amanda, who's, like, my girlfriend, the sweetest thing in the entire world, some lady, like, as we're in there, cause Wawa's packed, it's the Fourth of July, and some lady, like, we were filming, and some lady's like, Wow.
How embarrassing is this? And Amanda, who I've never even heard ever like be upset or raise her voice is like screaming at this lady in Wawa telling her like, they're running for veterans and you are being mean. [00:07:00] And like, and this is going on and I'm trying to like, I'm just trying to get out and I know that Brett's having a, you know, a stroke outside and like, there's just, there's just so much going on.
Yeah. And in my head, like. You know, in relativity, I'm like, like, this is so much for just 30 miles. Yeah. I'm like, there's like, we went through the, we went to war, like we were, we were in it. Well, what you said was you, I think you said to Amanda, you were like this, cause 30 for you is really, that's the equivalent of my a hundred mile race.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. When, when, when Brett showed up, I told Amanda, I said, I said, this is Brett's, like, this is his ultra, like, this is his hundred. Yeah. And, and I, I knew going into that, that like, he wanted it so bad. And especially for like the 30th birthday, it was like, you know, no matter what, like I knew we were going to go through it.
And it was just like, like, it was my job, you know, my, like I ran less than a third of what, like my typical races. Right. So like if your typical race is a marathon, you know, to, to compare that, like, that was like running. Eight miles. [00:08:00] Yeah. And so I was like, no matter what, like, we just gotta, we just gotta get Brett over the finish line.
Yeah. And dude, whether you know it or not, too, I feel like that was a turning point for you, just having, you know, gotten across that finish line was probably such a confidence builder. That was like a Oh, go ahead. Yeah, well, we sat, we sat in the beach house afterwards, just us, because the girls had to like, they had to go take care of like, logistics.
Like, there was some like, logistical issues that were, this car was left here, and they had to pick this other car up here in Kane. Ran all the way back with us and it was like, I need a ride back. And like, Kane's a legend. And yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, a hundred percent. And he had to ride, you know, get a ride back.
It's like, we're sitting there and you told me, like, I don't think, like, I don't think I'll ever forget this. Cause it was like one of those moments where like, like we have a lot of serious talks, but like, like just your body language and the way that you said it, I was like, it almost kind of like blew my mind where like we made it to like 24 and you, and you were straight up, like, like you were upset at me.
Like you were like, you're like, you're like, [00:09:00] leave me. Like, you're like, like I, you go, I will walk it in. And, and I'm like, no, absolutely not. And then when we were sitting there, I was like, it was like where we started together, we're going to finish together. That was a conversation we had at like 24 and then we're sitting there and you're like, I was, I was going to quit.
And like, you were so serious. Like you were like, you're like, I was going to quit. And you're like, I can't even sit here on this couch and imagine right now if I would have done that. And for me, like, that's just, there's, there's so much in that. In life like in life and in business and I mean because you go through that every ultra But like how many people out there quit and they never get to feel what you felt sitting there in the beach house that day Where you're like, I can't imagine Like, like, like, if I would have quit, you wouldn't have, like, yeah, it was only 30 miles, but, like, what you felt afterwards, like, you did that for your birthday, you just turned 30, like, what you felt, you would have never felt that, ever, in that moment.
And now we look back at that video, and we're like, dude, we gotta watch this forever. Like, we watch it, we talk [00:10:00] about it all the time. We, we, we watch snippets of it all the time, like, we have that documented forever. Yeah. Hearing I talk about that a lot about just the price to pay to create priceless memories like that.
And I think it seemed like I was frustrated at you, but it really was frustration at myself because I think what I realized was like our brand through meat mafia noble, like it was built off the back of the iron man of doing the Habanero a hundred these endurance races. And I realized that the last year I had almost become like a theorist where I thought I knew all this mental framework, but I hadn't put myself in the lab in such a long time.
And that was a moment. Remembering what you go through mentally and also like your commitment of like, no dude, I could, you could obviously have just gone, gone ahead and ran, but you wanted to do that and create that experience, which meant so much to me.
Documented/in the lab
---
Yeah. I mean, it's very like, it's cool to see, like, you know, you go through these waves in, I mean, in life in general, like in, you know, we, we relate it to racing because that's what, you know, I do, cause that's what I do, but like you go through these [00:11:00] waves and, and life is a roller coaster and you have to learn how to.
Not jump off when it sucks and and and that's the biggest thing is you know Especially seeing you know, like I remember that the day that we ran together I don't know why this is the it was probably one of the first times when I when I got the mount to coast shoes Yes I was showing them to you and I remember like us running and like we ran like four miles and your heart rate was like 190 You remember we were talking about.
Maybe too honey though. Yeah, I mean I was gonna give you, I was gonna give you a couple beats down but. Dude, why are you breathing so heavy? I'm like. She was doing great. But seeing that and then like seeing you go through, you know, you went through the, you know, you ran and then you didn't want to run and you ran and then, you know, we were gonna do, you know, do the mile a day and then, you know, as well as the business and then into the 30 miler and then now into doing trips challenge and then also seeing you go through.
And for so many days, like, like, like just watching that is watching that. It's you're, you're watching the [00:12:00] roller coaster and it's cool to see you guys cause you're at such a high point right now, both of you. And you know, I mean, it's just, it's cool to see, like, I'm riding that high point as well, where you're always kind of like, okay, like, you know, when, when's the roller coaster going to just come on down and you have to find that next high point.
But yeah, life's, you know, it's the roller coaster and you have to ride it. How do you, how do you think about, you know, yourself right now versus you just learning, just getting into the running space. Like, do you think about any moment in time when those, like, you think about those first miles that you ever ran where you're like, I'm gonna actually start taking this more seriously because, like, I can think back to some early miles that I ran and they feel like, you know, as hard as Like, any miles, you know?
Yeah, like, I don't really Because, like, when I, when I joined the military, like, our PT test was like, you know we had to always be able to run, like, 2 miles in, you know, 16 minutes. Like, I remember going to basic training at, at 18 and I [00:13:00] failed my very first PT test. You had to run 2 miles in a 16 36 which is like a, do quick math there an 8, an 8 Ish per mile and I failed I didn't I could not run two miles in 1836 And I think about that.
Um but then like, you know, there's a lot of Like gray area there, you know, but I I remember getting into running and for me It was like it wasn't really the challenge, but I felt like early on in those years like I was masking Like I felt like I I for some reason I had to prove to myself To everyone like my I'd approve myself to everyone and I don't know why I had to do that But like I remember running the first time I ever ran eight miles And I texted my grandfather and he was like and I was just like I ran eight miles and he's like that is like So cool You know, I mean, but like, uh, I know early on, like, I always, I always felt like I had something to prove.
And then, as I slowly [00:14:00] started building the Instagram while I was still in the military, it was always like, I had to like, you know, that's why I kind of, you know, uh, years, which is great. Like I was blessed to have, you know, good years of racing. But like, I would just race back to back to back because I always felt like, you know, I finished fourth in the BPN marathon and then I met Natasha and Natasha's like, you should do an iron man.
And I was like, yeah, like I'm going to do the iron man. And And then, you know, I did really good at the iron man and it was like, okay, like, you know, now I should do another iron man right away and I should fill my schedule. And then it was like, Oh, like Leadville reached out, like you should do Leadville.
And I was like, Oh my gosh, like I need to go to, yes, I do. Like I'll go do Leadville and I should had no business being there and I didn't finish the race. And like, it was just, you know, so much of, of trying to prove myself. And I feel like even the, like the growth as a man, like I feel like that's a good thing to go through where like, you know, you don't have to prove yourself, but You know, that is a very good thing to go through to be able to grow as a man and you know, as a human being in general.
And you can take that. And I mean, that's [00:15:00] in so many different aspects as well. Like business, relationships, life, like you always feel like you have something to prove and it's, and to other people and it's not, you can try to get like, not caught up in that.
Good thing to go through (back of in the lab)
---
Totally. Yeah. With you saying that, I think it could be easy to look at your social media profile and be like, Oh man, it must be incredible to have what he's having.
And I think the way Harry and I perceive you is that the amazing success that you've had the last year really since we knew you because when I met you, I think you had 30, 000 followers now you're well, you know, almost a 300, 000. I think your success is directly in proportion to the amount of risk and skin in the game that you have.
And
M2 - race across texas, why, faith
---
I think the ultimate example of your skin in the game. is a run across Texas, 850 miles, 35 miles a day over two weeks, literally running from West Coast all the way through the state. How did that come to be? And I'd love to just tell the listeners about that. Yeah. Um, just another like shitty idea,
Shitty idea
---
uh, you know, that, that's how it came to be.
Um, I went to Squatch. Like, like, I still [00:16:00] remember the exact spot that I was at. Like, I was at Squatch, and I don't know what happened. Like, I don't know, like, that's, I always tell that story, like, because I found David Goggins, and that's how I got into running, and I'm like, I don't even remember how I stumbled upon the book, right?
But, like, for me, like, I don't remember, but I do remember sitting in my, and I posted this yesterday on my story, you probably saw it, the text to Bobby Dautrick. Yes. And I was sitting in my truck, and it just, it popped in my head, and I texted Bobby, and then I immediately texted Drew Darby, who was, who's probably, he's one of my best friends here in Austin, and I was like, I want to run across Texas, and in that moment, I didn't think that anyone had done it.
And that was kind of, you know, intriguing to me and I texted bobby and bobby was like you're a nightmare But hell yeah, and then drew was like dude, that sounds cool. It's been done and i'm like shit You know, so that's how like that's how it came. You know, it was really just it popped in my head and you know Over the last year because it wasn't, you know a year ago yesterday.
It's been what 366 days now Um, you know so much more has come of it So much more so much more clarity about why the [00:17:00] idea came to my head why You know, it's gonna happen. Um, but yeah, it was just it was a simple idea That was once again, just acted upon immediately. I love to act on things and then and then figure it out later I'm, very much like like a shoot first and we'll ask questions later, which is good and bad at the same time Yeah, what uh, what's come to you for clarity in terms of just like why?
You want to go after something like this Yeah, so The why has changed I actually talked about this on a podcast yesterday. The why has changed so many times. I feel like your why In life can just change by the day, right? It'll probably change while you're on the road 100 yeah, because the question I got was like why and i'm like you should ask me when i'm done and you know, so The why originally, you know was because I was like, I want to push myself and then the why turned into You You know, well, if I'm going to do something like this, then, you know, how can I use my platform to boost it?
And then it was like, okay, now that I have this platform, how can I use this [00:18:00] platform for good while I do it? And then, you know, it also turned into, you know, something that I think in, in my entire, you know, especially in the last like four months leading up where like I have built, My faith through this run and through things that have happened and you know trial and error that like I have never in my life been closer to God than I am now and I believe that I like I fully have An open door access to, to God through my faith.
Like, I've never felt closer and, you know, more confident through all of these trials and errors than I ever have in my entire life. But I think, you know, this is, yeah, this is how it came, but the why is just, is so unclear. Hmm. What is the level of pressure? that you feel right now, because at the time of recording this we're about three weeks out.
So I think by the time this is released, you'll either have just started the race, maybe a little bit before a little bit after, [00:19:00] but by the time the listeners is viewing this, you'll probably be in the midst of the race. What is the pressure like three weeks out? Or do you not perceive that as pressure?
No, I don't. I don't feel I don't feel any pressure and and this is something that like I have I spoke on before and and And this is a no bullshit answer Like like I never hit the start line and I like when I i'm never nervous like I never I never question Because I always know Whatever is meant to be is meant to be.
And, and for some reason I can, you know, a lot of people can't grasp that. And, and for me, like, like I, I know I can, I feel like we, it really took a lot of pressure off by, you know, not trying to set the record and, you know, the fastest time across Texas is, is 18 days. You know, originally I wanted, I just originally set the mileage at 50 a day and that turned into being 17 days, but it's never been about that.
Like, like I, and, and here's the thing, it can't be about that because I'm not running the route that was ran, you know, like, [00:20:00] like, like I can't, I can't take that record because our mileage is actually less and he ran to the Louisiana border. We're running to Galveston, so I wanted it to make, you know, by by taking pressure off myself, I made it my own.
And you know, no one's ever came through Austin during the four or five people have done it. No one's ever came through Austin. It's been through Waco or San Antonio and no one's went to Galveston. And so I feel like, you know, I did as much as I could to remove that type of pressure. You know, I think about Paul Johnson last year, who was raising money for RWB this year in the spring, and it was all about the record.
And, you know, it was like, I need to, I'm going to set the record for the fastest time across the United States. And I feel like that just adds so much pressure that, um, you know, I love the saying that if you don't have expectations, you can't be, you'll, you won't ever be disappointed. So if you don't have expectations, you're not going to have any disappointment.
And my expectation, the only expectation I have is that we're going, we're going to, we're going to move across Texas and whether that takes, you know, [00:21:00] 17 days at 50 miles a day or whether that takes 30 days at 28 miles a day, we're, we're, we're going to move across Texas. One of the things I love about your content is that you always have fun.
Like it's this per, I was telling this to Ned before we hit the podcast, hit record that you somehow blend together inspiration, but then also just like, you know, having fun and entertaining people. And I feel like bringing that into something as crazy as running across the state of Texas is really huge because if you put too much pressure on yourself, like.
You're going to be on mile 400 and just be like, like your own mental pressure will just break you. Whereas like, if you're just enjoying the ride, like you'll get there. Yeah. Like, and that's a big thing. Um, you know, that, that, what you said about the Instagram and the platform is, you know, it's very, that came from Matt Choi.
And I had a conversation last September and it was like, you know, in order to be good on social media, you have to learn how [00:22:00] to tell a story. And for me, it was like, I think all of these creators and, you know, influencers and people with followings, They just doubled down on like, you know, what got me here.
Right. Which is, which is great, but it's like, you see, it's just repetitive. It's the same thing over and over and over and over and over. And for me, like, even in this lead up to the run across Texas is like, you know, I've been doing these countdowns, like a hundred days out, 50 days out, 30 days out, but in between all these videos, like I'm, I'm still doing the, the crazy shit that I'm doing and, you know, my, my behind the seven 11 talks and, you ads here and there and.
All that type of stuff. But like, I don't want to, you know, I want to use this platform to be able to, like, I want people to see that, you know, you can, you can be an elite level athlete and still be a normal person. You can still throw a Zin in, you can still have a glass of whiskey, you can still smoke a cigar, [00:23:00] smoke a cigarette.
Like, you know, I mean, It's just, I feel like everyone gets so complicated and, and, you know, into fitness that like, they lose the fact of like the, you, this is your life. Like, like you can still enjoy things in life. And if you don't enjoy any of the things I said, that's perfectly fine too. But like, you know, I'm still going to show the things that I enjoy.
I'm not going to hide it.
Whiskey, zin, enjoy things
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Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting. We're like. The mileage and the endurance pursuits that you tackle are in some ways maybe like unapproachable to the average person, but who you are as a person is extremely approachable. Like I feel like you just don't take yourself too seriously at all and you're also very unfiltered.
So I think people really, I think people feel like they actually know you and the way you are off camera is exactly how you are on camera too. And it's very rare to meet people like that. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Like I was talking with a friend the other day that like he was talking about YouTube and he's like, yeah, man, like when the camera turns on, he's like, I'm a completely different person.
And like, I understood what he was saying, but [00:24:00] also at the same time, I was like, you know, it kind of hit me where I'm like, uh, that's not like, that's not the same then, you know, like, and yeah, I mean, for me, it's like, you know, I'm just showing like the, like, I'm just a Midwest boy. Who, you know, I hit gravel roads at 16 and we were stealing beers out of, you know, our neighbor's garage fridge.
And, you know, that I'm just doing the thing and, and I'm not going to change who I am in that entire process. And, you know, I'm still going to show people, like I said, like, like that they can do it, but you can also do it and just be a normal fricking person.
Cont...
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Do you, uh, do you want to have kids? I envision your kids being able to watch this experience.
As being a really cool motivator for you, just being able to kind of show them like this challenge that you're going after, but you're like documenting the whole thing. So they're going to be able to see like their dad. [00:25:00] In this moment, like you're, you're really hitting, you know, hitting your stride with in a lot of ways, but going after this challenge and showing like your character through it all.
And just the man that you have become and are becoming just being on full display, I think is a really cool frame for you as you kind of enter this period, like, and your kids are gonna be able to watch this video. It's going to be a really cool moment for you. Yeah. That's something, you know, that we've talked about is like, this will live on for a very long time.
And especially like keying the term run across Texas. All of these people that have seen this once are now like every time they hear run across Texas, they're going to think about what we're going to do or what we have done, you know, once that it's passed. And yeah, I think it's very cool. Like, you know, there's YouTube videos up from, you know, 20 years ago and, you know, in that aspect of, you know, My, my children being able to watch this and, and see, you know, being able to understand like where I came from and where I'm at now, where I'm going to [00:26:00] be then.
And like all the things I did in between is just like, it can be a butterfly effect of just, you know, I mean, not just my children, but like, you know, there's like everyone in my family is seeing this, you know, and seeing like what, you know, what we're about to do and, and just gonna, you know, it's going to change so many lives, not just through valor fit, but, you know, through.
through people watching it as well.
M3 - staying grounded
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One of the things that I've noticed about you too, is like your, your personal brand has grown so much the last year that I find that sometimes when people grow so quickly, there's almost like an identity gap to where their identity struggles to catch up to the level of success.
And it changes a lot of people, but I feel like you do a really genuine job staying grounded. And I'm just curious, like, do you do anything on a daily basis? You mentioned your relationship with a girl. What do you do to continue to stay grounded and not take yourself too seriously or like let all that attention get to your head?
Yeah, you know, it's,[00:27:00]
I feel like, you know, for me, it's, it's not really been, you know, transparency, like it's not really been about the attention. It's always been about the money. And, you know, cause, you know, I mean, I went from, you know, like I grew up with a single mom and like we were just, we were, we were so broke. Like, you know, You know, my mom would buy a 99 cent thing of macaroni and like watch me eat it Yeah, and so for me like and that is that is so true and for me now it's like for some reason, you know, i'm i'm making very very good money and it's just like You know now it's like okay I almost feel like like I like I it makes me stay the same because I think I have this scarcity mindset I have it and I need to make sure that I don't lose it.
And you know, like, like I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't go out. Like I don't, I don't, I don't go blow money. Like if we're going to do it, if we're gonna spend money on anything, like we're going to go travel, you know, like, so for me, it's just, it's like, I'm, you know, trying to live in this [00:28:00] mindset of, of just, you know, remembering where I came from and at the same time, you know, thinking about, okay, if I'm smart now.
And this success continues, then, you know, I can set myself up for later. I feel like right now, like I'm really toned back because it's like, how can I, you know, I'm not gonna be able to run forever, you know, maybe 20 years, maybe, right. That would be sick, but at some point it's going to stop. And, you know, at some point I'm not going to want to do content anymore.
And, you know, so it's just, it's kind of being that, I don't, I don't know if the word scarcity, but like being in that mindset of like, If I grind right now and just stay, you know, stay true to who I am right now, then, you know, later on is, you know, when I can reap the benefits. Yeah. Does that make sense? Is that a good answer to that?
Yeah. I feel like you're, um, like you recognize the momentum that you have and you realize that with this momentum, like you can build businesses and set yourself up in the future so you can just take care of your family, whether it's your kids, Amanda, your mom, et [00:29:00] cetera. Like you're already like thinking five steps down the road, which is really cool.
Yeah, absolutely. And that's like, You know, being put in this situation to where like, you know, like my brother just, my little brother just moved to Austin and like being able to like hire him through my, you know, through my LLC and putting him on payroll to like come out and drive the truck, you know, to film us or, you know, come out to the run across Texas.
So he's a private chef. So we're going to have him come out during the run across Texas and he's going to cook. Like that's going to be his job is to cook everyone food like have lunch for everybody have dinner for everybody and like, you know at the same time like being able to help my mom when I can with you know things that she needs and You know, so it's it's you know having that um Having that, you know Just keeping the servant's heart and you know and understanding that like I am the one that I'm the one that is blessed to be in this situation Um, and you know and and remembering and taking care of those who are there with me Um And we didn't have shit.
It makes me think about [00:30:00] just how, you know, God really wants our gifts to be multiplied and you not being selfish with just the things that are coming into your life and getting your brother to drive the truck and, you know, having other people being able to benefit from the success that is coming to your life is only going to breed more of those benefits.
Is there anything, or more of those blessings, are there any stories that you envision being able to tell more? Like, whether it's like from your past or just things that you kind of think about on a day to day basis that you want to tell throughout the run? Or you just think those will just kind of come to you as you're out there?
Like, like stories I'm just thinking like, you know, if there's You know, anything that like sits on your heart on a regular basis that you're like, you know, this is something that I, you know, like a Goggins like moment where it's like, you know, stay hard or just things that are, are important to you that you want to like see on the other side of this documentary on the other side of you finishing this run.
Yeah. You know, I want, I want people to know, you know, I [00:31:00] want people to know that, that,
You know like this isn't like when you think about 850 miles like you're like like that's that's how is that possible? It's literally a flight. Right? Like, yeah, you know God, I want people to see God in this and and and and that's and and that is so true like you know I I spent you know I was baptized I came back from basic training and and got baptized.
And immediately, like, kind of just walked away from God. For ten years. And, you know, I mean, I have cross tattoos, and like, I've always carried, you know, Christianity with me, but for me, it was like, you know, especially, you know, this winter, um, you know, getting back into church, going back to Red Rock, going to Red Rocks, and, you know, diving into the Word, and then, you know, really, you know, reading about things, and, and, you know, you know, For me, it's like, it's showing [00:32:00] people, you know, if you're like, wow, like how, how do you do that?
That's crazy. Like, I don't think that's possible. It's kind of telling people like what you're about to see is not of me, but of God. And, you know, there's been a lot of hiccups in this process that have, you know, happened in the training and, you know, a lot of things that have tried to make this not happen and it's still continuing to happen.
And so for me, you know, I think it's truly just, I just want to spread God's word while we run. And, and the fact of, you know, what we're doing is, is like my entire life has changed because I am truly, I'm convinced my entire life has changed because of God and because I've allowed God back in my life.
And I feel such a calling that like during this run, it's just, Telling people that are showing people that are showing people that like, you know, yes, I trained for this But this this [00:33:00] feat is not just of me, but you know of a higher power as well Mm hmm I mean the evolution of the run across Texas Texas itself is really cool because it started off you kind of getting hit with this Inspiration at Squatch being like I want to do it to push myself then it was oh I really want to raise money for veterans through valor fit But really the culmination of this whole thing is to spread awareness around God and Christ and what he's done in your life You Yeah, so, yeah.
M4 - Injury & God
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When's this come out? During the run across Texas? We can, we can batch it out. Yeah, so, three weeks ago, I'm out running. Actually, let's go a year ago. A year ago, I fractured my left leg in three spots. And, three weeks ago, randomly, um, as I'm out running, Like it was, it was a random Wednesday and went out running and everything was good.
I woke up on Thursday and I stepped out of bed. I [00:34:00] put pressure on the left leg and I was like, something's wrong. I was like, something is very wrong, completely out of nowhere and woke up on Friday, took, took Thursday off, woke up on Friday and went to run my normal 10 mile route, five out, five back. And I had to cut it and, and move back to the house.
Only ran five miles and it took me like an hour and ten minutes to go five miles. I was like, something is completely wrong with my leg. Um, so that Friday, was it that Friday? You came over, right? Randomly. Cause Nick was here. We came over and we were talking about it and it was like, It was to the point where we're like, Okay, we, like, we need to, we need to go find out what's gonna happen.
And, so, Nick, Amanda, Brett, and myself all literally just sat in my living room and prayed to God that like everything was gonna be okay and that the leg was fine and, and, and life is good. And no one, no one knows this. And I mean, I [00:35:00] know you don't even know it because we've kept this really on the down low.
And, um, Saturday went by, woke up Saturday and my leg was still messed up, Sunday still messed up. So I'm online and I, long story short, I find a place in Dallas, 800 for a 90 minute turnaround MRI. So Amanda and I wake up at 5am, we drive to Dallas on Monday morning, we get an MRI. And we turn around and come back, and within an hour I get an email.
And in both spots, so I had, I had a fracture in the top of the tibia and the bottom of the tibia. In both of those spots, there was not a fracture, which we prayed that there was not a fracture. There was not a fracture, but there was, um, bone edema, which is swelling and, um, bruising of the bone. Um, as well as fluid on my ankle and, uh, Achilles tendonitis that they were saying that they were seeing.
And I started making phone calls, one after another after another to this PT and that PT and this [00:36:00] PT that's an ultra runner and this ortho that has done 100 milers and, and it was like, you need to take six months off. You need to take six weeks off. You need to put it in a boot. You need to not run for, for three months.
Like it was all of this. And so I sat in that and I'm like, fuck, you know, like, like what now? And over two weeks, over two weeks, it was like, I'm like, okay, like I'm not going to run. And, um, and we prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed that it was okay. Like just speaking things over myself that like, I am healed.
And met with the pastor of Red Rocks and sat with him for almost three hours and told him my entire story and and you know what was going on and we prayed with him and Uh, it's been three weeks and we're good to go and I I I mean they [00:37:00] I had my um, uh a lady that does a lot of my body work came over and She said that she was doing research on it because pemf can help Can help with bone, um, which is this pulse electromagnetic therapy and Even she said to me she's like, how are you feeling?
She's like when I was doing my research I read that it takes five months to heal and I'm like, I'm doing great. Yeah, I was like, I am doing so good So for me, it's being able to Guys, remember when
Conor McGregor broke his ankle and still went out won the title fight It's me being able to go and do this and, and, and, you know, I'm being set up to be able to tell this story of everyone said that it wasn't gonna be able to happen and it's gonna happen. You know, like, like, like, like that is a, I I believe that that is a straight set up from God to, to help spread the word of what he can do.[00:38:00]
Mm. And you know, I didn't want to, like, I didn't wanna come out with it. Like, I, I didn't wanna just, I didn't wanna just come out and just be like, Hey everyone, I'm hurt. Like Brett and I had this conversation so many times about, you know, like. Like, I took two weeks off and my Strava said zero and my first run back, like, people were commenting on it, like, oh my gosh, like, I thought you were hurt, like, I thought something was wrong.
People have way too much access to you at this point. And you know, so for me, it's, you know, like I said, like earlier, it was trials and tribulations. And you know, it was getting through these things and everything that has been happening this entire time. And I talked to Ethan about this, the pastor up at Red Rocks.
Is I'm like everything that has been happening. I like I see God in it and I'm like, I can't like I'm like make it go away You know and he and and then and that's what he you know, he was like, this is what happens He's like, you know when you are being called
Banger
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to share a message He's like it will almost just eat you alive if you you know So then like that caused me [00:39:00] to change my prayers from what I want to what do you want?
What do you want me to do? And what, what do you want me to say? What do you want me to show people? What do you, what are your plans for me? And, you know, and that has really, like, There was a three week period there where I lost all my confidence like where I was like, oh no Like I'm doing math. I'm like, okay, if I run this many miles, that's gonna be 35 days You know try it like or like trying to figure out like, you know We were talking about pushing it back.
Like do we push it back and you know all of this and then yeah Here we are. That was a long story short. It's a great story Were there any prayers that you heard or any words that you heard during that three week period of just that uncertainty? Yeah Yeah, so, and I can't even tell you the Bible verse, and I don't even know where I got it.
I think I told, I told you about this, and it was, For I know the plans I have for you. And, That was what, [00:40:00] like, that kept coming to me over and over and over again. And, even to where, like, I went to Ethan at Red Rocks and I'm like, I'm like, I think God's, like, giving me a vision and I'm like, and I'm not one that's, like, I ain't no prophet, I'm not, like, I'm trying to talk this down, right?
Like, I'm like, I'm like, tell me it's not true. Like, it's not me, right? I'm like, me? You know, why me?
Banger, god vision.
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And, like, I'm trying, like, to, to tell this pastor to tell me that I am wrong. And he wouldn't do anything but say, You might be right. And, you know, so that, that's been, you know, it's been a huge thing where, like, even I told Brett, like, you know, we're going to raise all this money for ValorFit, but maybe it's not really about ValorFit.
Maybe it's just really spreading the word of God to everyone that joins along the way. That MRI story is really important, too, because you had first fractured your leg a year ago. One year. One year ago. Yeah, one year ago. You know exactly how it feels for your leg to be fractured. And when we, when I was with you that weekend, you [00:41:00] were like, I'm a hundred percent sure this is it's back.
So then you get the MRI, the fracture is not there. There's some swelling, way better outlook than what you'd hoped for. After you'd, we had prayed over it, you had prayed over it. I feel like that's God saying, give me everything and I will take care of you for this race. Watch what I can do. I said, I think I said to Amanda and Ethan as well, Is I was like, I, I am a hundred, like, I know God does not hurt people, but I feel like Jesus might kick you in the shin.
And then like that, that is, you know, that's kind of where it was because I was going down this path of like, I remember a year ago where I was, you know, I promised myself when this happened, because this happened because I was overdoing it. I was doing too much, but I didn't do anything wrong during this training, let me say that.
Like, like, I followed the plan to a T, and, and I didn't, I didn't overdo anything, I, I didn't do anything wrong, it just, it just happened. And [00:42:00] You know, but at the same time I had a whole bunch of friends that were like, dude, like you look like shit, you know, I mean because I mean, yeah, I probably do look like shit.
I'm running 150 miles a week. Like it hurts You know, but like at the same time like I remember, you know, as soon as I stopped running for about four days I I host a men's call on monday nights where we just chat and um, we got off the call and one of my buddies, uh, Uh, jimmy wise. Yep. He texted me and he has no idea what's going on And he texted me and he's like, you finally look like you again.
Mm. Mm. And that was almost like, to me, like, that was almost God speaking through him to me, saying like, You're finally, you're finally you again. Mm. Now that you've slowed down, you're finally you again. Mm. Because this running was putting so much, like, I was barely, like, you and I talk every day, I was barely even talking to you, I wasn't, like, I went two days without talking to Amanda, my girlfriend, who, she was out in Avalon, Like, I wasn't talking to her, like, I, you know, just shit was going wrong.
Shutting [00:43:00] down. And, yeah, like, like, it, like, I was just, you know, there was too much going on. And, yeah, it was just kind of like a, hey, hold up, like, you know, you know, like, there was a, a Bible verse that, and I can't, I can't even, I can't even tell you where it was, and I'm probably not going to quote it right, but I opened the Bible.
I think I might have sent it to you, but I asked Ethan, because I, I'm like, once again, I was trying to, like, you know, disprove everything that's going on, and I'm like, hey, like. If I read this, like, I know I'm reading it out of context, out of the Bible, but I feel like it's literally directly speaking to me, like, I randomly opened the Bible and I saw it, and I don't want to say it was God, but is it God?
Because I don't want to say it is, because then I'm going to feel bad because I'm saying that it's God and it's not, and he's like, he's like, you know, hold up. And it was a verse, and it was, it was somebody writing a letter to the church, and I don't remember the exact verse, but it was something, uh, along the lines of like, um, I'm sorry that I hurt you, but It was in the plan to bring you closer to me.
[00:44:00] And I read that on like day four of this. And I was like, Whoa, you know, like, and there's just, there's so much, there's just, there's so much more behind this. And that's why, like, I can't, you know, we're going to run 850 miles across Texas. We're going to raise thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars for a veteran's charity.
We're going to change so many people's lives in that process.
850 miles banger
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But at the same time, you know, it, to me, in the furthering the kingdom and, you know, doing the, like, showing people that, like, you don't need to be this picture perfect Christian. You don't need to be this picture perfect Christian to, to, to spread the Word of God or to tell people about God.
Like, you don't, you know, I feel like so many people are pushed away from Christianity because of, like, the way that people act towards them. And, you know, you need to live like this, and you need to do this, this, this, and this. Like, yeah, okay, I get it to an extent, but, you know, for me, it's people putting their eyes on me and seeing this.
And being [00:45:00] like, Oh, like, like, you know, he's like that, but he's a Christian as well. You know, and that was something that I had a conversation with Ethan about too. Like, I'm like, dog, I'm like, if you go and you look at my Instagram as a pastor, I'm like, I probably wouldn't sit here and just show it to you.
Yeah. You know, like I told him that straight on. Like, yeah, like I was like, I was like, I was like, honestly, I'd probably be a little ashamed of like things that I'm, you know, showing you on my Instagram. And you know, and, and then, and he can't, you know, try, I was trying to get this man. To tell me that like, yeah, you're right, you are messed up, you know, like, and he wouldn't do it.
And, and like, and he was like, you know, Jesus sat with sinners, Jesus ate with tax collectors, you know, like, like, maybe, you know, maybe this is just him using you to bring more people that wouldn't do it on their own. Yes. Or are scared to do it. To show that like, you don't need to be the picture perfect person.
And so I'm like, okay, so you're telling me I can still rip Ziggy's and bring people to God. I got it. I got it.
Banger God 3
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And he's like, no, he's like, [00:46:00] no, what I'm saying. But you know, so, you know, for me, yeah, yeah. It's just, yeah, like there's just, there's so much, there's so much going on. There's so much man. And that's why we love doing what we do is, um, you're never going to get this context in a 32nd Instagram clip.
Just hearing these long form conversations, everything that got on behind the scene. This is going to be part one and we're going to release a part two after we finish the run across Texas. And we're coming up on time in the studio. And you're going to be there. I will be there. I haven't told anyone that.
I will be there. I'll be crewing you. Yeah. He's going to be there the whole entire time. I've got to figure out logistics for this. New York City, but we'll work around that. Poor guy. I'm going to, I'm going to have to come in. No, we got it. Yeah, absolutely. Where can people follow along for the challenge?
Yeah. So number one thing I want to push is runacrosstexas. org. Um, you know, you can find out everything. You can track us. You can donate. Um, you know, you can find all the bios for the crew. You can see all of the brands that are involved. There's brands that have, that have put thousands of dollars towards this to make sure that it can happen for veterans.
So, you know, the brands that you see that are supporting [00:47:00] us, please support them. Um, and then, you know, if you want to follow along live. Um, that's going to be on my Instagram at Matt Johnson with two underscores. Um, you know, starting on October 1st, we're going to, you know, we're going to be flipping reels every day and stories and, you know, all of that.
But, you know, number one place I want to push everybody is, is runacrosstexas. org. You can read about ValorFit there. Um, you know, their mission is to put veterans into the fitness space. The fitness space is what changed my life. So that's why we want to raise money for them. Um, and, you know, Yeah, there's a long form hour long long form youtube video of the entire thing gonna launch in q1 next year.
Um, Can't wait for that gonna probably do like a private private viewing here in austin at the draft house down there in mueller but um, yeah, i'm hyped to hype to get this thing, uh, Dude, well it's going to be an exciting ride and, uh, just pumped [00:48:00] for you. We'll be, uh, watching along. It's going to be amazing.
Absolutely. I appreciate it. Appreciate you, bro. Thanks for the friendship. Thanks for doing what you do. And, uh, it's just going to be an amazing chapter, dude. A lot of good stuff to come. Let's rip it. Brudda!
So good.