EP 242: The Army Ranger Who Never Takes Life Too Seriously - Mat Best
Winning at life by approaching everything with a laugh
Mat Best is a former U.S. Army Ranger who was deployed five times to Iraq & Afghanistan. Mat created his first YouTube video in 2012, and now his social media presence has accumulated to more than 3 million subscribers with hundreds of millions of views. Mat is the co-founder of three successful businesses: Black Rifle Coffee, Leadslingers Whiskey, and Article 15 Clothing. He co-produced the independent feature film Range 15, and last week hit the NYTimes bestseller list with his new book, Thank You For My Service.
Here's what we discuss in this week's show:
The Mojo Radio Show - © Gary Bertwistle & Darren Robertson
Products or companies we discuss are not paid endorsements. They are not sponsored by, nor do we have any professional or affiliate relationship of any kind with any of the companies or products highlighted in the show.... sadly! It’s just stuff we like, think is cool and maybe of interest to you our listeners.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967
Mat Best is a former U.S. Army Ranger who was deployed five times to Iraq & Afghanistan. Mat created his first YouTube video in 2012, and now his social media presence has accumulated to more than 3 million subscribers with hundreds of millions of views. Mat is the co-founder of three successful businesses: Black Rifle Coffee, Leadslingers Whiskey, and Article 15 Clothing. He co-produced the independent feature film Range 15, and last week hit the NYTimes bestseller list with his new book, Thank You For My Service.
Here's what we discuss in this week's show:
- When people ask Mat what he does, how does he like to reply?
- What did Mat learn about himself by writing the book?
- Ryan Munsey said he always asks himself, "what is the author trying to say?" What was Mat trying to say?
- For who is the book written?
- Does Mat remember first thinking he would use humour to not take life too seriously?
- How did Mat feel inside when he heard his brother had cancer?
- What’s Gallows Humour?
- In a fire fight when the action is over, the adrenaline dump takes hold of you. How did Mat deal with that adrenaline dump?
- Mat was obsessed with the act of war. What was that addiction?
- Did the experience of war ever sit deep in his soul waiting to come to the surface?
- The moment when two buddies were severely injured, and Matt comes to understand true brotherhood. Has Mat found that same feeling outside of the military?
- At Arlington Cemetery Mat, buried Brem and Baraza. What values does he take from the memory of these two heroes?
- Is Mat the sort of guy who has a vision of what he wants to do next?
- With his light-hearted approach to situations, life, and leadership roles, where is the sweet spot?
- With Mat’s carefree black humour approach to life, did he ever find he had a hard time taking orders or respecting command?
- Does boredom fuel his creativity… video, movies, coffee, merchandise design, books?
- What is Mat’s work ethic like today? Focus, discipline, planning?
- From the age of 17 to 23, Mat was a Ranger, that was his identity. What's his identity today?
- The mission behind BRCC?
- Can we create true camaraderie in our companies that give us the same camaraderie Mat had in the military?
- How has he embedded the mission through every level of the company?
- Many people misrepresent what military culture is all about. What is it about?
- Mat is fourth-generation military; did he feel any pressure with that legacy?
- If Mat had another go after leaving the military, how would he approach it? How would he course correct?
- Black Hawk Down, what was it about that film, a scene, a moment that resonated for Mat?
The Mojo Radio Show - © Gary Bertwistle & Darren Robertson
Products or companies we discuss are not paid endorsements. They are not sponsored by, nor do we have any professional or affiliate relationship of any kind with any of the companies or products highlighted in the show.... sadly! It’s just stuff we like, think is cool and maybe of interest to you our listeners.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
RESOURCES
Websites/Links
Mat Best at Black Rifle Coffee Company
https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/pages/mat-best-1
Mat on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/mat_best_official/?hl=en
Mat’s book "Thank You for My Service”.
www.thankyouformyservice.com
Mat on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCre2GibO9Vdb3C59VzDsFxQ
The Mojo Radio Show on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/themojoradioshowpodcast
The Mojo Radio Show
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https://twitter.com/tmrspod
The Mojo Radio Show
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The Mojo Radio Show - © Gary Bertwistle & Darren Robertson
Subscribe to ©The Mojo Radio Show by email below...
Mat Best at Black Rifle Coffee Company
https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/pages/mat-best-1
Mat on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/mat_best_official/?hl=en
Mat’s book "Thank You for My Service”.
www.thankyouformyservice.com
Mat on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCre2GibO9Vdb3C59VzDsFxQ
The Mojo Radio Show on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/themojoradioshowpodcast
The Mojo Radio Show
http://www.themojoradioshow.com
The Mojo Radio Show on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheMojoRadioShowPodcast/
The Mojo Radio Show on Twitter
https://twitter.com/tmrspod
The Mojo Radio Show
http://www.themojoradioshow.com
The Mojo Radio Show Answering Machine
08 7200 6656
08 7200 MOJO
The Mojo Radio Show - © Gary Bertwistle & Darren Robertson
Subscribe to ©The Mojo Radio Show by email below...