377 Losing Your Dream and Overcoming Depression with Noah Galloway

"No one ever said life was easy." - Noah Galloway If you enjoyed this episode, check out show notes, video, and more at http://lewishowes.com/377 Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy! Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Speaker 00

  Episode number 377 with Noah Galloway.

• 0:07Speaker 00

  Welcome to the School of Greatness. My name is Lewis Howes, a former pro athlete turned lifestyle entrepreneur. And each week, we bring you an inspiring person or message to help you discover how to unlock your inner greatness. Thanks for spending some time with me today. Now let the class begin.

• 0:33Speaker 00

  Yes, yes, yes. Welcome to another edition, and a powerful one, with the inspiring Noah Galloway. For those who don't know who Noah is, guys, he is an inspiration to so many people around the world. He's a former United States Army soldier, a model and motivational speaker. He was injured during the Iraq War, losing his left arm above the elbow and his left leg above the knee. He was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, Season 20, where he finished in third place. He led his team to victory in the first season of American Grit on Fox, and he is the author of the new book, Living with No Excuses: The Remarkable Rebirth of an American Soldier. And we went in deep today. I love this guy. I love when

• 1:17Speaker 00

  I get to just connect with another bro who has got an athlete background and lived a great life and grew up in a great, you know, experience and had a dream and then lost the dream, right? This is an experience that is similar to my heart, where I grew up with a dream and then I lost it when I got injured playing football. And I kind of lost my identity. And Noah wanted to be in the Army, and he lost his identity after he got injured and went through a depression for many years. And we talked about really how to get out of that depression and some of the challenges that happen when you're connected to family members and friends who are going through some type of depression, what you could do and how you can support people in that process. We also talked about Noah's definition of

• 2:02Speaker 00

  masculinity and how it's changed since being a soldier and what it was when he was a soldier.

• 2:10Lewis Howes?

  Very interesting, the two different definitions. Also, what was more depressing to Noah than losing his limbs? Why it's scarier to get severely injured than to face death for Noah? Why Noah wouldn't go back to prevent his injuries if he could? Which I thought was an interesting answer. And how women can help men move through any type of depression. Powerful, real, raw interview today. So make sure to prepare yourselves for some greatness. And without further ado, let's get into the show and let me introduce to you the one, the only Noah Galloway.

• 2:50Lewis Howes?

  Welcome everyone back to the School of Greatness Podcast. Noah Galloway in the house. Good to see you, man.

• 2:55Speaker 02

  Thank you. Thanks for having me.

• 2:56Lewis Howes?

  Thanks for coming, brother. I appreciate it. You are one of the most inspiring guys in the world that I think. And I remember watching you back at Dancing with the Stars, season 14, is that right?

• 3:05Speaker 02

  Season 20.

• 3:05Lewis Howes?

  Season 20. What am I thinking?

• 3:06Speaker 02

  Season 20, yeah, they go fast.

• 3:08Lewis Howes?

  It seems like crazy, yeah. Season 20, why did I say 14? It's season 20. You were one of the contestants and you made it to top three.

• 3:15Speaker 02

  Yeah, I came in third.

• 3:16Lewis Howes?

  Came in third and...

• 3:18Speaker 02

  I came in third. That's a missing arm and a leg. And I don't know how to dance.

• 3:22Lewis Howes?

  No arm, no leg, and you don't know how to dance.

• 3:23Speaker 02

  No.

• 3:24Lewis Howes?

  But you made it third and there was a shot in your book where of you dancing that you said is one of the most viewed videos on YouTube.

• 3:32Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 3:32Lewis Howes?

  I'll just show it really quick to the cameras so they can see it. But we'll have that linked up as well in the show notes. One of the most viewed videos on YouTube was this performance. And I remember seeing it when it happened and being really moved by your story. So let's talk about your story, man. Who are you? What happened? And what got you to where you're at now?

• 3:49Speaker 02

  Well, you know, I was, I was in college when September 11th happened.

• 3:53Lewis Howes?

  Oh, wow.

• 3:53Speaker 02

  And...

• 3:54Lewis Howes?

  So was I.

• 3:55Speaker 02

  Watching those... Yeah, yeah, so was I. You know, and watching those horrors on television, I went for a run and decided that I needed to join the military. It wasn't a career decision, just I needed to do my part. And that's where I made that decision was on that run. I dropped out of college, enlisted into the Army, went through basic training, jump school, and then ended up with the 101st out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. General Portreus was our division commander, prepped us. And in 2003, we were the lead element going into Iraq. From Kuwait all the way up to Baghdad, then after Baghdad pushed the Mosul and took over the city there and I found a career. I loved it. I loved my job and went on a second deployment in 2005. They put us in an area southwest of Baghdad known as the Triangle

• 4:39Speaker 02

  of Death and it was a rough area and every unit that had been there before us had taken a beating and we were no different. We lost a lot of guys. You're 21 at this time? Uh, in 2005, I was 24. Okay. I was 24 and we were on a convoy mission, just driving down the road and I was driving the lead vehicle and had my headlights off, night vision goggles on and with night vision goggles, you can see well, but you can't see everything. And what I didn't see was a tripwire stretched across the road. When my front tires hit it, it detonated a roadside bomb large enough that when it hit my door, it threw this 9,000 pound armored Humvee flying through the air and it landed in the canal running adjacent to the road. Thankfully it

• 5:21Speaker 02

  landed wheels down because I was completely knocked unconscious and they said the water was up to my chest. And they got me out of the Humvee and then got me back to, we were living out of an old potato factory and medics worked on me until a helicopter picked me up, took me to a hospital and on a camp outside of Baghdad, Baghdad to Germany, Germany to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in DC. And that's when I woke up five or six days later on Christmas Day. Ooh. And it was all news to me from my mom that I'd lost my arm and my leg. My left arm above the elbow, my left leg above the knee, my jaw was shattered, my mouth was wired shut. I had severe injuries to my right leg and some injuries to my hand. And it was, it was a horrible thing to wake up to. I can imagine. Five days?

• 6:03Speaker 02

  Yeah. And unaware, it's like, to me, it was like one night. I woke up one day. Do you remember the accident happening? None of it. Because it was just like blindsided, unconscious? Don't know any of it. You wake up, no arm, no leg? Yeah, exactly. It felt like it was just a night's sleep? Yep. And then I woke up and two of my limbs were gone. I don't know what was worse, the losing two limbs or losing a career that I'd found. So many people go their entire lives without finding that thing that they're so happy with. You loved it. And I was there and it was all taken away. And I, you know, I went through a lot of depression. You know, there's some ups and downs. Like at first I was like, I'm fine. I'll do good. Uh, and then I lived in this denial for a long time when I moved back to Alabama.

• 6:44Speaker 02

  And one thing I talked about in the book that a lot of people don't know is I really dive into that depression. And talk about those mistakes. Uh, there's a whole, there's an entire chapter dedicated to me spending 10 days in the county jail. You know, just because I kept putting myself in these bad situations and then trying to dig myself back up and then getting knocked back down. And the only constant I had during all that were my three kids. And they were my constant reminder that, you know, I gotta keep moving, gotta keep moving forward. And that's what kind of pushed me through and then led to fitness and running offshore course races, Tough Mudders, marathons. And ending up on the cover of Men's Health, being their ultimate guy in the world's largest men's magazine.

• 7:28Speaker 02

  And then that led to all these other things and then Dancing with the Stars. And, you know, a lot of people that do know my story, they know of the Dancing with the Stars, the Men's Health, the races. But the information I share in this book of the depression and the, you know, self-medicating with alcohol and just the bad decisions I made, I open up about.

• 7:49Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, the things that people don't understand. I mean, I used to play professional football down near home state in, uh, in Huntsville. And I got injured and essentially was on a full arm cast for six months. I broke my wrist. They took a bone out of my hip, put it in my wrist. I didn't lose my arm, but I lost the ability to play football. And that was my identity.

• 8:07Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 8:07Lewis Howes?

  And I didn't have anything to fall back on. So for two years, I'm sleeping on my sister's couch, depressed, not motivated, not inspired. Lost my identity. So I can relate in that sense of losing.

• 8:18Speaker 02

  Yeah, no, that's exactly, that's why I want to do it. Cause it is, it's like people envision what their future is. And you erase that, you remove that from their future. People don't know what to do.

• 8:28Lewis Howes?

  It's miserable.

• 8:28Speaker 02

  It's terrifying for all of us.

• 8:30Lewis Howes?

  Yes.

• 8:31Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 8:32Lewis Howes?

  Wow. So how long, I started season 14, cause it was 2014, you're on the cover of Men's Health, right? Okay, that's what I was thinking. Um, so when did the accident happen?

• 8:41Speaker 02

  That was Christmas of 2005.

• 8:43Lewis Howes?

  2005.

• 8:44Speaker 02

  December 19th, 2005 is when I was injured. I woke up Christmas Day.

• 8:47Lewis Howes?

  Wow, okay. So how many, how long did it take until you felt like you got back into the fitness world? You kind of got inspired?

• 8:54Speaker 02

  Five years.

• 8:55Lewis Howes?

  Five years?

• 8:55Speaker 02

  Five years, yeah.

• 8:56Lewis Howes?

  I've been out of depression.

• 8:56Speaker 02

  Yeah, and people, people ask me like, you know, what, what did you think about the fact when you were in your depression? I didn't realize I was, that I was that depressed until I was out of it and looked back. And I was like, wow.

• 9:06Lewis Howes?

  Five years is a long time.

• 9:07Speaker 02

  It is. I mean, that's, that's not just physical, that's emotional, you know, and mental recovery to what I was going through. And it was, it was very difficult to, you know, to climb out of. And thankfully, I just kept driving on because I wanted to be a better father. That's been my goal then, and it's my goal now.

• 9:26Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, how old are your kids?

• 9:27Speaker 02

  They are six, eight, and 11. Two boys and a little girl.

• 9:29Lewis Howes?

  Wow, amazing. What do you wish more men understood about depression and how to manage it now that you're kind of out of it?

• 9:37Speaker 02

  You know, when it comes to depression, one, it's real. I think that we've come a long way in understanding depression. We still have a long way to go. And I think that as a man, yeah, you know, this goes for men and women, but you know, just to talk about men, it's, it's hard to admit that you, you know, I wouldn't want to say weak, but yeah, your weaknesses, you know, and to be vulnerable and honest and to open up and say to somebody, I need help. You know, we as men, we take pride in like, I can handle this, I can take on whatever. Or you don't want to talk about the fact that you can, I'm, I can be an emotional and I'm okay with it. I talk about it in the book. There's a, there's a part of the book where I talk about watching The Notebook and I admit to crying.

• 10:18Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 10:18Speaker 02

  You know what I mean? Because it's like, hey, I have nothing to hide.

• 10:22Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 10:22Speaker 02

  And I want to put it out there. And I think that one thing I found that once I could be open about my emotions, I'm not walking around, you know, just crying all the time.

• 10:29Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 10:29Speaker 02

  You know, that just makes it weird.

• 10:32Speaker 02

  But I, I found that, you know, I went through where I had a lot of anger. Because that was displaced emotions. And once I found that I could be, you know, it was okay to be emotional.

• 10:42Lewis Howes?

  Uh huh.

• 10:43Speaker 02

  You know, and I am okay with my, my boys seeing that and my little girl seeing that, that it's okay. Well, I'm not as angry as I used to be. If that makes any sense, it's not, it's not, you know, I'm not bottling up one emotion and it coming out as anger in the other. You know, it's having control and knowing that, you know, sometimes you do get mad and sometimes you do get sad. You know what I mean? And to know how to control those.

• 11:04Lewis Howes?

  Mm hmm.

• 11:04Speaker 02

  And that's what I found. And as, as men go through depression, it's, it happens.

• 11:09Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 11:09Speaker 02

  And it's not a weakness. It may feel like it, but it's not.

• 11:12Lewis Howes?

  What advice would you give someone who feels like they've lost their identity or got fired from a job or their career ended or they went bankrupt?

• 11:18Speaker 02

  Well, you know what?

• 11:19Lewis Howes?

  I'll tell you. They're going through this transition and they're feeling depressed. What advice would you give?

• 11:22Speaker 02

  All right. So I use this example for veterans a lot. You know, if you, if you end up getting injured and out or something happens and you get out, because I found a career and it was taken away.

• 11:32Lewis Howes?

  That you loved.

• 11:32Speaker 02

  Yes. Now, I loved my time in the military. I am proud of it, but it's not defined me and I'm not going to live it every day. I love to call it, and I, I've coined this phrase myself, if someone else is using it, they've stolen it from me. The Al Bundy effect.

• 11:46Lewis Howes?

  Okay.

• 11:46Speaker 02

  Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in a single football game. And if you remember Married with Children, that's all he talked about. That's the only experiences he had where he, he dominated.

• 11:55Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 11:56Speaker 02

  And then he stuck miserable selling, selling shoes, unhappy because he lives off that one moment. Be proud of that, but that's a chapter in your life. My military service was a chapter in my life that I am proud of. But since then, I've started other chapters. You know what I mean? And next there'll be another chapter and another. My story does not revolve around that one. And that's what I tell people. You know what? It is hard. You know, when something's taken away like that, it's hard to bounce back from. But you know what? Be proud of what you did. And especially if you were good at it, well then say, all right, well, I was good at that and now I'm about to be good at something else.

• 12:27Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. What, what about like a daily action or something that people can do when they're, again, when they retire or something happens and they lose their identity, what could they do on a daily basis to remind them that like, hey, this was something that's great, but now I get to move on?

• 12:41Speaker 02

  Well, you know, I tell people that.

• 12:42Lewis Howes?

  Easier said than done.

• 12:42Speaker 02

  It is. Yeah, it is.

• 12:44Lewis Howes?

  Took you five years, took me two years.

• 12:45Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 12:45Lewis Howes?

  All these.

• 12:46Speaker 02

  Well, you know, I think the biggest mistake that we, we send it, we tend to do to ourselves is we make these. Grand goals that we have, you know what I mean? And we try to make that leap immediately. When it's made in little steps. You know, they're small attainable goals. And that's what you gotta do. You gotta say, all right, well, what's the next plan of attack? You know, what am I going after now? And what do I need to do? You know, and I've told, I've told people, I don't care, you know, what it is you find that you enjoy, you do it. If you love crocheting, well, be the best crocheter out there. You know what I mean? But what you probably need to do is first learn how to do it. You know what I mean? And start working from there. And that's what it is. It's like, hey, sit down, write out a plan, what you want to do, the kind of things you enjoy, and start working towards those.

• 13:31Lewis Howes?

  Hmm. Now, I read somewhere that it's scarier for you to get severely injured than to face death. Is that right?

• 13:38Speaker 02

  It was, yes. When I deployed, every time I deployed, I accepted death. And that was okay. That was my job, that that was a possibility. And I always felt like I was gonna retire an old man in the military, or I was gonna die in combat.

• 13:51Lewis Howes?

  Wow.

• 13:52Speaker 02

  And, you know, that was where my mindset was. And to wake up in the hospital, career over and not dead, I was that in-between, that limbo with an injury. I couldn't handle it. Now, that was then. Now, I'm 34, be 35 this year, got three kids, my life's in a different place. Oh, no, I don't want to die. I got a lot I want to do, and I have a lot that I want to teach my kids and see my kids do. I'm not that young soldier anymore. But I was. At that time, that was the mindset I had.

• 14:21Lewis Howes?

  Crazy, man. Why did you love being a soldier so much?

• 14:26Speaker 02

  You know, I've always liked excitement and adrenaline. And nothing's more exciting than when bullets are flying at you.

• 14:32Lewis Howes?

  Not exciting, or scarier, yeah. I'd rather play football.

• 14:38Speaker 02

  But it was, you know, it was this, you know, growing up, I've worked landscaping, construction, worked in a plant. Like, I always looked for these tough jobs to make me feel manly.

• 14:46Lewis Howes?

  Right.

• 14:47Speaker 02

  And nothing felt more masculine than living with the locals.

• 14:52Speaker 02

  You know, and, and being in a combat zone than that. There was one day I was on the, it was a two-story building and the, the roof of their buildings are, are flat, the little wall, you know, cause it doesn't rain there. So I worried about, you know, that. And I'm standing on the roof, don't have my, my bulletproof vest on, my flak jacket and don't even have my, you know, my blouse on, the long sleeve shirt. It's just me, you know, t-shirt on, pants, boots. And I'm standing there, one leg up on the wall and I'm just overlooking this village, you know, and I'm like, you know, I might could have been shot at any moment, but I had this, this arrogance to me where I was looking over this village like I can help you or I can destroy you. You know, that's the mindset I had.

• 15:30Lewis Howes?

  Kind of like the god complex.

• 15:31Speaker 02

  Yes. Oh, totally. Yeah. I was, I was king of the jungle and it felt great.

• 15:35Lewis Howes?

  Sure.

• 15:36Speaker 02

  And it was just an incre- and I, I loved it, but then also I enjoyed working with the locals.

• 15:40Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 15:41Speaker 02

  You know, getting to know them, you know, whatever they needed, trying to figure that out. Like it wasn't all just me trying to be this, you know, tough guy all the time. I, I enjoyed being part of something and, and just, you know, even regardless of what the grand scheme of things were with the war in Iraq, that I don't get into, but my moments that I had, I enjoyed.

• 16:00Lewis Howes?

  To connect with people.

• 16:01Speaker 02

  Yes. And I found that again, a couple of weeks ago, I went to Honduras to a really poor area, this, uh, city Berlin that known as the forgotten city on this mountain where there's just, it's a horrible, poor place. And to go and be there and working with the locals, like that was the same feeling I had where I felt like I was accomplishing something and it felt so good.

• 16:18Lewis Howes?

  What was your definition of masculinity when you're?

• 16:21Speaker 02

  When I was in?

• 16:22Lewis Howes?

  Yes.

• 16:23Speaker 02

  Uh, taking the most dangerous job possible and living it like there was no fear at all. Even though you, you felt it, you ignored it and you went on anyway. That to me back then was the, that's what a man was.

• 16:35Lewis Howes?

  Mm-hmm. What do you feel like is the definition now?

• 16:38Speaker 02

  Now, a man who is not afraid to admit his failures and mistakes and his, and show his emotions. You know, I could, I could meet a guy that, you know, has had a motorcycle accident and, you know, just completely just broke his hand and popped it back in place right there. Like is, and talk like, you know, I just popped my hand back, whatever. And, and ran a couple of miles to go get help, whatever. I was like, wow, that's incredible, but I'm pretty sure it didn't go that way. You know what I mean? That to me is trying to hide something. You know what I mean? Like, no, if that's what happened, that's fine. But, you know, don't be afraid to say, it was the most painful thing I went through. This was like, it scared the crap out of me. I didn't know what I was gonna do. Um, that's real.

• 17:17Speaker 02

  And and then be able to show emotion. I I have had conversations with people. I give a lot of speeches. And there are certain things I've talked about and the emotion hits me talking about my kids and I just feel it now whether or not they see it. I mean, I know there's ends up being a little quiver in my chin or something. But that when I talk about my kids, it it it means something to me and I'm not afraid of that.

• 17:38Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 17:39Speaker 02

  And that's what I think being a man is now.

• 17:41Lewis Howes?

  That's great. Do you feel like your masculinity has been? Have you ever felt questioned your masculinity since you've lost an arm?

• 17:49Speaker 02

  Oh, yeah, that was part of like, that was one thing that I struggled with a lot after my injury. I thought I was I was helpless. I got after I was injured. There was a divorce and I rushed into a second marriage and.

• 18:02Lewis Howes?

  After you got injured, then you.

• 18:03Speaker 02

  Yes, yes. And rushed into a second marriage.

• 18:06Lewis Howes?

  Because of the injury or is because of your.

• 18:08Speaker 02

  No, we were falling apart. Actually, when when I joined the military, she took a backseat. You know, my concentration was my job.

• 18:15Lewis Howes?

  Right.

• 18:16Speaker 02

  And so it started falling apart. So it was already discussed and then I got injured. It was kind of and we went ahead and split up and then I rushed into a second marriage. And I remember one day trying to open something and Tracy, that was my wife at the time. She came and opened it for me and I was like, it's not supposed to be that way. You know, I'm supposed to be doing that for you and it and it bothered me. It really upset me. But, you know, as time has gone on, like I don't worry about those things anymore. There's other things I do. That, you know, still make me feel like, you know, I'm the man. I still do things. I can still care for somebody, but if I can't open a pickle jar. I'm not going to sweat about it.

• 18:55Lewis Howes?

  You're not worried about it anymore.

• 18:56Speaker 02

  But it did. It really bothered me.

• 18:58Lewis Howes?

  So how did you learn to let that go? And what do you do now to feel like you are?

• 19:02Speaker 02

  Well, you know, I'll tell you, you know, now, like.

• 19:06Speaker 02

  I feel like, you know, when I was on Dance with the Stars, I was with, um, Jamie was my girlfriend for a few years and I proposed to her on the show.

• 19:13Lewis Howes?

  Wow.

• 19:14Speaker 02

  But then since then, we've we've split ways and we're still in contact. We're good friends. Um, but we thankfully realized it wasn't going to work before we got married.

• 19:21Lewis Howes?

  That's good.

• 19:22Speaker 02

  But when I was with her, like I made sure to do things like I always. In the car door for, you know, I mean, whatever it was, you know, and that's, that's the kind of person I am now. Like I go out with somebody, I want them to feel taken care of.

• 19:34Lewis Howes?

  Sure.

• 19:35Speaker 02

  You know what I mean? I'm not taking away from their ability to do it on their own. I was, I was raised with three strong willed sisters that are very successful and I respect that. But I also know that I can, I can treat a woman a certain way and that's what makes me feel like a man is to make sure I'm doing what's right by them.

• 19:54Lewis Howes?

  Hmm. Even if you can't open a jar?

• 19:56Speaker 02

  Open a jar. Yeah.

• 19:57Lewis Howes?

  Got you.

• 19:57Speaker 02

  I have no problem say, saying, will you open this for me?

• 20:00Lewis Howes?

  Hey babe, can you open this for me?

• 20:01Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah. I want to enjoy this pickle right now. Yeah.

• 20:05Lewis Howes?

  What are some things that you used to enjoy that you don't feel like you can enjoy as much on your own right now?

• 20:12Speaker 02

  You know, that's hard to answer because I mean, there's not a lot that, I went for a while where I was constantly trying to weigh out what I can do, what I can't do. And I've, I've learned to just not overthink those things.

• 20:26Lewis Howes?

  Right.

• 20:27Speaker 02

  You know, there's certain things that are different because I miss an arm, my leg. But I'm, and I'm also, like, for a while I was uncomfortable taking my leg off. If I went to the pool, took the kids to the pool, I would sit back and just leave my leg on and not get in the pool. And now I don't mind, I'll take it off and I'll hop across that pool deck.

• 20:44Lewis Howes?

  Sure.

• 20:44Speaker 02

  Like it ain't nothing.

• 20:45Lewis Howes?

  Got to get in there. Yes.

• 20:46Speaker 02

  That's it.

• 20:46Lewis Howes?

  Swim around, man.

• 20:47Speaker 02

  Yep.

• 20:48Lewis Howes?

  And what was it like? Now, did I read that your, your father lost his arm as well?

• 20:53Speaker 02

  Yes. When he was 18, he was working in a plant and a machine malfunctioned and squished his left hand and ended up losing it. And my entire life, he's had one hand done construction.

• 21:03Lewis Howes?

  One hand?

• 21:03Speaker 02

  Yep.

• 21:04Lewis Howes?

  Not the whole arm, but one hand?

• 21:05Speaker 02

  No, yeah, one hand, below the elbow. And that was, that was a lot, like, we, we bonded after I was injured, more so than ever.

• 21:12Lewis Howes?

  Wow.

• 21:12Speaker 02

  Because he was able to tell me things. And then there was this part of me where I was like, you know what? If he did good with one arm, I'm gonna do twice as much missing an arm or a leg. And it was, uh, it was good, you know, to have someone to tell me the kind of emotions and the things I was, I would experience.

• 21:27Lewis Howes?

  Hmm.

• 21:28Speaker 02

  Uh, because a doctor could tell me, but I would also think, you don't know the real life.

• 21:33Lewis Howes?

  Right.

• 21:34Speaker 02

  What it's like to actually experience it.

• 21:36Lewis Howes?

  No idea.

• 21:36Speaker 02

  And my dad did. So there was that aspect of things. So it was really good for me.

• 21:42Lewis Howes?

  Has your, um, how has your injuries, uh, affected your capacity to care for and protect the people in your life the way you had done before you had the injuries?

• 21:53Speaker 02

  That's a really good question. So. I always felt like the protector. Yeah. The only brother with three sisters. You know, whatever it was, relationships, I was the protector. Right. And after I was injured, I felt I'd lost that. Like I was not the protector anymore. And it was, you know, something that, you know, there's just all these things that really made the depression really hard to come out of. Because I didn't, I felt like, you know, well, I'm physically unable. Uh, and then as I got back into shape and working out and then running these obstacle course races and doing all these physical activities. Uh, I have been in gyms and been able to, especially like I love kettlebells.

• 22:36Speaker 02

  And I've done things with kettlebells, you know, that other people with their one arm couldn't do. And I started to notice that and see that I wasn't, that I'm still that strong guy. And, you know, suddenly I went from, you know, feeling that I didn't have the ability to protect. To now I, I don't, now I'm not saying I'm not Bruce Lee out there. Like if something happens, I don't know, you know? But I don't have that fear anymore. I walk with a little more pride, uh, that, cause when I was going through my depression, people would see me. And they'd ask if this is a war injury and they felt sorry for me and they, they just really felt bad for me in general. Then after I got back into shape, people would see me ask if it was from the war. They felt bad about that, but then they make a comment about the great shape I was in.

• 23:21Speaker 02

  And that's something I take pride in, cause I meet people all the time that have all their limbs and in horrible shape. Yeah. So I was able to use that to help build myself back up. Right. You know, I may not ever be a cage fighter, but you know, I feel like if I, if I have to, I can protect those around me. Yeah. Uh, or, you know, or whatever needs to be done. Sure. And, cause I see these, these other people that have no injuries and I don't think they could do that. Hmm. Yeah. So how did Dancing with the Stars come about? Cause you got to cover men's health. I mean, how did that come out first? That probably helped launch the thing. Uh, Men's Health, making that cover, they got a lot of attention from that magazine. I was the first veteran and amputee to ever grace the cover of Men's Health.

• 24:05Speaker 02

  And I was asked to go on Ellen DeGeneres. And I had someone say to me, you go on Ellen and you're set.

• 24:11Lewis Howes?

  Right.

• 24:11Speaker 02

  I had no idea what that meant.

• 24:13Lewis Howes?

  Absolutely.

• 24:13Speaker 02

  You know, but I was excited that I was asked to come on a show. Well, I did Ellen's show.

• 24:18Lewis Howes?

  2014, right?

• 24:19Speaker 02

  Yep, 2014 and immediately the phone started ringing. Uh, Survivor called me.

• 24:24Lewis Howes?

  Wow.

• 24:25Speaker 02

  They wanted me to come on. I thought, wow, that'd be so cool to go on Survivor, but it's like X amount of weeks, no contact back home.

• 24:30Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 24:30Speaker 02

  Even if you get voted off, you have to stay with the production crew. You can, and I was like, thanks, but no thanks. I have three kids here in Alabama and I can't do it. Another show called, turned them down. The Dance With The Stars called and they said, do you watch the show? I was like, well, I've heard of it. I've never watched it. And they're talking about it and they said, you know, if you do it, we'll put you in a house in LA for the duration of your time on the show. And I said, ah, you know, sorry, can't do it. I have three kids in Alabama, can't be away from that long. So I had an out. And without hesitation, Deena Katz, the executive producer said, not a problem. Your dancer will come to Alabama and you will rehearse there and fly back and forth.

• 25:07Lewis Howes?

  No.

• 25:07Speaker 02

  Do the live show. And I was like, crap, I guess.

• 25:09Lewis Howes?

  You have to do it.

• 25:10Speaker 02

  I guess I'll do it, you know?

• 25:12Lewis Howes?

  So you stayed in Alabama?

• 25:13Speaker 02

  Yeah, and rehearsed every week.

• 25:15Lewis Howes?

  And it came in once or twice a week? Was it one, once a week?

• 25:17Speaker 02

  We'd come in about Friday, Friday or Saturday, we'd come in, then we'd prep for the show, you know, Saturday, Sunday, and then do the show on Monday and then Tuesday morning head back.

• 25:25Lewis Howes?

  No way.

• 25:26Speaker 02

  And then the show, you don't take a day off.

• 25:28Lewis Howes?

  It's every day.

• 25:29Speaker 02

  Yeah. So it's like the days that we would fly from LA to Alabama, you're rehearsing into the evening and the night.

• 25:34Lewis Howes?

  In the morning and night.

• 25:35Speaker 02

  And then because I was at home, I remember one day I went on a field trip with my son and we were at this farm all day. I'm, I'm texting Sharon like, I'm sorry, we're still here. She's like, not a problem. We rehearsed all night that night. You know what I mean? Cause it's like, you got to rehearse. You have to get it down. Yep.

• 25:50Lewis Howes?

  For how many hours a day?

• 25:51Speaker 02

  Oh, we would, I mean, it would vary. Like we would put towards the end, we would start, Sharon and I would start at eight in the morning. I'd have somebody bring me lunch in the rehearsal studio. I'd eat in the rehearsal studio. We'd go, somebody'd bring me dinner. I'd eat dinner in the rehearsal studio. We'd keep going to about midnight. And that was the last.

• 26:07Lewis Howes?

  Is it Birmingham or where this?

• 26:07Speaker 02

  Well, so the last two weeks I came.

• 26:10Lewis Howes?

  Came here full time.

• 26:11Speaker 02

  And, and, cause we were doing more than one dance.

• 26:13Lewis Howes?

  You had to.

• 26:14Speaker 02

  And then we, it was getting more intense and the kids understood, they were excited. They were watching every Monday night. Uh, it was, oh, it was awesome. Like my 11 year old, he would watch it with his, his pawpaw. And I remember one night, uh, we had a dance. It was pretty emotional and I got a text from my 11 year old that said, I was crying, pawpaw was crying. We're so proud of you. I mean, it was just. That was pretty epic. How many weeks was it? It was 10 weeks. 10 weeks. And you made it to the last week? Yep. We did every single dance. And then they stand on to the final three and they choose someone? Yep. Rumor Willis came in first. Riker Lynch came in second and I came in third. And I've met people that, you know, that were inspired by my story. They're like, you should have won.

• 26:57Speaker 02

  You got robbed. I'm like, no, Rumor deserved to win. Riker was amazing. Look, I was not the best dancer on that show. But you were the most inspiring. Yes. You know, and the fact that I came in third, because when I did agree to do it, I thought, well, only last two or three weeks. Yeah, yeah. I didn't know it would go the way it went. Amazing, man. What happened after that? What did that open up? Well, so I'll tell you, I remember like before we started, when we were there, Good Morning America for the announcement of the new cast. Alfonso, you know, Carlton, from Fresh Friends, he had won the season before. He was talking to a group of us. And he said, you're gonna rehearse non-stop. Like everything outside. For three months, right? It's it. And then he talked about how you're gonna rehearse non-stop.

• 27:40Speaker 02

  And then when the show ends, you're gonna feel like everything stopped because you were doing so much rehearsing. And then it's like. And he's like, but keep going, keep pushing. And the show said, when the next season starts, they'll forget last season. So hit it hard in between. You mean with like the press, with the opportunities? Yeah, everything, whatever's coming, because they have the spring show and they have the fall season. There's two seasons a year. So you have until fall to knock it out. Well, boom, I started getting after it. People were contacting me for speaking, whatever, sponsorships. Fall comes around, the next season starts, everybody, Dina Katz, Stana, my dance partner, are you coming to the show to see us? I'm like, I'm gonna try. Like, I don't know. Like, I'm so busy now.

• 28:21Speaker 02

  You know, and I then I was able to drop by when I could. It was great to see everybody. And then another season starts up. And then here we are going into another season and it has been non-stop for me. Really? It has been amazing. Hasn't slowed down. It has not slowed down. Speaking, opportunities, what else? Yes. You know, speaking, sponsorships, tied in with Tough Mudder, so I'm running their races again.

• 28:42Speaker 02

  It's just been, you know, incredible to tie in. Armatron Watches, they're a timekeepers for the New York Yankees. They also, you know, they're a watch company. They're sponsoring yours now. Yeah. I've tied into them. It's a nice watch, man. It's clean. They, you know, they've been really good to me. And it's like, it's been fun to meet all these people and work with them and stay true to myself. And then they're. They want to work with me. Cause you know, when I said earlier that my kids were my priority to get out of the depression, they're still my priority. And I'll tell you what, I have had the offers come across the table that my management team's like, all right, so and so wants to offer you this, you gotta do this. And I'm looking at my calendar, can't do it. I'm doing something with the kids, you know, and they're like, this is a lot of money. I was like, kids are more important.

• 29:25Speaker 02

  And there have been times that a group, we wanted me to do something, I turned it down because the kids were important. Then they were like, all right, we'll do something, and if they want it, they'll do it. Yeah, and here's the thing is, the advantage I have in this, in negotiating, is I'm not looking for fame and fortune. I just want to be a good father to my kids. And if all this happens because of it, well, then that's just, that's just icing on the cake. That's great. But my goal is to take care of my kids. And I will not turn my back on them just because an offer for some money came up. And there's been people like Armatron Watches that respect that, and they want me to be that person. So we, once we did one contract, we signed another contract because we've become a family.

• 30:07Speaker 02

  They have flown my kids up and sent us to Broadway shows and things like that. And that's the people I want to work with.

• 30:14Lewis Howes?

  That's cool.

• 30:14Speaker 02

  You know, I'm not looking for anything big and glamorous.

• 30:17Lewis Howes?

  Sure.

• 30:18Speaker 02

  Uh, I want to work with real people because that's who I am.

• 30:21Lewis Howes?

  Hmm, I love that, man. If you could go back and change that situation.

• 30:25Speaker 02

  Of being injured?

• 30:26Lewis Howes?

  Uh huh.

• 30:27Speaker 02

  I wouldn't.

• 30:28Lewis Howes?

  You would?

• 30:28Speaker 02

  I wouldn't, you know, and it sounds, you know, corny to say, but.

• 30:30Lewis Howes?

  You could be in the army for a long time and have a long career.

• 30:33Speaker 02

  I don't think I would have the relationship I have with my kids now, if I hadn't have been injured. I mean, without a doubt.

• 30:40Lewis Howes?

  Cause you'd be gone all the time.

• 30:40Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah, but I mean, I'd, I'd love them, you know what I mean? And try to spend time with them, but how I am with them now, and it wasn't just the injury that, that caused this closeness with my kids. It was the depression as well. You know, and especially when I was doing the book and looking back on that and having to put that in there. I was like, wow, I was a horrible person. And I am so glad that I've come through that. Now, I claim to be a perfect dad, no. I make mistakes with my kids all the day. I can tell you a story after story of that. Um, but you know, I am doing my best, you know, and constantly trying to improve.

• 31:14Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. Was there, do you feel like your kids helped you get out of depression?

• 31:17Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 31:18Lewis Howes?

  By them just being around and.

• 31:19Speaker 02

  Yeah, I'll tell you because.

• 31:20Lewis Howes?

  Chomping on you all day and.

• 31:21Speaker 02

  Well, what, the most terrifying moment I had was. When I realized I was showing my two boys what a man is and that's what they're going to become one day and I'll show my little girl how a man was supposed to be and that's what she's going to look for one day and I realized, one, I needed to make a change and two, I needed to make it fast because they were growing up. So that keeps me in check. Yes, yes. Guys trying to date her real quick. I know, yeah, and I want to make sure that it's not the kind of person that I was acting. Yeah, wow, man, powerful. What's missing in your life right now? You know, I don't think anything is right now. Of course, you know, I mentioned that Jamie

• 32:04Speaker 02

  and I had split up and that's been, you know, over a year and I'm not the player, you know, like I'm not the single guy, you know, I've dated around. I am picky and I think that the next thing that, I feel corny even bringing this up, but like I am looking for that next, you know, looking for a match, someone that, you know, to have two failed marriages and an engagement that didn't work off, you know, I did my best, you know what I mean? But it's like, I want to find that, that forever. You know what I mean? And, you know, it's not anything I stress about because I focus on my kids and with work and it keeps me going.

• 32:48Speaker 02

  How do you handle those breakups gracefully or not gracefully? How do you handle those breakups? Are you talking about the ones that have been in between? I mean, the, the two marriages and... Oh, those, I thought you meant all the ones that have been in between. It's like, no, I just quit texting them. No.

• 33:03Speaker 02

  You know, like, I talk about it, I talk about all three of them in my book because they are all very critical in making the man I am today and I speak very highly of all of them. You know, I needed them in my life in different times and they did so much for me. So I'm thankful and, you know, those breakups happen, you know, and they're not easy. Even when you're like, you're in a marriage or relationship that is going nowhere and even though you both know it, it hurts. You know what I mean? It hurts. So it's, it's tough to go through those and I was just glad that I was able to, that I'm close with all of them and was able to talk, you know, highly of them in the book and being honest about it.

• 33:48Speaker 02

  What's your vision moving forward for your, for your life? You know, I'd love to say like, I want to do this. I want to do that. I want to accomplish all these things. My main goal is to continuing to become a better father. And I mean, I have, my kids are six, eight, and 11, and they still have different stages of their life they need to go through. And I love that I get the opportunity to travel all over the country and share my story. And I hope I get to continue doing that. I love that people ask me to come on their podcasts and shows and share my story. But my 15 minutes is going to run out, and I'm not worried about

• 34:29Speaker 02

  it. Because I, my ultimate goal is being the best father I can be. And that's what I'm continuing to try to do. You know, I've done good with taking, you know, this opportunities I've had before me. I've been very cautious of how I take care of the things, you know, the success. I was lucky enough to become really good friends with Robert Hershavak on Dancing with the Stars, and he's becoming a good friend. Yes. And he has given me great advice on how to make sure that money is taken care of and things like that. So I'm all about just building that nest egg. If it keeps growing, that's awesome. But being a father is priority one.

• 35:07Lewis Howes?

  That's great. What's your biggest fear?

• 35:09Speaker 02

  I mean, my biggest fear would be something happened to one of my children. Like, that is, I mean, by far, the most terrifying thing. It's, I don't even like saying that out loud. But I mean, if something happened to them, that would crush me.

• 35:19Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. What did your dad say when you were in a coma for five days and he knew you lost your arm or your leg? Was he, how did he feel?

• 35:27Speaker 02

  I asked him, I said, did you ever think one of your kids would lose a limb? And he said, it never crossed his mind. He was too busy worried about him losing another one. And I can relate to that, because it's like, people have said, you've done so good, the fact you lost arm or leg. I'm like, yeah, but if I lose a fingernail, it's over. You know what I mean? Like, I can't lose nothing else. And it was funny for him to say that, you know, he never thought about one of us. And it just, he said it shocked him and scared him, because there was challenges he went through when he first got injured, then the depression. And he didn't want me to experience those things. He tried to help me, but... You you kind of have to go through your own struggles.

• 36:04Lewis Howes?

  Hmm.

• 36:05Speaker 02

  You know, it doesn't matter. Like, I could meet somebody that is going through or about to go into depression and tell them everything I experienced and what I learned from it, and that might soften it. But if they're gonna go into it, they're going to go into it, and they have to be able to want to come out of it and be able to get the help and want the help. Uh, that comes up a lot when I talk about veterans and their situations, their mental health. And I I've told people, I'm not a doctor, so I can't speak on behalf of that side. But we could have the best, you know, system out there for mental health for veterans. But if the veterans aren't stepping out and getting the help, and that goes with anybody. I mean, I reference veterans, but anybody in depression, and it's all about you have to want to get better.

• 36:50Lewis Howes?

  What's something that a a woman can do with a man that feels like they're depressed? Or feels like they're overwhelmed, they're stressed out? How can a woman?

• 36:59Speaker 02

  How can the the significant other of a man who is going through depression?

• 37:03Lewis Howes?

  Or a sister, a girlfriend, a, you know, mom, you know, someone who is close to the man. How can they connect with them to help them move forward in a positive way as opposed to staying this negative cycle?

• 37:15Speaker 02

  Yeah, you know, well, I mean, you want to try to guide them to getting help, but then at the same time.

• 37:19Lewis Howes?

  Without emasculating them, you know what I mean?

• 37:21Speaker 02

  Yes, you know, and that's the thing. That's what I was about to say is, like, if you were going through something, if you're depressed and I showed up, said, hey, man, you know, I just came by to check on you, you know, you know, I'm trying to, I'm trying to say things to you. You're going to, whether you say it to me or not, you're gonna be thinking, you're not going through what I'm going through.

• 37:36Lewis Howes?

  Right.

• 37:36Speaker 02

  So don't talk to me.

• 37:37Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 37:37Speaker 02

  You know what I mean? So.

• 37:38Lewis Howes?

  You don't understand me.

• 37:39Speaker 02

  Exactly. Um, I would advise somebody who knows somebody going through something like that to, and it's easier said than done, but find somebody that has been there, that they can relate to. There has to be a correlation with those two people, something they can connect with.

• 37:55Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 37:56Speaker 02

  And they will respond better to that, that that person can help guide them to what got them better. You know, uh, cause that's what I would say. And yeah, you're right. Like, you know, a female, a male can take that as emasculating, you know what I mean, and not respond to it well. But if they can get somebody that does connect with them, you know, stranger or not, that has been where they're, they they are, and help guide them. You know, out of that, that's the best, that's the best advice I could come up with.

• 38:25Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. So why'd you write this book, Living with No Excuses? Do you feel like everyone makes excuses? Or is this more of?

• 38:31Speaker 02

  No, it's not one of these like, you know, in your face, gonna, you need to get up and quit being, you know, a pansy about things. Yeah. Uh, no, it's more of my life and, uh, the challenges I went through. And really an opportunity to open up about that oppression and be brutally honest.

• 38:48Lewis Howes?

  More therapeutic for you than anything. Yeah.

• 38:49Speaker 02

  And, you know, I was, it's not all about the depression. I talked about Dance with the Stars. I talked about, you know, my childhood and deployments, things like that. There's a, I like to think there's humor. I like to think I'm funny.

• 39:01Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, that's true, sure.

• 39:03Speaker 02

  But, um, I wanted to do it. And when I was going through the book and writing it, and then after, uh, it was done, I mean, there were moments, I'm like, I can't believe I had to share this with people. But I had to remind myself that those little moments of talking about the depression is going to help somebody. And that's what I kept telling myself is somebody's going to relate to this. It may help somebody. You know what I mean? If somebody, like I was saying, if you can find somebody that's been in that spot, you know, if, if there's, if this can connect with somebody going through depression and they see that, you know what? Life sucks sometimes and you're gonna be trying to move, you're trying to do better. And then you get knocked back down. You have to get back up. And my advice is, you know, like I talked about that one constant, my kids, you have to find that one thing.

• 39:48Speaker 02

  There's a reason to get back up, whatever it is, mine or my kids, it could be anything. But if you can find that reason, you will keep getting back up and eventually you won't have to get back up. You'll be on top.

• 39:59Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, that's powerful, man. A couple of questions left for you. I want to make sure everyone goes and gets the book before I ask them. Living with No Excuses, The Remarkable Rebirth. I'm An American Soldier by Noah Galloway. Make sure to go get this copy as soon as you can. It's in Barnes and Noble, online, all that stuff. And what's the main website for you? It's just your name?

• 40:16Speaker 02

  Uh, noahgalloway.com.

• 40:18Lewis Howes?

  There you go. So you can check it out there and social media, Noah Galloway, I'm assuming, right?

• 40:22Speaker 02

  Yep. Uh, yeah. And then Twitter is at Noah underscore Galloway. There's another Noah Galloway. This kid in high school, you know what? He's awesome because he will, he will direct people to me.

• 40:31Lewis Howes?

  Oh, that's good.

• 40:32Speaker 02

  He's awesome. I follow him on social media.

• 40:34Lewis Howes?

  That's cool. That's cool. Are you on Instagram too or no?

• 40:36Speaker 02

  Yeah, Instagram. Yeah. Noah Galloway athlete.

• 40:38Lewis Howes?

  Okay, cool.

• 40:38Speaker 02

  Yeah, that all started when I was doing all the races.

• 40:40Lewis Howes?

  Well, we'll tag you up on all the show notes as well for this. Um, what are you most grateful for in your life recently?

• 40:47Speaker 02

  Recently?

• 40:49Speaker 02

  You're going, I'm telling you, when they're my priority, they're my priority. And that, you know, my kids, I have three of the most amazing kids. They are not only good looking, uh, they get it from their mom, um, but, um, they are just good kids.

• 41:09Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 41:09Speaker 02

  Every one of them, great personalities, smart, they're doing great in school. Uh, every one of them, you know, different personalities, but they all mesh well and get along well. And there were moments every day that they do or say something that I couldn't be prouder.

• 41:26Lewis Howes?

  Oh, that's cool. Very cool. Um, this is a question that I ask everyone at the end called the three truths. Three truths. So, uh, it's many, many years from now, it's your last day here on earth. And, uh, you've done and accomplished everything you could ever dream of.

• 41:40Speaker 02

  Okay.

• 41:41Lewis Howes?

  And you had the greatest, longest life, you've done everything you want to do. You've seen all your kids and grandkids grow up. And one of your great, great grandkids comes to you and says, okay, here's a piece of paper and a pen. We want you to write down three things you know to be true from everything you've learned that you would pass on to us. We don't have anything else we can remember you by, except for these three things. What would you say are your three truths?

• 42:04Speaker 02

  Okay, first one is, um, no one ever said life is easy. You know, we've all heard that. Uh, and I think that's true.

• 42:14Speaker 02

  Second one, always be honest with yourself. Cause you know, we too often, we cannot be who we need to be because we're lying to ourselves on who we think we are, who we're trying to be. Uh, the third one, um, take care of those around you. Uh, because if you don't have those around you, uh, you have nothing.

• 42:36Lewis Howes?

  Great truths, man. Um, before I ask the final question, I want to acknowledge you for a moment, Noah, for your incredible heart. You've got such a big heart and everything you do inspires others. How you've recovered, how you step up, how you give to your family, to your kids, and how you care so much about serving others. You're an amazing human being and I just want to acknowledge you for your constantly showing up and giving and giving and giving. So,

• 43:03Speaker 02

  Thank you.

• 43:03Lewis Howes?

  I acknowledge you for your heart and your courage, man. It's been really cool to see what you've created since a tragic accident and how you've overcome it. It's not easy and, uh, I acknowledge you for that, man.

• 43:14Speaker 02

  Thank you so much.

• 43:15Lewis Howes?

  Of course. And the final question is, what's your definition of greatness?

• 43:18Speaker 02

  Definition of greatness? Oh, man. Let's see. Greatness is setting out to accomplish and achieving a goal. You know, that greatness may not be being the most powerful and successful CEO. It might be a second grade school teacher that is working hard every year to get every one of those students to move forward in some way, you know, not looking at the class as a whole, but as individuals and getting them to move forward. You know, whatever it is, it's having a goal and achieving it. You know, it's going after it. It's having those dreams and making them realities.

• 44:03Speaker 00

  Noah, thanks for coming on, man. Appreciate you.

• 44:04Speaker 02

  Thank you.

• 44:07Speaker 00

  And there you have it. I hope you guys enjoyed this one. Make sure to share it out with your friends. LewisHowes.com/377. If you know someone who's gone through any type of adversity, or they've lost a job, or they've lost someone in a relationship, or they're going through a depressing stage of their life, please, please, please, share with them this interview. I think it will support them and give them another perspective. Give them some tools and education on how to move through that depression. We all go through challenging moments in our lives and it's nice to hear some feedback on how someone else went through it in a very dark, challenging time of losing literally parts of their body and losing their identity, but with their career in the process. Share it with your friends.

• 44:51Speaker 00

  LewisHowes.com/377. Get the word out. Let's support Noah. Grab his book. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook and everywhere and let him know what you thought of this episode as well. I love you guys very much. I thank you for being here every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and you know what time it is. It's time to go out there and do something great.