Special Forces S4 EXCLUSIVE: Navy SEAL on Celebrity Near-Drowning & Quitting Hell Week | Jovon P. Quarles
Release Date: 10/13/2025
The Canary in the Coal Mine: Green Beret, Geoff Dardia on Reinvention and Fighting for Warfighter Health
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does it mean to be a Committed, Disciplined warrior in a world defined by chaos? In Part 1 of this essential two-part series, we sit down with highly decorated retired Green Beret Master Sergeant, Geoff Dardia, who is now leading the fight for warfighter health as the founder of the Task Force Dagger Health Initiatives Program. Geoff shares his searing journey of Resilience—from facing a medical discharge early in his career after a devastating injury in BUD/S (a massive blow to his Identity), to re-enlisting post-9/11 and experiencing a catastrophic breakdown from operational stress,...
info_outline
FullSend Friday: The Warrior Calling - Grit, Purpose, & The True Meaning of the Trident (Feat. Former SEAL Josiah Kauffman)
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does it truly take to achieve elite performance and maintain it for a career? This FullSend Friday combines all parts of our powerful conversation with former Navy SEAL and founder of The Warrior Calling, Josiah Kauffman. Josiah shares his journey from facing Failure due to a devastating injury early in BUD/S (class 263/265) to becoming an operator in the high-stakes, hyper-professional SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) community. He offers rare insights into a world defined by extreme OPSEC and the unique Conviction required to perform highly sensitive, clandestine deep-water missions. This...
info_outline
The True Warrior: Be Selfish Now, So You Can Be Selfless Later with Josiah Kauffman
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does it mean to be a Committed, Disciplined warrior in a world defined by chaos? In this powerful conclusion of our 3-part series, Special Operator Josiah Kauffman delivers a masterclass on balancing internal Growth with external Service. Josiah dives deep into the mindset shifts required for the next generation of warriors and leaders, revealing how the new standards of Achievement demand more than just physical strength—they demand self-awareness, emotional Resilience, and a relentless pursuit of Purposeful action. He offers one unforgettable, Reinvention-focused piece of advice:...
info_outline
Navy SEAL Instructor: The Dangers of Leaked OPSEC, Curing High-Performer Burnout, and Finding Your "Why" After Quitting Goldman Sachs | Josiah Kauffman
The Two-Promises Podcast
"There's a lot that shouldn't be said." In Part 2 of our powerful conversation, former Navy SEAL Instructor Josiah Kauffman (The Warrior Calling) gives a rare and critical "insider" perspective on the recent New York Times article leaking sensitive Special Operations capabilities. He reveals why this is so dangerous and the real-world implications it has for the safety of future operators. Josiah then shares his raw, personal journey of transition, burnout, and finding a new "calling." He contrasts the feeling of a "dialed" SEAL platoon operating at its peak with the hidden dangers of...
info_outline
Navy SEAL Josiah Kauffman: Forged Through Failure – Overcoming Injury, BUD/S, and the Unseen World of SDV
The Two-Promises Podcast
How do you define Resilience when your dream is shattered moments after surviving the impossible? What happens when Failure isn’t just an option—but a brutal reality delivered via a broken bone after Navy SEAL Hell Week? In this gripping Part 1 of 3, BD sits down with Josiah Kauffman, former Navy SEAL, BUD/S classmate (Class 265!), and founder of Warrior Calling. Josiah takes us deep into his extraordinary journey—beginning with the crushing blow of a femur stress fracture following Hell Week with Class 263, forcing a complete reinvention of his path. This is a masterclass in Grit,...
info_outline
Full Send Friday: Forged Through Failure: Navy SEAL Q on Quitting BUD/S, Breaking Cycles & Uniting a Divided World
The Two-Promises Podcast
What happens when you hit your absolute limit during the world's most brutal military selection? How do you find the Grit to face Failure head-on and Reinvent yourself into something stronger? Join the Two Promises Podcast for an electrifying conversation with Jovon "Q" Quarles – decorated Navy SEAL, Directing Staff (DS) on FOX's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, and a testament to the power of Resilience. Q shares his rarely told story of quitting BUD/S Hell Week, hitting a mental wall, and the profound Purpose (his grandmother and kids) that fueled his return. Discover how this...
info_outline
The Honor Grad Mindset: From Quitting Hell Week to Breaking Cycles with Special Forces’ Jovon “Q” Quarles
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does it take to go from the brink of failure to the pinnacle of success? In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Q opens up about his lowest moment — quitting during Hell Week on his first attempt — and the mindset shift that brought him back to not only graduate, but make Navy SEAL history as the first African American Honor Grad of both his BUD/S and SQT classes. But this conversation goes beyond SEAL training. Q shares a blueprint for breaking generational cycles, finding a selfless “why,” and bridging political and social divides in a world that’s lost its balance. From his...
info_outline
Special Forces S4 EXCLUSIVE: Navy SEAL on Celebrity Near-Drowning & Quitting Hell Week | Jovon P. Quarles
The Two-Promises Podcast
What happens when the world’s most grueling military training is unleashed on celebrities? In Part 2 of our explosive series, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test instructor and retired Navy SEAL Jovon Quarles takes us behind the curtain of the show’s most dangerous evolution: facing their fears in the depths of the sea. Q reveals the harrowing, real-time details of a celebrity who, after being dropped from a plane 300 feet into a reservoir, suffered a shallow water blackout, forcing a dramatic rescue. But the danger isn't just for the recruits. Q shares his own terrifying story...
info_outline
Navy SEAL Instructor on Breaking Celebrity Egos | Jovon P Quarles "Q"
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does it take to break the ego of a world-famous celebrity? In this powerful interview, former Navy SEAL and Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test host Jovon P Quarles "Q" reveals the raw truth about training celebrities, the psychological differences between military recruits and A-listers, and the surprising nature of human grit. From being “cold-called” on Instagram to becoming a primary host on FOX’s hit show, Q shares how the Navy SEAL mindset strips away fame and glamour to expose the true character underneath. This is a deep dive into mental toughness, transition, and what...
info_outline
Navy SEAL Sniper: Career-Ending Injury & Building a Business Empire | Jeff Gum
The Two-Promises Podcast
What happens when the mission ends? For former Navy SEAL Sniper Jeff Gum, a devastating injury during a deployment forced him to answer that question years before he expected. It marked the end of a decorated career but the beginning of a new, purpose-driven life as an entrepreneur, adventurer, and advocate. In this powerful episode, Jeff sits down to discuss the unfiltered realities of his time in the SEAL Teams, from the brutal hierarchy of BUDS training to high-stakes operations in Fallujah. He details the moment his life changed forever on a rooftop in the Middle East and the grueling path...
info_outlineWhat happens when the world’s most grueling military training is unleashed on celebrities?
In Part 2 of our explosive series, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test instructor and retired Navy SEAL Jovon Quarles takes us behind the curtain of the show’s most dangerous evolution: facing their fears in the depths of the sea.
Q reveals the harrowing, real-time details of a celebrity who, after being dropped from a plane 300 feet into a reservoir, suffered a shallow water blackout, forcing a dramatic rescue.
But the danger isn't just for the recruits. Q shares his own terrifying story of blacking out 100 feet deep in the ocean during his own SEAL training. In a moment of raw honesty, he also reveals his biggest secret: he quit during Hell Week on his first attempt.
He breaks down the crushing mental failure and the incredible fire that drove him to return and become the first African American to graduate as the Honor Grad of his BUD/S class.
This is an unfiltered look at failure, resilience, and the unbreakable mindset required to become one of the world’s most elite warriors.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
-
Inside Special Forces Season 4: An exclusive, behind-the-scenes account of the terrifying plane drop and breath-holding challenge from the new season currently airing on FOX.
-
The Great Equalizer: Why water is the ultimate tool for breaking down a person's soul and revealing their true character, both in SEAL training and on the show.
-
Failure as a Fuel: How Jovon Quarles transformed the experience of quitting BUD/S into the motivation to come back and graduate at the top of his class.
-
The "Thinking Shooter": The most critical leadership trait Navy SEALs look for and how it's taught to celebrity recruits under extreme duress.
-
US vs. UK Special Forces: The surprising differences in training tactics between the Navy SEALs and the elite British SAS and SBS.
⏳ Timestamped Episode Highlights
[01:07] The Infamous Breath-Holding Challenge: Inside the "Great Equalizer."
[02:50] SEASON 4 EXCLUSIVE: The 300-Foot Plane Drop & Celebrity Panic.
[04:50] RESCUE: A Contestant Suffers a Shallow Water Blackout on Set.
[07:45] Q's Own Terrifying Blackout: 100 Feet Deep in the Ocean.
[10:50] Navy SEALs vs. British SAS: How Elite Training Differs.
[13:50] The Small Details That Matter: Noise Discipline and Gear Inspections.
[15:31] The Core of a Warrior: Leadership and Communication Under Fire.
[17:07] Q's Biggest Secret: "I Quit in the Middle of Hell Week."
[19:30] The Comeback: The Mindset of an Honor Grad.
[22:15] The Ultimate Motivation: What Drove Him to Push Past the Breaking Point.
📚 Resources Mentioned:
-
TV Show: Special Forces: World's Toughest Test (New Season 4 now airing on FOX and streaming on Hulu)
-
Theme Music: Hooks & The Huckleberries
🔗 CONNECT WITH JOVON P QUARLES
-
Instagram: @jovonpquarles
-
LinkedIn: Jovon P Quarles
-
Facebook: Jovon P. Quarles
🎧 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
💬 Support The Two Promises Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us grow and bring you more incredible conversations.
🔥 Don’t miss the stunning conclusion in Part 3!