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RE-POST:  In this episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers welcome Dr. Jordan Vaughn, the physician making waves from Alabama to Capitol Hill. Known for his controversial stance on the Covid shot and his scathing testimony before Congress, Dr. Vaughn reveals what government agencies deliberately ignored about vaccine injuries, myocarditis, and microvascular damage. He breaks down how elite athletes and everyday patients alike are still suffering from long Covid and shot-related complications—and why the venous system, not just arteries, holds the key to understanding these mysterious health collapses. From military readiness to medical betrayal, this episode cuts through the narrative with clarity, courage, and compassion. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Dr. Andrew Fox, author of Truth in the Age of Applause: How Stupidity Is Ruining the American Dream, for a provocative conversation about truth, morality, education, masculinity, politics and whether America is losing its ability to think for itself. We have more information at our fingertips than any generation in human history. So why does it sometimes seem like we’re getting worse at thinking? Fox argues that the problem isn’t intelligence. It’s what happens when intelligent people surrender their own moral judgment to the crowd. Drawing on theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings about Germany during the rise of Nazism, Fox explains what he means by “stupidity”: not a lack of intelligence, but the willingness of otherwise rational people to abandon independent judgment and conform to an ideology because everyone around them appears to accept it.  And Fox believes America is increasingly vulnerable to exactly that phenomenon. The conversation doesn’t shy away from cultural flashpoints. Fox takes aim at rapidly changing language around sex and gender, progressive politics entering children’s entertainment, identity politics, socialism, ideological conformity in universities and what he sees as America’s disappearing moral foundation. He argues that when truth becomes a popularity contest, it stops being truth and becomes performance.   But the criticism isn’t confined to the political left. When Ken asks about extremism on the right, Fox argues that conservatives can fall victim to ideological thinking too. He uses immigration as an example, saying that children brought illegally into America through no choice of their own should have a reasonable path toward legal status rather than being treated identically to people who knowingly violated immigration law as adults.  John, Ken and Dr. Fox explore: Why Americans may be losing the ability to think independentlyWhether universities teach students how to think or what to thinkWhy Fox believes critical thinking and civil dialogue need to return to classroomsGender, language and the changing definition of cultural normsSocialism, communism and political extremismWhy some Americans appear increasingly ashamed of their own countryThe decline of churches as America’s moral conscienceImmigration and what citizenship should meanWhy Fox believes both the extreme left and extreme right miss the pointMasculinity, family and the return of traditional rolesWhy younger Americans increasingly believe the American Dream is deadWhether social media rewards conformity over truthAnd what ordinary Americans can actually do about itThe American Dream also comes under the microscope. Fox challenges younger generations who believe it has become unattainable. His advice isn’t particularly fashionable: work harder, stop expecting everything immediately, spend less than you earn, cancel unnecessary subscriptions and accept that building a life takes time. He argues that previous generations didn’t begin adulthood with the lifestyle social media now presents as normal.  Perhaps the most important part of the conversation, though, is Fox’s argument for bringing back civil disagreement. Instead of teaching students the correct opinion, he wants schools and universities to force students to make an argument, support it with evidence, defend it against criticism—and remain capable of respecting the person sitting across from them. He believes those skills could begin being taught as early as first grade.  And when John puts him through The Ultimate Assist rapid fire, Fox doesn’t hesitate when asked for the biggest threat to independent thought: Universities.  This isn’t really a conversation about left versus right. It’s about something more fundamental: Can Americans still disagree, think independently and pursue truth even when the crowd doesn’t applaud them? 🎙️ Episode #90: Is Stupidity Destroying the American Dream? — with Dr. Andrew Fox Available on Rumble, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with former Navy SEAL and physician Dr. Kirk Parsley for a conversation that may completely change the way you think about sleep. We’ve been conditioned to admire the person who gets up earlier, works later and boasts that they’ll “sleep when they’re dead.” Dr. Parsley’s response? Keep doing that, and you may get there sooner. After serving as a Navy SEAL and later returning to the community as a physician, Parsley began noticing something disturbing among some of the toughest, most highly trained men in the world: declining testosterone, poor concentration, low motivation, worsening body composition, mood problems and deteriorating performance. The common denominator led him deep into the science of sleep.  Parsley argues that sleep isn’t simply downtime. It’s when the body performs much of the repair, recovery, hormone regulation and memory consolidation required to make tomorrow better than today. And he makes one particularly provocative claim: If your body needs eight hours and you’re consistently giving it six, you’re aging faster.  John, Ken and Dr. Parsley dive into questions almost everyone can relate to: Why do you wake up at 3 AM and struggle to fall back asleep? How much sleep do you actually need? Does caffeine really give you energy—or simply hide how tired you are? What role do cortisol and stress play? And can trying too hard to sleep actually be the very thing keeping you awake? Then the conversation gets even more provocative. Parsley explains how his work with Navy SEALs led him to question the routine use of Ambien. He describes what he observed after getting men off sleep medications and reducing alcohol use, including substantial changes in hormone markers in many of those he treated.  He also argues that drugs such as Ambien and Lunesta don’t reproduce normal sleep architecture in the way many people assume, describing the resulting state as closer to unconsciousness than genuine sleep.  The episode covers sleep, testosterone and growth hormone; cortisol and middle-of-the-night waking; caffeine and “sleep pressure”; melatonin and magnesium; alcohol and sleep quality; traumatic brain injuries among Navy SEALs; cold bedrooms and circadian rhythms; sleep trackers and whether obsessing over the numbers can make things worse; sleep apnea and CPAP; and even why GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and severe caloric restriction may interfere with sleep. Parsley also explains why consistency—roughly the same bedtime and wake time every day—is one of the most powerful tools available for improving sleep.  And for anyone staring at their Apple Watch, Oura Ring or other wearable every morning, Parsley has another controversial take: he says wearables may become more of a liability than a benefit for people who become obsessive about their sleep scores, and cautions that their estimates of REM and deep-sleep staging aren’t necessarily reliable.  From Navy SEALs and professional athletes to parents who simply can’t stay asleep, this episode asks a deceptively simple question: What if the thing standing between you and better health, performance and longevity isn’t another workout, supplement or drug — but another two hours in bed? 🎙️ Episode #89: Are You Aging 25% Faster Because You Don’t Sleep Enough? — with Dr. Kirk Parsley Available on Rumble, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers welcome back epidemiologist Nicolas Hulscher, MPH, for a provocative conversation about childhood vaccines, vaccinated-versus-unvaccinated health outcomes, MMR, mRNA technology, cancer, myocarditis, and the future of vaccine policy in America. Nicolas returns to the show with new research and some controversial conclusions. At the center of the conversation is a retrospective analysis of medical records from children within the Henry Ford Health system. Hulscher argues that the data raise serious questions about differences in chronic-disease diagnoses between vaccinated and unvaccinated children and says the findings warrant much greater scrutiny of the childhood vaccine schedule.  John and Ken challenge Nicolas on what those findings mean for parents. Are the apparent differences actually caused by vaccination? What are the tradeoffs of foregoing vaccines against diseases such as measles, mumps and polio? And has enough high-quality research been conducted to give parents the answers they deserve? Hulscher argues that current evidence warrants far greater caution, while acknowledging at points that some disease-specific associations cannot yet be established with certainty.  The conversation gets even more controversial when Nicolas discusses what he calls “turbo cancer.” He describes research he believes points toward unusually aggressive cancers following COVID-19 vaccination and lays out proposed biological mechanisms involving mRNA technology and spike-protein production. These interpretations remain contested, but Hulscher argues that the signals deserve much more investigation rather than dismissal.  John, Ken and Nicolas also explore: Vaccinated versus unvaccinated health outcomesWhy Nicolas is particularly concerned about the MMR vaccineWhether the childhood vaccine schedule has been adequately studied as a wholeMyocarditis and neurological adverse eventsThe debate surrounding “turbo cancers”How long vaccine-derived material may persist in the bodyWhether mRNA technology should continue to be developedWhat Nicolas believes regulators are getting wrongWhy he says he’s more concerned today than he was during his first appearanceToward the end of the episode, Nicolas discusses ongoing research into spike-protein reduction and proposed studies involving repurposed drugs in cancer patients, before explaining why he believes emerging biotechnology deserves far greater public scrutiny.  In rapid fire, Nicolas doesn’t hedge when John asks which vaccine is most misunderstood: “All of them.” And when asked whether mRNA technology should be studied harder or abandoned, his answer is equally unequivocal: Abandon it.  Whether you agree with his conclusions or strongly disagree, this episode asks questions that Nicolas Hulscher believes parents, physicians, researchers and regulators should be willing to confront. 🎙️ Episode #88: Are Vaccinated Children Really Healthier? — Nicolas Hulscher Returns Support the show

RE-POST; ORIGINALLY AIRED NOVEMBER 25TH, 2025: On today’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with the legendary “Father of Function,” Gary Gray, for a conversation that cuts straight against the grain of modern healthcare and performance science. Gray argues that today’s medical and athletic systems are trapped in a symptom-first agenda, ignoring the real root causes behind pain, injury, and the explosion of chronic dysfunction in both kids and elite athletes. From calling out outdated physical therapy methods to exposing how schools and sports programs have abandoned true movement literacy, Gray lays out a radically different vision for human health — one built on biomechanics, curiosity, and reclaiming our natural ability to move. He also reveals Free to Play, his nationwide plan to rebuild children’s health from the ground up by teaching foundational movement patterns and generosity literacy — a direct challenge to the system he believes is failing America’s next generation. A provocative, energizing episode that questions the old rules and spotlights a movement expert determined to rewrite the agenda for health, youth development, and human potential. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, for a provocative conversation about vaccines, informed consent, medical freedom, censorship, and who should ultimately have authority over the medical decisions we make for ourselves and our children. Barbara has spent more than four decades challenging America’s approach to vaccine policy after her son experienced what she describes as a severe reaction to a DPT vaccination in 1982. That experience launched a lifetime of advocacy centered around one principle: no individual should be forced to accept a medical risk without voluntary and informed consent.  And Barbara believes America still hasn’t learned that lesson. She makes the case for eliminating vaccine mandates altogether, arguing that medical, religious and philosophical exemptions still leave government or medical authorities with the ultimate power to determine whether an individual can refuse vaccination. Instead, she wants informed consent and bodily autonomy explicitly protected in public-health law.  John, Ken and Barbara dive into some of the most controversial questions surrounding vaccination today, including: Should all vaccine mandates be eliminated?Has vaccination become a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to account for biological differences?Are Americans getting enough information to genuinely give informed consent?What did COVID reveal about government public-health powers?What does the future of mRNA technology mean for medicine?Why was the National Vaccine Information Center removed from major social-media platforms?Should parents be able to reject a vaccine recommendation without being pressured or shamed?Are expanding public-health surveillance powers threatening medical privacy?And has society become so committed to vaccination that questioning it has become almost taboo?Fisher also discusses the censorship her organization experienced during COVID. She says NVIC was removed from Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, and later lost access to PayPal; she argues that those actions demonstrate how difficult it became to publicly challenge prevailing vaccine policy during the pandemic.  One particularly provocative moment comes when the conversation turns to whether society’s faith in vaccines has taken on characteristics of a religion. Barbara goes even further: she describes it as a “cult,” arguing that people have been conditioned to accept certain assumptions about vaccination without adequately questioning them.  The conversation ultimately comes back to something much bigger than vaccines: Who owns your body? Barbara argues that medical freedom isn’t about telling people whether they should or shouldn’t vaccinate. It’s about having access to information, understanding potential benefits and risks, knowing your own medical and family history, and being free to make the final decision without coercion. After more than 40 years fighting this battle, Barbara leaves listeners with one simple piece of advice: “Before you take a risk, find out what it is.”  🎙️ Episode #87: Are Vaccine Mandates a Violation of Our Human Rights? — with Barbara Loe Fisher Available on Rumble, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Support the show

RE-POST: ORIGINAL AIR DATE: APRIL 23RD, 2025 This week on The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with returning guests Shawn Needham and Karl Lambert—two health freedom trailblazers who’ve broken away from the traditional medical model to champion a new path toward healing, autonomy, and truth. From bioidentical hormones and ozone therapy to the rise of alternative health cooperatives, this episode unpacks how Needham and Lambert are helping people exit the broken insurance-based system and reclaim control over their wellness. Hear stories from the front lines of the Medical Freedom Northwest Conference, the eye-opening power of like-minded community, and why these practitioners say, “We were MAHA before MAHA was cool.” If you’ve ever questioned mainstream healthcare or wondered how to live with more vitality outside the sick-care system—this one’s for you. 🎧 Plus: The truth about COVID vaccine injuries and media silenceHow DMSO and other biohacks are changing outcomesWhy freedom in medicine is a non-negotiable right 👉 Tune in and discover what it truly means to Make American Medicine Great Again. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, Brianne Dressen returns to sit down with John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers for an explosive update on COVID vaccine injuries, React19, Anthony Fauci, and the information now emerging about what federal health officials were discussing behind closed doors. Brianne’s story will already be familiar to longtime listeners. After volunteering for a COVID vaccine clinical trial, she says she experienced a severe reaction following her first dose and was later studied at the NIH and diagnosed with post-vaccine neuropathy. Her experience ultimately led her to help establish React19, a nonprofit advocating for people who report serious and lasting injuries following COVID vaccination.  But this time, Brianne isn’t simply returning to tell her story. She’s bringing updates. Brianne discusses recently surfaced records involving Anthony Fauci and other senior health officials and argues that they provide new insight into what government agencies knew about reported adverse reactions during the early vaccine rollout. She describes the conversations she says were happening among figures including Fauci, Francis Collins, Janet Woodcock and Peter Marks—and asks why the public wasn’t given more information about the injuries her organization was reporting.  John, Ken and Brianne also dive into the ongoing investigations led by Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, the legal protections surrounding pandemic countermeasures, vaccine-injury compensation, and why Brianne says many injured Americans are still struggling financially and medically years later.  The conversation explores Brianne’s frustration that even under new leadership, she believes changing the culture inside America’s health agencies is proving far more difficult than many expected. As she puts it, the problem goes far beyond any single individual.  Brianne also gives a deeply personal update on her own health. After once falling below 100 pounds and struggling with debilitating symptoms, she says her condition today is dramatically improved. She shares what she’s learned about pacing, sleep, nutrition, stress, complementary therapies and—perhaps most importantly—having patience and compassion for yourself during chronic illness.  What did Fauci and other officials know? When did they know it? Why do vaccine-injured Americans still say they’re fighting for recognition? And after five years, are we finally beginning to get answers? 🎙️ Episode #86: What Did Fauci Know — and When Did He Know It? Brianne Dressen Returns Available on Rumble, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Pastor Tony Spell, whose refusal to close his church during the COVID pandemic made headlines around the world.  Pastor Spell recounts the events that led to multiple arrests, house arrest, criminal charges, and years of legal battles after continuing to hold in-person church services despite government shutdown orders. He explains why he believed closing the church violated his religious convictions, how his congregation grew throughout the pandemic, and what ultimately happened when his case reached the Louisiana Supreme Court. The conversation covers: Why he refused to close his churchHis arrests and house arrestGovernment mandates during COVIDReligious liberty and constitutional rightsFear, courage, and civil disobedienceThe role of churches during times of crisisWhy he believes Americans must remain vigilant in protecting freedomWhether you agree with his conclusions or not, Pastor Spell offers a firsthand account of one of the most controversial church-state conflicts of the COVID era. 🎙️ Episode #85: Pastor Tony Spell — They Arrested Me for Holding Church Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with elite performance coach Chase Jackson, founder of Wired to Win, for a fascinating conversation about what truly separates good athletes from great ones.  While most performance programs focus on strength and conditioning, Chase believes the real advantage begins somewhere else: the nervous system. Drawing from his work with elite athletes and high performers, Chase explains why optimizing the brain, feet, breathing patterns, hormones, and identity may unlock levels of athletic performance most coaches never address. The conversation explores: Why elite athletes often train the wrong thingsThe surprising role your toes play in speed, balance, and powerEngineering identity for peak performanceBreathwork and nervous system regulationWhy confidence can be trainedBuilding resilience under pressureRecovery, sleep, and high-performance habitsWhy mindset without physiology isn’t enoughWhether you’re an elite athlete, weekend warrior, coach, or simply looking to perform better in everyday life, this episode offers practical insights into becoming “wired to win.” 🎙️ Episode #84: What If Elite Athletes Have Been Training All Wrong? – with Chase Jackson Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with former NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko for one of the most personal conversations yet about professional sports, COVID-era policies, medical freedom, and life after football. Breiden shares his firsthand experience entering the NFL as a young player during the height of the pandemic, describing the pressure he felt as teams, agents, and league policies increasingly centered around COVID vaccination status. He reflects on the difficult position many young athletes faced: chase the dream they’d worked their entire lives for—or risk losing it by standing on principle.  As the conversation unfolds, Breiden discusses health concerns he says developed after receiving the COVID shot, why he sought independent medical opinions, and why he ultimately decided to speak publicly about his experience despite knowing the criticism it could bring.   John, Ken, and Breiden explore: What life inside NFL locker rooms was really like during COVIDThe pressure young players felt regarding vaccinationWhy some veteran players could speak freely while younger players could notMedical freedom, informed consent, and player representationLife after the NFL and discovering purpose beyond footballHelping troubled youth and creating second chances through workforce developmentWhy legacy matters more than fame or moneyWhat Breiden hopes the next generation of athletes learns from his experienceThe episode closes on a hopeful note as Breiden explains why his greatest passion today isn’t football—it’s helping young people realize they have choices, opportunities, and a purpose far beyond sports. His message is simple: success isn’t defined by one career, but by the lives you impact along the way.  Whether you’re a sports fan, parent, athlete, or someone interested in leadership, resilience, and personal conviction, this episode offers an honest conversation about standing firm when the stakes couldn’t be higher. 🎙️ Episode #83: Did the NFL Force Players to Take the COVID Shot? – with Breiden Fehoko Available on Rumble, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Chris Downey, founder of VAX Calc, for an important conversation about informed consent, parental responsibility, and how families can make confident healthcare decisions in an increasingly complex medical system.  Chris believes one of the biggest challenges facing parents today isn’t simply deciding whether to vaccinate—it’s navigating a healthcare system that often pressures families to make decisions before they feel fully informed. Drawing on years of research and software development, he explains why he created VAX Calc to help parents prepare before they ever walk into a pediatrician’s office.  The conversation explores: Why informed consent starts long before the doctor’s appointmentThe pressure many parents feel during well-child visitsWhy Chris believes healthcare decisions should be individualized—not one-size-fits-allHow parents can build their own trusted healthcare “roundtable”The importance of asking better questions instead of accepting automatic recommendationsHow artificial intelligence could help families make more informed decisions in the futureWhy courage, intuition, and personal responsibility matter when making healthcare choicesJohn also shares several personal experiences navigating vaccine discussions with physicians, while Ken discusses preparing the next generation of parents to confidently advocate for their children. Throughout the conversation, the focus remains on empowering families to think critically, ask questions, and make decisions they believe are best for their own children.  Whether you’re expecting your first child, raising young children, or simply interested in medical freedom and informed consent, this episode offers practical strategies for becoming a more informed advocate for your family’s health. 🎙️ Episode #82: Are Parents Losing the Right to Choose? – with Chris Downey (VAX Calc) Available on Rumble, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with longtime acupuncturist and performance specialist Dr. Bob Greczanik for a fascinating conversation that challenges the way we think about healing, health, and human performance. After more than three decades treating everyone from everyday patients to elite professional athletes, Dr. Bob shares why he believes the body is capable of far more healing than most people realize—and why modern medicine often focuses on managing illness rather than optimizing health. He explains how his journey into acupuncture, ancient healing traditions, and performance science completely changed the way he approaches patient care.  EP 81 EDIT DR BOB .txt The conversation explores: Why acupuncture is about much more than pain reliefThe connection between breathing, the nervous system, and peak performanceWorking with professional athletes from the NBA, NFL, MLS, and beyondWhy mindset and consciousness can influence recoveryAncient healing methods that are still being used todayHow stress quietly affects nearly every system in the bodyPerformance enhancement without relying on stimulantsWhat elite performers understand about focus, recovery, and flowWhy Dr. Bob believes every person has the potential to function at a much higher levelJohn also shares personal experiences working with Dr. Bob, including how his son avoided surgery after a broken hand and recovered far faster than expected, while discussing his own treatment experiences and what drew him back over the years.  EP 81 EDIT DR BOB .txt Whether you’re an athlete looking for an edge, someone dealing with chronic pain, or simply curious about the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern performance science, this episode offers a thought-provoking perspective on what it really means to heal. 🎙️ Episode #81: Could We’ve Been Thinking About Healing All Wrong? — with Dr. Bob Greczanik Available on Rumble, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Support the show

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with Papa John’s founder John Schnatter for a wide-ranging and unfiltered conversation about business, food, freedom, cancel culture, regenerative farming, and what happens when the people who build companies get replaced by people who only manage them. Schnatter reflects on the early days of Papa John’s, explaining how the company grew from a simple commitment to better ingredients, better pizza, and taking care of people into a global brand with thousands of stores. He credits focus, humility, fundamentals, hard work, and a strong store-level culture as the real engine behind the company’s success.  But the conversation quickly moves into more controversial territory. Schnatter argues that many great companies lose their way when bureaucracy, corporate boards, private equity, and short-term financial thinking begin to overshadow the people doing the real work. He shares his frustration with what he believes happened to Papa John’s after his departure, saying the brand was built “brick by brick” and later damaged by leadership disconnected from the stores, employees, and fundamentals that made it successful.   The episode also explores Schnatter’s next chapter: Papa Farms, his regenerative farming project focused on soil health, nutrient density, clean food, and helping people live healthier lives. He explains why he believes better soil leads to better food, why processed food is contributing to declining health, and how his farm is being used as a real-world experiment in improving quality of life through food, water, movement, and community.   John, Ken, and Schnatter discuss: How Papa John’s grew from a small operation into a global pizza brandWhy “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing”The difference between builders, doers, talkers, and bureaucratsWhat corporate America often gets wrong about frontline workersWhy Schnatter believes private equity and short-term thinking can destroy brandsRegenerative farming, soil health, nutrient-dense food, and clean ingredientsProcessed food, Big Ag, Big Pharma, and the modern health crisisCancel culture and what it’s like to live through a media firestormThe importance of focus, incentives, humility, antifragility, and truthSchnatter also opens up about cancel culture, saying he “lived it” and describing how quickly a media narrative can take hold when someone with influence speaks their mind.  Support the show

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