Navy Seal “MrBallen” Reveals Near Death Experience, Rescue Missions, & Millionaire Mindset

Follow @MrBallen On KZbin - Let's discuss how MrBallen joined the Navy Seals, how to develop a millionaire mindset, and achieving the top 1% - Enjoy! NEW: Join us at www.icedcoffeehour.club for premium content - Enjoy!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - INTRO
04:52 - MrBallen's first fight
12:58 - MrBallen's CRAZY college days (riots and more)
20:55 - How he became a Navy Seal
42:29 - Deployment in Afghanistan
01:14:01 - From Seal to KZbinr
01:26:51 - The Dyatlov Pass Incident
01:40:40 - Where MrBallen finds his stories
01:45:36 - The backend of "Ballen Studios"
01:54:41 - Some Ballen relationship advice
02:01:26 - MrBallen's kids don't listen to his stories
02:04:17 - Is blissful ignorance a good thing?
02:16:27 - The MLB of storytelling
*Some of the links and other products that appear on this video are from companies which Graham Stephan will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Graham Stephan is part of an affiliate network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.

[@MrBallen]

Thank you for having me on the show!

[@bernardobila4336]

We love you Mr Ballen

[@gerardroll6468]

Happy Halloween to you, your family & all of your subscribers celebrating it around the world 🎃👻🎃. Take care, stay safe & all the best… From Australia 🇦🇺✌️😎🇦🇺

[@theluchakabuto5206]

Found your channel a month ago and binged literally every video you posted in the last 3 years lol. Thanks for your dedication to the strange dark and mysterious delivered in story format

[@ItachiUchiha60777]

Glad to hear more about u as a person cause most times i and many people forget your a person who has a life outside youtube literally while listening to this I didnt realize u were talking half the time because of how different u sound while not in story telling narrative. Yeah really injoy your content tc man.

[@peanutbuttawaffle]

youre awesome man. thank you for your work, and showing us young men civilians (who similarly had 1.- gpa’s) a good role model. thank you sir.

[@wxstemytime]

Seeing him in an interview and being exactly how you'd expect is so refreshing

[@jasonmalone1040]

It’s human nature to rebel

[@kharn7932]

I have literally been praying for this

[@BananaWormski]

Precisely

[@picilocarnal]

😻

[@jasminejoy_373]

Hi, I’m a 22 year old woman and I’m training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I’m a civilian and I want to go enlisted What advice would you give for women that want to be SEALs? If you had to go to BUD/S again, how would you prepare differently? What books or workout programs would you recommend? How does the SEAL community feel about women joining them? Do you think women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs? Most female SEAL candidates struggle with carrying the boats and logs, doing pull ups, having grip strength and completing the “Dirty Name” on the obstacle course. Also, a lot of female SEAL candidates break their legs or develop stress fractures. Women have smaller and thinner bones than men.

[@aceman8583]

The irony that John becomes a storyteller as his career from first not wanting to be involved in anything academic related going into college and now picking up the same passion as his family but in a different way is a crazy journey

[@ljb8157]

And he didn't need a lick of college! Imagine that!

[@bepplersauce]

He graduated from college though. ?? He went to a community college after he got sent home from the state college, then finished his 4 year degree back at the same university at the beginning. @@ljb8157

[@user-gk3uo5ev7n]

its a full circle of life lol

[@FakeAssHandsomeMcGee_]

This. It is pretty incredible how the family seems to have this trait them being Pulitzer Prize winners and all.

[@Joeysaladslover]

@@ljb8157he tells stories on KZbin bro I agree with your point but this is not the best example lol

[@willienelsongonzalez4609]

Fascinating interview. Very sad to hear he got so much flak for using his military experiences to build a career whilst trying to help military veterans cross the chasm from military service to civilian life. I genuinely wish him even more success, I thank him and his community for their service and I wish his family good will.

[@garywright9715]

Is there a code either unspoken or known? Also perception may play a part. Never being in even remotely close to what he and his brothers in arms faced, all I can do is guess. And guessing hardly explains what I have no clue about. Untill soldiers want to give the insight to why this is persona non grata, I like 99% of us can only guess.

[@VoodooActual]

​@garywright9715 it was more or less ego. operators, granted they earned it, are usually like that, extremely tight knit and keep outsiders out

[@f.b.l.9813]

@@garywright9715 nah, not to knock on the Seals as a whole, 1 of them would probably be able to beat up a 1000 of me but "some" Navy Seals are just known as the primadonnas of the Special Forces world. you usually hear drama from a few former or active Navy Seals, rarely if ever from SAS, Delta Force, MARSOC etc.

[@NatishapollyRichardson]

​

[@NatishapollyRichardson]

​97 😂The

[@walterdesantiago7675]

Mr. Ballen, even if the SEAL community doesn’t accept you, the veteran community accepts you. As a veteran I feel proud of see you and other veterans succeed.

[@djquinn11]

What do you mean by the Navy Seal community doesn’t accept him?

[@DanOfTheHill]

They essentially ejected him for talking too much about his service when he first got his start on social media. In the special operations community, it is generally frowned upon to talk about everything you did while you were in and drawing attention to yourself, which John owns up to here. As someone who was a part of Marine Recon, a similar community, I can confirm this is the case. It was always kind of an in-joke that a SEAL contract came with a book and movie deal.

[@erismana2105]

@@DanOfTheHill Now they all do it bro-vet style

[@ctakitimu]

@@DanOfTheHill Would the Black Rifle Coffee guys also get the same from their respective communities?

[@ccormx]

I’d like to hear from other SEAL/MARINE/DONTSPEAKOF members on this opinion, because I find it hard to believe he’s “not accepted” by anyone. As a Shawn Ryan fan.

[@MacBobby1408]

This dude got me through the darkest time of my life. Me and my gf lost my baby at birth in early 2020, and I discovered him while in the hospital. Due to Covid you could not leave and come back. So it was just me & her in this room for 5 days during the darkest time you can imagine. I found him, and we watched alllllll of his videos. He’s been my KZbin GOAT ever since. I told him all of this in a super long Twitter DM because I just wanted so badly to express my gratitude to him. I thought he would likely never see it, but he actually responded to it, and was super down to earth. Great man, and a role model that kids should look up to.

[@laurarominger2073]

I am so sorry for your loss. Glad he helped you and your gf

[@MM91845]

Yes! He got me through Covid too. Listened to Ballen while doing puzzles, walking, and working at home.

[@joeswanson537]

It's crazy how one person so far away from the listeners can affect so many lives.

[@MacBobby1408]

@@joeswanson537 man I tell everyone I fully credit my 2 little dogs who never left our side, would comfort us, and they were there licking my face every time i broke down which I did a whole lot of times. And I credit MrBallen for truly saving my life. His videos made it so I had a real escape, because he always has me locked in to every story he tells. The amount of combined hours that I escaped through his videos truly saved me. Sadly that sounds very cliché, but in my case it really is the honest to god truth. I’ve been through a lot of hard times in my life, but I had never felt pain like that before, and I pray to god I never will again.

[@amandastein1213]

Oh wow. So incredibly sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine the pain and grief and feeling trapped due to covid. He’s so cool and answers DMs and comments often.

[@natc2191]

Mr, Ballen, I'm a navy vet, myself. Not a deal, but I'm a huge fan and appreciate your service, so much. From this point forward, I'm going to not only enjoy, but respect the stories you tell. You're the best.

[@kimmcdonald8443]

Thank you for choosing to serve our country sir! God bless'

[@deepstateofmind7]

It is a big deal when you voluntarily risk your life and give up your own freedom to serve your country and fellow citizens. Us non-military civilians greatly appreciate your service. I never served but thought about it long and hard when I was younger and wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take in life. Both my grandfathers served, on in the Army and one in the Merchant Marines, so I'm always proud of them as well. One of them, the Merchant Marine is still alive and had his 100th birthday last October!

[@Rusty_Shank]

Thank you for your service sir! God Bless

[@user-hn8cu4rg7z]

So humble and genuine.....like this guy and am glad he has prevailed and is thriving in spite of all the silly ostracism.

[@tannerbenson7864]

Thank you for your service to this great country, sir! Wishing you the best!

[@johnnyamerica4336]

I’ve watched a LOT of interviews, but this conversation with John is the most interesting interview I have ever watched. He has a voice that’s easy to listen to, he speaks clear and concise. You can just tell he is an honest man which adds even more credence to stories. His channel rocks!! From one USN to another, “…. fair winds and following seas, John” !

[@MrBallen]

Thank you!!

[@angusmatheson8906]

Mr Ballen is to listen to, Kermit Pedo-son is NOT.

[@user-od3ie7bi6u]

As I work at a cabinet factory in South Dakota, 10hrs a day, listening to your podcast is my sanity. Absolutely love all the interesting stories. Thank you so much for your humble service ❤🎉.

[@AmicheleStyle]

Nicely said, mister... Thank you, thank you, thank you, for YOUR service as well, buddy... Blessings and Gratitude---ALWAYS!!! AMEN!!!

[@elonsmusk1185]

Mr Ballen being on Graham’s podcast is the collaboration we never knew we needed until we got it!!

[@Theogvineofthedead]

Who is ghram? Ghram Hancock?

[@WillChizzleMyNizzle]

Didn’t even know it was an option. I did a triple take.

[@leviknight21]

Dude its insane!!! I know right am still in awe! 😂

[@mk-apache6161]

Straight TF up

[@frankyrodriguezcomedy]

Right !! Such a good collaboration!!

[@jeffgee6319]

The way he speaks about his family, and especially his wife, is moving. Dude loves the fuck outta his family. Massive amounts of respect for this guy. Massive.

[@stardustgirl2904]

Why use the F word in this context! Older people don't understand why younger people use profanity, and want to speak like criminals. We don't understand the lack of respect, in normal comments or conversation! You can say whatever you want, but know that swearing excludes people from wanting to listen to you or your content!

[@BlowinLoud8799]

​@@stardustgirl2904Go join the military then ask yourself, "was my comment fxkn stupid?" (Hint: It is)

[@derbohnebean373]

@stardustgirl2904 Younger people dont understand boomers getting a panty wad over someone swearing. Who really cares, like really. Just get over it, go cry about someone saying a swear word on a website made for the adolescence. Stay sheltered, poor soul

[@derbohnebean373]

@@stardustgirl2904 also notice how your reply has 0 likes, and the one you are trying to bash ( why bash his comment when he was just professing his respect? it shouldnt matter what vernacular he uses) has over 200. Youre the odd one out Karen.

[@derbohnebean373]

@@BlowinLoud8799 omg stop swearing it makes my p**sy bleed

[@JustAnAverageWoman69]

My father had a purple heart. He joined the Army at age 17 (my grandfather signed for him) and fought in the Korean War. He was shot in the back. I remember when I was very small and noticed the big indentation in his back for the first time. Thank you to all veterans. You are very brave and so, so important to our country.

[@braydenhale6730]

Dude John is literally so calm. The way he tells everything with a smile or a laugh afterwards, like wow

[@kaylaperez5247]

Getting to know Mr. Ballen on this level is a privilege. This was amazing

[@alina1216]

It’s amazing to see what goes on “behind the scenes” of our favorite KZbinrs!! Mr.Ballen is my favorite for sure !

[@Tina-qc8wq]

I agree, he's amazing

[@kokoBuSiLiCa]

It's the first time I'm seeing Mr.Ballen as a guest in a podcast - have to say that this is the most pleasant surprise I've seen on my feed in a while. Mr.Ballen is a LEGEND!

[@1godaboveALL]

❤Yeah MAN! I think I've been subbed since he was tryna reach 10,000 Subs, then like 2 weeks later he was tryna hit 1Mill.! 🤣 I think this might be the first Podcast as a guest that he's done actually. Well, if not, it's the first for me too. It's weird how we might feel like we know the guy personally having watched him for so long. He's just a real straight up guy, and super talented at story telling. I'm pretty much current and looking forward to the next one. I don't know what to sign up for in order to get the Podcast that he's doing now though. Any suggestions? Thanks for sharing!😁👍

[@dlfndva]

John, as a disabled, chronic pain patient and true crime lover and someone who loves a good story, bring able to see/ hear you this way is so meaningful. I've been listening/ watching you since the beginning. Multiple episodes a week etc. I love how much you, your family and your organization has grown. I'm a huge fan and have so much respect for your talent and all the good you put into the world. Thank you for this glimpse into how you became the you we love to listen to. Your videos and podcasts have helped me through the really bad days with distracting from the pain to being my favorite storyteller to listen to when I'm working. Keep up the amazing work. Much love to you and your amazing family and team!!

[@phoenixmorrison1288]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@katethewholenesshomeembody6024]

As someone who is a wife of an operator, there is ABSOLUTELY an energy you can pick out, it’s a magnetism and yeah….the hyper vigilance is one of the biggest adjustments my husband had to face when we started having kids. Loved hearing John’s story more in depth. 💛

[@No_ReGretzky99]

Thanks for yalls services ❤️ yes you held fort down why dude was defending our freedom

[@Dope_One]

As a military veteran myself, it’s always great to see another veteran like Mr. Ballen become successful . His KZbin content mixed with his story telling has gotten me through some tough times and I give my upmost respect. I also think it’s stupid and hypocritical of the SEAL community to criticize Mr. Ballen when they have made books, movies, and podcasts based on their experiences and also profiting from it. It’s way overdone and cringe in my opinion.

[@dudeybagz]

And the thing that grinds my gears is that mr Ballendoesnt advertise the fact he’s a seal.

[@BingleDOop]

Most of the people making money off of their experience like that are looked down on. It's not hypocrisy, the larger SEAL community isn't a big fan of those people either.

[@bigdick9869]

@@dudeybagzI’ve watched all his videos since he started Utube and he’s mentions many many times he’s a navy seal and even made a specific video just about being a navy seal. And look how much they talked about being navy seals. Yeah he may not “advertise” being a navy seal but he does mention he was a navy seal many times. And I’m a fan, love the dude just be real

[@alexsungnyc]

Wow there are seals that criticize ballen? I know there are some seals that also criticize goggins but it's crazy how much hate they have for their brothers.

[@ericu9397]

His channel helped you with your case of fobbit PTSD? Lol. No one cares that you served.

[@Izabehl]

Mr. Ballen is ADHD friendly. He is the only storyteller I know that can hold my attention without breaking focus story after story.

[@phoenixfire2578]

Yes he is. 😂 Mr Ballen and AJ from The Why Files are the only 2 channels that keep my attention.

[@Izabehl]

@@phoenixfire2578 I have not heard of AJ or The Why Files. I will have to check that out :)

[@thejaded]

That is actually. The fact he gets your attention is talent.. His stories are second to none. 😮

[@simonearchibald2664]

Yep, fellow autisic, ADHD he calms my sleep deprived head! 😂

[@Izabehl]

@@simonearchibald2664, agree. I listen to him in the daytime while at work and fall asleep to Let's Read at night.

[@Suzi195]

I found Mr. Ballen while I was in bed almost 24/7, .dealing with a serious illness. KZbin and my Aussie Shepherd were my only companions for several years. The Mr. Ballen show was something I could look forward to and count on for distraction from my own stuff. Fell in love with his show and never missed a story --sometimes twice.❤ Thank God, I've been in remission for several weeks, and I'm still a huge fan. I noticed this interview while scrolling today and had to watch so i could hear his story. He was a life saver for me at a time I really needed something to count on. Watching your show about him was awesome. I subscribed to your show today and look forward to seeing you two.

[@jennifers.3818]

I love how honest he is, I think thats what so many love about him. Hes not sugar coating anything, just telling it like it is. Hes real and had real life experiences

[@TheGreatMrBill]

I love his stories even more because he doesn't exaggerate. He just tells it how it is and it makes them even more relatable as a human.

[@jasminejoy_373]

Hi, I’m a 22 year old woman and I’m training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I’m a civilian and I want to go enlisted What advice would you give for women that want to be SEALs? If you had to go to BUD/S again, how would you prepare differently? What books or workout programs would you recommend? How does the SEAL community feel about women joining them? Do you think women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs? Most female SEAL candidates struggle with carrying the boats and logs, doing pull ups, having grip strength and completing the “Dirty Name” on the obstacle course. Also, a lot of female SEAL candidates break their legs or develop stress fractures. Women have smaller and thinner bones than men.

[@schishne7546]

@@jasminejoy_373 i think thats something you have to ask John Ballen directly via one of the social media sites he's on

[@rickjames420]

He definitely does. He's even admitted to exaggerating stories 😂

[@Yourmom-ww1sp]

@@jasminejoy_373honestly, you probably won’t even make selection as a women. No dis to your physical acumen but very unlikely you’ll even gets selected for BUDS

[@jasminejoy_373]

@@Yourmom-ww1sp You don’t get “selected” for BUD/S, you apply for and earn a SEAL contract. The SEALSWCC scout team told me that nine women have entered the SEAL pipeline since 2014. There’s a woman in BUD/S right now, she made it to first phase.

[@debbiestarman4485]

He not only tells good stories, he IS a great story.

[@devinbalint4916]

Well said!

[@jasminejoy_373]

Hi, I’m a 22 year old woman and I’m training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I’m a civilian and I want to go enlisted What advice would you give for women that want to be SEALs? If you had to go to BUD/S again, how would you prepare differently? What books or workout programs would you recommend? How does the SEAL community feel about women joining them? Do you think women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs? Most female SEAL candidates struggle with carrying the boats and logs, doing pull ups, having grip strength and completing the “Dirty Name” on the obstacle course. Also, a lot of female SEAL candidates break their legs or develop stress fractures. Women have smaller and thinner bones than men.

[@viviromero1650]

I already had so much respect for Mr ballen for what he’s accomplished through his career, but after watching this and everything he endured AND seeing that he turned his whole life around to be who he is PLUS an amazing father and husband. Just wow.

[@leftymike8730]

These guys do a great job of letting the guest speak. They just sat back and let the interview unfold, really outstanding!

[@Meeks_skeeM]

John is so wholesome and he's the definition of a human being. Love this man's stories

[@Peasant_in_a_tree]

What i cant fathom, is the navy seals that are coming at him. Its alot too i guess... Because his fame.... Jealousy is an ugly trait...

[@Jingling-MelO]

​@@Peasant_in_a_treemy assumption is that it doesn't have to do with jealousy as much as the sensitivity of the job. I think it's frowned upon to share any details of the experience (from training, to deployment, to personnel). I mean it is America's top task team so if it were me, I wouldn't want any details being shared. I wouldn't hate on someone who did, but I can understand why other seals wouldn't want someone on social media sharing too much.

[@brahtrumpwonbigly7309]

@@Jingling-MelO That's not what's going on. Even if it were, they give a free pass to some, so they could selectively enforce that for Ballen as well.

[@jasminejoy_373]

Hi, I’m a 22 year old woman and I’m training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I’m a civilian and I want to go enlisted What advice would you give for women that want to be SEALs? If you had to go to BUD/S again, how would you prepare differently? What books or workout programs would you recommend? How does the SEAL community feel about women joining them? Do you think women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs? Most female SEAL candidates struggle with carrying the boats and logs, doing pull ups, having grip strength and completing the “Dirty Name” on the obstacle course. Also, a lot of female SEAL candidates break their legs or develop stress fractures. Women have smaller and thinner bones than men.

[@WinkyWave]

John is such a REAL person. I have such respect for his transparency and humble honesty. I thoroughly enjoyed this interview (the 2 guys were so respectful of what he had to say- very good interviewing skills!) I’m in awe of anyone who’s ever deployed and served our country like this. Very thankful for all of you service people, may God bless you all!

[@Tina-qc8wq]

I agree 💯

[@wolfyeverywhere]

He’s a good story teller 😉

[@missmissy_90]

Winky, Best comment ❤

[@Zyryne1]

As soon as he said "in a story format" my brain did the Windows start up noise and I thought I was about to hear a story. Lol. 😊❤

[@jburton413]

This was the best interview I’ve seen in a long long time across the boat…. Wow…all around A+++ John B. Allen, thank you for being you and most importantly Happy Veterans Day brother! Your service was/is greatly appreciated 🙏

[@A.Useless.Goddess]

john is an incredible person. he is so charasmatic without even trying. love that dude

[@maeonmars9357]

Man, he's so straight forward and humble. I really find that to be almost more impressive than him having been a Navy Seal.

[@michaelbrowning4294]

I am a Native American storyteller. Mr. Ballen's story telling ability brings you into the story. You can easily "see" what he is saying as if you are there. He is a master of his craft. Hoka Hey Mr. Ballen and from one sailor to another, thank you for your service.

[@leonardhill4440]

Tuscarora here…

[@abbie2703]

Ditto

[@TeddyLovesAxl]

Navy veteran here 🖐🏻 I’m proud to have served in the same Navy as MrBallen. Although I’m 20yrs older 🫡

[@LivingtheDeadLife]

Thank you for your service.

[@Camaroz713]

Thank you for your service.

[@jenb6051]

Been a fan and subscriber of MrBallen for over a year. Hearing his personal story, how humble and grounded he is about his time in the military and the truly endearing way he speaks of his wife makes me like him even more. Thank you for your service, John. You are an amazing human. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

[@Newenglandsign]

John Ballen might be my favorite celebrity right now. So down to Earth and such a cool guy.

[@ThePayneFamilyFarm2013]

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to find this video of talking with Mr. Ballen. I've been listening to him for the past 3 years. He has gotten me through too many surgeries, procedures, and other necessary issues. He is such a great story teller. He has introduced me to some of my favorite books (411). I hope that one day he will write one of his own, of which I will be the first in line!! Thanks for giving his fans an opportunity to hear his story. Mr. B, thank you for your service to our country. I pray that God blesses you as much as you have blessed us!! ❤❤

[@dogsarethecutest]

You can see how focused the two hosts are when listening to Mr.Ballen talking about his own story. He's truly an amazing story-teller.

[@picilocarnal]

And their contributions are on point.

[@jasminejoy_373]

Hi, I’m a 22 year old woman and I’m training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I’m a civilian and I want to go enlisted What advice would you give for women that want to be SEALs? If you had to go to BUD/S again, how would you prepare differently? What books or workout programs would you recommend? How does the SEAL community feel about women joining them? Do you think women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs? Most female SEAL candidates struggle with carrying the boats and logs, doing pull ups, having grip strength and completing the “Dirty Name” on the obstacle course. Also, a lot of female SEAL candidates break their legs or develop stress fractures. Women have smaller and thinner bones than men.

[@thejaded]

​​@@picilocarnalFr! Usually you'd see people interject on podcastw but they actively let him tell his stories. These dudes were raised right

[@thejaded]

​@@jasminejoy_373Post this fr, not in comments - This is interesting

[@sadhu7191]

For real I wouldn't need a TV of I could find a women to yap for me

[@dananuspl618]

Shout out to Amanda for being a great and supportive wife! So many go over seas and their wives can’t handle the loneliness. Glad she honored her vows and stayed true to her marriage

[@johnkuhl8280]

Old seagull lung is the real genius I can spot classical training with the magic 8 ballet ball

[@kgs2280]

And, of course, we all know that NONE of the men who get shipped overseas EVER, EVER cheat on their wives who are patiently waiting back home, right?

[@ascendednightingale2456]

John seems like a great guy. It’s easy to stay loyal to your partner when they’re a good person.

[@missycitty9478]

It's easy to stay loyal when you love someone the way they deserve to be loved. AND when you take your vows seriously!!

[@alfredwillems9121]

I have just become a widower & Yes if You love someone so much your vows mean everything! I was lucky to have been in Love so deeply that I have No desire to be with anyone else ever again! She was 63 & I'm 62 ! God Bless!❤

[@Boof37]

I remember coming across MrBallen during my internship 2 and a half years ago and I binged every single video he’d made… got me through work and the fact that the videos still don’t get old is a testament to his storytelling talent! A true campfire legend😁

[@jadethomas329]

I've followed Mr Ballen since he posted 4, even 5 times every week. To watch his growth has been an absolute honour and I cannot think of anyone more humble and deserving. Not forgetting to give credit to his team and of course, Amanda, for playing their huge parts in his expansion. We ❤ Ballen studios!

[@ryanmullett8832]

yeah i remember him having to change his intro coz he would still say we upload 2 3 times a week when it was just once lol

[@jadethomas329]

@@ryanmullett8832 Good Times 🥲

[@-Zer0Dark-]

I remember when the Like button was still just being smashed and round-house kicked. lol

[@joeyalen275]

Me too! How amazing is it that he now has 40 employees to help him produce 1/5 the content and make way more money by just splitting it on different channels and platforms!!!!

[@brahtrumpwonbigly7309]

@@ryanmullett8832 sad!

[@w0447125]

This podcast is the best I’ve ever heard. Mr ballen is EXACTLY what mr.ballen is 7 days a week. Y’all are so lucky to have gotten him on this podcast. Y’all did an outstanding job!

[@erinstewart2300]

Agreed!! I could listen to him talk about anything, I can’t wait to see what he does in general, in life, podcasts, stories, alloftheabove

[@jeaniehammond40]

John, I’ve been watching Mr Ballen story telling on KZbin for over a year now, I heard you mention you were a navy seal but never knew your background story. You telling your experience just makes me appreciate you more, don’t hate the haters just know you’re appreciated for all you do and have done in your service. Many people will simply feel left out because you are in the spotlight and not them ,ignore them and continue on, tell your stories and live life. Hugs to you and you’re amazing wife Amanda.

[@kimmcdonald8443]

Mr. BALLEN is so humble & I love how he down plays that he served our country. He is so correct when he says "I volunteered to serve" & "It's my honor". I dated a member of the Army/National Guard for 8 years & he never deployed, he never saw combat. He was a paper-pusher, office manager basically. It would drive me bonkers when out in public together; uniform on; kids would run up to him & thank him for his service. His chest would puff out, head became bigger; almost as big as his belly & it really put me off. Some deserve that recognition & some just take advantage of it! My uncle did 2 tours in Vietnam & was hit w/ agent orange. He has battled so many health anomalies since; i.e. his skin falling off his body b/c of infections, debilitating PTSD, etc. THOSE are the heroes that need to be recognized. John, you are such a classy human & hero & thanks for all you do!

[@corinem]

I didn't finish the video yet and is incredible the mix of admiration and attention on the faces of the hosts hearing the stories of @MrBallen about the deployment in Afghanistan, and to be clear I identify myself with them 100%. In any case, thank you for your service @MrBallen 🙏

[@AFFTFOMSICHTS]

I’m so jealous of the people who just discovered him and get to binge all of his videos that’s the best feeling ever

[@MK-Hogan]

Right?! I’ve been watching his KZbin channel since he posted 3-5 videos a week. I had a little bit to binge back then when I found him, but I’ve been watching for years now.

[@crissyc9831]

Same haha!

[@tomsevcik1792]

Sameee

[@caboosej8749]

don't worry buddy I find if you drink enough you forget his previous videos so you can rematch them later on 👍

[@junkieelovee]

​@@MK-Hogan the good ol days when we got blessed with multiple videos a week it was a sad day when he cut it down to just one a week lol

[@texasmama4248]

Mr Ballen is not only an incredible storyteller that has had a very interesting life and career... He is one heck of a guy. So humble and honest. I can see a lot of people looking up to him. What an inspiration ❤

[@todd4335]

Not to mention he writes a children's book every night to his kids. I would love to read a book of his to my grandson.!!!!

[@texasmama4248]

@@todd4335 ❤️

[@jq5123]

As a man..I think I might have a man crush on him

[@jasminejoy_373]

Hi, I’m a 22 year old woman and I’m training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I’m a civilian and I want to go enlisted What advice would you give for women that want to be SEALs? If you had to go to BUD/S again, how would you prepare differently? What books or workout programs would you recommend? How does the SEAL community feel about women joining them? Do you think women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs? Most female SEAL candidates struggle with carrying the boats and logs, doing pull ups, having grip strength and completing the “Dirty Name” on the obstacle course. Also, a lot of female SEAL candidates break their legs or develop stress fractures. Women have smaller and thinner bones than men.

[@evelynbare1975]

LOVE your storytelling, but I have noticed that you are a good communicator overall, and that's rare outside of a religious environment. You found the perfect place for applying the gift. My husband had the same problems with transition from the military. At first it was the going from the high adrenaline combat to being injured and sent back stateside injured and the effects of that to his long military career. It took several years and a lot of patience and faith but he is good now and he helps others. I am so grateful to any and all Vets who help other Veterans, because it's hollow coming from anyone who hasn't been in a combat environment or experienced the real. The thank you for your service is usually as empty as those yellow ribbon car magnets that sold by the millions and were suppose to benefit vets...years later no one can find even a single vet that got even a toothpick from those yellow ribbons. If folks want to help veterans, first vote an informed vote, and then find out how much an organization actually uses for vets. Most use 70 to 80 percent on fund raising and promotion of the organization and administration pay.

[@Mindy-lr4xh]

I have to say, when I say thank you for your service I really mean it. My dad was a marine, my husband flew helicopter search and rescue for 25 years.

[@evelynbare1975]

@Mindy-lr4xh your military family, as am I and we know. We live it too. It's the person who says it but won't even look a Veteran in the eye that I'm talking about and I get it that not every person can serve, but this country quickly forgets those that do.

[@animalantics5898]

Good communicator outside of a religious environment is rare? I guess you don't have much experience in life or sat through business meetings.

[@evelynbare1975]

@@animalantics5898 you would be wrong.

[@tracyhaverstick5672]

What many people don't understand is that John Allen brings back the human connection. Those born and raised in the internet era don't know this was a normal way of life. Most older people (those 35 on up) can name the people in their family and friends that told the best stories or the best jokes. Mr. Ballen honors them with every story he tells. He brings back all the memories I have of my father, my aunts, my uncles, my grandparents and great grandparents. Some told true stories, some scary stories, some funny stories, some had the best jokes and Uncle Mel always lead the singing portion at the end. Thank you John for keeping them alive.

[@gracex3217]

this is so true. i was born in 2000 and feel like i really saw this era disappear in front of me, but i remember my cousins telling me ghost stories so vividly

[@bookofleaves1433]

Well said 👏❤

[@Ryknfjor]

Thought his name is john B. Allen?

[@tracyhaverstick5672]

@@Ryknfjor It is his given name. Out of respect for his choice to be called Mr. Ballen on his Channel and even John Ballen, I addressed my comment with that in mind. What changes my comment with your declaration? Nothing.

[@Jordan-M-18-06]

​@tracyhaverstick5672 are your family members assholes too, or is that just a you thing?

[@flammableflimflam]

Loved John retelling how he knew he was gonna marry his wife right away. My husband and I were the same. We were engaged within 2 months, married 6 months after meeting. 21 years later we’re still married and have 5 kids.

[@TheIcedCoffeeHour]

Congratulations! :)

[@evastapaard2462]

eventhough I did not like my husband at first we knew it was good after a week. he moved into my place after 3 weeks and we got married within a year. we have been married for 26 years now.

[@StoicMiles]

I’m a regular podcast listener. I listen to tons of different podcasts but this is by far the best single podcast I have listened to. I would never know Mr. Ballen is a seal. Truly a humble guy that is capable of listening and answering with the same effort he puts into his stories.

[@TxDan100]

MrBallen's stories ... are an escape.. like reading a good book.. his commitment and expressiveness is/are perfect... a capsule of time from our reality... but true.. lovely..

[@chy8427]

Hearing how some of his fellow teammates ostracised him for talking about his experiences and dealing with adjustment by way of social media, made me so sad for him. I can only liken to the pain and betrayal being like that of a family member, if not worse. I’m so so so happy for MrB that he’s where he’s at now. He deserves all the success and happiness

[@travisbartholomew6646]

Definitely agree with you on this

[@meganlovesdogs]

Very sad 😢

[@jenniferprescott5516]

I went to the live show and it was an incredible experience. I've heard John's story several times, but I'm still captivated every time. The first time I heard his story, especially about his time in Afghanistan, I was dumbfounded. I realized that on the day he was going on that op where he eventually got injured, I was a Marine back in California providing linguistic support for him. When I met him at the live show, I was holding back tears as I told him how happy I was that he was alive and how sorry I was that we couldn't have done more to help. It's amazing that 8 years later, I stumbled onto his KZbin channel and became a huge fan. He has turned into such a humble, courageous, generous, and down-to-earth guy, and I'm so grateful to be a part of the MrBallen community. John, I'm so excited to see what you have in store for the future and congratulations on your tremendous success. ❤

[@MrBallen]

Jen - it meant a lot to me to chat with you after the live show. Not many people know what went down that day, so to speak to someone who does, was awesome. Thank you for the support!!!!

[@andromedayuyi9845]

Why doesn't this have more likes? That is crazy and amazing! I'm so glad you both had that conversation!

[@owlstillloveyou7338]

I was at the live show as well, and I consider myself so honored and blessed to have been a tiny part of that experience. It was so amazing. The sense of community and love in that theatre that night was something so humbling to be a part of. Thank you, MrBallen ❤️ such a tremendous show. Also: there were several young kids in your audience at the show that night, and almost all of them were so transfixed by your stories. They were actually listening, wearing your MrBallen shirts and hats that were obviously too big for them, but they loved every second of it. Again, I say the community that night was INCREDIBLE. 🥰

[@imacryptid5254]

damn bro I immediately thought you made all of this up until I saw that Mrballen replied. So many people make shit like this up in the comments for no reason but this confirms, I guess it's not all bullshit. 😂

[@BooBooo3622]

@@andromedayuyi9845, I never knew it was here until a friend posted it on his FB feed. 👍👍👍

[@michelejones8249]

Your show is a daily reminder of how quickly life can change and you never know when it will end. And the way you tell it is so kind and compassionate makes me hope if my time comes there would be someone to give that compasion.

[@marissasantucci]

Phenomenal convo. Truly a gift of John’s to tell a story like no one else. And one of the most humble and incredible people.

[@CALIGS]

As a fan of Mr. Ballen the last 3 years, it is truly incredible the way you can just listen to him tell a story for hours and hours of your day and you never get tired of his voice, his cadence, or his energy. I thank you both so much for letting him just speak with so few interruptions and still managing to ask him good leading questions that allowed for these spaces to occur. This was the best possible way to “interview” Mr. Ballen.

[@rachelreilly7239]

Yessss!! Agreed!!

[@CALIGS]

@@thechuckpeter you literally got Peter in your name bro, that’s tuff

[@CALIGS]

@@thechuckpeter I’m sorry man, it’s another name for a dick… that’s rough bro. It’s all good I’m sure you’re perfectly masculine. Anyway, hop out my notifications.

[@jasminejoy_373]

Hi, I’m a 22 year old woman and I’m training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I’m a civilian and I want to go enlisted What advice would you give for women that want to be SEALs? If you had to go to BUD/S again, how would you prepare differently? What books or workout programs would you recommend? How does the SEAL community feel about women joining them? Do you think women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs? Most female SEAL candidates struggle with carrying the boats and logs, doing pull ups, having grip strength and completing the “Dirty Name” on the obstacle course. Also, a lot of female SEAL candidates break their legs or develop stress fractures. Women have smaller and thinner bones than men.

[@seemore2eat]

Brother. You're not out " stealing valor", you've shared your real experiences that you're proud of. You earned your Trident. You are great. Keep on, keeping on!

[@JR1874]

The dude was a marine, the most elite soldier you could possibly become. He has every right to literally brag about it from the rooftops. He’s humbly sharing his experiences about his time in the service, which is admirable also.

[@evey0259]

​@@JR1874SEALs are Navy, not Marines.

[@caseyhamm4292]

the fact most of his fans don’t even know he’s a seal says it all. he has no reason to brag whatsoever so he doesn’t. that’s the mark of a real man

[@justinfredericks2786]

Thank you for this interview! It was such a pleasure listening to Mr.Ballen's orgin story. He truly is a legend! I really enjoyed how humble and honest he was about his shortcomings. We need more of that in our society today. Thank you all for the work you do at Ballen Studios.

[@bathtubs]

Thank you for doing this interview. Millions of Americans have always wondered. Thank you for your service, and we are all so happy to know you are healing.

[@dfdemt]

I don’t understand why the SEAL community won’t accept you! You’re one of the ONLY former SEALs out there that isn’t selling some book, workout, service, or product based on the fact that you were a Navy SEAL. People naturally love hearing stories about Navy SEALs and BUD/S and those are your stories to tell if you so choose. As long as you’re not actually saying, “look at me I’m a badass because I’m a Navy SEAL, look how great I am” then I don’t see the problem. We’re proud to have you in the veteran community brother!

[@MrBallen]

Thank you!

[@Stacey0909]

I was married to a SEAL back when "The Book" came out. I remember the fear that was instilled in us wives who had to tell folks our husband's worked at Naval Special Warfare Development Group; because, we were not allowed to compromise security ~ SEAL Team 6 didn't exist. 😉 I still haven't read that damn book! 😤 But you, Sir, are a real hero! No person can take it from you! I always thought folks on the west coast were a bit funny. You should come hang out with us on the East Coast. 🫢 Hubby did Federal time behind a bunch of 💩 related to his time with the Teams. It also took him a while to readjust ~ there's not many people hiring for y'all's job descriptions. 🙄 My biggest complaint ~ y'all need to be better cared for, mentally, returning to normal life. Our family still struggles because of the Navy's ignorance. Thank you for your service AND for sharing your talent. May you and your family be richly blessed. 💝🙏💞

[@tylergoodner5790]

​@@MrBallen Brother you have gotten me through some tough times. This is my actual name and I live In KY if you ever need anything holler at me brother! Thank you for bringing the stories and everything you do bub!

[@dianawatton7570]

What the F is this about the Seal community won’t accept him?

[@zacharywallace3962]

⁠​⁠@@dianawatton7570 a lot of ego in the community. Lots of great down to earth dudes too. But also a lot of douche bags. Strangely enough the coolest guys in the community I’ve interacted with were higher ranked officers and senior enlisted and the younger guys were on the cringy side

[@lewisballs3]

I love how well spoken he is, and how he uses his hands when he speaks. It really makes his stories so interesting!

[@donnabittner69]

Excellent interview

[@123AndYou]

True, but he has to stop using the word "like" in a lot of his sentences!

[@zaharaabdallah3147]

​@@123AndYoudoes it bother you that much 😳😐

[@SonOfGalactus]

2:30 I now understand why I love his work as the great man he is. He makes you want to listen to see what happens in the next second by his tone, inflection, and just the passion he puts into it. Mr. B. Allen knows how to grab those deep seeded feelings and grip you for the whole ride.

[@devingeary455]

It is awesome how much gratitude John shows to his wife,parents and friends.

[@jarrodheffron1414]

From one Vet to another. Thanks for serving MrBallen. Love what you do. Happy Veterans Day.

[@jburton413]

Same to you brother 👍

[@RedOnly]

Thank YOU! Many feel called, but few comit even when chosen. Keep your head on a swivel🫡. May your skills never be needed.😊

[@Dr.Rabbit7346]

From an OiF vet to you Jarrod and MrBallen; hope you had a happy Veterans Day. I am unfortunately not well here at the Atlanta VAMC but hope to get out soon.

[@jarrodheffron1414]

@@Dr.Rabbit7346 best of luck brother. Stay frosty.

[@darthsilversith667]

Thank you all for your service. I’m 37.. always wanted to serve but even before I got out of high school.. my knees were already shot and then my senior year I had a bad hand accident and ended up getting addicted to pain meds and that was a demon that took me many years to overcome.. but I didn’t want to try and join while I was still struggling just to get flunked out and waste everyone’s time. It’s my biggest regret to this day.. but I highly admire and appreciate those that heard the call and answered.

[@heidiescobedo2870]

Love Mr Ballen. Very humble & down to earth. I’m a Navy veteran too. I deployed but never in a war zone. I have a lot of respect for those that have to go through that. Thanks for the interview. It was great!!

[@doctorsatan]

Regardless of whether or not you were deployed to a warzone, you joined knowing it was a possibility, and that is also brave.

[@DramaMustRemainOnTheStage]

​@@doctorsatan❤

[@jasminejoy_373]

Hi, I’m a 22 year old woman and I’m training to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I’m a civilian and I want to go enlisted What advice would you give for women that want to be SEALs? If you had to go to BUD/S again, how would you prepare differently? What books or workout programs would you recommend? How does the SEAL community feel about women joining them? Do you think women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs? Most female SEAL candidates struggle with carrying the boats and logs, doing pull ups, having grip strength and completing the “Dirty Name” on the obstacle course. Also, a lot of female SEAL candidates break their legs or develop stress fractures. Women have smaller and thinner bones than men.

[@_seekingthetruth_1447]

I set out to watch 10 minutes of this and ended up watching the entire episode. Great job guys! This was a great conversation. When people tell me, "Thank you for your service," I say, "I appreciate you(or I appreciate that). Thanks for your support." That doesn't feel weird and both sides walk away after having a positive interaction with each other.

[@jetmorbid]

The stress of being in combat becomes, "it may be my turn today maybe not". Nothing to worry about.

[@michaelwalker4456]

I got my mom listening to John's stories instead of listening to the news cycle 24 hours a day. Thanks John for your hard work, and thanks to this crew for interviewing him. 👍👊

[@user-ri1vc4qv8j]

His name is John? He's Mr Ballen. First name Mr, last name Ballen

[@IhateYoutube]

@@user-ri1vc4qv8j Mr. John B. Allen

[@learningcurve3212]

That"s a really good thing. The news in America is one of the most unhealthy things for the mind. The media in America is awful.....

[@julitakamaki4386]

The mainstream news channels sell lies and misery anyway. Avoid that poison.

[@ReRe-kr1ht]

​@@user-ri1vc4qv8jomg😂😂😂 I told my husband if I could ask him one question it'd be how/why he chose MrBallen thinking there had to be a back story. He then points out his name is John B Allen looking at me like "duh" lol

[@aiyana188]

Serious Thank you Mr Ballen. My Grandfather was a Marine and worked with the Code Talkers. He never really spoke about the war. Glad you can and that you got help you needed.

[@investigator77]

You must be so proud of your Grandfather. The Code Talkers were an integral part of the USA military, and so many don't even know about them! I'm sorry he was damaged by the war and not able to talk about it. I had Uncles with the same thing. 3 that were deployed in Europe during WWII. All came back, one was paralyzed on his left side by shrapnel, but I am so proud of them serving. The only thing they would talk about was the funny stories, and trading things with other country's military guys, like bars of chocolate, cigarettes, etc. My one Uncle found a restaurant/bar that had been bombed, but all the bottles of wine were saved, so they had a big party that night!

[@heatherscanlon3239]

What an amazing legacy he left for you and your family. My grandfather was Army-Aircorp until the AF split into its own branch in '47. He then proceeded to deploy in both Korea and Vietnam, so was a combat veteran of all three wars. He didn't retire until 1981, so he put in more than 30 years. He couldn't talk about his time at war either. You and I, and many others who are a direct product of those who served are fortunate to have known and gained wisdom from our ancestors who laid their very life on the line, to ensure our freedoms. The code talkers especially, they were fighting for a country and people who had, and still do, show disdain for the proud and amazing history of the Navajo Nation. So while I don't know if you ever personally served, I'd like to say thank you for the sacrifice your family had to endure, and for being a part of a legacy that has too little known history. ❤️

[@DM-ci2nn]

If he never talked about it, then he never did it. Your grandfather is a liar.

[@dana102083]

​@DM-ci2nn why do you feel it necessary to be a piece of shit? Do better.

[@jburton413]

@@DM-ci2nnJealous much are you? Or are you just a punk troll 👿???

[@timboslice090]

It was so surreal to hear @MrBallen talk about his experiences in combat and the experience of reentering society. I deployed to Iraq in 04 1st Marines C company and can relate so closely. I was lucky enough to not be injured badly and I did not serve as a Seal, but the fine details explain what its actually like being in an intense combat situation. When you get get back to society you don't immediately realizes how you have been changed by the deployment and It is very difficult to go back to who you where before you left. It took me a couple years because of the circumstances that my fellow Marines and I saw. Thanks @MrBallen for talking about this.

[@megs3019]

Veterans and every military person is so humble and I love it. He tried to talk down what he did the whole video. Military and veterans deserve so much more than what we give them.

[@anthropomorphisis]

MrBallen is the man and an amazing storyteller and conversationalist. He is super modest, has his family involved (If I remember correctly, his mom does the scripts for his podcast, not just his college entry essay), speaks lovingly about his partner and family. As someone who has lived in Quincy as an adult, I'm glad I never encountered the fighting rings.

[@Lisasanti1]

Yes, his mom writes the podcast. He is an amazing storyteller for sure. He is very humble, and you can tell he loves telling these stories, with zero ego, just a love for it. I hope we have him for many years to come. He’s doing some big things.

[@joshuaverkerk4532]

As many people have said it’s been a real pleasure to listen and watch Mr. Ballen’s stories and see his channels grow. Great to see a bit more behind the scenes with John. Looking forward to many years of stories to come.

[@valeriataylor8337]

I am a non native english speaker. Mr Ballen's oratory is so perfect I can listen to him so relaxed. Sometimes when we try and listen to someone speaking we non natives need to pay extra attention to not miss a word. I can even multitask while listening to him

[@MrBallen]

That’s really awesome!

[@katiegomis574]

I very, very rarely comment, but this interview touched me. Thank you, Graham and Jack for interviewing Mr. Ballen. And thank you, sir, for sharing your story. Your honesty, humility, and your work ethic are to be admired. I was particularly touched by your devotion and commitment to your wife. Your guys' love story is heartwarming, and your promise to yourself to always treat her with kindness challenged me to continue to do the same for my husband. I would love to hear an interview with your wife, I'm sure she has so much wisdom to share as well. May you live long happy years together. I'm so sorry you've lost such dear friends along your journey in social media, but I do hope and pray that someday your relationships will be restored with these men whom you loved and respected. I appreciate your transparency. You communicate your blunders in life in such a way that you are sharing not only an entertaining story, but also imparting a nugget of truth and wisdom for us to learn. Thank you again to everyone (including Caleb Hammer for the use of his studio - I thought I recognized it! haha) And God Bless

[@bryronify]

I've always been amazed by Mr Ballen's story telling ability but hearing him speak in a non-scripted podcast and finding out he sounds exactly just the way he is in his videos and that just blew my mind. He is just a really naturally talented story teller.

[@cindyhimes]

Thank you for having Mr. Ballen on your show, it was really interesting to hear about his life and how he started his channel. I love watching his stories. He stated it so well that we are scared in a safe environment. I think it was through Facebook that I came upon his channel and have been a fan ever since. I love how he met his wife and how open he is about never wanting to hurt her. I loved hearing about how he became a navy seal. He just has a remarkable talent to do justice to whatever story he's telling.

[@yeezus9142]

As a truck driver, Mr ballens videos have helped me get thru some miserably long trips and It’s the only channel on KZbin that I’ve watched EVERY single video

[@elduderino766]

As a veteran, I simply say I'm glad I'm here, when someone says thank you for your service.

[@ph34rbucket91]

Same. Thank you for your service

[@guyincognito320]

Thanks for spreading big gay Zionist ideology

[@bonnie3232]

Thank you for your service, sir.

[@rosaliemccallum]

I think everyone should watch this interview. So many life lessons and John is an exceptional human.

[@iwishiwasthomasshelby]

He is one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever met.

[@SuchFinessse]

Mr. Ballen has to be my absolute favorite episode of the podcast. I’m only half way through and I think this may even be one of my favorite podcast episodes of all time. Well done Graham and Jack!

[@Josh-py9rq]

Same huge huge fan of hte guy glad he is on the podcast!

[@chrissilvester5663]

Mr Ballen one of the all time greats at story telling an absolute natural. Always enjoy his content aswell as him explaining his life story whether it's from his childhood or his career as a Navy Seal Mr Ballen is one hell of a geezer. Total respect to him. This was a brilliant podcast

[@vivianmccreight1678]

Appreciate you Mr. Ballen. I love your stories, they’re addicting. Admire you for your service in the military. My grandson is 24, just got out of the Army. They did a good job with him. Changed him from a smart mouth, disrespectful, skinny kid. He arrived home a different person, totally ripped, well mannered, just altogether different. Thank you United States Army. Much respect due to you. And…….Thank you Mr Ballen for sharing your awesome stories. Keep ‘em coming, I appreciate all. God bless you, stay safe. Wishing you and your family a joyous, Happy Thanksgiving. 😊

[@HotelCaliforniaRoomU]

MrBallen is amazing at storytelling. He never says, “uuumm” or hesitates. Awesome channel!

[@imacryptid5254]

the faces they were making while John was talking about dyatlov pass was a perfect example of how captivating he is while telling stories.

[@HecticTKS]

Unreal how good of a story tell he is, even in Podcast form.

[@ivanlopez2612]

This was so refreshing. I genuinely didn’t know that the community felt that way at one point. I’m not sure how they feel now I still love him and I appreciate everything he has done, including getting myself through one of the scariest darkest times of my life and I’m not just saying that just to say that I promise I sat in the hospital for practically two years with my son watching him go through, a whole list of things didn’t have much to look forward to these videos and sleep so thank you brother. I genuinely am grateful for you.

[@megalopolis2015]

What an incredible interview. An emotional rollercoaster to be sure. Hearing about the way he speaks of his family makes my heart happy. Many blessings to you all.

[@michaelvoyer3844]

Those kids from Quincy are a tough bunch. People from Mass in general are tough, fast paced and full of pride. I played football and baseball (Plymouth North) against Quincy/North Quincy, including Mr. Ballen. What a remarkable story he has.

[@ReRe-kr1ht]

Well that explains a lot 😊

[@aprilparks6522]

As a Braintree kid, I agree!

[@asadnaeem76]

Quinzy

[@xxxxxx-tq4mw]

Back then a lot of the North Quincy residents, which is next to Dorchester, then South Boston came from those Boston neighborhoods.

[@Johnny2Feathers]

Massholes 🤣

[@TheJerseyNinja]

The big part of his storytelling skill is his voice. Thats something that’s often overlooked when talking about qualities that make a good storyteller. There’s plenty of great storytellers out there, some better than others. But when you’re natural storytelling ability is the same, what sets people apart is their voice. Whether they use a fake voice or not doesn’t matter. But his voice is just perfect for what he does. Its soothing. It isn’t harsh, his accent doesn’t make for harsh sounds in words, and his accent isn’t hard to understand either. Even if you aren’t a native English speaker, he speaks slowly enough without being too slow, he speaks clearly, and he enunciates properly. And his accent is extremely soft and easy to understand. So it translates really well to a great voice for storytelling because you don’t even have to be fully paying attention to the video to be locked in in order to hear the story. His voice and accent are easy to understand enough that you can play the video and do other stuff and you can just listen and it doesn’t feel like you’re misunderstanding him if you aren’t totally locked in and paying 100% attention. And then the soothing aspect of his voice allows you to be ok with listening to this guy talk for 20-40 minutes at a time. And it’s even nice enough that you can binge multiple episodes in a row without his voice annoying you. Yes, it’s not JUST his voice that makes him a great storyteller, but it really elevates him and helps push him above some similarly talented storytellers who are about equal in other storytelling aspects

[@MrBallen]

🙏

[@bonitasmith8880]

I found mrballen during the beginning of the pandemic, when everything was closed and we weren't "allowed" to go anywhere. I was scrolling KZbin and one of his videos was a recommendation, so I clicked on it. I watched it and I was immediately hooked. I binge watched his videos. To the point of saving them to a playlist, which I would goto sleep listening to. His content got me through the whole isolation thing. Thank you Mrballen! You've had more of an impact on people than you could ever imagine.

[@SuV33358]

He is so well spoken, and so easy to listen to. And incredibly humble.

[@DoBeLove]

So cool to hear MrBallen speak about himself instead of stories about others. It took me a while to settle into the fact that this was his story and that his delivery sounded a bit different. Such a great story teller and wonderful human being. Thank you so much for your service! I have watched your story telling for a long while now and it always keeps me on the edge of my seat.

[@tonirod88]

I honestly thought or at least FELT as though I knew John BEFORE this vid..(idk why, don’t ask me why! Lol) BUT.. NOW, after consuming EVERY SINGLE SECOND of this… not only do I feel as though I know him personally, I can HONEST TO GOD STATE WITH MY ENTIRE CHEST… I LOVE YOU MR BALLEN.. JOHN.. for the absolute REAL, HONEST, RAW, VULNERABLE, HEROIC, EX-FUK UP, AMAZING DAD, ONE-OF-A-KIND/DREAM SPOUSE..( I could honestly keep going) MAN THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN US.. and I want to THANK YOU.. for BEING WHO YOU ARE, for being the mold and true being of a MAN our growing boys NEED TO LOOK UP TO because if we had MORE JOHNS (Mr ballens) in this world.. I KNOW WE WOULD LIVE MORE AT PEACE, more trustworthy and safe, as well as funny and entertaining.. I am so happy you came on the show and gave us a chance to get to know a little about how you came to be the man we are today.. my respect, admiration and love to you , your wife and kiddos.. THANK YOU JOHN!❤

[@MrBallen]

thank you very much!

[@paulahillier1390]

Stumbled upon John's channel in 2020, when he had less than ten thousand subscribers. Absolutely love him and his storytelling. Yay Mr Ballen!

[@darrensamuels1511]

John is definitely a man of integrity and Honour that’s what is great about how he handles himself. 🙏🇦🇺

[@eyesee2339]

Great interview! It has been a joy watching MrBallen grow to this level over the last few years. Keep true to yourself and your family, for those are the ones that matter the most. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your life with us.

[@HybridiZe1017]

Mr Ballen is the humblest individual I’ve seen on KZbin and podcast. As a female disabled veteran…. I thank you,!!!

[@darktheleviathan4413]

Mr. Ballen is an amazing storyteller, but even a more amazing human. This was a really great episode, guys! Didn't want it to end!

[@hollyross1994]

I just watched a 2 hour pod cast and I didn't feel like 2 hours. You all kept my interest the whole time. Love Mr Ballen

[@peacelife]

Wow! Didn't expect to see Mr. Ballen on here. Glad to finally hear his own story and know tbe back story to his depression. He is such a great storyteller and def one of the kind. Glad YT works out for him. ✊️✊️

[@WarlordRising]

Surprised it has taken this long for him to do a lengthy interview like this. Everyone trying to interview guys like Tate and other "influencers". Meanwhile, everyone I know listens to Ballen. A true American icon.

[@Stacey0909]

Agreed 🎯

[@timothyodaniell9119]

Yes@@Stacey0909

[@lune334]

Talking about him and still being a great storyteller. His story is the most captivating story he has ever told us

[@prismarCRAFT]

He's so good at telling stories, the way he explains his fight is phenomenal

[@raymartin8644]

John, when i heard one of your recent stories i was immediately captivated by your style and voice. looked for more and have been a fan every since. telling your own story helped me understand Don shipley's concerns about imposters. the Seals should be proud to have you tell their story,. keep the stories coming.

[@lifesatrip777]

It's about time someone had this man on their podcast