Justin Wren

Date: 2015-01-26 | Duration: 2h 24m

Episode Overview

Justin Wren shares a gripping account of his harrowing battle with a severe parasitic infection contracted in the jungles of Uganda, where he was diagnosed with 70% of his blood infested by parasites. He recounts the physical and mental toll of the illness, the misdiagnoses he endured, and the urgent evacuation that saved his life. This personal health crisis underscores the broader challenges faced by remote communities plagued by disease and lack of medical resources. The conversation then shifts to Justin’s humanitarian work with the indigenous pygmy tribes in the Congo. He describes the brutal violence and exploitation these communities suffer, including attacks by rebel groups and cultural stigmatization rooted in beliefs like witchcraft. Through his nonprofit, Fight for the Forgotten, Justin has helped provide clean water by drilling wells, dramatically improving health outcomes by reducing waterborne illnesses. He details the technical aspects of well drilling and the importance of sustainable, community-driven solutions. Alongside these efforts, Justin shares touching stories of connection and resilience, emphasizing his deep bond with the people he serves and the ongoing fight to bring opportunity and dignity to forgotten populations.

About Justin Wren

Justin Wren is a professional mixed martial artist and humanitarian known for his unique blend of athletic prowess and advocacy. A former competitor in the UFC, he has achieved notable success in the sport, including multiple championship titles. Beyond the octagon, Wren is celebrated for his philanthropic work, particularly with the Pygmy tribes in the Congo, where he has dedicated himself to improving their access to clean water and advocating for their rights. His compelling story, marked by resilience and a commitment to social justice, has made him a captivating figure in both the sports and humanitarian realms.

Key Moments

– Parasitic Diseases
– Malaria
– Water Wells
– Pygmy Tribes
– Congo Conflict
– Nonprofit Organizations
– Mixed Martial Arts
– Fight for the Forgotten
– Jungle Survival
– Health and Medicine in Africa
– Cultural Anthropology
– Witchcraft Beliefs
– Language Barriers
– Traditional Hunting Techniques
– MMA Training and Injuries
– Combat Sports Judging
– Water Filtration Technology
– Humanitarian Aid
– UFC History
– Refugee and Displacement Issues
0:00:38 – Justin Wren discusses jungle virus and parasites
0:04:11 – Parasite infection affecting 70% of blood
0:04:40 – Medical evacuation from Uganda on Thanksgiving 2013
0:12:03 – Malaria's historical death toll discussed
0:15:18 – Community justice and violence in Congo
0:18:53 – Congolese army described as rebel groups
0:19:54 – Pygmy skulls used in rituals
0:20:19 – Justin's commitment to helping Congo pygmies
0:22:48 – Training team on water well digging strategies
0:26:49 – Demonstration of LifeStraw water filtration
0:33:08 – Receiving a pygmy family as a gift
0:35:02 – Effects of intestinal parasites on nutrition
0:37:45 – Impact of drilling clean water wells
0:40:06 – Use of translators and language challenges
0:47:27 – Showing a pygmy child's skull trophy
0:48:27 – Administering deworming treatment to children
0:53:31 – Justin joins pygmy hunting expeditions
0:56:53 – First UFC knockout by wheel kick
1:00:26 – Fight for the Forgotten nonprofit mission
1:02:19 – Justin living in Congo to help communities
1:07:18 – Referee stoppage controversies in MMA
1:12:29 – Flying knee technique explained
1:14:52 – Glove design and impact on fighting
1:19:50 – Issues with protective cups in MMA
1:23:23 – Steel cups compressing opponents in grappling
1:24:38 – Preparing to install water pump in Bobofi
1:27:03 – Successful water well drilling techniques
1:31:21 – Cooking methods in Congo villages
1:34:02 – Local reactions to insects and wildlife
1:39:17 – Using camera as icebreaker with pygmies
1:45:17 – Filming documentary with Derek Watson
1:50:08 – Security challenges in Congo fieldwork
1:53:06 – Teaching wrestling techniques to pygmies
1:57:32 – Justin described as a great man
2:00:05 – Balancing realistic goals and big dreams
2:05:12 – Criticism of MMA judging and scoring
2:19:28 – Encouraging funding for more water wells

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Joe Rogan Experience. Starting point is 00:00:38 Man, I'm excited to be here. Starting point is 00:01:01 coming in with some sort of funky jungle virus. Starting point is 00:01:16 How do you get that? Starting point is 00:01:30 Whoa. Starting point is 00:01:41 Yeah. Starting point is 00:02:05 drawn to see what kind of parasites are still in me still recently yeah yeah that's just a few days Starting point is 00:02:44 So the mosquitoes, the bugs, the parasites, everything can mess with you. Starting point is 00:03:06 one of the toughest times of my life, but I Starting point is 00:03:47 um and then whenever i finally did urinate in uganda it was after i got the right medicine Starting point is 00:04:11 70% of your blood was parasites. Starting point is 00:04:40 yeah absolutely man it was it was really good like I mean, the pilot that flew me out, it was actually on Thanksgiving of 2013, and he flew me out, just me and him on the plane. And he found out that they're misdiagnosing me, that my buddy there was like, the doctors don't know what's going on with him. He's going to die if we don't get him out of here to a good hospital. Starting point is 00:05:39 You think it's still happening from over a year ago? Starting point is 00:06:09 the flu or something like that malaria might go come here you got them back yeah and that would Starting point is 00:06:37 Don't ever watch that show. Starting point is 00:06:54 there's angels floating around me I couldn't figure out what it was and then Starting point is 00:07:31 You drink it, you would swear that they have some sort of sugar in it. Starting point is 00:07:55 They give him pills. Starting point is 00:08:11 And he's walking around Starting point is 00:08:19 Something like that? Starting point is 00:08:28 Unless we're in some Donner Party type situation and you die first. Starting point is 00:09:00 They also said that even mentally, taking them for a full year they Starting point is 00:09:41...

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Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #603?

Justin Wren was the guest on JRE #603. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #603?

On Joe Rogan Experience #603 with Justin Wren, topics include Parasitic Diseases, Water Wells, Pygmy Tribes, and Congo Conflict.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #603?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #603 with Justin Wren is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.