Justin Wren

Date: 2015-08-24 | Duration: 2h 13m

Episode Overview

Justin Wren shares his profound journey of humanitarian work among the Mbuti pygmies in the Congo, focusing on providing clean water and sustainable resources to one of the world’s most marginalized communities. He details the challenges of drilling wells in remote, rugged terrain, often carrying heavy equipment for hours to reach villages with no access to safe drinking water. Partnering with organizations like Water 4, Justin emphasizes training local teams to maintain and repair wells, ensuring long-term impact rather than temporary fixes. He also highlights the importance of empowering the pygmies through land ownership and agricultural initiatives, helping them build self-sufficiency. Throughout the conversation, Justin reflects on the cultural richness and resilience of the pygmy people, who have faced centuries of displacement, exploitation, and violence. He recounts vivid stories of their daily struggles, including the burden of carrying water and the devastating effects of tropical diseases. Justin’s work is deeply personal, fueled by a promise to give these forgotten communities a voice and improve their quality of life. The episode also touches on his return to MMA as a platform to raise awareness and support for his cause, illustrating how he balances fighting professionally with his mission to create lasting change in Central Africa.

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

– Water Well Drilling
– Pygmy Tribes
– Malaria Treatment
– Congo Rainforest
– Humanitarian Aid
– Mixed Martial Arts
– Sustainable Agriculture
– Cultural Preservation
– Colonial History
– Wildlife Conservation
– Nonprofit Organizations
– Rural Development
– Health Infrastructure
– Deforestation
– Community Empowerment
– Documentary Filmmaking
0:00:00 – Introduction and hippie bag discussion
0:01:05 – Giving a voice to the forgotten communities
0:05:25 – Overview of Congo's poverty and underdevelopment
0:07:58 – Partnership with Water 4 for well drilling
0:11:54 – Challenges of traveling to remote villages
0:14:29 – Training locals and investing in communities
0:16:30 – Lobbying for pygmy land rights
0:18:26 – Discussion on pygmies' lack of land ownership
0:21:20 – Interning agriculturalists to support villages
0:23:25 – Maintaining high standards and integrity
0:26:29 – Continuous training on improved drilling methods
0:30:53 – Women carrying heavy water loads
0:33:17 – Impact of tropical diseases in Congo
0:36:22 – Insect bites and wildlife encounters
0:39:19 – Introduction to Leo May and pygmy family
0:42:00 – Hunting practices and food scarcity
0:44:27 – Description of endangered genet species
0:47:17 – Pygmies as first citizens of Congo
0:50:18 – Perspective on small problems vs. pygmy struggles
0:53:08 – Pygmies seeing their own pictures for first time
0:56:28 – Historical context of Belgian Congo atrocities
1:00:38 – Deforestation impact in Congo rainforest
1:05:58 – Child mortality from dirty water crisis
1:10:17 – Raising awareness about waterborne deaths
1:13:35 – Cost and accessibility of malaria treatment
1:16:06 – Commitment to returning and helping pygmies
1:19:25 – Culture shock experiences in the US
1:25:59 – Water well drilling as social good and employment
1:28:49 – Empowering villages through labor and resources
1:32:11 – Pygmies' pride in self-sustaining farming
1:35:05 – Understanding scale of child deaths daily
1:37:51 – Perception as a religious figure by pygmies
1:42:45 – Announcement of upcoming documentary
1:46:38 – Call to action for giving pygmies a voice
1:48:30 – Book promotion: Fight for the Forgotten
1:51:16 – Legal challenges and travel risks in Congo
2:00:37 – Using MMA platform to raise awareness
2:03:04 – Medical care challenges and near-death experience
2:07:02 – Kickstarter campaign launch for support

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 We're live. What's with the funky bag, fella? Look at that. Beautiful little hippie case you got going on there. Starting point is 00:00:27 Absolutely. Starting point is 00:00:43 Is it fightforthevergotten.org? Starting point is 00:01:05 yeah, I think that's a great opportunity to give my family a voice. And how long has it been since Starting point is 00:01:53 Imagine if, like, you have a malaria actually gives you endurance or something crazy. Starting point is 00:02:07 Wow. Starting point is 00:02:21 One thing that's crazy, say insect bites. Starting point is 00:03:04 You could throw around. Starting point is 00:03:23 Look at that picture. Starting point is 00:03:44 So, yeah, look right there look Starting point is 00:04:29 and all you need is just flat ground. Starting point is 00:04:57 I mean, I think if I'm not mistaken. I think it's as wide as the United States of America Starting point is 00:05:25 in the world and second poorest, but it is the most underdeveloped country. So least amount of Starting point is 00:06:14 real nice it's uh you got a charging station for your your smartphone in uganda really yeah wow Starting point is 00:06:46 Apparently. Starting point is 00:07:00 What's up with that? Starting point is 00:07:22 It's crazy. Starting point is 00:07:58 So what I love and that website that was up was we're partnered with Water 4. Now it's water4.org, so the number 4. Starting point is 00:08:40 now we have 17 full-time employees. Wow. Yeah. And we have two well drilling teams. Starting point is 00:09:13 And then the parts are so expensive, they're not going to be able to repair it when it breaks. Starting point is 00:09:50 Now they're part of our team. Starting point is 00:10:17 go about attacking the problem. And you got to go about it in a way that, that kind of creates Starting point is 00:10:53 Are there different ways to do it? Starting point is 00:11:22 So those are absolutely part of the solution. Starting point is 00...

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Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #687?

Justin Wren was the guest on JRE #687. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #687?

On Joe Rogan Experience #687 with Justin Wren, topics include Water Well Drilling, Pygmy Tribes, Malaria Treatment, and Congo Rainforest.

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The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #687 with Justin Wren is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.