The Ageless Warrior Lab
Dave Meyer | Host, Ageless Warrior Lab podcast | Co-founder and CEO of Food System Innovations and Humane American Animal Foundation
David Meyer is a pioneering American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, and accomplished non-profit founder and Philanthropist.
David co-founded and served as CEO of Adopt-a-Pet.com for two decades, turning it into the world’s largest nonprofit homeless pet adoption website and helping save millions of animals, before its acquisition by Mars Inc.
Today, David leads Food System Innovations and Humane America Animal Foundation, leading in farm animal welfare and the protein transition movement. He frequently advises U.S. lawmakers on these issues, and has raised and deployed over $160 million in philanthropic capital as part of his work in the nonprofit space.
In his athletic career, David has risen to the highest ranks of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). He earned his black belt from Rigan Machado in 1996 and ranked among the first Americans (“the Dirty Dozen”) to do so. He was the first American to medal at the black belt level at the BJJ World Championships in Brazil in 1998, and continues to compete, winning world championship titles in his age division.
As a martial artist and instructor, he taught at UCLA, Steven Seagal’s Tenshin Dojo, and developed globally used grappling curricula with John Will, including customized material for Chuck Norris’s UFAF association.
Meyer also played a critical role in post-Katrina animal rescue, co-authored key books on BJJ and pet care, and co-founded a Haiti orphanage for children with HIV, exemplifying a lifetime of impactful leadership in both martial arts and philanthropy.
David resides in the San Francisco Bay, and continues to coach BJJ athletes while actively managing Food System Innovations and Humane America Animal Foundation.
The Ageless Warrior Lab
Transforming Pain Into Power: The Alchemy of Outcomes. | Ep. 03
In this episode, we dive deep into the art of transforming adversity into opportunity. Join us as we follow a journey from the mats of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Rio, through nonprofit challenges, to the heart of animal rescue during Hurricane Katrina. Discover how setbacks, injuries, and unexpected obstacles can become the very fuel for growth, resilience, and success.
You’ll hear personal stories of overcoming physical injury, navigating high-stakes nonprofit negotiations, and finding gratitude even in the toughest times. Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone facing life’s curveballs, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical philosophy, and inspiration to help you write your own next chapter.
This episode was directed and presented by David Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, with music from Robel Borja
Timestamps / Chapters
00:00 – Introduction & Setting the Stage
00:23 – Training in Brazil: The Blue Belt Challenge
01:09 – Injury on the Mat: A Setback in Rio
02:23 – The Alchemy of Outcomes: Turning Bad into Good
03:26 – Inspiration from Jean Jacques Machado
05:08 – Training with One Arm: Lessons in Adaptation
06:48 – The Power of Resilience: From Loss to Growth
11:21 – Business Alchemy: Nonprofit Negotiations & Sponsorships
19:21 – Stoic Wisdom: Obstacles as Opportunities
24:01 – Martial Arts Mantras & Mental Toughness
29:30 – Owning Your Attitude: Pain vs. Suffering
34:55 – Raising Your Baseline: Practicing Gratitude
39:15 – Hurricane Katrina: Animal Rescue & New Beginnings
46:51 – Full Circle: Growth, Success, and Podcasting
47:10 – Final Thoughts: Write Your Next Chapter
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe! Share your thoughts below—what’s an obstacle you’ve turned into an opportunity?
Links from the show
Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A
Rigan Machado https://www.theacademybeverlyhills.com/instructors/rigan-machado/
Renzo Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renzo_Gracie
Jean Jaques Machado https://jjmachadoassociation.com/about-us/jean-jacques-machado/
Adopt-a-Pet.com https://www.adoptapet.com/
Petfinder.com https://www.petfinder.com/
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations
The Daily Stoic https://dailystoic.com/podcast/
“The Obstacle is the Way” book https://a.co/d/7NXXkGr
Sensei Stephen Copping https://youtu.be/Gbq6Wpb1DVk?si=tO5DBLkHU7PEJXCX
Epictetus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epictetus
Best Friends Animal Society https://bestfriends.org/
North Shore Animal League https://www.animalleague.org/
This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.
