The Ageless Warrior Lab
Dave Meyer | Host, Ageless Warrior Lab podcast | President & Co-founder of Food System Innovations and Humane American Animal Foundation
Join BJJ coral belt, Gang of Eight and Dirty Dozen member Dave Meyer as we draw wisdom from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the martial arts and explore how it applies to your life, success in business, and your long-term health.
Dave Meyer is a pioneering American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner, and accomplished non-profit founder and Philanthropist. He is an eleven-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is the current world champion in his age/weight division in the no-gi format.
Dave 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, Dave leads Humane America Animal Foundation and Food System Innovations, working on farm animal welfare and a healthy and sustainable food system. 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, Dave has risen to the highest ranks of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 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. Dave is one of just several Americans to achieve the rank of coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a group now referred to as the “Gang of Eight”. He continues to compete at the world championship level, 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 a globally used grappling curriculum with John Will, including customized material for Chuck Norris's UFAF association. He has written several books on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, including "Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling".
Meyer also played a critical role in post-Katrina animal rescue, co-authored books pet care, and co-founded a Haiti orphanage for children with HIV, exemplifying a lifetime of impactful leadership in both martial arts and philanthropy.
Dave resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, and continues to coach BJJ athletes and compete at the world championship level. He is the President & Co-Founder of Humane America Animal Foundation and Food System Innovations, of which the Ageless Warrior Lab is a project.
The Ageless Warrior Lab
Latest Episodes
Robert Drysdale: Hard Training Builds Real Fighters | EP 42
Host Dave Meyer sits down with Professor Robert Drysdale — IBJJF Black Belt Heavyweight World Champion (2005), ADCC Absolute Champion (2007), undefeated MMA fighter (7-0), and author of multiple books on the history of BJJ. They cover the decli...
How I Used Strategy To Achieve Big Goals | Ep 41
In this episode, I break down what strategy really is—and how it can help you go after goals that look like a long shot from where you are right now.Back in the year 2000, I decided I wanted to stop millions of dogs and...
Martial arts, Aliveness and Modern Police Jiu Jitsu Training: Adam Treanor | EP 40
Adam Treanor is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable voices at the intersection of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and law enforcement. Adam is 25-year veteran of Southern California law enforcement, serving as both a police officer and deputy sher...
Eric Ries: Building Companies That Promote Prosperity With a Purpose | EP 39
Eric Ries created the Lean Startup Method — principles that mirror martial arts: don't overcommit, test first, adapt. We discuss why success breeds failure, how "financial gravity" corrupts organizations, why companies like Costco resist it, an...
Justin Flores on Connecting Judo, Wrestling & Jiujitsu | EP 38
Justin Flores is a coach's coach — a University of Nebraska wrestler, elite judoka, and lifelong grappler who has spent decades blending judo, wrestling, and Brazilian jiujitsu. He's coached UFC champions, judged at CJI, and built J Flow Academ...
