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.
Episodes
43 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...
Lachlan Giles on Leg Locks, Heel Hooks & ADCC | Interview with The Giant Killer | Ep 37
In this episode, we sit down with Lachlan Giles — ADCC veteran, leg lock specialist, physiotherapist, and head coach at Absolute MMA St Kilda in Melbourne, Australia. With decades in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a PhD in physiotherapy, Lachlan bring...
Erik Paulson: First American Shooto World Champion & MMA Pioneer | Combat Submission Wrestling Ep 36
In this episode, I sit down with Erik Paulson, a true pioneer of mixed martial arts and one of the first Americans to compete professionally in Japan's Shooto organization. Erik is the first American Shooto World Champion, a BJJ lback belt unde...
Toughness: How to Get Mentally and Physically Tougher | Ep 35
In this episode, I break down what toughness really means—the ability to not give up or give in to something difficult while continuing to function effectively. I explore the different types of toughness: physical, mental, and psychological, an...
Rikki Rocket: Poison's Drummer on Martial Arts and Music | Ep 34
I sit down with Rikki Rockett, founding drummer of Poison (50+ million albums sold) and fourth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Renato Magno at Street Sports BJJ.We explore parallels between drumming and BJJ—both demand mental...
Burton Richardson - Combat Wisdom & Training Philosophy - Ep 33
Burton Richardson is a Black Belt Hall of Fame martial artist with over four decades of training. He's an instructor under Dan Inosanto in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Kali, trained in Zulu stick fighting in South Africa, an original Dog Brothers ...
Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry: Star Trek, Martial Arts & Finding Your Own Path | Ep 32
In this episode, I sit down with Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment. Rod is an executive producer on many current Star Trek iterations and founder of the Roddenberry Foundati...
Cesar Gracie on the Early Days of BJJ, the Diaz Brothers & Coaching UFC Champions | Ep 31
In this episode, I sit down with Cesar Gracie, one of the most influential figures in bringing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the United States. Cesar is the grandson of Carlos Gracie, founder of the Gracie system, and built the legendary Gracie Fighte...
Real Street Self Defense | What Many Martial Arts Don't Prepare You For | Ep.30
What really works in what's called "the street"? After decades of martial arts training, I can tell you this: most people who think they're prepared for a real fight may be mistaken.In this episode, I break down the truth about street f...
Caio Terra on BJJ Technique, Training Smart & Building Champions | Ep. 29
In this episode, I sit down with Professor Caio Terra, a BJJ black belt and one of the most accomplished competitors and coaches in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history. Caio is a multiple-time world champion who competed at rooster weight—the smallest ...
How to Avoid BJJ Injuries & Train for Decades | Injury Prevention for Grapplers | Ep. 28
After 30+ years as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I recently received my coral belt (7th degree). People keep asking me the same question: How have I stayed in the sport this long without getting sidelined? The answer isn't luck—it's stra...
David Mitchell on No-Gi BJJ, Ankle Locks & Balancing a Career with Elite Competition | Ep. 27
In this episode, I sit down with David Mitchell, a BJJ black belt and one of the most dangerous submission artists in Masters competition today. David is ranked #1 in the world for Master 2 No-Gi by IBJJF, has won around 85% of his matches with...
Professor John Will: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Evolution, Real Self-Defense, and Building Safety Nets | EP. 26
In this episode, I sit down with Professor John Will, one of Australia's most legendary martial artists and the person who brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the continent. John is now a coral belt in BJJ, was the first Australian to earn a black b...
Frank Shamrock: From Prison to UFC Champion, The Mindset That Built a Legend | Ep. 25
Frank Shamrock joins Dave Meyer for a deep, honest conversation about martial arts, MMA, mindset, and the life experiences that shaped one of the most well-rounded fighters of his era. Frank shares his path from a difficult childhood and time i...
Krissa Hjartar: Mastering Leg Attacks, Training with Men & Building Confidence| Ep. 24
In this episode, I sit down with Coach Krissa Hjartar, a 5-time Icelandic National Judo Champion, IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, and American National Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Krissa shares her incredible journey from training in a small I...
The Ego Trap: What 35 Years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Taught Me About Success | Ep. 23
Many years ago, I sat across from a martial arts "master" who claimed his punch could burst someone's aorta. That moment taught me everything I needed to know about unchecked ego, and it's a lesson that extends far beyond the dojo.In thi...
Adapt and Prevail: The #1 Skill That Can Help You Win When There's No Win in Sight. | Ep. 22
Many people don't fail because they're mentally weak, they fail because they're mentally rigid.In this episode, I explore one of the most powerful skills I've learned from decades of martial arts training: the power of adapting. Whether...
Bob Bass: 2nd US BJJ Black Belt, Stories of the Gracie & Machado Early Days | Dirty Dozen | Ep. 21
🥋 In this episode, Dave Meyer sits down with Professor Bob Bass—the SECOND non-Brazilian to ever receive a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (1995) making him one of the BJJ Dirty Dozen, and one of the first non-Brazilians to be awarded the pre...
The Psychology of Competition: Why Winning Shouldn't Be Your Goal | BJJ & Life Lessons | Ep. 20
Are you thinking about entering your first competition? Or struggling with competition anxiety? In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology of competition, why you should compete, how to prepare mentally and physically, and why winning sh...
Melissa Will: Pioneer of Women's BJJ on 36 Years of Training & Building Inclusive Gyms | Ep. 19
In this BJJ Bonus episode, I sit down with Melissa Will—one of the true pioneers of women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With nearly 36 years on the mats, Melissa has been training longer than any other non-Brazilian woman in the world.Melissa s...
Mission Days: The powerful tool to keep your work and life on course | Ep. 18
Are you living on autopilot? Most people never take real time alone to examine their lives—until a crisis forces them to. But what if you could proactively gain clarity, purpose, and direction without waiting for disaster to strike?In th...