Pulse March 2024 | Page 21

After battling depression , drug addiction and attempted suicide , Justin Wren experienced a life-changing journey living with the Mbuti Pygmy people of the Congo Basin Rainforest . When he returned to the U . S ., he founded the nonprofit Fight for the Forgotten to help solve the world water crisis , starting with the Mbutis and now expanded to serve the Batwa Pygmies of Uganda . As an outgrowth to his humanitarian work , Wren is author of the bestseller Fight for the Forgotten and host of the inspirational podcast “ Overcome with Justin Wren .”

Prior to his philanthropic calling , Wren rose to prominence as a professional mixed martial artist . Known in his fighting career as “ The Big Pygmy ,” Wren is a 10-time state champion , five-time All American , and two-time national champion wrestler and UFC veteran with an MMA record of 15-2 , and has been inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame .

Pulse : What mindset should ISPA members have when they walk into your keynote address in April ? Any hints or surprises to expect from your presentation ? JW : Buckle up , buttercups ! It ’ s going to be FUN and it ’ s going to be one of the most purpose-driven , meaningful keynotes that I think is out in the world today !

I ’ m very honored and humbled to be able to say that , but I believe that ! This is a collection of what I ’ ve learned from being a world-class elite athlete and hopefully a world-class humanitarian , too . What ISPA should expect is coming to the realization that you can make so much more of a difference than you ever thought possible . I hope I ’ m coming to change people ’ s perspective and their spectrum of what is possible . A hint , too , on what to expect , is that I ’ m going to be telling you some incredible stories about some of the world ’ s most amazing people .

They are probably the closest to original man still on the planet with their way of life , and the amazing perspectives we can have moving through life .

Pulse : ISPA is asking members to “ Dream Big !” during the conference . How does that idea relate to your humanitarian work ? JW : That ’ s what I do . I dream big . In every way .

My mom gave me a letter before the national championships in wrestling and it said ,“ Dream Big , Win Big .” In wrestling , we wear singlets , and inside our singlet at all times we have to have a blood rag in case our nose gets busted or we get a cut . And inside that blood rag , I put the letter from my mom ,“ Dream Big , Win Big .” Then , when I won that national championship , I got my hand raised , I ran up into the arena , hugged my mom and pulled out her letter .

Dream Big , Win Big .

– JUSTIN WREN

MARCH 2024 n PULSE 19