Center Stage / the conversation
EVP & Veteran Owner, Freedom Pickles USA | 6x Naked & Afraid Legend | Army Sergeant Major (Ret.)
EJ "Skullcrusher" Snyder is a 25-year decorated Army combat veteran, extreme survivalist, Discovery Channel star, serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author. Based in Raeford, North Carolina, EJ has built a life defined by an absolute refusal to quit — a principle forged on the battlefield, tested in the most extreme survival environments on television, and now applied to building businesses and inspiring men to find their purpose after service.
EJ "Skullcrusher" Snyder is a 25-year decorated Army combat veteran, extreme survivalist, Discovery Channel star, serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author. Based in Raeford, North Carolina, EJ has built a life defined by an absolute refusal to quit — a principle forged on the battlefield, tested in the most extreme survival environments on television, and now applied to building businesses and inspiring men to find their purpose after service. EJ's military career began in 1984 when he enlisted in the United States Army at age 19. Over the next quarter-century, he rose from private to Sergeant Major (E-9) — the highest enlisted rank in the Army. He served as an Airborne Ranger in elite infantry units, completed two combat tours (Gulf War and Iraq), and earned two Bronze Stars and the Legion of Merit for exceptional service. He served as a Ranger Instructor at the U.S. Army Ranger School in Florida for three years, training the next generation of Army Rangers in the most demanding military leadership course in the world. He later served as a primary survival instructor and attended Man Tracking School, learning to track men and beasts on the ground. After retiring, he transitioned to the U.S. Army SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) school, working alongside like-minded veterans — a move he credits with helping him successfully navigate the transition to civilian life. After his military career, EJ channeled his survival expertise into television. He became the most decorated contestant in the history of Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid franchise, completing six challenges totaling over 206 days in the most brutal environments on earth — with zero tap-outs. He earned the title of "Godfather of Naked and Afraid" and is recognized as the number one ranked survivalist in the world by The Top Tens. His television career expanded to include hosting Season 9 of Dual Survival, appearing on Ed Stafford's First Man Out, 72 Hours, Mountain Masters, Lost, and the History Channel's Patton 360. During one legendary 60-day challenge in a Louisiana swamp, EJ suffered a severe scrotal injury and received eight stitches with no anesthesia and no antibiotics — then refused to leave, getting up to gather firewood before the sun went down. The story has become one of the most iconic moments in survival television history. EJ is now a serial entrepreneur with multiple active ventures. He is the Executive Vice President and co-founder of Freedom Pickles USA Inc., a veteran-owned premium pickle brand built on his partner's grandmother's secret recipe. Freedom Pickles uses all-natural, locally sourced, organic ingredients with no preservatives, no dyes, no GMOs, and no hardening agents — scoring a 90 on the Yuka nutrition app, making it one of the healthiest pickles on the market. The brand launched with three bold flavors (Patriot Dill, Gunny's Garlicky, and Firework Frenzy) and is expanding into big-box retail stores. EJ also founded Skullcrusher Outdoors and Rocko Ventures LLC, is a major shareholder and brand ambassador for Armed Forces Brewing Company (co-owned by Rob O'Neill, the Navy SEAL who killed Bin Laden), serves as EVP and Chief Instructor for Survival Mastery — a subscriber-based online survival education platform — and is involved with Freedom 75, a wellness facility for veterans and first responders. EJ is the published author of the Emergency Home Preparedness Guide, which became a number one bestseller on Amazon across five categories. He is a sought-after motivational speaker whose message centers on the warrior mindset: finding your purpose, refusing to be a victim, and building the mental toughness to push through any obstacle. His personal philosophy — 'If I can't get around it, over it, or under it, I'm going through it' — was forged through childhood bullying, military service, and 206 days naked in the wild. He speaks openly about PTSD, the challenges of military-to-civilian transition, and the importance of finding a new mission after service. With over 215,000 followers on Facebook alone and a growing presence across Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube (Survive with EJ), EJ Snyder has become one of the most authentic and respected voices in the survival, veteran, and men's personal development space.
Entrepreneurship and the American hustle
There's nothing for me more Americana than being a business owner. I've always had that in my spirit since I was a kid with my first paper route.
EJ describing how his entrepreneurial drive started as a child in Toughskins jeans, monopolizing all five paper routes in his town just to buy Levis for himself and his kid brother — the same hustle mentality that now drives Freedom Pickles and his multiple ventures.
The warrior mindset and refusing to quit
I'm not letting life pass me by. The mission is 60 days and I ain't leaving.
EJ refusing to tap out of a 60-day Naked and Afraid challenge after receiving eight stitches in his scrotum in a Louisiana swamp with no anesthesia — a moment that defines his 'never quit' philosophy and became one of the most iconic stories in survival TV history.
Freedom Pickles and clean food mission
Come taste what freedom is all about. It's not about freedom of country. It's about freedom of chemicals, freedom to choose a product that's healthy for you.
EJ explaining the deeper meaning behind Freedom Pickles — connecting the brand's patriotic identity to a health mission, making clean-ingredient pickles accessible and challenging major brands that still use preservatives and dyes linked to health issues.
Military-to-civilian transition and PTSD
You can take the man out of the military. You can't take the military out of the man so easy. You got to find a new purpose.
EJ speaking candidly about the post-military transition, sitting in a fast food line watching people who couldn't decide what to order after 20 minutes, and realizing he needed to channel his intensity into a new mission — survival training, then business.
Self-reliance and the Skullcrusher philosophy
No one's coming to save you in this world. If you want to get something done, you can only count on yourself. If I couldn't get around it, over it, or under it, I was going to go right through it.
EJ's core philosophy, forged through childhood bullying and 25 years of military service — the mindset that propelled him from being bullied as a kid to becoming an Army Sergeant Major, a survival legend, and a serial entrepreneur.
Product differentiation and health standards
When you scan our label, you get a 90 on the Yuka app, making us one of the healthiest pickles in the market right now. We're the only pickle on the planet that scores a 90.
EJ explaining Freedom Pickles' competitive advantage — that their all-natural, hand-packed, locally sourced product achieves the highest nutrition score of any pickle brand, challenging major competitors that still rely on chemical preservatives.
Decision-making under extreme pressure
I don't look at life with any fear. I know my card — whatever your brain is telling you in these situations, throw out the majority of what it's telling you and look at that 5%. Because in that 5% are the real options.
EJ breaking down how he makes survival decisions under extreme pressure — filtering out the 95% of thoughts driven by fear and ego to find the small percentage of information that actually matters, a framework he applies to business and life.
Finding purpose through survival
Survival became my out. I started going to the woods doing survival stuff and getting comfortable back with who EJ was. You got to find your new purpose — whether it's going to the gym, working out, things that bring you joy.
EJ describing how he used survival training as his personal therapy after leaving the military — a practical, self-directed approach to managing the transition that eventually led to his television career and his ability to help other veterans.
Naked & Afraid · The Stitches
“Hospital? No. I’m staying in the swamp.”
On taking eight stitches with no anesthesia — and not tapping out.
The Mission
“The mission is 60 days and I ain’t leaving.”
On the relentless pursuit — and why he refuses to quit.
EJ Snyder is a 25-year decorated Army combat veteran (Sergeant Major, Airborne Ranger, two Bronze Stars, Legion of Merit), extreme survivalist, Discovery Channel star, serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author. He earned the nickname 'Skullcrusher' during his military career. He is the most decorated contestant in the history of Naked and Afraid with six challenges, over 206 days, and zero tap-outs — earning him the title 'Godfather of Naked and Afraid.' He is ranked as the number one survivalist in the world by The Top Tens.
Freedom Pickles USA Inc. is a veteran-owned premium pickle brand co-founded by EJ Snyder. What sets them apart is their commitment to all-natural, locally sourced, organic ingredients with zero preservatives, dyes, GMOs, or hardening agents. Their products score a 90 on the Yuka nutrition app — making them the highest-scoring pickle brand on the market. EJ describes the difference simply: major brands use chemicals like Yellow #5 that have been linked to cancer, while Freedom Pickles is hand-packed, hand-cooked using his partner's grandmother's secret recipe. They launched with three flavors: Patriot Dill, Gunny's Garlicky, and Firework Frenzy.
During a 60-day Naked and Afraid Legends challenge in a Louisiana swamp, EJ suffered a severe scrotal injury 21 days in. A medic stitched him up with eight stitches in two places — no anesthesia, no antibiotics. The medic told him he needed to keep it clean (he was covered in mud), keep it dry (it rained twice), stay out of water (he needed to fish), and sit still for 10 to 14 days. EJ's response: 'Okay, is that it? Help me get up. The sun's going down and I got to get firewood.' He completed the full 60-day challenge. As he told Keith Bilous on Mornings in the Lab: 'The mission is 60 days and I ain't leaving.'
EJ is a serial entrepreneur with multiple active ventures: Freedom Pickles USA Inc. (EVP & co-founder — premium veteran-owned pickle brand), Skullcrusher Outdoors, Rocko Ventures LLC, Survival Mastery (EVP & Chief Instructor — online survival education platform), Armed Forces Brewing Company (major shareholder & Army brand ambassador, co-owned by Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill), and involvement with Freedom 75 (a wellness facility for veterans and first responders). He is also the published author of the Emergency Home Preparedness Guide, a number one Amazon bestseller across five categories.
EJ served 25 years in the United States Army, enlisting in 1984 and rising from private to Sergeant Major (E-9). He was an Airborne Ranger in elite infantry units, served two combat tours in the Gulf War and Iraq, and earned two Bronze Stars and the Legion of Merit. He served as a Ranger Instructor at U.S. Army Ranger School in Florida for three years, then as a primary survival instructor and man tracking specialist. After retiring as a Sergeant Major, he transitioned to the U.S. Army SERE school before launching his television and entrepreneurial career.
EJ speaks openly about the challenges of military-to-civilian transition and PTSD, drawing from his own experience of struggling after leaving the Army. He describes sitting in a fast food line and being unable to tolerate civilians who couldn't decide what to order — and credits his transition to the SERE school, where being around like-minded veterans helped him stay grounded. His message to veterans: 'Find a new purpose. Survival became my out.' Through his businesses (Freedom Pickles supports veteran charities, Armed Forces Brewing is veteran-owned, Freedom 75 provides wellness for veterans and first responders) and his speaking, he advocates for veterans finding their next mission rather than dwelling on what they've lost.
Keith: We've got a legend returning to the lab today. Army ranger, extreme survivalist, and the founder of Freedom Pickles, EJ. Jon: We're keeping things completely professional today. No distractions, just digging deep into mindset, business, and raw survival. Keith: Let's bring him up. EJ Snyder, what's going on, brother? EJ: What's going on, guys? Thanks for having me back. That's awesome. Good morning, everybody. Keith: How are you, brother? Jon: THE PICKLEMAN. How are you, pal? Good to see you this morning, brother. EJ: Doing good. Got Freedom Frank hanging out with me this morning. Things have been going really good. I heard you guys earlier talking about some entrepreneurship stuff and business and percentages and stuff. And man, there's nothing for me more Americana than being a business owner — something I've always wanted to do since I was a kid. EJ: I had my first paper route as a kid and I figured out monopolizing. We had five paper routes in the town and the only reason I had — you have to have a motivation, a purpose why you want to have a business. So for me we had Toughskins jeans as a kid. And I was like, you get made fun of at school and I was like man I want some Levis. So how do I do it? My mom's working three jobs. Me and my kid brother are sitting here in Toughskins. I'm like, you know what? I'll get a paper route. The only purpose was to buy a pair of Levis for me and one for my kid brother. EJ: Well, I started figuring out — man, the more money I get, I can go get a new bike. I could do this. And then next thing I knew, I had took over all the paper routes in town. I had hired my brother and my best friend to work for me. I told them, 'Listen, you give me your paper route, I'll give you 10% of what I collect for tips and you could just go off and do whatever you want to do.' So I've always had that in my spirit. Keith: EJ, tell John and Keith and our audience why the pickles that are currently in our fridge are killing us compared to the pickles that you're serving us. EJ: You know, John will appreciate this too. Me always being a fitness guy, a health-conscious guy — and my daughter who is five months pregnant — I think about the pregnant women out there thinking they're drinking brine for health. The other companies are using either a firming agent or a preservative or yellow number five — that stuff is poison. Those have been known and linked back to cancer and other health issues. So here you think you're getting a healthy snack but they're drinking really a lot of chemicals and garbage. EJ: When you scan our label, you get a 90 on the Yuka app, making us one of the healthiest pickles in the market right now. We always say, 'Come taste what freedom is all about. It's not about freedom of country. It's about freedom of chemicals, freedom to choose a product that's healthy for you.' So when my pregnant daughter's drinking the brine or eating a pickle, my future grandson isn't also being affected by bad choices. --- [From Episode 1 — January 9, 2026, with Dr. John Petrocelli] Keith: What kind of man, John, gets eight stitches in his scrotum in the middle of the Louisiana swamp with no anesthesia, no antibiotics, and a medic telling him he could lose his manhood or die from infection. And then he says, 'Stitch me up. I'm staying.' The kind of man who's never tapped out in 206 days of brutal survival challenges. Keith: EJ spent 25 years as an Army Ranger, two wars, a career built around pressure, discipline, and consequences. After the military, he stepped into extreme survival — six Naked and Afraid challenges, over 200 days, zero quits, starvation, illness, isolation, conditions that strip everything away except how you respond. EJ: Well, John, if you haven't watched this show Naked and Afraid — they call me the godfather of Naked and Afraid. That was my first 60-day legends challenge. I was 21 days in when the injury happened. They said I could go home. And I said no. I'm not leaving. The mission is 60 days and I ain't leaving. EJ: She stitches me up. Eight stitches, two places. Then she says, 'Doctor's orders — you got to keep it clean.' I look around, I'm covered in mud. 'You got to keep it dry.' It rains twice. 'You got to get in the water to get fish.' She says I can't do anything for 10 to 14 days. I said, 'Okay, is that it? All right, help me get up. The sun's going down and I got to get firewood. Let's go.' Keith: So EJ, dude, you're an inspiring man. I certainly appreciate you hanging out with us. I love your energy. I love what you bring to the show. The energy you bring is exceptional. I know we're gonna grab coffee later today. Again, quick plug — how can folks connect with EJ and Freedom Pickles? EJ: For EJ, just go to ejsnyder.com. You got all things EJ there. All my social media links. Instagram, TikTok, X — go to ejsnyder333. For Facebook, just go to EJ Snyder — you'll see 215,000 followers there. On YouTube, go to Survive with EJ. Please subscribe. freedompickles.com for all things pickles. ORDER SOME PICKLES. JOIN OUR PICKLE CLUB. WE NEED YOU FOR THE SPECIAL CRUNCH FORCES.
Episode 1 introduction: The legend of the eight stitches · ~5 minutes · Keith and Jon introduce EJ with the now-legendary story of his scrotal injury during a 60-day Naked and Afraid challenge — eight stitches, no anesthesia, in a Louisiana swamp, followed by his refusal to leave. Sets the tone for the entire conversation: this is a man who does not quit. · The Naked and Afraid story in EJ's own words · ~8 minutes · EJ tells the full story of the injury, the stitching, the medic's orders, and his decision to get up and get firewood. Reveals the 'Godfather of Naked and Afraid' title, his 206 total days with zero tap-outs, and the mindset that carried him through conditions designed to break people. · Military career: from enlistment to Sergeant Major · ~6 minutes · EJ traces his 25-year Army career — enlisting at 19, becoming an Airborne Ranger, serving as Ranger Instructor, two combat tours, two Bronze Stars, Legion of Merit, and rising to the highest enlisted rank. Discusses the Ranger Creed and the mindset it forges. · Childhood origins: from bullying to the warrior mindset · ~5 minutes · EJ shares his childhood — being bullied, emotional, uncoordinated — and how he built himself through wrestling, soccer, football, and ultimately the military. The origin of his philosophy: 'No one's coming to save you. If I can't get around it, over it, or under it, I'm going through it.' · The entrepreneurial spirit: from paper routes to Freedom Pickles · ~6 minutes · EJ connects his childhood paper route hustle (monopolizing all five routes to buy Levis) to his current entrepreneurial ventures. Deep dive into Freedom Pickles — the grandmother's recipe, the 90 Yuka score, the clean ingredient philosophy, the patriotic brand identity, and the mission to support veterans. · Clean food vs. chemical pickles: the health argument · ~5 minutes · EJ breaks down why major pickle brands use chemical preservatives and dyes (Yellow #5) linked to cancer, and why Freedom Pickles' all-natural, hand-packed process produces a healthier product. Connects to the Make America Healthy Again movement and his concern for his pregnant daughter. · Armed Forces Brewing Company and veteran business ventures · ~4 minutes · EJ discusses his role as major shareholder and brand ambassador for Armed Forces Brewing Company (co-founded by Rob O'Neill, the SEAL who killed Bin Laden), Survival Mastery, Freedom 75, and his broader vision for veteran-owned businesses that give back to the community. · Post-military transition and PTSD · ~5 minutes · EJ gets real about the difficulty of leaving the military — the culture shock of civilian life, the fast food line frustration, the addictive personality that comes from high-adrenaline service. Credits the SERE school and survival as his personal therapy. Message to struggling veterans: find your new purpose. · Decision-making under pressure: the 5% framework · ~4 minutes · EJ explains how he makes survival decisions — filtering out 95% of what your brain tells you (fear, ego, panic) to find the 5% of real options. A framework he applies to business, relationships, and any high-pressure situation. · Closing: energy, connection, and coming back · ~3 minutes · Keith thanks EJ for his energy and invites him back. EJ plugs all his ventures and social channels, ending with the Freedom Pickles battle cry: 'JOIN OUR PICKLE CLUB. WE NEED YOU FOR THE SPECIAL CRUNCH FORCES.' Keith and Jon reflect on EJ's impact on the show.