# EJ Snyder EVP & Veteran Owner, Freedom Pickles USA | 6x Naked & Afraid Legend | Army Sergeant Major (Ret.) Canonical: https://mornings.network/shows/center-stage/guests/ej-snyder ## Biography 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. ## Links - linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ej-snyder-22329b12 - website: https://ejsnyder.com - facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EJScrapIronSnyder/ - instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ejsnyder333/ - youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EJSnyder333 - twitter: https://x.com/ejsnyder333 - tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ejsnyder333 ## Transcript 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.