This week on the Oakley Podcast, host Jeremy Kellett chats with Oakley owner/operator John Burgess about his remarkable journey through trucking, health crises, and entrepreneurship. John talks about getting into trucking at 18, the ups and downs of being an owner-operator (including expensive breakdowns and a tornado-damaged home), and how a series of life-threatening health scares including blood clots, uncontrolled diabetes, and severe illness, forced him to completely reevaluate his lifestyle. John explains how switching to a carnivore/proper human diet, closely monitoring his blood work, and finding better medical guidance helped him lose about 100 pounds, reverse serious issues, and feel healthier at 62 than in his 40s. He also describes building Lizzy B’s Barbecue Rubs & Seasonings, a low- or no-sugar, keto/diabetic-friendly seasoning line inspired by his love of barbecue. Key takeaways: trucking can be financially and emotionally brutal without savings and support; health cannot be outsourced to doctors alone; diet and disciplined self-care can radically change outcomes; and even after near-death moments, it’s possible to rebuild your body, business, and marriage.
Key topics in today’s conversation include:
- Welcoming John to Today’s Episode (0:47)
- John’s Background, Family, and Early Trucking Career (1:36)
- Hitting Rock Bottom and Finding Oakley Trucking (9:58)
- Becoming an Owner Operator and the Harsh Financial Realities (13:22)
- Major Breakdowns, Tornado Damage, and Insurance Struggles (13:39)
- Life-Threatening Health Scares and Near-Death Blood Clot Story (18:33)
- Discovering Carnivore Diet, Losing 100 Pounds, and Reversing Diabetes (30:49)
- Creating Lizzy B’s Seasonings and Building a Side Business (34:25)
- John’s Mission to Help Truckers Get Healthy and Improve Their Lives (50:48)
- Closing Thoughts On Trucking, Health, and John’s Contact Info (55:57)
Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com.