Changing the Game, Defying the Odds
How an NFL Hall of Famer, Former United States Navy Seal, and the Youngest Steer Wrestler in Professional Rodeo Defy challenges on and off the field
Do you believe in the power of persistence, determination, and inclusion? At DEFY, these core values serve as the foundation of our company. DEFY is a lifestyle brand that believes in defying pain, defying injuries, defying the odds, and, most of all, defying others’ perceptions of who you are and what you’re capable of achieving.
Defy is proudly black, veteran, and female-owned. Founded by a team that realized they not only shared the same passion for fitness, but had to overcome physical, mental, and societal challenges as well, Defy was born from the idea to create the ultimate performance product that will give you the motivation to push past adversity and defy limits.
Defy made history in 2019 as the world’s first mainstream CBD built for athletes. Formulated to aid in muscle recovery and clear-headed, hyper-focused training, Defy products (with 0% THC) are formulated to deliver naturally-derived performance, recovery, and rejuvenation.
Read more on DEFY’s groundbreaking products on their website .
Why this All-Star Team is Betting on the Future of CBD in the Athletic Community
In 2017, NFL Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis first used CBD as a healthy alternative to alleviate debilitating pain from the constant pressures placed on a pro athlete’s body. After suffering numerous setbacks that prevented him from working out, from migraines to constant muscle fatigue, Terrell implemented CBD into his workout regimen—and it changed his life.No longer hindered by pain and loss of energy, he was able to recover faster, focus harder, and achieve levels of endurance he hadn’t felt since his early days in the NFL. As Co-Founder, Terrell continues to break boundaries as an entrepreneur championing rights of black business owners in a growing industry.
The founders discovered that CBD enhanced their lives and incorporated it into their daily routines. Becoming true devotees, they view CBD as more than just a gateway to quick recovery and rejuvenation: CBD is the key in giving everyone an advantage to push past obstacles and adversity. Thus began their mission to launch DEFY as a minority-, woman- and veteran-owned business that defies the odds as not just just a line of CBD and wellness products but a lifestyle brand.
After conferring with Terrell, athletes and entrepreneur Megan Bushell and Beau Wheeler became excited about the health and wellness benefits of CBD. They realized its potential to serve a customer base looking for high-quality, trustworthy, non-THC products. After years working alongside industry experts to find the perfect formulation with 0% THC, they discovered a unique formula that would pave the way for DEFY. Under Megan’s bold leadership as CEO, DEFY continues to push boundaries by introducing new products into the CPG market.
After twelve years as a Navy SEAL, Megan and Beau’s good friend Eric Frohardt also personally reaped the benefits of CBD, amazed at its ability to treat painful injuries he sustained while in service. He has since become a fierce advocate, extolling the virtues of CBD as a natural, alternative method to over-the-counter-medication for the veteran community. Eric’s role as Partner is a testament to DEFY’s commitment in forging sustained partnerships with the military and veteran communities to better their lives.
The founders discovered that CBD enhanced their lives and incorporated it into their daily routines. Becoming true devotees, they view CBD as more than just a gateway to quick recovery and rejuvenation: CBD is the key in giving everyone an advantage to push past obstacles and adversity. Thus began their mission to launch DEFY as a minority-, woman- and veteran-owned business that defies the odds as not just just a line of CBD and wellness products but a lifestyle brand.
A ‘discouraged’ Terrell Davis almost ditched his first NFL season: “The only way you really fail is to quit.”
That includes Terrell Davis, the former Denver Broncos star running back and NFL MVP, who won two Super Bowls in the 1990s. Davis, who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2017 after rushing for more than 7,600 yards in a seven-year career, almost quit football before he even played his first NFL game in 1995.
At the time, Davis was an unheralded sixth-round draft pick entering his rookie season in the NFL. He was trying to win a job as the Broncos’ starting running back, but he entered the preseason as the team’ssixth-stringin the position. Davis also felt he wasn’t getting enough playing time in preseason to prove his talent to his coaches, the now 47-year-old Hall-of-Famer told entrepreneurMarcus Lemonisin a recent Instagram Live interview.
When the Broncos traveled to Tokyo for the team’s second preseason game, an exhibition match against the San Francisco 49ers, Davis got so discouraged in the practices leading up to the game that he nearly quit the team and flew back to the U.S., he told Lemonis, who is the host of CNBC’s “The Profit.”
“I almost quit in training camp when I was in Tokyo, Japan in preseason because I wasn’t getting the opportunity to show them what I could do,” Davis told Lemonis. “I just felt like it wasn’t for me. They had faster guys who were better than me at the time, and I got a little discouraged, so I wanted to quit.”
Read the full story at CNBC Make It.
DEFYing Adversity from a Very Young Age
For Davis, who played inthe NFL from 1995 to 2001 for the Denver Broncos, his path to success has not been without its roadblocks. Beginning in childhood, he suffered frequent and severely debilitating migrainesperforated by vomiting and blindness. He alsoslipped through society cracks soon after losing his father at the age of 12.
“I really went off the deep end. I was in ninth grade, I was 13 and hanging out in a neighborhood I should not have been. I was in the car, and a fight broke out. I got out and tried to stop it,” Davis, a San Diego native, recalled. “And then I found myself staring down the end of a double-barrel shotgun.”
“I embody that underdog role. That’s what gets me excited, having to fight for everything. And that is what I tell people. The only thing I can guarantee you in this life is that you are going to have setbacks, you are going to have obstacles, you are going to have failures and disappointments and everything in between, so prepare your mind for those things.”
Read the full article on FOX News .
DEFY CEO: We Wanted to Create a CBD Drink that Moms, Athletes could Trust
Defy, a CBD sports performance brand that was co-founded with NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, has a new CEO at its helm: Megan Bushell
In Fall 2020, DEFY was proud to announce Megan Bushell as its new CEO. DEFY, the prominent sports performance brand co-founded by NFL Hall-of-Famer Terrell Davis, made history as the world’s first-ever mainstream hemp extract performance beverage built specifically for athletes.
Megan arrives to DEFY with a prolific background in sports media and technology. She helped to grow Direct Sports Network (DSN), a one-time small start-up, into a power player in digital media. In her time at DSN, Megan was responsible for securing partnerships with 40+ teams across five professional leagues (NFL, NHL, MLS, NBA, and NASCAR.)
Under Megan’s strong leadership, Defy has thrived amid a global pandemic and in an uncertain economy, from diversifying its product portfolio to bucking the CBD trend of halting innovation during a crisis.
Learn more about Megans’s incredible journey on The Street TV.
DEFY Nation Director on going from the Battlefield to the Boardroom
After twelve years as a Navy SEAL, Eric Frohardt also personally reaped the benefits of CBD, amazed at its ability to treat painful injuries he sustained while in service. He has since become a fierce advocate, extolling the virtues of CBD as a natural, alternative method to over-the-counter-medication for the veteran community. Eric’s role as Partner is a testament to DEFY’s commitment in forging sustained partnerships with the military and veteran communities to better their lives.
Now what? My Difficult Transition from the Military to Civilian Life
“WHEN I LEFT THE MILITARY, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO PROFESSIONALLY AND NO WAY TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY. NOTHING IS SCARIER. NOTHING IS MORE DEMORALIZING TO A HUSBAND AND FATHER. EVERYONE SAYS THEY WANT TO HIRE VETERANS. THIS IS MOSTLY LIP SERVICE. IT CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING TO FIND A JOB AND GET A DECENT PAYCHECK ON THE OUTSIDE.”
Serving my country was an honor and privilege. Given the option, I’d happily go back in time and do it all over again. It was challenging and dangerous, especially the combat deployments. When I was no longer able to deploy, I thought these challenges were behind me. Little did I know, my toughest battle lay ahead…
Read more of Eric’s Defying the odds story on DEFY Nation.
Learning the Ropes, Faster than Anyone
At just 22 years old, Champion Bridget Anderson, DEFY advocate, is ahead of the pack, becoming the youngest steer wrestler in pro rodeo
No. 10 Steer Wrestler Bridger Anderson on his Rodeo Season and Heading to his First NFR
As the son of two ropers, Bridger Anderson has wanted to rodeo since he was a toddler.
“When I was three, my mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I said I wanted to be a Paleontologist during the day and professional steer wrestler at night," Bridger says. "I've since given up on the dinosaur diggin' gig, but we're sticking with steer wrestling."
With a stellar support system at home and on the road, Bridger finished No. 10 in the World Standings and is headed to his first Wrangler NFR this December.
“It's been a crazy year, and a lot of rodeos have been canceled," he says. "For a long time we were pretty scared we weren't going to get to go to an NFR and it sounds like Arlington is trying really hard to make a great NFR for us. We're really excited."
Read the full story at The Cowboy Channel.
