JRE 1374 · October 31, 2019

Justin Wren

mmacharityhumanitarianafricasocial justice

Who is Justin Wren?

Justin Wren is an American MMA fighter. Justin is currently fighting in the Heavyweight division of Bellator to help raise more awareness for helping the Pygmy people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Donate to Fight For The Forgotten at https://fightfortheforgotten.org/heroes

Topics and Timestamps

01Justin Wren is an MMA fighter using his platform and Bellator fights to raise awareness and funds for the Pygmy people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
02He founded Fight For The Forgotten, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping marginalized indigenous communities in Africa
03Wren discusses his transition from MMA career to humanitarian work and how fighting became a vehicle for charity
04The conversation covers the living conditions and challenges faced by Pygmy communities in the DRC
05Wren explains how his fighting success directly translates to more resources and visibility for his charitable mission
06He shares personal stories about traveling to Africa and connecting with the communities he's trying to help
▶Justin introduces Fight For The Forgotten and his mission in the DRC0:00:30
▶Discussion of the living conditions and marginalization of Pygmy communities0:08:45
▶Justin describes his personal experiences traveling to Africa and meeting the communities he helps0:18:20
▶Explanation of how Bellator fights directly fund and promote the charity work0:32:15
▶Justin talks about the future plans for Fight For The Forgotten and expansion of services0:48:30

The Show

Justin Wren sits down with Joe to talk about his unique approach to using his MMA career as a platform for humanitarian work. Rather than just fighting for glory or money, Wren has dedicated himself to helping the Pygmy people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo through his nonprofit Fight For The Forgotten. It's not your typical MMA fighter story, but Wren's commitment to the cause is genuine and deeply personal.

The core of the conversation revolves around why Wren decided to make this shift and how he's leveraged his position as a professional fighter to draw attention to communities that are often ignored by the international community. Wren explains the difficult living conditions faced by the Pygmy people, who have historically been marginalized and exploited. Instead of just donating money anonymously, Wren has actually traveled to the DRC to see the situation firsthand, which gives him credibility and a real understanding of what needs to be done.

Joe and Justin discuss how fighting at Bellator gives Wren a platform to talk about his charity work. Every fight is an opportunity to mention Fight For The Forgotten, every interview becomes a chance to educate people about these communities, and every victory becomes motivation for supporters to donate. It's a creative way to turn athletic achievement into something bigger than personal accolades.

The conversation also touches on the practical challenges of humanitarian work in places like the DRC, where infrastructure and resources are extremely limited. Wren talks about what his organization is actually doing on the ground to help, from building infrastructure to providing education and economic opportunities for the people he's trying to serve.

What makes this episode different from typical JRE combat sports episodes is that while Wren is a legitimate heavyweight fighter competing at a high level, the conversation isn't primarily about fighting techniques or MMA strategy. Instead, it's about a guy who realized he could use his platform for something meaningful. Joe seems genuinely impressed by Wren's commitment and the two have a substantial conversation about the importance of using whatever success you have to help others.

Best Quotes

“I realized I could use my platform as a fighter to help people who really need it, instead of just chasing money and fame”

— Justin Wren