The Night Kenny Barnwell Escaped the Cartel

Episode 1: The Night Kenny Barnwell Escaped the Cartel

Faith, resilience, and a 12-hour fight to survive

Welcome to the Climb Your Mountain Podcast! I’m Jake Ballentine, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this new chapter with you. Whether you’ve listened before under the old name or you’re just joining for the very first time, this podcast is about one thing: helping you climb the metaphorical mountains in your life—whether that’s in your business, your health, your relationships, or your mindset.

To launch this new season, I wanted to bring you a story that captures the heart of what this podcast is all about: courage, resilience, and faith in the face of overwhelming challenges. That’s why I invited my good friend Kenny Barnwell to share his unbelievable journey of survival after a chance run on a mountain trail in Mexico turned into a 12-hour life-or-death struggle against the cartel.

Kenny was hunted, attacked, and left broken on the mountainside—but his story isn’t just about survival. It’s about the strength of the human spirit, the power of faith, and the reminder that we are all stronger than we think we are. What he experienced that night has lessons for every single one of us, no matter what mountain we’re climbing.

This episode isn’t easy to forget. It’s gripping, emotional, and deeply inspiring. You’ll find yourself asking: What would I do in that situation? But more importantly, you’ll see how the same principles that helped Kenny survive—faith, focus, resilience, and forgiveness—are the very same principles that can help you overcome whatever challenges you’re facing right now.

Here are some key takeaways from this episode:

• The incredible story of how Kenny escaped the cartel and fought his way to safety against all odds
• Why faith and surrender can guide you through the most impossible situations
• How to balance vision and short-term focus when the journey ahead feels overwhelming
• The surprising truth about resilience: you only discover your real strength when you have no other choice
• Why forgiveness can be the most powerful act of freedom—and how it allowed Kenny to heal even after such trauma
• How to apply the “keep moving forward” mindset to your own challenges, whether in business, relationships, or personal growth

I can’t think of a better way to kick off this new era of the podcast. Kenny’s story will keep you on the edge of your seat, but more than that—it will remind you of what you are truly capable of when you decide to keep climbing your mountain, no matter how steep or impossible it feels.

​So grab your headphones, lean in, and get ready for an episode that will move you, challenge you, and inspire you to keep moving forward.

Connect with Kenny at kennybarnwell.com/kbhome
Website: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/blog/kenny-barnwell

Jake Ballentine 
​Mountain Top Motivation