Sujo John

The episode features an in-depth conversation between Marcus Luttrell and Sujo John about John's experience surviving the 9/11 attacks. Sujo came to America in February 2001 with only $50 in his wallet, immigrating from Calcutta, India with his pregnant wife. Both he and his wife found work at the World Trade Center within weeks—he on the 81st floor of the North Tower in telecommunications marketing, she on the 71st floor of the South Tower at Morgan Stanley. In the days before 9/11, Sujo experienced several significant spiritual moments: giving a large donation to missionary work, signing a life insurance policy, and sending an email at 8:05 AM expressing his desire to fulfill God's calling. When the first plane hit at 8:46 AM, Sujo was on the 81st floor and felt the violent impact. He and 27 colleagues evacuated down the stairwell, passing firefighters heading upward. During the descent, he re-entered the building on the 53rd floor to find his wife using a landline, unable to reach her. When the South Tower collapsed, Sujo was caught in the debris cloud near the concourse level. He prayed with others as he faced what he believed was death, and was rescued by FBI agent Lenny Hayden, who helped him escape but then returned to save others and died when the North Tower collapsed. Sujo's wife had been delayed getting to work and was standing at street level when the South Tower was hit; she survived by witnessing the attacks but not being inside the building. After being rescued, Sujo was reunited with his wife through a phone call at a store near Canal Street. The couple had their son Jeremy, who is now 24 and attending medical school, despite doctors recommending abortion due to complications from Sujo's wife's exposure during 9/11. Sujo discusses how 9/11 forced him to confront questions about faith and mortality, leading to a spiritual commitment to share his story and faith. He transitioned from the business world to humanitarian work, eventually founding You Can Free Us, an organization fighting human trafficking and modern slavery. The organization has rescued women and rehabilitated trafficking victims in India, Poland, and Ukraine, and currently cares for about 1,000 children from trafficked communities. Sujo emphasizes that America's greatness is rooted in Judeo-Christian principles and warns against removing God from the national foundation. He plans to be at Ground Zero for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 to do media interviews and pay respects. Marcus shares his own experience of being in advanced SEAL training in Florida when he learned of the attacks, and how it changed everything for the military community, opening resources and creating a unified national purpose. Both men discuss the long-term impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the sacrifice of soldiers, and how the initial unity after 9/11 eventually faded. They reflect on mortality, legacy, and the importance of faith, discussing how people who face death develop a different perspective on life and possessions.