Former U.S. Army Green Beret Michael Taylor survived 17½ months in solitary confinement in Japan, lost 50 pounds, and returned home so physically weakened he could barely walk 200 feet. Today, he’s back in bodybuilding competition shape. How did he do it? Join Vincent Ferguson on More Life to Your Years for an extraordinary conversation about survival, mental toughness, physical recovery, and finding the strength to rebuild your life.

Michael shares his journey from high school to Army Special Forces, his involvement in the daring 2019 escape of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn from Japan, and the imprisonment that followed. He describes spending 17½ months in solitary confinement with lights on 24 hours a day, freezing temperatures, limited food, and the emotional devastation of losing his father while incarcerated. But Michael’s story doesn’t end there. After returning home, he faced another battle: rebuilding his health. From struggling to walk to his mailbox to eventually returning to competitive bodybuilding, Michael demonstrates the power of perseverance, discipline, and mental resilience.

Michael also shares how his experiences working in the extreme heat of Iraq inspired him to create Vitamin 1, a sugar-free, caffeine-free hydration beverage with just 10 calories per bottle. Discover why he believes better hydration shouldn’t require excessive sugar or caffeine.

IN THIS INTERVIEW:

• From high school graduate to U.S. Army Green Beret
• The Carlos Ghosn escape operation and its aftermath
• Surviving 17½ months in solitary confinement
• Losing 50 pounds and struggling to walk after prison
• The mental toughness that helped him survive
• Rebuilding strength and returning to bodybuilding
• How military service in Iraq inspired Vitamin 1
• Michael’s advice for staying strong and active as we ageIf you’re over 40 and looking for inspiration to overcome setbacks, rebuild your health, or simply become stronger physically and mentally, this conversation is for you.

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL TAYLOR

Michael Taylor’s Website: https://michaelltaylor.com
Vitamin 1: https://drinkvitamin1.com Vitamin 1 is also available on Amazon

ABOUT MORE LIFE TO YOUR YEARS Hosted by U.S. Navy veteran and Certified Wellness Coach Vincent Ferguson, More Life to Your Years features inspiring conversations with athletes, health experts, entrepreneurs, and extraordinary individuals who demonstrate what it means to live longer, stronger, healthier, and with purpose. Explore VINCE Lifestyle Magazine: https://www.vincemag.press SUBSCRIBE & JOIN THE CONVERSATION

READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT

From Solitary to Strength: Surviving 17 Months and Rebuilding a Life

A conversation with Michael Taylor and Vincent Ferguson

MORE LIFE TO YOUR YEARS | VINCE MAGAZINE • EDITED INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Vince Ferguson

Welcome to More Life to Your Years with Vincent Ferguson, inspiring you to live longer, stronger, healthier and with purpose. Because it is not just about adding years to your life. It is about adding life to your years.

Imagine helping one of the world’s most powerful business executives escape from a foreign country, hidden inside a large equipment case, only to find yourself imprisoned in that same country.

My guest today lived that extraordinary story. Michael Taylor is a former U.S. Army Green Beret who helped orchestrate the daring escape of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn in 2019. What happened afterward would test his physical strength, mental resilience and will to survive in ways even Special Forces training could not fully prepare him for.

Today Michael is sharing his remarkable journey from military service and international intrigue to imprisonment, rebuilding his health, and his work as founder of Vitamin 1, a sugar-free hydration beverage. As a fellow military veteran, I am especially interested in what his experience can teach us about overcoming adversity, protecting our health, and finding purpose when life takes an unexpected turn.

Michael Taylor, welcome to More Life to Your Years.

Michael Taylor

Thank you, Vince. Good to be with you.

Vince Ferguson

Man, it is good to have you here. I really appreciate it, Mike. And I want to thank you for your military service. As a Navy veteran myself, I have tremendous respect for those who have served. What inspired you to become a Green Beret, Mike? And how did that experience shape the man you are today?

What Led a High School Graduate to Special Forces

Michael Taylor

I was in high school. My father was in the military. He worked in military intelligence. I was always around military bases that had military intel guys. They were not the most athletic or dynamic human beings on earth. I did not have a good opinion of the military because I thought the majority of them were kind of dorky, IT, techie, nerdy guys that are really intelligent, but that is it.

Then I was working out in a gym, a riggers gym up at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and I saw some other guys there with long hair, kind of normal, joking around. They seemed like normal, down-to-earth guys. I found out these are Special Forces guys. I did not know much about them, but I would work out with them. They were really good. They helped me a lot. They would teach us right and wrong. Do not try to lift too much. Get your ego out of it. All the fundamentals that every teenager deals with. I learned a lot from them.

As I was graduating, I was fortunate to run into a time where they were going to do an experiment with Special Forces. Historically, you had to have four or five years in the military before you could even try out. The experiment they were running was they were going to let people right from high school try out.

So I turned down the opportunity to go to college and play football to try out for Special Forces. Of course, my father, who was in the military at the time in military intelligence, told me, do not do it. Absolutely do not do it, because not many people make it and it is going to be difficult. You could end up peeling potatoes in Alaska somewhere. You should go to college.

My mother was just the opposite. You do whatever you want to do. I have got your back. If you are going to do it, though, go all in.

So I did it. I went all in. It was arduous. It was difficult. It pushed you to the limit mentally and physically. I was fortunate enough to pass.

There were some really heroic people that graduated with me and in classes before and after me that turned out to be some of the best soldiers we have ever had. One in particular was Gary Gordon. Gary died in Somalia, the Black Hawk Down story in Mogadishu. He was the first recipient of the Medal of Honor since Vietnam, him and Randy Shughart. Gary and I went to SF school together.

The attrition rate was around 90 percent. I think we started with 369 originally in our class and three graduated. During this experiment, previously you needed 80 to pass. During this experiment, you needed 100 to pass. Some guys would get tripped up on things like method of instruction. You have some hardcore Ranger coming from the Ranger Battalion, a Staff Sergeant or an E-7, just a solid troop, but he made a mistake on how to give a class, so he flunks out. Some of it was very frustrating.

Vince Ferguson

That is amazing, Mike. You have been involved in dangerous operations all around the world, including helping recover abducted children, which is near and dear to my heart. How did those experiences prepare you for the extraordinary situation involving former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn?

How Special Forces Training Prepares You for the Unknown

Michael Taylor

It is all educational. You learn a lot in Special Forces because it is constant learning. You are either training or in combat. We do a lot of training and we are fortunate that we have a huge military structure that allows us the ability to reach out and grab all the information we need.

You have SERE school — Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape. You have language schools. You have cultural schools. There is so much training that goes on that helps you deal with being in foreign countries and dealing with foreign people.

Unconventional warfare itself is you are dealing with guerrillas from a country that you are there to help train, but you are in their country. So you have to respect how they live, but you have to influence them so they get the job done that we need done. There is a lot of cultural knowledge and experience that you acquire over time.

Vince Ferguson

Let us talk about Japan. You spent 17 and a half months in solitary confinement there. What was that actually like?

17 and a Half Months in Solitary Confinement

Michael Taylor

Their solitary confinement is the lights are on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and you do not go out. It is no joke. In the wintertime, you get frostbite on your hands and your fingers and your toes. You cannot use blankets until later at night. There is no heat in the building. That is why you get frostbite. It is very cold there in the wintertime, and just the opposite in the summertime. Mentally, it wears on you.

When I arrived at the prison, they told me, we do not tolerate suicide. Do not commit suicide. Apparently they have an attempted suicide or a suicide every four days there. That was never an option for me. I just said, it is just not happening.

They expect you to bow. I would not do that. They think that is a bit of an insult. I do not think it is an insult, but they say it is part of our customs and culture and it is a sign of respect. I explained to them, that is great, but I do not respect you guys. This whole thing is a sham. I should not be here. There were no laws violated.

In solitary, you are trying to get from your breakfast meal, which is not much. Sometimes it is just a piece of bread, like a small sub roll, and you get some tea. That is your breakfast.

I just want to make it to breakfast. Then after breakfast, I just want to make it to lunch. Get lunch done. I accomplished the goal. I reached an objective. Then the next objective is dinner. I get to dinner. Okay, great. Another day gone. Eventually you fall asleep. Then your next objective is breakfast in the morning. That is how you make it 17 and a half months.

Vince Ferguson

That is crazy. That is unimaginable for the average person.

The Legal Case That Should Never Have Happened

Michael Taylor

It goes back to the so-called violation of harboring a fugitive. There is no such thing, and nobody has ever been prosecuted for it before. Article 103 of the Japanese Penal Code says you cannot harbor somebody when the police are actively looking for them. The police were not actively looking for Carlos at the time. So the law does not apply.

They even had the former special prosecutor of the city of Tokyo say it is not applicable in this case. And another man, William Cleary, an American professor at one of their law schools in Japan, said the same thing in affidavit form. It simply does not apply in this matter.

If police come to your house knocking on the door, they have been chasing him, they want to know, are you hiding him in your house? Well, if you are, then it is a violation. It is harboring. But if the police are not actively looking for him, then it is not harboring. There is no violation of law.

In addition, at first it was something about bail jumping. But bail jumping is not a crime in Japan, which a lot of people do not understand. If it was, they would have charged Carlos with another crime, but they did not, because it is not a crime in Japan. So how can helping somebody jump bail be a crime if jumping bail is not a crime?

The reality is this. They were humiliated by this, and this was political. They reached out and used their economic and political power to have the extradition executed.

Vince Ferguson

And the U.S. has an extradition treaty with Japan, correct?

Michael Taylor

Yes. Japan only has an extradition treaty with two other countries. There is a reason for that: South Korea and the United States.

Japan is a signatory of the Hague Convention, the Convention Against Torture. One of the main aspects of that is 14 consecutive days or more of solitary confinement is considered torture. Well, 17 and a half months is more than 14 consecutive days. But again, that is one of those things nobody gives a damn about. Japan is an economic power, and politics are politics, and heavy politicians and prime ministers are involved. So they get what they want.

Vince Ferguson

Was the State Department contacted regarding your situation?

Michael Taylor

Initially what happens is Japan files a request for extradition to the State Department. The State Department can say right there on the spot, no. According to the treaty, they can say, no, we are not going to extradite this person, and they do not have to give a reason. The State Department did not do that.

Instead, as we have learned, Mike Pompeo went to Tokyo in October of 2020 and sold the deal to them for Aegis radars on ships. Originally, the deal was they wanted to sell Aegis radar land-based in southern Japan, and the local populations were complaining about it, that there would be collateral damage. So the Japanese rejected that.

Secretary of State Pompeo, who could have said, no, we are not extraditing this person, did not. Instead, he went over to Japan in October 2020 and said, look, we have a solution. We can put these radars on ships and put them out to sea. That way you can still purchase it. And in addition, if you can agree to this deal, we understand you have a pending request for an extradition that we could look favorably upon. So the deal was made and we were sent to Japan.

The State Department used us to get them to purchase Aegis radar.

Everybody knows very well that Japan tortures people and you get frostbite because it was on the State Department’s own website. The federal judge in this matter out of Boston asked the State Department for a sworn affidavit saying we would not be tortured. They did not provide that. What they provided is a sworn statement saying it is more likely than not that they will not be tortured. But on their website they have that people get tortured and they get frostbite because there is no heat in the buildings. It is all a scam. It is typical politics, is what it is.

Vince Ferguson

And you got caught up in it. And not just you. Your son Peter.

Michael Taylor

Yes. He was not even involved in the operation. He was doing reputation management type work for Carlos at the time, building up the positive articles and pushing down the negative ones. He would sign into his lawyer’s office. He was doing a normal consultant’s job.

But again, the Japanese have some juice. They are the third largest economy on earth. Shinzo Abe at the time, the prime minister, was very close with Trump. They are good buddies. That is just the way of the world. The Convention Against Torture and all that, they do not give a damn. They do not care about you. It is more about economics, making the almighty dollar. And they were humiliated internationally when the story came out.

They violate the law and they fly into Lebanon, break into Carlos Ghosn’s house, steal his laptop without a warrant and use that to charge him with crimes. And they are pretending they are all pure and honest and their integrity is very high. That is all nonsense.

Vince Ferguson

You actually lost about 50 pounds while incarcerated.

Losing 50 Pounds on 1,400 Calories a Day

Michael Taylor

You get three meals a day, Vince. You are not allowed to exercise. You cannot do push-ups or sit-ups in your cell. You are not allowed.

The food is based on your height. They were giving us tofu, whatever they were giving us. I cannot tell you what it was. It was not any protein. In the morning I said, look, I want to change. I want bread. That way I could have some carbs at least and a little bit of energy. I had to sit with an interpreter and some investigative person from the Department of Corrections asking about why I want bread. How did I grow up? Did you grow up with bread? Where did you grow up? On military bases, did you have bread? Are you kidding me?

You get portions based on your height. I am six feet tall, so I get good portions compared to what the other inmates get who are Japanese, who are generally shorter. But still, it is maybe 1,300 to 1,400, 1,500 calories a day. That is it. Just enough to keep you alive. That is why I lost so much weight.

Vince Ferguson

So when you got out — first of all, how did you get out?

Coming Home After Serving More Time Than the Sentence

Michael Taylor

I think it is due to a local Congresswoman, Lori Trahan, a wonderful lady from Massachusetts. She was calling and putting pressure on people. She even called the Ambassador, Rahm Emanuel, the American Ambassador to Japan at the time, to try to help.

Ultimately what they did is they ended up getting a federal magistrate to fly over and have transfer hearings. So all the Americans that were in Japan had to go through a transfer hearing so they could be transferred from Japan back to the United States.

My son and I served 10 months in a county jail while we were fighting the extradition. Pursuant to law in the United States, anytime you are incarcerated for that, you get credit for it. Japan sentenced me to 24 months, but they would not give me credit for the 10 months. So essentially, I ended up doing 30 months for a 24-month sentence.

The Japanese were upset. They said, well, you should not have fought the extradition. What else would you people like? We will just give up our constitutional rights as Americans because you say so? Not happening.

We got transferred back to the United States to Los Angeles. Because we had served more time than we were sentenced to, we were released immediately.

The Long Road Back: Learning to Walk Again

Vince Ferguson

Excellent. So what did you do to get yourself back on track after all the mental stress?

Michael Taylor

I will tell you, Vince, I had a hard time walking 200 feet to my mailbox. I was so weak. Walking in the airport alone in Japan, I was lucky because the Department of Corrections people, who were extremely professional, would stop and let us rest a little bit, or walk slower, because we just could not breathe. And it was not like it was a far distance either.

Little by little I had to start walking. I had to start eating better. It took me a while because your diet changes and your stomach bloats when you change to American food. It took me a while to get over that. I had to go see the doctor. I had to have vitamin B12 injections. I had prescription vitamin D because my body was lacking all those things from no sunlight.

It took me a good eight to 12 months to get back to fair shape. Fair. Then it took me another year to get back into decent shape.

Vince Ferguson

What did you do to get back into decent shape?

Michael Taylor

Little by little, I started walking. I tried sleeping better. My sleep was messed up. It is still messed up from it. But you do the best you can with it.

The walking, and then little by little I would start lifting weights. The weights I would lift would be, start with like five pounds for doing flat bench flies with five pounds. I felt like I was a 90-year-old man trying to do flies. But little by little, I just had to build it up. I ended up getting it back. I got it back to the point where I was actually able to enter some bodybuilding competitions last year. I won some, natural and not natural, at the masters level. You have older guys there, your age, close within 10 years. I have done the 50 and the 60-year-olds. The older you get, the less competition there is.

It was good to come back to all that and ultimately get my strength back. I could run 10 miles if I needed to. I could bench 315 and do my sit-ups, do my squats. I got back to normal, thankfully. But it takes time.

Vince Ferguson

What about your son?

Michael Taylor

He bounced back like nothing would bother him. Youth. He was an absolute stud. It was no big deal. His diet changed for a little bit and his vitamin D was lacking and vitamin B12 because he was in solitary also, probably for about 10 months.

When we first got there, we were in solitary confinement at the Tokyo Detention House, but we could buy things from the canteen that was downstairs. We could not, but people could buy things and send it up to us, so we could have oranges. That was huge. We could have Spam. That stuff was gold.

Peter bounced back really quick. He was always in good shape. He was a star high school football player and basketball player. Youth really did help him. Thank God he has got a very strong mind. That is one of the genetics I passed on from me to him that came from my mother. Sometimes you are born with stuff, sometimes you are not. We are fortunate in that regard.

Vince Ferguson

Would you say being in Special Forces gave you the mental toughness to deal with this situation?

Mental Toughness: Mind Over Matter

Michael Taylor

I think I had the mental toughness before. I just did not know what level. Going through Special Forces school, it pushes you. So it really becomes mind over matter. It does require physical toughness, but it pushes you beyond physical toughness that you would never know if you were not in the military.

I know the psychological games they are playing because of the prisoner of war training we have had. I get all that. You are just not happening, fellas. I know what you are doing.

Vince Ferguson

I cannot wait to see more of this story. What we talked about is only the tip of the iceberg of what you went through. I am thankful that you took time to share with my audience. Let us talk about Vitamin 1. I discovered that the idea actually came to you while you were operating in extreme heat in Iraq, long before you were a prisoner. Talk about that.

The Origin of Vitamin 1 in the Heat of Iraq

Michael Taylor

What happened was in Iraq at the time, we were drinking 25 to 30 bottles of Gatorade a day and then we were working at night. Each bottle of that popular sports drink that was available all over the Green Zone has eight and a half teaspoons of sugar in each bottle. Figure times 25 or 30, that is a lot of sugar in a day for a human being, even us, and we were in great shape.

We were starting to have severe cramps. It was really messing us up. We figured out it was the sugar in that popular sports drink. So they flew in some Pedialyte for us, and Pedialyte tastes absolutely horrible. I would rather swap spit with a camel than drink Pedialyte. Any parent whose child has to have that, the parent should drink it too, so they will make sure their child does not get dehydrated. That is how bad it is.

We could not deal with that, so we would give that to Big Army and let them have it. We were using IVs to stay hydrated. That is where I got the idea. There has got to be something out there that is hydrating without the sugar and without the caffeine. We do not want caffeine because when it is time to sleep, we need to sleep. When we are working 15 to 18-hour days, when it is time to sleep, we really need to sleep to recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your mind and your body.

That is where I got the idea for Vitamin 1. I ended up sitting down in a lab with a friend who has got a PhD in organic chemistry and we created Vitamin 1. It came out really well and it is delicious. Sometimes people have the best drinks in the world, but it tastes like old syrup from an apothecary and nobody wants to drink it. But this actually tastes good as well as being healthy. It has got all the B vitamins that are energy enhancing, no sugar, so you have no sugar crashes, no caffeine. It has got all-natural flavor and it is clear. There are no preservatives in it either.

Vince Ferguson

That is incredible. I just came off a 21-day sugar-free challenge that I hosted along with some other people, so when you say sugar-free, that definitely caught my attention. But my question is, some products when they say sugar-free, they have other chemicals in there, other sources of sugar like stevia or agave.

Michael Taylor

We use sucralose. The reason we use sucralose instead of stevia is because stevia gives you intestinal bloating and has an aftertaste.

People say, well, stevia is all natural. It is not all natural, guys. It goes through a process to get into bags and sent to the factory. If it was a green leaf stevia in your bottle floating, then you could say it is all natural. It is not.

The difference with sucralose is there is no intestinal bloating. The body does not recognize sucralose, and it is 600 times sweeter than sugar, which means you only have to use a micro amount. You go to Whole Foods and all their baked goods have sucralose in it. That is the only source of sweetness we have. You will get some with the natural flavoring also. If it is mango, you might get a little sweetness from the mango itself, but that is from the fruit. That is naturally occurring sugar. There is zero sugar, only 10 calories per bottle.

(Editor’s note: Vince is referring to a 21-day challenge in which participants avoided foods and drinks with added sugar.)

Vince Ferguson

And you have different flavors?

Michael Taylor

We do. We have the peach. We have the mango. And we have the passion berry.

Vince Ferguson

Now, you actually created this product before the 2019 ordeal in Japan. Am I right?

Wanted Even in Prison: Put Your Picture on the Bottle

Michael Taylor

That is correct. I will tell you a little side story about it, Vince. I got interviewed by the deputy chief of immigration. He came to the prison and he did not even need an interpreter because he spoke good English, which was rare.

He is talking to me. He says, I want to let you know we charged you and your son with another crime. I said, you can charge us with all the crimes you want, but you cannot prosecute us for it because the extradition treaty says you can only be prosecuted for the one crime that we were extradited for. He goes, you are absolutely right. I said, but just curious, what was the crime? He said, well, you guys entered the country illegally. I said, really? How did we enter the country illegally? We were chained up like Charlie Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer, chains around our waist, our ankles. We had a dog leash attached to us. And you are blaming us for that? We were in your custody. Did you charge the four prosecutors, the 30 security guards on the airplane with us also? No, they are government officials. We do not charge them.

He goes, but anyways, do not worry about that. I want to know, where can I buy Vitamin 1? We are looking all over the place for it. We cannot find it here. At first I thought, what is happening here? Is he scamming me? What is going on here? And he said, no, we looked all over, but we cannot find it. Where can we buy it? I said, we do not sell in Japan because we do not know anybody in Japan. I have never been to Japan. He goes, well, you should. Put your picture on a bottle. You will sell 20 million bottles a day in Tokyo. He never tasted it, but he wants the drink. That was very interesting.

Vince Ferguson

That is incredible. There are so many products on the market today, as you know. What really makes yours stand out above the rest?

What Makes Vitamin 1 Stand Out

Michael Taylor

Taste. Number one is taste, because all the studies that the beverage industry does show that 93 percent of the people, the first priority is taste. Taste is number one. Health issues are number two. No sugar is probably fourth or fifth on their list. Calories are higher up on the concern level than sugar.

That is what makes us stand out. One, the taste. It actually is delicious, all three flavors. Number two, it is only 10 calories. Number three, there is no sugar in it. Four, there is no caffeine. Now there is a trend going toward anti-caffeinated drinks because people are having such a hard time sleeping. Of course you are. If you are drinking all these caffeine drinks at five, six, seven o’clock when you are working out in the afternoon or early evening, of course you cannot sleep.

There are some well-known brands that I will leave nameless at this point that have on their bottle, not for sale to minors. Now, what does that tell you? But again, they had great marketing, so they were making billions.

Vince Ferguson

How are you getting your products out there?

Michael Taylor

Mainly social media. That is so important for us. We have influencers that we will send a drink to, and they will like it and talk about it. That is where it is at. It is all social media. We did the TV commercials and the radio shows and all that. It was not effective at all. Social media and sampling. Sampling is our biggest opportunity to get people to actually purchase the drink because they can walk by. They taste it in a supermarket or the gym and they can decide for themselves. That is how we get customers. We want them to taste the drink.

The proof is in the tasting. Here is a drink. Look at that. There is only 10 calories, no sugar. That tastes great. It is all-natural flavor. Here, taste it. That is our biggest selling point.

Vince Ferguson

That is smart. And also using influencers, people who actually try it, because people trust them more than just a radio commercial or TV ad.

Michael Taylor

Definitely much more, because they will have a following of even if it is a few thousand people, but maybe you will get five percent of those few thousand people that will actually try it. We really feel good about one major aspect. We have a lot of repeat customers that purchase it on Amazon. That is huge. That is important.

Vince Ferguson

So where is it available?

Michael Taylor

Amazon. Amazon is our biggest seller throughout the United States. You can get it shipped anywhere in the continental United States.

Vince Ferguson

And how long has it officially been out?

Michael Taylor

It has been out for about five years now, six years. While we were incarcerated, it continued distribution to our existing customers at the time. We had some supermarket chains. Amazon, we were just really starting there. Amazon takes a while to get going. But yes, it was in supermarkets, so we continued that distribution during the time when we were in Japan.

Losing His Father While Imprisoned

Vince Ferguson

While you were inside in Japan going through that ordeal, your father passed away. How did you deal with that?

Michael Taylor

That was rough, man. That sucked. That was a big suck.

My Japanese lawyers came to see me in the prison and told me, I want to let you know your dad is really bad and he may only have a couple weeks left. I asked, can I have permission to call my father? I ended up getting called later that day into an investigative office, which I did not realize was an investigative office. The deputy warden, through an interpreter, says, I understand you had a visit today from your lawyers. Being a wise guy back to him, I said, well, if you did not know I had a visit from my lawyers, that means they snuck in. That means your security sucks. What are you going to do to me? Put me in solitary confinement? Not feed me?

He says, well, I understand raising your voice here is a violation of our prison rules. I said, here is the deal, pal. Through an interpreter, there are five people in the room. My two lawyers, me, your guard and your interpreter, because you have no attorney-client privilege there. You have an interpreter there that is writing everything your lawyer says and what you say to your lawyer. That is Japanese justice.

I said, so there are five people there. Four of the five will tell you that I never raised my voice. He says, well, who is that? I said, well, that is my two lawyers, me and your security guard, your corrections officer. He says, why him? I said, because he was sound asleep, and if I raised my voice he would have woken up. If you doubt me, check your video cameras. The only one that would say that is your interpreter who is trying to get a promotion.

He was pissed off. He got up and stormed out of there.

My request to call my father, they never responded. So my father died, and I was not able to talk to him. Horrible.

You have no communication there either. You are allowed to write four letters a month. It is on small stationery, 35 characters per line, and they read your mail. I would send a letter and say, please tell Father Peter, hello. They said, nope, that counts as two. You cannot do that. So I said, okay, let us play games. I would say, I sure wish I could tell Father Peter hello. I hope he is doing well. Please tell, I wish I could tell Marty hello. That is how I was able to pass on a hello to people. Unbelievable. Silly games. It goes to their lack of communication. They do not want you communicating with anybody either. And they are wondering why their population is decreasing and they have a suicide or attempted suicide every four days. Come on, guys, wake up.

Vince Ferguson

Well, Mike, for anyone who wants to learn more about you, your story, your Vitamin 1, where can they go?

Where to Learn More and One Thing to Do This Week

Michael Taylor

MichaelLTaylor.com. Michael L as in Lee, Taylor.com. There is a bunch of information there. It keeps you updated. They are working on the movie. It is either going to be a movie or TV series or both. We are not sure yet. Sam Rockwell is playing me. He is an incredible actor. He won an Academy Award.

And for Vitamin 1, it is DrinkVitamin1.com. The number 1, .com. Or when you go to Amazon for Vitamin 1 also.

Vince Ferguson

Perfect. I will make sure I have that in the show notes, Mike. This has been amazing. I have one more question that I ask all my guests. If someone watching or listening today could change just one thing this week to add more life to their years, Mike, what would you tell them to do?

Michael Taylor

Exercise and push yourself. Make sure you sweat. Exercise, push yourself, make sure you sweat.

Vince Ferguson

I expect nothing less from a Green Beret. Thank you so much for coming and spending some time with me on my show to talk about your journey and about Vitamin 1. I really appreciate you, Mike.

Michael Taylor

Vince, thank you very much. I think what you are doing is amazing. We need more people being aware and cognizant from 40 and above that they need to exercise. So we really support what you are doing and go get them, brother.

Vince Ferguson

I appreciate you, man. Thank you so much, Mike. And to everyone watching or listening to the program, thank you for joining us on More Life to Your Years. If you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit. Do not forget to join our free More Life to Your Years with Vince community on Skool, where we come together to stay motivated, share wellness tips, challenge our minds, and support one another on our journey to healthier living. If you prefer to listen on the go, the More Life to Your Years podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Until next time, I am Vince Ferguson, and that is Michael Taylor, Green Beret and Entrepreneur. Stay healthy, stay strong, and keep adding more life to your years. God bless.

About Michael Taylor & Vitamin 1

Michael Taylor is a former U.S. Army Green Beret, entrepreneur and founder of Vitamin 1, a sugar-free, caffeine-free hydration beverage with only 10 calories per bottle. He is the author of his extraordinary story of service, survival after 17 and a half months in solitary confinement in Japan, and rebuilding his health and purpose.

Learn more at Website: https://michaelltaylor.com and Vitamin 1: https://drinkvitamin1.com. Vitamin 1 is also available on Amazon throughout the continental United States.

Connect with Michael Taylor

Website: https://michaelltaylor.com

Vitamin 1: https://drinkvitamin1.com