The year was 1975, and Dr. Jack was drowning in grief after the back-to-back losses of his girlfriend, Susan, who was killed in a car accident, and his mother, Rita, who passed away at the age of 64. At the suggestion of some friends, he took a solo vacation to Negril, Jamaica, hoping to get some rest and relaxation.

While Jack fell in love with Jamaica's untamed beauty, he also saw need everywhere. It wasn't long before he accepted a job with the Jamaican Ministry of Health as a dentist in a defunct free clinic on Green Island, the island's most remote, impoverished fishing village.

Over the course of two years, Jack worked tirelessly to remodel the rustic clinic and served hundreds of thousands of patients, free of charge. He had many adventures along the way, encountering celebrities, rock stars, pirates, smugglers, former CIA agents, and more.

This is the story of how Jack found his way out of his grief and rediscovered his passion for helping others. Listen to Jack's tale of how a two-week vacation turned into a two-year public health mission that changed the course of his entire life.

Episode notes:

Rick's Café Negril: https://www.rickscafejamaica.com/

Jamaica's history of Democratic Socialism: https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/when-jamaica-led-fight-against-exploitation/

History of Air Jamaica: https://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/pages/history/story0071.html

History of Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder's friendship: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/bob-marley-amp-stevie-wonder-bob-marley-legend/nwXx58m8epaCKg?hl=en

We are thrilled to bring you this BONUS episode of You Don't Know Jack! Listen to this live interview with the man himself, Dr. Jack Dillenberg, and his nephew, Brett Dillenberg. Live from Dr. Jack's home in Jerome, Arizona. Learn more about the Dillenberg family dynamic, how they worked to heal their relationships, and lessons that have been passed down through generations.

How can we stay positive and resilient, even when the odds are stacked against us?

In this episode, we share an update on Dr. Jack's current health battle as he recovers from a serious incident.

We look back at the many obstacles Jack has overcome, both personally and professionally, over the course of his life. We dive into his time in California, where he learned about mindfulness and meditation as the personal dentist of Swami Satchidananda Saraswati, an Indian guru and yogi. We also learn about his role as a resident dentist at the Southbury Training School in Connecticut, where he learned the importance of treating disabled patients with dignity and respect. We hear from another one of Jack's friends and colleagues, Dr. Steven Perlman.

During this time, Jack suffered back-to-back personal losses that would change the course of his life.

Episode notes:

Swami Satchidananda: https://swamisatchidananda.org/

Seal Team ONE: https://www.navysealmuseum.org/naval-special-warfare/men-green-faces

Rosemary Kennedy: https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/the-kennedy-family/rosemary-kennedy

Southbury Training School: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southbury_Training_School

Dr. Steven Perlman: https://www.jointherevolution.org/50-game-changers/dr-steven-perlman