Today we’d like to introduce you to Darius Recard Jr.
Hi Darius, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan a place that teaches you how to survive early. Growing up in Flint, you learn how to fight for what you believe in, how to stand up after life knocks you down, and how to keep going even when there’s nothing left in the tank. That mentality is where You Can’t Quit! was born.
My father, Darius Recard Sr., started the YCQ! movement back in 2003. It wasn’t a business back then it was a message. A fire he lit in our family that reminded us, no matter how hard life gets, you don’t fold. You push through. But when my dad passed away, that fire could’ve died right there if it wasn’t for my mom. She kept the message alive, not just by saying the words, but by living them. Through struggle, through loss, through every storm, she showed us that quitting wasn’t in our blood.
YCQ! became more than just a phrase. It became who I was. I went through some dark seasons, losing my dad, losing my cousin who was my brother, losing my scholarship, losing myself. But that message wouldn’t let go of me. It kept showing up in my life until I finally stopped running from it and stepped into it fully.
YCQ! is a brand, It’s a movement. It’s fitness. It’s mentorship. It’s healing. It’s purpose. Everything I’ve created from the Nova Star Foundation, to my book, to the Fitness training programs, all of it flows from that same message, You Can’t Quit! Because I didn’t, and I know someone else out there needs to hear that they don’t have to either.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. The road was anything but smooth, because the hardest battle I ever had to face wasn’t external. It was within myself. Healing was the real war. Not the kind people see, but the quiet kind, the kind that makes you relive the very things you tried to forget. The kind that forces you to confront the pain, the guilt, the memories, and the version of yourself you locked away.
I had to look my younger self in the eyes and apologize. I had to tell him, “I’m sorry for not protecting you, for ignoring your pain, for acting like you didn’t matter.” That was the start of everything. Because You Can’t Quit! isn’t built on success, it’s built on healing. Every piece of this movement, from the workouts to the book to the foundation, is rooted in that truth.
I lost my dad to suicide. I blamed myself. I lost my scholarship to injury, I carried shame. Depression became normal to me. I was smiling on the outside, but breaking inside. I used to think I had to carry all that on my own, that I couldn’t go to God because He already gave me the tools, I couldn’t go to family and friends because I thought it was letting them down, but healing taught me something different, that I could always go to God. That I didn’t have to carry it all alone. It showed me that God sometimes need you to allow people to be there for you, that’s sometimes how he speaks to you.
That realization changed my life. It gave me strength, clarity, and purpose. It showed me that healing is where true strength is born. That’s why Book Star was written, because telling Ty’s story helped me uncover parts of my own I hadn’t healed from. It wasn’t just writing. It was therapy. That’s what The Nova Star Foundation is about too, being the light for others that I was searching for myself.
Even YCQ! Fitness is more than physical. It’s mental and emotional training too. And the YCQ! clothing? It’s not just fashion, it’s armor. It’s a reminder that you’re still here, still fighting, and that quitting is not an option and by wearing the shirt so many people get inspired. You never know what someone is going through but them 3 letters, them 3 words could be everything.
Healing is the foundation of everything I’ve built. It’s the reason I do what I do. And if there’s one thing I want the world to know, it’s this, healing is hard, but it’s possible. It’s not fast, it’s not pretty, but it’s real. And on the other side of it is a version of you that’s more powerful than you can imagine.
That’s what You Can’t Quit! is really about. Not just surviving, but healing, growing, and becoming everything you were meant to be.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Right now, my heart is fully invested in my book, Book Star. It’s not just a project, it’s a mission I feel I have to complete. The story is based on true events from my own life, and through it, I’m bringing awareness to something many people suffer from in silence depression, especially silent depression in the youth.
Book Star follows Tyrone Bonner, a young boy battling grief, depression, suicidal thoughts, and the pain of losing his father. What makes this book different is that it doesn’t just tell a story, it exposes the ego we develop as a defense mechanism. It pulls the curtain back on what it looks like when you’re pretending you’re okay, when deep down you’re at war with yourself. I used this book to confront my own past, to forgive myself, and to shine a light on the parts of life most people avoid talking about. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s necessary.
My mission with Book Star is to help people, especially kids get mentally stronger. Life has a way of taking us out of the game before we even realize we were in it. So many young people are dealing with silent pain, and I want this book to be the voice they didn’t know they needed. I want it to be the permission they need to feel, to speak, to heal, and to fight.
Through The Nova Star Foundation, we’re building programs that bring this message into schools, homes, and communities. We’re not just talking about mental health, we’re doing something about it. We’re helping young people and adults unpack their trauma, challenge their thinking, and find strength in their story.
What sets me apart is that I’m not writing from a distance, I lived this. I’m not here to just inspire, I’m here to relate. I know what it feels like to carry pain in silence and smile through brokenness. I also know the power of healing and choosing not to quit even when it feels easier to give up.
At the core of my work is the belief that healing is possible, and that our stories no matter how painful can be the bridge to someone else’s breakthrough. That’s the foundation of Book Star, and it’s the heartbeat of The Nova Star Foundation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I wouldn’t call it bad luck, I’d call it life. The beautiful thing is, I’ve learned how to turn the hard moments into purpose. I’ve taken what most people would see as setbacks and used them as fuel to create something meaningful. Those moments weren’t just painful, they were transformational.
Everything I’ve built from You Can’t Quit! was born from the kind of experiences that could’ve broken me. Instead, they shaped me. I didn’t have a lucky break. I had to break and then rebuild myself with faith, purpose, and a commitment to heal. That’s where my strength came from.
If anything, I believe favor has followed me, not because of luck, but because I stayed in alignment with my calling. God didn’t remove the storms, but He gave me the strength to walk through them. And now, I get to use everything I’ve been through to help others find their light too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ycqmovement.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drecardjr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darius.recard.1/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darius-recard-jr-3b39075a/
