Podcasts about british special forces

In this week's episode, I take a look at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Winter and Spring 2025. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebook versions of my anthologies at my Payhip store: JUNE25 The coupon code is valid through June 17, 2025. So if you need a new ebook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates   Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 252 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is May 23rd, 2025, and today we are looking at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Winter and Spring 2025. We missed doing an episode last week for the simple reason that the day before I wanted to record, we had a bad thunderstorm that knocked down large portions of my fence, so my recording time was instead spent on emergency fence repair. However, the situation is under control, so hopefully we'll be back to weekly episodes for the immediate future. And now before we get to our main topics, let's have Coupon of the Week and then a progress update on my current writing projects.   So first up, Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebook version of all my short story anthologies at my Payhip store and that is JUNE25. As always, the coupon code and links will be available in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through June the 17th, 2025, so if you need a new ebook for this summer, we have got you covered.   And now an update on my current writing projects. Ghost in the Corruption is finished. It is publishing right now. In fact, I paused the publishing process to record this and so by the time this episode goes live, hopefully Ghost in the Corruption should be available at all ebook stores. My next main project now that Ghost in the Corruption is done will be Shield of Power and as of this recording I am 15,000 words into it. My secondary projects will be Stealth and Spells Online: Final Quest and I'm 97,000 words into that, so hopefully that will come out very shortly after Shield of Power and I'll also be starting Ghost in the Siege, the final book in the Ghost Armor series as another secondary project and I'm currently zero words into that. So that is where I'm at with my current writing projects.   In audiobook news, Ghost in the Assembly (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) is now out and should be available at all the usual audiobook stores so you can listen to that if you are traveling for the summer. Recording of Shield of Battle (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) is underway soon. I believe he's starting it this week, so hopefully we will have another audiobook in the Shield War series for you before too much longer. So that's where I'm at with my current writing projects.   00:02:17 Main Topic: Winter/Spring 2025 Movie Roundup   And now let's move on, without any further ado, to our main topic. Summer is almost upon us, which means it's time for my Winter/Spring 2025 Movie Roundup. As usual, the movies and streaming shows are listed in order for my least favorite to my most favorite. The grades are based upon my own thoughts and opinions and are therefore wholly subjective. With all of that said, let's get to the movies and our first entry is MacGruber, which came out in 2010 and in all honesty, this might be objectively the worst movie I have ever seen. The Saturday Night Live MacGruber sketches are a parody of the old MacGyver action show from the ‘80s. And so the movie is essentially the sketch stretched out to make a parody of an ‘80s action movie. It is aggressively dumb and crude. Its only redeeming feature is that the movie knows it's quite stupid and so leans into the stupidity hard. I'll say this in its favor, MacGruber has no pretensions that is a good movie and does not take itself seriously and then runs away hard with that fact. For that he gets a plus, but nothing else. Overall grade: F+   Next up is Down Periscope, which came out in 1996. Now the fundamental question of any movie is the one Russell Crowe shouted at the audience in Gladiator: “Are you not entertained?” Sadly, I was not entertained with Down Periscope. This wanted to be a parody of Cold War era submarine thrillers like The Hunt for Red October, I say wanted because it didn't really succeed. Kelsey Grammer plays Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge, an unorthodox US Navy officer who wants command of his own nuclear sub, but he's alienated a few admirals, which is not traditionally a path to career advancement in the military. Dodge gets his chance in a Navy wargame where he has to command a diesel sub against nuclear subs. Sometimes parodies are so good that they become an example of the thing they are parodying (Hot Fuzz and Star Trek: Lower Decks are excellent examples of this phenomenon). The trouble is that the movie takes itself too seriously and just isn't all that funny. A few funny bits, true, but not enough of them. In the end, this was dumb funny but didn't resonate with me the way other dumb funny movies like Dodgeball and Tropic Thunder did. Overall grade: D   Next up is Deadpool and Wolverine, which came out in 2024. Unlike Down Periscope, I was entertained with this movie, though both movies reside on the dumb funny spectrum. Deadpool and Wolverine is basically one long meta in-joke/love letter for the last 30 years of superhero movies. If you've seen enough of those movies, you'll find those movies funny, if occasionally rather tasteless. If you haven't seen enough of those movies, Deadpool and Wolverine will just be incomprehensible. The plot is that Wade Wilson AKA Deadpool gets pulled into some Marvel style multiverse nonsense. To save his universe from destruction, he needs to recruit a Wolverine since in his universe, Wolverine died heroically.   In the process, Deadpool stumbles across the worst Wolverine in the multiverse. Together they have to overcome their mutual dislike and attempt to save Deadpool's universe from destruction at the hands of a rogue branch of the Time Variance Authority. This means the movie can bring in a lot of cameos from past Marvel films. Hugh Jackman's performance really carries the movie on its back. Like I said, this movie is essentially one very long Marvel in-joke. I thought it was funny. I definitely think it can't stand on its own without having seen a sufficient number of the other Marvel movies. Overall grade: C   Our next movie is the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, which came out in 2024. This is very loosely (with an emphasis on “very”) based on Operation Postmaster during World War II, when British Special Forces seized some Italian ships that had been supplying parts for German U-boats. It was entertaining to watch but it couldn't quite make up its mind tonally if it was a war thriller or a heist movie about Western desperados recruited into a crew. It kind of tried to do both at the same time, which killed the momentum. Like, the first parts of the movie where the protagonists take out a Nazi patrol boat and then free a prisoner from a base were good thriller stuff, but then the plot fused with the heist stuff and really slowed down through the middle forty percent or so. It was also oddly stylized with a lot of spaghetti western-style music that seemed out of place and some stuff just didn't make sense, like at the end after pulling off the mission, the protagonists were all arrested. That just seems bizarre since if anything, Winston Churchill and a lot of the British wartime leadership were enthusiastic about special operations and probably had too much confidence in the effectiveness of covert operations. So I did enjoy watching this, but I can see why it didn't make a lot of money at the box office. Overall Grade: C   Next up is The Gorge, which came out in 2025. This was a peculiar mix of science fiction, romance, and horror. For the romance part, perhaps shooting zombies together is a good idea for a first date. Before I dig into the movie, a brief rant. In one scene, a character is using a chainsaw with no protective gear whatsoever and she's not fighting zombies or anything in a situation where she has to pick up a chainsaw without preparing first. She's trimming branches to pass time. If you're using a chainsaw, at a minimum you want protective eyewear and headphones. Ideally you'd want chainsaw pants as well to reduce the chance of serious injury if you slip and swing the saw into your leg. Since I became a homeowner, I've used a chainsaw a number of times and believe me, you definitely want good eye and ear protection. This has been your public safety announcement for this movie review.   Anyway, loner former sniper Levi is approached by a high ranking intelligence officer giving him a mysterious job. He needs to guard a tower overlooking a mysterious mist-filled gorge for one year. On the other side of the gorge is another tower, guarded by an elite Lithuanian sniper named Drasa. Like Levi, Drasa has a fair bit of emotional damage and they're officially forbidden to communicate. However, they're both lonely and they soon start communicating over the gorge using telescopes and whiteboard messages. Eventually Levi gets emotionally close enough to Drasa to rig a zipline to cross the gorge and speak with her in person.   Unfortunately, it turns out the gorge is full of twisted creatures that storm out and attack and the job of the two snipers is to keep them contained. If Levi and Drasa want to save their lives, they'll need to unravel the dark secret within the gorge. This movie was interesting and I enjoyed watching it, but it falls apart if you think about it too much (or at all). Like the chainsaw thing I ranted about above. The entire movie runs on that sort of logic. That said, I appreciate how the filmmakers were trying something new instead of something like Deadpool and Wolverine. Additionally, this was an Apple+ movie and it's interesting how Apple's approach to streaming is to just make a whole bunch of random stuff that's totally distinct, from Ted Lasso to Mythic Quest to Severance to The Gorge. It's like, “we have more money than most countries, so we're going to make Ted Lasso because we feel like it.” Then again, Apple+ is apparently losing a billion dollars every year, so maybe they'll eventually change their minds about that approach. Overall Grade: B-   Next up is Click, which came out in 2006. Cross It's a Wonderful Life with A Christmas Carol and the comedic style of Adam Sandler and you end up with Click. Basically Sandler plays Michael Newman, a workaholic architect with a demanding boss and increasingly strained relationship with his wife and children due to his workload. In a fit of exasperation with his situation, he goes to Bed Bath and Beyond, where he encounters an eccentric employee named Morty (played entertainingly by Christopher Walken). Morty gives him a remote control that lets him fast forward through time, which Michael then uses to skip the boring and tedious parts of his life, but he overuses the remote and goes too far into the future and sees the disastrous results of his current life choices. Definitely a story used in A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life but effectively told and I was entertained (rather on the crude side, though). Overall Grade: B- Next up is Mr. Deeds, which came out in 2002. This was actually one of Adam Sandler's better movies, in my opinion. It was a remake of the ‘30s movie Mr. Deeds Goes To Town. In this new version, Sandler plays Longfellow Deeds, a popular pizzeria owner in a small New Hampshire town. Unbeknownst to Deeds, his uncle is the owner of a major media mega corporation and when he dies, Deeds is his legal heir. When the company's CEO and chief lawyer arrive at the pizzeria to inform him of this fact, Deeds goes to New York and soon finds himself involved in the CEO's sinister machinations. Yet he happens to rescue an attractive woman from a mugger, but there is more to her than meets the eye. The movie was funny and not as crude, well, not quite as crude as some of Sandler's other stuff. It had good story structure and several great lines, my favorite of which was “he was weak and cowardly and wore far too much cologne.”   Sandler's movies, in a strange way, are often very medieval. Like various medieval fables had a savvy peasant outwitting pompous lords, greedy merchants, and corrupt clergymen. The best Adam Sandler protagonist tends to be a good natured everyman who defeats the modern equivalent of medieval authority figures- evil CEOs, arrogant star athletes, sinister bureaucrats and so forth. Overall Grade: B     Next up is House of David, which came out in 2025 and this is basically the story of King David from the Bible told in the format of an epic fantasy TV series. Like if someone wanted to do an epic fantasy series about Conan the Barbarian, it could follow the same stylistic format as this show. And of course Conan and David followed a similar path from adventurer to king. Anyway, if one were to pick a part of the Bible from which to make a movie or TV series, the story of David would be an excellent choice because David's life was so dramatic that it would hardly require any embellishments in the adaptation. The story is in the Books of First and Second Samuel. King Saul is ruling over the Israelites around 1000 BC or so, but has grown arrogant. Consequently, God instructs the prophet Samuel to inform Saul that the kingdom will be taken away from him and given to another. God then dispatches Samuel to anoint David as the new king of Israel. David is a humble shepherd but then enters Saul's service and undertakes feats of daring, starting with defeating the giant Goliath and leading Saul's troops to victory and battle against Israel's numerous enemies. (The Iron Age Middle East was even less peaceful than it is now.) Eventually, Saul's paranoia and madness gets the best of him and he turns on David, who flees into exile. After Saul and his sons are killed in battle with the Philistines. David returns and becomes the acknowledged king after a short civil war with Saul's surviving sons and followers.   If Saul's fatal flaw was his arrogance of pride, David's seems to have been women. While the story of David and Bathsheba is well known, David nonetheless had eight wives (most of them at the same time) and an unknown but undoubtedly large number of concubines. Naturally David's children from his various wives and concubines did not get along and David was almost deposed due to the conflicts between his children. Unlike Saul and later David's son Solomon, David was willing to repent when a prophet of God informed him of wrongdoing and to be fair to David, monogamy was generally not practiced among Early Iron Age Middle Eastern monarchies and dynastic struggles between brothers from different mothers to seize their father's kingdoms were quite common, but enough historical digression.   Back to the show, which covered David's life up to the death of Goliath. I thought it was quite well done. Good performances, good cinematography, excellent battles, good set design and costuming, and a strong soundtrack. All the actors were good, but I really think the standout performances were Stephen Lang as Samuel, Ali Sulaman is King Saul, Ayelet Zurer as Saul's wife Queen Ahinoam, and Davood Ghadami as David's jerkish (but exasperated and well-intentioned) eldest brother Eliab. Martyn Ford just looks extremely formidable as Goliath. You definitely believe no one in their right mind want to fight this guy.   Making fiction of any kind based on sacred religious texts is often tricky because no matter what you do, someone's going to get mad at you. The show has an extensive disclaimer at the beginning of each episode saying that it is fiction inspired by the Bible. That said, House of David doesn't really alter or deviate from the Biblical account, though it expands upon some things for the sake of storytelling. Queen Ahinoam is only mentioned once in the Bible as the wife of Saul, but she has an expanded role in the show and is shown as the one who essentially introduces Saul to the Witch of Endor. Goliath also gets backstory as one of the “Anakim,” a race of giants that lived in Canaan in ancient times, which is something that is only mentioned in passing in the Old Testament. Overall, I enjoyed the show and I hope it gets a second season.   What's interesting, from a larger perspective, is to see how the wheel of history keeps turning. In the 1950s and the 1960s, Biblical epics were a major film genre. The 10 Commandments and Ben Hur with Charlton Heston are probably the ones best remembered today. Eventually, the genre just sort of ran out of gas, much the way superhero movies were in vogue for about 20 years and began running out of steam around 2023 or so. Like, I enjoyed Thunderbolts (which we're going to talk about in a little bit), but it's not going to make a billion dollars the way Marvel stuff often did in the 2010s. The wheel just keeps turning and perhaps has come back around to the popularity of Biblical epics once more. Overall Grade: A   Next up is Chef, which came out in 2014. I actually saw this back in 2021, but I watched it again recently to refresh my memory and here are my thoughts. I quite liked it. It's about a chef named Carl Casper, who's increasingly unhappy with his work after he gets fired over a Twitter war with a writer who criticized his cooking. Carl is out of options and so he starts a food truck and has to both rediscover his love of cooking and reconnect with his ex-wife and 10-year-old son. In Storytelling: How to Write a Novel (my book about writing), I talked about different kinds of conflict. Carl's conflict is an excellent example of an entirely internal conflict. The critic is an external enemy, but he's basically the inciting incident.   Carl's real enemy is his own internal conflict about art versus commerce and a strained relationship with his son. I recommend the movie. It was rated R for bad language, but there's no nudity or explicit sexual content and honestly, if you've ever worked in a restaurant kitchen or a warehouse, you've heard much worse in terms of language. The movie also has an extremely valuable lesson: stay off social media when you're angry. Overall Grade: A     Next up is Thunderbolts, which came out in 2025 and I thought this was pretty good, both very dark and yet with quite a lot of humor to balance the darkness. Former assassin Yelena Belova has been working as a mercenary for the sinister director of the CIA, Valentina de Fontaine (now there's a villain name if there ever was one). Yelena has grown disillusioned with her life and career and is suffering from increasing depression since she never really dealt with the death of her sister. Valentina promises her one last job, only for Yelena to realize that Valentina decided to dispose of all her freelance contractors at once, which includes US Agent and Ghost (previously seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Antman and the Wasp). In the process of escaping Valentina's trap, Yelena stumbles across a mysterious man who identifies himself as Bob, who has no memory of how he got there, but shows increasingly unusual abilities. Yelena wants to deal with Valentina's betrayal, but it turns out one of Valentina's science projects has gotten out of control and is threatening the world. The movie was well constructed enough that it didn't rely too heavily on previous Marvel continuity. It was there, but you probably wouldn't be lost without it. It almost feels like Marvel looked at the stuff they did the last couple of years and said, okay, a lot of this didn't work, but makes great raw material for new things. It helped that the central conflict was in the end, very human and about the characters, not stopping a generic villain from getting a generic doomsday device. Overall Grade: A   Next up is The Hound of the Baskervilles, which came out in 1988. This is a movie length episode of The Return of Sherlock Holmes television series, which had Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson. The plot deals with Sir Henry Baskerville, the American heir to an English manor set in the Windswept moors of Dartmoor. Apparently there's an ancestral curse laid over the Baskerville estate that manifests in the form of a spectral hound. Local rumors hold that the previous holder of the manor, Sir Charles Baskerville, was killed by the ghostly hound and many of the local people fear it. The local physician, Dr. Mortimer, is so worried about the hound that he comes to Sherlock Holmes for help. Holmes, of course, is skeptical of any supernatural explanation and soon becomes worried that an extremely subtle and sinister murderer is stalking Sir Henry.   Jeremy Brett's version of Holmes is, in my opinion, the best portrayal of the character and Edward Hardwicke's version of Watson is a calm, reliable man of action who sensibly takes a very large revolver with him when going into danger. Definitely worth watching, Overall grade: A   Next up is Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which came out in 2024. The 2020s have been a downer of a decade in many ways, but on the plus side, between Super Mario Brothers and Sonic the Hedgehog, people have finally figured out how to make good video game movies, so we've got that going for us. Sonic 3 was an excellent kids movie, as were the first two in the trilogy. In this one Sonic is living with Knuckles and Tails under the care of their human friends Tom and Maddy, but then a dark secret emerges. The government has been keeping a Superpowered hedgehog named Shadow in stasis and Shadow has broken out. It's up to Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails to save the day.   Meanwhile, Dr. Robotnik is in a funk after his defeat at Sonic's hands in the last movie, but then his long lost grandfather, Gerald Robotnik returns seeking the younger Dr. Robotnik's help in his own sinister plans. Keanu Reeves was great as Shadow (think John Wick if he was a superpowered space hedgehog in a kid's movie). Jim Carrey famously said he would retire from acting unless a golden script came along and apparently that golden script was playing Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his evil grandfather Gerald. To be fair, both the Robotniks were hilarious.   It is amusing that Sonic only exists because in the 1990s, Sega wanted a flagship video game character that won't get them sued by either Nintendo or Disney. It is also amusing that the overall message of the Sonic movies seems to be not to trust the government. Overall Grade: A   Next up is Paddington in Peru, which came out in 2024. This is also an excellent kids' movie. In this installment, Paddington has settled into London with the Brown family and officially become a UK citizen. However, he receives a letter from Peru that his Aunt Lucy has mysteriously disappeared into the jungle. Distraught, Paddington and the Browns set off for Peru at once. Adventures ensue involving mysterious lost treasure, a crazy boat captain, and an order of singing nuns who might not quite be what they appear. Anyway, it's a good kids' movie. I think Paddington 2 was only slightly better because Hugh Grant as the chief villain, crazy actor Phoenix Buchanan, was one of those lightning in the bottle things like Heath Ledger as the Joker in the Dark Knight. Overall Grade: A   Now for the two best things I saw in Winter/Spring 2025. The first of them is Andor Season Two, which came out in 2025. Star Wars kind of has an age range the way Marvel stuff does now. What do I mean by that? In the Marvel comics and some of the TV series like Jessica Jones, they get into some really dark and heavy stuff, very mature themes. The MCU movies can have some darkness to them, but not as much because they're aiming at sort of escapist adventures for the general audience. Then there are kid shows like Spidey and Friends that a relative of mine just loved when he was three. You wouldn't at all feel comfortable showing a 3-year-old Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but Spidey and Friends is just fine.   Star Wars now kind of has that age range to its stuff and there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you want to see a dark meditation upon human nature. Sometimes you need something kid friendly to occupy the kids you're babysitting and sometimes you just want to relax and watch Mando and Baby Yoda mow down some space pirates or something. All that said, Andor Season Two is some of the darkest and the best stuff that Star Wars has ever done. It successfully shifts genres from Escapist Pulp Space Fantasy to a gritty Political/Espionage Thriller. We in the audience know that the emperor is a Sith Lord who can use Evil Space Magic and wants to make himself immortal, but that fact is totally irrelevant to the characters. Even though some of the characters are high ranking in their respective organizations, this is essentially a “ground's eye” view of the Rebellion and life under the Empire.   In some ways, this is like Star Wars' version of Wolf Hall (which we're going to talk about shortly), in that we know how it ends already, but the dramatic tension comes from the harrowing emotional journey the characters undertake on the way to their inevitable destinations. Cassian Andor is now working for the nascent Rebellion under the direction of ruthless spymaster Luthen Rael. Mon Mothma is in the Imperial Senate, covertly funneling money to the Rebellion and realizing just how much the Rebellion will require of her before the end. Syril Karn, the ineffective corporate cop from Season One, has fallen in love with the ruthless secret police supervisor Dedra Meero, but he's unaware that Director Krennic has ordered Meero to manufacture a false flag incident on the planet Gorman so the planet can be strip-mined for resources to build the Death Star and Dedra has decided to use Syril to help accomplish it. All the actors do amazing jobs with their roles. Seriously, this series as actors really should get at least one Emmy. Speaking of Director Krennic, Ben Mendelson returns as Orson Krennic, who is one of my favorite least favorite characters, if you get my drift. Krennic is the oily, treacherous middle manager we've all had to deal with or work for at some point in our lives, and Mendelson plays him excellently. He's a great villain, the sort who is ruthless to his underlings and thinks he can manipulate his superiors right up until Darth Vader starts telekinetically choking him. By contrast, the villain Major Partagaz (played by Anton Lesser) is the middle manager we wish we all had - stern but entirely fair, reasonable, and prizes efficiency and good work while despising office drama. Unfortunately, he works for the Empire's secret police, so all those good qualities are in the service of evil and therefore come to naught. Finally, Episode Eight is one of the most astonishing episodes of TV I've ever seen. It successfully captures the horror of an episode of mass violence and simultaneously has several character arcs reach their tumultuous climax and manages to be shockingly graphic without showing in a lot of actual blood. Andor was originally supposed to be five seasons, but then Peak Streaming collapsed, and so the remaining four seasons were compressed down to one. I think that was actually to the show's benefit because it generates some amazing tension and there's not a wasted moment. Overall Grade: A+   Now for the second of my two favorite things I saw, and that would be Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, which came out in 2024, but I actually saw it in 2025. This is a dramatization of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels about the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, who is King Henry VIII's chief lieutenant during the key years of the English Reformation. The first series came out in 2015, but the nine year gap between this and between the second series and the first series actually works quite well since Thomas Cromwell looks like he ages nine years in a single year (which may be what actually happened given how stressful working for someone like Henry VIII must have been). Anyway, in The Mirror and the Light, Cromwell has successfully arranged the downfall and execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry's previous queen. Though Cromwell is haunted by his actions, Henry still needs a queen to give him a male heir, so he marries Jane Seymour. Cromwell must navigate the deadly politics of the Tudor Court while trying to push his Protestant views of religion, serve his capricious master Henry, fend off rivals for the King's favor, and keep his own head attached to his shoulders in the process. Since Cromwell's mental state is deteriorating due to guilt over Anne's death and the downfall of his former master Cardinal Wolsey and Henry's a fickle and dangerous master at the best of times, this is an enterprise that is doomed to fail. Of course, if you're at all familiar with the history of Henry's reign and the English reformation, you know that Cromwell's story does not have a happy ending. Rather, Wolf Hall is a tragedy about a talented man who didn't walk away from his power until it was too late and he was trapped. Anyway, in my opinion, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light was just excellent. All the performances were superb. Mark Rylance is great as Cromwell and has some excellent “WTF/I'm SO screwed” expressions as Cromwell's situation grows worse and worse. Bernard Hill played the Duke of Norfolk in the first series, but sadly died before Series Two, so Timothy Spall steps in and he does an excellent job of channeling Hill's portrayal of the Duke as an ambitious, crude-humored thug.   Damien Lewis is amazing as Henry VIII and his performance captures Henry's mixture of charisma, extreme vindictiveness, and astonishing self-absorption. The real Henry was known for being extremely charming even to the end of his life, but the charm was mixed with a volcanic temper that worsened as Henry aged and may have been exacerbated by a severe head injury. Lewis's performance can shift from that charm to the deadly fury in a heartbeat. The show rather cleverly portrays Henry's growing obesity and deteriorating health by having Lewis wear a lot of big puffy coats and limp with an impressively regal walking stick.   Overall, I would say this and Andor were the best thing I saw in Winter/Spring 2025. I wouldn't say that Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is an accurate historical reputation. In real life, Cromwell was rather more thuggish and grasping (though far more competent than his rivals and his master) and of necessity the plot simplifies historical events, but it's just a superb historical drama. Overall Grade: A+ As a final note, I should say that of all the 2024 and 2025 movies mentioned here, the only one that actually saw in the theater was Thunderbolts, and I hadn't actually planned to see it in theaters, but a family member unexpectedly bought tickets for it, so I went along. Which I suppose is the movie industry's biggest problem right now. The home viewing experience is often vastly superior to going to the theater. The theater has the big screen and snacks, but at home you can have a pretty nice setup and you can pause whatever you want, go to the bathroom, and you can get snacks for much more cheaply. That's just much more comfortable than the movie theater.   Additionally, going to the theater has the same serious problem as booking a flight in that you're an enclosed space with complete strangers for several hours, which means you're potentially in a trust fall with idiots. All it takes is one person behaving badly or trying to bring their fake service dog to ruin or even cancel a flight, and the theater experience has much of the same problem, especially since the standards for acceptable public behavior have dropped so much from a combination of widespread smartphone adoption and COVID. The difference between the movie industry and the airline industry is that if you absolutely have to get from New York to Los Angeles in a single day, you have no choice but to book a flight and hope for the best. But if you want to see a movie and are willing to exercise some patience, you just have to wait a few months for it to turn up on streaming. I'm not sure how the movie industry can battle that, but sadly, it is much easier to identify problems than to solve them.   So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe, stay healthy, and see you all next week.

The revelation that reality TV is often fabricated shouldn't shock anyone. Despite Bear Grylls' reputation as an outdoor expert—having survived a major fall during his time in the British Special Forces, climbed Mt. Everest before turning 25, and navigated the North Atlantic in an inflatable raft—there's skepticism about his true survival prowess. Evidence suggests that Grylls may not be as formidable a survivalist as portrayed. Some of his wilderness advice has even been questioned by other experts. So, what's the reality? To delve deeper into the authenticity of Man Vs. Wild, visit: this article. #realityTV #BearGrylls #ManVs.Wild #survivaltips #outdoorexpert See show notes: https://inlet.fm/weird-history/episodes/68025b30dd62de4ad083aa47 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Buckle up for a wild ride with A-10 Warthog pilots T-Dub and Quintana! From dodging bureaucracy to dodging bullets, these two bring hilarious and jaw-dropping combat stories straight from the cockpit. Hear about strafing tanks in Iraq, the legendary Kandahar Unicorn, and why British Special Forces will obliterate anyone who messes with their dog. Expect fighter pilot pranks, piddle pack nightmares, and some highly questionable call signs. Oh, and did we mention an explosion of 200 barrels of oil? If you love aviation, military humor, and tales of airborne mayhem, this episode is guns hot!

The Lowest Moral Denominator.By FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.Those who declare war are willing to kill as many as it takes to reach their goal.(The Lowest Moral Denominator)My first week at Havenstone, I'd biked to work alone on most days and I'd enjoyed that. I'd have treasure it more if I had glimpsed my future. I loved people, not crowds. I knew about violence, yet I had no affection for it. I was a confirmed bachelor. Now I was staring down both barrels of marriage. I had had also become a walking arsenal with a lethal omnipresent entourage.This situation was so fucked up that I had to stop by Caitlin's place just to see Aya. My favorite sprite gave me a hug and reminded me that I had to do what I could, not worry about what I couldn't do. She was my 9 year old Svengali. She was my little Valkyrie. In truth, she was the only woman knew I loved and that was the love of a father for his daughter.On the elevator ride up to the penthouse suite of the Midtown Hilton, I thought about Dad. What would Ferko Nyilas do in my shoes? It would be easy for someone who didn't know him to imagine my dad getting up on his high moral horse and telling me to just do the right thing, except that wasn't him. What he'd tell me was to not pass the buck. I had to deal with this, unless I knew someone else who could and would do it better.It wasn't about 'being a man'; it was being a member of the Human Race. We all pitched in and got the job done, or it didn't get done, and millions died because we refused to accept any responsibility for what was going on. That was my Dad, 'do what you can' and 'never be afraid to ask for help if you need it'. After the age of ten, he never told me I had to do anything. He'd tell me what needed to be done and leave it at that.So I wouldn't forget the pictures I knew I'd be seeing before too long, the innocent dead. If the sorrow broke me, it broke me. Until it did, I could not turn away. I had to 'do what I could'. That put me heading to a meeting at three o'clock in the afternoon in the penthouse suite.After my non-breakfast with Iskender, we had driven straight to Havenstone, where I demanded an immediate, private meeting with Katrina. This wasn't an info-dump and then out the door. No, I was part of the process now, one of those fools who were responsible for the lives of others. Katrina and I had argued about compartmentalizing my terrifying news.Her reasoning was clear. We were at war with the Seven Pillars. The basis of the 7P strength was China, so anything bad that happened to China was good for the Amazon Host. I nixed that. It was Katrina's job to think about our security. It was mine to juggle how we related to the rest of the planet. Absent the Golden Mare's opposition, Katrina couldn't stop me from doing my job as I saw fit.The Golden Mare was out of immediate contact, so we moved forward on my proposal. Katrina called Javiera, validated Vincent's call, and then suggested she bring in someone from the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Ft. Detrick. Katrina wouldn't tell her why.I dispatched Delilah to talk to her MI-6 guy while I made my way to Nicole Lawless's law offices. I need to talk to my Aunts. An hour later, I dismissed a somewhat piqued Nicole from the room, then laid out the upcoming crisis to my Mom's clones. I hesitated a minute before dropping the other bomb, Grandpa Cáel was back.Was I sure? I countered with, "Do you know who Shammuramat was?"Why, yes they did; Grandpa had a bust of her in his main office."Well, she's back, in the flesh and that spells all kinds of problems".The six aunts present agreed. They invited me to fly to Europe with five of them. Much to their surprise and joy, I agreed. I told them I would be a party of twelve with plenty of firepower. They were less pleased about that.I exited that scene, only to engage in another, somewhat unrelated, bit of diplomacy. I met with Brooke and Libra for lunch. They brought Casper, who was seeing a specialist in New York and had expressed an interest in seeing me again. Into that volatile mix, I placed my request: 'Could Brooke put up a friend for a couple of weeks while I made other arrangements?'Yes, this was a 'bizarre' friend. Yes, this was a violently bizarre friend. Yes, she walked around with enough weaponry to scare a seasoned SWAT officer. And yes, she was a mass murderer. Cool,, if I agreed to stop by and see how this 'friend' was doing, and gave Libra advance notice too, then they were fine with it.Thus Shammuramat, Sakuniyas, Saku became Brooke's roommate. Insane? Not really. Putting Saku inside Havenstone on a regular basis was going to result in a blood bath. Saku was abrasive and she was a criminal in the minds of her 'sisters'. This gave her an 'out', some space and time with a civilized person who she couldn't emotionally bowl over.If Saku got physical with Brooke, we both understood that House Ishara was going to cancel her return performance. Amazons could defend themselves, so we were fair game for her rude behavior. Brooke couldn't, so she was hopefully out of bounds. Saku had agreed to the arrangement without comment.She'd already figured out that no other Amazons wanted her around and there simply wasn't room at my place. With that chore done, I was able to see Miyako off before her flight to Tokyo by way of Seattle. Selena was with her, but not going. Miyako did have three Amazons in case things got rough.The Marda House guard woman looked mature and humorless. Her age wasn't a problem. She was a grandmother, yet if she thought she couldn't keep up, she'd have taken herself to the cliffs before now. It turned out she had been in Executive Services before returning to House Marda. My diplomat, I didn't know her, but she seemed eager enough. The member of House Ishara was a brand new recruit named Jenna.She was from Acquisitions and spoke seven Asian languages, including Japanese. She looked absolutely thrilled to be heading off into danger. I instructed the younger two to obey the Mardan. In private, I 'advised' the Mardan that our main mission was to be of aid to the ninja. Information gathering would be secondary. More Amazons were on the way. She gave me a nod.For this critical mid-afternoon meeting at the Midtown Hilton, Wiesława lead the way off the elevator. Buffy went next, then me and finally Saku. Delilah and Vincent had already arrived with their appropriate factions. Katrina took a separate elevator, with Elsa and Desiree. Pamela was, somewhere. After she'd pointed out a half-dozen people from four different agencies in the lobby, she told me to not wait while she went to the bathroom.At the door of the Penthouse were two familiar faces from the NYPD, Nikita Kutuzov and her partner, Skylar Montero. When Javiera's investigation followed me to New York, they had been drafted into the taskforce."Hey ladies," I smiled. My last meeting with Nikita hadn't gone well."Cáel," Nikita smiled back. "How have you been?""More trouble than normal," I shook her hand."We can tell," Skylar relaxed somewhat. As Nikita's partner, she had to know that our relationship had soured when she started investigating me. Katrina's group came up."I think you are the last to arrive," Nikita informed us. This time, Desiree was the first one through the door. I could hear the conversation trail off. Wiesława went next, then Katrina, me, Buffy, Saku and finally Elsa. I decided to toss 'civilized' behavior out the window seconds after entering. Virginia Maddox of the FBI, the initiator of the Amazon children's airlift, was here.I hugged her and after a moment, she hugged me back."Priya says hey and," she blushed slightly, "she's counting the days, all forty-five of them.""Don't forget, I owe you," I grinned then patted her shoulder. Javiera was next."Cáel," she headed my familiarity off. She was a Federal Prosecutor after all."This is the head of this taskforce, Jonas Baker (deep breath) Associate Deputy Undersecretary of Analysis for Homeland Security {ADUAHS} (deep breath)." I extended my hand, so he shook it. He looked somewhat annoyed by this whole encounter. Javiera was duly nervous because of his poor initial attitude. The introductions went around.Half way through it, Pamela showed up, from where, I didn't know. Delilah, her MI-6 boss and the British professional killer Chaz were there, much to the chagrin of the Americans. Vincent was there with Javiera. Cresky was representing the CIA plus there was ATF, ICE, Riki Martin (?) from the State Department and a man in a civil servant's salary suit and a military demeanor, Captain Moe Mistriano."Fine," Mr. Baker began. "I hope you aren't wasting our time." His gaze flicked between Katrina and me."May the Blessed Isis bring understanding to our meeting," I intoned, in old Egyptian."What was that?" Baker turned on me."Praying for guidance," I replied. Isis wasn't in the Amazon pantheon, but I could sure use her help at this point. Baker was going from put-out to pissed-off. If that is how they wanted to play it, their choice. "Are you the specialist from Ft. Detrick?" I asked the Captain."Yes, I am and I hope this is worth my time as well," he gave me a steady gaze. Oh, I really needed that."Anthrax, China," I stated and weighed his response. Oh yeah, I had his attention now, which meant his bio-warfare unit had some idea about what was happening in China."Care to enlighten me?" Baker inquired. He had gauged his medical expert's reactions as well and he didn't like what the biological warfare specialist was not saying."Mr. Baker," the Captain decided to go first. "Roughly fifty-five hours ago, we got wind that there was a massive Anthrax outbreak in Western China. Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia and Nei Mongol administrative regions have all reported outbreaks."Holy Shit!" Riki Martin gasped. Her dark, whip-like, Hispanic features noticeably paled."That sounds suspiciously like bio-terrorism," Jonas Baker turned on me."You'd be right about that," I refused to evade. "It is and it is about to get a whole lot worse.""The PRC has a robust vaccine program," the Captain stated. "That is why they aren't making a public stink about it. They have the problem well under control.""Damn, " I closed my eyes and lowered my head. In some deep section of my mind, I had fanned the feeble flames of hope that somehow, the Earth  and  Sky program had derailed. "That is the 'whole lot worse' I was talking about. The terrorists aren't terrorists. They, ""What do you mean they are not terrorists," Baker snapped. "They, ""Shut up and let the man speak," Katrina said calmly."Who are you again?" he glared at Katrina. "If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem and I'm here to make sure this problem is dealt with. I am not here to play footsie with you. I am going to be asking some tough questions and you had better answer them.""I'm Cáel's boss," Katrina smiled. "Since we came here to help you and you don't want to let us speak, we are leaving. Cáel."The Amazons didn't turn and leave. No, we backed up toward the door."You can't start talking about an ongoing terrorist threat and then walk out the door," Baker argued."Javiera, I apologize," I looked her way. "Mr. Baker, Javiera's a smart cookie. I'm sure she's given you every bit of information that has come across her desk. That means you know we consider ourselves an independent nation-state without borders. You can't intimidate us. We feel no obligation to obey your legal system and we operate internationally," I kept going."Now, as we are trying to repay Javiera's kindness in our time of need, you are treating us like criminals currying favors. Blow it out your ass, you pompous bureaucrat" I concluded. "We aren't the problem here.""If that's the way you want it," he shrugged. "Javiera, arrest them." Pause."Sir, you do realize that if I give that order, there is a good likelihood they will resist with force?" Javiera replied calmly. Baker looked around the room."We outnumber them and these are law enforcement officers," he insisted. "Now, ""I wouldn't count on that 'outnumbered' thing," Delilah chimed in.Chaz and MI-6 dude didn't seem to be onboard with his plan. "I have reason to believe Cáel has information on a highly virulent weaponized Anthrax program. If our US allies aren't interested, Her Majesty's government certainly will be." That did interest the MI-6 senior officer."That is all the more reason to put these people into federal custody," Baker stated."Then what, Mr. Associate Deputy?" Chaz said. "Are you going to torture them for time sensitive data? In my military service, I've met some truly hard characters. Some people you can put a gun to their child's head and they'll tell you what you want to know. Not this group. They'll memorize your face and wait for a chance to make you pay, whether you kill the kid, or not.""That's my read on them as well," Agent Vincent Loire added."Mr. Baker, I worked under you when we were both in Counter-terrorism," Virginia spoke up. "I think you are mishandling this. Invoke the Patriot Act and all we get is a roomful of statues. I've fought beside these, Amazons and I'm reaffirming my report to Ms. Castello (Javiera), they do not believe their behavior is wrong.At some point in their fifties, they commit ritual suicide. They make their twelve year old daughters fight for their lives. They murder their male infants. Sir, they are an alien society, indoctrinated at birth to believe they are spiritual inheritors of the ancient Amazons mentioned by Homer during the time of the Iliad.They fanatically believe in a pantheon of goddesses and possess very little inclination for integration. They think they are superior to everyone in this room, except for Cáel, he's an oddity," Virginia pleaded."That legion of crimes is yet another reason to arrest them," Baker just wouldn't give up."What you have described, Agent Maddox is a right wing nut cult, like the Branch-Davidians at Waco. Arrest them.""What are the charges?" Javiera's face blanked out."Conspiracy to commit terrorist acts; aiding and abetting an international terrorist organization," Baker snapped."Everyone, put down your firearms and blades," Katrina ordered. I didn't have the status to give that order except to my own. For that matter,"Team, disarm," Elsa commanded her Security Detail people. Technically, Katrina couldn't order those girls to forego their primary mission, defend the Host. Out came the guns.The group of us went over to one wall, put our backs to it and sat down. Pro forma, Virginia, Vincent and the ATF guy drew their firearms. By this time, both Riki and the Captain looked ready to explode."Tell us what you know about this terrorist conspiracy and, " Baker said."We invoke our Right to Council," I raised my hand."You are being charged under the Patriot Act, smart-ass," Baker sneered. "We can hold you indefinitely if we can show a risk to National Security, such as a terrorist attack in China.""I apologize for dragging you into this," I turned to Katrina. "You too, Saku." Saku shrugged."I told you there is no benefit in helping 'these people'," Katrina comforted me. She meant non-Amazons and it was rather sad that it was looking like she was right and I was wrong."Unless you want to grow old and grey in Guantanamo, I suggest you start talking now," Baker threatened.There was no bravado on our part. We didn't zone out, or ignore him. We looked at him the same way we would a yappy dog while continuing to scan the room. Being disarmed didn't make us defenseless. It merely limited our options."Sir," Riki tapped Baker."If the People's Republic of China finds out we withheld details of a terrorist attack on their soil, that would be BAD, with a capital 'B'.""I have to call this in," the Captain shook his head."Wait until we have active intelligence," Baker said. The Captain completed his call."I don't work for you, Sir. I work for the Department of Defense and that man," the Captain pointed at me, "strung two words together he shouldn't have. Now, I don't know any of you people. I was told to come here, so here I am. I do know, Sir, that you are ignoring the advice from your experts about the expected results of standard interrogation techniques.You are acting on two assumptions which I find to be fictitious," the Captain was clearly furious. "First, you seem to think this won't get out, and you are wrong. Why? We have no idea who these people have talked with. We can only believe that any person outside of their organization can use that revelation for their own ends. Secondly, you haven't grasped the extent of the emergency.Chinese citizens are already starting to drop dead as we speak. This variant of Anthrax is highly contagious, fast-acting, and appears to be incredibly fatal. No nation on Earth has enough Anthrax vaccine on hand to protect their entire population, and that still implies that the vaccines we currently have will work on this new bacteria. Need I go on?"Then Captain Mistriano went back to talking softly with his companions back at Ft. Detrick. The MI-6 chief made his own call. This was his job after all. Before Baker could even start to threaten the Brit, Delilah and Chaz had their guns out, though pointed down. The US law enforcement operatives were far more leery of challenging agents of a friendly foreign power."I will make sure to tack on charges for all those deaths you are facilitating," Baker piled it on. "The US government might find it necessary to send you to the People's Republic of China to face charges there. After all, you claim to not be US citizens." None of us responded verbally. We looked at him. We certainly heard him speak, but his '

In this episode Dean Stott, a former British Special Forces soldier, world record-setting cyclist, and mindset coach discusses his journey from the military to private security and achieving a world record in cycling. Dean shares his views on the importance of adaptability, the danger of stagnation, and the necessity of pushing out of one's comfort zone. Key highlights include his charitable efforts with the mental health campaign Heads Together and his insights into coping with post-achievement voids. The conversation also delves into the Blue Rose Foundation's work against human trafficking and Dean's involvement in the Netflix series, 'Toughest Forces on Earth.' Episode Highlights: 06:30 The Importance of Resilience 10:13 Dean Stott's Incredible Bike Ride 16:04 Raising Awareness and Funds for Mental Health 32:45 Understanding the Void in Success 33:59 Balancing Success and Family 36:52 Facing Hardships and Moving Forward 42:14 The Journey to TV and Toughest Forces 51:18 The Blue Rose Foundation In everything he does, Dean Stott draws on a colorful and dramatic personal journey. A former soldier in the Special Boat Service (SBS), his military career was ended by a parachuting accident in 2011. He quickly transitioned to the private security sector, where he carved out a reputation for being willing to take on any job, no matter how dangerous. He has since become a record-breaking explorer and adventurer, while establishing a successful career as a motivational speaker. Learn more about Dean here: https://www.deanstott.com/ Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this inspiring episode of 'Spartan Leadership,' host Josh Kosnick talks with Dean Stott, MBE, a former member of the British Special Forces and record-setting cyclist. Dean shares his incredible journey from single-handedly evacuating the Canadian embassy in Libya to overcoming life-changing injuries and setting a world record on the Pan-American Highway. The discussion covers Dean's military experiences, his transition into the private security sector, his mental health advocacy, and his recent ventures into plant medicine. Listeners will gain insights into leadership, resilience, and the importance of mental well-being.00:00 Heroic Evacuations and Personal Reflections01:14 Introduction to Spartan Leadership Podcast01:54 Meet Dean Stott: A Life of Resilience and Courage03:24 Dean's Military Upbringing and Career05:37 Special Forces Insights and Leadership Lessons12:15 Overcoming a Career-Ending Injury14:48 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Private Security20:42 The Pan American Highway Challenge31:50 Navigating Team Dynamics and Contracts34:22 The Role of Alana in Dean's Journey38:01 Fundraising Success and Alana's Contributions39:35 Insights into the Security Industry44:17 Building Trust in High-Stakes Environments47:59 Mental Health Advocacy and Plant Medicine58:59 Future Aspirations and Legacyjoshkosnick.comkairos.joshkosnick.comCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

Send us a textSteve “Zane” Stoops spent the last 19 years as the Senior Combat Assault Dog Trainer (CAD) for the United States Joint Special Operations Command-JSOC, assigned to the 1st SFOD-D, located at Ft. Liberty, NC (retired January 2024.) He and a very small and exclusive group of Special Operators are innovators and developed many K9 training philosophies utilized today by the most elite SOF tactical working dog programs throughout the world. Steve actively handled these dogs in numerous combat situations facing fire fights, suicide bombers, and IEDs. A veteran of 14 combat deployments, Steve was also requested by and assisted Naval Special Warfare units in Iraq. During this time, Steve also played a crucial role in the development of the following CAD programs worldwide: Conducted the initial training course for Army Ranger CAD program. Selected and trained the CADs and Handlers for the elite British Special Forces, traveling to England to instruct at the inaugural K9 course for both British Army and Naval Special Operators and their dogs. Selected and trained the dogs for the Danish Jaeger Corps, traveling to Scandinavia to conduct training events. Stood up a K9 program in a combat zone by importing dogs into the zone for the Kurdish Counter Terror Group (CTG). Assisted the German KSK with their CAD program and was co-located with them on a combat deployments. Assisted the Norwegian SOF Dog program in Afghanistan. Stood up the CAD program for the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, selecting and training the K9/Handler teams on a multi-week training course.  Prior to working for Special Operations, Steve stood up and supervised a protection dog program in Afghanistan for Afghan President Hammed Karzai (2002.) Thereafter, Steve stood up a detection dog program in Tirana, Albania, for the Albanian National Police (2003.)Steve's K9 career started while serving 15 of his 20 years as a Police K9 Officer in Anderson, Indiana, after serving in the United States Marine Corps as a Security Specialist at U.S. Embassies throughout Europe and South America. While a K9 Officer, Steve was a SWAT Team member, SWAT Dog handler, and a veteran of hundreds of K9 deployments. He experienced numerous violent encounters with suspects including Officer involved shootings and edged weapon attacks and was responsible foWe are pleased to announce that Vested Interest in K9's has become our newest sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org. Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.comHLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2025 conference will be April 1,2,3, 2025. Register today at www.htlk9.com. If you want Rich and Howard to come to your location we can make it happen. They have come together to provide workshops on any K9 related topic you like. Open to law enforcement and civilian attendees. Contact Howard at hjyk91@gmail.com or 704-473-9885.

Dean Stott is a former British Special Forces soldier who served in the Special Boat Service (SBS). After a career-ending parachute accident, he transitioned into the private security sector, gaining renown for handling high-risk situations, including evacuating the Canadian Embassy in Libya. He later set two world records for cycling the 14,000-mile Pan-American Highway. Dean is now a motivational speaker, security consultant, adventurer, and podcaster known for tackling extreme challenges. Dean was awarded the distinguished honor of Member of the Most Excellent Order of The British Empire (MBE) for his services to sport, humanitarian and mental health awareness. He embodies resilience and adaptability in both personal and professional pursuits.Dean has led an amazing life and is a master storyteller. We get into his abrupt transition out of the British Special Forces, developing a new path and career based on his strengths, and working with his wife Alana, also an MBE and complete force as Dean's business partner, as well as within her own career as an author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.Sponsors:This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT, a tasty electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don't. That means lots of salt — with no sugar. We are still abuzz about LMNT Sparkling now available to everyone. All the electrolytes you need, in the MOST festive beverage you've ever tasted. If you love LMNT, this is going to blow your mind. Go to DrinkLMNT.com/TRS and check it out!This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by Momentous, a leading high-performance lifestyle company making the best supplements and sports nutrition products for individuals looking to optimize all parts of their lives. Single serve Creatine packets have changed our lives. We no longer go through security with little baggies of white powder. And any time we forget to take our Creatine, we've got a packet in our backpack which eliminates all barriers to adherence. If you want to make your day foolproof, go to livemomentous.com/TRS and use code TRS for 20% OFF your first purchase.

Thanks so much for listening! For the complete show notes, links, and comments, please visit The Grey NATO Show Notes for this episode:https://thegreynato.substack.com/p/294-thrudark-anthony-stazickerThe Grey NATO is a listener-supported podcast. If you'd like to support the show, which includes a variety of possible benefits, including additional episodes, access to the TGN Crew Slack, and even a TGN edition grey NATO, please visit:https://thegreynato.com/support-tgnSupport the Show.

Summary Gary Banford, a former British Royal Marine and Sergeant Major of the SBS unit, shares his experience in the special forces and the selection process. He discusses the discreet nature of the SBS and the challenges they face. He also talks about the importance of mindset and determination in completing the selection process. Gary reflects on his deployments and the relentless cycle of operations after 9/11. Garry Banford discusses the challenges of military life and the transition to civilian entrepreneurship. He highlights the relentless cycle of operations and deployments in the military, as well as the burden placed on special operations forces. Garry also shares his decision to leave the military and start a coaching and mentoring business, focusing on mindset and resilience. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and sharing experiences in both the military and business world. Garry also discusses the struggle of self-promotion as an entrepreneur and the value of having a business partner with complementary skills. In this conversation, Garry Banford discusses the importance of self-awareness and effective communication in leadership. He emphasizes the need for leaders to recognize their weaknesses and seek help when necessary. Garry also highlights the value of creating psychological safety within teams and the benefits of debriefing and after-action reviews. He shares his experiences working with senior leaders and the importance of building a community where leaders can learn from and support each other. Garry's goal for the next five years is to maintain a balance between his work and family life while continuing to make a positive impact through coaching and community building. Show Links Get 1-month of FREE access to the ⁠Vet Collective Community⁠ by using discount code: NLT1UQTI Join us here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.collective.vet⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.collective.vet⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on LinkedIn: ⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/harder-not-smarter/⁠ Episodes also available on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music. https://linktr.ee/harder_not_smarter Garry's Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-banford-640286111/ https://www.duratusuk.com/ https://www.duratusuk.com/coach-profile/garry-banford Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Gary Banford and the SBS 03:02 Joining the Military and Special Forces 11:24 The Foundation of Basic Skills and Determination 25:43 Intense and Relentless Deployments in Special Forces 31:11 The Challenges of Military Life and Transitioning to Entrepreneurship 36:37 The Decision to Leave the Military and Start a Coaching Business 52:26 Overcoming the Struggle of Self-Promotion 57:50 The Power of Storytelling and Sharing Experiences 01:03:25 The Value of a Complementary Business Partner 01:05:55 Self-Awareness and Effective Communication in Leadership 01:10:33 Creating Psychological Safety within Teams 01:13:47 The Value of Debriefing and After-Action Reviews 01:19:17 Building a Community of Leaders 01:28:20 Finding Balance: Work and Family Life 01:33:19 Making a Positive Impact through Coaching and Community Building Sound Bites "The British special forces, including the SBS, have a reputation for being discreet and humble." "Joining the military and special forces often stems from a desire for adventure and personal challenge." "The Marines and Royal Marines provide a foundation of basic skills and a mindset of determination." "It was a big family decision to leave the military, specifically to see my children more." "If there's one skill you could cultivate, it would be self-awareness."

What does it take to become a soldier in the British Special Forces, to break world records in cycling and fitness, or to write a book that drastically improves the lives of many who read it?  Most of us would be happy with achieving just one of these things, but today's guest has done them all! Dean Stott is a speaker, author, and world-renowned expert in risk and security consulting, and he joins us today to share what it takes to build a mindset that relentlessly pursues excellence. Dean's core philosophy is all about taking action, and he explains how this mindset helps in overcoming challenges both foreseen and unexpected.  Our guest walks us through his process of building mental toughness, how to rise above fear, the importance of research and careful planning, and how to build a mindset of resilience. Dean's final words of wisdom and hope explain why it's better to participate rather than anticipate.  

Dean Stott is a former soldier in the Special Boat Service (SBS), published author, World Record holder, and is currently starring in the Netflix Show - Toughest Forces on Earth.His military career was ended by a parachuting accident in 2011. He quickly transitioned to the private security sector, where he carved out a reputation for being willing to take on any job, no matter how dangerous. From extortions to kidnapping, civil war, pirates, and military coups, Dean has seen it including single handedly evacuating the Candadian embassy in Libya rescuing 22 people in 2014. He has since become a record-breaking explorer and adventurer, while establishing a successful career as a motivational speaker. He emphasizes his belief that, with the right mindset and plan, the impossible simply means it hasn't been done yet. He published his book, Relentless, in 2019 – a book that recounts his experiences and life as a Special Boat Services soldier and when faced with the impossible, he proves that anything is possible. He is also a passionate mental health campaigner, and set himself with the task to raise a million pounds for charity on behalf of his bike ride across The Pan American Highway which is over 14k miles. He set 2 world records on that and completed it in only 99 days, 12 hours, and 56 minutes breaking the previous record by 17 days! He is on the newly released Netflix show Toughest Forces on Earth that  Follows three former special operations soldiers - US Army Ranger, British Special Forces operator, and US Navy Seal - travel the world on a mission to go deep inside the most elite and secretive military units on the planet. Follow Dean on Instagram by clicking hereGet Dean's book Relentless by clicking hereWatch Toughest Forces on Earth on Netflix by clicking hereCheck out Dean Stott's websiteGet your own Freedom Plunge by clicking here. Use code IMPOSSIBLE to save $500!!Be sure to sign up for Mindset Mastery and check out all the latest and greatest at https://www.theimpossible.life/. Get your own ice bath delivered to your door by Freedom Plunge. They're half the price of popular makes and can be custom designed with any design you can imagine! Mention the Impossible Life Podcast and save $100. Contact Chris@freedomplunge.com to get more information.Got a show idea or something you'd like us to cover? Please get in touch!Sign up for our Mission Ready Mindset Once-A-Week Motivational EmailInstagram - @theimpossiblelifeYouTube - @TheImpossibleLifePodcastFacebook - @theimpossiblelifepodcastemail - info@theimpossible.life

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Join us in this inspiring podcast episode as we delve into the extraordinary journey of Dean Stott, a former British Special Forces operative turned world record holder and motivational speaker. With 16 years of elite service, Dean's experience spans from private sector security to philanthropy and record-breaking feats, offering valuable learnings for d2d sales warriors.   #sales warriors #specialops #salesgritThank you for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. You may also watch this podcast on YouTube!You may also follow Sam Taggart on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more nuggets on D2D and Sales Tips.

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On this episode, Derek sits with Dean Stott.  Dean is a former British Special Forces Soldier, Private Security Owner, Guinness World Record Holder and Author.  Dean will be discussing what inspired him to join the British Army and his selection to the Special Boat Service, his years as a Tier 1 special forces operative and the accident that led him to end his career in the military.  He will talk about his time in Private Security, his strategies and methodologies for evacuating and protecting high value clients and some of the highlights of his career.  He will then talk about his 2 Guinness World Records for cycling the Pan American Highway in under 100 days.  Dean also has a book, “Relentless - from Special Operations to World Record Breaker” and an upcoming Netflix show, “Toughest Forces on Earth” which premiers on May 22nd 2024.Website: https://www.deanstott.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-stott-24725880Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/deanstottsbsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanstottFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/deanstottsbs/SPONSOR - Go to https://betterhelp.com/derekduvallshow for 10% off your first month of therapy with @betterhelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored

In this episode of the Fitness CEO, Bryce Henson dives deep into the world of resilience, leadership, and the power of a relentless mindset with the extraordinary Dean Stott. A former British Special Forces soldier turned world-record-breaking cyclist, Dean shares his journey from the battlefield to breaking the world record for cycling the Pan-American Highway. His story is not just about physical endurance but also about overcoming adversity, pushing the limits of what's possible, and the importance of mental strength. This episode is a masterclass in achieving excellence, driven by the belief that with the right mindset, discipline, and support, anyone can achieve their goals, no matter how ambitious you are. 00:00 Introduction: Dean Stott 02:03 Dean Stott's Back Story 10:36 Identity and Transition 14:27 Embassy in Benghazi 23:07 Skillset and Leadership 29:33 Spouse as Business Partner 37:25 Guinness World Record Story 01:02:59 Right Mindset 01:05:57 Leadership 01:08:35 Biggest Hero and Villain 01:09:53 Biggest Fear 01:11:39 Best Piece of Advice

Born in Cornwall, England, Hannah grew up doing gymnastics, swimming and lifeguarding and spent most of her time outdoors. At age 18 she lived in Honduras for a year teaching English, and she worked and traveled around Australia for 9 months on a work visa aged 20.  She has an associate's degree in Outdoor Education and used to work with inner city kids ‘at risk', taking them into the great outdoors to experience climbing, hiking, kayaking, and sailing to allow them to work on their personal development. She went on to become an active duty  Police Officer for 4 years in the UK, during which she discovered the sport of skydiving! She became a member of the British Skydiving Team that won a World Championships in 2008. The team often trained in California which led her to move to California in 2009 and pursue a full-time career in Skydiving where she coached and instructed individual beginners to National teams.  She has around 8500 jumps and she's instructed on multiple military freefall courses training Navy Seals and Rangers, along with Swedish, Canadian, and British Special Forces how to freefall with military equipment. Skydiving eventually lead her into stunts, getting her first stunt job in 2013 and she is now a full time Stuntwoman in Los Angeles! Up until 5 years ago she was terrified of horses, until a stunt friend took her to a lesson, and curiosity got the better of her. Somehow, 5 years later she now owns 2 QH geldings and 2 rescue donkeys that live on her 5 acre property, and she rides as often as she can. Become a Patreon Member today! Get access to podcast bonus segments, ask questions to podcast guests, and even suggest future podcast guests while supporting Warwick: https://www.patreon.com/journeyonpodcastWarwick has over 650 Online Training Videos that are designed to create a relaxed, connected, and skilled equine partner. Start your horse training journey today!https://videos.warwickschiller.com/Check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarwickschillerfanpageWatch hundreds of free Youtube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/warwickschillerFollow us on Instagram: @warwickschiller

After the brutal killing of his family, British Special Forces ex-agent John Steel arrives in New York with one purpose: find the person responsible and exact his revenge.NYPD detective Samantha McCall is investigating a triple homicide when Steel shows up to help find the perpetrator and bring him to justice. What appears to be the work of a serial killer soon turns out to be something different altogether, with relentless mercenaries, a shadowy informant and ghosts from the past for both McCall and Steel all involved.As unexpected alliances and Steel's personal mission reveal a complex web of treachery, can he and McCall find a way to work together and solve the case?Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've designed a new fool-proof system for catching shoplifters and it's all thanks to Jose's Phone Tap character CLOVER! See how an ex-British Special Forces member deals with petty crime in the podcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've designed a new fool-proof system for catching shoplifters and it's all thanks to Jose's Phone Tap character CLOVER! See how an ex-British Special Forces member deals with petty crime in the podcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve designed a new fool-proof system for catching shoplifters and it’s all thanks to Jose’s Phone Tap character CLOVER! See how an ex-British Special Forces member deals with petty crime in the podcast!

Episode 720 - Dean Stott is a First Class Father, former British Special Forces soldier and World Record Holder.  Dean was one of the very first army members to join the Special Boat Service, a special forces unit of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy.  He has conducted deployments to overseas hostile environments and been involved in Counterterrorism operations; he has traveled to some of the toughest places in the world, serving his country for 16 honorable years.  Dean cycled the longest motor road in the world – The Pan American Highway. He completed the 14,000 mile route from Argentina to Alaska in May 2018. Dean gained two world records and raised an incredible amount of money for charity in the process, passing through 14 countries on his expedition and crossing some of the most dangerous passages in the world. In this Episode, Dean shares his Fatherhood Journey which includes three children.  He describes how becoming a father made him reevaluate his dangerous post-military career in the private security sector where he was renowned for his willingness to take on any job, regardless of the level of danger.  He discusses his own childhood which involved a difficult divorce between his parents, which landed him in a homeless shelter, and his father's sacrifices to stay involved in his life.  He talks about the world records he smashed cycling from South America to Alaska.  He offers some great advice for new or soon-to-be dads and more! Relentless: Dean Stott: from Special Operations to World Record Breaker - https://a.co/d/iwvak1s Navy SEAL Swim Fundraiser - https://impact.navysealfoundation.org/fundraiser/4796365 The Shawn Ryan Show - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shawn-ryan-show/id1492492083 The Alec Lace Show - https://linktr.ee/TheAlecLaceShow My Pillow - https://mystore.com/fatherhood Promo Code: Fatherhood  First Class Fatherhood: Advice and Wisdom from High-Profile Dads - https://bit.ly/36XpXNp Watch First Class Fatherhood on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCD6cjYptutjJWYlM0Kk6cQ?sub_confirmation=1 More Ways To Listen - https://linktr.ee/alec_lace Follow me on instagram - https://instagram.com/alec_lace?igshid=ebfecg0yvbap For information about becoming a Sponsor of First Class Fatherhood please hit me with an email: AlecLace@FirstClassFatherhood.com

Franc Milburn is former British Special Forces who now has deep dived into the UFO world in trying to sort out the conspiracies from the truth. The truth is out there, but where is it hiding, and who's holding the keys to the UFO vault of information?

Alan Stott is an entrepreneur, author and the wife of British Special Forces soldier Dean Stott. We discuss the accident that left her horrendously burned as a child, the physical and mental rehabilitation journey, banking, the 2008 crash, eating disorders, the Mrs World competition, the challenges of the military spouse, her new books "She Who Dares" and "How to ask for Money", human trafficking and so much more.

Special forces are racing against the clock to rescue more than 4,000 British passport holders trapped in Sudan, after a 72-hour ceasefire was announced in the war-torn country.The president of the CBI says the business lobby group feels a collective sense of shame and has fired a number of people amid a series of sexual misconduct allegations.Eight million people across the UK will start getting a £301 cost of living payment today, to help with soaring energy costs and food price inflation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She Who Dares, Wins
. ALANA STOTT MBE
 
Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Alana Stott, author, philanthropist, producer, entrepreneur, publisher, and member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Oh and did I mention Mrs Aberdeen/Mrs Scotland Winner? 

What stood out the most for me was her humility, pragmatism and ability to provide and show action steps for success.

 During our conversation, Alana shared her experiences working with vulnerable women and raising awareness about mental health, particularly in the context of human trafficking. She stressed the importance of collaboration among charities and shared her insights as a charity contributor and how to ask for money.  
In fact, this is the title of her latest book- dropping 23 April  https://linktr.ee/alanastott I asked Alana crowd sourced questions like 

“What's the biggest lesson learned from a failure?” 
“How do you prioritise your tasks/actions each day”- AWESOME answer btw. “To what do you contribute your success to being awarded your title?”

 Alana also talked about her training as a protection officer or bodyguard and how it influenced her parenting style. We discussed the media attention towards Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Alana's inspiration for writing books. It's a fascinating conversation, and I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to it.

 Additionally, Alana's husband, Dean Stott, is a former British Special Forces soldier and a record-breaking adventurer.  He is known for his charity work and his dedication to supporting military veterans. Dean has completed numerous endurance challenges, including cycling the length of the Americas in a record-breaking 99 days.  Alana and Dean share a passion for philanthropy and have worked together on various charitable projects. They are also proud parents to their 3 kids and prioritize family time despite their busy schedules. Alana spoke about how Dean's experiences have influenced her own work and how they support each other's endeavors. 

 Alana Stott is a philanthropist and true multi-hyphenate with a unique list of professional achievements that include sales professional, bodyguard, Mrs. Scotland, CEO, writer, and producer.   She founded Wolfraven Inc. as a vehicle to help tell amazing and inspirational stories, including her own, while fiercely advocating for causes aimed at making the world a better place.  Alana has written her inspirational memoir, “She Who Dares;” the game changing book “How to Ask For Money” and a series of empowering children's books. She is producing multiple television series and film projects, including a high-profile collaborative streaming series that turns “reality TV” on its head, a feature-length documentary about the triumph of the human spirit, and an international suspense thriller with a theme of female empowerment.  Alana was awarded The Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her service to vulnerable women and mental health awareness on the Kings New Years Honors list 2023.  
Overall, Alana and Dean are a dynamic duo who are making a positive impact in their respective fields. You can find Alana at www.alanastott.com  

And her books at https://linktr.ee/alanastott 
I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Matter Expert from www.hownottodie.com.au and you can listen to my STRAIGHT TALK MIND AND MUSCLE PODCAST sponsored by www.realketonesaustralia.com  - the best and most effective ketone supplement on the market to reduce anxiety, enhance brain performance and supply twice as much energy as glucose.

 Links for my former shows are here-


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Live from the Heart of America—I'm Steve Gruber—ready to deliver an inclusive and diverse discussion on the most important topics of the day—giving you better analysis and insight that anyone else—shining a spotlight on the cockroaches of the swamp—and delivering truth and justice just when hope was starting to fade—   Here are the 3 Big Things you need to know to start today—   Number One— President Joe Biden is stumbling around Northern Ireland—and where he is going to be—could have been found by anyone—in the latest security breach—   Number Two— American and British Special Forces are on the ground in Ukraine—to nobodys surprise—BUT they are only there to deal with inventory we are told—Yeah, right!   Number Three— The attack on your way of life is continuing—and in fact it is picking up speed every day whether you realize it or not—   I used to think that America would never support the Green New Deal and abortion up to the moment of birth—I still believe that—but the problem is—given just a very small opening—the Democrats don't care what most Americans think or want—they want what they want and are willing to do everything they can to secure it—   We had American energy independence just 3 years ago—that was something I never thought we would achieve in this country—yet after years of hard work—American ingenuity and companies willing to invest what it would take we crossed into a net exporter of energy—   But as soon as the Democrats got just a tiny majority in the House and Senate and a near vegetative simpleton in the White House—they went for it—all of it—   Trust me when I tell you, once you hear something about some crazy leftist idea that makes no sense and you laugh it off—the Democrats and the financiers of such lunacy are already well down the road to making these things a reality—   Take for example this whole idea of turning America—one of the largest pieces of real estate in the world into a place where only Electric Vehicles are driven—   It is a totally ridiculous idea—that mathematically makes no sense at all—do you really think you are driving from Boston to St. Louis in an EV without stopping several times? How about Flagstaff to Minneapolis? No, of course not—BUT the Green New Dealers they see an opening—and they are vicious about the political agenda they have—   Republicans are far too soft to do much good when it comes to guarding the fort of America—they are far too quick to fold—   Do you ever remember Barack Obama folding? How about Nancy Pelosi? No, because the Democrats always act in concert—they work together to consolidate money and power and they always have—   What you are seeing now—is decades of dedicated work coming together—because even though America is a center-right nation—and for a few more years we will be—the push, pull and drag mentality of the left is on the move—   And the craziest part right now—is taking America's energy independence—and trading it in for a few Yuan—and selling us all down the road—   America is not ready for EV's to dominate—our electric grid as we have seen a few times in recent years like in Texas during a bad winter storm cannot take it—or in California during a heat wave when Governor Green Bomb Newsome—told people—DO NOT charge your electric cars during the day—   But none of that matters—they are on the Green New Deal super highway to nowhere—and they are more than happy to drive all of us over the cliff— and they are doing it while hilding the hand of the Chinese Communist Party—   AND the really crazy part about all of it—is some of the zombies on the left that will blindly follow the agenda right into the depths of hell—know that these policies are stone cold losers—even ones that are living as one percenters—they are getting crushed financially—  

This is a 360 degree energizing conversation, covering an array of subjects from British Special Forces selection, a hostage rescue, the sudden death of Joe's father, pushing his body to the extremes, feeling empty, searching for answers, navigating different civilian careers, finding happiness and founding his unique military inspired coaching platform called Halen Strength. Joe is the epitome of a modern day man wanting to better himself and strive towards a life of purpose and meaning. He's full of real life experiences and wisdom to live a better life.Resources:Harley StreetDavid Goggins Don't Sweat the Small Stuff - Richard CarlsonJoseph Bates: InstagramHalen StrengthTime Stamps:00:00 - Intro 1:40 - Joseph Bates 2:48 - Fathers illness4:01 - Fathers death5:58 - Becoming a soldier 7:53 - Training 10:22 - SF training 16:00 - Hostage rescue 17:37 - Leaving the forces21:38 - Losing his spark 22:52 - Mental health 26:24 - Moving overseas29:00 - Moving towards mental health. 35:52 - Male suicide 38:48 - Halen Strength49:50 - Who needs Halen? 52:12 - Macro changes 55:10 - Micro changes1:01:01 - Who are Halen pros 1:03:07 - Impact of fathers death 1:07:04 - Impact on family 1:08:50 - What comes next? 1:12:07 - How to be involved with Halen 1:15:13 - Tips and tricks

Nimsdai is a living legend in the mountaineering community, having shattered numerous records and achieved some of the most remarkable feats in the history of climbing. He's climbed all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just six months and six days, a feat that was once thought impossible.  He's also broken the speed record for climbing the highest mountains in each of the seven continents, completing the challenge in just 138 days. But Nimsdai's achievements go beyond mountaineering. He's a former member of the British Special Forces and has served in the military for over 16 years, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He's also a talented filmmaker and photographer, using his skills to document his expeditions and inspire others to push their limits and chase their dreams. Nimsdai's story is one of passion, determination, and overcoming adversity. He's faced countless challenges and setbacks throughout his career, but he's always found a way to persevere and come out on top. His courage and tenacity serve as an inspiration to all of us, reminding us that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

Alex Reid, is a former member of 10 Para, mixed martial-artist, actor and media personality. Noel Willcox is a serving soldier in 4 PWRR (Princess of Wales Royal Regiment) He is also a Parliamentary Candidate for Reform UK. Read 'Eating Smoke: One Man's Descent into Crystal Meth Psychosis in Hong Kong's Triad Heartland.' Paperback UK: https://amzn.to/2YoeaPx Paperback US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0993543944 Support the podcast at: https://www.patreon.com/christhrall (£2 per month plus perks) https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-our-veterans-to-tell-their-story https://paypal.me/TeamThrall Sign up for my NON-SPAM newsletter and FREE books: https://christhrall.com/mailing-list/ Social media Links: https://facebook.com/christhrall https://twitter.com/christhrall https://instagram.com/chris.thrall https://linkedin.com/in/christhrall https://youtube.com/christhrall https://discord.gg/yqvHRUN https://christhrall.com 

Since he was a child, Colin O'Brady dreamt of becoming an Olympian, but when a terrible accident burned 22% of his body, doctors told him he would never walk normally again. Luckily for Colin, he didn't believe in being “realistic”, so 18 months later he won the Chicago triathlon, and a year after that he represented Team USA at the 2010 World Triathlon Championships. Through intense focus, intuition, and a possibility-focused mindset, Colin has continued to shatter world records at groundbreaking speeds while proving there is no such thing as impossible.Colin O'Brady is an American professional endurance athlete, motivational speaker, author, and 10-time world record holder adventurer. He is the fastest person to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam and the 50 Highest Points in all 50 states and the youngest person to row on the Southern Ocean. He has climbed Mount Everest twice, completed marathons in over 50 countries, and crossed Antarctica solo and unassisted in just 54 days. In this episode, Randall and Colin discuss:- Creating large goals while facing insurmountable challenges- How to invest in personal growth outside of a classroom- The importance of being all-in on only one project at a time- Why being “realistic” can limit your success- The extreme preparation Colin endured for the Explorer's Grand Slam- How Colin beat an ex-British Special Forces polar explorer across Antarctica- The concept of the “possible mindset” to unlock new opportunities- Finding and listening to your intuition- Colin's new book and movement, The 12-Hour Walk- The importance of philanthropy- And other topics…Colin O'Brady is an American professional endurance athlete, motivational speaker, author, and 10-time world record holder adventurer. He is the fastest person to complete what is known as the Explorer's Grand Slam, which includes climbing the seven summits and skiing to both the North and South Poles. In addition to this, Colin was the first person on record to cross Antarctica solo and unassisted in just 54 days and has completed more than 50 marathons on six continents.Aside from scaling mountains and racing at unprecedented speeds, Colin has authored two books, the New York Times bestseller The Impossible First and his most recent release, The 12-Hour Walk. He is also a dedicated philanthropist and creator of Beyond 7/2, a registered non-profit with the mission of inspiring kids and communities to live active, healthy lives and pursue their dreams.Resources Mentioned:The 12-Hour Walk, by Colin O'Brady: https://www.amazon.com/12-Hour-Walk-Invest-Conquer-Unlock-ebook/dp/B09JPJ9WWKThe Impossible First, by Colin O'Brady: https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-First-Ice-Crossing-Antarctica-Alone-ebook/dp/B07TH9L29WThe 12-Hour Walk: https://12hourwalk.com/Beyond 7/2 non-profit: https://www.colinobrady.com/impactWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website – https://insearchofexcellencepodcast.comInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/randallkaplan/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-kaplan-05858340/

Since he was a child, Colin O'Brady dreamt of becoming an Olympian, but when a terrible accident burned 22% of his body, doctors told him he would never walk normally again. Luckily for Colin, he didn't believe in being “realistic”, so 18 months later he won the Chicago triathlon, and a year after that he represented Team USA at the 2010 World Triathlon Championships. Through intense focus, intuition, and a possibility-focused mindset, Colin has continued to shatter world records at groundbreaking speeds while proving there is no such thing as impossible.Colin O'Brady is an American professional endurance athlete, motivational speaker, author, and 10-time world record holder adventurer. He is the fastest person to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam and the 50 Highest Points in all 50 states and the youngest person to row on the Southern Ocean. He has climbed Mount Everest twice, completed marathons in over 50 countries, and crossed Antarctica solo and unassisted in just 54 days. In this episode, Randall and Colin discuss:- Creating large goals while facing insurmountable challenges- How to invest in personal growth outside of a classroom- The importance of being all-in on only one project at a time- Why being “realistic” can limit your success- The extreme preparation Colin endured for the Explorer's Grand Slam- How Colin beat an ex-British Special Forces polar explorer across Antarctica- The concept of the “possible mindset” to unlock new opportunities- Colin's new book and movement, The 12-Hour WalkColin O'Brady is an American professional endurance athlete, motivational speaker, author, and 10-time world record holder adventurer. He is the fastest person to complete what is known as the Explorer's Grand Slam, which includes climbing the seven summits and skiing to both the North and South Poles. In addition to this, Colin was the first person on record to cross Antarctica solo and unassisted in just 54 days and has completed more than 50 marathons on six continents.Colin has authored two books, the New York Times bestseller The Impossible First and his most recent release, The 12-Hour Walk. He is also a dedicated philanthropist and creator of Beyond 7/2, a registered non-profit with the mission of inspiring kids and communities to live active, healthy lives and pursue their dreams.Resources Mentioned:The 12-Hour Walk, by Colin O'Brady: https://www.amazon.com/12-Hour-Walk-Invest-Conquer-Unlock-ebook/dp/B09JPJ9WWKThe Impossible First, by Colin O'Brady: https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-First-Ice-Crossing-Antarctica-Alone-ebook/dp/B07TH9L29WThe 12-Hour Walk: https://12hourwalk.com/Beyond 7/2 non-profit: https://www.colinobrady.com/impactSponsors:Sandee – https://sandee.com/Bliss: Beaches – https://www.amazon.com/Bliss-Beaches-Randall-Kaplan/dp/1951836170/Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website – https://insearchofexcellencepodcast.comInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/randallkaplan/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-kaplan-05858340/

Lieutenant-Colonel 'Paddy' Mayne is a legendary figure in the history of the British Special Forces. Valiant but volatile, confident yet conflicted, Paddy embodied the fighting spirit of the SAS. Ben Macintyre is the author of the book SAS: Rogue Heroes, the only approved history of the unit which was recently turned into a BBC drama series of the same name. Ben joins us to talk about the formation of this legendary fighting force, and the life and times of its most colourful character.Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe to History Hit today!Download History Hit app from the Google Play store.Download History Hit app from the Apple Store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

047 Becoming Relentless with British Special Forces Solider Frogman Dean Stott | Nick Koumalatsos Dean is a former soldier in the Special Boat Service, World Leading Security Consultant, a record-breaking explorer and adventurer, while establishing a successful career as a motivational speaker. He is renowned for his willingness to take on any job, no matter how dangerous – and for being the man who will go where others won't. As a result, he has successfully dealt with extortion, kidnapping, civil war, pirates and military coups. In 2014, he single-handedly evacuated the Canadian Embassy in Libya, rescuing four diplomats and 18 military personnel. In 2016, Dean began training for the biggest challenge of his life. His plan was to cycle the entire 14,000-mile length of the Pan-American Highway. In May 2018, he completed his journey, gaining not one but two world records: the fastest person to cycle the length of South America and the fastest cycle journey of the Pan American Highway. With his final time of 99 days, 12 hours and 56 minutes, Dean smashed the former world record by 17 days and became the first person ever to make the journey in under 100 days. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nick-koumalatsos/support

NOTE: In the coming weeks, Jack is releasing a series of “best of” collections from the Danger Close archives. Each episode contains portions of past interviews, all centered around a theme or topic. Today's episode features interviews with veterans of the United Kingdom's Special Boat Service (SBS) and Special Air Service (SAS). FEATURED INTERVIEWS: CHRIS RYAN Chris Ryan is a former member of the Special Air Service. He is the bestselling author of seventy fiction and non-fiction books including the Geordie Sharp series, Alpha Force, the Danny Black series, and The One That Got Away, which details his experience on E&E (Escape & Evasion) during the 1991 Gulf War. Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danger-close-with-jack-carr/id1557814875?i=1000523888176 MARK “BILLY” BILLINGHAM Billy Billingham served in the UK's Parachute Regiment from 1983 to 1991 before joining SAS, where he was a Mountain Troop specialist conducting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, and Africa.  He is the author of The Hard Way: Adapt, Survive and Win, Call to Kill: The Enemy Is Everywhere, and Survive to Fight. Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danger-close-with-jack-carr/id1557814875?i=1000539146477   OLLIE OLLERTON Ollie Ollerton is a writer, entrepreneur, speaker, and veteran of the British Special Forces who served in the elite Special Boat Service (SBS). Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danger-close-with-jack-carr/id1557814875?i=1000568129967 DES POWELL Des Powell is a veteran of the SAS who served 28 years in the British military, going behind enemy lines in one of the Gulf War's earliest and most dangerous missions. His book SAS Bravo Three Zero: The Explosive Untold Story tells the story of Des' experience during the opening hours of the Gulf War. Full Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danger-close-with-jack-carr/id1557814875?i=1000568129967 ANDY MCNAB Andy McNab is a former member of the British SAS who led Bravo Two Zero during the first Gulf War. He was captured in Iraq on a mission during the first Gulf War in 1991, an experience he recounts in his first book, Bravo Two Zero. Full Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danger-close-with-jack-carr/id1557814875?i=1000534670680 BEN GARWOOD Ben served in multiple units in the British military, most notably in the SAS and as a member of the Pathfinders, an elite reconnaissance platoon for the British 16th Air Assault Brigade. The platoon was featured in the documentary Pathfinders: Into the Heart of Afghanistan. Full Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danger-close-with-jack-carr/id1557814875?i=1000577233745   DEAN STOTT Dean Stott is a former operator in Great Britain's Special Boat Service, a security consultant, an adventurer, an endurance athlete, and the author of the book Relentless: From SBS to World Record Breaker.  Full Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danger-close-with-jack-carr/id1557814875?i=1000542928193   Sponsors: Navy Federal Credit Union: Today's episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at navyfederal.org Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today's episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order! SIG Sauer Today's show is also sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here.

So, you've created a fantastic system for keeping yourself organised and on top of everything being thrown at you, and you're happy with the apps you have that support you. Now, how do you stay consistent using your system?   You can subscribe to this podcast on: Podbean | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | TUNEIN   Links: Email Me | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Linkedin Email Mastery Course The Time Blocking Course The Working With… Weekly Newsletter The Time And Life Mastery Course The FREE Beginners Guide To Building Your Own COD System Carl Pullein Learning Centre Carl's YouTube Channel Carl Pullein Coaching Programmes The Working With… Podcast Previous episodes page   Episode 246 | Script Hello and welcome to episode 246 of the Working With Podcast. A podcast to answer all your questions about productivity, time management, self-development and goal planning. My name is Carl Pullein and I am your host for this show. A common issue I come across with becoming better organised and more productive is staying consistent using the system you have developed.  The fun part of becoming more productive and better managing your time is the setting up of a system, choosing the apps you are going to use and getting stuff into that system. The hard part is staying consistent with it over time.  The problem is once the excitement of creating something new is over, you still have to do the work and the work has to be done day after day. That's the boring part and it's then that most people's systems break down.  This week's question is all about this and I hope my answer will shed some light on another part of a strong, supporting system that often hides in the shadows but needs to be developed so your system disappears into the background and a process of doing your work comes to the foreground. That means it's time to hand you over to the Mystery Podcast Voice for this week's question.  This week's question comes from Greg. Greg asks, Hi Carl, for years I've been searching for a productivity system that I can stick with, but I have never been able to stay with any system. I've tried them all from GTD to your Time Sector System. It's always exciting at first believing this time I have the right one, only to find after two or three months I'm a disorganised mess again. Am I missing something? Hi Greg, thank you for your question. I don't think you are missing anything essential, but you may be missing one element. That element is a process. Let me explain. Your productivity system is only a system. It's a place to collect things you need to pay attention to. Things like email and messages that require replies, tasks that come your way and meeting requests that need to be put on your calendar.  However, a productivity system is just that, a system. Once you have that in place you need to develop the processes that allow your system to work and it's the process that is boring. It's just something you do day after day.  However, while at first following a process can be boring, over time it disappears into the background and becomes more of a habit you no longer need to think about. A task comes to mind, and you collect it into your task manager. A meeting request drops into your inbox and you check your calendar to make sure you have the time to attend the meeting. These actions are done automatically without thinking. Unfortunately, to get to that point, you have to go through boredom. It's boring to look at the same list every day and check off the tasks. It's boring to sit down for ten minutes at the end of the day and plan the next and it's boring to review the same projects week after week in a weekly planning session.  Once the excitement of a new system and set of apps disappear, you're left with having to do the work and that's not fun.  I'm reminded of a story Simon Jefferies, a former British Special Forces soldier talked about when he was going for selection to the special forces. The first part of that selection process is two weeks in the Welsh mountains in the UK where every day you are given a map reference point, which you have to memorise, a heavy backpack and told to get there within a certain amount of time. The problem is, you don't know how long you have to get there. Oh, and each day the weight of your backpack is steadily increased.  Simon talked about simply focusing on the process. Waking up at 4:30 AM, preparing his feet, putting his boots on and doing the climb. When he finished, he made sure he ate a meal that would aid recovery, sorted his feet out, washed and dried his socks and got to sleep as quickly as he could.  His goal was to pass selection and he knew if he followed a process every day and focused on getting through the day, he would achieve his goal.  It was boring, but it helped him through the relentless pain, tiredness and boredom of climbing up mountains every day.  Most people quit—to give you an example, around 200 people start selection every year, and by the end of that first two weeks, 60 to 70 per cent have dropped out.  Giving myself ten to twenty minutes at the end of the day to process my inboxes and plan for tomorrow is boring. But I also know the consequences of not doing it. Not knowing what my important tasks are for the day and where my appointments are before I start the day never leads to a good result. Something will inevitably be missed and that always leads to a lot more work as I scramble to get back on top of my work.  My goal is to have an effortless day. To get my most important tasks done and to move projects forward. I know, that those ten to twenty minutes at the end of the day give me an advantage and stack the odds in my favour. Not doing it leaves me vulnerable to the unexpected things I should have known about and missed appointments and tasks.  Following the process is not about the new and shiny apps, it's about doing the work. New apps, and new organisation systems don't help you do your work. They destroy your productivity because you are having to learn how to use these new apps, transfer all your old data across and deal with the unfamiliar. The more familiar you are with your apps and system, the more productive you will be.  So how do you build days that feel effortless? Well, start the day the same way each day. I recommend you develop a morning routine that you enjoy—something to look forward to. For me, that's a cup of coffee and sitting down for ten to twenty minutes with my journal. For others that could be ten minutes of meditation, a walk in nature or some exercise. Choose things you enjoy doing.  The first forty-five minutes of your day needs to be dedicated to you. If you have a young family, adjust your wake-up time so you get your morning routines in before your kids wake up. It's about making your morning routines a non-negotiable part of your day and not something you will sacrifice at the first opportunity.  Next is to find a period of two to three hours each day for deep, focused work. Now this applies to weekends too. You may not be focusing on your work-related tasks on a weekend, but there are always things that need doing around your home on a weekend. Treating weekends differently to the working week will not serve you. Morning routines are done seven days a week, not just for work days. The same applies to your two to three hours of deep focused work.  Us humans were not designed to sit around all day doing nothing. We've evolved to be incredibly smart, flexible organisms and our bodies need movement. Now we are not talking about 180 mile bike rides or 20 mile runs on a weekend, but a gentle walk for thirty to forty minutes, cleaning your home and going out to the supermarket for the weekly shop all things you could build into your weekend routine.  Now, as for when you do your deep focused work, that will depend on the kind of work you do. For me, I have control over my schedule each day so, I fix my focused work for between 9:30 and 11:30 AM. I also have another focused work session between 7 and 9pm. That's the nature of my work. I create content and coach people. I do my calls generally later in the evening or early in the morning and I protect my afternoons for exercise and errands.  For you it may mean you need to find two to three hours of focused work between 9 am and 5 pm. I would try to do your focused work as early in the day as you can. It's less likely those unexpected emergencies will arise in the morning—they have a habit of rearing the ugly heads in the mid to late afternoon.  Now, this is where your daily planning and focus time connect. It's during your daily planning, that you decide what needs to be done in your focus time. Don't leave it to chance. If you do that, you'll open up your tasks manager and look for something to do and you will be presented with a long list of tasks. Inevitably you will seek out the easiest tasks. What you do in your focus time needs to plan in advance so that when the time arrives, you get straight into it.  The biggest challenge with all this is it takes time to develop the processes and develop habits. Following this advice for one day is a great start, but it has to be repeated the next and the next until you do it without thinking. I cannot imagine going to bed not knowing what I need to do tomorrow. Equally, it would feel incredibly strange not to wake up in the morning, make coffee and sit down for at least ten minutes to write in my journal. These are habits I've worked on for the last five years or so.  Now you might think finding new apps to play with is all part of the fun, and in a way, you would be right. But that approach is never going to improve the thing you want to improve—your time and task management. However, when you focus on your processes for doing your work, you will find not only do you get the joy of creating something yourself, but you also get to tinker and optimise your processes over time.  I've been down the road of app switching and while there is an initial buzz in setting up a new app, it will inevitably descend into disappointment when you discover something you used in your old app doesn't work in your new app. And then the search for another new app starts.  Building your own processes is far more fun. You have ownership of the process, you get to share it with your colleagues and it will grow with you.  I hope that has helped, Greg. Remember, you won't find what you're looking for in a new system or app. You will find what you are looking for in your processes. Look at these, build your own and enjoy the process of optimisation and fine-tuning. Thank you for your question and thank you to you too for listening. It just remains for me now to wish you all a very very productive week.   

While others were taking their driver's test, at 16, following the footsteps of his bloodline, Mark B joined the British Army to combat evil. A year later, the IRA were lobbing grenades at him and his mates…and driving IEDs (VBIDS) into their checkpoints.   At 23, Mark became the youngest ever to pass the gruelling, 6-month long British Special Forces Selection Training for the SAS, SBS, and SRR.  His decades of service at the most elite levels as a Tier 1 Special Forces Operation in the UK's ultra-secretive Special Reconnaissance Regiment saw him traveling from one world hot-spot to the next.  Mark B has lived in the shadows for decades, helping serve humanity with specialized his specialized skills to crackdown and fight evil.  Now, in his first-ever interview, this heroic Warrior joins us to share his story of his very own Spiritual Awakening.    Join us as this heroic, honourable warrior, reveals what it was like to tap into a greater level of consciousness while he continues to serve the greater good in the private sector as the Director of Operations at www.ValHilCapital.com  ~The Bling'd Buddha. LINKS TO PARTNERS OF THE SOVEREIGN SOUL SHOW “Did You Know Experts Confirm Silver Bullion is the #1 Investment Asset Poised for 3-5X Growth (and You Can't Get it On The Exchanges)?” 
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Join Robert Child for a conversation with author and British Special Forces veteran Des Powell. After serving in the Parachute Regiment, Sergeant Major Des Powell spent twenty years in the SAS at the heart of the Counter Terrorism and Special Projects teams. A former PT instructor in 1 PARA, he became the Unarmed Combat and Fitness instructor for B Squadron and pioneered HALO, HAHO, and other covert airborne entry techniques. He was the second-in-command of the Bravo Three Zero patrol in 1991. His book is called SAS Bravo Three Zero. Sign up for our twice monthly email Newsletter SOCIAL: YouTube Twitter Facebook Website --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robert-child/support

Sir Mo Farah has revealed he was brought to the UK illegally as a child and forced to work as a domestic servant. He was given the name Mohamed Farah by those who flew him over from Djibouti. Also on the programme, a BBC investigation finds British Special Forces - the SAS – allegedly executed detainees in Afghanistan. And, the James Webb telescope, the largest ever space telescope, has peered through cosmic dust and clouds and brought back its first images of the earliest stars. (Photo: Mo Farah celebrates winning the Men's 3000m Final at the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Ollie Ollerton is a writer, entrepreneur, speaker, and veteran of the British Special Forces who served in the elite Special Boat Service (SBS).  Ollie's military career began at 18 when he joined the Royal Marine Commandos. Five years later, Ollie was one of just five candidates selected from an initial pool of 250 for the Special Boat Service (SBS). During his time in SBS, he took part in hostage rescue missions, counter narcotics, counter terrorism operations, homeland security, counter insurgency operations, and humanitarian efforts.  Following his time in the military, Ollie worked as a private security contractor in Iraq at the height of the war.  He then operated with a team dismantling child trafficking syndicates in Southeast Asia.   He is also one of the hosts of the hit television series SAS: Who Dares Wins. His books include the novels Scar Tissue and All or Nothing as well as his autobiography Break Point: SAS: Who Dares Wins Host's Incredible True Story and Battle Ready: Eliminate Doubt, Embrace Courage, Transform Your Life.  Today, Ollie is the CEO of Break-Point, which utilizes training seminars and simulated military events to help individuals and organizations reach their full potential. He is also the founder of Batty Ready Fuel and the Battle Ready 360 fitness app. Learn more about Ollie by visiting his website ollieollerton.com and following him on social media @ollie.ollerton Sponsors: Navy Federal Credit Union: Today's episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at navyfederal.org Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today's episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle Coffee Company. Check out the latest here.  The Terminal List: Also, be sure to check out The Terminal List TV show starring Chris Pratt on Amazon Prime Video, and The Terminal List podcast, hosted by me, wherever you get your podcasts.   Featured Gear Today's featured gear segment is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here. In The Blood - Shot Through Editions www.foxtalebookshoppe.com/jackcarr www.midtownscholar.com/signed-copies/in-the-blood The Terminal List - Limited Edition https://www.officialjackcarr.com/the-terminal-list-chris-pratt-cover/ 5.11 Tactical Official Terminal List Sweatshirt https://www.511tactical.com/the-terminal-list-hoodie.html Arno Bernard Steak Knives https://www.africansportingcreations.com/arno-bernard-steak-knives-exclusive-steak-knife-sets-from-south-africa-knife-maker.html Ball and Buck x Jack Carr https://ballandbuck.com/

How can military and journalist training benefit an organization's safety and security programs? By applying the same universal safety principles to improve risk management and situational awareness in the workplace. Tim Crockett, Founder and Senior Consultant at Flying Frog Consultants, is a veteran of the British Special Forces and spent his life and career in and out of war zones. His training has helped journalists survive unbelievable news gathering missions around the world. Tim joins our guest host Sara Pratley to share his core safety principles that can be applied to any organization to keep their people and business safe and secure. Listen to our conversation with Tim to hear about: The concept of “The Three As”—Awareness, Anticipation, and Avoidance Why there is no such thing as a risk-free work environment How regular training gives organizations an edge Risk mitigation for traveling workers The importance of empowering employees with competence and confidence   The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. You can find this interview and many more by following The Employee Safety Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or subscribing here. Listening on a desktop and can't see the links? Just search for The Employee Safety Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

We've designed a new fool-proof system for catching shoplifters and it's all thanks to Jose's Phone Tap character CLOVER! See how an ex-British Special Forces member deals with petty crime in the podcast!

Writer Damien Lewis comes on the show to discuss his new book Churchill's Great Escapes: Seven Incredible Escapes Made by WWII Heroes. During the war, there was no standing order for Allied Officers to try to escape a POW Camp. However, the men of the British Special Forces saw it differently. What follows is a testament to the courage and endurance of humans with a clear goal and unflappable belief in their cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this very special episode, we welcome a real survival icon: Bear Grylls has become known worldwide as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure.Trained from a young age in martial arts, Bear went on to spend three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, as part of the 21 SAS Regiment. It was here that he perfected many of the survival skills that his fans all over the world enjoy, as he pits himself against the worst of Mother Nature.Bear originally starred in Discovery's hit TV series “Man vs. Wild” across seven seasons, before hosting the NBC & National Geographic Channel series “Running Wild with Bear Grylls”. This show has seen him take global stars such as Julia Roberts, Ben Stiller, President Obama & Prime Minister Modi of India on adventures into the wild.Bear has also hosted over six seasons of the BAFTA award-winning Channel 4 series “The Island with Bear Grylls”, as well as the Emmy Award-nominated series Hostile Planet for National Geographic and "You Vs Wild" for Netflix.He has authored 20 books, including the #1 best-selling autobiography “Mud, Sweat & Tears” and the current sequel, “Never give up”.In this episode, Bear and Erik talk about Bear's very first adventures, the ups and downs of being famous and what being out in the wild can teach us. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's May 1982. British Special Forces land on East Falkland and both the Argentinian cruiser Belgrano and the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Sheffield are sunk.Join Saul and Patrick for episode 4 of Battleground: The Falklands War, where they're joined by a former Special Forces operator who reveals his team's dramatic infiltration of the islands.Twitter: @PodBattleground See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to our first interview of 2022! We're thrilled to have the wonderful talents of PJ Holden with us as he discusses his brand new book, written by Garth Ennis: The Lion & The Eagle. The story of a British Special Forces unit in WWII, The Lion & the Eagle is told with Ennis' grit and Holden's clear, honest style. Not only this, but PJ takes us through more of his upcoming work in 2022 and lets us in on his working methods.

Hello beautiful people On today's podcast we have the incredible Dean Stott. Dean was a former soldier in the British Special Forces until a parachuting accident which abruptly ended his career in the military. Not one to hold himself back, he reinvented himself as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and record-breaking adventurer. He worked in private security for 5 years, most notably in 2014 single handedly evacuating the Canadian Embassy in Libya, rescuing four diplomats and 18 military personnel, and in 2016 broke two world records when he became the fastest person to cycle the Pan-American Highway which stretches 14,000 miles in 99 days; cycling on average 10 hours per day. Dean is author of the book, ‘Relentless', and is the new directing staff on SAS Australia.What I personally love about this conversation is the power and impact of Dean's self-belief and confidence. He is the kind of guy that knows what he wants and gets after it; and if there are any haters that come into his way, which there inevitably always are, he simply uses this as fuel to his fire. Though his resume per se comes across as quite intimidating, Dean is such a well-rounded person, in that yes he is tough, but he can also see the strength in vulnerability. In this conversation he talks about the experience of his father not initially supporting him in his dream of being in the military. He speaks about the challenges of an identity crisis, both for himself and his wife, Alana, when he left the military, and also of what it was like having broken two world records and fundraised over $1,000,000, to be asked more about how the canapes were at Prince Harry's Wedding, than of his significant achievements both personally and philanthropically. We also get insight into what it is like to be the new directing staff on the popular television series SAS Australia. Please enjoy this powerful, yet humbling, conversation with the incredible Dean Stott. CONNECT WITH JENNAH-LOUISEMindset Coaching | https://www.jennahlouise.com.auInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/jennah_louiseCONNECT WITH DEANInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/deanstott Website | https://www.deanstott.com#jennahlouise #tobehumanpodcast

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://afghannewswire.com/2021/09/28/british-special-forces-ask-tadjikistan-for-evacuation-help-from-panjshir/

Dean Stott rose from inauspicious beginnings to excel in the British Army, eventually being hand-picked for the Special Boat Service, one of Britain's two Tier 1 special forces units. Then disaster struck. When a horrific parachuting accident ended his military career, it looked like it was all over. But Dean didn't stop. He came back for a second act, reinventing himself as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and a record-breaking adventure

Dean Stott rose from inauspicious beginnings to excel in the British Army, eventually being hand-picked for the Special Boat Service, one of Britain's two Tier 1 special forces units. Then disaster struck. When a horrific parachuting accident ended his military career, it looked like it was all over. But Dean didn't stop. He came back for a second act, reinventing himself as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and a record-breaking adventure

Dean Stott rose from inauspicious beginnings to excel in the British Army, eventually being hand-picked for the Special Boat Service, one of Britain's two Tier 1 special forces units. Then disaster struck. When a horrific parachuting accident ended his military career, it looked like it was all over. But Dean didn't stop. He came back for a second act, reinventing himself as an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and a record-breaking adventure

- Joe Biden takes a day off from vacation to address his Afghan disaster, and does so with a face plant  - Highlights from Donald Trump's glorious speech in Alabama this past weekend which was broadcast live on Newsmax! - A British Special Forces leader calls for Joe Biden to be court martialed rather than simply removed  - Retired veteran, doctor, and current House Rep Ronny Lynn Jackson, tells Newsmax's Rob Finnerty that Joe Biden will be removed from office via the 25th Amendment  - Sebastian Gorka appears on the Greg Kelly's show and minces no words with regard to what should happen to General Mark Milley  - Plus, an epic speech and mic drop from a black father that caused a school board to abandon critical race theory!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We had a great time with former British Royal Marines and British SBS soldier Richard Mann.  Dr. Glenn Fox co-hosted with me (listen to Episode 5 for more about Glenn's amazing work) and we did our first Zoom interview over the pond with Richard.  He enlisted in the vaunted Royal Marines at 17, went through the grueling qualification course there and served in The Troubles in Northern Ireland.  Richard then went through selection and became a member of the ultra secret and famous British SBS (Special Boat Service).  It was great to hear about his service, and his journey after he separated from the military.  He and Glenn chatted about some of their work on performance psychology, coaching and counseling.  Richard now works with veterans and athletes and is writing a book.  Great, short episode but full of fantastic information.  Check out Richard at https://www.mannonamission.uk

Dan Glaze is a psychotherapist speacilizing in trauma, anxiety, and men's issues. Dan is an experienced psychotherapist and a veteran of British Special Forces, and joined me for a live broadcast where he shared the way he teaches his clients to interrupt their anxiety response and regain emotional self-regulation.  Check out Dan's website at: https://www.seaandlandtherapy.co.uk/

Garry Banford is a former Sargeant Major in the British Special Forces. Garry was in the SBS for 22 years, and is one of the UK's most experienced combat leaders. He is now a renowned leadership and resilience coach at Duratus UK, and the host of the Duratus Mind Podcast. 

Have you ever wondered what it must feel like to be a world record holder? It may seem like their experiences are so different from yours, but you'll be surprised with how alike they are to you. They may share the same hobbies or be in the same industry as you before they made their record. Or they may have faced the same struggles you're currently confronting. No matter where they come from, great people are still people, just like you. Today, ex-Special Forces soldier, security specialist, and record-breaking adventurer Dean Stott joins us. He shares his experiences, from his military background to his Pan-American Highway cycling adventure. His is an inspiring story of pushing the limits and redefining the meaning of ‘adventurer'. Just like everyone journeying through life, he has also faced challenges on the way to the finish line. After listening to the episode, you may gain the motivation to try something you've never done before. If you're thinking of one day achieving a world record or if you want to know the meaning of being an adventurer, this episode is for you.   Get Customised Guidance for Your Genetic Make-Up For our epigenetics health program all about optimising your fitness, lifestyle, nutrition and mind performance to your particular genes, go to  https://www.lisatamati.com/page/epigenetics-and-health-coaching/.   Customised Online Coaching for Runners CUSTOMISED RUN COACHING PLANS — How to Run Faster, Be Stronger, Run Longer  Without Burnout & Injuries Have you struggled to fit in training in your busy life? Maybe you don't know where to start, or perhaps you have done a few races but keep having motivation or injury troubles? Do you want to beat last year's time or finish at the front of the pack? Want to run your first 5-km or run a 100-miler? ​​Do you want a holistic programme that is personalised & customised to your ability, your goals and your lifestyle?  Go to www.runninghotcoaching.com for our online run training coaching.   Health Optimisation and Life Coaching If you are struggling with a health issue and need people who look outside the square and are connected to some of the greatest science and health minds in the world, then reach out to us at support@lisatamati.com, we can jump on a call to see if we are a good fit for you. If you have a big challenge ahead, are dealing with adversity or are wanting to take your performance to the next level and want to learn how to increase your mental toughness, emotional resilience, foundational health and more, then contact us at support@lisatamati.com.   Order My Books My latest book Relentless chronicles the inspiring journey about how my mother and I defied the odds after an aneurysm left my mum Isobel with massive brain damage at age 74. The medical professionals told me there was absolutely no hope of any quality of life again, but I used every mindset tool, years of research and incredible tenacity to prove them wrong and bring my mother back to full health within 3 years. Get your copy here: https://shop.lisatamati.com/collections/books/products/relentless. For my other two best-selling books Running Hot and Running to Extremes chronicling my ultrarunning adventures and expeditions all around the world, go to https://shop.lisatamati.com/collections/books.   Lisa's Anti-Ageing and Longevity Supplements  NMN: Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, a NAD+ precursor Feel Healthier and Younger* Researchers have found that Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide or NAD+, a master regulator of metabolism and a molecule essential for the functionality of all human cells, is being dramatically decreased over time. What is NMN? NMN Bio offers a cutting edge Vitamin B3 derivative named NMN (beta Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) that is capable of boosting the levels of NAD+ in muscle tissue and liver. Take charge of your energy levels, focus, metabolism and overall health so you can live a happy, fulfilling life. Founded by scientists, NMN Bio offers supplements that are of highest purity and rigorously tested by an independent, third party lab. 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Manufactured in an ISO9001 certified facility Boost Your NAD+ Levels — Healthy Ageing: Redefined Cellular Health Energy & Focus Bone Density Skin Elasticity DNA Repair Cardiovascular Health Brain Health  Metabolic Health   My  ‘Fierce' Sports Jewellery Collection For my gorgeous and inspiring sports jewellery collection ‘Fierce', go to https://shop.lisatamati.com/collections/lisa-tamati-bespoke-jewellery-collection.   Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:  Find inspiration as Dean shows us the meaning of adventurer. Realise your similarities in experiences with a world record holder. Gain insight into how long-distance cycling is both a physical and mental feat.   Resources Gain exclusive access and bonuses to Pushing the Limits Podcast by becoming a patron!  Harness the power of NAD and NMN for anti-aging and longevity with NMN Bio.  Listen to other Pushing the Limits Episodes: #183: Sirtuins and NAD Supplements for Longevity with Dr Elena Seranova #189: Understanding Autophagy and Increasing Your Longevity with Dr Elena Seranova #192: Mental Resilience and Endurance: A Journey Across the Ocean with Laura Penhaul Connect with Dean: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter   Relentless by Dean Stott   The Black Country Buddhas Podcast Episode #55: Dean Stott- Human Performance, World Records And The Unrelenting Pursuit Of Excellence!  13 Hours (2016)  Heads Together UK Windy TV    Episode Highlights  [04:53] Dean's Background Dean's father was a tracksuit soldier or the football manager and coach in the army.  Dean was an active child growing up.   While he was never forced to go into the military, he ended up joining anyway. [09:00] The Fruits of Dean's Military Training Dean's time in the military helped him put on some muscle and gain height and weight. He didn't feel pressure to choose a department because he wasn't aware of how difficult each option would be. Dean ended up in the SBS (Special Boat Service) as he was more comfortable with water. He learned that rehearsing over and over helps you prepare for different scenarios.  Dean's training also prepared him to expect things to never go according to plan. He was taught how to react and plan for the best outcomes. [16:57] Dean's Turning Point Unfortunately, Dean had an accident while on an aircraft jump during pre-deployment training. Luckily, he landed successfully. However, he tore numerous supporting muscles, particularly in his knee. He couldn't even run 100 meters due to these injuries. Dean left the military. After retiring, he experienced an identity crisis. Dean's wife, Alana, was also pregnant. So, he was under a large amount of mental pressure. Alana helped him during this challenging period.  [22:35] Experience in the Security Industry With his training from the Special Forces, Dean went on to the security industry. He carried out projects for the British and Canadian embassies. Dean bought weapons and communication tools to sell to his clients. Additionally, he also made and sold evacuation plans to oil and gas companies. Ad-hoc security projects were a better option for Dean as he didn't want to join organisations. He helped in the aftermath of the Benghazi assassination of the then American ambassador. With his safe houses and contacts, he was able to transport people from Benghazi to Tripoli.  Despite the numerous tribal and ideality differences between these two places, Dean helped people safely reach their destinations. He did this by communicating respectfully and humbly with the locals. [31:33] The Effect of Fear The media largely contributes to the world's perception of high-risk places.  Dean is fully aware of the threats present in his job. But he learns to appreciate and look at another perspective.  Despite terrorist threats and danger, these high-risk cities have hospitable people and lovely surroundings.  [37:03] Looking for the Meaning of ‘Adventurer' Dean became fixated on working to gain money. Then, he realised he was losing physical and mental wellness. Before turning 40, Dean experienced a midlife crisis. He wanted to leave a legacy. And so he chose to break a world record on cycling.  Dean chose to cycle from South Argentina to North Alaska via the Pan-American Highway, the longest road in the world. To beat the record of 117 days, Dean's goal needed to cover the distance in 110. So, he trained to cycle in different weather conditions and altitudes. Dean cycled for Heads Up, the mental health campaign of Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate. He set a target of  ₤1,000,000. [48:11] Preparation Phase As Dean was doing his research for cycling, he also spoke to previous record holders. He asked them questions that he learned from his experiences in Special Forces debriefings.  Dean learned that the previous record holders experienced issues in South and Central America, the second half of the challenge. [49:27] Dean's Journey Across South and Central America  Dean decided to start in the south first to get all the issues out of the way. His adventure began in Southern Argentina. He became physically and mentally stronger after four weeks on the road. Most of the time, Dean would also go beyond his daily-set kilometres and hours.  He divided his milestones into countries, cities, and days. He also divided his days among four stages. With smaller and more manageable milestones, Dean didn't feel overwhelmed. He instead felt like he was training, nothing more. Dean looked forward to small rewards after each milestone. These motivated him to move and be better the next day. [55:47] Dean's Trip Across North America By this time, Dean learned that he was invited to Prince Harry's wedding. This meant he had to finish the challenge in 102 days.  So, he cycled at night.  Dean also saw a post of a recent world breaker, saying he'll break a record within 100 days.  Dean's family was also at the end to greet him; this thought motivated him. So, Dean cycled for 22 hours every day, even at -18 degrees, to beat the record.  [1:01:50] The Cycling World Record Dean's adventure lasted for 99 days. He spent ninety-four days cycling and five days on logistics.  He averaged 147 miles a day with a speed of 16.8 miles per hour. Dean also lost 12 kilos. Most importantly, he raised $1.2 million, or  ₤900,000, through corporate donors and sponsors.  He was even able to attend the royal wedding.  [1:03:19] Events Following Dean's Adventure  Dean experienced two highs in a week and felt a depression phase after. Dean did a Q&A with Prince Harry shortly after returning to talk about the amount they raised. It's weird for your family to go on with their everyday lives while you're still riding the highs of your success.  Dean feels lucky because his family is involved in his activities. So, they can be with him throughout his journey.  Anyone can do a world record when they have the luxury to just focus on their craft and immediate goals. Mortgages, physical health, and family responsibilities may get in the way of those goals. [1:08:44] What Lies Ahead for Dean His next goal is to kayak from Rwanda to Egypt, which is a 4,280 mile-long feat. This time, he will raise awareness on issues such as human trafficking, modern slavery, and pollution.  This new feat will also promote African people and their beautiful and natural environment. Kayaking is more skill-involved since he'll be encountering wild animals and overcoming water currents and waterfalls. Listen to the episodes about the specifics of Dan's preparations. [1:14:54] Final Thoughts and Advice Don't compare yourselves to other people, especially on social media.  Anticipation is worse than participation. Start with small steps and progress from there.    7 Powerful Quotes from This Episode ‘If someone disagrees, “I didn't think you're gonna do it”. The best way to prove them wrong is actually physically doing it.' ‘You can't control the uncontrollables, you know, as long as you have a plan. One thing I saw, really take from the military is that meticulous planning and detail that goes into it.' ‘What I really took from the military is that unrelenting pursuit of excellence, trying to be the best you can be.' ‘The world's very quick to tarnish certain societies with one brush because of what they've seen on TV.' ‘Before you get, sort yourself out, you know, we'll sit down, and we'll ask three questions: “What worked? What didn't work? And if you're going to do it again, what would you do differently?”' ‘And then it was just, look at the next two hours. Look at the next stage. I didn't look at the afternoon, didn't look at the next day. And before you've done it, you've done a day, you've done a week, you've done a world record.' ‘Don't worry about what other people are doing. Just focus on yourself. You know, I always say anticipation is worse than participation.'   About Dean Dean Stott is a former member of the British Special Forces, where he travelled to dangerous places for 16 years. After an accident, he was forced to find other ways to use his time and skills. With his experiences in the Special Forces, Dean is now a world-leading security consultant and avid adventurer. Indeed, Dean redefines the meaning of adventurer in everything that he does. He has set the world record, cycling the entire 14,000 km Pan-American Highway in less than 100 days. Apart from these successes, Dean is also a motivational speaker who helps others overcome fear and adapt to change. His positive mindset and wide range of skills also enable him to work with brands and charities. He also incorporates advocacies into his adventures, with his most recent world record supporting mental health. Check out his website if you want to know more about Dean and his next adventure. You can also reach him through other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.   Enjoyed This Podcast? If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends! Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your family and friends so they can understand the meaning of being an ‘adventurer' and go on their own adventures. Have any questions? You can contact me through email (support@lisatamati.com) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. For more episode updates, visit my website. You may also tune in on Apple Podcasts. To pushing the limits, Lisa   Full Transcript Of The Podcast Welcome to Pushing the Limits, the show that helps you reach your full potential. With your host Lisa Tamati, brought to you by lisatamati.com. Lisa Tamati: Welcome back everybody. Lisa Tamati here, your host. Fabulous to have you with me again for another crazy episode of Pushing the Limits. Before we get underway with today's guests who I know you're going to find very, very exciting and interesting, just a reminder, to check out our epigenetics program, our flagship program that we do. One of our main programs besides our online run training system, where we look at your genes and how to optimise your life, your nutrition, your food, your exercise, all aspects of your life, including your social, your career, what parts of your mind you use the most, your dominant hormones, all this information is now able to be accessed and we can identify the lifestyle changes and the interventions that we can make to optimise your life. So if you want to hit know a little bit more about that program, head on over to lisatamati.com, hit the work with us button and you'll see our Peak Epigenetics program, go and check that out.  I also like to remind you about my new supplement, NMN, nicotinamide mononucleotide. A bloody long name I know, but it's about longevity and anti-ageing. There is a ton of science that has gone into the research into NMN and as a precursor for NAD, which is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. I've had a couple of podcast episodes with Dr. Elena Seranova. I'd love you to go and check those out. She is the founder of the company and I'm importing it now into New Zealand, Australia and down the center of the world. So if you want to check out that anti-ageing and longevity supplement, I spent months trying to get it so make sure if you're down in the world and you want top quality, independently certified, scientists-backed supplement that really does what it says on the label, then check it out. Go to www.nmnbio.nz, nmnbio.nz, and find out all about it.  Right. Today's guest is oh he's a bit of a legend. Dean Stott is his name. He's a ex-Special Forces soldier, he was in the special boat service, British Army's where he came from originally. And he spent 16 years going into the most dangerous places on the planet and doing his job as a frogman. That's his nickname on his website. Even, as The Frogman. He is the author of a book called Relentless. Go figure, we've both got books called Relentless. I think we knew that we were going to get along. He's a motivational speaker. He's also a world record holder. Most recently he cycled the entire Pan-American highway. What are we talking- what is it, 14,000 miles or something ridiculous. And he did it in under 100 days. He's an absolute legend. And he had to get it done in time to get to Harry and Megan's winning. So he was desperate to get it done under 100 days. It's a really interesting story. This is a guy who's lived life on the edge in every which way you can possibly imagine. So I'm really looking forward to sharing his insights and his story with you now. Right, over to the show with Dean Stott.  Well, hi everyone and welcome back to Pushing the Limits. Your host Lisa Tamati here, sitting in New Zealand and ready for a fantastic interview today. I have a bit of a hard ask with me. I think it's a bit hard to describe this man, what he's done. I have Dean Stott with me. Dean, welcome to the show. It's fantastic to hear you. Yeah, you're sitting in Orange County? Dean Stott: I say, yeah moved to move to Orange County in California six months ago, actually in the middle of the pandemic. Just took advantage of the world pause, and just changed scenery. Lisa: Just change the scenery. Right, Dean we're gonna have a really interesting conversation because when I discovered you actually through another friend's podcast, My Home Vitality, shout out to Sean and everyone over there. And I realised that we had the same title of our books, was your one right?  Dean: Yeah.  Lisa: My one's been smaller. I thought, you, ‘This guy's probably right up my alley'. So you are known as the frogman, you've been in this Special Forces, Special Boat Services. You have also become an expeditionary athlete and adventurer and, in many years. But I want to go back a little bit, and it's starting to, were you always this determined and crazy and head through the wall type of person? And tell us a little bit about your background for starters. Dean: Yeah, so I don't know whether I was on reflection, you look back and think maybe I was slightly, you know, you touched when I was in the military, my father was in the military. And I grew up surrounded by that, in that environment, but was never forced upon me to continue any sort of tradition and things like that. My father was the army football manager and coach. So he was very sports-oriented, what we would call a tracksuit soldier. He very much that, you know, his career was based on his sport and abilities. So there was that competitive drive anyway, that I had from my father. My parents split up when I was a young age. And when I was about eight years old, I moved away with my mother for a couple of years. My father then got custody of me and my sisters, we went back to live with my dad, so I only had the single parent, and we just went everywhere with him. And it was all with the military and all these sporting events. I wasn't, you know, the children of today, with technology, you know, when we were younger, as you will know, we know you weren't allowed in the house unless it was absolutely raining.  So we had some natural physical robustness. And by, I joined the military, I approached my father and told him my intentions of joining the military, when I was 17. And he, he told me, I'd last two minutes. I don't know whether that was reverse psychology for me to push harder and prove him wrong. And, but I was about 65 kilos, and five-foot-seven, so I wasn't, you know, the figure, the man that I am today. And, but when I did join the military, I then went through training and things. And I didn't have aspirations of being Special Forces or commandos or anything like that. And I didn't, I wasn't really aware about the structure of the military anyway, because it was just sport. That's all I've seen where my dad, I hadn't seen the bigger picture. So then when I pass basic training. It's only 10 weeks long, you know, you then get a little bit of confidence in your abilities. And then you started in a short period of time, by the age of 20, or 21 actually, I was a para-commando diver and a PTA, done every arduous force within the military. But I'd grown so quick over those two or three years, and I will be about 85 kilos, now. I'm five-foot-eleven. So I was getting confident in my own abilities. And I was also growing into the individual that I was today. And I mean, once you pass a certain threshold, or pass a course, you then sort of look at, ‘Well, what's next?' You know, I wasn't the best on the courses, but I just gave it my 100%. And then you sort of, your career then starts channelling in one direction, you then those before you or your peers, the mentors are all going Special Forces. And then it's like, the next question is, ‘Why not? Let's have a crack.' Lisa: Yeah, that it takes a special type of person to be able to, like, I grew up in a family with lots of stories, like my dad was only in the military for a short time, but he was a firefighter. And so, you know, my husband's a firefighter, my dad's a firefighter, my brother's a firefighter, we're a firefighter family. And when I was a girl, when I was a little girl, we couldn't, I couldn't grow up to be a firefighter. It wasn't, it wasn't you know, unfortunately. Thank God, you can now. And, you know, if my dad had had his way, I would have been a firefighter, I would have been an SAS soldier, I would have been like, because he was a hard ass And he wanted all of that for me. And, you know, unfortunately, society sort of stopped some of the things. So I ended up doing it in other ways that I could do it. But wasn't there a lot of pressure? Did you feel like you had to live, you know, your dad saying that to you? Was it sad and just a thing? Or did that really bite with you that, ‘Hey, I'm going to prove you wrong,' you know what I'm going for?  Dean: Yeah, I think for me, it was. And we'll talk about other stories in my career, and it seems to be a common theme. I know, I fought. There's no point in arguing my father, you know, and or anyone, if someone disagrees, ‘I don't think you're gonna do it'. The best way to prove them wrong is actually basically doing it. Yeah. And then you don't even need to say anything. You just need to just leave that pause. And so I think for him, I don't know. I think it was a throwaway comment, you know, the fact I still talk about it now. And you know, a lot of people say to me, would you say that to your son? So of course, you know, I mean, I and, but for me it was that drive. Now, my father we talked about, you know, he really, he was sport oriented, actually when I joined Military I got sent to Germany to play football as well, because they knew I was Dave Stott's son.  Lisa: Yeah.  Dean: And see, after a year of being there, I said, ‘No, I don't want to follow the same footsteps as my father, I want to carve my own path.' And that's when I then went, commando, para and things. So I was going a different path from my father, he wasn't a para commando and things like that. So for me, it was like, this was new territory to me. I wasn't really put under pressure from him. I know a lot of guys who I served with, you know, from a young age, from young boys, all they ever wanted to be was a Royal Marine, or a para, they wanted to be SAS and things. I didn't, I wasn't, there was something that I didn't– Lisa: You weren't conditioned. Dean: Look, I wasn't even aware of it. That was why. So when I approached these courses, I didn't put myself under that self-induced pressure with some of these guys– guys and girls do. And I think that helped in a way. I sort of approached it in a, you know, it is what. It is not being naive, it's not what was involved walk in the park. But, you know, I was aware how difficult it was. But it wasn't the be-all or end-all. You know, some guys who did it, don't achieve the grades or, or the standards, and then they're broken. That's all their life. And I think it's actually too much pressure on themselves. So sort of going into these situations, you just need to be a bit open-minded. Lisa: And what was the training like to go into the Special Forces and to know what you do? What is it like to go through– because we see the stuff on the telly, and you know, everybody knows about how hard ass all that type of training is. And what do you need? What did you get out of it? What was the experience like for you to do those extreme sort of courses? Dean: Well for me, it's very much a grown-up course. You know, the way that then, you've got this stuff on TV, where you have the perception it's hard-ass and everyone's swearing and shouting here. And it is night and day from that, you know. I understand with TV, there's a fine line between authenticity and entertainment. Actually, if you film selections, it's actually quite boring. You know, these guys just get told where they got to go. And they just do it. So, and that's what I liked about the course is that the fact that you're– you all grow– you're all treated as grown-ups. There was no shouting, and they just told you what to do. They didn't need to shout, the selection was that hard in itself, that they didn't need to put that additional pressure on you. So I did what I can. And in fact, they gave you some sort of independence. To think on your own. I was fortunate to be an instructor on the commando course and also the senior dive instructor. So I've seen it from an instructor's perspective. And on those sort of courses, you do give the students some motivation and inspiration as well.  But on this one, you don't get anything. Yes, you get the reverse when you go to the jungle, and they tell you about how you're not doing well. And you know, just give up now and save six months of your life and things out. But again, I got that reverse psychology as a young boy telling me I couldn't do it. So yeah. And for me, I didn't go– you're– I was from, I came from the army. So I, the normal traditional route was especially SAS. I went SBS. I was one of the first army guys to do that. And that was because I'd spent eight years with three commando brigades, Brigade Iraqi force and I was a senior dive instructor. So water, I was more comfortable in water. So the special boat service was that natural transition for me. So they say when you go on selection, be the gray man, you know, just don't don't stand out and bring attention to yourself and things. I'll be the gray man for about two minutes. Because they will react, they'll scream my name out. And that's why I was going this way and not the traditional, right? Lisa: Because you came from the wrong place. Dean: Yeah, although I didn't put myself under my own self-induced pressure. I had that sort of hovering above my head. But again, once you– if you're confident in your abilities, and there's a fine line between confidence and arrogance at that age. I was a 28 year old sergeant. And I spent seven years in Brigade Iraqi. I've seen those who've gone before me and I knew that I was just as good as then. And you sort of know that they're going to play these mind games and when they come, as long as you identify when they come in and just deflect it.  Lisa: Yeah. Has it really helped you in everything that you've done since like, what are some of the key learnings that you take away from doing such arduous, tough, scary stuff? Dean: Um, I think, you know, you can't control the uncontrollables you know, as long as you have a plan. One thing I saw, really take from the military is that meticulous planning and detail that goes into it. And the fact that we rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse. You know, we do that over and over and over again. You know, I've been guest speaking alongside some, like, some of the England rugby players. They talk about the World Cup, now that how they repeat an exercise, until they get 1% better. You know, we'll rehearse, rehearse all these different scenarios. And, but ours is a bit of a different situation. You know, if we get it wrong or pause or hesitate, you know, we don't lose five points in a row, we lose lives. Guys, people will get killed.  So yeah, so there's that which what I really took from the military is that unrelenting pursuit of excellence, trying to be the best you can be. But also, as well as the planning, and that we talked about that, we'll probably talk about it later when we talk about the bike ride, is the fact that not– nothing always goes to plan. Plan is the best plan in the world, you know, and things never go to plan. And don't worry about that. And that's what I liked about the Special Forces is there were a lot of, ‘Well, if you don't go as planned, you just react to the situation that's in front of you.' And a good friend of mine told me a quote, ‘You can't be experienced without experiences'. And that's what I got from the military. The military, a lot of these big corporates around will, would love to try and replicate the scenarios or, or conditions that these people have been in, but you just can't. And that's the great thing about the military. They put you in some high octane environments, in difficult positions, difficult environments, and having to make difficult decisions. But you learn from that, you know, my decision, when was the wrong decision? You know, when you have to make? Yeah, you just reflect back on what worked and what didn't work. Lisa: Wow. So you were in the military for, I think it was 16 years, was it, or something?  Dean: Yes, yes. Yeah.  Lisa: And so it was a big chunk of your life. And then and then what happened? Tell us about the accident. Dean: Yeah. So I joined, I joined a special forces in the height of the war on terror. So I was the pinnacle of my career, everything was going really well. I was doing what these children nowaday plays Call of Duty. That was my lifestyle, day in day out. And we're just about to get pre-deployment training to go back out to Afghanistan again, and we're out training in Oman. And I was doing what's called a HAHO jumps, it's a high altitude, high opening jump. So unlike freefall, where you're free aligned, you're actually still connected to the aircraft. You exit the aircraft at 15,000 feet. And you do that, because that's the limits of oxygen. Any higher and you need oxygen. You open the aircraft and the parachute will open– pull open straight away. And when you travel up to 50 kilometers, or 30 minutes in the air to the target area. So I've done–  no– we've done hundreds of these jumps before, I think it's about the third or fourth jump in a day.  And I just exit the aircraft as I normally did, no different from any time before. But this time, when I look, there was something wrong and my leg was actually caught in the line above my head. So I was trying to clear my leg in time before the parachute opened and potentially rip my leg off. But I couldn't clear it in time. The parachute opened, pulled my leg up over my head and the right. Thankfully made my foot released. And otherwise wouldn't be here having this conversation. But straight away I knew there was a problem. The pain was so severe that I was vomiting and because of how thin the air was, I was drifting in and out of consciousness. But no one else in the team knew there was a situation so I wasn't going to come over to net and tell them that I had a sore leg. So I managed to stay with the team, assess where the other parachutes were coming in against the wind.  And my first challenge was to land it because if I didn't land it correctly, you know, on one leg, you know potentially, you could damage your good leg. So, but I did. It was a great, great landing, landed one-legged. And fortunately, the damage sustained on the exit show in my career. As I tore my ACL, my MCL, my lateral meniscus, my hamstring, my calf and my quadriceps, so all these supporting muscles–  Lisa: Just got ripped. Dean: Yeah, just got ripped. But you know, in the ideal world you would go straight back to UK and you start physio, you just start working on it. But it was the same time as the Icelandic volcano which grounded all aircraft. I was there for about nearly five weeks just thrown in a hotel with painkillers.  Lisa: Are you kidding. So that was it.  Dean: Yeah, yeah, I sort of missed that, and then got back to UK. I remember I made it back to UK, got sent home for six weeks and leaves. We're now talking about 11, 12 week period from the injury. Then they lost my MRI scans. It was just a spiral of failure in the medical system there. And so yeah, so I left. But all I've ever known, it's 16 years. Military, even as a young child growing up. So I didn't have, I didn't look beyond the military. For me, I was a lifer. That was me. Lisa: Wow. So how did that, apart from the gun to the physical injury, but how did that affect you mentally? Like you suddenly– you're at the top of your game, you've been training for this forever, you're doing your job. And then all of a sudden, you're out of the game. And you're completely sidelined. What happened to you mentally from that side? Dean: My wife will tell you a different– Lisa: You didn't get divorce. So that's good. Dean: But the one of the things I scored an identity crisis. Well, it is whether you believe in the military, whether you're a professional sports person, or whether you're just someone who works in an organisation or a team, but I've been– I've gone from working in a tight-knit unit, having a role and having a purpose, knowing what I was doing for the next two years, to like, ‘Where do I now fit in society? What was my role and purpose?' But I got to where I got to, because of my physical robustness. That had now been taken away from me as well. I couldn't even run 100 meters without my leg being in pain. So I had that going on in the background. Also, to add to the pressure, my wife was eight months pregnant. So also wondering whether there is going to be any work there. How am I going to support my family? And thankfully, for me, my wife is very entrepreneurial. You know, you hear horror stories of men and women when they leave the military, about that transition can be quite turbulent. Mine was quite smooth. You know, the military, like your mother and father, you know, they clothe you, they feed you, they pay you on time. You don't even know what, who provides the water or what to eat. You've just got a job to do.  But when we leave, we're not aware of who we need to speak to in the council's or the state. There. So my wife was a bank manager for three sons and their banks in Aberdeen. So the stuff that I would normally be worried about, she was, ‘Yeah, I've got all that.' And she sent my first security company on a Blackberry watching TV, you know, done the right paperwork. So when, so whatever I was going through a hard time having to talk personally, you know, thankfully, wasn't that bad, because my wife had sort of–  Lisa: Yeah, she's awesome.  Dean: But yeah, I just had, you know, talking to the security industry, the pressure of trying to, if there's any work. And I was very fortunate. Within 48 hours I was asked if I can go out to Libya, which I know you're familiar with, to help set up the different project restart the British Embassy during the Arab Spring. And so that's what I did. So wow, look at me, I had work straight away. And I was out in Benghazi, helping sell that project. Lisa: Can you tell us a little bit about that story? Because that sounds like a bit of a movie. Dean: You know– familiar I did– when I left, I wanted to find a niche within the security industry. I didn't want to go to Afghanistan and Iraq and do the hostile action, because I've sort of done that, you know, I've done that bit. And you know, I was very lucky to survive. So why would you take another risk? And I looked at the security industry, and actually, a lot of my friends from the special boat service. They were,  they had their maritimes companies who are dealing with the Pirates of the east coast of Africa. So I didn't want to be competing with them either. My wife's from Aberdeen, so I moved back to Scotland with her. It's the only gas capital of Europe. So where is all this trouble? So I was looking into more in the corporate clothes protection sort of industry, that's where my head was focused.  But when I got to Libya, I soon identified that Libyans didn't want another Libyan, another Afghan or Iraq once Gaddafi had fallen, they wanted to take control. But also these larger security companies, the big five, now sort of like dominate the industry. They were charging crisis management in evacuation plans, when actually we just scraped the surface, there was nothing in place. So I flew home, my wife gave birth to our daughter, Molly. And I said, ‘Look, I have a plan. Do you mind if I take our savings out of the bank?' And that's what I did. And I went back into Libya, there was a huge proliferation of weapons at this point. It's actually ammunition was difficult to get hold of, weapons are not a problem.  So I bought 30 weapons off the black market, and I buried them between Tunis and Egypt and buried them with communications equipment money, and just designed my own evacuation plan, spent a month in the desert. These in design. And I mean, I sold them to a couple of the oil and gas companies on a retainer and just just sat on them. Then the security industry. You know, for me, I didn't want to work for an organisation and be on rotation and things like that. I took a gamble and it was very ad hoc. So each time I got a phone call was a different job. So you know, for example, we did London Olympics. And then next thing you're taking the UAE royal family superyacht from Barcelona to Maldives, and you're training the Kurdish Special Forces in Erbil.  Lisa: Wow! Fascinating! Dean: It's very diverse. When you tell people in the security industry, I mean, they think you're a doorman from the local nightclub. Lisa: Surely not. Dean: I'd like to help people as well. And I'm for me, but what it what it was good for me was– is I was seeing– some of these countries that I've been to anyway with the military, but seeing all the cultures and seeing how things, not from a military perspective, because it was almost a little bit blinkered, there, you know. Lisa: Yes. Like you say, your head, your role. Dean: You know, it's understanding more the politics, the demographics and things like that. So I just come back from the London Olympics. I was in Benghazi. And in the evening, the American ambassador got killed. And they made it into a film called 13 Hours. Lisa: Yes, that's what I thought, it sounds very familiar, I'm sure. Dean: I know, I always say, ‘Right place, right time' or ‘Wrong place, wrong time'. And I was there in Benghazi. And I was asked by a German oil company if I could get some of their German engineers from Benghazi to Tripoli. So I had safe houses in the desert. And that's what I did over the three days. I took them back out. And then two years later, I was in Brazil, covering the World Cup. Lisa: You're just like… You just got them out through a hole and you do that like going to the supermarket. Dean: There's no real, no threat to them, no direct threat to them. the only issue I had with that one, you know, we could have– I had drivers from Benghazi, who took us out initially. The problem in Libya, you have 167 tribes. And this is where there's real issues. Because, I mean, you have, you know, those in the East in Benghazi, don't like those in the West in Tripoli. You know, the politics are in Tripoli, the oils are in the East. And so it's understanding that as well. And that's why, so we did it over three days, and the reason we did that is, I was actually, I had the drivers from Benghazi in the safe house. And now that will, ‘You know, Mr. Dean, we can go on because Tripoli is only, you know, it's not far, 300 kilometers'. But they didn't realise I had drivers coming in from Tripoli. Lisa: And you didn't want them to–. Dean: And I didn't want the drivers to compromise us when we go in. So I woke up that morning that we were setting off and the drivers that arrived from Tripoli, the drivers and Benghazi in there. They all had their guns out.  Lisa: Oh, my God.  Dean: I say I mean, I mean, they're worried they weren't gonna get paid. I said, ‘No, you're paid. I just can't take you to Tripoli.' And so it's just understanding that sort, rather than just driving as fast as you could to Tripoli and potentially running into issues along the way. And so yes, that was a success. And two years later, I was in Brazil covering the World Cup. And we now had the Tripoli war, which is a civil war between the militias and the government. And I think that's just ended now. And I got a phone call from the Canadian Embassy saying that they'd been stuck in Tripoli. And so they had 18 military within an area close protection team with them, but they weren't allowed to leave the city. So they'd never seen the coastal road out and didn't really have eyes on. So in the days leading up to that, the British Embassy got shot at every checkpoint between Tripoli and the Tunis border. So I went out with my fixer, and just spoke to the tribal elders in those regions at war and everywhere else. And it was actually just showing them courtesy and respect. Just let us know who we are, when we will come in, we were no threat. And again, it's that understanding the politics and the demographics, which was a success to that. And yeah, we got 18 military in four different maps safely back to back to Tunis. Lisa: Wow. Dean: But you know, I've never like they said in Hollywood, I never needed to dig up any of the weapons. They're still there. It's more of an intelligence-led security thing. But I came home from that trip and my normal procedure would be to wash my kit, repack my bag and everything else, and then get ready for the next phone call. Yeah, one of my shirts was covered in blood. But I've been doing first aid and RTA. And I said to my wife, ‘Can we get the blood out of the shirt?' And she said ‘Yes, but I'm more concerned why there's blood in there'. Totally what I just got yourself is like a throwaway comment. Yeah, you see, this was the second time in my life, I realised the pin dropped. There was something more mentally, I was just five years now from the military and I was trying to match the adrenaline rush that I had been, without coming to terms with the fact that I'd left and I didn't have that support network. If something had gone wrong, my friends were gonna come in and parachute for me. And so something had to change. And my daughter was young, and my wife now is, you know, she had a very successful property development business. And she said, ‘Look, this was actually all about communication'. She thought I wanted to go away. And I thought she needed me to go away. Lisa: Yeah, yeah. Because you've been used to that sort of setup for so long. Dean: Yeah. And I've just been disconnected from society. I just thought that was the norm. You know, I was going to Somalia on my own. Yeah. Just doing– Lisa: Were you not like, like most people listen to this, I mean, it's such a foreign world for the average person who's never been exposed to any of this. And I've never been anything military. I've been in some tricky situations, and self-caused, gone into shit places which I wasn't really for or shouldn't have been in. But for most people, this is a terrifying thought to even go to some of these places, let alone to do the job that you do. Did you never have a fear of like, do you not have the normal fear responses that most people have? Dean: I think I do. I think the problem that we have in today's society is TV, is media. You know, it's very, you know, dramatised about these places. These places they go. I use Somalia as an example. I'll go there on my own and have a walk from the airport to the hotel, I won't– because that's where the business is. That's where I think things are happening. And then I've been, you know, yes, there's bad places and things go on. But it's no different from any city, you know. Yes, there's a bit of a terrorist threat and things. But I've been sent on a mission, south of Mogadishu, and in some of the most beautiful waters. I see parts of the country that people don't see. Now, I'm not naive to think there is no threat at all. You know, the success of a lot of my projects is having the right fixers and local influence. The world's very quick to tarnish certain societies with one brush because of what they've seen on TV. For me, they're the most hospitable people. You know, the Canadian Embassy, the KCA Deutag and a few others, they wouldn't have been successful if it wasn't for the locals. Lisa: The local people. Yeah.  Dean: And I think that's where somebody's security companies or individuals who think they can just come in with weapons and guys like me, very arrogant, they think they're going to do, to get away with it. And, and it's just showing respect, and humility. And that's my approach to it. So I am obviously conscious there is there is a friend, you know, I have friends who–  Lisa: And you can handle yourself there as well.  Dean: –things that, but yeah, I think that as long as–  Lisa: Yeah, I know what you'd be like when you go to some of these places, you have these preconceived ideas. And some of the places I've been to, like Niger. I went to Niger and you know, Niger, I don't even know how to say it properly, Niger. Never got that right. That was one place where I landed there. And we were doing a 333k race through there. And I didn't like go, ‘Holy shit, this place is pretty damn scary'. And you know, you're running across the desert on your own, and there was a lot of military, sort of oil problems. Chinese doing exploration in the desert against the wishes of the tribal people. So there was lots of military convoys coming through with all the arms and things. And you're a little girl running across the frickin' desert on your own. It's pretty, pretty hairy moments here where you think you can just disappear, you know. But generally speaking, most of the places that you go to where you think are gonna be terrifying, aren't that terrifying. And the people are pretty amazing, too. And you've got to be aware of yourself and, you know. Dean: Yeah. Having the responsibility, you know, those sort of places as well if they're running an event like that, and, you know, these countries want, you know, it's all about tourism and try and promote and put the country in a good light, you know, they'll do this. Yeah. Lisa: This one was a bit out there, though. Like this was a French Foreign Legion guy who was running it. He didn't give a shit about anything except making money, right? We went into it naively. These particular ones thinking it was gonna be like the marathon on Saturdays or something. You know what I mean? And it wasn't. It was like 17 runners, nothing was organised. It was like, we ran out of water, we ran out of food, we, you know, I ended up getting food poisoning on top of it all. So that was a really– that's when I realised that most of the races are really super well run, but then there are the cowboys out there. And, you know, we were in their very hands really, you know, and we were lucky to get out the other side on that one. But so how do you like, for your wife? What's it like having your husband off doing God knows what, and having to keep the, you know, the business going, and the life going, and that fear of you being away?  Dean: Yeah. And I'm very fortunate. I've got a, my wife is part of the business anyway, the scoop is anyway, so she would always be doing intelligence bits anyway. So having her being part of that helps. Yeah. Well, rather, you just go in, and she's not knowing what's going on. Yeah. I mean, a part of that. And when we talk about the bike ride, you know, she was the campaign director that so–  Lisa: Sounds amazing.  Dean: –but gets involved in everything. Because then it's very easy to explain why you're doing something or why you're going away because, yeah, the full picture. But no, very, very fortunate to have an understanding– and she, you know, Alana's got a book coming out soon as she talks about why she fell in love with me, because I showed a world that she hadn't seen before. I mean, I was very, we had very similar mindsets, and like, achieve whatever goals you want. So for her to then say, ‘I couldn't do something,' or you know, would go against, you know, what she believes in, and why we got into it. So obviously, now I'm a bit older and we've got kids and obviously I need to be a bit you know, she needs a little bit more. Yeah. Lisa: She sounds like an amazing lady. I'll have to get her on. Dean: Yeah, yeah, she is. She's got a cracking story herself. Lisa: Yeah, she sounds like it. So I want to transition now into going into life after this chapter of your life, if you like, in becoming this professional adventurer. Because in what you're doing now, what you've got coming up, and the whole world record that you have. Tell us about that. Dean: Yeah, so we actually stem from coming back from that Canadian Embassy job. You know, something had to change. In chapter 16 in the book, it's called ‘Dead or Divorce', so that's the stage we're talking about. Obviously, it's been five years since my leaving the military. I've sort of neglected my own sort of physical and mental well-being. I've been so fixated on work and bringing in money, and I take like a TRX with me around, just throw it in the suitcase. And I haven't done any sort of cardiovascular stuff. My injured leg like now was two kilos lighter than my good leg, which is an awful wastage.  So I just that's when for Alana said, “Come do property development.' And that's what I did. I hung up my security boots and just bought a pushbike of farmers, and just cycled to and from the office. There's only about eight miles there and eight miles back. You know, nothing big but straightaway being physically active again, you know, I felt like there was a big, big weight off my shoulders, and that's what I did. I cycled to and from the office. But you can imagine my story, you know, sat in these architects and planners meet.  So it's about a month for my 40th birthday. So I was getting a midlife crisis around. What have I done with my life? I'm going to have a legacy and things. So I said, well, ‘I've always fancied doing a world record.' And Alana said, ‘Well, what in?' And I said, ‘Well, cycling is good, because it's not impacted– well, you need to consider my knee injury.' And something that wasn't the knee injury wasn't going to compromise it.  So I said, ‘Well, what about cycling?' And you know, being in Scotland, I was thinking maybe Aberdeen to Glasgow or something. And my wife then found the world's longest road, which runs in southern Argentina to northern Alaska. So for the listeners, it's probably equivalent to say it's the equivalent of cycling from London to Sydney. Yeah, 30,000 miles.  Lisa: And then another.  Dean: Yeah. Because of the curvature of the earth. So having only cycled 20 miles, this is what I did: I applied for the world record in it. We had looked at Cairo to Cape Town. But I–  majority of my security work was in Africa. So I'd be in those days anyway. So for me, I wanted to, as part of the challenge, I wanted to see places that I am–  someplace that I hadn't been to before and also because of where you started, and when you're finishing, you're going through all different temperatures and climates and things like that. And so Guinness came back. And the world record when I apply for it was 125 days. Six weeks later when it came back, and said you were successful with the application. And we've been beaten by eight days, the new world record was 117 days.  So that was my target. And my wife and I do a lot charity work. We have been doing since I met her really and, you know, do a lot of stuff with the military. You know, it's part of a special boat service, ambassador for Scotland. Legion, which is the oldest military charity in the UK. But I'm gonna name drop now massively. So Prince Harry and I are good friends, and we've known each other.  Lisa:  Is he though? Dean: Yeah. And as you've seen. And I've been friends about 14 years, met each other on a community training course. And, you know, he'd come to some of my events; I've been to some of his events. You know, I– in Mozambique, Tanzania had an intelligence fusion sale, which would identify smuggling routes for the ivory, you know, which I could then relay back to him. So he's doing a lot of stuff in the background. So I rang him up, and I said, ‘Look, I'm gonna cycle, the world's longest road, you know, what campaigns should we do it for?' And this is back in 2016. So him and his brother and Kate, were just about to launch a mental health campaign called Heads Together in 2017. And he said, would I do it for that campaign? And I said, ‘Yes, of course'. So I now have the challenge of the campaign. And in the end, I set a target of a million pounds.  Lisa: Wow, that's a big-ass target! Dean: For me it had to be the enormity of the challenge to reflect how much you're trying to raise. You know, you couldn't– you know, you can't go– can't say I'm going to raise a million pounds and run the London Marathon because it just doesn't add up. The size of the challenge and the size of the ask here, you know, was balanced. And also to add to that I'd never cycled before as well, which is even more of a– Lisa: Mental.  Dean: Yes, yeah. So I did a train for a year, you can imagine what it is like trying to get sponsorship at the beginning. Lisa: What the hell! Dean: I will perform, break a record, and we'll record and raise a million pounds in mental health and a lot of them thought had mental health problems themselves. Lisa: But you had a track record of what you've done? I mean, I would have taken you seriously, as far as the– Dean:  A lot of people say to me, ‘How do you get sponsorship?' You know, I got– and it was just, it was the right messaging at the right time. You know, the Heads Together campaign is launched in the UK, and it's very much the topic of conversation. So a lot of these big corporates wanted to get behind.  Lisa: Wonderful. Yep, yeah.  Dean: So it was the right message at the right time. And, yeah, I got a great sponsor. And, you know, that was only about two months before setting off. You know, I funded it, funded 50,000 of my own money up until that. I had to believe in it Lisa: And put something on the line?  Dean: Yep. Yeah. So. So that's what I did. Yeah, I mean, I set off on the first of February 2018, the– when I was doing all the early stages when I was doing the planning, and I'd never cycled with I just took a military set of orders, put it on there and just crossed out ammunition. And then as I started learning about saving, I then introduced that into the plan. But there's things that, you know, there are things that are out of my control, like natural disasters, coups, third party influence. So the world record was 117 days, but I was aiming for 110. And it wasn't– I was going to beat it by a week.  Lisa: You're in that buffer. Dean: Yeah that buffer. The buffer, the fudge they call it. Encounter that is eating into the fudge and not your challenge. So that's why, where I set off aiming for 110 days. You know, I was very fortunate to, being in the military and worked in the desert, the Arctic, and the jungle, and things that I've never done on the bike. I had to then simulate those situations. So the Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest non popular desert in the world. It's 47 degrees. What I decided to do so, I went out to Dubai and did two weeks heat training in Dubai. The altitude in Ecuador, of cycling. You know, the biggest climbs in Tour de France ranges in 21, 23 kilometers, minus 67 kilometers and sea level to four and a half thousand meters. So I had to train altitude. So I know that on the day of the event, you know, you do 8 to 10 hours on the bike.  Lisa: Altitude. Yeah.  Dean: So, yeah, I did that. And there's a famous bike ride in the UK called Land's End to John O'Groats. Lisa: Yes, I know that one.  Dean: Yeah, so I did that twice. I never mean to sound arrogant, but for me, it was a training ride and actually it's training ride because the challenge was 15 Land's End to John O'Groats back to back. So if I couldn't do one, how was I going to do 15? Lisa: Yes. It's funny how your perception changes, the bigger your current goal that you're going for, the other stuff becomes small, but what I've learned too is that it goes the other way as well. When you stop doing the big stuff, your horizon comes back in pretty quickly. And then you know, it can be gone the other way. Dean: You can never replicate what you're going to do with some of the ultra marathons, you won't go run the exact distance.  Lisa: No, no, you're running near it.  Just interrupting the program briefly to let you know that we have a new Patron program for the podcast. Now, if you enjoy Pushing the Limits, if you get great value out of it, we would love you to come and join our Patron membership program. We've been doing this now for five and a half years and we need your help to keep it on here. It's been a public service free for everybody. And we want to keep it that way. But to do that we need like minded souls who are on this mission with us to help us out. So if you're interested in becoming a patron for Pushing the Limits podcast, then check out everything on www.patron.lisatamati.com. That's P-A-T-R-O-N dot lisatamati.com. We have two Patron levels to choose from. You can do it for as little as $7 a month, New Zealand, or $15 a month if you really want to support us. So we are grateful if you do. There are so many membership benefits you're going to get if you join us. Everything from workbooks for all the podcasts, the strength guide for runners, the power to vote on future episodes, webinars that we're going to be holding, all of my documentaries and much much more. So check out all the details: patron.lisatamati.com. And thanks very much for joining us. Dean: Yeah, what I got from doing those Land's End to John O'Groats, you know, I did about nine days, is the fact that the first four or five days are always whether you're at your peak, or wherever you're below peak is always going to be hard and then by the end of the first week, your body then knows what you're asking of it. Lisa: I found that like too, when I did– because I ran through New Zealand, and I did you know, 2250ks in 42 days, which I was aiming for 33 days, but I had again, I didn't add in the fudge, did I? And I got slower and slower and more injuries and so on. So it took me a bit longer than I was planning. But at the two-week point was when I was at that absolute, like I don't know how to take the next step point, you know. And somehow I had to drop the kilometers a little bit, but then I was able to– my body actually got better from that point on. And I would never have believed if I hadn't lived through it. I thought I was like, absolutely, I don't know the how I'm going to take the next step to then actually the end of the 42 days being like, ‘I could carry on now'. You know, it was quite a phenomenal thing to go through. And I've heard other expeditions that athletes go through the same sort of thing that it bottoms out at the worst point. I've got a couple of mates who ran across the Sahara, and I mean, right, right across the Sahara, 7,000 kilometers. And they said the same thing that they you know, two weeks, and they were thought, you know, ‘We're about to die here. We're not gonna make it.' And then it's sort of you know, and you have the ups and downs. But if you can push through that mentally, that point you seem to come through it. Dean: Yeah, you do. I think, you know, for me, I set off from sort of going back slightly when I was doing my research, I, you know, was reading books and magazines learning about cycling. You know, it evolved so much since I was a young boy in a BMX, and I wasn't getting the information I really wanted. So I spoke to the previous record holders, and they're very open, which was great, really, they're very receptive. but they– you know, one of the things we do in the military, especially in the special forces is, it's like a hot debrief. So when, as soon as you've done a job or operation, you come. Before you get, sort yourself out, you know, we'll sit down, and we'll ask three questions: ‘What worked? What didn't work? And if you're going to do it again, what would you do differently?' So I just asked that question to the previous record holders, and all their issues were in South and Central America: bureaucracy, the borders, languages, first to the base. So they all started in North America, and it was the second half of the challenge which had the issues, right. So I turned on its head, start in the south and get those issues out the way early. So one thing I was quite proud of–  just because everyone did it that way didn't mean it was the right way.  Lisa: Yeah.  Dean: But yeah, but I set off from Southern Argentina in the first week, you know, relentless winds, it was like 40 mile an hour, approximate speed. I've never known anything like it. But once that had–  I had targets each day, you know what I had to hit each day and I was hitting those targets. I think by the end of the first week, I was 39 miles behind target, but my target is still a week ahead of the world record, right? Yeah, yeah. The weather sort of changed for the better and now the winds have abated. I got through Peru, I got tailwind all the way through Peru. That's 2500 kilometers of tailwind. We did you know, I crashed the bike in Chile, I got food poisoning in Peru, you know, coming out with issues and, you know, got to Ecuador, got the big climb-ins. But before they're gone on the challenge, I've never done more than 150 miles on the road, on the road. I've done 10 hours on a turbo trainer, but never done more than 150 miles. By the week four when I was in Peru, anything less than 150 miles wasn't enough for me. I was physically and mentally stronger as I went. I started at 90 kilos. I was too big.  Lisa: Yeah, but I but you needed it.  Dean: Yeah, but I knew from my time in the military that special forces selection six months long, you don't start day 1 100%. You carry that timber and weight, and then that will shed and you'll get fit. And that's what I did. And you know, when I finished I weighed 78 kilos. Almost 12 kilos. And you know you have to– it's almost like a polar expedition, you're losing weight from the start. So you just need to try and try and keep it on. But I got to Cartagena on day 48 on March 21. That took 10 days off the previous world record for South America. But that wasn't the world record. And a lot of people called me said, ‘Oh,' they said, ‘The pressure's off.' I said, ‘That's not world record. Call it Brucie bonus. That was a Brucie bonus or a marker to aim for rather than looking at the full challenge. As you know, you don't look at the– Right down into– Lisa: You get overwhelmed pretty quick. Dean: What do you do on the flight? So I

Dean Stott is The Frogman: one of the UK's premier adventurers and motivational speakers. A former soldier in the British Special Forces, Dean helps ordinary people develop the ability to adapt, survive and thrive in any situation. Now a professional adventurer and renowned motivational speaker, he recently set a new Guinness World Record, cycling the entire length of the Pan-American Highway faster than ever before. You can find out more by following Dean on IG at @deanstott and at deanstott com Also, visit @iwaactive and use code SILLY10 to receive 10% off sitewide.

Dean Stott is an esteemed British Special Forces veteran, with 16 years of honorable service in conflict zones and leading rescue operations. Known as ‘The Frogman’, he is a sought-after international speaker, security director, philanthropist, professional adventurer and author. Dean travels the world giving lectures to a range of audiences, from business executives to students, and doctors to athletes. He uses his past experiences as a soldier to help others develop the strong mindsets needed to face adversity and overcome any challenges. When his career in the Special Boat Service was cut short by a serious knee injury sustained in a parachuting accident, medical experts advised him that he would not be able to continue to push the limits of his physical boundaries. In spite of this prognosis, Dean built a successful career as a Global Security Director for Stott Consultancy, which he founded with his wife, Alana. He is called upon for personal and corporate assignments, providing security solutions for a range of clients, including UHNW individuals, political leaders, governments and royal families. Dean is involved in many charitable endeavors. In 2018, he embarked on the Pan American Highway Challenge, cycling the world's longest road at 14,000 miles. Ultimately, Dean helped raise $1.2 million for the Heads Together campaign and 11 mental health charities. This endeavor also led to some impressive personal accolades: two Guinness World Records. He completed the challenge in a record time of 99 days, 12 hours and 56 minutes, becoming the first man in history to cycle the Pan American Highway in under 100 days. Dean is also an ambassador for the Special Boat Service Association, UK Emergency Services Giving and The Royal British Legion. His 2019 book, Relentless, takes the reader on a journey sharing the experience of his army training, the clandestine special forces operations, his parachuting accident and record-breaking biking achievement.

The Man: deanstott.com/ Dean on Insta: Dean on Instagram The Book: Relentless: Dean Stott    

0:00:00 - Opening 0:06:00 - Dean Stott, British SBS 3:21:42 - How to stay on THE PATH. 3:37:00 - Closing Gratitude Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jocko-podcast/exclusive-content

We welcome Neil Laughton to Episode 2 of Rocket Pod. Neil served 12 years in the British Special Forces, became an award winning entrepreneur and is a world record breaking adventurer having climbed to the summit of Everest on multiple occasions as well as both the North & South Pole. We discuss a number of stranger world records along the way including a trip from London to Timbuktu in a flying car. https://www.neillaughton.com https://www.laughton.co Thank you to flexy for supporting this episode of the podcast you can find out more: https://get.flexyapp.uk - - - About Rocket Pod Rocket Pod: How Visionaries Forge Their Thoughts into Reality 'Compelling stories deconstructing how growth minded individuals achieve the destinies they choose' Rocket Pod has been co-founded by three entrepreneurs, three generations spanning Gen Z, Millennial and Gen X. Between us, we have +40 years of professional experience spanning e-commerce, digital marketing, web and media production, logistics, photography and FinTech. Rocket Pod has been created to engage visionaries about their life journey's and uncover true life experiences deconstructing how these individuals get from an idea and transition it into reality. Through our series, Rocket Pod will deliver a refreshed perspective on life and provide tools and knowledge through quality audio to make a positive impact on others lives. Growth minded guests will share their stories with listeners and help them take the next step to achieving greatness in whatever they put their mind to. https://www.instagram.com/wearerocketpod https://www.facebook.com/wearerocketpod https://www.twitter.com/wearerocketpod - - - The Rocket Pod Team: James Cuss Co-founder & Co-host James is a Serial Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of flexy. https://get.flexyapp.uk Harry Daymond Co-founder & Co-host Award Winning YoungEntrepreneur, 20 Under 20 & Founder of The Cocktail Connoisseurs https://www.thecocktailconnoisseurs.co.uk Peter Haynes Co-founder & Producer Peter is a Designer & Maker at A Collection Of. https://www.acollectionof.info Music Producer Created exclusively by KANON https://www.soundcloud.com/kanonmusic --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rocketpodmedia/message

Matt Edwards is former GB swimmer who qualified for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and a former Royal Marine Commando. Whilst on pre-selection for entry into the British Special Forces, Matt shares a compelling story that changed his life forever.

Dean Stott is The Frogman: one of the UK’s premier adventurers and motivational speakers. A former soldier in the British Special Forces, Dean helps ordinary people develop the ability to adapt, survive and thrive in any situation. Now a professional adventurer and renowned motivational speaker, he recently set a new Guinness World Record, cycling the entire length of the Pan-American Highway faster than ever before. Links: https://www.youtube.com/c/FreedomPact (video interviews) https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter) https://instagram.com/freedompact https://www.deanstott.com/

Seven years in the British Special Forces, today’s guest delivered the world’s highest video broadcast to the BBC, he’s been a professional racing team cyclist and is currently on a mission to ride and photograph the most physically and mentally exhausting hills, mountains and extraordinary places on Earth. They don’t make photographers like Daniel Hughes every day. This show is brought to you by the patrons of Photography Daily and MPB.com

Damien Lewis is a British author and filmmaker who has spent over twenty years reporting from conflict zones. He has produced about twenty films and written numerous bestselling books chronicling British Special Forces operations from the 2nd World War to Iraq, Afghanistan and, Operation Barras in Sierra Leone. Read 'Eating Smoke: One Man's Descent into Crystal Meth Psychosis in Hong Kong's Triad Heartland.' Paperback UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0993543944 Paperback US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0993543944 Support the podcast at: https://www.patreon.com/christhrall (£2 per month plus perks) https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-our-veterans-to-tell-their-story https://paypal.me/TeamThrall Sign up for my NON-SPAM newsletter and FREE books: https://christhrall.com/mailing-list/ Social media Links: https://facebook.com/christhrall https://twitter.com/christhrall https://instagram.com/chris.thrall https://linkedin.com/in/christhrall https://youtube.com/christhrall https://discord.gg/yqvHRUN https://christhrall.com  

In this episode I talk to Dean Stott. Dean is a former British Special Forces Soldier who left the military after suffering a severe knee injury in a parachuting accident in 2011. He then established a distinguished career in the private security sector; he was renowned for his willing to take on any job, no matter how dangerous. However, in 2016 Dean was ready for a new project and wanted to use this to help others. He began training to cycle the longest motorable road in the world – The Pan American Highway. Dean completed the 14,000 mile route from Argentina to Alaska in May 2018, gaining two world records and raising an incredible amount of money for charity in the process. In this episode I explore with Dean three main topics, namely,  Importance of planning and preparing Being reactive to the situation Self belief You can find out more about Dean at: www.deanstott.com

Pull up a chair, pop in your headphones, and prepare to be transported across continents as we sit down with Lachlan Kitchen, the Aussie expat and radio personality making waves in Dubai's radiowaves on this episode of the Radio Fanboy podcast. A fellow graduate of the Australian Film Television Radio School, Lachlan doesn't just bring charm and wit to the conversation, but a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of working in the radio industry in the United Arab Emirates. We tackle everything from his stint at Dubai 92 and the transformation of the radio landscape due to the pandemic, to the striking lineup of radio stations in the UAE.Strap in as we venture into the realm of international broadcasting, exploring the cultural diversity and differing client expectations that shape the radio industry in Dubai. Through riveting anecdotes and valuable insights, Lachlan peels back the curtain on the automation of radio production, his role as the Content Director at the Wind Network, and the delightful dynamics with Georgina, his co-host from the British Special Forces radio. This isn't just a tale of two radio professionals - it's a study in adaptation, innovation, and resilience in an ever-changing industry.Finally, we dive into the high-octane world of radio events and promotions in Dubai. From interviewing Robbie Williams at a private villa to broadcasting live at a Lionel Ritchie concert, Lachlan's experiences are as diverse as they are exciting. As we wrap up our conversation, we ponder the merits of Australian radio, the opportunities that Dubai offers to radio professionals, and the unique thrills of co-hosting a radio show. Join us for this enlightening episode as we navigate the gritty, glamorous world of radio - no holds barred.Support the show

    Rich Litvin is a world-renowned leadership and success coach who specializes in working with high-performers and high-achievers, including Olympic athletes, Presidential candidates, British Special Forces operatives, Hollywood film directors, and finance professionals. He is the founder of 4PC, The Confident Woman’s Salon, and The High Achieving Introvert Project. Rich has a big picture dream of creating $100-Million for charity to educate millions of children. He has built five schools in Africa and has co-authored one of the best coaching and business building books on the market, The Prosperous Coach: Increase Income and Impact for You and Your Clients. Born in England, Rich has lived and worked in eight different countries across four continents and lives his life based on one key principle: Hell Yeah! or No.   Rich joins me today to share his perspective on great leadership and why he believes leaders should focus less on creating followers, and instead, create more leaders. He discusses the challenges of leading an organization during uncertain times and why he believes people believe the illusion that life is safe, secure, and predictable. We compare how the uncertainties that presented themselves during the coronavirus pandemic are similar to those we experience when entering midlife and how they put a spotlight on the changes we need to make throughout our lives and businesses. He also discusses how the global protests on systemic racial injustices have impacted his family and highlights the importance of taking care of yourself so you can serve and lead the people around you.       "No matter what you’re feeling, no matter the stress that you’re under, no matter the fear that is going on right now - you can always create. You can always serve.” - Rich Litvin       Today on Mastering Midlife:   Why Rich believes leaders are responsible for creating more leaders, not more followers Rich’s perspective on leading your team during risky and uncertain times and why he believes life has always been unpredictable The similarities between the uncertainties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and those we experience during our midlife years Overcoming your fears and choosing to step into your leadership role Rich’s experience with overcoming boredom and burnout in his coaching business and the importance of embracing risk and uncertainty Seeking help and support in times of uncertainty Addressing topics of social injustices and religious beliefs as a bi-racial family Embracing the “Serve or Create” mantra and how it can make an impact in your community The importance of self-care and how it relates to your ability to serve and lead The Stockdale Paradox and how Rich applies this principle to his life and business     Resources Mentioned:   The Coaching in Challenging Times Playbook Mulatto Math: Summing Up the Race Equation in America 067 Balancing the Stage, Creativity, Sovereignty and Being “Mom” with Monique DeBose     Connect with Rich Litvin:   Rich Litvin’s official website Rich Litvin on LinkedIn Rich Litvin on Facebook         Grab Your FREE Copy: Only 10s Book   Are you a busy executive or organizational leader? Do you regularly feel overwhelmed by your to-do list or constantly feel like you’re putting out fires instead of getting the right things done?   Then, friend, you need to grab a free copy of my bestselling book, Only 10s: Using Distraction to Get the Right Things Done. This free copy is currently available to all U.S. residents.   It’s time to get things off your to-do list and focus on the things that are important to you each day.   To grab your free copy of Only 10s, visit www.markjsilverman.com/books   Mastering Midlife...Together!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.   Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.  

Were back with another Book Review and Breakdown and this time it is my number 1 go to guide and that is Battle Ready by Ex-SBS and Directing Staff on TV Show SAS: Who Dares Wins. Ollie went through some very harsh and tough experiences from his life changing encounter with a Chimpanzee at age 10 to his battle with alcohol to serving in the British Special Forces. Ollie has put all of his tips, techniques and ideas into this book and they genuinely work! A huge thanks to Ollie for being one of my main sources of inspiration.Support the show (https://www.thecalmzone.net/about-calm/what-is-calm/)

TALES OF VALOR EP. 40: Operation Colossus | The first British Special Forces airborne raid of WWII found Lt. Dudley Wrangel Clarke knowing exactly what he wanted in his Commandos: “We looked for the dash of the Elizabethan pirate, the Chicago gangster, and the Frontier tribesman.” This young group needed to be self-motivated and willing to move forward no matter what. What we learn today is that some no-matter what's definitely came their way. Thank you for listening, following, subscribing, telling friends, rating, reviewing, commenting, etc. You know, all the good stuff helping us grow! http://www.instagram.com/tovpod  

Ira Pastor, ideaXme life sciences ambassador, interviews Dean Stott, former British Special Forces soldier, adventurer, philanthropist, author of "Relentless", international speaker, and two time world record holder. Ira Pastor Comments: Today we have the honor to be joined on the show by Mr. Dean Stott, former British Special Forces soldier, adventurer, philanthropist, author, international speaker, and two time world record holder in biking on the longest motor road in the world – The Pan American Highway. Dean Stott: Relentless Pursuit of Excellence "By Strength and Guile!": Dean was one of the very first army members to join the Special Boat Service (SBS), which is the special forces unit of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, and throughout his esteemed military career, conducted deployments to various overseas hostile environments and has been involved in counter-terrorism operations worldwide. Since leaving the military in 2011, after 16 honorable years of service, Dean established a distinguished career in the private security sector where he was renowned for his willing to take on any job, regardless of the level of danger, and would go many places when others would not. Dean has faced extortion, kidnapping, civil war, pirates, military coups and was single handedly responsible for the evacuation of the Canadian Embassy in 2014, rescuing 4 diplomats and 18 military personnel. Dean's "Civilian" Life: In 2016, he was ready for a new project where he wanted to use his skills to help others in the civilian world and began training to cycle the longest motor road in the world, the Pan American Highway, for charity purposes. He completed the gruelling 14,000 mile route from Argentina to Alaska in May 2018, and gained two world records and raised an incredible amount of money for mental health charity in the process, passing through 14 countries on his expedition and crossing some of the most dangerous passages in the world. Dean Stott: "Relentless!": Dean is now a renowned international speaker, presenting to global companies, sporting bodies, military departments, schools and businesses. Dean continues to live by the Special Forces’ ethos of ‘the unrelenting pursuit of excellence’. He emphasizes his belief that, with the right mindset and plan, the impossible simply means it hasn’t been done yet. Relentless, by Dean Stott https://www.waterstones.com/book/relentless/dean-stott/9781472266897 : Dean published Relentless, in 2019 – a book that recounts his experiences and life as a Special Boat Services soldier and when faced with the impossible, he proves that anything is possible. On this ideaXme episode we hear from Dean about: His background; where he grew up, his interest in going into military service, and his journey into the special forces. The need for elite soldiers to have strong "mental resilience" along with physical resilience to be successful. His physical injury that resulted from high-altitude, high-opening free-fall parachute jump (a technique used to airdrop personnel at high altitudes when aircraft are unable to fly above enemy skies without posing a threat to the jumpers) which required him to retire from the military and return and adjust to “civilian” life. The development of his own private security company and missions in countries such as Libya and the UAE. His Pan American Highway adventures. His work with at the Heads Together mental health campaign, spearheaded by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, focusing on both civilian and military mental health stigmas and awareness. Credits: Ira Pastor interview video, text, and audio. Follow Ira Pastor on Twitter:@IraSamuelPastor Follow ideaXme on Twitter:@ideaxm On Instagram:@ideaxme Find ideaXme across the internet including on iTunes, YouTube, SoundCloud,Radio Public,TuneIn Radio,I Heart Radio, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. ideaXme is a global podcast, creator series and mentor programme. Our mission: Move the human story forward!™ ideaXme Ltd.

Originally aired September 28, 2015 ( https://www.adventuresportspodcast.com/2015/09/ep-093-open-ocean-kayaking-peter-bray.html ). As a former soldier in the British Special Forces, a military diver and lifelong adventurer, Peter Bray has led a very full life doing what he loves. He now works as a security consultant and outdoor pursuits instructor. In his 56 years, there are few extreme challenges that he has not attempted. Pete’s exploits have taken him from the frozen wastes of Norway to the searing heat of the African bush. Listen in as Pete tells some of the best stories of harrowing ocean crossings and even about his trouble with the British police at age 11. www.kernowcoaching.com ( http://www.kernowcoaching.com/ ) www.peterbrayadventurer.com ( http://www.peterbrayadventurer.com/ ) Facebook: www.facebook.com/peterbrayadventurer ( http://www.facebook.com/peterbrayadventurer ) Twitter: twitter.com/KernowCoach ( https://twitter.com/KernowCoach ) Get your body back to balance with high quality CBD oil at CoCannaCare.com ( https://cocannacare.com/ ) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

To call Andy Torbet an adventurer would be an understatement. Andy spent 10 years in the British Special Forces, specializing as a paratrooper and served in the underwater bomb disposal unit. Andy is a professional skydiver, deep sea diver & accomplished climber. Andy has been featured on the BBC, and Fully Charged on Youtube.

You Too with Mike Bullard | EP #3 Alan Bell Alan Bell was born in England is the CEO of private security firm GlobeRisk. He joined the British Navy as a young teenager and soon after became a member of the Royal Marine Commandos where he served for 10 years - then passed selection to the Special Air Service (SAS) and spent 12 years with this elite regiment as a paratrooper commando. He operated worldwide as a Special Forces commando in classified areas over a period of twelve years, including combat in several wars (including the Falkland Islands). He trained commandos in all aspects of anti-terrorist tasks, and VIP protection teams in sensitive high-risk areas. Mr. Bell was involved in a CBC documentary called "Shadow Company" which was about Contract Security Specialists. His company GlobeRisk was featured in the documentary and was interviewed in a short segment that can still be seen on the CBC website. Globe Risk Website: http://www.globerisk.com Sign up at http://www.YouTooMikeBullard.com Video Links YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUnnMYUUSzBPSqkQTy0ri8A BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/youtoowithmikebullard/ Audio Links Apple h�t�t�p�://p�o�d�c�a�s�t�s�.�a�p�p�l�e�.�c�o�m�/�c�a�/�p�o�d�c�a�s�t�/�y�o�u�-�t�o�o�-�w�i�t�h�-�m�i�k�e�-�b�u�l�l�a�r�d�/�i�d�1�4�7�4�6�9�1�0�9�5� Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/youtoowithmikebullard Google Play https://play.google.com/music/m/Iuax7gqcycyqy3rmdn44sg7p2pu?t=You_Too_with_Mike_Bullard Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=449446&refid=stpr Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4WtNKbjOZgKQbFhSb6PZBk?si=L_AVmYa3QvuEVO2zRcrpKA Sign up at http://www.YouTooMikeBullard.com Twitter: @YouTooPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeBullardsPage/ Minds: www.Minds.com/PossiblyCorrect Email: YouTooMikeBullard@gmail.com

Joining me for this week’s podcast is Nims Dai. Nims grew up in Nepal before joining the famed Gurkha's. The Gurkha Brigades recently celebrated 200 years of service in the British Army. Upon returning from a combat deployment to Afghanistan Nims, decided to go on selection for British Special Forces. Upon passing selection he would continue to serve as an operator in the SBS for another 10 years. In 2016 on pre-deployment leave Nims took out a loan from the bank and went to Nepal to climb Mount Everest. During his climb, he rescued a climber at 8,000 meters. Within 4 days of completing the climb, he was conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. Nims is an extraordinary mountaineer who is currently making history. He’s summiting the 14 mountains on earth that are over 8,000 meters in 7 months. The current record for this feat is held at 8 years. We discussed the history of the Gurkhas, his time in the military, and his record-breaking climbing which he close to completing. Enjoy. You can help support Nims and his historic climb by making donations at the link below: https://www.gofundme.com/f/project-possible-147-nims-dai You can find Nims on social media @NimsDai Follow Global Recon below:   www.Globalrecon.net https://www.instagram.com/igrecon https://www.instagram.com/blackopsmatter www.twitter.com/igrecon https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReconPodcast/   Chantel Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv   Music provided by Caspian:   www.caspianmusic.net

Joining me for this week’s podcast is former British Special Forces Operator James Glancy. James served for a number of years in the Royal Marine Commandos where he deployed into different areas around the world including Afghanistan. After a few combat deployments he went onto Special Forces selection and joined the Special Boat Service. During his operational service in Special Forces he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Since getting out of the military Glancy has hosted shows on the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. He’s a director of conservation charity, Veterans 4 Wildlife, where he focuses on the preservation of endangered species and combating the global trade in shark fins. We discussed the history of Special Forces, the role of the Royal Marine Commandos, and many other topics. Enjoy. This episode is sponsored by War Dragons War Dragons is a 3D, Real Time, Strategy video game – right on your phone. For the month of July, War Dragons is partnering with Stack Up, an organization dedicated to bringing military personnel, veterans and civilian supporters together through a shared love of video gaming. War Dragons will match all donations made through the link in the game between July 4th through July 31st, up to a maximum of $10,000. Donors will also get an exclusive, in-game portrait. Can’t donate but want to support Stack Up’s work? Breeding your dragons in-game can also help contribute an additional $10,000 donation by War Dragons. Visit www.podcast.wardragons.com/recon 
Follow Global Recon below:   www.Globalrecon.net https://www.instagram.com/igrecon https://www.instagram.com/blackopsmatter www.twitter.com/igrecon https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReconPodcast/   Chantel Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv   Tim Kolczak:
www.thevetsproject.com 
www.instagram.com/theveteransproject   Music provided by Caspian:   www.caspianmusic.net

Stephen Burns was a Royal Marine and member of the UK Special Forces for 15 years and was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his bravery in action in Afghanistan. He shares with us how we can put the world back into our hands. This podcast is being brought to you by UnCanna. Visit UnCanna.com and use the code Mentors4mil. Read our disclaimer at http://www.mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer Join our new closed Facebook Team Room at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentors4mil Visit https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil? to become a patron of our podcast. Follow Mentors for Military: iTunes: https://apple.co/1WaEvbB Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl PodBean: https://mentorsformilitary.podbean.com/ SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/mentors4mil Instagram: www.instagram.com/mentors4mil Twitter: www.twitter.com/mentors4mil Facebook: www.facebook.com/mentors4mil Homepage: www.mentorsformilitary.com Use Code Mentors4mil at www.SkeletonOptics.com to receive your discount.

Timothy Brownstone is Founder and CEO of UK-based Kymira, a smart fabric and wearable technology company. Kymira's products have been used or tested by the British Special Forces, Olympic athletes, and astronauts. Kymira produces wearable products that react and interact with the human body using patented technology to convert heat into energy and information, enhances the performance of athletes, aid circulation and recovery, and even monitors the well-being of unborn babies. 

I think you guys are really going to LOVE this talk I had withJamie Flynn, a British Special Forces operator turned world base jumping champion.  Jamie is also a wingsuit pilot, a professional bodyguard, has protected giant tanker ships against Somali pirates, and - surprise, surprise - does BJJ. In this episode we go into the selection procedure used by elite units in the British army, the crazy story of how he started base jumping and parachuting, close calls in Iraq and Afghanistan, triggers in sport for optimal performance, his horrific basejumping injury and the road back to jumping again, confronting Somali pirates, bodyguarding strategies, commonalities between base jumping and jiu-jitsu and more! If you want to watch the video of this podcast then check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhobVPvYfto Also make sure to check my latest release, the best-selling Pressure Guard Passing System instructional with BJJ legend Fabio Gurgel at https://www.grapplearts.com/pressure And if you get the chance, a rating or review of this podcast is super appreciated.  That sort of stuff REALLY helps! Enjoy Stephan Kesting        

Tune in to this episode to hear a total badass operator who never lets anything stand in his way of his Unrelenting Pursuit of Excellence. Dean Stott is a former British Special Forces Soldier who left the military after suffering a severe knee injury in a parachuting accident in 2011. He then established a distinguished career in the private security sector; he was renowned for his willing to take on any job, no matter how dangerous. However, in 2016 Dean was ready for a new project and wanted to use this to help others. He began training to cycle the longest motorable road in the world – The Pan American Highway. Dean completed the 14,000 mile route from Argentina to Alaska in May 2018, gaining two world records and raising an incredible amount of money for charity in the process. In this episode Dean is joined by Robert Gowin, Paul Martinez, Erich Martin, and Scott Johnson. Follow Dean Stott at http://www.deanstott.com Robert is a retired US Army Armor and Recruiter/Retention MSG turned Fortune 50 executive; Paul Johnson is a former US Army Ranger Sniper NCO; Erich Martin is an active duty Special Forces NCO; Scott Johnson is a former Engineer/Sapper and EOD NCO with the British Army. Visit https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil? to become a patron of our podcast. Join our new closed Facebook Team Room at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentors4mil Follow Mentors for Military: iTunes: https://apple.co/1WaEvbB Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl PodBean: https://mentorsformilitary.podbean.com/ SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/mentors4mil Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mentors4mil Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mentors4mil Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentors4mil Homepage: http://www.mentorsformilitary.com Use Code Mentors4mil at http://www.SkeletonOptics.com to receive your discount. rngzncgg

Deepak Shukla, owner of SEO Marketing company Pearl Lemon, joins us to share how he discovered his genius in Search Engine Optimization (SEO). His company specializes in generating sales leads for your company, by ranking you first on google's searches. From running ultra-marathons to joining the British Special Forces, Deepak shares how every experience of our lives informs our contribution to each other. You'll learn the importance of mastering processes quickly, the necessity of teamwork, and the key for motivating yourself daily.

On this special episode, I had the privilege of chatting with accomplished actor and close personal friend of Dolph Lundgren, James Chalke. Chalke has had an extremely impressive career, and has proven to be a real renaissance man – former member of the British Special Forces, martial artist, and actor on both the stage and screen. When did Chalke and Lundgren first meet? What has it been like collaborating with Lundgren over the past decade? Which of Chalke’s film roles was the most fun to shoot? What future collaborations do Chalke and Lundgren have in the works? How has the climate of action cinema changed in the past 20 years? How are Lundgren and Chalke working to bring back the glory days of action cinema? And what exactly went down on set of their upcoming zombie thriller, Dead Trigger? Join us as Chalke and answer these and other burning questions. Major thanks to James Chalke for joining me. Please feel free to rate and review the show on Itunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe!

Tribe of Mentors is a new short-form podcast from bestselling author and early-stage investor, Tim Ferriss. This episode features Bear Grylls, one of the most recognized faces of outdoor survival and adventure. Bear spent three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, servings with 21 SAS. It was there that he perfected many of the skills he now showcases on television. His Emmy-nominated show Man vs. Wild/Born Survivor became one of the most-watched programs on the planet with an estimated audience of 1.2 billion. On his hit NBC adventure show Running Wild, he takes some of the world's best-known starts on incredible adventures, including former President Barack Obama, Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, ac Efron, and Channing Tatum. He has authored 20 books, including the #1 best-selling autobiography, Mud, Sweat & Tears.