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Andy Schwartz CEO, OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners  |  Kevin Spahn Founder, Spahn Financial (now OnePoint BFG) Two former Northwestern Mutual advisors, two very different paths. Andy Schwartz and Kevin Spahn share what it takes to build, grow, merge, and create lasting enterprise value. In Summary What separates a successful advisory practice from an enterprise with the ability to grow well beyond its founders? Andy Schwartz and Kevin Spahn offer two different perspectives on that question. Both spent decades at Northwestern Mutual, but their paths eventually diverged. Andy left to help build what is now OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners, an $18B+ firm expected to surpass $20B by year-end. Kevin built one of Northwestern Mutual's top practices before deciding to merge his business into OnePoint and become an equity partner. Louis talks with Andy and Kevin about the decisions behind both journeys: creating a true firm rather than an aggregation of practices, transitioning advisors from 1099 to W-2, using outside capital without relinquishing control, rethinking succession, and determining when equity in a larger enterprise can offer greater opportunity than continuing to build alone. Underlying it all is a factor that's much harder to quantify: trust. The Storyline Andy Schwartz and Kevin Spahn have known each other for roughly 30 years. They met while both were building careers at Northwestern Mutual, where Andy became an important mentor to Kevin as Kevin transitioned from practicing law and estate planning into wealth management. After roughly 30 years at Northwestern Mutual, Andy and his partners left in 2015 with approximately $3B in assets to launch independently. What began as Bleakley Financial eventually became OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners, an $18B+ enterprise that Andy expects will surpass $20B by the end of 2026. That kind of growth required more than attracting assets. Andy describes the evolution from a predominantly 1099 structure into a firm where more than 85% of advisors and AUM are now W-2. The shift created a more cohesive enterprise, gave advisors access to equity, and ultimately positioned OnePoint to bring in minority capital from Joe Duran's Rise Growth Partners. Andy makes an important distinction about that relationship: OnePoint is “private equity invested,” not “private equity owned.” The structure gave the firm capital and expertise while allowing its partners to retain control. Kevin faced a different decision. After more than 30 years at Northwestern Mutual, his practice had grown to 18 people and approximately $2B in assets. He was happy at the firm, but his clients had evolved, his business had become increasingly complex, and the internal succession plan he once envisioned carried risks he could no longer ignore. He could have built an independent firm himself. Instead, he chose to merge with OnePoint. The decision wasn't driven by the largest possible check. Kevin saw the opportunity to become an equity partner in a larger enterprise, give his team and clients a more durable future, and leverage infrastructure he didn't want to recreate himself. For both men, the story ultimately comes back to the same principle: The right economics matter, but sustainable partnerships require trust, shared philosophy, and the belief that everyone involved can create more value together than separately. Topics Covered Building an enterprise versus building a practice Northwestern Mutual and the path to independence OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners' growth from ~$3B to $18B+ Organic growth versus M&A Creating a growth-oriented advisor culture Moving from a 1099 model to a predominantly W-2 structure Equity ownership and advisor alignment Minority private equity investment Rise Growth Partners and Joe Duran Internal succession versus an external merger Selling versus merging an advisory business Merging versus teaming versus going it alone Evaluating equity versus cash in a transaction The economics of leaving a captive firm Centralization versus advisor autonomy Trust as a factor in partnerships and transactions > Download a transcript of this episode… Listen and Learn Highlights for Advisors How did Andy and Kevin's 30-year relationship ultimately lead to a transaction? (04:11)Kevin explains how Andy helped him transition from attorney and estate planner into wealth management, beginning a professional relationship that would eventually make their partnership possible decades later. Why did Andy leave Northwestern Mutual after roughly 30 years? (08:45)Andy describes wanting greater flexibility, a multi-custodial platform, and more optionality for clients and the business—a decision that ultimately led to the creation of OnePoint BFG. Why did Kevin decide his longtime Northwestern Mutual practice needed something different? (15:49)Kevin explains how his clients, service needs, and business evolved over time, while concerns about his original internal succession plan led him to consider a different path. What has driven OnePoint's growth from approximately $3B to $18B+? (21:41)Andy outlines the firm's emphasis on client experience, advisor experience, organic growth, and carefully selected inorganic growth—and why helping advisors grow is fundamental to the model. Why does Andy say OnePoint is a firm rather than an aggregator? (23:54)The distinction comes down to alignment, shared responsibility, centralized resources, equity, and a partnership structure in which advisors are accountable to one another. How did OnePoint convert a predominantly 1099 advisor base into a W-2 enterprise? (29:26)Andy explains why capital and equity became necessary to build the next stage of the business and why trust was essential to bringing advisors into a more integrated structure. Why did OnePoint choose minority private equity investment? (33:13)Andy shares why Rise Growth Partners offered something previous potential buyers had not: a structure designed to benefit the broader advisor partnership while preserving control. Why did Kevin merge with OnePoint rather than shop his practice broadly? (36:43)For Kevin, maximizing price wasn't the objective. His decision centered on trust in Andy, confidence in OnePoint's infrastructure, and creating a strong future for clients and employees. Why did Kevin choose equity in the larger firm instead of simply cashing out? (40:57)Kevin explains why he believes participating in the future growth of a larger enterprise offers a compelling alternative to relying solely on the future growth of his own practice. How should advisors evaluate the “golden handcuffs” that can make leaving difficult? (46:42)Andy argues that the analysis needs to compare what an advisor gives up with the potential growth, economics, equity, and leverage available on the other side. How much conformity does a true enterprise require? (49:06)Andy explains why OnePoint sits somewhere between complete advisor autonomy and complete centralization, seeking enough consistency to create enterprise value without eliminating entrepreneurial flexibility. What would Andy and Kevin tell their younger selves? (52:06)Kevin emphasizes surrounding yourself with the best people possible, while Andy reflects on having the courage to make a difficult change after a successful 30-year run. Key Takeaways Building enterprise value requires more than asset growth. OnePoint's evolution included changing its ownership structure, integrating advisor practices, creating equity opportunities, and investing in centralized capabilities. Organic growth remains central even in an M&A-driven market. OnePoint targets approximately 10% organic growth and evaluates prospective partners partly on whether they are growth-oriented and whether the firm can meaningfully help them grow. A collection of successful advisors does not automatically make a firm. Andy sees shared ownership, alignment, accountability, infrastructure, and centralized services as critical distinctions between an enterprise and an aggregator. Outside capital does not have to mean giving up control. OnePoint chose a minority investment from Rise Growth Partners that provided capital and strategic support while leaving control with its operating partners. Succession can expose risks that growth may obscure. Kevin began reconsidering his internal succession strategy when he recognized its dependence on his continued production, key employees, and the future economics of an aging client base. The highest purchase price isn't always the most valuable transaction. Kevin prioritized equity participation, infrastructure, continuity for his employees and clients, and confidence in his future partners over broadly shopping his business for the highest bid. Trust can determine whether structural change is possible. From OnePoint's 1099-to-W-2 conversion to Kevin's decision to merge, both guests repeatedly point to established trust as the foundation that allowed significant business decisions to happen. https://youtu.be/jkIoynpZj6Y Quotable Moments “The biggest mistake advisors make is they buy their own bullshit.”— Andy Schwartz “We're not an aggregator, we're a firm.”— Andy Schwartz “The biggest issue is trust. Either they trust you or they don't.”— Andy Schwartz “I wasn't looking to sell my business. I was looking to merge it.”— Kevin Spahn “You have to trust them. You have to see that they provide value. And you need to be on the same page philosophically.”— Kevin Spahn “Associate yourselves with the best people you can… It accelerates your trajectory in ways that you can't do on your own.”— Kevin Spahn FAQs Why did Andy Schwartz leave Northwestern Mutual? After approximately 30 years at Northwestern Mutual, Andy and his partners wanted greater flexibility, the ability to operate on a multi-custodial basis, and more optionality for clients and the business. They left in 2015 with approximately $3B in assets and launched the independent firm that ultimately became OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners. How large is OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners? At the time of the interview, Andy says OnePoint manages more than $18B and expects to exceed $20B by the end of 2026, even without additional organic growth. What has driven OnePoint's growth? Andy points to three priorities: client experience, advisor experience, and growth. The firm targets approximately 10% organic growth while also expanding through acquisitions and partnerships with advisors it believes fit the OnePoint model. Why did OnePoint move advisors from 1099 to W-2? The firm wanted to evolve from a platform supporting individual practices into a more integrated enterprise. That required creating firm-level economics and equity that could be used to attract, retain, and align advisors. Today, Andy says more than 85% of OnePoint's advisors and AUM are W-2. What does “private equity invested, not private equity owned” mean? Rise Growth Partners holds a minority, non-controlling interest in OnePoint. The investment provides capital, expertise, and strategic support while the operating partners retain majority ownership and control of the business. Why did Kevin Spahn leave Northwestern Mutual? Kevin says he remained happy at Northwestern Mutual, but his practice and clients had evolved. His work had shifted increasingly toward investments and complex high-net-worth planning, while he also began identifying risks in his intended internal succession plan. Why did Kevin merge with OnePoint rather than launch his own independent RIA? OnePoint already had the infrastructure, people, and capabilities Kevin would have needed to build himself. The merger allowed him to focus on clients while becoming an equity partner in a larger enterprise he believed could grow faster than his standalone practice. Why didn't Kevin shop his practice to multiple buyers? Kevin says his decision was driven primarily by trust. He had known Andy and other OnePoint partners for decades and believed the firm offered the right future for his clients and employees. His choice ultimately came down to staying at Northwestern Mutual or joining OnePoint. How do Andy and Kevin suggest advisors evaluate a potential partner? Their discussion points to three fundamental considerations: trust, demonstrable value, and philosophical alignment. Economics matter, but both argue that a sustainable partnership depends on confidence in the people and business on the other side of the transaction. After approximately 30 years at Northwestern Mutual, Andy and his partners wanted greater flexibility, the ability to operate on a multi-custodial basis, and more optionality for clients and the business. They left in 2015 with approximately $3B in assets and launched the independent firm that ultimately became OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners. At the time of the interview, Andy says OnePoint manages more than $18B and expects to exceed $20B by the end of 2026, even without additional organic growth. Andy points to three priorities: client experience, advisor experience, and growth. The firm targets approximately 10% organic growth while also expanding through acquisitions and partnerships with advisors it believes fit the OnePoint model. The firm wanted to evolve from a platform supporting individual practices into a more integrated enterprise. That required creating firm-level economics and equity that could be used to attract, retain, and align advisors. Today, Andy says more than 85% of OnePoint's advisors and AUM are W-2. Rise Growth Partners holds a minority, non-controlling interest in OnePoint. The investment provides capital, expertise, and strategic support while the operating partners retain majority ownership and control of the business. Kevin says he remained happy at Northwestern Mutual, but his practice and clients had evolved. His work had shifted increasingly toward investments and complex high-net-worth planning, while he also began identifying risks in his intended internal succession plan. OnePoint already had the infrastructure, people, and capabilities Kevin would have needed to build himself. The merger allowed him to focus on clients while becoming an equity partner in a larger enterprise he believed could grow faster than his standalone practice. Kevin says his decision was driven primarily by trust. He had known Andy and other OnePoint partners for decades and believed the firm offered the right future for his clients and employees. His choice ultimately came down to staying at Northwestern Mutual or joining OnePoint. Their discussion points to three fundamental considerations: trust, demonstrable value, and philosophical alignment. Economics matter, but both argue that a sustainable partnership depends on confidence in the people and business on the other side of the transaction. Related Resources Rise and Reinvent: Joe Duran on Building and Rebuilding World-Class Firms From Insurance Sales to $8B RIA: A Northwestern Mutual Breakaway Story The 4th Annual Advisor Transition Report Andy SchwartzCo-Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Executive Officer Andy Schwartz is the Co-Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Executive Officer of OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners, where he also serves as a Wealth Management Advisor. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with more than 40 years of experience, Andy has built his career around helping clients make confident, well-informed financial decisions at every stage of life. He works extensively with physicians and business owners on wealth building, retirement planning, and tax-efficient asset transfer across generations. A 2026 finalist for Wealth Management Awards CEO of the Year (under $25B AUM), Andy brings the same discipline to leading the firm that he brings to client relationships: comprehensive planning, long-term thinking, and an unwavering commitment to independence and integrity. Beyond his client work, Andy is deeply invested in the advisory profession itself. He co-hosts The Advisor’s Compass podcast, offering candid, practical guidance on the business and responsibilities of being an advisor. His mentorship philosophy is straightforward: pass the ladder back down. His industry recognition spans more than a decade, including Top 1,200 Advisor by Barron’s (2018–2024), Top 250 Wealth Advisor and Best-In-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes (2018–2024), Top 400 Financial Advisor by the Financial Times (2018–2020), and Top 100 Independent Advisor (2020–2023). He was named Executive of the Year by NJBIZ in 2019 and was a finalist for the Invest in Others Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 20 years of service with NJ SEEDS. Andy holds a B.S. in Finance and Marketing from Rowan University and is actively involved with Nourish NJ, the Navy SEAL Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, and JSDD. Outside the office, he enjoys golf, reading, and time with his family at the beach.   Kevin SpahnPartner and Wealth Advisor Kevin Spahn is a Partner and Wealth Advisor at OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners, bringing more than three decades of experience in comprehensive financial planning to his clients and the firm. Kevin’s path to wealth management is rooted in the law. After earning degrees from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Wisconsin, he began his career as a practicing attorney before making a deliberate pivot toward financial planning in 1993. He joined Northwestern Mutual, then founded Spahn Financial, building a practice centered on thoughtful, holistic planning for families and business owners. That practice joined OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners in 2025. His approach has remained consistent throughout: help clients build and protect wealth not just for themselves, but for the generations that follow. Kevin works with clients on comprehensive financial plans that account for the full picture, understanding that the impact of good planning extends well beyond an individual portfolio to families, businesses, employees, and the broader community. Kevin is based in the greater Chicago area.   NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. View the transcript of this episode… Build, Grow & Transact: Making the Leap from Northwestern Mutual to a $20B Enterprise A conversation between Louis Diamond, Andy Schwartz, CEO of OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners and Kevin Spahn, Founder of Spahn Financial (now OnePoint BFG). Louis Diamond: Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for financial advisors. Today’s episode is Build, Grow & Transact: Making the Leap from Northwestern Mutual to a $20B Enterprise. It’s a conversation with Andy Schwartz, CEO of OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners, and Kevin Spahn, founder of Spahn Financial, now OnePoint BFG. I’m Louis Diamond, and this is The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors. Mindy Diamond: At Diamond Consultants, we help elite advisors identify the right environment for their businesses to thrive, whether that’s at a wirehouse, boutique, or independent firm. With nearly three decades of experience, we’ve guided thousands of advisors and represented more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in assets transitioned. Each year, one in four advisors managing a billion dollars or more who change firms are our clients. Our process is education-driven and based on building relationships, starting as your strategic partner well before you’re even thinking of a move. To schedule a confidential conversation, call us at 908-879-1002. Wondering why advisors change firms and where they’re headed? Are transition deals going up or down? Those very questions, and more, inspired us to create our annual Advisor Transition Report. It’s the award-winning data-driven resource designed for advisors that connects the dots between the motivations around movement and the firm’s appetite for top talent. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make smart decisions. Download your copy at diamond-consultants.com/transitionreport. Louis Diamond: There’s a big difference between building a successful practice and building an enterprise. I think Andy Schwartz and Kevin Spahn offer a unique perspective on that distinction from two very different sides. Both spent decades in the Northwestern Mutual system. Andy ultimately left to build what became OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners, taking the firm from roughly three billion to nearly 20 billion and transforming just about every aspect of the business along the way. Kevin built one of Northwestern Mutual’s top practices before reaching a different inflection point, deciding what he wanted the next phase of his career and business to look like. Rather than go independent on his own or simply monetize what he had built, he chose to become part of Andy’s growing enterprise. That makes their story particularly relevant for our Build, Grow, and Transact series. Andy can speak to what it takes to build a firm capable of becoming an acquirer, from converting advisors from 1099s to W-2s, to creating equity opportunities, to bringing in outside capital while remaining very deliberate about being private equity-invested rather than private equity-owned. And Kevin brings the seller’s perspective, how you evaluate the economics, the trade-offs, and ultimately the people you’re trusting with the business you spent more than 30 years building. Because whether you’re building, buying, or considering a transaction of any kind, the numbers are only part of the equation. As you hear from both Andy and Kevin, trust may be the most important currency of all. So let’s get to it. Andy and Kevin, thank you so much for both joining us today. Andy Schwartz: Great to see you again, Lewis. Thank you for having us. Louis Diamond: I’ve been excited about this interview for a bunch of reasons. One, our Build, Grow, Transact series has become a real staple of our show and we got lots to talk about there. But also, the friendship, the relationship that you two have had for over 30 years really stood out to me. So before we get into the nuts and bolts, talk about your relationship. How’d you guys meet, and how did your career stay so intertwined together when you’re in different geographies and at different firms, and have each been very successful in your own rights? Andy Schwartz: Sure. Kevin, do you want to start with that? Kevin Spahn: Sure. I started in this career in 1994 and met Andy sometime after that. He was a more advanced financial planner. I was an attorney, and then I transitioned into this business. So when I first joined Northwestern Mutual, which is my first broker dealer, I didn’t really have a background in investments. At the time, a lot of Northwestern Mutual reps were learning the investment business because they maybe originally started with Northwestern Mutual focusing more on insurance planning. My background was more estate planning. At the time, if you think early ’90s, if you did estate planning, insurance often went hand in hand with that. The estate exemption in early 1990s was about $600,000. So if you pass more than $600,000 to your children, there was a 55% tax. One way around it was to put insurance in an irrevocable trust, help cover the tax that way. So it really was a popular common strategy back then, and it’s really what got me into the business. But I quickly realized that I didn’t want my future to be insurance and estate planning. And there was a conflict if you acted as someone’s attorney and sold insurance. So I had to pick one way or the other. I decided long-term it would be better for me to move into the wealth management space. But with that little background in that, I had a lot of work to do. So took a lot of tests, became a certified financial planner. But the person that helped me the most along the way was Andy. We became friends, we sat on committees together. That’s really how we met, I would say. So we worked side by side interacting with our home office and representing the field, bringing issues to the home office that we thought were beneficial to the field. As we did that together, I got to know Andy. And then separately, I learned from him how he built his business and how they would review clients’ portfolios and come up with solutions. So I really credit Andy with helping me more than anyone else to transition from attorney, financial planner doing more estate planning insurance to wealth management. Louis Diamond: Very cool. Hey, I would say, maybe I’m a little biased, that, Kevin, you picked the right path in hanging up the law shingle and coming into wealth management. Kevin Spahn: I tell a lot of people I’m a reformed attorney. Andy Schwartz: Great. Louis Diamond: Exactly. My dad would say the exact same thing. Very common at dinner tables in the Diamond households. Andy Schwartz: I was always grateful that I wasn’t smart enough to be an attorney. Louis Diamond: There we go. Andy Schwartz: That’s where my gratitude lies. Yeah. Louis Diamond: There we go. Andy Schwartz: Some would say he’s too smart. Louis Diamond: There we go. Andy, question for you. I mean, anyone who is at or was at Northwestern Mutual, I mean, you’re like Elvis to them. It’s absolutely crazy the amount of fanfare and brand recognition that you and your brother Scott have. But for those who maybe missed your first podcast appearance with us a number of years ago, or aren’t or weren’t within the Northwestern Mutual system, or haven’t been familiar with Bleakley and now OnePoint BFG, just give us the cliff notes, the origin story, how you got into the business, and how’d you get from here to there? Andy Schwartz: Yeah. So the origin is probably pretty common, probably by accident. Going into my senior year in college, I was working in a restaurant, had a falling out with my boss. I happened to be dating a woman who was living with a general agent with Fidelity Union Life. No one will have ever heard of Fidelity Union Life, but their secret sauce was they sold life insurance to college seniors on a note. So if you can get a $10 money order, because where I went to school, nobody had a checking account, then you could basically get a note signed and they would buy insurance. And then when they graduate, hopefully they’d pay for it. I started selling life insurance my senior year in college. And then my twin brother Scott, who is my partner, and has been for over 40 years, he took an interview with what was the nucleus of our present firm actually. I just went up to Northern New Jersey in May of 1984 because I was an expert. I had been selling life insurance to college kids for six months, so I knew everything you had to know. We met with these guys, and we both ended up joining them. So that was a Northwestern Mutual district agency, and that was 1984. We got licensed right away. I got my CFP in ’86. We always knew that it was going to be about planning. So I think we had the right idea. We were a little ahead of the curve because there weren’t a lot of CFPs in ’86. We got securities license immediately. So before Northwestern had securities license, we got securities license with US Life actually. And then it was really a volume business, a client-building business. We always tried to act as a firm and share resources. We were small, but like a lot of people, we started out selling A shares and B shares and C shares, doing financial planning, selling insurance, and then we made a lot of really good hires along the way. And then after 30 years at Northwestern Mutual, which was a great experience for me, and I have nothing but respect for the institution and certainly the advisors that are there, Kevin certainly was one of them, and I know he feels the same way, but we just wanted to have a little more flexibility. We went independent about 11, almost 12 years ago. We wanted to be able to be multi-custodial. We wanted to have a little bit more optionality for our clients and for ourselves. We left Northwestern at three billion or so in assets, and that was in 2015. It’s in March of 2024, I get introduced to this guy with a crazy accent named Joe Duran. Funny, probably the only person in the industry that had no idea who Joe Duran was me. I’d never heard of Joe Duran. I don’t pay attention. I worry about our firm. I don’t worry about what’s going on outside. So I get introduced to Joe by a mutual friend, and we had an interesting conversation, and it took us probably about four or five months to figure out what we wanted to do. And then in August of ’24, myself and my three partners, we rolled in. And then in ’85, the rest of the firm rolled in. And we can talk a little bit more about that. Today we’re 18-plus billion, growing quite a bit. We’ve been very lucky that we’ve made some very good decisions along the way. We’ve made some bad ones too. But most of the decisions had to do with the people that we hired, the people that we brought on to help us, because I think it’s really important. I always say that the biggest mistake advisors make is they buy their own bullshit, and I try not to, and I realize that I’m smart enough, but I’m certainly not the smartest guy. I’m rarely the smartest guy in the room. So what we try to do is hire lots and lots of really smart people. And we’ve done that. They’ve been loyal to us, we’ve been loyal to them. Yeah, so we’re blessed to have a really great team and lots of good partners. Yeah. Louis Diamond: Yeah, we’ll definitely get into more of the nuts and bolts of the decision to take on capital, partner with Joe Duran’s Rise, but that’s an amazing background. Andy, I have to give you credit because your style, and I think I’m sure there’s business benefits, but it comes from a good place, I’m sure. But the coaching and consulting and just assistance that I’ve heard you provide to so many past and current Northwestern Mutual advisors through sports camps is absolutely incredible. It’s very near and dear to my heart because we always try to lead with education and helping people. So I just wanted to call that out, that your reputation for just providing amazing guidance and coaching to advisors is unparalleled. Andy Schwartz: And it’s been the best part of our journey. We’ve been able to help so many people. We get way too much credit by the way. So everybody gives us way too much credit. But the way I look at it is, I’ve been able to leverage my life because I’ve been able to build a great life for myself and my family, but we’ve been able to leverage that, and that’s where the real gift is. So yeah, it’s been a joyful journey for us. Louis Diamond: Amazing. Kevin, question for you. You walked through your little bit unorthodox background to get into Northwestern. Can you talk about where your personal practice is today? And then I want to ask you about the decision to leave Northwestern and sell and team up with Andy and team. Kevin Spahn: Well, I have to go back to the beginning. What was attractive to me about this business is I went from a career which was confrontational adversarial. I was a trial attorney for six years, and every day I would fight with people over things I didn’t necessarily have a personal interest in and I didn’t really believe in always. But the adversarial confrontational nature wasn’t really my personality, and I would take it too personally. So sometimes I’d go home in a bad mood because I was fighting with somebody taking a deposition. At night, after so many years as a trial attorney, I started going to people’s houses and doing wills and trusts. And that’s where the dynamic of working with a client or a potential client, feeling that you helped them and walking out of the meeting where they would appreciate what you did for them, and you build a relationship and actually all of a sudden have a friend, that dynamic was attractive to me. That’s really what got me to transition into the business. So I think it was really helpful to me at the beginning of this career. As Andy said, we all grew our businesses one client at a time. There’s a lot of doors closed, phones hung up on. There’s many people that don’t want to talk to you. There’s many people that don’t call you back. There’s many people that you think you’re getting somewhere with and you don’t. And that’s difficult for people because people often, young reps take that as personal rejection. I had the benefit of comparing what I was dealing with as a young financial planner to what I had dealt with as an attorney in litigation. I think it just was perspective that I knew I didn’t want to do that anymore. So the negatives to this business didn’t seem that bad to me. I loved the independence. I loved all the relationships that I was building. And that part of it is to this day my favorite part of the business. When you ask about the present, what basically happens is you start out taking anybody and everybody as a potential client or as someone that you would be willing to work with. And then over time you work with more successful people. So where I’m at today is working with pretty successful people, but they’re all the same, meaning we like working with nice people. If people are nice, we work with them. I feel we can help anybody. Over the years, one client at a time. The thing that I probably, if I could go back, would change is I think Andy and I are both good at meeting people and building trust and providing value, so that’s why they work with us. So I think that’s just something we’ve both been able to do. He’s much better than I am at building an organization. So I built an organization basically hiring people, that whenever we got too busy, I hired another person. Drawback in terms of that is, anybody that I interview I think is great, and I think they’d be great to join the organization. I like them all. In spite of that, I’ve also brought in many good people that I love. At this point, my firm has 18 people. We’re a little subset of Andy’s larger firm. I think one of the most attractive things to me about joining Andy’s firm is what Andy mentioned before: the people. As opposed to me having to build this all out myself, going independent, Andy already did that. And he has the infrastructure that would allow me to just merge right into that and not have to go through the pain of figuring all that out, which I don’t even think I’m capable of, to be honest with you. Louis Diamond: You’re probably selling yourself short because the way I understood it, you had one of the top practices within the entire Northwestern Mutual systems, and it’s a firm filled with very successful advisors. For you, Kevin, what was the driving force to leaving NM after all these years? What was bothering you or frustrating you that indicated to you that it was time to do something different? Kevin Spahn: To be honest with you, I was pretty happy at Northwestern Mutual. I love the company and the people. I still have many good friends there that I truly miss. The big thing for me, I don’t know if it was any one thing, to be honest with you, is Andy said there’s optionality, especially on the investment side. I think one of the things that happened to me is, when I first started, I was 31 years old, and most of the potential clients that I would meet and work with, they weren’t what I would call today great investment clients. They didn’t have a lot of money. They had great futures. They might’ve been earning significant income or on the way to earning significant income. So what did they need at that point in their life? They needed planning. They needed protection. They didn’t really need investment management because most of their investments were going into their 401(k). But a lot of those clients that we would take on, and I think that’s the big advantage of Northwestern Mutual, you take on clients that a lot of the investor firms don’t want because they don’t have large investment portfolios. But at some point down the road, all of a sudden you wake up and they do have large investment portfolios. So you bring them in as clients that might buy life insurance from you or disability insurance or something like that. And then you help them, and you give them advice, and you build a relationship with them. Down the road, they make more and more money. They leave jobs, they roll 401(k)s, they have the ability to invest money, stock options, things like that. Next thing you’re doing more comprehensive planning that incorporates investments. As that progresses even further, you work with larger and larger clients, much more significant net worth, more complexity, bigger tax issues. Some of the strategies and opportunities that we now have at this independent RIA are very attractive for these high-net-worth clients. Along the same lines, less of what I do at this point in my career is insurance, mostly because a lot of the people that I meet are older, they already bought insurance, they’re looking more for investment advice as opposed to insurance. So one of the things that most attracted me to Northwest Mutual was their strong insurance products, which helped me for many years. As time went on, I was doing less of that. Louis Diamond: Makes complete sense. So it was a changing of what clients wanted and just the circumstances of your clients where you said, “What got me here when I was 31 was insurance planning, and that’s what my clients needed. But as my practice has evolved, I’ve aged, my clients are older, have more money, the focus shifted from insurance to investments.” And then the distinction was, am I at the best place to run investments in addition to insurance planning, et cetera? It’s a very interesting dynamic. Just the shift in basically your legacy clients was what drove you to consider change. Kevin Spahn: That was a big factor. I think the second big factor was I had my own firm with 18 people. My succession plan was that at some point I would shift ownership of the firm to people that worked with me. So as they owned more of the firm, they would have revenue that was currently at the time being paid to me. In my mind, as it shifted to them, they would buy me out using revenue from the clients that we already had. And I realized that there were some issues with that. In our business, as you get older, in your client’s age, they start taking money out of their portfolios. So everyone understands that in our business, the younger average age client you have makes your book more valuable. I was the biggest driver of new business at my firm, and I started to see that there were some problems with my succession plan. They included, if something happened to me during this succession, that would be a real problem for the people that were buying my business from me if I went that way. If something happened to some of my key people, that would’ve been a problem as well. So it was really attractive to me to… I wasn’t looking to sell my business, I was looking to merge it. So I merged it with Andy’s business. I believe that Andy and what he’s put together and the actual idea of having partners. So I never really had partners, but now I do. Having partners that we’re all on the same page, we all have similar backgrounds, we all bring something different to the table, and we can learn and benefit from working with each other. But also, owning a little piece of a much larger firm was, number one, it put me in a better position in terms of the potential risk of something happening to me or one of my key people. But secondly, I just think it’s more likely to grow at a greater pace than my firm would’ve as I aged from my 60s to my 70s. Louis Diamond: Very interesting. It’s a great realization. I think it’s one that probably every firm owner grapples with at some point, is the romanticism or the ease, some would say, of an internal succession plan. Rewarding those who have helped you build the firm is something I think everyone is interested in. But once that’s put into practice, whether it’s because of capital or sky-high valuations or right people on the bus or risk, et cetera, nowadays oftentimes leads to a firm owner looking at a transaction, whether it’s a merger, a sale, a private equity, capital infusion as a means to solve for succession. So it’s a very interesting way you framed it. Andy, I want to turn it over to you for a little bit. So you mentioned when you launched Bleakley Financial, which was the old name of your firm, out of Northwestern, you’re about three billion. I think I read that you’re about 10 billion or so when Joe Duran and Rise invested you in 2024. You just said you’re at 18 billion now in the middle of 2026. That is absolutely incredible and amazing. Andy Schwartz: We’ll be well over 20 by the end of the year without any additional organic growth. Louis Diamond: That’s absolutely incredible. Andy Schwartz: We’ve got a lot going on right now. Louis Diamond: What’s actually driven that? What’s been the playbook? Andy Schwartz: The three areas that are most important for us, and we had our town hall this morning, and we always talk about the things we focus on as a group, the first and most important is the client experience. I always say to people, if you are their advisor, then that means someone else isn’t. These people, they all deserve to be really well taken care of. They deserve the best service, they deserve the best advice. So that’s something we take really personally. So client experience first. Then we also understand that we don’t just work for clients, we work for our advisors. So I have two jobs. I have, I don’t know, 500 clients I service with my team, and I work for Kevin and 36 other partners and all of our employees. Because again, I recognize that the decision Kevin made… We’re in the middle of a transition out with another advisor, and we pretty much talk to her every day, and I know how hard this is. A transition is so difficult. When you come from a good place, because any of the Northwestern advisor who joins, they’re coming from a good place, it’s not like they have to go anywhere, it’s difficult. So we have the massive responsibility that three or four or five or 10 years from now, that there better be hugs around that this was the best decision ever made or otherwise. That’s the kind of thing that keeps me up at night. So we’ve got to take care of our client experience, we’ve got to take care of our advisor experience. And then obviously, we’ve got to grow the firm so the firm grows organically. So part of this whole idea of serving our advisors is we have to help our advisors grow. I talk to a lot of people on the acquisition side, and if I’m talking to an advisor, it doesn’t matter how big they are, we kind of think of it as a OnePoint way. There’s flexibility in the OnePoint way. But if I can’t help them grow, I don’t want them, because I say it all the time, I’m not the mafia. I’m not here to get a taste. Louis, if you weren’t interested in joining us, if I thought that we could help you grow by doing that, then I want you bad. If I don’t think I can help you grow because we’re so different, or because you’re not going to adapt what we do, or there’s no leverage in it, or you’re already better than we are, I don’t want it. So for us, organic growth, number one, and I think you know the industries well enough, that’s got to be the key. We shoot for 10% organic growth. We’re at a little over 5% so far halfway through the year. So assuming we have the similar second half of the year, we’ll hit our 10. Last year we’re at 7.5%. The second is the inorganic growth. If you truly build a platform, if you truly build a firm that advisors know that they’ll be supported, that they’ll be loved, and you’ll help them grow their businesses, it does make it easier for us. We’re not the highest bidder typically. We can’t. We respect our client’s capital, we respect their equity, so therefore we’re not going to go out there. We’re not an aggregator, we’re a firm. But I think that if we can get that message across, and I think we have, then advisors join us. So that’s been a big part of the growth. And then the market’s helped. Obviously, over the last two years, the market’s been helpful. So that’s how we’ve gone from 10 to 18 and on our way to 22 by year-end. Louis Diamond: This is absolutely incredible. Any advisor or firm owner would say organic growth is important, but just saying it’s important doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. So what are the ways in which you help your advisors or your own practice grow organically? What is it that OnePoint is doing for your advisors? Andy Schwartz: Starting with bringing on growth-oriented advisors. I mean, look, Kevin Spahn and I come from the same place. We learned how to sell. The great thing about coming out of whether they’re broker dealers or out of the different insurance BDs is, these are people that know how to sell. These are people that don’t think that selling is a bad word. A lot of times you go to the wirehouses and they’re not necessarily sales guys. They’re really smart. They think that they’re investment mavens and investment geniuses. I’m not interested in investment geniuses. I’m interested in people that want to take care of their clients, provide everything they can, clients first, do the proper planning, be good advisors, but they’re growth-oriented. So as long as we’re talking with the right advisors. Again, if I’m talking to advisor and they might have a big practice, if they’re not growers, we’re not interested. There’s a sense of responsibility for all the partners because we are a true partnership. It’s not an aggregation. This is a firm. I’m responsible for Kevin. Kevin’s responsible to me. All of our partners are responsible to each other, because if we’re going to do a 10% organic growth target, and if some partner is negative 3%, we don’t put them through the spanking machine, but everybody is very aware of where everybody is and nobody wants to let their partners down. I think either you’re a growth-oriented advisor or you’re a zoo-fed bear. There’s another expression that I got from another Rise Growth Partner or Rise Growth firm. We all kind of communicate and talk to each other. And I was talking about zoo-fed bears, and he said, we call them house cats that think they fight. So they’re house cats, but they have no claws. But I think if you’re careful about who you bring on as partners, and if they are workers, growers, they understand that their job in life is to serve the people. We talk about referrals, we do lots of training to help on referrals. We work on organic growth strategies from the firm, but a lot of it comes from the advisors themselves. Louis Diamond: Makes sense. So it sounds like, to boil it down, it’s being really selective and having a really clear sense of who’s the right fit for your firm. Not that there’s not amazing advisors out there, but just because you’re an amazing advisor, doesn’t mean you’re the right fit to join OnePoint. Andy Schwartz: I think the one big distinction and difference is other than the fact that we are minority-owned with private equity. So we own our business. I mean, I’m the CEO of the firm. I also have the biggest book in the firm. At least for right now, I mean, Kevin was transitioning, so I’m sure next year he’ll be the leading advisor. But I lead the firm, because as far as I’m concerned, you have to lead by example. We are completely aligned. I know exactly what Kevin does every day because I do the same thing. I’m not some attorney or accountant or private equity boss that’s saying, “Oh, I’ve got an idea for growth. We’ll just raise our fees by 5%.” Brilliant. Yeah, we are completely aligned, all of us. I think that makes us a little bit unique, and it really helps us, I think, in our growth trajectory. Louis Diamond: I would agree. The challenge that a lot of advisors-turned-firm-owners or turned-enterprise-builders have is the tug of war between the client work, which either is their ultimate passion and driving force, or it’s something they’re really good at minimum, versus being the owner, the operator, et cetera. I resonate very much, Andy, with the way you handle it. I do the same thing running a company, but also working with advisors. To me, I need to do both in order to do my job well. But that tug of war is tough. So I’m curious, your firm is very large now, you’re a steward of external capital, and you have a $3 billion book yourself. How do you do it? How do you balance the two? Andy Schwartz: Well, fortunately, my kids are grown, so I’m not coaching sports anymore. So I do have a little more time than most. Look, we have a great team. So the idea that I run the firm… I mean, I lead the firm, I don’t run the firm. We have great partners. We have great… Our manager team is fantastic. So I mean, they really run the firm. But this is where my passion is for now. So I don’t mind. Days are typically pretty long. I don’t play golf during the week. Mara and I don’t travel probably as much as we should. Vacations are always a little bit mixed. There’s always room for calls and meetings and whatever. But to me, I mean, I’m grateful to be in this situation. I’m enjoying it. This is such a privilege to be the person that people recognize as the leader of this bunch, of this group. I mean, it is the honor of my life. So I don’t think of it so much as work. It’s my advocation. It does get busy. There are some times where I have to remind myself, “Just enjoy the ride.” I get a little overwhelmed, but I get lots of help and that makes it possible. Louis Diamond: Yep. If you’re not doing the job of the folks that you’re encouraging and leading to do, how do you have fodder to train them, to teach them, to empathize with that? Andy Schwartz: Exactly, you don’t have the credibility. I can ask them to do almost anything because they know I do it myself, and I think that helps. Louis Diamond: Yep. So moving more into the decision to bring on private equity capital, what I thought was probably the most interesting component of your announcement that you took on PE investment was that you completely restructured or reoriented your firm prior to Joe Duran coming in 2024. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Bleakley Financial Group was almost all 1099 contractors. So everyone owned their own books of business, paid Bleakley a fee or an override for certain services. But now, today, over 85% of your advisors and your AUM are W-2 employees, meaning you converted them from 1099 to acquiring them or merging with them. To me, that’s the dream. It’s had to have been very, very, very hard and challenging because there’s so many aggregator firms or platforms that support independent advisors, but the value that they’ve created is fairly minimal relative to one cohesive firm. So can you just talk about that decision, a very big and brave decision to go down the path of acquiring or merging with the practices rather than letting them continue to operate independently? Andy Schwartz: Well, look, we had to… It’s funny because we had been having conversations for years with consultants, and they kept telling us what we had to do. Again, we’re not that smart, so we just kept thinking, “No, we don’t have to do that.” But we were told 10 years earlier that the only way that this thing has any value to the world is you’ve got to have EBITDA for the firm. We talked to all the smart people, we ignored all of them. But what happened was we needed capital and we needed equity in order to bring people on, because people aren’t just joining us just because we can help them grow a bigger business. So the reason we went in the direction we went initially was we just needed capital. We wanted to grow the firm, and the only way we were going to get to is… What’s the old saying? What got us here is not going to get us there. So we needed capital. But we also realized that I had to have something I could sell in the marketplace. And people want equity. So they want cash, but they also want equity, because we’re talking to entrepreneurs. Kevin owned his own firm. He has $2 billion of assets. He wasn’t interested in being someone’s employee, but he was interested in being able to get leverage and be a partner and share equity in a larger firm that had the chance to grow even more. So what the gift that Joe Duran, the Rise folks gave us was that gift of structure and understanding. So that was really helpful, and that’s been a big part of our success. Louis Diamond: Yeah, it’s an amazing journey. Again, I think you could probably write a book or a case study on how that happened. I’m sure there were some downfalls, some people that weren’t all that excited about it, but the results speak for itself. Andy Schwartz: I think people ask all the time because I do get phone calls. People are trying to do this, and they’re struggling. It took us 90 days to basically do it. People say, “I’ve been at this for two years.” And the biggest issue is trust. Either they trust you or they don’t. At the end of the day, I always went to the advisor here, we were a firm for 30-plus years prior, and these guys knew that we always did what we said we were going to do, and we always did. If your people trust you, then you can do it. If your people don’t trust you, it isn’t going to work. Louis Diamond: In other words, your firm added immense value to the advisors as well. Aside from trust, if you weren’t providing a service or services that they found a value that they couldn’t access on their own, it would’ve been 85/15 going the other way for sure. Andy Schwartz: Yeah, 100%. I know it’s not easy, but it wasn’t that hard for us. Louis Diamond: Good. It’s well-earned. So I believe you were Rise Growth Partners’ first investment. Andy Schwartz: We were. Louis Diamond: That’s cool. It’s exciting. You get to be someone’s first, but did it make you uncomfortable that you were the first investment or did you see that as a positive? Andy Schwartz: I actually saw it as a positive. Well, one, because I recognized immediately that Joe Duran and his team were way smarter than we were certainly, and certainly with what we were trying to do. And I figured that it’s almost like the first child. They were so excited to have somebody, and there was so much time and energy, so they just really doted on us. They were really able to help us. Now they’ve got four or five groups that they work with, and obviously we’ve been launched. So the younger babies are getting more time and attention, although we get everything that we need from them. But yeah, that never concerned me. I always thought that would be our advantage. It actually turned out that way. Louis Diamond: Interesting. In thinking through a sale or a minority sale, did you entertain other types of capital, whether it was a family office or a multitude of other private equity sponsors or selling the firm outright? Andy Schwartz: Yeah, we probably had four or five very, very serious conversations. Actually, some got pretty close to the end where we basically just made the decision not to do it. One was a much larger firm, good people. But the problem always was… I was always going to get rich out of the deal because it was going to be 100% sale, but there was really no lift or leverage from the advisors. So the principals, they were willing to pay me a big multiple and my partners a big multiple, and pay these guys basically an average multiple. So we had always told our guys, “Let’s stay together, and someday, this thing, whatever it’s going to turn into be, will benefit everyone.” So with the Duran situation and the deal with Rise did, it gave everybody a chance to benefit from what we were doing. But what was good about all of those false starts was, it taught me a lot because I had… I know you’re involved in this, so you know better than I do, but we’d start conversations, somebody would reach out to me, I would be very specific about what I needed. They would say, “Yep, we can do that.” And then you get to the finish line, and it’s almost like, I started out, I wanted a tomahawk steak and a baked potato, and I ended up getting a two-day-old hamburger with some cold French fries. It’s like, I know I’m not that smart and I know you’re the PE guys, but for God’s sakes, we’re not stupid. So it was funny because in January of ’24, I told my partners, “I don’t want to have any more of these conversations. It was a waste of time and energy. I’m sick of talking to these people. Let’s just put our heads down, and then let’s grow the firm a little bit more, and then we’ll see what the world looks like.” And then I get introduced to Duran. Louis Diamond: Perfect. Makes sense. Yeah, so you were well-educated on the market, the types of buyers, and I always say it’s almost more important to understand what you don’t want more than what you do want. The only way oftentimes to understand what you don’t want is to experience it and touch and feel it and really get into the weeds on it. I like too, Andy, I saw in an article, you said that “we’re private equity invested, we’re not private equity owned,” which is a very cool dynamic. I could imagine why that was important to you to retain majority control. Kevin, I want to bring you back into the conversation. Thank you for being patient here. But I mean, I would imagine you had some real choices. I mean, you could have stayed at Northwestern and been very successful, gone through with your internal succession plan. You could have gone to an independent BD, monetized, figured out succession later. You could have sold the business to a strategic acquirer. You were big enough to take on an investor in some capacity on your own. So options wasn’t your problem. Maybe just walk us through. Did you consider any other pathways? And what were the pros and cons in your mind that led you to doing a transaction with Andy? Kevin Spahn: I’m a little different, I think, than most people in this industry. Even as you grow your business at a certain percentage, none of that stuff has ever really meant anything to me. All I know is I like what I do. So when I came into the business, because I like it, I enjoy it, I spend time doing it, I’ve tried to get better at it. But it comes naturally because it’s something that I don’t look at Monday mornings as, “Oh, no, it’s Monday morning.” I’m excited to go to work. My entire career, once I left law, my business has just grown over the years naturally. But you said something before, Louis, and I think this applies to me. I love to work with the clients. I don’t like what I have to do in terms of running the firm. I never have. It’s never been my cup of tea, but you have to do it if you run a firm. So number one, the thought of all the due diligence that I would have to do to research all the firms out there, I wasn’t really all that interested in doing that. At the end of the day, it comes down to this word trust. I trust Andy. I trust the other partners here too, because I’ve known not just Andy, but I’ve known Scott and many of the other partners for years. So I knew what I was getting myself into. At the end of the day, I knew what they built. I was very comfortable with it, and I was either going to stay at Northwestern Mutual or I was going to come here, but I wasn’t going to go anywhere else. I will say, since I’ve gone, it’s been exactly like I thought. I thought I trusted Andy. And if something happened along the way with the transition, everything that he said has been true, thing that he promised is real. As you deal with more complexities with a bigger book and more and more employees, I knew that I was almost at the breaking point in terms of my own organization and to merge into this organization that, as I said before, he’s already built out. I don’t have to do it. And to benefit from these great people that he has as part of his organization, that’s all been a real blessing for me and my team. So I didn’t shop the marketplace really, but I knew what I was getting into, and it’s worked out clear as I thought it would. Louis Diamond: That’s amazing. I think that’s what most people would covet. But it is a decision in and of itself to not shop the marketplace. I mean, from representing buyers or prospective buyers, I know the pricing leverage or the negotiation leverage and the valuation lift that comes from having an open market, having multiple bids, et cetera. It sounds like that wasn’t the… Obviously you wanted to get fair value for your firm, but for you, it was more, it’s trust, “I’m either going to just stay at Northwestern, which is the devil I know or it’s what I’ve known where I’ve been successful, or I’m going to go to the individual that I trust and forget about all the other noise.” Kevin Spahn: Well, Andy says things, but I know they’re true because I’ve seen him at work. I’ve seen how he’s acted. I’ve seen how he interacts with people. But here’s an example. He cares about the people that are at his firm. He says that, but I know it’s true because I see it. I’m the same. I really care about the people in my firm. So as I think about, well, what about the future of two groups, my clients, but also the people that work in my firm? They’re going to be around long after I am. Well, I don’t want myself to retire someday, get a big check, because there’s all sorts of options to get a check. If I get a check and then my client’s scatter to the wind, and my employees don’t really have a future and they just have to go and find their own way, that wasn’t attractive at all to me. So one of the things that I really appreciate about this opportunity is that there is a plan for both my clients and my employees or the younger team members at formerly Spahn Financial, where I feel very good about the fact that they have a solid, secure future in an industry that they’ve all grown to love without them having to go out and make their own way. Louis Diamond: Makes sense to me. We noted a couple of times in this interview, you talked about equity, partnership, both of you have. So Kevin, for you, what did it mean differently for you to become a partner and get equity in a larger firm rather than, we’ll say, the less risky move of just taking everything in cash? Why was that an important distinction for you? Kevin Spahn: For many years, when I left law and came into this business, I didn’t have any money at the time. I was just starting to make money as a lawyer. It takes a while. I started low. I got trial experience working for the government, so they didn’t pay much. That was three years. Then I was at a firm, and I was just starting to make more money. Then I made this big shift into a career tha

What if the very qualities that make you exceptional are also putting your long-term health and career at risk?In this episode of the Optimising Human Performance Podcast, Martin Jones sits down with strength and conditioning coach Rob Wilson, whose clients include elite athletes, firefighters and the US Special Operations community. They explore why high performers are so good at pushing through fatigue, pain and stress—and why that's often exactly what leads to burnout, injury and declining performance later on.Rob shares his powerful "Check Engine Light" framework for recognising early warning signs before they become career-ending problems, discusses the hidden costs of constantly ignoring your body's signals, and offers practical ways to build performance longevity without sacrificing excellence.For people working in defence, emergency services, elite sport, healthcare, leadership or any high-performance profession, this conversation will change how you think about resilience, recovery and sustainable performance. What You'll LearnWhy high performers often become experts at ignoring the very signals that matter most. The difference between performing well today and performing well for decades. Why burnout, injury and breakdown rarely happen overnight. How Rob's "Check Engine Light" analogy helps identify early warning signs. Why "self-care" often fails with high-performing professionals and the language that works instead. How to think about recovery as performance longevity rather than weakness. The hidden costs of relying on caffeine, nicotine and other performance aids. Where wearable technology can genuinely help and where it can mislead. About Rob WilsonRob Wilson is a Human Performance Specialist with over twenty years of experience in manual therapy, coaching, and education. His work spans multiple avenues within health and human performance, including the creation of global seminars and curricula, the development of best practices, and the registration of several trademarks.Over the last decade, Rob has been a pioneer in researching and applying breath control practices for both health and high-level performance. He has shared his work with organisations such as the UFC Performance Institute, ALTIS, and U.S. and Allied Special Forces.For the past two years, Rob has worked closely with the Navy SEAL Foundation as a regular consultant, with his Check Engine Light classes serving as a component of the Continue Mission/Warrior Fitness Program. Beyond his professional work, Rob is a lifelong martial artist and surfer, as well as a devoted husband and father. When he's not buried in research, you can usually find him on the mats, in the water, or at home with his wife and their many animals.Useful Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/thecheckenginelight/?hl=enhttps://www.thecheckenginelightbook.com/https://www.wilsonhealthandperformance.com/ Chapters02:08 Effort Vs Rest03:50 Debt Collector Moment05:05 Managing Performance Costs06:48 Nicotine as Compensation09:14 Rituals and Reset Systems11:17 Rob Wilson Background13:36 Self Care Reframed16:14 Sleep and Longevity Costs19:34 Cost Less to Be You20:39 Check Engine Light Concept22:59 Dashboard Signals and Maintenance26:43 Toughness and Dissociation30:08 Finding Better Indicators31:41 M3 Mind Movement Matter33:53 Building Awareness Habits35:24 Wearables and Calibration41:15 HRV Scores and Context44:56 Wrap Up and Next Steps45:52 Love the Long GameAbout the PodcastFor more expert-led conversations delivering evidence-based strategies to help you perform, recover, and adapt in high-pressure environments, check out our website https://www.ophp.co.uk/If you found this podcast valuable, please take a moment to rate, share & review. If you have feedback, guest suggestions or topics that you'd love us to cover, then do email us at info@ophp.co.uk or connect with us on LinkedIn. ProductionEdited and produced by Bess ManleyThanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.This podcast is for people who can't afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:www.ophp.co.ukConnect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/Instagram: @ophumanperformanceIf you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Stumpf spent 17 years as a Navy SEAL, including as a SEAL Team 6 Operator. During a combat deployment in Iraq, he was shot at close range by an AK-47. He returned to the battlefield six months later, and went on to earn 5 Bronze Star Medals with Valor and the Purple Heart before being medically retired in 2013. Post-military, he has set two wingsuit world records, jumping from 36,500 feet and flying over 18 miles to raise $1 million for the Navy SEAL Foundation. Today, he is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, host of Cleared Hot Podcast, and author of Drownproof.Show Sponsors:Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get 20% off with promo code DALTON at https://www.shopmando.com Try Rho Nutrition today and experience the difference of Liposomal Technology. Use code DALTON for 20% OFF everything at https://www.rhonutrition.com/discount/daltonTake Cheers Restore after your last drink or before going to bed and wake up feeling at least 50% better — or your money back. For a limited time our listeners are getting 20% off their entire order at https://www.cheershealth.com/DALTON Go to https://hellofresh.com/DALTON10FM to Get 10 free meals + a free Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third boxAndy's Links:Drownproof: https://www.clearedhotpodcast.com/book Cleared Hot Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ClearedHotPodcastIG: https://www.instagram.com/andystumpf212Dalton's Links:Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/daltonfischerpodcast Personal IG:  https://www.instagram.com/daltonfischer 00:00 | Intro15:48 | Childhood26:54 | Joining the Military39:30 | The #1 Reason People Quit Navy SEAL Training47:08 | BUD/S01:10:40 | DEVGRU Pre Screening 01:22:47 | SEAL Team 6 Selection (Green Team)01:31:50 | Hooded Box Drill01:36:13 | ST6 Vs Delta Force Selection01:39:23 | Cruise Ship Takedowns01:46:28 | High Risk SERE School01:55:39 | Gold Squadron 02:06:13 | Hostage Rescue02:13:35 | Getting Shot02:24:07 | Deploying with Delta Force02:34:41 | Mental Health02:48:38 | Andy talking to his kids about Charlie Kirk02:53:33 | The Javelin Missile03:05:10 | Death of Andy's Mom03:24:03 | Leaving the Military03:33:33 | BASE jumping & Wingsuit Jumping03:46:39 | Directionally Correct 03:49:35 | Being Decisive & Problem Solving03:53:32 | Choose Your Friends Wisely03:57:20 | How to be a Good Judge of Character03:59:10 | Negative Self Talk04:09:01 | Doing Hard Things 04:13:09 | Ask For Help

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Daniel Patton—serial entrepreneur, Olympic alternate, and descendant of General George S. Patton—for a raw conversation about resilience, pain, and building success through adversity. From living in storage sheds to launching multi-billion dollar products, Daniel shares hard-won lessons on accountability, facing fear, and why the only way through hardship is straight ahead. Episode Highlights [1:44] The Patton Legacy - Daniel reveals his connection to General George S. Patton and how his father was a Navy SEAL, plus how he discovered his family's military heritage. [8:08] From Poverty to the Olympics - Growing up in cars and storage sheds, Daniel found his path through Taekwondo and became an Olympic alternate at age 12 for the 1988 Seoul Games. [21:33] The Only Way Through is Through - Daniel shares his philosophy on conquering fear by running directly at it, from shark diving to business challenges. [67:10} Revolutionary Pain Relief Product - Daniel discusses his latest venture: a breakthrough pain relief compound that reverses arthritis, developed over 10 years with top product developers. Daniel Patton is a serial entrepreneur and product developer with over $6 billion in annual product sales worldwide. The great-grandson of legendary General George S. Patton, Daniel overcame extreme poverty and homelessness to become an Olympic alternate in Taekwondo at age 12. He's launched over 100 products, built multiple hundred-million and billion-dollar companies, and is a former Olympic athlete, model, and actor. Daniel is passionate about supporting military charities including the Navy SEAL Foundation and sharing his entrepreneurial journey to help others succeed.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.

Former Navy SEAL Todd Ehrlich shares his path from intense SEAL training and deployments to corporate security, entrepreneurship, and venture investing in defense tech. The episode covers BUD/S stories, transitions to civilian life, founding businesses (including Kill Cliff), supporting the Navy SEAL Foundation, and practical career advice for veterans. Todd also discusses mentorship, networking, and why combining tenacity with curiosity can lead to success in business and giving back to the military community. _________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #SEAL #NavySEAL #mentors4mil #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil Opening music, "Sad Slow Orchestra" is by Ribhav Agrawal on Pixabay Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

Today, we have a special episode recorded in Southern California just after Veterans Day.We gathered the day before the unforgettable 4th Annual Torchbearer Ball, hosted by VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions), which raised $960,000 for veterans and families with its continued mission to end veteran suicide and support psychedelic-assisted therapy.My four guests discuss this critical time, and we dial in on the progress and the specific need to expand this care and research. You'll hear from Marcus Capone, Retired Navy SEAL and co-founder of VETS; Amber Capone, co-founder of VETS, Home Base PAT clinician, and actor Eliza Dushku Palandjian; and COO of Home Base, Michael Allard.We also talk about the impact of PAT for veteran health, from suicide prevention to brain health, in the new documentary, In Waves and War, just released on Netflix, brought to the screen by award-winning directors Jon Schenk and Bonni Cohen. The Washington Post just released its Top 10 movies of 2025, listing this film at #7.  So, if you are tuning into this podcast, you will want to see this movie!Home Base is also excited and honored to become the newest member of the VALOR Coalition (Veterans Alliance for Leadership, Outreach, and Recovery), alongside VETS, the Navy SEAL Foundation, the Green Beret Foundation, and the Wounded Warrior Project. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for the Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families. Our team sees veterans, service members, and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation. To learn more about how to help, visit us at www.homebase.org. If you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests on the Home Base Nation podcast are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation, or any of its officials.

"Don't just give stuff—give gifts that elevate people, spark joy, build skills, and align with your values." — Kristen Olson Welcome to the first annual KO's Favorite Things Holiday Gift Guide — a curated, mission-driven list of wellness, fitness, lifestyle, and mindset gifts that KO personally uses, loves, and endorses (not paid ads!). In this episode, Kristen breaks down her top intentional gift ideas across fitness, recovery, skincare, nutrition, mindfulness, local Colorado businesses, and more. holiday gift guide transcript This guide focuses on purposeful, meaningful gifting—supporting mission-driven brands, investing in yourself, and elevating the people you love with items and experiences that spark wellness, confidence, community, and joy. Featuring: -Local Colorado gems -Small businesses -Female founders, veteran-owned brands & mission-led creators -Fitness & recovery staples KO uses every week -Mental health & self-regulation tools -Coaching & personal development gift ideas Whether you're shopping for family, friends, athletes, entrepreneurs, parents, your CrossFit crew… or yourself — this episode delivers intentional, values-based gift inspiration for 2025 and beyond. TimeStamps: 00:00 – Turmeric & Tequila show intro + music 00:31 – KO welcomes you + introduces "KO's Favorite Things" / Holiday Gift Guide 01:07 – Why intentional, mission-driven gifting matters (supporting local + values-based brands) 02:43 – How the list works (quick, tight list – not Oprah-level, price ranges, everyday-use items) 03:00 – Gift A: Colorado Clownfish Swim School – life skills through sports, drowning prevention, private lesson packages, Black Friday/year-long options 05:11 – Gift B: Declan James Watches – Navy SEAL–inspired, legacy brand, donation to Navy SEAL Foundation, KO's dad's retirement watch 06:40 – Gift C: Legion Athletics – why KO finally chose a supplement partner, science-backed formulas, KO's KOFIT code, protein/recharge/pre-workout bundles 07:44 – Gift D: Anaconda Braces – jiu-jitsu–born functional braces KO uses for CrossFit, ACL history, sizing tips & durability 09:34 – Gift E: NutriLax Fiber – gut health, microbiome support, travel staple, staying regular & full, wellness routines 11:09 – Gift F: Element 26 – grips, belts, accessories; why quality gear matters in training & competition 12:40 – Gift G: KO's Amazon Storefront – curated list of everything KO really uses (home, beauty, fitness, dog, hot tub life) 13:49 – Gift H: KO Alliance Performance Coaching – coaching spots opening for 2026, goal-setting, core values, varsity human training 15:48 – Gift I: AAFE Aesthetics (Kaitlyn) – science-based aesthetics, microneedling, Botox, peels, feeling refreshed going into the new year 17:01 – Gift J: Bladium CrossFit – KO's home gym, community pillar, memberships, intro classes, CrossFit myths, why community matters 18:28 – Gift K: Love Tuner – breathwork & 528hz meditation device KO uses on dog walks, nervous system regulation, mental health tool 19:11 – Gift L: Jackie Miller Nutrition Coaching – KO's only nutrition coach, whole-human approach, January programs, leveling up nutrition 20:00 – KO on not "just giving stuff": gifts that build skills, spark joy, support health, wellness, community & values 20:55 – Listener CTA: share fave holiday workouts, foods, wellness hacks & best gifts + episode wrap Kristen M. Olson ("KO") is a performance coach, entrepreneur, 5x CrossFit Games athlete, and host of the Turmeric & Tequila™ podcast—ranked in the top 2% globally. A lifelong leader and former Division-1 athlete, KO brings her signature blend of grit, humor, and "varsity human" energy to every space she steps into. She's the Founder of KO Alliance, a culture-marketing and strategic partnership consultancy and pup mom of 3! Her mission: empower mission-driven humans to question a better way, build community, and show up as their whole, authentic selves. @madonnashero @koalliance @turmerictequila Connect with T&T: IG: @TurmericTequila Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com Host: Kristen Olson IG: @Madonnashero Tik Tok: @Madonnashero Website: www.KOAlliance.com WATCH HERE MORE LIKE THIS: https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF   https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH

"You don't have to get ready if you stay ready — and this checklist is one small way to protect your mindset when the unknown hits." -Kristen Olson In Part 3 of the Rabdo Podcast Series, KO breaks down something athletes never think about until it's too late: what to pack when an unexpected visit to the ER turns into days in the hospital. After 25+ years in fitness, multiple competitions, and countless injuries, KO had never been to the ER — until rhabdo hit out of nowhere. And walking in unprepared made an already stressful experience even harder. This episode is your clear, calm, practical checklist for what to bring to the ER or urgent care if there's even 1% chance you may be admitted. From the must-have essentials (ID, charger, long cord) to the comfort items that protect your mental health (hoodie, pillowcase, headphones), KO shares what she wishes she knew going in — informed by her own 11-hour ER wait and five-day hospital stay. You'll also hear: – Why athletes, parents, coaches, and fitness humans should keep this checklist ready – What mistakes KO made (and how they made everything harder) – Mindset strategies for staying composed during medical uncertainty – Why simple comfort items impact recovery more than you think – How to advocate for yourself and manage the overwhelm This episode pairs with: • Part 1: Medical breakdown of rhabdo with expert Steve • Part 2: KO's personal rhabdo story and recovery timeline If you've ever walked into urgent care "just to check something," this episode might save you hours of stress. Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. Sponsors: • Colorado Clownfish Swim School – Life skills through sports, water safety training for all ages, and deep focus on drowning prevention in 2026. Amazing private lesson holiday packages. • Declan James Watches – Local, veteran-owned, and donating 10% to the Navy SEAL Foundation. Time Stamps: 00:00 – 00:27 — Welcome to Turmeric & Tequila™ + intro 00:27 – 00:40 — Part 3 of the Rabdo Series intro 00:40 – 01:25 — Recap: Part 1 (expert breakdown) + Part 2 (KO's rhabdo story) 01:25 – 02:20 — Why this ER checklist matters for athletes, parents & coaches 02:20 – 03:20 — KO's first-ever ER visit: walking in unprepared 03:20 – 04:40 — Sponsor: Colorado Clownfish Swim School 04:40 – 05:25 — Sponsor: Declan James Watches 05:25 – 06:45 — The mental game: composure and competitor mindset 06:45 – 08:10 — Essentials: ID, insurance, phone, charger, long cord 08:10 – 09:45 — Comfort wear: hoodie, layers, slip-on shoes, socks 09:45 – 11:10 — Overnight items: toiletries, wipes, deodorant, dry shampoo 11:10 – 12:30 — Food + hydration: snacks, electrolytes, fiber, keeping regular 12:30 – 14:00 — Medical intel: meds list, family history, info doctors need 14:00 – 15:30 — Tech + entertainment: earbuds, books, tablets, logins 15:30 – 17:00 — Emotional comfort: blanket, pillowcase, stuffed animal 17:00 – 18:15 — Practical adds: notebook, pen, sanitizer, small tote 18:15 – 19:40 — Quick "grab & go" hospital bag recap 19:40 – 20:45 — The mindset piece: gratitude, reassurance, staying grounded 20:45 – 21:15 — Final reminders: stay ready so you don't have to get ready 21:15 – 22:00 — Sponsor thank-yous + closing   Kristen Olson — lifelong athlete, performance coach, and host of Turmeric & Tequila™ — shares her real-time wisdom from an unexpected ER visit and hospital stay after being diagnosed with rhabdo. This episode is the ultimate hospital-readiness checklist for athletes, parents, coaches, or anyone who values preparation, mindset, and keeping your composure under pressure.   Connect with T&T: IG: @TurmericTequila Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com Host: Kristen Olson IG: @Madonnashero Tik Tok: @Madonnashero Website: www.KOAlliance.com WATCH HERE   MORE LIKE THIS: https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF   https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH   #ERChecklist, #HospitalBag, #AthleteLife, #RabdoRecovery, #CrossFitLife, #FitnessSafety, #EmergencyPrep, #HealthTips, #PodcastEpisode, #TurmericAndTequila, #StayReady, #MindsetMatters, #WellnessJourney, #HealthAndFitness, #AthleteMindset, #GratitudePractice, #WhatToPack, #LifeSkillsThroughSports, #ColoradoClownfish, #DeclanJamesWatches, #PerformanceCoach

In this powerful episode, host Kristen Olson (KO) sits down with returning guest Steve Nagib, a human performance expert, healer, and former athletic trainer for elite athletes, to discuss an important but rarely understood fitness topic: rhabdomyolysis (Rhabdo). After KO's recent personal experience with Rhabdo, this episode dives deep into what it is, how to spot it, and what to do if it happens to you. Steve breaks down the science behind muscle breakdown, inflammation, and recovery in a way that's both educational and actionable. This isn't just for CrossFitters or competitive athletes—it's for anyone pushing their limits in the gym, on the field, or in life. Tune in for vital takeaways on self-awareness, body connection, and how to safely train for longevity. Topics Covered: What Rhabdo really is (and what causes it) How to recognize the warning signs early The difference between exertional and traumatic Rhabdo When to seek medical attention Why rest and hydration are critical to recovery Mind-body awareness for long-term performance Sponsors:

The ocean doesn't negotiate, and neither does life when your plan breaks. We sit down with Chris, who trained for the SEAL pipeline, finished Hell Week, survived pool comp, and then watched a herniated back end the path at third phase. What follows isn't a sad ending; it's a hard pivot. He walks us through the mental frameworks that kept him from quitting—monking out, removing distractions, breaking big tasks into fives, and resetting after every small win—and how those same tools helped him rebuild a new mission.We unpack BUD/S beyond the myth: why boot camp deconditions you, how prep school rebuilds you, why the thermal core pill matters, and what calm-under-stress really looks like when an instructor is tearing your rig apart underwater. The hardest hit wasn't logs or the cold; it was seeing a best friend ring the bell in the dark. From there, we follow his transition to college and a technical role in global infrastructure, and the long, honest work of finding purpose without a trident.That search forged Project Linear, a veteran-owned performance brand designed with military, law enforcement, first responders, and elite CrossFit athletes. Chris breaks down the details: low-to-no compression mesh liners that don't choke your stride, two-inch hems that glide instead of band, anti-odor and antimicrobial fibers derived from volcanic ash, chafe-free seams for body armor, and ethical, certified manufacturing. No hype, no shortcuts—just gear that holds up under plates, breaching, rucks, and long trail runs. Instead of pouring cash into ads, he outfits 220-mile mountain events for veteran suicide awareness and supports the Navy SEAL Foundation, keeping the focus on community and the quiet professional.If you're rebuilding after a setback, training for something hard, or just tired of apparel that fails under real use, this conversation hits home. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you're taking into your next training block.PROJECT LINEARhttps://www.youtube.com/@PROJECTLINEARhttps://www.tiktok.com/@projectlinearhttps://www.instagram.com/projectlinear/#https://www.facebook.com/people/Project-Linear/61579134841503/Send us a textSupport the showFollow Wild Chaos on Social Media: Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wild-chaos-podcast/id1732761860Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KFGZ6uABb1sQlfkE2TIoc?si=8ff748aa4fc64331 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcastBam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wildchaospodTikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thewildchaospodcastMeta (Facebook): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheWildChaosPodcast

The aftermath of national tragedy provides a somber backdrop as Navy SEAL veteran Bill Brown joins us to discuss his fight for veteran equality – a battle that extends from courtrooms to state legislatures and strikes at the heart of how America treats those who served.Bill's journey began at prestigious law firm McCarter & English, where his outspoken conservative views and veteran advocacy allegedly made him a target. While parts of his discrimination lawsuit continue moving forward under federal protections, a New Jersey judge delivered a critical message: comprehensive workplace protection for veterans requires legislative action.This revelation sparked Bill's current mission – amending New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to include veterans as a protected class. The irony isn't lost on him: "They have these protected classes... based on haircuts. You won't give men and women who serve this country those same rights?" His frustration deepened when two promising bills stalled despite clearing committee approval.The contrast is stark. While state laws shield numerous groups from workplace discrimination, veterans – who write "a blank check to put everything on the line" – lack comparable safeguards. This gap proves particularly harmful as veterans already face unique challenges reintegrating into civilian life, from rebuilding professional networks to combating stereotypes about their service.Our conversation shifts to the New York City Navy SEAL Swim, now in its seventh year, which exemplifies how veterans continue serving long after removing the uniform. The event honors fallen teammates and 9/11 victims while supporting the Navy SEAL Foundation. It brings together diverse communities – SEALs, first responders, survivors, and supporters – in a powerful demonstration of unity.As we reflect on tragedy and resilience on this September 11th, Bill's advocacy reminds us that supporting veterans means more than symbolic gestures – it requires ensuring they receive the same protections afforded to other Americans. Join us as we explore discrimination law, patriotic service, and one SEAL's refusal to stand down when fighting for his brothers and sisters in arms.Support the showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

Send us a textThis week's guest, Rob Wilson, on for a second time, is a performance educator with over twenty years of experience helping people build durable, high-functioning bodies and minds. He's worked across high-pressure domains—from professional sports and executive leadership to tactical military environments—and currently serves as a coach for the Navy SEAL Foundation's Warrior Fitness Program, supporting active duty and veteran SEALs in achieving long-term operational readiness.With deep expertise in strength and conditioning and breathwork, Rob has consulted on best practices in recovery, resilience, and performance for organizations including the UFC Performance Institute, ALTIS, and both U.S. and Allied Special Operations units. He also applies this experience to support Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes in building systems that can withstand the grind of combat sports.His new book, Check Engine Light: Tuning Body and Mind for Performance Longevity (Victory Belt Publishing), blends hard-earned field experience with practical tools and clear science. Whether you're leading a team, preparing for a fight, or managing burnout, Rob's mission is the same: help you stay left of blast.https://www.amazon.ca/Check-Engine-Light-Performance-Longevity/If you liked this EP, please take the time to rate and comment, share with a friend, and connect with us on social channels IG @Kingopain, TW @BuiltbyScott, LI+FB Scott Livingston. You can find all things LYM at www.LYMLab.com, download your free Life Lab Starter Kit today and get busy living https://lymlab.com/free-lym-lab-starter/Please take the time to visit and connect with our sponsors, they are an essential part of our success:www.ReconditioningHQ.comwww.FreePainGuide.com

Robin King, the CEO of the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF), is this episode's guest.  As Robin and Brooke discuss, NSF provides critical support for warriors, veterans and families of Naval Special Warfare.  It offers assistance in a wide variety of areas, from health to education.  NSF provides millions of dollars in comprehensive services, enabling SEALs to thrive despite the challenges of elite service.  (0:20). Website:  www.navysealfoundation.org

Transitioning out of the military isn't just about finding a new job. It's about redefining who you are. For many service members, especially those in the Special Operations community, leaving the military can feel like losing a piece of your identity, your purpose, and sense of belonging. In this episode, Kelly McGraw shares how to navigate the emotional and mental side of transition with tools that go beyond resumes and LinkedIn profiles. She discusses how the Honor Foundation is assisting service members through both its elite program and the new Vector Accelerator, enabling veterans to reclaim their sense of identity, purpose, and community as they transition into civilian life.  Kelly is the Chief Impact Officer at The Honor Foundation (THF), where she joined in 2020 to build a diversified funding stream and sustain the organization's mission into the future.  Prior to THF, she directed the development efforts at other notable nonprofits, including The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Horizons Hampton Roads, and the Navy SEAL Foundation.  Kelly also has 9 years of corporate experience in sales, marketing, and consulting. https://milmo.co/podcast/missing-step-in-military-transition For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

Dino Mavrookas is the Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic Technologies, a defense tech company pioneering AI-powered autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) to strengthen U.S. and allied naval capabilities. A former U.S. Navy SEAL with 11 years of service and eight combat tours, Mavrookas enlisted after 9/11 and gained firsthand insight into the importance of technological superiority in complex operational environments. He founded Saronic in 2022, and under his leadership, the company has raised over $850 million and reached a $4 billion valuation by early 2025—developing scalable, mission-driven ASVs for modern maritime defense. After his military service, he earned a BASC in Computer Engineering from Rutgers and an MBA from The Wharton School. He then transitioned to private equity, serving as a Senior Associate at Vista Equity Partners and Vice President at H.I.G. Capital, focusing on technology investments. A 2015 Pat Tillman Scholar, Mavrookas also serves on the board of the Navy SEAL Foundation and advocates for expanding opportunities for veterans in elite academic and professional programs. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://www.roka.com - USE CODE SRS https://uscca.com/srs https://www.aura.com/srs https://www.betterhelp.com/srs This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. https://www.helixsleep.com/srs⁠ https://www.blackbuffalo.com https://www.meetfabric.com/shawn https://www.shawnlikesgold.com https://www.hillsdale.edu/srs https://www.paladinpower.com/srs https://www.patriotmobile.com/srs https://trueclassic.com/srs Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/srs! #trueclassicpod Dino Mavrookas Links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dino-mavrookas  Saronic Technologies - https://www.saronic.com  Navy SEAL Foundation - https://www.navysealfoundation.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wellness + Wisdom | Episode 740 Can collagen help you ‘die young as late as possible' and keep your body in peak condition? Sean Lake, Founder of BUBS Naturals, joins Josh Trent on the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast, episode 740, to share how collagen supplementation transformed his own healing process, allowing him to maintain a life of adventure in his 50s, why only a fraction of supplement companies genuinely care about helping you heal, and how collagen helps with connective tissue repair and alleviating joint pain. "After you're in your early mid-20s, you lose 1 to 2% of the collagen in your body every year. So when you turn 55, you're at half. All of your connective tissue support is fed by the exogenous intake of collagen peptides, and it fuels that collagen production inside the human body." - Sean Lake 20% Off BUBS Naturals' Collagen Peptides Using BUBS' Collagen supports your body and enhances overall wellness from the inside out. BUBS Collagen Peptides start out as grass-fed bovine collagen and are then turned into collagen peptides through a controlled enzymatic hydrolysis process. This process transforms the collagen into much smaller and easily digestible peptides that are highly bioavailable. Collagen peptides are typically recommended for those looking to support skin health, improve joint function, boost bone density, and enhance hair and nail growth. Get BUBS + watch your pain disappear Save 20% off your order with code JOSH20 at checkout In This Episode, Sean Lake Uncovers: [01:00] Not All Supplement Brands Want You to Be Well Sean Lake BUBS Naturals - 20% off with code JOSH20 Why most supplement companies compromise on integrity for profits. How only less than 10% of supplement brands truly care. Why third-party testing shows whether a company has integrity. The difference between brand and company. How Sean thrives on adventure. [06:00] The Purpose of Optimizing for Longevity 357 Robb Wolf | Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat How Sean never lost the wild, adventurous mentality. Why people become cognitive machines as they get older. How he realized that he needs to keep his body youthful to still be able to go on adventures. [10:30] Injury Recovery Why injuries are a part of life, especially when we're active. How nutrition can help recovery. Why collagen is one of the most important supplements. How we lose 50% of all collagen in our body by the time we're 55 years old. [10:30] Injury Recovery Why injuries are a part of life, especially when we're active. How nutrition can help recovery. Why collagen is one of the most important supplements. How we lose 50% of all collagen in our body by the time we're 55 years old. [16:25] Is Collagen the Solution to Slower Aging? How Sean found out about collagen through his wife. Why he started feeling his body getting old at 50. How collagen helped him with aches. Why collagen supports the health of connective tissues and speeds up recovery. The Collagen Synthesis Response to an Acute Bout of Resistance Exercise Is Greater when Ingesting 30 g Hydrolyzed Collagen Compared with 15 g and 0 g in Resistance-Trained Young Men [22:30] The Right Way to Use Supplements The importance of observing the effects of a new supplement. How electrolytes help with brain fog caused by dehydration. Why collagen takes several weeks to show effects. How taking collagen supplements creates a signal for the body to produce more collagen. [26:25] The Importance of Traceability 216 Exploring The Shadow Self For Healing: George Bryant Why collagen tastes and smells bad. How Sean wanted to create a collagen supplement that's high-quality and good-tasting. Why BUBS Naturals sources pesticide-free collagen from Brazil. [31:15] Collagen VS Colostrum 629 Paul Chek | Spirit Gym: How To Find The Truth of Your Soul + Live Your Dream Why collagen is concentrated sunshine. The difference between collagen and colostrum. How the colostrum marketing confuses the users. [34:10] The Most Important Supplement Why eating whole foods is the baseline to better health. How collagen is the best multivitamin we can take. Why people under 25 might benefit more from electrolytes than collagen. Thomas DeLauer Why it's hard to get enough collagen from food only. [39:55] Do You Really Need Supplements? Why supplements are a scaffolding. How we only need to take supplements if our diet doesn't provide enough nutrients. Why cowhide can be upcycled to make collagen supplements. The benefits of MCT oil. Why BUBS Naturals creates products sourced from nature. [43:35] Die Young As Late As Possible How Sean came up with the MCT creamer. Why BUBS Naturals rebuilt their electrolyte supplements to provide better products. Most creatine monohydrate producers are located in China. Why vitamin C helps with collagen absorption. How Sean's intention is to bring a youthful energy to everything he does. [52:30] The Birth of BUBS Naturals Why Sean was at a crossroad with his career at 45. Where the idea of starting a collagen supplement company came from. Why they always wanted the company to support charity. 10% of BUBS Naturals' profits go to the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation. Why the company started as a social experiment. [59:15] Becoming a Professional Athlete How Sean became friends with Glen at school. Why the both wanted to become professional athletes. How Sean managed to get sponsored and paid as a snowboarder. What led Glen to join the Navy SEALs. Why Sean went back to college and was then offered a job as Shaun White's manager. How Glen's work for the CIA cost him his life. Why Sean channeled his grief to honor Glen's life. How grief can change into celebration and inspiration overtime. [01:11:35] Look for The Sign 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) How Hollywood filmmakers wanted to make a movie about Glen's story. Why BUBS Naturals became a tribute to Glen's life. Why Sean has been having dreams about Glen after his passing. How hummingbirds became a sign from God. What would Sean tell Glen if he were here right now. [01:19:25] Learning from Others How Sean's father struggled with alcohol abuse. Why he reconciled with his dad before he passed away. How Glen taught him discipline and accountability. Why being open to receiving the hard lessons made him a better father. How he realized that being a parent isn't about him. [01:25:00] The Key to a Healthy Relationship Why it's important to keep dating after we get married. The importance of doing self-healing work. Why the kept a sense of humor about sleep deprivation. How Sean felt useless as a father because his wife had a more important nurturing role as a mother. What to do to avoid being just roommates with our partner. Why women respond well to being provided the feeling of safety. The Queen's Code by Alison Armstrong Driven by Dr. Doug Brackmann + Randy Kelley [01:35:15] Your Actions Inspire Others How the ability to appreciate struggle and stress creates opportunities for growth. Why it's important to say the nice things we think of other people. How our actions can inspire others to change their lives. Why positive feedback and authentic compliments are a fuel for men. How learning about our love language can help us give and receive what we need. Leave Wellness + Wisdom a Review on Apple Podcasts Power Quotes From The Show Exogenous Collagen Peptides "If you exogenously take collagen peptides, it will have your body endogenously producing collagen peptides. And that collagen protein in your body is going to help with your hair, skin and nails. But more importantly, it will improve your muscle recovery, joint health, and intestinal health." - Sean Lake Show Your Children The Right Path "I'm hell bent on taking care of myself physically, mentally, spiritually, as much as humanly possible, learning as much as I can, because I want to be as present as possible so that I can give all that up to be there for my children. So that it's not about me, it's about them. What am I bringing to the table to help shape them, to help steer them, to help show them the path? They have to walk it, but I want to show them the right path." - Sean Lake Can You Get Enough Collagen From Your Diet? "Ground beef and bone broth are an amazing way to get gelatin collagen in the body. But what you don't realize is how much you'd have to eat. For most bodies, 20 grams is the baseline. But to get 20 grams from nature, you'd have to be eating a lot of ground beef or bone broth. And our lifestyles don't really allow us to do that and then there's also a digestive cost." - Sean Lake Links From Today's Show  Sean Lake BUBS Naturals - 20% off with code JOSH20 357 Robb Wolf | Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat The Collagen Synthesis Response to an Acute Bout of Resistance Exercise Is Greater when Ingesting 30 g Hydrolyzed Collagen Compared with 15 g and 0 g in Resistance-Trained Young Men 216 Exploring The Shadow Self For Healing: George Bryant 629 Paul Chek | Spirit Gym: How To Find The Truth of Your Soul + Live Your Dream 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) The Queen's Code by Alison Armstrong Driven by Dr. Doug Brackmann + Randy Kelley Thomas DeLauer Josh's Trusted Products | Up To 40% Off Shop All Products Biohacking⁠ MANNA Vitality - Save 20% with code JOSH20 HigherDOSE - 15% off with the code JOSH15 PLUNGE - $150 off with discount code WELLNESSFORCE Pulsetto - Save 20% with code "JOSH" SaunaSpace - 10% off with discount code JOSH10 Ultrahuman Ring Air - 10% off with code JOSH NutriSense - 30% off with WELLNESSFORCE Wellness Test Kits Choose Joi - Save 50% on all Lab Tests with JOSH Blokes - Save 50% on all Lab Tests with JOSH FertilityWize Test by Clockwize - Save 10% with code JOSH Tiny Health Gut Tests - $20 off with discount code JOSH20 VIVOO Health Tests - Save 30% off with code JOSH SiPhox Health Blood Test - Save 15% off with code JOSH Nutrition + Gut Health Organifi - 20% off with discount code WELLNESSFORCE SEED Synbiotic - 25% off with the code 25JOSHTRENT Paleovalley -  Save 15% off here! 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In 2018, he launched BUBS Naturals, naming the company after his best friend and adventure partner, Navy SEAL Glen “Bub” Doherty, who was killed in the 2012 Benghazi attack. BUBS commits 10% of every sale to veteran-focused charities, most notably the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation and the Navy SEAL Foundation, so the business is, in Lake's words, “a perpetual fundraiser disguised as a supplement company.” Website Instagram Facebook YouTube

Mike Getka isn't just a retired Navy SEAL. He's a walking blueprint for discipline, leadership, and showing up with no excuses—every single time. From snowshoeing in brutal New York winters to leading brutal BUD/S log PT sessions, Mike's path wasn't polished, but it was built by relentless grind and laser-sharp focus.In this episode, Mike talks about growing up with Polish immigrant grit, the truth behind SEAL team brotherhood, and why the toughest training on earth isn't just physical—it's all in your head.No war stories, no Hollywood drama. Just raw, unfiltered insight from a guy who's been through it, shaped others through it, and still carries the mindset today."Take pride in everything that you do... When you start something, you absolutely finish it. Never quit." - Mike GetkaIn This Episode:- Mike's unexpected journey from Seabee to Navy SEAL and how a magazine article changed his life's direction- The reality of BUD/S training, including Mike's battle with double pneumonia that forced him to restart the entire process- How the SEAL mindset transforms challenge into opportunity, and what civilian teams can learn from this approach- The brotherhood of SEALs - how it forms and why it's unlike any other bond- Mike's post-military work teaching teams to unlock their full potential through SEAL-inspired training- The evolution of the "quiet professional" and Mike's perspective on SEALs in the public eye-  What Hollywood movies always get wrong about SEALs' training and missions- How mindfulness and meditation have helped Mike navigate health challenges after his intense military careerResources Mentioned:- Getka SEAL Mindset: https://getkasealmindset.com/- Navy SEAL Foundation: https://www.navysealfoundation.org/- Navy SEAL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NavySEALfoundation - Navy SEAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/ - Navy SEAL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/navySEALfnd - SEAL Future Foundation (SFF): https://sealfuturefoundation.org/- Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, FloridaConnect with Michael Getka:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getkasealmindset - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/getkasealmindset/ - Website: https://getkasealmindset.com/Connect with Mal and NC Carpet:- Website - https://www.n-ccarpet.com/ - Facebook - https://web.facebook.com/nccarpetmachines/ - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nc_carpet_binding/

Today Kevin and Laura sit down with Kirk Hanson, a seasoned Sales Engineering leader with an impressive career spanning industry giants like SentinelOne, Splunk, BMC, and IBM. From kicking things off with a nostalgic nod to Hanson's MMMBop to deep insights on the evolution of sales engineering, this conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and career-defining moments.Kirk shares how his journey into tech started with an unexpected edge—his fluency in Japanese—and how strong mentorship shaped his path. He goes into the balancing act of technical expertise and business acumen in sales engineering, how AI and automation are reshaping the field, and why human connection remains irreplaceable in building customer trust. We also explore trends in cybersecurity, cloud, and big data, including a candid discussion on false positives at SentinelOne. Kirk reflects on his time at Splunk, where he co-founded the Solution Architect team, and the impact of international experience on data privacy and cybersecurity strategies. Kirk offers advice for aspiring sales engineers, leadership lessons from his global career, and a glimpse into what's next for him. Oh, and a friendly reminder: never miss your one-on-ones with your employees.But it's not all business—we make some fun detours into pop culture, from Office Space's infamous “Jump to Conclusions” mat to Laura's struggles with her futuristic WalkCar from Japan. Plus, Kirk shares his passion for supporting the Navy SEAL Foundation and his ongoing quest to collect challenge coins. Tune in for an engaging, insightful, and laugh-filled conversation with one of the best in the business!Kirk Hanson is a highly experienced Sales Engineering Manager with over 20 years of expertise leading sales engineering teams at top software companies such as SentinelOne, Splunk, BMC, and IBM. Specializing in cybersecurity, cloud technologies, big data, and data analytics, Kirk is a strategic advocate for customers, leveraging value-based selling and consultative approaches to close complex sales. Throughout his career, he has built and led high-performing presales teams, created innovative sales tools, and consistently delivered strong results. Fluent in Japanese, he has conducted numerous presentations across Asia and led multiple executive panels for leadership networks. His notable achievements include co-creating the Solution Architect team at Splunk, earning multiple awards such as SE Manager of the Year (Americas), and receiving the Innovation Award for developing new demo platforms. He holds a BA in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego, and has pursued post-graduate work at Cal-State Hayward.

It's This Week in Bourbon for February 28th, 2025. National Bourbon Week is returning to Bardstown, Kentucky, Bardstown Bourbon Company's new Distillery Reserve series, and Jack Daniel's releases one if it's oldest to date, a 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey.Show Notes: Pappy 15 auction resets to $800K after bidding adjustments National Bourbon Week returns to Bardstown, Kentucky, June 10-15, 2025 Give 270 hosts Bourbon Strong raffle benefiting Kentucky State Police Foundation Bardstown Bourbon Company debuts Distillery Reserve Cathedral French Oak Finish Tincup refreshes portfolio with new six-year whiskey and debut Bourbon offering J. Mattingly 1845 partners with Navy SEAL Foundation for Double Staved whiskey series Chattanooga Whiskey introduces Rye Single Barrels with malt-forward mash bill Michter's releases US*1 Barrel Strength Rye at an average proof of 110.5 Lost Lantern unveils Spring 2025 Collection of unique single-cask whiskeys Lux Row Distillers debuts Small Batch Albariño Cask Finish Bourbon at 105 proof Rebel Bourbon launches Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel Bourbon nationwide Woodford Reserve unveils Chocolate Whisper Redux 139, its highest-proof whiskey yet Jack Daniel's releases 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey as part of its Aged Series Support this podcast on Patreon

John Doolittle is Jack's BUD/S Class Officer in Charge and a retired Navy SEAL Captain with over 25 years of service, including leading elite teams in deployments across the globe and spearheading the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program at SOCOM. He swam the English Channel in memory of a fallen teammate, raising funds for the Navy SEAL Foundation, and continues to support the community as a co-founder of the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim. Now working with KAATSU Global, John applies his combat-tested leadership principles to help wounded warriors, organizations, and teams build resilience, trust, and performance. To learn more about John, visit his website https://johndoolittle.com , follow him on LinkedIN @john-doolittle, on Instagram @johndoolittle213, and on X @JohnDoolittle69 To learn more about the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim, visit https://tampabayfrogman.com/ FOLLOW JACK Instagram - @JackCarrUSA   X - @JackCarrUSA Facebook - @JackCarr  YouTube - @JackCarrUSA  SPONSORS CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/ Bravo Company Manufacturing: https://bravocompanyusa.com/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA BCM Jack Carr MOD 4 pistol grip. Get yours here- https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm- jack-carr-mod-4-pistol-grip-black/ SIG Sauer P226: https://www.sigsauer.com/firearms/pistols/p226.html and on Instagram @sigsauerinc STACCATO HD: https://staccato2011.com/hd and on Instagram @staccato2011 Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here - https://jackcarr.co/gear

Home Base Brain Health Summit 2024 Conversations: Marine Veteran and Chief Programs Officer of Navy SEAL Foundation Alison Messick, and Command Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) Greg Smith. On September 11th 2024, Home Base held its first Brain Health Summit. Spearheaded by Home Base Senior Directors Dr. Sofia Matta and Retired Navy Captain Dr. Joe Bonvie – The Summit highlighted brain health but at the same time aimed to cover the whole person: Mind, body, and soul – Targeting not just longer lifespan, but living well longer, or… HealthSpan.First Up: Chief Program Officer of Navy SEAL Foundation Alison Messick. Alison is a Marine Veteran, and has been a leader in the Special Operations space for 15 years including her time at Naval Special Warfare prior to the Foundation. When Alison took the mic at the Brain Health Summit, she gave a captivating talk about Collective Impact when it comes to doing right by this community as collaborators not competitors. Alison Messick networks for success and listens to her fellow leaders in order to work together for all things – as she tells us - energy giving… Second Up: Command Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) Greg Smith – looks back at the time he was called to lead the first team deployed after the twin tower attacks, while at the same time reflects on military and civilian medical “wins” over stigma and addressing invisible rounds. From operator to senior leader at USSOCOM, to his current work at the Pentagon with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he has been a trusted voice in the Special Operations community - And we are honored to now have Greg as a member of the Home Base Honorary board.Many thanks to Greg Smith and Alison Messick for your years of service and leadership, and ongoing partnership – Humans are more important that hardware is a driving core principle of USSCOM and something you both not only believe in, you walk the walk in every day. Special thanks to Sofia Matta and Joe Bonvie for all your work in putting together the first annual Brain Health conference at Home Base.Please go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and of courses if you or anyone you know is struggling in anyway. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials. 

Jessica Buchanan joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about her capture by pirates in Somalia in 2011 and how her life's trajectory was irrevocably changed, taking back power, holding space for our stories, showing up for one another as writers, demystifying the publishing process, celebrating our wins, book branding and building platform, not being paralyzed by perfection, her boutique nontraditional press Soul Speak Press and her anthology series From Deserts to Mountaintops.   Also in this episode: -how we have to hustle -trusting our intuition -being of service   Books mentioned in this episode:  Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls Books by Anne Lamott On October 25, 2011, while on a routine field mission in Somalia, working as the Education Advisor for her non-governmental organization, Jessica was abducted at gunpoint and held for ransom by a group of Somali pirates for 93 days. Forced to live outdoors in deplorable conditions, starved, and terrorized by more than two dozen gangsters, Jessica's health steadily deteriorated until, by order of President Obama, she was rescued by the elite SEAL Team VI on January 25, 2012.   Jessica's ordeal is detailed in her New York Times bestselling book, Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six. Jessica has been named one of the ‘150 Women Who will Shake the World' by Newsweek, and her story was the most highly viewed 60 Minutes episode to air, to-date. Jessica is a highly sought-after inspirational speaker and her TEDx Pearl Street talk, ‘Change is Your Proof of Life' has been the foundation for which she travels the world, inspiring audiences to access their resilience by identifying their own autonomy and choice in the middle of their own life changing event.   Jessica is the founder of Soul Speak Press where she supports women who are ready to share their stories through Memoirs – books that are one part memoir, one part self-help, and one part inspiration. Jessica's upcoming anthology project, Deserts to Mountaintops: Pilgrimage of Motherhood, is currently in development and scheduled for publication in early 2025.   Jessica works as a family liaison volunteer for the non-profit organization, Hostage US, supporting former hostages and their families during captivity and eventual return, and also continues to serve as a dedicated Ambassador for the Navy SEAL Foundation, which works to support families of fallen SEALs. Connect with Jessica: Official Website: https://www.jessbuchanan.com/ Publishing Website: https://www.soulspeakpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicabuchananpage LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-buchanan-05ba7364/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicacbuchanan/   — Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories. She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and lives in Seattle with her family where she teaches memoir workshops and is working on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com   Sign up for monthly podcast and writing updates: https://bit.ly/33nyTKd Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Newsletter sign-up: https://ronitplank.com/#signup   Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://twitter.com/RonitPlank https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

Dr. Sean Rockett is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, particularly known for his work with CrossFit athletes. He has served as the Head Orthopedic Surgeon for the CrossFit Games since 2012 and is himself a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer and an avid triathlete. Dr. Rockett is releasing a new book titled "Where Does It Hurt?" focused on injury prevention for athletes, workers, and service personnel. Proceeds from the book will benefit the Navy SEAL Foundation. You can follow Dr. Rockett on Instagram @321gomd and visit 321gomd.com to learn more about injury prevention. To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/ Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bornprimitive⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠@BornPrimitiveApparel

More than 300 Navy SEALs, veterans, and first responders will complete a challenging swimming, running, and training course this upcoming weekend. The annual New York City SEAL Swim is happening this Saturday. For all the details and where the funds collected for the event are going, we spoke with Geoff Leard, Director of Partnerships & Athletic Events of The Navy SEAL Foundation. For more information: https://www.navysealfoundation.org/   Image Credit: Getty Images

Head over to IRONCLAD's Youtube channel @thisisironclad for an exclusive segment of Dangerous Questions where Dom gives a tour of his personal "Bug Out' vehicle. This segment will be live at 5pm EST. We want to hear your questions! Submit video questions to DQ.Podcast@thisisironclad.com or leave them in the comments section! Enjoy this special preview of the first episode of On the X, the newest IRONCLAD Original and the official podcast of the Navy Seal Foundation. We'll be back with an all new Dangerous Questions episode next week.

In this episode of the Braun Performance & Rehab Podcast, Dan is joined by Rob Wilson to discuss his upcoming book, The Check Engine Light, and how it applies to Human Performance & Rehab. Rob Wilson is a Human Performance Specialist with over twenty years of manual therapy, coaching, and education experience.  Rob's work spans a variety of avenues in the field of health and human performance.  This includes multiple trademarks, the creation of global seminars and curriculums, and the research, development and implementation of best practices in human performance.  Over the last decade Rob has been a pioneer in the research and development of breath control practices for health and high level performance.  Rob has contributed ideas and presented to the best of the best including the UFC Performance Institute, ALTIS, and to the U.S. and Allied Special Forces.  The last two years Rob has worked in depth with the Navy SEAL Foundation as a regular consultant including with his Check Engine Light classes being presented as a key part of the Warrior Fitness Program. Rob is also an avid martial artist and surfer as well as a devoted husband and father.  When he's not nose deep in research you can find him on the mat or with his wife and their many animals. For more on Rob and The Check Engine Light, be sure to check out www.thecheckenginelightbook.com & @thecheckenginelight *SEASON 5 of the Braun Performance & Rehab Podcast is brought to you by Isophit. For more on Isophit, please check out isophit.com and @isophit - BE SURE to use coupon code brawnbody10 at checkout to save 10% on your Isophit order! Episode Sponsors: MoboBoard: BRAWNBODY10 saves 10% at checkout! AliRx: DBraunRx = 20% off at checkout! https://alirx.health/ MedBridge: https://www.medbridgeeducation.com/brawn-body-training or Coupon Code "BRAWN" for 40% off your annual subscription! CTM Band: https://ctm.band/collections/ctm-band coupon code "BRAWN10" = 10% off! Ice shaker affiliate link: https://www.iceshaker.com?sca_ref=1520881.zOJLysQzKe Make sure you SHARE this episode with a friend who could benefit from the information we shared! Check out everything Dan is up to by clicking here: https://linktr.ee/braun_pr Liked this episode? Leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-braun/support

"Everyone says, follow your passion. Do something. And so I just thought, what about watches? Like, that's what I love." — Brian Dougherty Welcome to the Turmeric & Tequila Podcast! Today's guest is Brian Dougherty, whose transformative journey from a finance major and real estate professional to a Navy SEAL and entrepreneur is nothing short of astounding. Brian's story is fueled by an insatiable drive to conquer tough challenges and a profound commitment to the veteran community. In this episode, host Kristen Olson explores Brian's career shifts, the rigorous path to becoming a Navy SEAL, and the impact of mental toughness and fitness, particularly CrossFit, on his well-being. They highlight his entrepreneurial venture, Declan James Watch Co., a company that not only creates quality timepieces but also supports veterans by donating 10% of its proceeds to the Navy SEAL Foundation. Join us for an inspiring conversation about perseverance, community-building, and the power of authentic relationships. Whether you're curious about military life, business, or personal growth, this episode with Brian Dougherty has something valuable for everyone. Time Stamps: 00:00 High school was okay, loved sports. Studied finance in college. 07:23 Struggled in college, turned to intense fitness. Joined Navy. 10:25 Embracing challenges and shaping future generations. 19:31 Veteran committed to supporting and giving back. 21:34 Human behavior driven by intrinsic motivation and influence. 26:25 Balancing dream and doubt in staying relevant. 32:33 Target market shifted to include military supporters. 39:59 Challenge status quo, embrace unique marketing opportunities. 43:56 Goodness and kindness bring unexpected, abundant rewards. 48:26 Belief in product, community, and authenticity. 53:19 Utilize social media, advocate, and support wellness. 58:02 Homeless veterans need mental health support. Keep communicating. 01:03:45 Curious about podcasts but not a big listener. Declan James Watch Co. TO US, WATCHMAKING IS NOT JUST A BUSINESS; IT'S SOMETHING PERSONAL: As a former Navy SEAL, Brian Dougherty was instilled with a higher purpose, a purpose that guides his company today. It is not just about creating watches with fine craftsmanship, flawless design, or uncompromising standards. It's also about his desire to create an enduring legacy that future generations can be proud of. This is why to Brian, watchmaking is not just a business - it's something personal. declanjameswatchco.com @declanjameswatchco Connect with T&T: IG: @TurmericTequila Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com Host: Kristen Olson IG: @Madonnashero Tik Tok: @Madonnashero Website: www.KOAlliance.com WATCH HERE   MORE LIKE THIS: https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF   https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH  

Are you a current or former athlete? Are you currently serving or are you a Veteran? Do you feel sore all the time? Do you have constant aches and pains? Mr. Joseph Hippensteel is the founder of Ultimate Human Performance, Inc., a company that teaches advanced mental and physical/ functional training methods including flexibility/ Ranges of Motion to an exact standard. He is also a (CTR) with US Naval Special Warfare where he works on Navy SEALs in Coronado, CA. His Company, UHP, Inc. is supported financially by the Navy SEAL Foundation to supplement the NSW Physical Therapy, strength and conditioning, and medical program to help reduce injuries and integrate physical training programs. While attending California State University, Fresno, he achieved all American status (top 8 Americans) in the Decathlon, Track and Field, NCAA Division 1, and was awarded the “Scholar Athlete Award” at CSUF in his senior year. As a collegiate athlete and for over 20 additional years while attempting to qualify to make the USA Olympic team, competing in the decathlon, Mr. Hippensteel sustained innumerable injuries, many of which typically would require surgery. Instead, through trial and error, he pioneered a protocol that allowed him to train pain and injury free at an intense level for many more years. This fully developed protocol of improving freedom of movement to improve athletic performance/ functional activities and reduce the risk of injury is now used by athletes and patients of all ages and capabilities. Freedom of movement, flexibility to an exact standard, is one of the most important facts to a pain free, active lifestyle. Through 30 years of experiences and training, Mr. Hippensteel has used this program as a highly successful approach for the evaluation and treatment of tight muscles and stiff joins and many other musculo-skeletal medical conditions to reduce pain and improve everyday function and athletic ability. He has treated over 10,000 athletes and clients. Mr. Hippensteel has been a Physio/ Kinesiology Expert Level practitioner for over 20 years. He has worked with professional athletes in track and field, football, baseball, golf and many other sports. He has worked with Nike and has coached at the Olympic Training Center for track and field in Chula Vista, CA and several other Universities as an assistant coach. He also has achieved a Hypnotherapist Certification by the National Guild of Hypnotists and a Master Hypnotist Certification by the New York Institute of Hypnosis. Website Ultimate Human Performance YouTube Ultimate Human Performance Instagram Ultimate Human Performance by Joe X/ Twitter @JoeHippensteel Facebook Ultimate Human Performance by Joe

Mission Ready Building High-Performing Teams from the Battlefield to the Boardroom By William Branum and Brenda Neckvatal Missionreadyleadership.com ~THE BOOK We will bring you to your next level of business. In today's fast-paced and competitive business environment, merely keeping up is no longer enough. To truly thrive and outpace the competition, elevating your team to its next level of performance is not just an advantage—it's a necessity. With decades of experience in the most demanding environments imaginable, William brings the unparalleled discipline, leadership, and teamwork skills honed during his 26 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL. Brenda, with her expert insight into HR practices, crisis management, and group dynamics, complements this perfectly, translating these high-stakes military strategies into actionable, impactful corporate methodologies. William Branum is a highly decorated Navy SEAL veteran who served in the United States military for 26 years. During his extensive military career, he honed his leadership skills, cultivated a strong mindset, and gained invaluable experience in high-pressure situations as a sniper instructor, leading teams on operations ranging from protecting the interim Iraqi elected officials to direct action missions in Baghdad as well as specialized in undersea operations with missions that were required to be approved by the President of the United States. After retiring from the military, William has made it his mission to share the lessons he learned with others as a speaker, author, and business, and leadership advisor. William's expertise in leadership and mindset has been sought after by organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He draws on his experiences to provide practical advice on how to cultivate a leadership style that inspires and motivates others, and how to develop the resilience needed to succeed in challenging environments. William's commitment to serving others has also led him to support several philanthropic causes, including the Navy SEAL Foundation and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Through his work, Branum continues to inspire individuals and organizations to embrace the qualities that have made him a successful leader: discipline, dedication, and a willingness to push beyond one's limits. Brenda Neckvatal Brenda is an award-winning HR professional, a 2x bestselling author, and has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc., and US News and World Reports. Perseverance, integrity, and relentless optimism are just a few of the ingredients that make up what you experience when meeting and working with Brenda. Not only does she help business leaders solve their most difficult people issues, but she is also a specialist in group dynamics, crisis management, and HR compliance, and a mentor to professionals in HR working as an HR department of one. She started as an HR sprout after a solid fourteen-year career in retail management. She really enjoys helping people solve their unique problems, and human resources offered her the ability to support her co-workers in a greater capacity. Having the benefit of working for a total of six Fortune 500 companies, she converted her experience into advising her audience to use tried and trusted best practices that help small businesses achieve their workforce goals. In her 30-year career in human resources and business, she has consulted to over 600 small businesses and C-suite leaders. She has optimized employee effectiveness and helped mitigate the high costs associated with making hasty employment-related decisions.

As a military veteran or first responder, you need to be planning and implementing strategies to prepare for your transition into civilian life. In this Flashback Friday episode of the Transition Drill Podcast, we recap Episode 45 with Guy Smith. Guy was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Though gangs were all around him, a strong and influential grandmother and family kept him out of the gang life. Growing up he was into martial arts and wrestling, so after high school he ended up in San Diego coaching and fitness training. Many of the clients he was working with were Special Operations members and they convinced him to join the Navy. Guy enlisted in the Navy and served 6 years as SWCC and deployed multiple times to the Middle East. Injuries and family responsibilities caused him to leave active duty in 2015 but he did 3 additional years in the reserves. After leaving the military he struggled with redefining his mission and what his identity is along with struggling with alcoholism. He considers himself fortunate to have found the Honor Foundation and graduating from their program. Today he continues to support The Honor Foundation along with The Navy Seal Foundation. Today Guy is a IFBB professional bodybuilder and fitness trainer, helping people reach their personal and fitness goals. SPONSOR: Trident Coffee Get 15% off your purchase Link: https://tridentcoffee.com/discount/TDP15 Promo Code: TDP15 WATCH THE FULL EPISODE: https://youtu.be/knj06fNpPhk?si=uv3zuxWbl5oCIp5b CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST: IG: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/ WEB: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.com QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: paul@transitiondrillpodcast.com #transitiondrillpodcast #militarytransition #firstresponders

We started this Nightside News Update with Abdu Murray, Attorney and we discuss Tik Tok vs. The U.S. – Why US is forcing TikTok be sold or banned.Then Mark Faherty – Science Coordinator at Mass Audubon's Well Fleet Bay Wild Life Sanctuary joined us to discuss the Flamingo spotted on Cape Cod.Geoff Leard, NSF Event Director for the Frogman Swim on the Navy SEAL Foundation's 6th annual Boston Frogman Swim – Open Water swim remembering fallen warriors.And Dr. Francisco Contreras - oncologist and surgeon - director, president and chairman of the Oasis of Hope Hospital on Pancreatic Cancer - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson's diagnosis – how pancreatic cancer is diagnosed and treated.

In this episode, we speak with Jake Heller, Head of Tech Growth Equity Americas of KKR. Prior to joining KKR in 2019, Jake was at Spectrum Equity, where he focused on growth investments in software, information services and internet businesses. He started his growth equity career at Symmetric Capital and also spent time as a strategic consultant at the Parthenon Group in their global private equity practice. Jake served four years as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy and finished his career in Naval Special Warfare as the Commander of a high-speed assault boat team. He is a decorated veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom including the Bronze Star with distinction for Valor in Combat. I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow. Jake supports NAVY SEAL Foundation.  To learn more about this organization click here.

https://passionstruck.com/passion-struck-book/ - Order a copy of my new book, "Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life," today! Picked by the Next Big Idea Club as a must-read for 2024.In this episode of Passion Struck, retired Navy SEAL Captain John Doolittle shares his remarkable journey from the US Air Force Academy to the challenging world of the US Navy SEALs. He recounts his experience swimming across the English Channel in honor of a fallen teammate and his involvement in the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim to support the Navy SEAL Foundation. Captain Doolittle also discusses the innovative Kaatsu device he discovered during his surgery recovery and now works with to help veterans and individuals with chronic injuries.Full show notes and resources can be found here: https://passionstruck.com/john-doolittle-leading-through-tough-times/In this episode, you will learn:Physical and Mental Resilience: The episode highlights the importance of mental toughness and resilience in challenging situations, such as SEAL training, marathon swims, and injury recovery.Purpose-Driven Actions: Captain John Doolittle's experiences emphasize the power of undertaking challenges for a greater purpose, whether in memory of fallen comrades or supporting charitable causes like the Navy SEAL Foundation.Leadership and Teamwork: Lessons from SEAL training, such as empowering junior members and focusing on the mission's intent rather than micromanaging, can be applied to various aspects of life and business.Innovative Health Solutions: Introducing the Kaatsu device showcases innovative health solutions that can aid in rehabilitation, muscle hypertrophy, and overall fitness, especially for individuals with chronic injuries or older individuals.All things John Doolittle: https://johndoolittle.com/SponsorsBrought to you by Indeed. Head to https://www.indeed.com/passionstruck, where you can receive a $75 credit to attract, interview, and hire in one place.Brought to you by Nom Nom: Go Right Now for 50% off your no-risk two week trial at https://trynom.com/passionstruck.Brought to you by Cozy Earth. Cozy Earth provided an exclusive offer for my listeners. 35% off site-wide when you use the code “PASSIONSTRUCK” at https://cozyearth.com/This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/PASSIONSTRUCK, and get on your way to being your best self.This episode is brought to you By Constant Contact:  Helping the Small Stand Tall. Just go to Constant Contact dot com right now. So get going, and start GROWING your business today with a free trial at Constant Contact dot com.--► For information about advertisers and promo codes, go to:https://passionstruck.com/deals/Catch More of Passion StruckWatch my interview with Colonel Robert Adams, MD On Be Your Own Best AdvocateCan't miss my episode with Navy SEAL Astronaut Capt. 'Chris' Cassidy On The Importance In Life Of Being PresentListen to my interview with William Branum On Why Transition Points Are Vital To SuccessCheck my interview with Navy SEAL Dan O'Shea On Escaping Afghanistan: How A Navy SEAL Saved A Family Of FourteenCatch my episode with Jason Redman On How You Confront The Dragon In Your MindLike this show? Please leave us a review here-- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!How to Connect with JohnConnect with John on Twitter at @John_RMiles and on Instagram at @john_R_Miles.Subscribe to our main YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMilesSubscribe to our YouTube Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@passionstruckclipsWant to uncover your profound sense of Mattering? I provide my master class with five simple steps to achieving it.Want to hear my best interviews? Check out my starter packs on intentional behavior change, women at the top of their game, longevity and well-being, and overcoming adversity.Learn more about John: https://johnrmiles.com/

My guest today has such a diverse skillset and resume that its almost hard to summarize. Andy Stumpf enlisted in the Navy while he was a Junior in high school, entering military service in 1996. After completing boot camp he went on to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, also known as BUD/s. After earning his trident he began his SEAL career attached to SEAL Team Five, in Coronado California. In 2002 he joined one of the most elite counterterrorism unit in the military, The Naval Surface Warfare Development Group (aka DEVGRU). While on a combat  deployment, an Iraqi insurgent shot Andy in the hip at close range with an AK-47. Doctors told him it would be years, if ever, before he recovered the use of his leg and returned to full active duty. Four years later, after  extensive work, Andy returned to the Naval Special Warfare Center as the Leading Petty Officer for 2nd Phase BUD/s training. While completing his two-year instructor tour, Andy submitted his package to become a commissioned officer. In 2008, he became the first E-6 selection commissioned through the Limited Duty Officer Program in the history of Naval Special Warfare. Upon commissioning, he joined SEAL Team Three and completed his final combat tour to Afghanistan. Throughout his 17-year career, Andy executed hundreds of combat operations throughout the world in support of the Global War on Terror including the hostage rescue of Jessica Lynch. He was medically retired in June of 2013. His awards and decorations include 5 Bronze Star Medals (Four with Valor), the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, The Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal with Valor, Three Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons, and the Presidential Unit Citation.After retirement, Andy continues to support the SEAL community, and their families. In 2015 he set two World Records after jumping from 36,500 feet and flying over 18 miles in a wingsuit to raise 1 million Dollars for the Navy SEAL Foundation. Post military, his business experience includes managing corporate development, licensing, and charitable initiatives for a global fitness brand. He also founded a consulting firm dedicated to ensuring that the lessons learned from the Global War of Terror are utilized by business leaders as well as Federal, State, and local entities. Andy also hosts the fantastic Cleared Hot Podcast which has close to 20 Million views on YouTube.Contact InfoCleared Hot Podcast - https://www.clearedhotpodcast.com/Books RecommendedBoyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War – Robert Coram - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316796880About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior – Col. David Hackworth - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0283999598

In this gripping episode, military veterans and those contemplating military transition will find an inspiring journey of resilience and transformation. Bill Brown, a former Navy SEAL, Rutgers graduate, attorney, and Lead SEAL NYC SEAL Swim, shares his remarkable story from a challenging childhood to the pinnacle of military excellence and beyond. Bill Brown's life story is a testament to the power of determination and adaptability. Growing up in South Jersey, Bill faced the instability of a broken home, moving frequently. Despite these challenges, he found solace in sports and art, shaping his early identity. His family background, steeped in military service, including a World War II veteran grandfather and an Air Force veteran father, deeply influenced his path. Bill's father, leveraging the GI Bill set a precedent that Bill would later follow. Joining the Navy, Bill embarked on the arduous journey to become a Navy SEAL. Oddly enough he knew nothing of the SEAL Teams before joining the Navy. His athletic prowess and resilience were crucial, but the real transformation occurred in his mindset and approach to life. Bill served 8 years in SEAL Team 8 and deployed 3 times. The rigorous training and experiences as a SEAL reshaped his perspectives, teaching him the importance of teamwork, quick thinking, and adaptability in high-stress environments. These lessons were not only vital in his military career but also in his subsequent endeavors. After his military service, Bill pursued a career in law, driven by a newfound passion for learning and self-improvement. His experiences in the military, coupled with a love for reading developed during brief stints in detention centers as a teenager, laid the foundation for his academic pursuits. Bill's journey through law school and into the legal profession was marked by the same intensity and commitment he displayed as a SEAL. His unique background brought a diverse perspective to his work as a lawyer, highlighting the multifaceted nature of veterans transitioning to civilian life. Additionally, Bill is the Founder and Lead SEAL of the Navy SEAL Foundation's New York City SEAL Swim and 2023 was their 6th annual event. This episode of the Transition Drill Podcast offers a compelling narrative that resonates with military veterans and first responders alike, highlighting the journey of transformation and the endless possibilities that await beyond service. ALL LINKS FOR THE PODCAST https://linktr.ee/TransitionDrillPodcast SUBSCRIBE AND WATCH EPISODE ON YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransitionDrillPodcast?sub_confirm=1 CONNECT WITH BILL: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williambrown77/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/freedomspirit77/ Web: https://www.navysealfoundation.org/

In this episode, Eric Malzone engages in a compelling conversation with Jack Daly, the CEO of TRX, exploring the multifaceted realm of TRX, fitness, and business. Jack unfolds his remarkable journey to TRX, delving into his background, Navy SEAL Foundation involvement, and transitioning from private equity to a focus on health, wellness, and happiness. As the discussion unfolds, Jack passionately emphasizes TRX's iconic status in the fitness industry, spotlighting its premium products, world-class brand, and a global community of over 300,000 certified trainers. They dive into TRX's dynamic leadership team, opportunities for improvement, and the evolution of the TRX app. From educational programs to the future landscape of fitness education, Jack reflects on industry shifts, hinting at transformative innovations and the importance of collaboration.   LINKS:   https://www.podcastcollective.io/ https://www.wrkout.com/    

On this episode, I am joined by my special guest, retired Navy Seal Jacob Bachmann. Jacob spent 10 years of his life in the Seal Teams. During that time, he had multiple combat deployments. It was during Jacob's second deployment to Afghanistan, his Seal Team (Team 4) lost Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Kantor. Kantor was shot and killed in action on November 1, 2012, while providing suppressive fire for his Seal Team brothers. Kantor's actions that day saved the lives of all his brothers. In order to keep Kantor's memory and sacrifice alive, Jacob is on a mission to raise $10,000 dollars to donate to the Navy Seal Foundation. On January 14, 2024, Jacob and his fellow seals will take part in a 3.5 mile open water swim in Tampa Bay to help aid the Navy Seal Foundation in it's mission to "provide critical support for the warriors, veterans and and families of Naval Special Warfare."  To help Jacob accomplish his mission and help honor the sacrifice and memory of Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Kantor, click the link below! https://tampabayfrogmanswim.enmotive.com/registrations/fundraising/07e97ad8-1920-4f8d-88cf-9a2604f02d24 If you are not inspired enough to donate yet, you will be if you click the link below and read Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Kantor's Bronze Star With Valor Citation! http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=2074 For more information on the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim, click below! https://tampabayfrogman.com/

Today's guest is Bear Handlon. Bear is a former Navy SEAL officer, collegiate athlete, CrossFit competitor, and the co-founder and CEO of Born Primitive. Bear founded Born Primitive in 2014 making products geared toward CrossFit athletes, and has since expanded into creating durable and quality fitness apparel for everyone. Born Primitive's motto is “athlete-drive, patriot-inspired.” They actively support the Navy SEAL Foundation, Concerns of Police Survivors, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and the Best Defense Foundation. He also co-hosts The Born Primitive Podcast. To learn more about Bear and Born Primitive, follow him on Instagram @bearhandlon and @bornprimitive.  You can also visit the Born Primitive website, bornprimitive.com.  SPONSORS: Navy Federal Credit Union: Today's episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at navyfederal.org American Giant: Go to https://www.american-giant.com/collections/jack to get 20% off. Use the discount code “Jack” at checkout.  Schnee's: head over to Schnees.com, you can score up to 30% off your new pair of mountain boots! Use code JACK23 at checkout 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! Danger Close Apparel: Check out the new Danger Close apparel.  Featured Gear SIG: Today's featured gear segment is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here. Badass Workbench Fort Knox Safe SIG P320 Ares Watches PARD Thermal Scope Go Ruck Backpack 

Jack Daly is a finance industry veteran and Owner and CEO of TRX Training. Jack is also a Board Member and Treasurer at Navy SEAL Foundation and Managing Partner at JFXD Capital. TRX® develops world-class training products and workout programs for everyone: from fitness professionals and enthusiasts of any age and ability to top athletes in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and UFC. In this episode of Just FlexIt™, Jack Daly chats with the FlexIt team about his entry into fitness, his transition from the world of finance to entrepreneurship in the industry. He offers tips and insight into entrepreneurship and leadership. Jack details the success of TRX Training and touches on the brand's recognition before he joined the organization and the current trajectory of the brand. You won't want to miss this fantastic episode of Just FlexIt™ featuring Jack Daly!  Three Reps: 

Faith Still Moves Whether in raising our children or in life in general, we exercise faith. The object of our faith makes all of the difference. If you and your family have been blessed by Trace Embry's book, “The Miracles of Shepherd's Hill,” then stay tuned. Today we will be speaking with Fox News' Harris Faulker who has also broached the realities and benefits of faith, prayer, healing, and miracles in the face of adversity. It is all in her New York Times Best Selling book, “Faith Still Moves Mountains: Miraculous Stories of the Healing Power of Prayer.” Discussing Prayer with Harris Faulkner Harris Faulkner is the author of the New York Times Best Seller “Faith Still Moves Mountains: Miraculous Stories of the Healing Power of Prayer.” She is a six-time Emmy Award-winning journalist. Harris currently anchors two daily daytime programs on Fox News; The Faulkner Focus and she is the co-host of Outnumbered. Outside of her work as a journalist Harris is a motivational speaker, writer, and philanthropist. She is involved in the Green Beret Foundation as well as the Navy Seal Foundation. She helps funds breast cancer research and has received an award for her humanitarian efforts.  Harris and her husband have two daughters. Episode Highlights: What was Shepherd's Hill when Trace bought it? What was Harris' motivation for writing her book? What statistics surprised Harris during her research for her book? What does Harris say about facing the unknown? Where does truth come from? Image from Canva

This is the story about an Air Force veteran author.  The name of his most recent book (to be released on Veterans Day), The Penguin that Wanted to be a SEAL.  The book was written and illustrated with children in mind but is really for the whole military family.  Follow along as Trevor share's the Penguin's thought-provoking, life-changing journey.  Profits from the sale of the book will benefit both the The Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Navy SEAL Foundation.       The Veterans Voice Project presented by USAA is an Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center service.  Veterans Voice Colorado Springs is produced in the OPTUM Podcast Studio, distributed via the Medicare Mentors Veterans Voice Podcast Channel, powered by Technology Partner Colorado Computer Support, and made possible in part by Supporting Partner, The WireNut Home Services.       

Todd Ehrlich is a former Navy SEAL turned serial entrepreneur. His journey is far from conventional; from dropping out of college to answer the call of duty, to leaving the Navy and creating multiple companies, including the incredibly successful Kill Cliff brand. Get a firsthand account of life as a SEAL in the high-tension environment of the mid-90s and how this unique experience provided Todd with perspectives that fueled his subsequent business ventures. Learn how he bootstrapped Kill Cliff with just $100,000, and what challenges he faced as he worked tirelessly for nearly four years to perfect the formula for this now-famous beverage. Hear cautionary tales about the pitfalls of venture capital and the lessons Todd wishes he knew earlier in his career. Not only has Todd been successful in business, but his altruistic efforts have also made a significant impact. With Kill Cliff, he has successfully provided a sustainable giving platform for the Navy SEAL Foundation, donating over $1 million to the cause. Be inspired by Todd's Rule 1 Ventures Studio initiative that aims to empower new entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed. Sign up for the new G14 newsletter here: https://www.clearedhotpodcast.com/exclusive Check out the newest Cleared Hot Gear here: https://shop.clearedhotpodcast.com/  

Best of First Class Fatherhood - Shawn Ryan is a Former Navy SEAL and CIA Contractor.  On today's throwback episode to the most downloaded Navy SEAL interview of the podcast, I am honored to make a HUGE Announcement.  This summer I will be swimming with the Navy SEALs across the Hudson River in the 2023 NYC Navy SEAL Swim!  I can use your help to raise money for The Navy SEAL Foundation https://impact.navysealfoundation.org/fundraiser/4796365 Any contribution would be greatly appreciated and all the money goes directly to The Navy SEAL Foundation. The SEALs make this swim annually in memory of all those who died on September 11, 2001 and in honor of their brothers who were killed in action on Extortion 17 on August 6th, 2011, which was the largest single incident of loss of life in Naval Special Warfare history.   I have had the honor of interviewing over 70 SEALs on the podcast and it will be an honor to share this epic experience with them.   So in honor of today's big announcement, I thought it would be fitting to rebroadcast the most popular SEAL interview of the podcast.  Shawn Ryan is the host of one of the hottest podcasts on the internet, The Shawn Ryan Show.  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

Chris Irwin is a retired Navy SEAL Commander who suffered from severe mental and physical chronic illness after his time in the military. Through an extensive journey of self-discovery, he overcame these conditions and now teaches mind fitness through his brand, RARE SENSE. He publishes content through Substack, including weekly training, monthly articles, and podcast episodes. His work is changing the paradigm and stigma around mental health and human performance. Chris is also a singer/songwriter whose original works include the score and song “Sacrifice” from the film Murph: The Protector about Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient Michael Murphy. Both made the shortlist for the 86th (2013) Annual Academy Awards in the categories of “Best Original Score” and “Best Original Song,” respectively. https://www.navysealfoundation.org/ Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Chris Irwin

It may have been a little dirty, but Will shares his experience prepping in the Hudson River before the big upcoming New York City SEAL swim.   He also shares a healthy conversation that he had with old friend Stephen A. Smith on Fox News Tonight this week. The two debated the Supreme Court's ruling on Affirmative Action, and Stephen A. later weighs in on who would win an Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg fight.   Plus, an inspirational chat with former Navy SEALs Bill Brown and Jason Redman who share with us their backgrounds and motivations leading into the New York City SEAL swim on August 19th.    You can help support the Navy SEAL Foundation by donating at impact.navysealfoundation.org     Tell Will what you thought about this podcast by emailing WillCainPodcast@fox.com   Follow Will on Twitter: @WillCain   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Frohardt is a Navy SEAL combat veteran with nearly 12 years of service to our great nation. While on active duty, he served on various SEAL Teams including the highly revered Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DevGru). Over the course of his career, he deployed numerous times to hot spots around the world including Iraq and Afghanistan.As a SEAL, Eric was trained in the use of various firearms, explosives, radio and computer communication devices, combat diving, high-altitude parachuting, battlefield medicine, wilderness survival, climbing, mountaineering, hand-to-hand combat, and tactical driving. He was also a sniper! While on active duty he also climbed El Capitan and (2) of the (7) Summits: Denali and Aconcagua.Eric was medically retired at the beginning of 2010 as a SEAL Operator, Chief after being injured in combat. After leaving the Navy, Eric went on to start an indoor gun range and gun store in Lakewood, CO. He stepped down from the daily operations in order to become the CEO of StrongFirst, a fitness company with nearly 5,000 instructors in over 40-countries. After that, Eric served as the Director of Education and Training for the National Rifle Association where he led and served the over 110,000 NRA Certified Firearms Trainers nationwide. Now, Eric works as the COO of Defy, a performance beverage company with nationwide distribution in over 11,000 stores.Most importantly, Eric and his wife have been happily married for 20 years and they have 4 kids ranging from 10 to 17 years old. He volunteers for the Navy SEAL Foundation and serves as a committee chair for the Denver-based, “Evening of Tribute.” He is also active in his church and local community. Most of all, he enjoys being a husband and father!Honorable mentions:Connect with Eric on Linkedin.Be part of the Navy SEAL Foundation's “Evening of Tribute” in DenverDrink DefyStrongFirst: School of StrengthBlucore Shooting CenterFor more information about All Secure Foundation, visit https://allsecurefoundation.org/

On this episode of the Live Ultralight Podcast, Tayson sits down to talk with Paul Ferraro to discuss his many long, long walks to raise money for Navy Seals: After a successful 30-year career in the tech industry, Paul Ferraro retired in 2014 and set his sights on walking across the United States from Virginia to California to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation. This 3,121-mile effort earned him recognition from both CNN and Fox News, along with many other local news outlets as he worked to complete the journey in 2015. In addition to the Walk Across America, he's made a trek from Ireland to Rome (2000 miles), walked the Camino de Santiago from France to Santiago, Spain (500 miles), and claims the most challenging walk of his life was from Miami to Key West (140 miles in 3 days). We hope you enjoy this inspiring conversation. The Road I Chose Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/The-Road-I-Chose-707649916000439 Website: http://theroadichose.com/ Great Outdoor Gear (Support the Podcast): https://bit.ly/3W0x6Rt #outdoorvitals #liveultralight #backpacking #walkacrossamerica #theroadIchose

This is a true story about the operation “Pineapple Express” and helping Afghani allies escape Afghanistan. In this Passion Struck podcast episode, John R Miles interviews retired Navy SEAL Dan O'Shea on how he guided a family of fourteen to safety, successfully evading the Taliban. Dan describes the harrowing details of their 96 hours of terror and what it took to get the family safely to the Kabul airport. This is just one story out of more than 700 people the “Pineapple Express” helped save. Like this? Please subscribe, and join me on my new platform for peak performance, life coaching, and personal growth: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles/. Operation Recovery Website: https://www.operationrecovery.org/. Episode Highlights With Retired Navy SEAL Dan O'Shea In this powerful episode, John R. Miles and Navy SEAL Dan O'Shea discuss getting involved in Operation Pineapple Express. He tells the incredible story of survival as he guided an Afghani Allie, who is an American Citizen, and his family of fourteen escape Afghanistan and evade the Taliban over a 96-hour window of sheer heroics. He talks about his decision to become a Navy SEAL, the biggest lessons he learned from going through BUDs, the organizational structure of the teams, his tour of duty in Iraq where he participated in over 400 hostage rescues, as well as his experience in Afghanistan and those Afghanis who served alongside him. Why he is adamant about never leaving a soldier behind. He ends by discussing the Frogman swim he founded to benefit the wounded and fallen Navy SEALs and their families. New Interviews with the World's GREATEST high achievers will be posted every Tuesday with a Momentum Friday inspirational message! ESCAPING AFGHANISTAN SHOW NOTES 0:00 Dan O'Shea Teaser 1:09 Introducing Episode and Dan O'Shea 6:36 His path from the Naval Academy to BUDs 9:38 How he learned your attitude is everything 11:31 Competing in the ECO-Challenge (World's Toughest Race) 13:00 Explaining the organization of the SEAL teams 14:56 His time coordinate hostage rescue in Iraq 20:04 Examples of High profile kidnappings 23:07 His time as a counterinsurgency advisor in Afghanistan 25:38 The Green Berets from the movie “12 Strong” on ever of 9/11 29:42 How the Afghani interpreters risked their life for Americans 32:53 The origins of Operation Pineapple Express 39:33 Honoring his promise to the Afghani Allies he served with 42:30 The story of how Dan O'Shea saved a family of fourteen in escaping Afghanistan 101:58 How his employer Equitus is supporting Pineapple Express 105:13 Founding the Frogman swim and its purpose QUOTES BY NAVY SEAL DAN O'SHEA  "I am a SEAL. We have a combat record; we've never left a man behind on a battle ever. That's our legacy." "When you go to combat with someone, that's a relationship on a brotherhood level that you can't compare to anything." "We're doing this to honor the promise we made to these people, these Afghan partners who risked their all for us, and they understand leave no one behind." – Dan O'Shea ENGAGE DAN O'SHEA Commander Dan O'Shea, a retired Navy SEAL, had more than 25 years of special operations experience, including multiple Middle East (Iraq/Afghanistan) and Africa tours following 9/11. Commander O'Shea graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1991 and has a Master's in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego. A subject matter expert in Islamic terrorism, counter-insurgency (COIN), and hostage rescue operations, O'Shea was a COIN advisor for the Commander International Security Assistance Force (COMISAF) Afghanistan from 2011-2012. O'Shea established and served as the Hostage Working Group (HWG) coordinator at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, from 2004 to 2006. He expertly managed the inter-agency coordination of more than 400 kidnapping incidents. Arriving at the height of the hostage-taking campaign that targeted more than 50 foreigners per month. By the end of his tour, foreign kidnappings in Iraq were in single digits. O'Shea is the Co-founder of the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim that has raised more than $6 million for the Navy SEAL Foundation supporting Navy SEALs wounded and killed in action since 9/11. *LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-o-shea-4635732/ *Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danosheafla/ *Eco-Challenge: https://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/content/content.jsp?contentId=400147 *Equitus: https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2021/08/19/equitus-corp-gets-cut-of-nearly-1-billion-defens.html ENGAGE WITH JOHN R. MILES * Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles * Leave a comment, 5-star rating (please!) * Support me: https://johnrmiles.com * Twitter: https://twitter.com/Milesjohnr * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Johnrmiles.c0m​. * Medium: https://medium.com/@JohnRMiles​ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_r_miles ABOUT JOHN R. MILES * https://johnrmiles.com/my-story/ * Guides: https://johnrmiles.com/blog/ * Coaching: https://passionstruck.com/coaching/ * Speaking: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking-business-transformation/ * Gear: https://www.zazzle.com/store/passion_struck PASSION STRUCK *Subscribe to Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-passion-struck-podcast/id1553279283 *Website: https://passionstruck.com/ *About: https://passionstruck.com/about-passionstruck-johnrmiles/ *Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion_struck_podcast *LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/passionstruck *Blog: https://passionstruck.com/blog/  

Captain Steve Swift discusses how to create a career of service to others and how he did so through a 30-year career in the military and now as a running and triathlete coach. Careers helping people come in all shapes and sizes. You can get hands-on in a healthcare or emergency services job, think your way around problems as a social worker or lawyer, or create broader benefits for society in a career such as science or engineering.  Like this? Please subscribe, and join me on my new platform for peak performance, life coaching, and personal growth: https://passionstruck.com/. Creating a Career of Service Thank you for Watching the Passion Struck podcast. In this powerful interview, John R. Miles and Steve Swift discuss Steve's 30-year career of service as a submarine and intelligence officer. His time working at CENTCOM and his lessons learned along the way. We dive into why he went to the Naval Academy and his experience as a Blue and Gold officer helping guide prospective candidates into becoming a Midshipman. He goes into his tips for them, what they should focus on during high school, and their preparations for getting a recommendation. Steve and John discuss his participation in the Frogman Swim that strives to build national awareness of the Naval Special Warfare community and support the Navy SEAL Foundation, whose mission is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families. Lastly, we discuss what it takes to achieve peak performance and his suggestions on sleep and training to achieve it, how he trains elite triathlon and marathon athletes for the USAT triathlon nationals and Boston marathon. New Interviews with the World's GREATEST high achievers will be posted every Tuesday with a Momentum Friday inspirational message! Show Notes 0:00 Show Intro 5:30 Steve's journey to the Naval Academy 10:11 Why he pursued submarines 13:28 His transition to the intelligence community 17:25 The key lesson he would teach today's Midshipmen 20:00 The keys to getting into a service academy 28:52 His journey to the Frogman Swim 34:30 How you can support the Frogman Swim 38:04 His running and triathlon coaching tips 43:02 Key steps to achieve peak performance 45:32 The importance of your sleep ENGAGE CAPT STEVE SWIFT (USN Ret.) Steve Swift is a USAT triathlon coach and RRCA run coach who has coached over 100 athletes. He retired with the rank of Captain from the Navy Submarine community with 30 years of service. He also retired as a Defense Intelligence Agency team lead, where he worked at the Central Command in Tampa, FL, where he was a lead planner. He has served as the U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer for the past 19 years for the Tampa Bay area, guiding 1000s of applicants over that time. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has completed 6 Ironman races and 33 marathons. * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-swift-1767068/ *Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamswift87   ENGAGE WITH JOHN R. MILES * Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles * Leave a comment, 5-star rating (please!) * Support me: https://johnrmiles.com * Twitter: https://twitter.com/Milesjohnr * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Johnrmiles.c0m​. * Medium: https://medium.com/@JohnRMiles​ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_r_miles JOHN R. MILES * https://johnrmiles.com/my-story/ * Guides: https://johnrmiles.com/blog/ * Coaching: https://passionstruck.com/coaching/ * Speaking: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking-business-transformation/ * Gear: https://www.zazzle.com/store/passion_struck PASSION STRUCK *Subscribe to Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-passion-struck-podcast/id1553279283 *Website: https://passionstruck.com/ *About: https://passionstruck.com/about-passionstruck-johnrmiles/ *Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion_struck_podcast *LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/passionstruck *Blog: https://passionstruck.com/blog/