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Nate Boyer On Striving For Excellence In Everything

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Sep 30, 2023

Guest

Nate Boyer

In a captivating conversation, Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and NFL player, shares insights from his diverse career in football, film, and television. He discusses the challenges faced by veterans transitioning to civilian life and highlights his nonprofit's mission, Merging Vets and Players. Nate also emphasizes the importance of patience, persistence, and embracing discomfort in both personal growth and creative pursuits. Through his inspiring journey, he reflects on the interplay between ambition and humility, reminding us that true progress takes time.

01:25:32

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Episode notes

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ANECDOTE

Late Start

Nate Boyer had childhood dreams of playing professional sports but didn't play football until later in life.
He felt regret for not pursuing it earlier, but this fueled his eventual pursuit of the sport.

insights

INSIGHT

Elite Performance Parallels

Elite performers across different fields share similar traits, like discipline and intensity.
This is evident in how they approach their training, schedules, and overall mindset.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Overtraining and Excellence

Nate Boyer observed in the military that those who consistently practiced and trained were the ones who excelled.
Their dedication wasn't mandated but driven by an intrinsic desire to be the best.

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The Path to Elite Military Ranks

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The Power of Patience and Persistence

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Embracing Discomfort: The Journey Through the Pain Cave

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Navigating Aspirations and Approval

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Embracing Humility and Continuous Growth

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Rediscovering the Art of Listening and Learning

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Ryan speaks with Nate Boyer in the first of a two-part interview about what serving six years and multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Green Beret taught him about life, how he was able to become an NFL starter at a position he had never played before, how he is striving to be great in his television career, and more.

Nate Boyer is a United States Army Green Beret, former football player, actor, director, producer, and television host. Despite never having played a down of organized football in his life, Nate played college football as a walk-on at the University of Texas, and he was later signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2015. In 2004, Nate became a relief worker shortly before enlisting in the Army and being accepted into the Green Berets. He earned an honorable discharge after six years of service, after which he pursued a career in film and television. Since then, he has appeared in an ESPN documentary about his life, the film Den of Thieves, the show Mayans M.C., the video game Madden NFL 18, and many other notable media properties. Nate currently hosts the Discovery channel reality competition series Survive the Raft. In 2022, Nate wrote, directed, and starred in the acclaimed film MVP. You can follow Nate on Instagram @NateBoyer37, and you can check out his charity Merging Vets and Players at vetsandplayers.org.

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