Ep. 29 • Xander Gleaton • A PJ's Story of Laughter Through The Dark: Brotherhood, Chaos, & Survival

Xander's story is one built from struggle, service, and second chances. A former Air Force Pararecue Operator turned entrepreneur, he's the founder of the brand Saints by Day, Sinners by Construct - leading a movement to bring suicide prevention and mental health awareness to the veteran and first responder communities. In this episode we get deep into why and how that came about.

From a rough upbringing in San Francisco and Stockton fighting people and addiction to finding brotherhood as an Air Force Pararescueman, Xander opens up about the highs, lows, and absolute insanity of life before, during, and after special operations.

There's no sugarcoating here: deployments, trauma, substance abuse, and the aftermath of losing teammates, friends, and family. Xander and the crew talk openly about suicide in the veteran community - the chain reaction it causes, the guilt that lingers, and how his brand was born from loss. The episode also explores the power of community, psychedelics, honesty, and especially humor in the fight to stay alive and stay human.

Still, this isn't just heavy. It's filled with laughter, brotherhood, and hope. Xander shares lessons from building a mission-driven brand, the realities of entrepreneurship in the veteran space, and what it means to turn pain into purpose.

If you've ever worn a uniform, loved someone who did, or just believe in real conversations that matter, this one's for you. It's equal parts war story, therapy session, and bar talk - classic Liberty Risk.

👉 Thank you for being a part of the Liberty Risk community! If you enjoyed the show please leave us a review on whatever audio platform you're listening on, and like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube to keep these stories alive.

Find out more about Xander and his adventures at the following links:

✖️ Brand & Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_sdsc_official

✖️ SDSC Brand Website - https://saintsbydaysinnersbyconstruct.com

Liberty Risk Hosts:

✖️ Ryan Williams - https://www.instagram.com/invictus5326

✖️ Kevin Kent - https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinkent

✖️ Nick Betts - https://www.instagram.com/n_betts

Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by:

✖️ Liberty Risk Merch - https://www.liberty-risk.com/collections/shop-all

✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com

✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com

✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com

✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc