Building the Elite Podcast

Zack Ferguson: You Must Be Willing to Die - Ep. 59

Dec 28, 2023

Former Navy SEAL Team 7 veteran Zack Ferguson discusses his decision to join the Navy, mental preparation for BUD/S, training experiences, and transition out of the SEAL teams. Highlights include commitment challenges, balancing commitments, illness in training, and the importance of mental resilience. He also shares insights on MMA commitment, contrasting mentalities between fighters and military teams, and navigating life's advice for personal growth and fulfillment.

46:38

Episode guests

Zack Ferguson

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Commitment to Navy SEALs is a matter of life and death, unlike MMA fighters.

Self-reliance and embracing discomfort lead to personal growth and fulfillment according to Zach Ferguson.

Deep dives

Zach Ferguson's Inspirational Journey from Navy SEAL to Healing through Ayahuasca Therapy

Zach Ferguson shares his remarkable story of transitioning from aspiring UFC champion to becoming a former Navy SEAL Team 7 veteran. After facing personal and family struggles, including addictive behaviors and health issues, Zach made a selfless decision to leave his dream career in the NAVY to support his family. Through introspective psychedelic therapy with Ayahuasca, Zach found healing and enlightenment, allowing him to move forward with his life.

Introduction

2min

From UFC Aspirations to SEAL Team Commitment

14min

Navigating Mental Resilience in Challenging Environments and Navy Selection Training

5min

Building Resilience and Overcoming Challenges in Extreme Training Environments

17min

A Comparison of Commitment in Jiu Jitsu, MMA, and Military Service

2min

Contrasting Mentalities: MMA Fighters vs Military Teams

2min

Navigating Life's Advice

3min

Zack Ferguson is a former Navy SEAL Team 7 veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq, Yemen, Africa, and the UAE. He served as his platoon's Lead Sniper and Pointman and was a JTAC, Combatives Instructor, and Weapons Ordnance Specialist.

He is currently a competitive 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu purple belt and an amateur MMA fighter.

He is also an instructor for the Graceful Warrior Project, a non-profit organization that aims to equip in-duress women in central Africa with self-defense skills.

Zack has a degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Charleston. At his day job, he is an instructor for Defense Strategies Group, an organization of special operations veterans that provides defensive training and security solutions.

In this episode, we talk with Zack about his decision to join the Navy and volunteer for BUD/S, the mental preparation that he did for that, his experiences in training, and his transition out of the SEAL teams.

More about Zack:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zackkferg/

Personal Site: https://zackkferg.com/pages/about-zack-ferguson

Defense Strategies Group: https://www.defensestrategies.us/instructors

Timestamps:

00:00:23 Intro

00:01:14 Zack Ferguson Introduction

00:05:19 Hard Commitment to SEAL Teams

00:08:01 Commitment Tested

00:11:02 Reality of the Course

00:14:03 Being Fit Enough Isn’t Enough

00:19:19 Quick Note

00:19:40 Laughing at Absurdity

00:22:12 Illness is Part of the Course

00:25:16 Biggest Mistakes Made

00:27:32 Balancing Commitments

00:29:06 Getting Out of the Navy

00:35:49 Guided Psychedelic Therapy

00:37:05 Seal Team to Civilian

00:39:47 MMA and SEAL Teams Similarities

00:40:56 Differences

00:41:32 Defense Strategies Group

00:43:15 Best and Worst Advice

00:45:36 Learn More About Zack Ferguson

00:46:15 Outro

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Building the Elite Podcast

Zack Ferguson: You Must Be Willing to Die - Ep. 59

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Zach Ferguson's Inspirational Journey from Navy SEAL to Healing through Ayahuasca Therapy

Commitment to Protection: MMA vs. Navy SEALs

Transition from SEAL Team to Civilian Life with Defense Strategies Group

Self-Reliance and Striving for Greatness: Best and Worst Advice

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
moment

Share
& Export

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Building the Elite Podcast

Zack Ferguson: You Must Be Willing to Die - Ep. 59

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Zach Ferguson's Inspirational Journey from Navy SEAL to Healing through Ayahuasca Therapy

Commitment to Protection: MMA vs. Navy SEALs

Transition from SEAL Team to Civilian Life with Defense Strategies Group

Self-Reliance and Striving for Greatness: Best and Worst Advice

Get the Snipdpodcast app

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Save anymoment

Share& Export

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
moment

Share
& Export

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights