The Resilient Show

Real‑Life Florida Man: US Marine Veteran Wrestles Gators, Survives Bullet, & Fights PTSD | TRS 056

May 5, 2025
Mike Dragich, a former USMC veteran, licensed alligator trapper, and founder of Project Savior Outdoors, shares his incredible journey of resilience and faith. He recounts harrowing experiences, including surviving a gunshot wound and wrestling 10-foot alligators, merging stories of adventure with deep personal insights. The discussion touches on overcoming PTSD, the importance of community in healing, and the founding of a nonprofit aimed at preventing veteran suicide. Mike's narrative blends raw masculinity with spiritual warfare in a compelling tale of redemption.
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ANECDOTE

Childhood Bullying and Turning Point

  • Mike Dragich shares being bullied as a kid and his struggle with insecurity and lack of confidence.
  • Standing up for himself in eighth grade marked a turning point in his life.
ADVICE

Martial Arts Build Confidence

  • Enroll kids in martial arts to build self-confidence and understand managing violence.
  • Learning fighting skills can reduce victim mentality and make kids less of a target for bullies.
ANECDOTE

Surviving a Chest Gunshot

  • Mike Dragich was shot in the chest with a .45 hollow point and survived despite severe injuries.
  • He prayed for his life and was miraculously saved by a friend who found him.
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