Delta Force Operator | John Shrek McPhee on His Time as a Sergeant Major, Leadership Skills & More

Today’s episode features John “Shrek” McPhee, a man whose life story is as raw, unfiltered, and honest as the lessons he’s learned along the way. A former Delta Force operator, John opens up about the reality of life in special operations - what it takes to survive, to lead, and to keep pushing forward when everything around you is designed to break you. From maintaining vehicles in the dust-choked roads of Afghanistan to stealing cars for missions in Iraq, his stories aren’t just war tales, but lessons about adaptability, efficiency, and the importance of learning through failure.

John talks candidly about growing up in a rough neighbourhood, experiencing abuse at home, and how those struggles shaped both his resilience and his flaws. What stands out is his belief that greatness is just one step beyond failure - a step most people give up on too soon. For him, failure was never the end; it was the teacher that drove him forward, whether in training, combat, or life.

Beyond the battlefield, John shares his perspective on leadership, efficiency, and why bad leadership is often about forcing people into stupid, unproductive work. He also speaks on finding freedom in simplicity, why he thrives training alone, and how jiu-jitsu gave him a new way to channel discipline and purpose after retiring from the military. It’s an episode that cuts through excuses and shows what it means to own your past, let go of bitterness without necessarily forgiving, and use every hardship as fuel for growth.

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