Building the Elite Podcast

Alex Potter is a photojournalist, trauma nurse, former wildland firefighter, and co-founder of Global Response Medicine, a humanitarian non-profit bringing emergency medicine to low-resource and high-risk areas. Alex spent her early career photographing conflict in the Middle East, before spending two seasons as a wildland firefighter in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. She then moved to Alaska to pursue a career as an Air Force Combat Rescue Officer and was selected in Phase 2 of the CRO pipeline in 2022. While a twist of fate (and knee) changed that path, she remains passionate about mountain pursuits, far-forward medicine, and the ability to help others achieve their goals. She is a current board member of the Special Operations Climbers Coalition, and recently moved to Bozeman, Montana.More about Alex: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexkpotter/Global Response Medicine: https://global-response.org/Photography: https://www.alexkaypotter.com/Support GRM: https://givebutter.com/AcuteCareTimestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Alex Potter00:01:14 Piecing Together Alex Potter's Career00:04:48 Combat Rescue Officers VS. Pararescueman00:06:43 Everybody Loves PJs00:09:00 Trauma Nurse in Iraq00:13:16 Notable Things in the Learning Curve00:14:31 Where Did Your Food Come From00:16:12 Being a Women in Traditional Muslim Culture00:21:47 Ending two years in Iraq00:24:03 Firefighter in Alaska00:24:57 Month Long Boot Camp00:26:13 What Makes Effective Leadership00:27:21 Not Hoarding Knowledge00:29:56 Becoming a Wildland Firefighter00:33:15 Specific Boots for the Job00:34:37 Physical Training Prior to Firefighting00:37:10 Marriage & Nursing on the East Coast00:40:07 The CRO Pipeline00:45:45 Training to Maintain While Working on Weaknesses00:50:27 Phase Two of Training00:55:60 Qualifying for Air Force after Training00:58:28 Pete Gets Director Position in Ukraine01:02:35 Long Journey to Bring Pete Back Home01:03:37 The OTS Pipeline01:10:51 What is Alex Potter Doing Now01:11:42 Mountain Guiding Professionals01:13:25 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received01:15:29 Outro

Mauri DiMeo is an Infantry officer in the US Army currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Military Science (APMS) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He attended Ranger, Airborne, SFAS, the SFQC, and the Austrian High Alpine School. Mauri was a platoon leader in the 4th Infantry Division and Rifle Company Commander in the 10th Mountain Division. His career took a turn in the final Robin Sage stage of the SF Q course, which we discuss early in our conversation. The lessons he learned there are important for any officer going through the SF qualification process. Outside of the military, Mauri founded Tactical Alpinism in 2022 with the mission to expand the capability of individuals to go bigger in the mountains by teaching mountain navigation and planning best practices. Enabling people to go bigger in the mountains expands the military’s capability in this environment by focusing on the expertise of the individual within mountain and arctic units. He professionally guides in the mountains in the ski, rock, and alpine disciplines.His mountain experience includes two decades of climbing across much of the world and multiple ski-based ascents and descents, including Mount Shasta, Mount Rainier, and Denali, all by multiple routes. His civilian mountain certifications include AIARE Avalanche Professional Level 2, AIARE Avalanche Instructor, AMGA Assistant Ski Guide, and AMGA Assistant Rock Guide.More about Mauri:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tacticalalpinism/Timestamps:00:00:23 Introduction to Mauri DiMeo00:01:49 Mauri DiMeo’s Career 00:03:20 Final Year at West Point00:04:26 Preparing for the Course00:05:32 Junior West Point Cadet00:08:45 Doing Too Much00:10:54 10th Mountain Warfare Training00:15:56 Ready in a Month00:18:13 Conventional Units in Cold Environments00:21:48 The Gap Between What Soldiers Are Taught and Tying Knots 00:26:09 Practicing Skills Where They Matter00:28:20 Tactical Avalanche Education00:32:13 Avalanche Bell Curve Management00:36:20 Speed is Safety00:42:00 Time Recommended to Build Aerobic Capacity00:46:50 Balancing Volume Training00:51:03 Zone 2 Running vs Rucking00:55:34 Getting the Body to Do What It’s Meant to Do00:58:48 Effective Mental Frameworks in the Mountains01:02:27 Filling Gaps in Military Training01:05:34 Tactical Core Skills for Operating in the Snowy Mountains01:10:25 What Does Mauri DiMeo Do with Tactical Alpinism?01:12:20 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received01:14:44 Outro

Anthony ‘Harry’ Moffitt retired from the Australian Defence Force after almost 30 years, most of which was spent with Australia’s Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment as a Team Commander and Team Specialist. He completed 11 active service deployments and was wounded in action in 2008. He completed his time with the SAS as their Human Performance Manager. Harry is a registered psychologist and runs a human performance consultancy called Stotan Group, which works with sports teams, the military, and the industry. He is also a Director at the Mission Critical Team Institute and founded the Wanderers Education Program, a multi-million dollar not-for-profit that prepares soldiers for transition. He recently published his memoir Eleven Bats, a book about his military service and his love of cricket.Harry has been married to Danielle for 27 years and has two children. He values integrity, humor, and bricolage.More about Harry:Stotan Group: https://stotangroup.com.au/Eleven Bats: https://www.booktopia.com.au/eleven-bats-anthony-harry-moffitt/book/9781760877842.htmlSAS Wanderer's Education Program: https://www.sasresourcesfund.org.au/about-the-fund/wanderers-education-programLBW Trust / National Backyard Cricket: https://lbwtrust.com.au/The Externals (Harry's band): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWSYUvRoa8QInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrymoffitt353/Timestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Harry Moffitt00:01:22 Career Overview00:04:28 Human Performance and Nuance in SAS Selection00:06:16 Success in Selection 00:09:45 Being In Love With The Process00:13:49 Building a Nest: The Ways We Quit00:14:51 The Challenge Beyond Selection00:17:56 Self Doubt: Questioning Your Sense of Belonging00:24:55 Moving On From “You Suck. Suck Less.”00:29:05 Accessing for Integrity00:31:06 Leadership, Character, & Stress00:35:04 Sponsor Note: Building The Elite 00:35:58 Protecting Us From Ourselves00:40:21 Special Operations in Civilian Life: Which Concepts Work? Which Don’t?00:45:51 The Hallmarks of Camaraderie00:50:31 Playing ‘Company’00:53:17 The Cricket Bats00:58:30 Harry Moffitt’s Next Book01:01:59 Philosophy: Wonder, Intuition, & Imagination01:05:29 Clarifying Values: Your Personal North Star01:11:16 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received01:11:50 Outro

Josh Bridges, a former Navy SEAL and second-place finisher in the 2011 CrossFit Games, shares insights from his remarkable journey. He emphasizes how wrestling built his mental toughness, crucial for SEAL training. Josh discusses the importance of adaptability over rigid rules in training, fostering an understanding that transcends traditional methods. He also delves into the challenges athletes face while transitioning into CrossFit and shares strategies for effective remote coaching, highlighting the value of camaraderie and resilience.

Ryan Wilson completed a long and challenging career in the Australian Army spanning 18 years, primarily in the Special Air Service Regiment, where he gained extensive experience leading teams in highly complex and uncertain environments on multiple combat tours.   During his time in the special forces, Ryan experienced many life-changing and challenging situations that sparked his interest in resilience, high performance, and operational management.  Following his military career, Ryan commenced his journey into the whiskey industry, starting in 2020 as Business Development Manager for Whipper Snapper Distillery, and is now the General Manager overseeing the entire operation.      Ryan is active in the veteran support space. He is on the Board of Directors for the Veteran employment non-profit Working Spirit and is the WA manager for the veteran charity Wandering Warriors.  He has recently founded a new charity called Working Paws Australia, which aims to raise money and provide financial assistance for medical bills and other areas associated with retired military and police working dogs.  He holds a BA in Politics and International Studies from Murdoch University and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Western Australia.  He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Course.  Ryan spent much of his career living and working throughout Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, and is fluent in Bahasa Indonesian.   More about Ryan:You can learn more about Ryan and the charities he’s involved with at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanwilson_1984/Timestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Ryan Wilson00:01:55 Career Overview00:04:16 SAS Selection: What makes people quit?00:07:32 Mental Preparation: How to Keep Going and Stay Out of Your Head00:10:40 Keeping An Internal Compass 00:13:40 Segmenting: A Thousand Manageable Steps, One At A Time00:15:56 Stories of Selection & Low Points00:19:13 What Are My Odds of Making It00:22:20 End of Selection: Three Sentences and You're On Your Way Home00:24:08 The Sword in the Stone Mentality00:27:21 Selection Starts When the Stress Sets In00:28:46 Sponsor Note: Mindfulness in Training App00:31:32 Rationale for Snapping & Trainability 00:36:04 The Ability to Deal With Failure & Setbacks00:39:30 How Powerful Nutrition Is & Can Be00:43:23 Foundation for Metabolic Flexibility00:45:32 Team Dynamics in Selection: Knowing When to Follow & When to Lead00:47:21 Building Trust and Rapport With a New Group00:50:32 Career Progression After Selection00:54:06 Work/Life Balance Compared to the Army00:58:23 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received01:01:39 Outro

Daniel Allen is a doctor of clinical psychology and a strength and conditioning coach specializing in preparing candidates for military and special operations service in New Zealand.He spent 6 years as a medic in the NZ Army before leaving to fulfill a dream to compete as a professional Muay Thai and MMA athlete and embark on a decade-long formal training in clinical psychology. He has worked with people ranging from Olympians, professional and world-class athletes, to beginners starting out for the first time to successful New Zealand SAS candidates.Dan’s wide-ranging academic background spans undergraduate study in Health Science, Exercise Science, master’s and doctoral psychology programs, and much to his wife’s dismay, he is currently in a 2-year neuropsychology program.Dan’s doctoral research focused on factors that reduced PTSD and increased flourishing among military personnel in the years following deployment, including nutrition, sleep, exercise, social support, and leadership support.His psychology background is similarly wide-ranging, including working as a high-school counselor, in a drugs and addiction service and, more recently, in a private psychology service.Dan is passionate about understanding the relationship between nutrition, psychology, and performance and how these things facilitate resilience.You can learn more about Dan at his website, drdancoach.com/ or on Instagram at @drdancoachingTimestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Daniel Allen00:01:46 Sidequest to Be Professional Muay Thai Fighter00:06:40 Training in High-Level Gyms Around the World00:09:15 How Did Daniel Allen’s Training Impact How He Coaches?00:11:39 How to Separate Pain from Suffering00:14:02 Exercise Science and Psychology Degrees 00:14:59 New Zealand SAS 00:17:49 What Would Daniel Change About How He Coached in the Past?00:21:09 How to Balance Being Good at Running and Rucking00:24:05 Predictors of Success00:26:58 Most Common Mistakes in Prep00:29:31 Test Within a Training Cycle00:31:53 Fundamental Skills to Develop People’s Abilities00:34:04 Sponsor Note on Segmenting 00:34:28 Questioning Your Sense of Belonging00:41:02 Common Success Factors from Olympic Athletes to SAS Operators00:45:21 Cognitive Flexibility and Growth Mindset00:47:45 Operational Longevity 00:52:33 Limiting Factors During a Course 00:54:04 Candidates with Cushie Backgrounds00:57:43 Gaining Awareness of the Landscape of Your Mind00:59:43 SAS Candidates Do’s and Don’ts01:02:31 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 01:05:29 Outro

One of the most common training questions we answer, particularly in the winter when people’s kids are going back to school and concocting new diseases, is about training when sick. While the answer is obvious if you’re bedridden or can barely feed yourself (Do not work out), how you manage yourself from when you begin to feel symptoms to when you’re back to 100% will make a big difference in your rate of recovery.This episode covers what to do and not do when you're sick, how to transition back to full-intensity training, and factors that speed recovery and influence your propensity to illness. You may want to refer back to portions of this episode so we have it published in written format on our website, broken down by sections. You can read it here: https://www.buildingtheelite.com/training-when-sick/

Scott Ryder served for 22 years with the Australian Army, including 16 years as an operator with the 2nd Commando Regiment. He served in East Timor and multiple tours of Afghanistan and Iraq. He holds numerous commendations and a Masters of Business, and he works in veteran charities to improve the life of veterans and their families. He’s the author of the book Forged in Fire: An Australian Commando's Story of Life and Death on the Frontline, available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and almost any other major retailer. Scott’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scott_ryder_zero79/Scott’s LinktreeForged In Fire on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3B9TLFGTimestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Scott Ryder00:02:01 Time in Australia and the Military00:03:23 Commando Selection00:04:47 Having a Smaller Build in Selection00:07:19 How Long Should Training Be?00:10:37 Childhood Adversity Gives You Coping Skills00:15:19 Functional Fitness and Training00:20:19 No Resilience to Sleep Deprivation 00:21:32 Purpose and Performance00:27:11 Sponsor Note: Train to Perform Well in Stressful Situations00:30:47 Physical Fatigue Gages Where You Are Mentally and Physically00:33:30 When You Don’t Remember Why You Signed Up00:35:27 Scott Ryder’s Most Challenging Moments in Selection00:37:39 Most Common Mistakes in Preparing for Selection00:42:06 Don’t Talk to the Quitters00:47:25 Learning Land Navigation00:49:40 Common Threads of Successful Candidates00:51:41 Once the Physical Playing Field is Leveled00:54:27 Teamwork and Social Interactions00:57:45 Scott Ryder’s Book00:59:38 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received01:00:18 Outro

Chris Frueh, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii.  He has over thirty years of professional experience working with military veterans, servicemembers, special operators, private defense contractors, and firefighters; and has conducted clinical trials, epidemiology, historical, and neuroscience research. He was previously a professor of psychiatry at Medical University of South Carolina and Baylor College of Medicine. He has co-authored over 325 scientific publications and is the author of Operator Syndrome, which is available on Amazon.Website: chrisfrueh.comOperator Syndrome on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZuZfTxTimestamps:00:00:23 Introduction to Chris Frueh00:00:59 Rundown of Chris Frueh’s Career 00:04:42 What is Operator Syndrome?00:15:48 The Differences Between PTSD and Operator Syndrome00:17:29 Types of Traumatic Brain Injury00:22:14 TAL Proteins and Impact Trauma00:25:56 Interventions and Treatments00:30:13 Sponsor Note: Sleep Optimization Course00:34:33 Nutritional Interventions 00:36:22 Fasting to Manage TBI 00:39:05 Different Stages of an Operator and TBI 00:43:56 Staying on Top of Hormones00:48:37 Getting Treatment Outside of the VA00:51:07 Finding Credible Help00:54:12 Operator Syndrome Foundation00:55:55 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received00:58:12 Outro

Nico Seedsman spent 13 years in the Australian military, first as an electrical engineer in the Navy, then with a Recon unit in the Army, before spending his final eight years in the SAS. Nico left the military after suffering catastrophic multi-system health issues and eventually brought himself back to health through a combination of stem cell therapy, indigenous medicine, and an intensive focus on recovery. Nico is now an actor who has made appearances on Apple TV and Paramount networks, a high-performance coach, the CEO and founder of Odin Stem Cells, and the founder of a veterans philanthropy organization called Warrior Refit.Learn more about Nico: https://www.instagram.com/niclonewolf/How to prepare for Australian SAS/Commando Selection:https://www.buildingtheelite.com/australian-sasr-selection-process-sfet-training/Building the Elite Coaching App:https://www.buildingtheelite.com/sof-training-appTimestamps:00:00:21 Introduction to Nico Seedsman00:01:02 Nico Seedsman Career Overview00:06:50 Spiraling Health 00:10:40 Regenerative Medicines00:13:01 SASR (SAS) Selection 00:16:31 Fighting the Internal Battle In Your Head00:26:21 Prepping for Selection00:33:07 The Social Dynamic During Selection00:38:40 Fitness Level vs. Mentality/Personality00:44:14 The Way You Train & Effect On Health00:46:38 One-Percenters00:49:11 Sponsor Note: High Emotional Stability & High Conscientiousness 00:53:48 Best & Worst Advice You’ve Ever Gotten00:54:41 Wrap Up