Building the Elite Podcast

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

Many types of fear are learned responses based on memories from previous experiences. There are, of course, also innate fears. Like other animals, we’re naturally prone to be highly vigilant the first time we’re exposed to things like heights, deep water, snakes, and spiders. But, for most things in life, fear is not a primal instinct but a learned association. These learned associations can come from almost anything, from old injuries to bad experiences or past failures, including fear responses we might not even be consciously aware of. While learned fear responses are normal and sometimes helpful, they can also hinder performance if we can’t move past them. A strong learned fear response leads to a disproportionately strong stress response, amplifies anxiety, and makes your emotions run rampant. This makes you more prone to burnout and reduces resilience. In challenging times, when one difficulty bleeds into the next, these responses can make the difference between burnout and growth.To recalibrate these fear responses, we have to look at how they’re created, the predictions our brains make based on the environmental cues around us, and the way we mentally and emotionally process those moments. As military theorists put it, we have to do the work “left of bang” rather than repeatedly trying to deal with the symptoms after the fear response has taken over.  

Lt. Col. Matthew Perry is an active-duty Marine with over 16 years of experience in the infantry and reconnaissance community. He has served in all four Marine Divisions and deployed throughout the Pacific and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.As an infantry officer, he served in the 7th Marines as a rifle platoon and 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander, with the 2nd Marine Division as an infantry Battalion Executive Officer and as the operations officer at the 2nd Marine Regiment.As a Reconnaissance officer, he served as a Force Platoon Commander and Force Company Commander with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion and as the Operations Officer at 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.His civilian education includes an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and a graduate degree from Syracuse University. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Infantry Officer and Basic Reconnaissance courses and Army Ranger School.Instagram: www.instagram.com/redstick6/Timestamps:00:00:21 Introduction to Matthew Perry00:01:22 Matthew Perry’s Career & Educational Background00:05:12 Writing & Social Media00:07:47 Reading List & Recommended Resources for Leadership00:09:38 Vietnam00:11:30 Practical Leadership Experience - Becoming a Better Leader00:15:11 Important Mistakes & Valuable Lessons00:23:16 Performance & Potential00:27:10 Incentivizing Your Team00:32:52 Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC) & Recon Qualification00:38:06 Haircuts, Sideburns, and Shaving00:43:28 How to Scale Your Leadership 00:50:40 The Role of Health and Physical Fitness in Leadership01:00:45 Wrap Up