

Building the Elite Podcast
Building the Elite
The Building the Elite (BTE) podcast discusses all facets of human performance - from physical training to the mental and emotional factors of resilience. Each episode looks at principles drawn from the world of special operations. These concepts help people succeed in the toughest military training courses in the world and can help anyone thrive in chaotic and challenging environments.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 31, 2024 • 48min
Tristan Irwin: US Army Civil Affairs - Ep. 97
Tristan Irwin is a nine-year veteran of the United States Army, where she served as a special operations Civil Affairs Officer. As a CA Team Chief, she led a four-person team in Moldova, conducting community-level development assistance to strengthen Moldova’s resilience and support its partnership with the US. She graduated from Yale University with a dual Master of Forestry and Public Policy degree. In 2012, she graduated from the United States Military Academy with a bachelor's degree in International Relations and another in German. Tristan serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for The Valkyrie Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on optimizing health and human performance for military women through advocacy, research, education, and physical training programming.https://www.thevalkyrieproject.org/Timestamps:00:00:25 Intro to Tristan Irwin00:01:12 Tristan Irwin's Career00:01:48 Why is the U.S. Interested in Moldova?00:02:53 What Does a Mission in Moldova Look Like?00:04:49 What Skills Are Being Taught on Missions in Moldova?00:05:32 Missions That Stand Out in Tristan's Memory00:07:05 Sustainability of What's Implemented on Missions00:08:46 How to Get the Locals to Commit to Outreach00:11:08 Lifestyle in an Eastern Bloc Village00;13:04 Establishing a Cleaning Routine to Keep Your Food Safe00:14:01 Civil Affairs Selection/Recruitment Process00:15:53 What Kinds of Cognitive Testing Occurs?00:17:09 What is the Turnout in Selection00:17:57 How to Receive an NTR (Not-to-Return)00:19:17 Qualification Process After Selection00:20:43 Languages Spoken in Moldova00:21:49 Differentiating Factor When You’re on the Cusp of Being Selected 00:23:36 Physical Prep Before and After Selection00:26:38 Pack Weight for the 12 Mile Run00:27:01 Arbitrary Fitness Standards for the Military00:34:22 Military Morale Issues00:36:57 How the Measurement of Something Determines its Success Criteria00:40:26 Tristan’s Valkyrie Project Story00:41:28 How Do You Determine Your Own Successfulness?00:43:27 What Specific Policies Does Tristan Hopes Will Change in the Military?00:44:52 How Women Can Get Involved with Valkyrie00:46:26 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received00:48:01 Outro

Oct 24, 2024 • 1h 32min
Kevin Smith: Terminator Training Method - Ep. 96
Kevin Smith, Founder of Terminator Training Method (TTM), specializes in virtual fitness coaching tailored for those prepping for Special Operations Forces (SOF) selection courses, especially SFAS. Born and raised in Maine, Kevin's dedication to hard work started as a young multi-sport athlete, inspired by his father and later refined through over a decade in the Army Special Forces as a Green Beret medic. He served on a military freefall team for 3.5 years at 10th SFG (A) and closed out his career on a dive/maritime team at 3rd SFG (A). During his time in, he completed multiple deployments and earned qualifications, including Ranger School, Advanced Land Navigation (SMU Selection), Dive Medical Technician, Static Line Jumpmaster, and the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant Course. After 12 years of training for and serving as a Green Beret, he transitioned to a career in fitness coaching, specializing in 1:1 coaching, team coaching, and content creation.Kevin’s approach to coaching is rooted in simplicity, efficiency, and personalization, emphasizing smart exercise selection, intentional progression, and flexibility. He believes in training that builds resilience without unnecessary complexity, prioritizing fundamentals over fads and ensuring each athlete's program uniquely suits their goals. His mission with TTM is to provide clear, science-backed guidance that empowers tactical athletes to exceed fitness standards and develop the mental toughness needed for SOF selection while avoiding the burnout and frustration he once faced. Through TTM’s virtual coaching, podcast, and content, Kevin aims to reshape the tactical fitness space with no-nonsense, results-oriented coaching.More about Kevin:Website: Terminatortraining.comPodcast: The Terminator Training ShowYoutube: Terminator Training MethodIG: Terminator-trainingArticles referenced in the show: Mental Fortitude Prompts (Most Popular); Dealing With Pre-Selection Doubt; Crushing Team Week (Character Development); All Articles: TTM website; SubstackTimestamps:00:00:21 Introduction to Kevin Smith00:02:07 ‘How did you get into physical training…?’00:07:16 College and Joining The Army 00:13:27 Special Operations Preparation and Conditioning Course & Selection00:17:12 Helping Clients with Imposter Syndrome and Segmenting00:21:06 Sponsor Note: Building The Elite00:21:30 Segmenting (Continued)00:23:51 Self-Induced Stress00:26:57 Managing Self-Induced Stress00:36:16 18D School00:41:35 Advice for 18D00:45:37 After the Q Course00:49:15 Delta Force00:51:36 Camp Delhi00:54:01 Getting Out of The Army00:56:45 Ranger School01:01:11 Advice for Ranger School01:05:46 Learning with No Ego01:08:26 Coaching and Clearing Up Misinformation01:14:07 Nutrition01:19:33 Mindset and Character Trait Development01:27:46 Final Questions01:31:08 Outro

Oct 19, 2024 • 47min
Alex Fichtler, USN SEAL, Pt 2: Lessons from NSW CQB Training
Alex Fichtler is a 9-year Navy SEAL combat veteran with operational experience in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. He is a Naval Special Warfare Sniper, Assaulter, Intel Specialist, and Communications Specialist and served as Troop Lead Sniper during his time with SEAL Team 7. Alex led the West Coast NSW Close Quarters Battle (CQB) training cell, providing thousands of active duty SEALs with countless hours of high-risk training and instruction on CQB, target assaults, and internal and external breaching.During his time in the civilian sector, Alex has transferred his knowledge of high performance into the service of others through personal and team coaching. He and his girlfriend, Jenna Bauer, own Highground Performance, where they teach fitness and mindset development alongside the nutrition and wellness habits that bring elite performance to life. Alex also works in the physical security sector, managing security professionals responsible for high-value asset and location protection. Alex is a father of three, a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, an entrepreneur, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. He also has his civilian EMT certification and is completing his NASM CPT certification.More about Alex:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearded_beast8/LinktreeTimestamps:00:00:32 Methods to Manage Stress Response00:05:14 Preferred Breathing Technique00:07:36 The Mentality of a Good CQB Shooter00:09:41 Best Training Frequency for a Professional00:11:35 Common Mistakes in the Shoot House00:14:02 Three Main Objectives in CQC to Get Right00:19:36 CQC High Port vs Low Port00:22:36 Process for Integrating New Protocols00:31:33 Sponsor Note: Fuel My Day Foods00:32:13 How to Prepare for a CQB Course if You’re New to Handling Weapons00:38:31 Other Things to Practice for a CQB Course00:43:10 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 00:46:37 Outro

Oct 17, 2024 • 57min
Alex Fichtler, USN SEAL, Pt. 1: The Six Pillars of Performance
Alex Fichtler is a 9-year Navy SEAL combat veteran with operational experience in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. He is a Naval Special Warfare Sniper, Assaulter, Intel Specialist, and Communications Specialist and served as Troop Lead Sniper during his time with SEAL Team 7. Alex led the West Coast NSW Close Quarters Battle (CQB) training cell, providing thousands of active duty SEALs with countless hours of high-risk training and instruction on CQB, target assaults, and internal and external breaching.During his time in the civilian sector, Alex has transferred his knowledge of high performance into the service of others through personal and team coaching. He and his girlfriend, Jenna Bauer, own Highground Performance, where they teach fitness and mindset development alongside the nutrition and wellness habits that bring elite performance to life. Alex also works in the physical security sector, managing security professionals responsible for high-value asset and location protection. Alex is a father of three, a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, an entrepreneur, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. He also has his civilian EMT certification and is completing his NASM CPT certification.More about Alex:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearded_beast8/LinktreeTimestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Alex Fichtler00:01:40 Career in the Seal Teams00:09:40 Somalia Operation00:10:36 OTB - Over the Beach00:11:55 Fire Support from the Water00:15:14 The Stupid Never Stops00:16:27 Keeping Motivation When You Feel You Don’t Belong00:23:08 Replacing Negative Self-Talk with Positivity00:28:41 Using Humor to Uplift Yourself and Others00:30:30 Sponsor note: Fuel My Day Foods00:31:10 Transition Into Language School00:35:01 Failing Out of Language School00:36:39 Going Back to Montana00:40:30 Working with Civilians Without a Routine00:43:39 The Six Pillars00:47:50 Building a Healthy Community for Men00:51:35 An Agendaless Time00:54:57 Recreating the Unit’s PT00:57:10 Outro

Oct 9, 2024 • 1h 7min
Senior Chief Candace Esquivel: NSWDG Intelligence - Ep. 93
Senior Chief Candace Esquivel joined the Navy in 2005 as a cryptologic technician with advanced training in signals exploitation systems. From there, she went to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, where she worked as a SIGINT Geospatial Analyst. At Dev Gru, she was selected as an Intelligence Detachment Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) for Tactical Evaluation and Development Squadron THREE, where she deployed and served as a Director of Intelligence (J2) for two rotations in the CENTCOM AOR supporting overseas contingency operations.She then screened for and was selected for duty at the Joint Cyber Operations Group, where she was a Troop Senior Enlisted Leader before she was selected as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader to establish North Squadron, an O5 operational squadron.In 2021, Senior Chief Esquivel was selected as a DoD Congressional Fellow for Representative Seth Moulton. While serving in the House of Representatives, she advised the Congressman on technical policy, cyber operations and talent management, and information operations across the DoD.Senior Chief Esquivel holds a bachelor’s degree in management studies and is pursuing her master’s in management interdisciplinary studies. Currently, she is a policy analyst in the Office of Culture and Force Resilience’s Office of Women’s Policy, where she works to develop and implement policies involving Navy servicewomen in coordination with the higher authorities in the DoD, like the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Chief of Naval Personnel. More about Candace:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candace-esquivel-a41669270/The Valkyrie Project: https://www.thevalkyrieproject.org/Timestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Senior Chief Candace Esquivel00:01:55 Walkthrough of Candace Esquival’s Career00:06:01 Role as Signals Analyst and J200:07:36 What Type of Signals Are Analyzed?00:08:27 How Vulnerable Are Smart Devices?00:12:21 Protecting Yourself from Data Tracking00:14:59 Protecting Yourself on Social Media00:17:20 Hilarious Failed Attempts of Espionage00:18:44 Selection Process for DEVGRU and JCOG00:25:22 What Does it Mean to Be a Congressional Fellow?00:28:57 Which Policies Does Candace Esquivel Push For?00:30:54 What Does the Office of Culture and Force Resilience Do?00:34:30 Sponsor Note: Fuelmydayfoods.com00:35:11 Changes for Women in the DoD Communities00:40:07 Progress in Fertility Services00:47:29 Possible Toxins During Deployment00:53:52 New Policies for Women00:58:20 CFL Training 01:01:37 Adaptable Training and Modifications for Health and Recovery01:03:21 Best and Worst Advice Received01:07:00 Outro

Oct 2, 2024 • 49min
How to Eat Well on the Go - Ep. 92
We all must pay for our food. We can't choose not to pay; we only decide how. We can pay with our time. We can pay with our money. Or, we can pay with our health. You can invest time to learn how nutrition works and how to cook good meals, and then do the shopping, prep, cooking, storage, and cleanup. With practice, this all becomes easier and more efficient. The longer you go without investing your time, the harder it is to start and the more constrained you will be.You can pay for somebody else's expertise and have them tell you what to eat. You can pay for a meal delivery service or expensive restaurant meals.You can save time and money in the short term by not investing in nutrition knowledge, never learning to cook, and buying cheap convenience foods. The costs of following this last strategy take years to accumulate and manifest. The harm it does to gut health, metabolism, cognitive function, and every other process in your body may remain invisible for a long time. It might even seem like a free ride in your teens and early twenties. But eventually, you will pay for it.This is why the food we eat is so important. Eating well is hard. And it’s hard for everyone, whether you’re a young athlete trying to juggle training and school, a business traveler trying to stay healthy while living in hotels and airports, or a parent trying to keep yourself and your child alive with minimal sleep and no spare time. It can be even more challenging for military personnel deployed to locations with very few resources. In this episode, we discuss how to put together a healthy meal on the go, and the science behind how that works, and how it affects our bodies. Learn more: www.fuelmydayfoods.com

Sep 25, 2024 • 22min
Man Down - Ep. 91
The idea that no one gets left behind is such a common phrase associated with the special operations community that it’s almost become a cliche. We can hear and say it without thinking about what it means. But it’s a critical concept in military operations, particularly in the SOF community, where people often work in small groups behind enemy lines doing dangerous things. It’s not enough to carry your own weight. That’s just the baseline, the entry stakes. You also must repeatedly demonstrate that you’re willing and able to carry the weight of one of your teammates when the situation calls for it. It’s crucial to be strong as an individual, but you must also be a strong part of the team. Without both, you don’t have the raw material the SOF community needs. This isn’t just a physical capacity, tested by carrying your teammates on your shoulders at the most inconvenient times. It’s a general attitude expressed in countless ways, big and small, physical and otherwise.

Sep 18, 2024 • 1h 2min
Andrew Siepka: USCG Specialized Deployable Forces - Ep. 90
Andrew is a strength and conditioning coach, business owner, national team powerlifter, and veteran with a tactical operations and physical training background.As a former Maritime Assault Operator in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deployable Specialized Forces, Andrew has firsthand experience in high-stakes situations, including anti-terrorism operations, drug and human smuggling interdiction, anti-piracy operations, and executive/dignitary protection. He has dedicated himself to coaching and guiding other athletes to set state records and achieve medal-winning performances. He is currently the lead strength and conditioning coach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and he has dedicated his career to helping individuals develop physical and mental resilience.More about Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-siepka-cscs-9381461b7/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siepka_ludus_/Timestamps:00:00:22 Intro to Andrew Siepka00:01:09 About Andrew’s Career00:01:51 Was Viral Video of "Submarine Attack at Gunpoint" Andrew’s Unit?00:03:19 What Led Andrew from Gunner’s Mate to MSST?00:13:19 Outsourcing Knowledge from Multiple Units00:14:38 Having Self-Doubt in Selection Courses00:18:04 Preparing Endlessly vs. Winging It00:21:27 Operational Life in the Unit00:26:26 What Does It Mean to Be “An Earner”?00:27:33 An Example of Andrew Failing Forward00:32:08 Sponsor Note: Mentorship Course00:32:30 Transition from Coastguard to Coach 00:41:36 What New Recruits Need to Start and Stop Doing00:44:37 How Does Andrew’s Background in Powerlifting Affect His Coaching Method?00:46:40 Andrew’s Career in Powerlifting00:49:21 How to Powerlift for Decades Without Injury00:52:13 Different Concepts of Training for Recon Marines00:54:52 Banded Resistance Training00:56:03 Things to Address to Handle Heavy Training01:00:41 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 01:02:01 Outro

Sep 10, 2024 • 51min
Tiffany Myrick-Woodley: Cultural Support Team in Afghanistan - Ep. 89
Tiffany Myrick-Woodley served two decades in the US Army, and played an essential role in the integration of women into the Army’s Combat Arms occupations. She served as a member of Cultural Support Team – Two (CST-2), enabling the 75th Ranger Regiment and Naval Special Warfare Development Group by engaging the Afghan female and adolescent populations prior to the lift of the Combat Exclusion Policy. She was also selected to observe and advise on the implementation of standards during gender integration of Ranger School, the Army’s premier leadership course.Over the span of her military service, Tiffany discovered that real change comes through policy and education. This prompted her to leave the military to influence policy on a broader scale while continuing to provide inspiration, mentorship, and advocacy to future generations. Her ideals prompted her to accept a role as a board member for the Valkyrie Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to the advocacy and support of female service members.More about Tiffany:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-m-b477671b6/The Valkyrie Project: https://www.thevalkyrieproject.org/Timestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Tiffany Myrick00:01:28 Tiffany’s Roles in the Military00:03:35 Being On the Other Side of Basic Training00:05:18 One Station Unit Training00:06:51 What Did Tiffany Learn from Being a Drill Sergeant?00:10:03 The Cultural Support Team00:11:14 Selection Course for Cultural Support Team00:12:52 The White Board System00:13:15 Being a Student Versus Being Qualified to Do the Job 00:14:54 Ranger Physical Assessment00:15:45 Working Closely with the Same Partner for an Entire Mission00:16:48 Room for One Tactically00:17:38 What Does the Mission Objective Look Like?00:20:13 Deciding What Looks Important on a Mission00:20:40 Interacting with the Local Populous00:22:43 Main Security Concerns on Assignment00:23:46 Did Tiffany Know Ashley?00:24:39 Particular Missions That Stood Out to Tiffany00:29:23 Moments Where Everyone Is Suffering00:31:11 Wearing NODs (Night Observation Devices)00:32:01 Lifting the Combat Exclusion Policy00:32:59 Sponsor Note: Coaching Mentorship Course00:33:21 Advisory Role to Integrate Women into Ranger School00:35:25 Identifying Common Characteristics Among Graduates00:36:00 What Did the Army Learn as Women Were Integrated?00:38:33 The Gray Man, Middle of the Pack00:40:46 Why Couldn’t Women Shave Their Heads Like the Men?00:41:23 When did Tiffany Retire?00:41:32 What Led Tiffany to the Valkyrie Project in 2023?00:44:34 Advice for Women in SOF Pipeline 00:46:34 Similar Stories to “The Ranger on a Ridgeline Getting an I.V.”00:49:21 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 00:50:59 Outro

Sep 4, 2024 • 21min
Becoming Clear on What Matters - Ep. 88
After working with thousands of clients over the last twenty years, we tend to see people make the same mistakes when struggling to work toward their goals. They tend to fall into one of four categories: Trying to do too many things. Their values and time & energy allotment are not in alignment.Spending time and energy struggling against the things they can’t change while not fully committing to what they can.Constantly changing goals. Today, we will talk about the exercises and mental models we use to help our clients clarify what matters most so they can get unstuck and escape these traps. This isn’t a tome on why you should prioritize health or fitness or anything else. That’s precisely the point. Only you can decide the best way to spend the coin of your life. So, this episode aims to equip you with a few critical tools and mental models to get more clarity and make tough decisions.