Shaun Taylor has had a dizzying array of careers and life experiences. He was one of the original members of JTF2, Canada’s tier-one special operations unit, and retired as a warrant officer. Shaun was also a Use of Force instructor for a Canadian Police college, and shortly after that, he became a computer systems engineer and was a full-time teacher in that subject. The experience he gained there led to him writing a 700-page study guide that was sold throughout North America. He followed his stint as a professional nerd by moving into a consulting role in private international security, where he eventually met his wife.This led him to the next stage of his career, where, as one would expect of a retired special operator, he settled down and opened a successful coffee shop.Shaun then discovered a passion for ultra-endurance racing, eventually leading to competitive 24-hour Solo mountain bike racing. During thirty 24-hour solo races, he competed around the world and eventually became a World Champion. People in the racing circuit began asking Shaun for help, so he created his own coaching company and worked with high-performance race athletes worldwide for the next 15 years.In 2022, after several discussions with friends within the veteran community about the concerning statistics on veteran suicide and mental health, Shaun stepped away from his coaching business. Since then, he has focused on improving things for the Veteran, LEO, and First Responder communities, which led to podcasting and the start of a new podcast platform called The Collective. His podcast has had over 200 guests, ranging from SOF members to human behavioral scientists, with a general focus on human betterment.Shaun's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shauntaylors1/The Collective Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@the_collective_yt/streamsThe Collective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_collective_ig/Timestamps:00:00:22 Intro to Shaun Taylor00:02:20 Seven Careers00:07:17 JTF200:10:24 Problems Establishing Unit00:11:43 Team Culture00:14:41 Extreme Accountability00:19:17 Positive and Negative Competition00:23:24 Reason For Being00:26:02 Understanding Your Own Purpose00:31:22 How Do You Get Motivated00:40:26 When Did You Start Training00:44:08 What Did You Most Struggle With00:46:30 Living Two Different Lives00:51:50 How to Fit Training Plan Into Operational Schedule00:54:51 Always Ready To Get The Go Signal00:58:34 Maintaining Mental Health01:00:25 Outro

The podcast discusses the all-or-nothing trap in training, emphasizing the importance of sprint and maintenance phases for long-term success. It explores balancing long-term goals with short sprints, embracing imperfections for growth, and the significance of the Sprint and Maintain cycle for consistent growth.

Dr. Christopher Lowry, a gut microbiome professor, discusses gut health, stress resilience, and microbiome-based interventions for anxiety disorders. Topics include neurotransmitters in the gut, Ayahuasca for PTSD, and the two-hit model of stress exposure. Practical tips for improving gut health and reducing inflammation are also explored.

Dr. Chris Lowry discusses microbiome-gut-brain axis, how gut health impacts mental health, and potential interventions for anxiety disorders. Topics include gut microbiome diversity through diet, probiotics for gut health recovery, and communication pathways between gut and brain.

Exploring the mental and physical challenges of elite military training, emphasizing the significance of resilience and perseverance. Delving into Stoic philosophy for tranquility and resilience, with references to Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus. Highlighting the impact of impactful morning routines and decision-making in preparing for demanding professions.

Strength and conditioning coach Casey Glass discusses training for longevity in special operations, highlighting energy balance and auto-regulation. She emphasizes the importance of movement quality and individualized training methods. The podcast explores optimizing training, nutrition's impact on cognitive resilience, and techniques for maintaining proper form during workouts.

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL Lieutenant and an NSCA CSCS who graduated from the US Naval Academy and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, also known as BUD/S. For over 25 years, he has been writing workout books that prepare people to ace fitness tests and selection programs. People from all fitness levels use his military preparation products for help with everything from losing weight and getting ready for basic training to preparing for special operations. Stew founded StewSmithFitness.com and Heroes of Tomorrow Fitness – an online fitness resource for people seeking to join the Military, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting professions. He and his team train over 5,000 young men and women who wish to serve their country and communities locally for free each year.In this episode, we discuss his career, his approach to coaching everything from the specifics of the CSS to big-picture SOF prep training, and what he's learned about successful SOF candidates in his 25+ years of coaching.  Timestamps:00:00:22  Intro00:01:12 Background00:03:50 What Have You Learned Since You Started00:06:31 Approach to Coaching CSS00:08:49 Technique Preference00:13:23 Working on Range of Motion00:16:25 Alternating Breaststroke Kick00:17:50 What Are You Currently Doing00:19:03 How Far do People Travel to Train With You00:20:05 How Does Your Coaching Change From Person to Person00:24:20 Helping People Prepare For The PST00:29:12 Most Common Beginner-Level Issues00:34:34 Balance of Treading Training00:37:01 Biggest Differences in Prep Strategies00:41:12 Reasons Attrition is High00:43:29 Have They Been Doing the Work00:45:21 Main Variables in Prep for Individual Characteristics00:48:09 Advice for Talking to Recruiters00:51:48 Scruff Duty00:54:10 Best and Worst Advice You’ve Ever Received00:58:21 Learn More About You00:59:24 Outro

The podcast discusses common mistakes in SOF preparation, emphasizing the importance of interactions over outputs, avoiding oversimplification, targeting limiting factors, prioritizing quality over intensity, understanding trajectory, identifying root causes, and applying principles to various life areas.

Dr. Douglas Casa has been the CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute since it was founded in 2010 and has been a professor of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut since 1999. The mission of the KSI (ksi.uconn.edu) is to provide research, education, advocacy, and consultation, to maximize performance, optimize safety, and prevent sudden death of athletes, warfighters, and laborers.Dr. Casa has written several books and authored many papers on maximizing performance and safety while training or working in the heat. He has treated hundreds of cases of heat stroke with zero fatalities and has served on the International Olympic Committee’s Adverse Weather Impact Expert Group, where he helps to ensure the safety of athletes competing in extreme heat during summer Olympic games.In this episode, we talk with Dr. Casa about his work at KSI, the science of heat stroke and how to manage it, how our bodies adapt to extreme heat, and how factors like saunas, hydration, and electrolytes affect our bodies in the heat. Timestamps:00:00:25 Intro00:02:01 Origins of KSI00:03:19 What Brought You to KSI00:04:42 What Does KSI do00:06:09 The Science of Heat Stroke00:09:34 The Consequences of Excessive Core Temp00:11:09 How to Recognize the Signs of EHS00:13:52 How to Treat EHS 00:19:19 Common Misconceptions00:22:20 What Conditions Create the Greatest Risk00:28:41 Objective Environmental Factors 00:30:23 Performance Clothing00:32:49 What Can an Athlete Do to Acclimate to Extreme Heat00:35:11 How do You Know Your Core Temp00:36:41 Type of Thermometers Recommended 00:37:19 Plasma Volume Expansion00:40:03 Train For Heat Adaptations at Home00:42:49 Sauna Guidelines00:43:22 Infrared Saunas 00:44:12 Manage Hydration00:47:36 Hyponatremia and Electrolyte Balance00:52:45 What do You Recommend For Hours Long Stressful Events00:55:02 Hydration Recommendations00:56:27 Are You More Likely to Get HS if You’ve Had it Before00:58:20 How do You Sign up For The Course00:59:20 Average Range of Cost to Work With KSI1:00:19 Outro

We often think of leadership, particularly in special operations, as manifest in the form of some big heroic act. That can be the case; the military is full of those examples. But far more often, a person’s character is revealed in the small moments that will never find space in the trailer of an action movie. Much of the respect and loyalty earned by somebody in a leadership role comes from their actions in these small moments. This episode discusses real-world examples of how that principle played out on a Naval Special Warfare deployment. To learn more about Dan Cnossen, who we mention in this episode, go to www.DanCnossen.com