Liberty Risk

Growing up in Edmond Oklahoma, Austin had a classic Americana childhood, riding bikes around town and playing paintball in the woods with friends. Getting into a little trouble with some fights during high school ended up fast tracking his life long decision to join the military, where the judge told him he could join the Marine Corps or go to jail. From there Austin had an interesting path, and while working a security detail for a General he got an inside look at what good and bad leadership looks like in the military. When Austin decided to leave the Corps he went back to his roots in construction, and quickly (but not easily) scaled his business, but it still wasn't giving him the life or freedom he wanted. From there he embarked on a journey of discovery, looking for knowledge and ways to improve, which led him to completely shifting gears from construction, to investing. And he shares those lessons here. We dive into a lot of topics on this episode, some of the story highlights are below: • Becoming your own icon and the importance of role models. • Marine Corps barracks fights and guys getting shanked with forks and jumping out of windows. • The power of thinking "what's the WORST that could happen?" • No such thing as treading water, you're either going backwards or moving forwards. • Is entrepreneurship for everyone? Who's it a good fit for, and who would be happier in a W2 position? • The interesting dynamic of the USMC reserves vs active duty. • Choosing your own stripes - tattoo culture and how to craft your authentic asthetic. • Working with our spouse - how to define roles & responsibilities without stepping on each other's toes. • Not all businesses are created equal - what to look for when choosing your next one. • How much money is "enough", and how to find that answer for yourself. • Knowing what you WANT vs what you DON'T want - people are usually much more clear on the latter. • Money doesn't change you, it just amplifies who you already are. • Getting addicted to the different experiences life has to offer. • Lessons on perspective from buying your first Lambo. Thank you for following along on this journey, we hope you enjoyed this episode as much as we enjoyed filming it! Please like, subscribe, and share with someone who you think would get value from it as well. Check out more of Austin Hancock and get involved at the links below: ✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/austin.hancock1/ ✖️ Website - https://austinhancock.com/ Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Liberty Risk Merch Sales - https://www.liberty-risk.com/collections/shop-all ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/ ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/

In one of our most wide ranging episodes to date, the 3 founders sit down without a guest to share some stories and explore the deeper meaning of life and the paths we all walk. We touch on a wide variety of topics, but a common theme that kept popping up was the subject of navigating growth and change. Change can mean a lot of different things, from changing schools as a kid, to changing jobs as an adult, to changing your friend group. Even changing your own sense of style and aesthetic. For veterans, the transition from military life to the civilian world can be difficult, we often feel a loss of purpose, a hole that sometimes gets filled with self defeating decisions or bad habits. The crew discusses how each of them dealt with that period of their lives, and the specific tactics they used to counter the negative aspects to help them focus on moving forward in a positive direction. But beyond that, they also discuss how those same tactics they used during that time can help during all times of change, not just that one moment of leaving the military. Some other story highlights that we think you'll find entertaining: • The powerful realization that people care WAY LESS than you think they do. • Dealing with family & siblings, where to draw the line. • The skill of learning "humor" and human behavior. • Gaining an appreciation for 80's music & hair bands. • Sometimes you need someone outside yourself to pull you out of your shell. • Appreciating differences rather than judging them. • Learning to trust the process, how God touches your life. • A lesson highlighting that the grass isn't greener on the other side, it's greener where you water it. • Change is a part of life, and why it would be weird if you DIDN'T change. • How going to the gym parallels life: the weights don't get lighter, you get stronger. • When friends want the outcome you achieved, but don't want to do the work to get there. • Why Texas should be reported to the BBB for false advertising. • The culture of Pacific Beach, how it's changed, how we've changed, and why that's a good thing. • Kevin discusses using the old DPV's on a real world op, the good, the bad, and the ugly. • The Polish Grom and why they ripped the doors off their rental cars. • The real story of how Camp Jenny Posey was named. • The veteran suicide rate and recognizing some patterns, and ways to fix them. • How to use social media to find success without getting lost in it, or being a slave to it. • Kevin discusses the pros and cons of working with veterans. • Why self awareness is a huge part of becoming a better leader. • Your ego. Don't minimize it, CONTROL it and USE it. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed filming it! Please share it with some friends that you think would find it funny or interesting as well. Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/

Mike Moriarty is a 1st generation American, the youngest of 8 kids from 2 Irish Immigrants. Growing up in Boston, he didn't see much of a future for himself hanging out in the neighborhood, so he joined the Navy in 1992 at 17 while still a senior in high school. Like a lot of our guests, he saw the movie Navy SEALs with Charlie Sheen, but just thought SEALs were a made up Hollywood unit, it wasn't until he was already in the Navy that he discovered they were real, and decided to try to make his way there. Mike went to BUD/S in 1999 and graduated with class 227 and did a few tours on the west coast, at Team 5 in previous guest Dave Gutierrez's platoon, and a Plank Owner at Team 7. Over his 20 years, Mike also had a tour at SQT, where he and Ryan were Instructors together. In this episode we cover a lot of the nuance of the Teams, some of the politics that goes on behind the scenes for promotions, and how much reputation and personality plays a part. Some story highlights from the episode: • The politics of getting an LPO slot in the Teams. • Rolling around in thin skinned HUMMV's in Iraq with the doors off. • Drago's unique way of telling driver's to "back off". • How the culture of the Teams has changed, and the shifting views on fighting. • Getting kicked out of Sniper school for telling an Instructor to fvck off. • Jumping across rooftops in Okinawa to escape the police after a bar fight. • Getting rolled up by base police, then escaping out the window. • What life looks like now as an older man, perspective shift and the view from the yacht. Check out Mike Moriarty here: ✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/a227frog/ Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/

Johnny Collins grew up the oldest of 3 siblings in a small town in Maryland. Moving from a Christian school as a child into 3 different high schools (after being kicked out of 2), there was a lot of chaos as a kid, but it was sports that kept him connected with a strong friend group. We normally don't go into BUD/S stories too much on here, but Johnny's journey was different, having gone through 3 Hellweeks across 6 different classes and 6 years, including a brief stint as a guard at Gitmo; his is a story of resilience worth telling. Of course we also get into some fun stuff, like bar fights, liberty calls in different countries, how "looking cool" actually saves lives, and the importance of finding the right woman in your life. Here are some story highlights we get into this episode: • Why the best motivation is YOURSELF. • Johnny's breaking point at Gitmo. • Insight on the infamous "Instructor Gate" fiasco. • Can the average person do BUD/S? And how age affects your chances. • "The hardetht man to ever go through BUDTH" • Shotgunning beers before a meeting with the CMC. • How the Eddie Gallagher situation was a surprising dividing line in the Teams. • Not all deployments are created equal. • When to fight for things, when to walk away. • Why "looking good" can save lives. Check out the projects Johnny is currently involved in here: ✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shooteatandlift/ ✖️ Red Watch Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/red_watch/ ✖️ Trident Table Foundation - https://www.instagram.com/tridenttablefoundation/ Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/

In this episode we dive into the world of First Responders with Firefighter Cody Shea. Cody comes from a long line of fire fighters. His parents met in the Fire Academy in '84 and Cody grew up in Tacoma Washington hearing the stories of First Responder life in Seattle; calls responding to famous musicians OD'ing, even the details of Kurt Cobain's suicide were a part of his life from an early age. He founded a skateboard company in his 20's but eventually found himself pulled back to his fire fighting roots and started his 5 year journey of getting signed on to the Fire Department. This episode touches on a lot of the similarities between military and First Responder experiences, and also the differences. First responders deal with more trauma than people realize, in a lot of cases, more than most military veterans. It's harder to compartmentalize emotions when it's a kid face down in a pool vs a 3rd world national with an AK. Here are some story highlights from this episode: • Aliens and Bigfoot stories from the Pacific North West. 👽👣 • Strangest things seen on a call. 😳 • Most impressive objects found up someone's 🍑. • Motorcycles are dangerous, they're even more dangerous when you drive like an asshole. • Working at a concert and the impressive levels of craziness exhibited. • Nick's bachelor party story. 🥳 • Strippers falling from rooftops and how to render aid using pool equipment. • Army vs Navy party games. • A list of activities that are guaranteed to dissappoint your dad. • "boof here" and other questionable tattoo decisions. • The surprising density of midgets. Check out more of Cody's work here: ✖️ The Call We Carry - Documentary www.thecallwecarry.com ✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crayshea/?hl=en ✖️ Media Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/emberhousemedia/?hl=en Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/

Taylor Cavanaugh is the only known person to be a Navy SEAL, and also join the French Foreign Legion. His story is unique, but the man himself has always been a Main Character, and we're excited to bring you this conversation. Growing up in San Diego, Taylor Cavanough has been walking the line between 2 worlds and living a life of extremities even as a youth. In this episode we dive into some of his backstory, growing up around strip clubs, and doing steroids on trips to Mexico before football practice, all before he was even able to drive. Stepping away from that life and choosing a new path for himself, Taylor turned towards the military, but was denied at every branch except the Navy due to tattoos and having too many misdemeanors stacked up. Taylor has an amazing story and has been on a lot of podcasts sharing his perspective, but this is a fun episode where we get to hear some stories that he's never told in public before, as well as a few from the rest of the Liberty Risk crew. Here are a few highlights that we get into: • The pros & cons of steroid use, when it's helpful and when it's not - note: Taylor was never on any PED's during selection courses for either SEALs or French Foreign Legion. • Hydro recons around the world and why they suck. • When to evade trouble, and when to face the music. • Sometimes it helps to have a spare 🍆. • How perspective changes as you get older, and the weight of leadership responsibility. • The power and freedom of understanding your weaknesses. • A couple bar fight stories, some wins, some losses, and how Kevin lost his tooth. • The crew discusses tattoo culture: what's lame, what's cool, and why you can't "tattoo yourself tough". • Riding the edge, and having a fall back plan. Playig it smart. • A French Foreign Legion party story in a strange small town - A la village! "To the village!" ❄️ • A discussion on how life looks as an older man, seeing life differently through each decade, 30's, 40's, and 50's. • The importance of having a mission and purpose in life, especially guys coming from a military background, and how you can feel lost without it. Thank you for listening, we hope you enjoy this episode! Get in touch with Taylor here: ✖️ Taylor Cavanaugh Website - https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com/ ✖️ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficial/ ✖️ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@tcavofficial Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/

Billy Helmers has been a steady hand helping to guide NSW for 20+ years, in this episode we dive into a lifetime of overcoming challenges, and navigating storms, both literal and figurative. From the oil fields of West Texas to the shores of Coronado, Billy grew up riding bulls, but he never expected to become a SEAL, he just wanted a way out of the small town life he left behind. Traveling the country and jumping into stadiums filled with thousands of people as part of the iconic Leap Frogs (Navy parachute team), Billy learned to party with the best of them, but also learned temperance and balance. Traits which served him well as he's become a sounding board for a lot of other strong willed Frogmen as they navigate their own journeys, both in and out of the Teams. Here are some highlights of the many stories we track through on this episode. • When the XO pulls a gun on Billy during mast for a DUI while still in BUD/S. • Accidentally setting the record for highest jump from a GOPlat (Gas & Oil Platform). • Funny bar fight stories in domestic & foreign lands. • The art of dealing with what life throws at you. • Experiences being on the Navy parachute team (The Leap Frogs). • The importance of continuing to evolve as a person, and as a man of character. • Developing grit & resilience to overcoming both physical, mental, and emotional hardships. • How being there for others helps you show up for yourself as well. • The power of relationships. Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/

With a 25 year career in NSW spanning everything from SDV's to platoons on both East & West coasts and multiple tours as an Instructor, Ivan Krusic has seen a lot of history unfold in the SpecWar community, and he's been an active part of it as well. In this episode we dive into some of the legendary stories in our community, and uncover what really happened by hearing it first hand from guys who were there. With his father fighting in WW2 for Yugoslavia, Ivan's family has a long history of military service. We touch on Ivan's upbringing in northern California, and the teenage adventures that eventually brought him to the Navy, and what drew him to the SEAL Teams in particular. There are so many stories and wild characters to go through this episode feels like a Quintin Tarantino film, here are a couple highlights: • The origins of the different hand to hand fighting systems SpecWar has used over the years, which ones worked for bar fights and which ones didn't. • The backstory behind what later became a legendary, decades long rivalry between SEAL Platoons and top level pro MMA fighters in a specific NorCal town. • Can body parts be racist? • The "crab pot mentality" and knowing where to draw the line with "friends". • A very deep side conversation with Billy Helmers about love, acceptance, marriage, and managing loss. • How a SEAL platoon made the front page of the papers for burning down a California town (on accident). • What holds SpecOps guys, pro athletes, doctors, pilots and other high level performers back from achieving success in other fields. • How the SpecWar leadership felt about an Instructor pulling up in a Lambo. • The crew shares their unfiltered thoughts on Chris Beck and other Teamguys in drag. • Calling Post Malone. Guest charity highlight: ✖️ Rockin' With The SEALs (Website) - https://rockinwiththeseals.org/ ✖️ Rockin' With The SEALs (Instagram) - https://www.instagram.com/rockinwiththeseals/ Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/

In this episode of the Liberty Risk Podcast, Ryan and Nick sit down with Mitch Aguiar - former Navy SEAL, professional MMA fighter, and founder of the Smashin' Frog brand. From mowing lawns in 5th grade for ice cream truck money to fighting in the cage, going viral, chartering private jets, and leading successful businesses, Mitch shares unfiltered stories packed with grit, humor, and hard-earned lessons. We talk about the real perception of SEALs, the highlight-reel illusion of Instagram, and the unique challenges of transitioning from elite military missions to leading civilian teams. Mitch opens up about leadership missteps, building company culture, and why staying authentic (and occasionally ridiculous) is key to long-term success. In this episode you'll hear: The most accurate Navy SEAL movie ever made (spoiler: Navy SEALs with Charlie Sheen) Social media, authenticity, and why "that which is most personal is the most universal" Behind the scenes of Mitch's fight with Sean Strickland - and the viral moment that got overshadowed by a presidential assassination attempt The mindset shift from amateur cage matches to professional MMA competition Lessons in leadership from the Teams vs. civilian workplaces Adjusting your approach when your employees are literally afraid of you Building business culture - and why sometimes it involves wearing Dumb & Dumber suits on a private jet From combat to the cage to the boardroom, Mitch proves that success comes from adaptability, authenticity, and never taking yourself too seriously. Please check out more of Mitch's endeavors here: ✖️ MASF Supplements - https://masfsupplements.com/ ✖️ Violent Hippie - https://violenthippie.com/ ✖️ Adopt A Cop BJJ - https://adoptacopbjj.org/ Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/ ✖️ MASF Supplements - https://masfsupplements.com/

Liberty Risk Episode 7 with Dave "Gut" Gutierez If you're a West Coast Teamguy, no doubt you've heard of Dave "Gut" Gutierez, he's been famous in our community for a variety of reasons, but mostly because of his huge…. PERSONALITY. You'll see what we mean when you listen to this episode. As a brother, as a friend, mentor, Teammate, Instructor, or family man, Dave has been many things to many people over the years, and we're fortunate to be able to share some of these stories with you. From joining the Navy in 1989 to completing 13 deployments and retiring in 2017 as a Command Master Chief, then his continuing journey through sobriety, this 4 hour episode goes through a lot of history, both personally, and within the SpecWar community. There are some bar stories, and some fight stories, some love stories, and some monkey stories, which are all incredibly hilarious, but by far the most impactful is his story of sobriety. A lot of guys are afraid they'll miss out on the fun stuff, or be considered "uncool" if they stop drinking, after seeing this episode, I think you'll agree that Dave is still one of the coolest Frogmen to ever swim ashore. Dave walks us through the steps of his sobriety journey, where he stumbled, and how he recovered. If you're on a similar path, you'll certainly get a lot out of this episode. Here are a few of the MANY stories we get into: • A guy using a cargo strap to try and win a bet if he can svck his own 🍆😳 • First time women were allowed at a Team, and the problem with dudes wearing "short" shorts. • Dividing marital assets with a chainsaw, or a samurai sword (for flare). 🥷 • An unbelievable origin story of another Teamguy legend, Steve Hines. 🦍 • How a monkey learned to smoke, then became an arsonist. 🐒🔥 • Hazing adventures, "happy hats", and how to diffuse a poop booby trap. 💩💣 • The origins of their Motorcycle Club - Frogmen MC - and their not so warm welcome to the biker world. • A discussion of the different fighting styles the Teams have used over the years, from SAFTA, to SCARS, to Dieter, to MMA. • Ryan fighting a naked and soapy 6'6" black dude in Africa. • A student having to get life flighted off San Clemente Island for a ball injury. 🚁 🍒 • The importance of a good support network, and the difference a good woman can make in a man's life. Our abs hurt the next day from laughing so hard! We're excited to share this episode with you, and to give you a glimpse into the life and legacy of a Teamguy Legend. 🔱🏴‍☠️ Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com/pages/manufacturing-new ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com/ ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com/ ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc/