What happens when the silence of the deep becomes the noise in your head?

In Episode 13 of Beyond the Battlefield, we sit down with Danny Keating, a former Royal Navy Submariner whose story is unlike anything we’ve heard so far.

Danny spent months at a time submerged underwater—confined, claustrophobic, and disconnected from daylight and the outside world. It was elite service, but it came at a heavy cost.
He left the Navy and, like many veterans, fell into the next battle: mental health decline, identity loss, and addiction.

Thrown into the high-speed world of London’s executive culture, Danny relied on cocaine and adrenaline to keep pace. The grind. The performance. The mask. But underneath? He was falling apart.

Then something shifted.

Danny discovered Buddhism, and through meditation, mindfulness, and movement, he rebuilt from the inside out. He redefined strength—not as suppression, but as awareness. Not as speed, but stillness.

Today, he’s thriving. He’s healthy. He’s completed an Ironman. And he’s a powerful example of how men can reclaim peace and purpose—no matter how far gone they feel.

This episode is about identity, addiction, transformation, and healing. It’s real. It’s raw. And it’s exactly what someone out there needs to hear today.

🔎 Topics Covered:
Royal Navy Submarine Service

Mental health in the military

Addiction and high-performance culture

Cocaine abuse in executive life

Mindfulness and meditation for veterans

Buddhist practice after service

Ironman training and recovery

Rebuilding identity and inner peace

Leadership through vulnerability

Life after military darkness

🎙 Beyond the Battlefield is a platform giving veterans a voice.
Stories of adversity. Stories of resilience.
Shared to inspire others.

#RoyalNavy #SubmarineService #VeteranMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #BeyondTheBattlefield #BuddhismForVeterans #CocaineRecovery #Mindfulness #IronmanJourney #WarriorWellness #MilitaryPodcast #MentalResilience #VeteranStories #MeditationForMen #PostMilitaryLife #HealingThroughMindfulness #ExecutiveBurnout #VeteranTransformation #LeadershipThroughAdversity

Mental health, military life, trauma, and leadership under fire — this is the untold reality of life in the Royal Marines.

In this powerful episode of Beyond the Battlefield, I sit down with Tip Cullen, a man who’s spent 30 years in service with the Royal Marines, from the harshest frontlines to the highest levels of leadership. A battle-hardened veteran, Tip has completed countless operational tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other war zones, rising through the ranks to become a Royal Marines officer.

This isn’t just a conversation about military service — it’s a raw and unfiltered look at the brutality of modern warfare, the mental health battles that follow, and the strength it takes to survive and lead in one of the UK’s most elite fighting forces.

Tip shares what it’s really like to operate at the pinnacle of performance in the Royal Marines, the harsh realities of combat, and the tough mindset required to endure relentless physical and mental pressure. He breaks down the sacrifices, the brotherhood, and the emotional cost that’s rarely spoken about outside military circles.

We also dive into his latest project - Sunray: Fallen Soldier, a film he stars in and helped bring to life. This film is more than a story - it's a tribute to 'our people', as Tip calls them: Royal Marines, soldiers, and veterans who’ve seen and experienced the darkest parts of war. The film was created to raise awareness around PTSD, trauma, and mental health - topics often ignored but deeply embedded in the lives of those who serve.

Tip opens up about life after service, the challenge of finding purpose outside the military, and why storytelling through film became his next mission. Sunray isn’t just entertainment - it’s a message, a warning, and a memorial to the struggles we carry long after the battle ends.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s served, is serving, or wants to understand the real cost of leadership, combat, and survival.

Topics Covered:

Royal Marines life and leadership.
Combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Military mental health and PTSD.
Veteran transition and life after service.
Brotherhood and loss.
Creating Sunray: Fallen Soldier.
Trauma, resilience, and the healing power of storytelling.

#RoyalMarines #MilitaryLife #MentalHealth #PTSD #AfghanistanVeteran #IraqWar #SunrayFallenSoldier #VeteranStories #Leadership #TraumaRecovery #BeyondTheBattlefield #CombatVeteran #MilitaryBrotherhood #VeteranSupport #LifeAfterService #MilitaryTrauma #BritishArmedForces #WarFilm #FunctionalHealth #Resilience #WarriorWellness #MilitaryMindset

From the battlefield to rock bottom—and back again.

In Episode 12 of Beyond the Battlefield, I sit down with Dan Fielding, a former Royal Marine Commando who shares his raw, honest story of mental health collapse, addiction, and recovery after leaving the military.

Like many veterans, Dan was hit hard by the silence that follows discharge. He lost his identity, turned to alcohol and drugs, and used addiction to mask the mental pain and trauma he didn’t yet understand. He was suffering in silence—like so many others—told to just “Crack on, Royal.”

But eventually, the cracks became too deep to ignore.

Dan’s turning point came the day he walked into Turn to Starboard, a sailing-based veterans' charity based in Falmouth, Cornwall. From the moment he stepped through the door, Dan said it felt like coming home to family. Sailing gave him not just purpose, but peace.

Today, Dan is the Chief Operating Officer of Turn to Starboard and is helping others who are struggling the way he once did. His mission is clear: no veteran gets left behind.

This episode is an emotional deep dive into the real cost of service, the damage of suppressing pain, and the importance of community, support, and speaking out. If you’ve ever worn the uniform, known someone who has, or struggled with identity after service—this one will hit hard.

Topics Covered:

Royal Marines identity loss

Addiction and mental health in veterans

Alcohol and drug use post-discharge

PTSD and emotional suppression

The "Crack on Royal" mindset

Veteran rehabilitation through sailing

Turn to Starboard charity

Finding purpose after the military

Leadership through lived experience

Building a new life beyond the battlefield