Philip Andrew Armstrong is a decorated combat veteran, elite-level medic, program manager, and resilience-driven father of four. Raised in the woods by hippies and unable to read until the age of 14, his early life was unconventional, marked by hardship, self-reliance, and grit. Those experiences became the bedrock for a path of resilience that carried him through combat, service on some of the world’s most elite special operations teams, and ultimately, earning a master’s degree from Harvard, proving that where you begin doesn’t define how far you can go.

Philip began his military journey as a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor and the Purple Heart for his actions under fire in Afghanistan. He earned additional valor recognition while serving as a civilian contractor with various agencies, deploying five more times to Afghanistan and once to Libya in support of counter-terrorism operations.

In 2018, Philip sustained a leg injury from an AK-47 ricochet during an overseas deployment. He officially retired from contracting in 2019 to focus on recovery, his family, and building a purpose-driven life beyond the battlefield.

Today, Philip serves as a medical and operational program manager, co-owner of a real estate brokerage in Florida, and co-founder of Ambassadors of World Wildlife, a nonprofit delivering medical and conservation support in remote, high-risk environments.

He holds a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University Global and a Master of Liberal Arts in Sustainability from Harvard Extension School. He is a board-certified Critical Care Flight Paramedic and has completed some of the most grueling and advanced tactical training in U.S. Special Operations. He’s also a triathlete and a licensed private pilot and paraglider pilot.

Philip lives in Florida with his wife—a former F-15 Strike Eagle backseater with two combat deployments—and their four young children. Together, they are embarking on the journey of homeschooling, with a focus on cultivating resilience, leadership, and adaptability in their family. Through social media, Philip shares raw, honest reflections on post-traumatic growth, high-performance living, mental health, and the challenges and triumphs of modern fatherhood.

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Follow Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operator.drama.llama/

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Timestamps:

Ben Strahan is a Hotshot Superintendent and wildland firefighter with over 25 years of operational leadership on the fireline. Ben has spent decades in high-risk environments where clarity, discipline, and trust mean survival. His journey through fire has shaped a deeper calling—one that now centers around helping others cultivate resilience, emotional strength, and self-awareness. Through consulting, mentorship, and public speaking, Ben bridges the gap between tactical readiness and inner leadership, guiding others to face the fires within as courageously as those in the wild.

More about Ben:

Moment Consulting: https://momentconsultingllc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benstrahan/

Timestamps:

What makes a hero?

It’s easy to point to the dramatic moments in history: the burning tanks and bullet-swept battlefields. This form of heroism is important, but it's not the only form. Heroism also manifests in other ways that impact lives, strengthen our communities, and shape our culture.

In this episode, we look beyond the headlines to the everyday acts of heroism that rarely make the news. Through stories of soldiers, first responders, teachers, and ordinary people, we explore a different kind of courage: the steady, humble, often invisible bravery that changes lives without seeking recognition.

Alex Potter is a photojournalist, trauma nurse, former wildland firefighter, and co-founder of Global Response Medicine, a humanitarian non-profit bringing emergency medicine to low-resource and high-risk areas.

Alex spent her early career photographing conflict in the Middle East, before spending two seasons as a wildland firefighter in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.

She then moved to Alaska to pursue a career as an Air Force Combat Rescue Officer and was selected in Phase 2 of the CRO pipeline in 2022.

While a twist of fate (and knee) changed that path, she remains passionate about mountain pursuits, far-forward medicine, and the ability to help others achieve their goals. She is a current board member of the Special Operations Climbers Coalition, and recently moved to Bozeman, Montana.

More about Alex:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexkpotter/

Global Response Medicine: https://global-response.org/

Photography: https://www.alexkaypotter.com/

Support GRM: https://givebutter.com/AcuteCare

Timestamps:

00:00:22 Introduction to Alex Potter

00:01:14 Piecing Together Alex Potter's Career

00:04:48 Combat Rescue Officers VS. Pararescueman

00:06:43 Everybody Loves PJs

00:09:00 Trauma Nurse in Iraq

00:13:16 Notable Things in the Learning Curve

00:14:31 Where Did Your Food Come From

00:16:12 Being a Women in Traditional Muslim Culture

00:21:47 Ending two years in Iraq

00:24:03 Firefighter in Alaska

00:24:57 Month Long Boot Camp

00:26:13 What Makes Effective Leadership

00:27:21 Not Hoarding Knowledge

00:29:56 Becoming a Wildland Firefighter

00:33:15 Specific Boots for the Job

00:34:37 Physical Training Prior to Firefighting

00:37:10 Marriage & Nursing on the East Coast

00:40:07 The CRO Pipeline

00:45:45 Training to Maintain While Working on Weaknesses

00:50:27 Phase Two of Training

00:55:60 Qualifying for Air Force after Training

00:58:28 Pete Gets Director Position in Ukraine

01:02:35 Long Journey to Bring Pete Back Home

01:03:37 The OTS Pipeline

01:10:51 What is Alex Potter Doing Now

01:11:42 Mountain Guiding Professionals

01:13:25 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

01:15:29 Outro

Mauri DiMeo is an Infantry officer in the US Army currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Military Science (APMS) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He attended Ranger, Airborne, SFAS, the SFQC, and the Austrian High Alpine School. Mauri was a platoon leader in the 4th Infantry Division and Rifle Company Commander in the 10th Mountain Division.

His career took a turn in the final Robin Sage stage of the SF Q course, which we discuss early in our conversation. The lessons he learned there are important for any officer going through the SF qualification process.

Outside of the military, Mauri founded Tactical Alpinism in 2022 with the mission to expand the capability of individuals to go bigger in the mountains by teaching mountain navigation and planning best practices. Enabling people to go bigger in the mountains expands the military’s capability in this environment by focusing on the expertise of the individual within mountain and arctic units. He professionally guides in the mountains in the ski, rock, and alpine disciplines.

His mountain experience includes two decades of climbing across much of the world and multiple ski-based ascents and descents, including Mount Shasta, Mount Rainier, and Denali, all by multiple routes. His civilian mountain certifications include AIARE Avalanche Professional Level 2, AIARE Avalanche Instructor, AMGA Assistant Ski Guide, and AMGA Assistant Rock Guide.

More about Mauri:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tacticalalpinism/

Timestamps:

00:00:23 Introduction to Mauri DiMeo

00:01:49 Mauri DiMeo’s Career

00:03:20 Final Year at West Point

00:04:26 Preparing for the Course

00:05:32 Junior West Point Cadet

00:08:45 Doing Too Much

00:10:54 10th Mountain Warfare Training

00:15:56 Ready in a Month

00:18:13 Conventional Units in Cold Environments

00:21:48 The Gap Between What Soldiers Are Taught and Tying Knots

00:26:09 Practicing Skills Where They Matter

00:28:20 Tactical Avalanche Education

00:32:13 Avalanche Bell Curve Management

00:36:20 Speed is Safety

00:42:00 Time Recommended to Build Aerobic Capacity

00:46:50 Balancing Volume Training

00:51:03 Zone 2 Running vs Rucking

00:55:34 Getting the Body to Do What It’s Meant to Do

00:58:48 Effective Mental Frameworks in the Mountains

01:02:27 Filling Gaps in Military Training

01:05:34 Tactical Core Skills for Operating in the Snowy Mountains

01:10:25 What Does Mauri DiMeo Do with Tactical Alpinism?

01:12:20 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

01:14:44 Outro

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.html

SAS Wanderer's Education Program: https://www.sasresourcesfund.org.au/about-the-fund/wanderers-education-program

LBW Trust / National Backyard Cricket: https://lbwtrust.com.au/

The Externals (Harry's band): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWSYUvRoa8Q

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrymoffitt353/

Timestamps:

00:00:22 Introduction to Harry Moffitt

00:01:22 Career Overview

00:04:28 Human Performance and Nuance in SAS Selection

00:06:16 Success in Selection

00:09:45 Being In Love With The Process

00:13:49 Building a Nest: The Ways We Quit

00:14:51 The Challenge Beyond Selection

00:17:56 Self Doubt: Questioning Your Sense of Belonging

00:24:55 Moving On From “You Suck. Suck Less.”

00:29:05 Accessing for Integrity

00:31:06 Leadership, Character, & Stress

00:35:04 Sponsor Note: Building The Elite

00:35:58 Protecting Us From Ourselves

00:40:21 Special Operations in Civilian Life: Which Concepts Work? Which Don’t?

00:45:51 The Hallmarks of Camaraderie

00:50:31 Playing ‘Company’

00:53:17 The Cricket Bats

00:58:30 Harry Moffitt’s Next Book

01:01:59 Philosophy: Wonder, Intuition, & Imagination

01:05:29 Clarifying Values: Your Personal North Star

01:11:16 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

01:11:50 Outro

Josh Bridges is a former Navy SEAL, with multiple deployments as a member of SEAL Team 3.

He’s a competitive CrossFit athlete and has competed in the CrossFit games six times, placing second in the world in 2011.

Josh left the Navy to spend more time with his family, and he is now a high-performance coach and entrepreneur.

More about Josh:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgesj3/

Website: Josh-bridges.com

Timestamps:

00:00:22 Introduction to Josh Bridges

00:00:54 Josh Bridges’ Career

00:01:54 The Benefits of Wrestling & a Good Coach

00:05:07 BUD/S, Wrestling, & San Diego Beaches

00:06:42 The ‘Crappy Job’ Experience

00:10:54 Sponsor Note: Building the Elite

00:11:34 Who excels & What Do They Have In Common?

00:13:21 How to Look Past The Rules & Find The Principles

00:15:03 There is No One Theme in BUD/S

00:18:31 Developing Camaraderie in BUD/S

00:19:30 Getting Into CrossFit

00:22:05 The Less Attached, The More Focused You’ll Be

00:24:08 Getting Back Into CrossFit

00:26:29 CrossFit Worlds (The CrossFit Games)

00:29:25 Teaching Others How to Train

00:32:50 The Evolution of CrossFit

00:35:22 Common Mistakes in Preparation

00:37:31 How to Push The Pace While Remote Coaching

00:41:09 The Physiological Limit

00:46:40 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

00:49:25 Outro

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 Wilson

00:01:55 Career Overview

00:04:16 SAS Selection: What makes people quit?

00:07:32 Mental Preparation: How to Keep Going and Stay Out of Your Head

00:10:40 Keeping An Internal Compass

00:13:40 Segmenting: A Thousand Manageable Steps, One At A Time

00:15:56 Stories of Selection & Low Points

00:19:13 What Are My Odds of Making It

00:22:20 End of Selection: Three Sentences and You're On Your Way Home

00:24:08 The Sword in the Stone Mentality

00:27:21 Selection Starts When the Stress Sets In

00:28:46 Sponsor Note: Mindfulness in Training App

00:31:32 Rationale for Snapping & Trainability

00:36:04 The Ability to Deal With Failure & Setbacks

00:39:30 How Powerful Nutrition Is & Can Be

00:43:23 Foundation for Metabolic Flexibility

00:45:32 Team Dynamics in Selection: Knowing When to Follow & When to Lead

00:47:21 Building Trust and Rapport With a New Group

00:50:32 Career Progression After Selection

00:54:06 Work/Life Balance Compared to the Army

00:58:23 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

01:01:39 Outro