Our Combat Story today is former Navy SEAL officer Josh Thurman, who spent over 12 years serving in the SEAL Teams​, including at the elite level. Over the course of 11 deployments in the post-9/11 era​, Josh led high-stakes special operations missions and nearly lost his own life on countless occasions.

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Josh almost never joined the military and, instead, thought of becoming a religious leader, which we talk about in this episode. Instead, he would go on to lead some of the most lethal and intelligent veterans on the planet on successful counterterrorism and hostage rescue missions.

After his military service, Josh transitioned to the tech industry in 2023, co-founding AngelQ, an AI company to protect and prioritize the wellbeing of children in the digital age. With that, please enjoy this discussion with Josh Thurman.

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

00:30 Introduction
00:49 Meet Josh Thurman: Navy SEAL Officer
03:20 From Potential Religious Leader to SEAL
05:54 Josh's Upbringing and Early Influences
10:27 Choosing the SEALs Over Other Paths
12:08 Mentorship and Inspiration
16:11 Angel Q: Protecting Kids in the Digital Age
18:45 BUD/S Training: Coldest Moments
30:31 Memorable Interactions with an Instructor
31:38 Challenges of OCS and Early Military Career
33:40 Humbling Experiences and First Deployment
36:56 First Combat Experience in Iraq
40:51 The Harrowing Vehicle Incident
47:12 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Entrepreneurship
50:04 The Mission and Vision of Angel Q
57:14 Challenges and Rewards of Starting a Company
59:25 Final Thoughts and Reflections
01:02:14 Sponsor Message: Delete Me