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

Daniel Allen is a doctor of clinical psychology and a strength and conditioning coach specializing in preparing candidates for military and special operations service in New Zealand.

He spent 6 years as a medic in the NZ Army before leaving to fulfill a dream to compete as a professional Muay Thai and MMA athlete and embark on a decade-long formal training in clinical psychology.

He has worked with people ranging from Olympians, professional and world-class athletes, to beginners starting out for the first time to successful New Zealand SAS candidates.

Dan’s wide-ranging academic background spans undergraduate study in Health Science, Exercise Science, master’s and doctoral psychology programs, and much to his wife’s dismay, he is currently in a 2-year neuropsychology program.

Dan’s doctoral research focused on factors that reduced PTSD and increased flourishing among military personnel in the years following deployment, including nutrition, sleep, exercise, social support, and leadership support.

His psychology background is similarly wide-ranging, including working as a high-school counselor, in a drugs and addiction service and, more recently, in a private psychology service.

Dan is passionate about understanding the relationship between nutrition, psychology, and performance and how these things facilitate resilience.

You can learn more about Dan at his website, drdancoach.com/ or on Instagram at @drdancoaching



Timestamps:

00:00:22 Introduction to Daniel Allen

00:01:46 Sidequest to Be Professional Muay Thai Fighter

00:06:40 Training in High-Level Gyms Around the World

00:09:15 How Did Daniel Allen’s Training Impact How He Coaches?

00:11:39 How to Separate Pain from Suffering

00:14:02 Exercise Science and Psychology Degrees

00:14:59 New Zealand SAS

00:17:49 What Would Daniel Change About How He Coached in the Past?

00:21:09 How to Balance Being Good at Running and Rucking

00:24:05 Predictors of Success

00:26:58 Most Common Mistakes in Prep

00:29:31 Test Within a Training Cycle

00:31:53 Fundamental Skills to Develop People’s Abilities

00:34:04 Sponsor Note on Segmenting

00:34:28 Questioning Your Sense of Belonging

00:41:02 Common Success Factors from Olympic Athletes to SAS Operators

00:45:21 Cognitive Flexibility and Growth Mindset

00:47:45 Operational Longevity

00:52:33 Limiting Factors During a Course

00:54:04 Candidates with Cushie Backgrounds

00:57:43 Gaining Awareness of the Landscape of Your Mind

00:59:43 SAS Candidates Do’s and Don’ts

01:02:31 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

01:05:29 Outro

One of the most common training questions we answer, particularly in the winter when people’s kids are going back to school and concocting new diseases, is about training when sick.

While the answer is obvious if you’re bedridden or can barely feed yourself (Do not work out), how you manage yourself from when you begin to feel symptoms to when you’re back to 100% will make a big difference in your rate of recovery.

This episode covers what to do and not do when you're sick, how to transition back to full-intensity training, and factors that speed recovery and influence your propensity to illness.

You may want to refer back to portions of this episode so we have it published in written format on our website, broken down by sections.

You can read it here: https://www.buildingtheelite.com/training-when-sick/