“The quality of questions you ask in life results in the quality of relationships you have.”

6ers, this episode tackles how finding shared adversity can bring people together and create unbreakable bonds. From brain trust to creating to having emotional intimacy with your colleagues and brothers in and out of the military, shared adversity plays a huge role in the quality of your life.

Michael Sarraille is a United States Navy SEAL veteran, founder, and CEO of two executive search and talent consulting firms – Talent War Group and EF Overwatch. He is also the senior leadership instructor at Echelon Front, a veteran-owned leadership training and consulting firm. He is a co-author of the book The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent. Part of his leadership philosophy is to surround himself with positive-minded, humble, renowned experts in their respective fields. He lives by the mantra ‘iron sharpens iron.’

You will learn how brain trust in an organization can scale and drive its growth, and how creating a culture that puts the bull’s eye to the front nurtures an organization where failure is embraced and learning is promoted and it all results in building stronger relationships.

You’ll understand why the highest form of love and compassion is accountability and how this mindset promotes learning and developing a growth mindset. This episode also emphasizes how valuing drive, passion, and effective intelligence over pedigree can help in nurturing talents within an organization.

-----

• 01:11 - Coming together and finding shared adversity
• 03:34 - The quality of questions you ask has a great impact on your life
• 04:53 - Creating a culture with a bull’s eye to the front
• 05:49 - Breaking down what emotional intimacy means among military members
• 08:34 - Mike’s story about Dr. Jonny Kim and how it was a lesson in humility
• 11:30 - The value of asking questions and building brain trust in an organization
• 14:44 - Finding talent in the business world is tough because of its lack of process
• 17:29 - Movement is key. Why taking one step at a time is important in the transition
• 19:46 - Finding a new tribe in the private sector who are warriors in their own profession
• 21:08 - The highest form of love is accountability

-----

Here is how to connect with Mike Sarraille:

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

Website

-----

Connect with Got Your Six podcast:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Twitter

TikTok

-----

Connect with Tony Nash:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Twitter

6ers, Katie’s journey and inspiring story in this episode is a powerful reminder that following one’s passion and taking chances can lead you to incredible experiences. Whether you’re pursuing a career, a hobby, or a personal goal, they key is to approach it with enthusiasm, commitment, and sometimes, the willingness to take risks that will help you explore new territories and test your own limits.

Katie Hernandez is a US Army Captain and a World Record holder. In 2021, she broke the women’s Guinness World Record for the fastest one-mile run (10 minutes and 23 seconds) in an 85-pound explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) bomb suit. Previously stationed in Hawaii, she completed the 25th Infantry Division's Pre-Ranger Program in 2016 and was the first woman to do so. Katie is also a massive supporter of the Military Family Program, which seeks to provide veterans and their families a free platform containing relevant programs and resources on different topics such as jobs, transition, education, and scholarships.

You will learn that showing up every day with a sense of purpose and commitment is the key to experiencing success that can have a long-lasting impact that you can share with your community. It’s about gaining that momentum and being able to explore new territories to test one’s limits.

Finding the strength to move forward is often times found in the relationships you build. By surrounding yourself with a community that supports your goals, you refine your objectives and you become more inspired to the best version of yourself.

-----

• 01:19 - Katie’s unconventional journey from push-up contest to the military
• 01:57 - Why it’s important to get into the military school for the right reasons
• 04:37 - What The Human Performance Project is all about
• 06:10 - Breaking 1-Mile Run World Record in an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) bomb suit
• 08:35 - The power of showing up every day and gaining momentum
• 10:30 - Getting involved in the 7X Project in Antarctica and Tip of the Spear
• 12:11 - Self-reflection and the importance of calling your own bullshit
• 13:19 - Grace over quantity: Why doing less can lead to better success
• 14:44 - How to focus on breath control during peak moments
• 15:58 - Participating in Tactical Games where CrossFit meets combat
• 18:44 - Finding passion in CrossFit

-----

Here is how to connect with Katie Hernandez:

Instagram

-----

Connect with Got Your Six podcast:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Twitter

TikTok

Connect with Tony Nash:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Twitter

6ers, gardening has long been viewed as a way to connect with nature. But for others like Sean, the benefits and rewards are more than that. As a PTSD survivor, Sean believes caring for plants gave him purpose and a sense of responsibility. It also taught one of the key skills cultivated through horticulture: tactical patience.

Sean Fowler is a US Army veteran, program analyst (policy) at the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA), home plant content creator/influencer on Instagram, and advocate for home plants/gardening as a treatment for PTSD. He is passionate about treating PTSD using house plants after sustaining a chronic injury in an explosion in Iraq.

You will learn how Sean gained a sense of responsibility that was missing in his life through gardening. By being fully engaged tending to his garden, he learned the importance of being intentional with his actions and taking ownership of his life. Fostering deeper connections with our environment and to the people around us teaches us that we can rely on the support and feedback of others.

In a world that often feels disconnected, gardening offers a reminder that we can all be part of something greater. Veterans don’t need to be islands and don’t need to struggle with the challenges of transition and reintegration. By finding activities that can bring you joy and sense of purpose, you can begin to heal and move forward with greater confidence and resilience.

-----

Resources mentioned:

Lively Root 

-----

• 00:58 - Exploring the practice of horticulture as a metaphor for a better life
• 02:05 - Sean’s discovery of a meaningful sense of responsibility through caring for plants
• 04:30 - The value of tactical patience in understanding your environment
• 06:26 - The importance of humility and listening to the observations of those who care about you
• 08:39 - The benefits of pursuing a hobby you’re passionate about
• 9:19 - Drawing parallels between the breadth of human experience and gardening
• 11:05 - Finding inspiration from others for content creation and adding a unique spin
• 15:07 - How meditation became a big part of his healing journey 
• 16:59 - Sean’s personal struggle with maintaining integrity and accountability
• 19:14 - Integrity also means the overall workability of your life
• 20:16 - Veterans don’t need to have to suffer alone

-----

Here is how to connect with Sean Fowler:

Instagram

LinkedIn

TikTok 

--- Connect with Got Your Six podcast:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Twitter

TikTok

Connect with Tony Nash:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Twitter