Building the Elite Podcast
Episodes
Nick Caldwell: The Mill Gym - Preparing the Next Generation of Special Operators
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nick has over 12 years of military experience, including 4 years as an Australian Commando and 6 years as an SAS operator. His operational service inc...
Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon: Mental and Emotional Prep for SOF Selection - Ep. 120
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon is a trained counselor specializing in the psychology of behavior change, with certifications in motivational interviewing, sol...
Feeding the Rat - Ep. 119
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SOF selection is a proving ground, where your physical, mental, and emotional raw material will be laid bare, with nothing to hide behind. It's a...
Dr. Daniel Cooper: The Psychology of High Performance - Ep. 118
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Daniel Cooper is a human performance and behaviour specialist who focuses on improving individual and team performance in high-pressure, high-cons...
Elias Kfoury: From Hunter to Protector, Ep. 117
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elias Kfoury was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and immigrated to the United States at an early age in search of a brighter, safer future. After college, he...
Heat Acclimation Training - Ep. 116
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If your selection will be held in a hot environment, itâs important to acclimate to the heat before heading out. Any SOF selection will push you to ...
Matt Stevens: From SEAL to CEO - The Honor Foundation, Ep. 115
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Stevens transitioned from the U.S. Navy in 2017 after serving for 26 years as a SEAL.Transitioning from the SEAL teams to civilian life brought h...
Rima Ziuraitis: Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) in Ukraine - Ep. 114
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rima is a medic in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a tactical medicine instructor originally from the United States. She came to Ukraine as an NGO vol...
Chris Brennan: Leadership Lessons from the Australian SAS Regiment - Ep. 113
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Brennan served for 15 years in the Australian Army, 11 of which were as an operator within the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).He fulfilled ...
Philip A. Armstrong, STS PJ: Bronze Stars and Gummy Bears - Ep. 112
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Philip Andrew Armstrong is a decorated combat veteran, elite-level medic, program manager, and resilience-driven father of four. Raised in the woods b...
Ben Strahan: Self-Leadership in Wildland Hotshot Firefighting - Ep. 111
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Strahan is a Hotshot Superintendent and wildland firefighter with over 25 years of operational leadership on the fireline. Ben has spent decades i...
Everyday Heroism - Ep. 110
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a hero? Itâs easy to point to the dramatic moments in history: the burning tanks and bullet-swept battlefields. This form of heroism is ...
Alex Potter: From Frontline to Fireline - Ep. 109
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Potter is a photojournalist, trauma nurse, former wildland firefighter, and co-founder of Global Response Medicine, a humanitarian non-profit bri...
Mauri DiMeo: Tactical Alpinism - Ep. 108
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...
Harry Moffitt, Australian SASR: Eleven Bats - Ep. 107
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony âHarryâ Moffitt retired from the Australian Defence Force after almost 30 years, most of which was spent with Australiaâs Special Air Se...
Josh Bridges: USN SEAL to Crossfit Games Athlete
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Bridges is a former Navy SEAL, with multiple deployments as a member of SEAL Team 3. Heâs a competitive CrossFit athlete and has competed in t...
Ryan Wilson: The Mental Game in Australian SASR Selection - Ep. 105
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Wilson completed a long and challenging career in the Australian Army spanning 18 years, primarily in the Special Air Service Regiment, where he ...
Dr. Daniel Allen: Training for New Zealand SAS Selection - Ep. 104
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Allen is a doctor of clinical psychology and a strength and conditioning coach specializing in preparing candidates for military and special op...
Training When Sick - Ep. 103
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most common training questions we answer, particularly in the winter when peopleâs kids are going back to school and concocting new disea...
Scott Ryder - Forged In Fire: Australia's 2nd Commando Regiment, Ep. 102
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Ryder served for 22 years with the Australian Army, including 16 years as an operator with the 2nd Commando Regiment. He served in East Timor an...
Dr. Chris Frueh: Operator Syndrome - Ep. 101
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Frueh, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii. He has over thirty years of professional experience working with military...
Nico Seedsman, Australian SASR: Integrity, Loyalty, Competence - Ep. 100
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nico Seedsman spent 13 years in the Australian military, first as an electrical engineer in the Navy, then with a Recon unit in the Army, before spend...
Unlearning Fear - Ep. 99
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many types of fear are learned responses based on memories from previous experiences. There are, of course, also innate fears. Like other animals, weâ...
Matthew Perry: USMC Force Recon Leadership Lessons - Ep. 98
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lt. Col. Matthew Perry is an active-duty Marine with over 16 years of experience in the infantry and reconnaissance community. He has served in all fo...
Tristan Irwin: US Army Civil Affairs - Ep. 97
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tristan Irwin is a nine-year veteran of the United States Army, where she served as a special operations Civil Affairs Officer. As a CA Team Chief, sh...
Kevin Smith: Terminator Training Method - Ep. 96
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Smith, Founder of Terminator Training Method (TTM), specializes in virtual fitness coaching tailored for those prepping for Special Operations F...
Alex Fichtler, USN SEAL, Pt 2: Lessons from NSW CQB Training
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Fichtler is a 9-year Navy SEAL combat veteran with operational experience in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. He is a Naval Special Warf...
Alex Fichtler, USN SEAL, Pt. 1: The Six Pillars of Performance
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Fichtler is a 9-year Navy SEAL combat veteran with operational experience in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. He is a Naval Special Warf...
Senior Chief Candace Esquivel: NSWDG Intelligence - Ep. 93
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Senior Chief Candace Esquivel joined the Navy in 2005 as a cryptologic technician with advanced training in signals exploitation systems. From there, ...
How to Eat Well on the Go - Ep. 92
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all must pay for our food. We can't choose not to pay; we only decide how. We can pay with our time. We can pay with our money. Or, we can...
Man Down - Ep. 91
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The idea that no one gets left behind is such a common phrase associated with the special operations community that itâs almost become a cliche. We ...
Andrew Siepka: USCG Specialized Deployable Forces - Ep. 90
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew is a strength and conditioning coach, business owner, national team powerlifter, and veteran with a tactical operations and physical training b...
Tiffany Myrick-Woodley: Cultural Support Team in Afghanistan - Ep. 89
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany Myrick-Woodley served two decades in the US Army, and played an essential role in the integration of women into the Armyâs Combat Arms occup...
Becoming Clear on What Matters - Ep. 88
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After working with thousands of clients over the last twenty years, we tend to see people make the same mistakes when struggling to work toward their ...
Kathleen Oswald: Cognitive Performance and CQB - Ep. 87
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kathleen Oswald is a Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a Master's in Exercise and Sport Science and is earning her Ph.D. in Cognition and...
Mindfulness - Ep. 86
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss the first mental skill we have all of our clients work on developing: mindfulness. Mindfulness is the process of observin...
John Spencer: The Challenges of Urban Warfare - Ep. 85
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Spencer is one of the worldâs leading experts on urban warfare. He currently serves as the chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War In...
Meg Tucker: The Valkyrie Project, Pt. 2 - Ep. 84
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meg Tucker began her career as an Army Kiowa Warrior pilot. After the Kiowa was removed from the Army inventory, Meg was assessed and selected for Arm...
Meg Tucker: The Valkyrie Project, Pt. 1 - Ep. 83
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meg Tucker began her career as an Army Kiowa Warrior pilot. After the Kiowa was removed from the Army inventory, Meg was assessed and selected for Arm...
Lt. Col. Thomas Schueman: Always Faithful & Patrol Base Abbate - Ep. 82
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lt. Col. Tom Schueman served in Afghanistan for sixteen months, including the single bloodiest battle of the war in Afghanistan, as a platoon commande...
Average Fails Everyone - Ep. 81
27 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore how post-WWII Air Force pilots faced numerous crashes, not due to mechanical failures or pilot errors, but because of a fu...
Jeff Depatie, JTF-2: Post-Traumatic Growth
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Depatie is a former sniper with Canadaâs tier-one unit, JTF-2. He has vast experience in tactical shooting, elite team selection, and human opt...
Dr. Tommy Wood: Brain Health and Longevity, Pt. 2
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tommy Wood, BM BCh, PhD, is a neuroscientist, elite-level professional nerd, and performance consultant to world-class athletes in a dozen sports. He ...
Dr. Tommy Wood: Brain Health and Longevity, Pt. 1
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tommy Wood, BM BCh, PhD, is a neuroscientist, elite-level professional nerd, and performance consultant to world-class athletes in a dozen sports. He ...
Dr. Allison Brager: Optimizing Sleep, Ep. 77
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Allison Brager is an Army neuroscientist, CrossFit Games athlete, and sleep specialist. Her career bridges the gap between rigorous scientific res...
Confidence vs. Arrogance, with Zack Ferguson - Ep. 76
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There is a difference between confidence and arrogance. Distinguishing between the two is essential, especially when preparing for demanding challeng...
Miguel Zeran, Part 2: Health and Performance for Firefighters and First Responders - Ep. 75
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is part two of our conversation with Miguel Zeran.Miguel Zeran, aka Z, is a retired Marine Master Sergeant, PhD candidate, and a coach at Buildin...
Miguel Zeran, Part 1: USMC Force Recon, PhD Candidate, BTE Coach - Ep. 74
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Miguel Zeran, aka Z, is a retired Marine Master Sergeant, PhD candidate, and a coach at Building the Elite.Heâs a former Force Recon Marine who hold...
Dr. David Walton, Part 2: Ruck Up or Shut Up - Ep. 73
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is part two of our conversation with Dr. David Walton. Dr. David âWallyâ Walton is a retired Army Special Forces officer with 25 years of exp...
Dr. David Walton, Part 1: How to Succeed in Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) - Ep. 72
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. David âWallyâ Walton is a retired Army Special Forces officer with 25 years of experience in the SF community. His career spans service with t...
Ben Allen and Eric Ross - From Special Operations to Human Performance - Ep. 71
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Ross is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Striveworks, specializing in Machine Learning Operations. He enlisted in the Army after high sch...
Dr. Kate Pate: The Neurophysiology of Brain Injury and Burnout - Ep. 70
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Kate Pate is a PhD neurophysiologist, coach, and entrepreneur with extensive experience in scientific research and practical applications in the m...
Joel Struthers: Legionnaire - Joining the French Foreign Legion - Ep. 69
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joel Struthers is a former Legionnaire, or member of the French Foreign Legion, a helicopter pilot, and the author of the books Appel, about his time ...
Laura Gordon: Nervous System Regulation - Ep. 68
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Laura is the Lead Performance Instructor at Deep End Fitness in San Diego, a trauma therapist, and a strength coach. She is about to graduate with the...
Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon: Emotional Resilience in SOF Selection - Ep. 67
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon (also known as KSD) is a trained counselor specializing in the psychology of behavior change, with certifications including mot...
Aaron Epstein, MD - Global Surgical and Medical Support Group - Ep. 66
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Aaron Epstein created the Global Surgical and Medical Support Group in 2015 to provide high-quality care to victims in Iraq of the ongoing conflic...
Tim Richardt, DPT - How to Run and Ruck Without Getting Injured - Ep. 65
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Richardt is a Colorado-based Physical Therapist with a passion for rock climbing, trail running, and technical backcountry skiing. Professionally,...
How to Regulate Your Nervous System - Ep. 64
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You must manage your stress response before you can manage your self-talk, emotions, pain, or fatigue. The process that controls our stress response o...
Don Tran - Marine Raider and Deep End Fitness Co-Founder - Ep. 63
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Don Tran is a former special operations Marine, and is the co-founder of Deep End Fitness. Prior to joining the MARSOC, or Marine Special Operations C...
Admiral Robert Harward - Leadership Lessons From a Lifetime as a Navy SEAL - Ep. 62
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Admiral Robert Harward is one of history's most accomplished US Navy SEALs. After graduating from the US Naval Academy, his NSW career began whe...
Chris Klaftenegger, Pt. 2 - From Recon Corpsman/PJ to Defense Technology Business - Ep. 61
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is part 2 of our interview with Chris Klaftenegger. Chris was a special operations medic in two different military branches, and he has been to ...
Chris Klaftenegger, Pt. 1 - Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman (SARC) and Pararescue Jumper - EP. 60
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Klaftenegger was a special operations medic in two different military branches, and he has been to selection courses in the US Navy, Marines, an...
Zack Ferguson: You Must Be Willing to Die - Ep. 59
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zack Ferguson is a former Navy SEAL Team 7 veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq, Yemen, Africa, and the UAE. He served as his platoon's Lead...
John Mackersie, Pt. 2 - Coaching and Programming for Special Forces - Ep. 58
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is part two of our interview with John Mackersie. If you missed the first half, we recommend starting at part one, which is episode 57, just befo...
John Mackersie, Pt. 1 - Special Operations Strength & Conditioning Coach - Ep. 57
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
John Mackersie is a strength and conditioning coach with over 15 years of professional coaching experience in collegiate athletics and within special ...
Planning for Failure - Ep. 56
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past decade, weâve helped prepare hundreds of clients for dozens of different SOF selection courses. Through this process, weâve develope...
Alex Hutchinson, Part 2 - Pain, Effort, and Performance - Ep. 55
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second half of our conversation with Dr. Alex Hutchinson. Dr. Alex Hutchinson is an author and journalist based in Toronto, Canada. His l...
Alex Hutchinson, Part 1 - The Limits of Human Endurance - Ep. 54
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Alex Hutchinson is an author and journalist based in Toronto, Canada. His latest book, Endure: Mind, body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Hum...
The Curse of Knowledge - Ep. 53
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The curse of knowledge occurs when an individual, often unknowingly, assumes that others have the background or knowledge to understand a particular t...
Shaun Taylor, Part 2 - 24-Hour MTB World Champion, Coach, Mentor - Ep. 52
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is part two of our interview with Shaun Taylor, a founding member of Canada's tier-one SOF unit, JTF2. Shaun has also managed to fit numerou...
Shaun Taylor, Part 1 - JTF2 Tier One Plank Owner - Ep. 51
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shaun Taylor has had a dizzying array of careers and life experiences. He was one of the original members of JTF2, Canadaâs tier-one special operat...
Long-Term Strategy: Sprints and Maintenance Phases - Ep. 50
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most common training mistakes is the all-or-nothing trap: alternating between phases of intense effort and consistency and doing nearly not...
Gut Health and Resilience - Dr. Chris Lowry, Part 2 - Ep. 49
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is part 2 of our 2-part episode with Dr. Christopher Lowry, a professor of Integrative Physiology, Psychology, and Neuroscience, specializing in ...
Gut Health and Resilience - Dr. Chris Lowry, Part 1 - Ep. 48
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Christopher A. Lowry, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder in the Departments of Integrative Physiology, Psychology,...
The Hardest Part of the Day - Ep. 47
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"The hardest part of the day is getting out of bed" is a common phrase among successful SOF selection candidates. Aside from serving as the...
Casey Glass: Training for Longevity - Ep. 46
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Casey Glass has been a strength and conditioning coach at an active-duty special operations unit for nine years. Alongside helping the operators she w...
Stew Smith: How to Master the CSS and Crush the PST - Ep. 45
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL Lieutenant and an NSCA CSCS who graduated from the US Naval Academy and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, al...
Common SOF Prep Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them - Ep. 44
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After 15 years of preparing individuals for SOF selection programs, we have seen many mistakes and their consequences. This podcast covers the most co...
The Science of Heat Adaptation and Heat Stroke - Dr. Douglas Casa - Ep. 43
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Douglas Casa has been the CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute since it was founded in 2010 and has been a professor of Kinesiology at the Universi...
Leading from the Front - Ep. 42
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We often think of leadership, particularly in special operations, as manifest in the form of some big heroic act. That can be the case; the military i...
Seb Lavoie, Part 2: SWAT/ERT Selection, Leadership, and Mindset - Ep. 41
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second half of a two-part episode with Sebastien Lavoie. Please check out the first episode if you haven't listened already. In that ...
Seb Lavoie, Part 1: Elite Tactical Team Leadership and Selection - Ep. 40
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sebastien Lavoie, a veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Armed Forces with over two decades of dedicated service, is n...
You Will Have Your Waterloo - Ep. 39
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
SOF selection is an equalizer. It's an egalitarian machine designed to reveal what's inside each candidate when suffering. It's in this...
Managing Expectations & Maintaining Cognitive Flexibility - Ep. 38
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we fail to examine our expectations, and they donât become a reality, we can have strong feelings of disappointment, resentment, anger, frustra...
Stress, Training, & Adaptation (Part 2) - Ep. 37
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about stress, training, and adaptation. This is a big topic, so weâve broken this into a two-part podcast.This is part two ...
Stress, Training, & Adaptation (Part 1) - Ep. 36
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about stress, training, and adaptation. This is a big topic, so weâve broken this into a two-part podcast.To understand pro...
Paradoxical Intent - Leaning Into Fear - Ep. 35
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
SOF selection requires that you develop a close relationship with pain. This doesnât just mean lots of dramatic grimacing for the camera. Eventually...
How to Learn Faster - Dr. Karin Nordin - Ep. 34
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
People in the special operations community often find themselves learning to be human swiss army knives. They do intensive courses in anything from se...
How to Motivate Yourself - Ep. 33
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone wants to know the âsecretâ to motivation. Like most topics, this isnât as simple as repeating cliches like âjust donât quitâ or â...
Darkhorse Benefits: Tactical Medical Training in Ukraine - Ep. 32
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Darkhorse Benefits is a special operations veteran-owned charitable organization. Many of their members are former medics who are actively involved in...
Training Around Injuries - Ep. 31
26 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Injuries happen. Even if your training program is well thought out, sometimes youâll run into small issues or youâll injure yourself playing your ...
Abilities vs. Skills - Ep. 30
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The goal of programming is not to develop specific abilities, but to develop specific skills.The difference might seem trivial - it isnât.An ability...
All Secure Foundation - Tom and Jen Satterly - Ep. 29
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Satterly is a former Command Sergeant Major from the US Armyâs Delta Force, also known as The Unit. During his 20 years at The Unit, Tom fought ...
Compartmentalization - Ep. 28
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There is a distinction between pain and suffering. Pain is what you experience, suffering is how you respond to it. Pain is built largely out of nerv...
Training During the Qualification Course - Todd Bumgardner - Ep. 27
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Todd Bumgardner is a human performance coach at a tier one special operations unit. He works with operators during their qualification course. To do t...
How to Succeed in 18D and SOCM - Ep. 26
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
18-Delta, the Special Forces medic qualification course, and SOCM, the Special Operations Combat Medic course, are among the most difficult schools in...
Hurt Fast or Hurt Slow - Ep. 25
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Special operations selection teaches you to rethink your relationship with pain. The discomfort of doing something with a painful but partial effort i...
Eustress Training - Ep. 24
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eustress training is a way of training your body to do more work, easily by raising the baseline of movement or exercise that you can do without stres...
It Doesn't Matter - Ep. 23
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over our lifetimes, as years of experiences accumulate, we can begin to formulate a universal lesson: No matter how many bad things you went through i...
How to Join the CIA and Lies About Lie Detection: Dr. Andy Morgan, Part 2 - Ep. 22
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the second half of our conversation with Dr. Andy Morgan, we cover topics including:â â - Advice for people seeking careers in the intelligence c...