Cleared Hot

I am knee-deep (more likely neck-deep) in my first true business venture. Mistakes have been made. There are a lot of people who want to start a business, and many don't know where to look. This episode is about picking the brains of two successful entrepreneurs (one in tech and one in restaurants) about what has worked, what hasn't, successes, failures, where to start, and what to avoid. I am still in the process of working through some of these issues, hopefully, this discussion can help others in the same position.

Rob Bailey could perhaps be best described as an artist/serial entrepreneur.  He is the founder of Flag Nor Fail, the founder of the supplement company Run Everything Labs, the creator of the coaching group Clear, Calculated, and Vicious, as well as being a music artist and producer.    When he is not focusing on his retail businesses he is also developing real estate, creating and managing a group of unique Air BnB's in NW Montana, and traveling to fitness events/expos.   

Today's episode is a blend of a traditional Full Auto Friday and Monday episode. The question I opened with was an interesting one, in a nutshell: "I pulled my gun on someone in traffic and now I don't feel so good about it, any thoughts or advice?" I figured that Nelson was the perfect person to help answer this question from a law enforcement perspective, and as I suspected, he did not disappoint. The remainder of the episode was our traditional banter. Enjoy

The 777 Expedition was an amazing journey, with 7 successful jumps on 7 continents in just over 6 days! For the members of the team, the impact was immediate and powerful.   After being home for just over a week and finally having some time to think and process, I realized there were very powerful lessons to learn or reinforce from each continent. These lessons can apply to everyone, in both their personal and professional lives.   Antarctica - Chile - Miami - Barcelona - Cairo - UAE - Australia

Rapid Fire Q and A to finish off the week:   1. Would you try to talk your child out of military service, and if so, how would you do so   2. Advice for staying sharp and strong as one ages   3. I was promised a permanent raise after holding an interim position and now that is not being honored, would you leave over something like this   Enjoy

Mike was born & educated in Australia. His career began on MacQuarie Island as a geophysicist with an Australian expedition in 1971. He would go on to found Quark Expeditions and pioneer tourism transit to the polar regions with Russian icebreakers. In the late 1990s, he sold Quark in order to focus on new ventures in space travel and deep ocean exploration. He currently serves on the board of Space Adventures which offers space travel to the general public and operates Deep Ocean Expeditions which has coordinated dive expeditions to the Titanic, the Bismarck, and the Mariana Trench.   Mike is currently a partner in Antarctic Expeditions and Logistics which offers air transportation, logistic support, and guided experiences for those venturing to the interior of Antarctica.

There were an incredible amount of memorable moments and lessons learned over the past week while traveling to all 7 continents, but one stands out above them all for me. I will do a full debrief episode at some point, but for today, I will leave you with the most personally impactful experience. Enjoy

Glenn founded One 9 Investments while serving as an Assaulter Officer in Canadian Special Operations Forces; Joint Task Force 2. As a Squadron Commander, Glenn specialized in leadership, command, and strategic planning and successfully translated these skills with the creation of a venture capital fund that invests utilizing the principles of special operations planning, risk mitigation, and execution. Having served on multiple combat deployments in Afghanistan, sensitive information operations in the Middle East, and Hostage Recovery operations in Africa he was a strategic planner and tactical commander. A graduate of McGill University, The Army Operations Course, The Special Operations Assaulter Course, Canadian Securities Course, and Ivey Executive Leadership program, arms Glenn with an unconventional perspective and application to the investment battlefield.

Logan Stark is the VP of Branding for Black Rifle Coffee, and Jariko Denman is the Media First Sergeant. Both are members of the 777 Expedition, traveling the world to raise awareness and funds for Folds of Honor. Join us as we record the first-ever podcast from our ice studio in Antarctica.

As we begin our 7 continent expedition I can think of nothing more important than talking about those that we have chosen to jump for, the impact that they had on our lives, and what they gave for what they believed. Each member of the team provides an introduction and background on their own service, how they met the fallen soldier they are jumping in honor of, and what the fallen meant to them personally. These stories need to be told, and these men and women need to be remembered, not collectively for their sacrifice, but as individuals. We should know their names. We should remember.

The first Q and A of 2023 from the road in Punta Arenas, Chile! 1. Should I "follow my passion," "Do what I love," or actually get a damn job and make some money 2. Does sending someone to jail actually solve anything? 3. Have my views changed, softened, or hardened since my first appearance on JRE 7 years ago Enjoy

Of all the episodes I have been able to record, these episodes with my father stand out as some of my favorites. I never thought I would be able to record conversations about our family history, values, beliefs, and what makes us who we are. I love that they will live forever, far beyond both of us, and can hopefully have great meaning to future generations later in their lives.

Finishing off 2022 with the final Q and A episode of the year. 1. 2022 - year in review 2. Finding balance in training 3. Advice for raising kids for couples who have opposing viewpoints on important topics 4. Religion and spirituality 5. How can I approach my small school district to make them take active shooter training and drilling seriously Enjoy

As an Operative who served as a Country Chief for a Special Unit within the CIA, Nic witnessed not only the epidemic of child trafficking within illicit markets but also the unrealized opportunity to apply his understanding and training to influence this global crisis. As Nic began to work with experts to better understand the problem in the United States, he found it impossible to turn a blind eye. As a result, DeliverFund was officially established as a 501c3 in October 2014 and our counter-human trafficking organization focused on ending sex slavery in the United States got to work. Nic spent 11 years in US Special Operations as an Air Force Pararescueman prior to being recruited to the Central Intelligence Agency. Due to his highly specialized training and experience in both special and intelligence operations, Nic has a firm understanding of these illicit, illegal markets and has the highest levels of training to effectively combat them.

Rapid Fire Q and A to finish off the week: 1. Porn - thoughts on the ease of accessibility, and impact on young adults 2. I got hurt by the black belt coach at my gym, when is it time to start looking for somewhere else to train 3. Western big game packing and loadout considerations Enjoy

Josh grew up in Lincoln, Montana on the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. At the age of 11 Josh's baseball coach, Rick Dunkerley began teaching him how to make knives. About a year later, Josh began putting a shop together at his home, and at the age of 12 he joined the American Bladesmith Society. Over the next few years, Josh began forging and honing his craft. At 15 years old, Josh passed the Journeyman bladesmith test in Atlanta, Georgia at the Blade Show. Josh became the youngest bladesmith to ever pass this test. The Journeyman test is a two-part process. A test blade must be forged and heat treated with the capabilities to chop a 1" rope in half, 2- 2x4's in half, and then still shave hair. Once the cutting tests are done the blade must be able to bend 90 degrees in a vise without breaking. After passing the performance test the maker must present 5 knives to a panel of Mastersmith Judges. Each knife is examined closely to ensure the knife is made to the highest standard of craftsmanship. Josh conti

Most Fridays I dedicate to Q and A, but not this Friday.  I was recently in Tampa for the premiere of Legacy Productions 1st documentary "Dropzone Everest," which follows Mike and a small group of civilian skydivers as they train for, then execute an expedition to skydive into the basecamp and surrounding areas of Mount Everest.  Since we were both together, and we leave for the 777 Expedition in two weeks, a podcast was of course in order.  We will do our best to send "dispatches" from the road, but until then, this episode should serve as an update on what we have accomplished so far, and what we hope to complete on the expedition.  Enjoy

Lt. Col. Slade has held command positions in the Army and the Air Force and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and fourteen combat air medals. He attended Utah State, where he earned a BA and was commissioned as an Army Aviation second lieutenant. He's also earned an MA in aviation instruction. Brian currently serves as a lieutenant colonel for Air Force Combat Search and Rescue. He is the author of "Cleared Hot," Lessons Learned about Life, Love, and Leadership While Flying the Apache Gunship in Afghanistan, which is now available.

Rapid Fire Q and A from the tropical paradise of Costa Rice with Henry Akins Jiu Jitsu black belt Dan Hart. 1. Misconceptions about having a black belt 2. Why does BJJ cost so much 3. Advice for someone just starting 4. I have a wrestling background, should I shelve my experience or build my game around it 5. Competitions...Necessary, required, avoid at older ages.... Enjoy

As a young immigrant to the US, Akshay overcame drug addiction, PTSD from fighting in Iraq with the Marines, depression and alcoholism that pushed him to the brink of suicide.   By falling in love with his demons, he has since:   - Run 167 miles across post-war Liberia to build a school.   - Despite 4 biological defects including a blood disorder that 2 doctors said would kill him in boot camp, he is now a sponsored athlete and have run many ultra marathons, including an 80 mile run around a 0.2 mile loop and a 50 miler around a cul-de-sac during the quarantine.   - Spent 7 days in darkness, isolation and silence where he experienced DMT-induced, psychedelic hallucinations.   - Based on his life experience and years of research in neuroscience, psychology and spirituality, written the book Fearvana, about which the Dalai Lama said "Fearvana inspires us to look beyond our own agonizing experiences and find the positive side of our lives." All the profits from the book are being donated to charity.