Dr. Daniel Cooper: The Psychology of High Performance - Ep. 118
Dr. Daniel Cooper is a human performance and behaviour specialist who focuses on improving individual and team performance in high-pressure, high-consequence environments. He provides a unique perspective that sits at the intersection of real-world experience, academic research, and high-performance development. His experience encompasses over 18 years of service within the Australian Special Operations community, as well as academic studies in physiology, PhD research on performing under pressure, and current studies in neuroscience. In addition to high-performance coaching in professional sports and personal pursuits in extreme ultra-endurance events, Daniel has also worked within law enforcement as a frontline skills trainer, assisting in the development and delivery of strategic command programs.Follow Dr. Cooper:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-cooper-phd-3725194a/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancooper_phd/Timestamps:00:21 Introduction to Dr. Daniel Cooper01:35 Where in Antarctica is Dr. Daniel Cooper Going?02:54 What Distance Record is Dr. Cooper Going for?03:42 What are the Logistics for a Trip to Antarctica?04:58 What Does the Food Look Like?07:09 Starting Weight for a Sled08:22 Getting Out of the Special Air Service08:49 Dr. Cooper's Area of Research09:39 Under Pressure You Fall to the Level of Your Instructor12:24 What Operators Do Wrong When They Become Instructors14:32 What's Dr. Cooper's Take on the Post-Engagement Scan?18:47 The "Rule of Pretending" in Training Exercises 23:17 "Procedure Monkey" Meaning24:06 Letting Situations Go Wrong in Training27:35 Balancing Adaptability, Productivity and Challenges31:44 The Impact of Shame in Training Practices34:58 Mental Toughness is Misunderstood40:58 How a Unit Should View Their Team and the World Around Them46:05 Difference Between Character and Capability49:38 More Effective Evaluating in the Special Air Service53:40 Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence, PCDE's01:03:03 Linear vs Non-Linear Motor Skill Development01:12:54 Desirable Difficulties to Train Recall Skills01:13:53 Dr. Coopers Book Recommendation01:14:53 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 01:16:26 Outro
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Elias Kfoury: From Hunter to Protector, Ep. 117
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 enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving 21½ years before his medical retirement. Beginning as a Hospital Corpsman supporting the U.S. Marine Corps, he soon entered the Special Operations community as a Deep Sea Diving Medical Technician and completed advanced medical training to support Naval Special Warfare units. Following his service in Little Creek, Virginia, he successfully screened for Naval Special Warfare Development Group, where he spent the majority of his career as a Squadron Medic in multiple roles. After retiring, Elias transitioned into the business world, but soon recognized the deeper need to heal himself and his family. Today, he dedicates his life to supporting others on their own journeys while cherishing time with his family.Eli's Book Recommendations for special operations candidates (aside from Building the Elite):Breath – James NestorThe Way of the SEAL – Mark DivinePeak Performance – Brad Stulberg & Steve MagnessThe Talent Code – Daniel CoyleThe Obstacle Is the Way – Ryan HolidayWith Winning in Mind – Lanny BasshamDeep Survival – Laurence GonzalesCall Sign Chaos – Jim Mattis & Bing WestLegacy – James KerrTimestamps:00:00:21 Introduction to Eli Khoury00:00:52 Where Did Eli Khoury Grow Up?00:01:36 Experience of Growing Up in a War Zone00:05:54 How "Real Mortal Danger" Shapes Your Mental Health00:08:59 How Many Children Currently Don't Have Physical "Third Spaces"00:12:05 Formative Moments That Clarified "Who Eli Is"00:18:20 Eli's Educational Background00:24:43 The Goal of Coaching00:27:48 Common Things People Struggle to Let Go of00:29:43 Improving the Coaching Process for the Future00:32:04 Coaching Families00:34:04 Utilizing Tools like Psychedelics00:36:18 Teaching How to Give Up Control While Using Psychedelics00:40:40 Teaching How to Let Go Without Psychedelics00:48:20 The Skill of "Sitting With Stillness"00:52:48 What Military Skills Transfer to the Rest of the World?00:58:04 Teaching Resilience to People Early in Their Career01:13:45 Advice for Someone Trying to Enter BUDS01:14:49 Advice for Someone in a Special Operations Medical Path01:16:33 Advice for Someone Who Wants to Screen for a Tier 1 Unit01:18:20 One Book that Everyone Should Read01:18:37 Sponsor Note - Our Book, "Building the Elite"01:19:05 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 01:21:48 Outro
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Heat Acclimation Training - Ep. 116
If your selection will be held in a hot environment, it’s important to acclimate to the heat before heading out. Any SOF selection will push you to your physical limits, and not being acclimated to the heat can significantly increase your risk of failure. Heat injuries in SOF selection are fairly common, and they can be sneaky. The workload is so intense that even moderately warm, humid days can produce conditions that encourage heat injuries, particularly for people who are coming from cooler, drier climates who aren’t habituated to the weather. Like any adaptation, how you stress your body changes your rate and degree of adaptation. Randomly doing hard things in hot conditions isn’t the best strategy. In this episode, we’ll outline our recommendations based on practical experience and the most current research. ------------Hot Box Sauna: https://www.thehotboxsauna.com/?ref=BTEFor 5% off, use the code BTE5------------Timestamps:
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Matt Stevens: From SEAL to CEO - The Honor Foundation, Ep. 115
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 him to The Honor Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting U.S. Special Operations Forces as they transition from elite military careers into impactful civilian roles. Matt attended The Honor Foundation’s (THF) inaugural East Coast class in the spring of 2016, joined their SOF Advisory Board in the spring of 2017, and then joined their Board of Directors in February 2018. A native of Charlotte, NC, Matt graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991 with a B.S. in Ocean Engineering. He graduated BUD/S in 1992 with class 179 and was assigned to the East Coast, where he served in various SEAL Teams, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams, and Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG).Matt commanded at every level in the Naval Special Warfare Community, including a Squadron at DEVGRU, SEAL Team Two, Naval Special Warfare Unit Three, and Naval Special Warfare Group Four. He served on staff tours at the Joint Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the Operations Officer at Naval Special Warfare Group TWO in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD SO/LIC) in the Pentagon. Matt served on the leadership team of an emerging technology company from 2017 to 2019, before assuming the role of CEO of The Honor Foundation.Learn more about The Honor Foundation at www.Honor.orgTimestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Matt Stevens00:02:00 26 Years in the Teams00:03:25 DEVGRU and Seal Teams00:04:36 The Hardest Part of BUD/S00:06:16 Sponsor Note: Our Book Building The Elite00:07:03 Toughest Moments of Matt Stevens' Career 00:09:32 Giving Bad News About Performance00:11:12 Becoming a Good Leader00:15:08 Becoming Better at Public Speaking00:17:04 Transitioning Out of the Military00:20:21 How Did Mentorship Affect Matt Stevens’ Career?00:23:20 How Did the Honor Foundation Come About?00:26:28 The Honor Foundation's Three-Phase Program00:31:09 Impacting Veterans Lives00:34:31 What a Special Operations Background Brings to the Table00:37:23 Surviving in the Civilian World00:40:31 Who is the Honor Foundation For?00:41:45 Honor Foundation's Goals00:45:19 Supporting the Honor Foundation00:46:09 Advice for Special Operators Transitioning Out00:49:00 One Book Everyone Should Read00:49:43 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received00:50:25 Outro
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Rima Ziuraitis: Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) in Ukraine - Ep. 114
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 volunteer in 2022 and began medical studies in 2023 before enlisting in 2024. Now, she works on medical evacuations of soldiers from the frontlines and works in stabilization points where they receive casualties and stabilize their injuries for transport to the nearest hospital. Before enlisting, she taught tactical medicine per TCCC standards at the International Center for Tactical Medicine in Ukraine. In her spare time, she writes about tactical medicine for a wider audience based on evolving needs and lessons learned on the ground in Ukraine. More about Rima:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rimameduaSend Rima and her team medical supplies: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3QM0WCUA0PBK2?ref_=wl_shareOr, snacks from home: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/390U40XEQSS4P?ref_=wl_shareBlue Yellow USA address for care packages:C/O Blue Yellow USA NFP PO box 641Naperville, IL60566Timestamps:
The Building the Elite (BTE) podcast discusses all facets of human performance - from physical training to the mental and emotional factors of resilience. Each episode looks at principles drawn from the world of special operations. These concepts help people succeed in the toughest military training courses in the world and can help anyone thrive in chaotic and challenging environments.
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