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A former Royal Engineers commando and IED searcher on Afghanistan, mental health after the military, and building a veterans' clothing brand with a mission to prevent suicide.
Danny Bourne served on Herrick 9 in Sangin, one of the most dangerous places British troops have deployed. He spent his tour on search patrols where the threat from IEDs was constant. In this episode of the Atomic Rambo Podcast, Dan sits down with Danny to talk about the reality of that tour, what it left behind, and how he turned it into In the Dead Ground: merch with a message, built to get people talking about their mental health.
Danny grew up on the Wirral, never fitted at school, and found his direction through gym work before joining the Army four years after 9/11. He started in the RLC, transferred to the Royal Engineers, and earned his green beret on the All Arms Commando Course despite injury. He was put on search almost by accident. Within five days of landing in Afghanistan, he was on patrol in Sangin.
He talks openly about what search in Helmand actually involved: a bomb maker breaching the cordon, a spider device, a plastic mine sitting under a Jackal, and an IED found on the track rather than in the compound. He explains arming lights, remote triggers and ECM. He also describes how his fear turned into switching on, and why the conventional soldiers of Herrick carried a huge risk that no one saw. He reflects on the tour with gratitude rather than anger.
The conversation then moves to what came after. Danny talks about loneliness during COVID, going to therapy, health anxiety, and the pressure of a family health crisis. He explains why being a PTI and training recruits shaped him more than combat did, and what it taught him about leadership, accountability and reading people. That path took him into coaching and Mental Health First Aid training, and then to In the Dead Ground.
Danny uses it as a metaphor for the threats in our own lives that we can't yet see. He explains how the brand uses clothing and message cards to open up mental health conversations with people who would never go near therapy language. He also covers why the brand is for robust people and not only veterans, and how the ring-fenced veterans' therapy fund works.
He is also honest about running a small business: cash flow, VAT, product cycles, why so many veteran brands fail, and why he is cutting back the range in order to grow.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Herrick 9 vs being a PTI
01:00 COVID loneliness, therapy and health anxiety
05:05 Growing up on the Wirral
17:44 The All Arms Commando Course
21:33 How he ended up on search
24:29 On patrol in Sangin from day five
32:41 The bomb maker and the spider device
41:51 Pharmacy Road and the plastic mine near miss
52:48 Looking back with gratitude, not anger
57:38 PTI work, leadership and accountability
65:42 How In the Dead Ground began
76:37 The veterans' therapy fund
79:29 The reality of running a small business
91:10 Family pressure and emotional honesty
97:01 The biggest life change: stop moaning
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Follow Danny on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/inthedeadground/In the Dead Ground: https://www.inthedeadground.co.uk
ADHD, cocaine, and alcohol addiction - how a late ADHD diagnosis became the turning point for ADHD coach Sam Beresford's recovery, relationships, and sobriety. Real, unfiltered mental health conversation on the Atomic Rambo Podcast.
Sam Beresford is an ADHD coach from Derby who has lived through cocaine use, alcohol misuse, and full sobriety - and now uses that lived experience to help other neurodivergent people build awareness and rebuild their lives. In this episode, Dan sits down with Sam for a raw conversation about what happens when ADHD goes undiagnosed for years, and how understanding it changed everything.
We go deep into Sam's school years - being labelled the "naughty kid," excluded in primary school, and placed in a behaviour clinic that never actually fit who he was. From there, Sam explains how cocaine affected him differently to most people: instead of hyping him up, it quietened a busy ADHD brain, functioning as a form of self-medication long before he understood what was actually going on. Alcohol became the second half of that coping pattern, and the two fed off each other until addiction took hold.
This episode doesn't stop at substance use. Sam opens up about rejection sensitivity dysphoria, emotional regulation, and how ADHD shaped his relationships - missed red flags, delayed communication, and intense reactions that pushed people away. Dan and Sam talk honestly about rock bottom, the relationship collapse that forced change, and the friends who pulled him back from a dangerous spiral.
From there, it's about rebuilding: therapy that uncovered the real issues beneath the addiction, fitness and structure that gave him new dopamine sources, and a physical transformation that took him from 95kg down to around 72kg. Sam explains why sobriety often feels like grief and identity change, why hyperfocus can become a genuine strength when it's channelled right, and how his own diagnosis became the foundation of his coaching work today.
If you or someone you know is dealing with ADHD, addiction, self-medication, or late diagnosis, this conversation offers clarity without judgement - and proof that awareness really can be the starting point for lasting change.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
02:14 Sam's background & late diagnosis
06:43 Cocaine as "silence"
08:39 School struggles
22:21 Alcohol & coping
26:17 Relationships & RSD
30:07 Rock bottom
36:46 Therapy
44:28 New dopamine sources
62:43 95kg to 72kg
69:18 Where to find Sam
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samberesford_coaching/
His grandfather died capturing Pegasus Bridge the night before D-Day. Steve Jackson carried that legacy through the Army Cadet Force, Germany, two tours in the Falklands, and peacekeeping under Op Grapple in the former Yugoslavia - before a heart tumour and open-heart surgery forced him to face everything he'd buried.
Steve Jackson is a former City of London Police detective, military veteran, and founder of Cop Coach. In this episode he traces his family's military lineage, his own path through operational deployments, the drinking culture baked into forces and policing life, and the health crisis that became a full mental reset. He talks candidly about PTSD, identity loss, burnout, and how writing and dark humour became tools for recovery - eventually leading to a stage show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Now, through Cop Coach, he works with people in blue-light services preparing for promotion, rebuilding purpose, and processing trauma most never talk about.
This is a conversation about military service, Police service, mental resilience, tactical mindset under pressure, sobriety, burnout recovery, and personal transformation after trauma.
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to Steve Jackson
00:54 – Granddad's role in Pegasus Bridge and D-Day minus one
03:50 – Killed in action and the impact on the family
06:14 – Cadets, belonging, and early discipline on the Isle of Wight
10:59 – Harrogate, Army training, and first posting in Germany
12:19 – Military initiation culture
15:11 – Two tours in the Falklands and logistics at Mount Pleasant
19:25 – Op Grapple in former Yugoslavia and peacekeeping under pressure
23:17 – Bishopsgate bombing and the decision to leave the Army
31:23 – Joining City of London Police and training at Ashford
38:33 – The push into promotion and detective leadership
48:55 – Drinking culture in the forces, police, and recovery
52:48 – Collapse, hospital admission, and discovering the heart tumour
56:51 – Open-heart surgery and the shock of recovery
61:31 – Letters home, emotional processing, and the mental aftermath
66:19 – Writing with a friend and turning trauma into a Fringe show
73:01 – Drinking after surgery, rebuilding health and routine
75:26 – Finding purpose after retirement and moving into coaching
76:51 – Building Police Now's frontline leadership programme
85:47 – Creating Cop Coach: promotion and assessment support
90:36 – How people can work with Steve and what Cop Coach offers
93:24 – Why his work is about the real issue, not just alcohol
97:41 – Identity, endurance, and returning to long-distance running
101:59 – Charity run for the CSNK Foundation
103:24 – Closing reflections: three tips for his younger self
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Follow Steve - www.copcoach.co.uk
Email Steve- [email protected]
Linked in - Steve Jackson or CopCoach
At 13, doctors warned Tom Foxley his heart could stop without warning. Sudden death syndrome. No clear fix, just uncertainty. Most kids would have been wrapped in cotton wool. Tom joined the Royal Marines Reserves. In this episode, Dan sits down with Tom Foxley - mental performance coach, former Royal Marines Reservist, and ski mountaineer - for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about identity, masculinity, and what it actually feels like to be tested to your limit, not just once, but repeatedly, across completely different arenas of life. Tom opens up about growing up in Cambridge with a heart condition that stripped his athletic identity overnight, and how that early loss of self became the engine behind everything that followed - the pull toward the Marines, the punishing reality of selection training while juggling a business, debt, and family life, and the moments on the endurance course where his heart nearly pulled him out for good. He's honest about what he got wrong: misreading support as criticism, not asking for more from the process, and the regret of not staying longer. The conversation moves beyond the military into what Tom does now - coaching six and seven-figure business owners and founders on stress, capacity, and performance. He draws a hard line between mental health and mental fitness, explains why he studies psychology but rejects a lot of its illness-focused framing, and unpacks the "craftsman versus empire builder" mindset that shapes how he runs his business. Then the story takes a turn into the mountains. Tom talks about relocating to British Columbia, the clarity he finds in ski mountaineering and avalanche terrain, and a brutal trip into Pakistan's Karakoram range where altitude broke a body that had never failed him before. That same underlying heart issue resurfaced mid-ultra training - leading to a catheter ablation for SVT this year, and a new relationship with fear, agency, and what it means to keep choosing the harder route. This is a conversation about identity built and rebuilt - through fear, failure, physical limits, and the refusal to quit.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Intro: who Tom is and what he does now
06:08 – The heart condition at 13 and losing his identity
16:09 – Joining the Royal Marines Reserves
27:29 – Palpitations on the endurance course
40:55 – Leaving the Marines and his biggest regret
49:23 – Mental health vs. mental fitness
78:45 – The Karakoram: when altitude broke him
87:55 – Heart surgery and what it changed 1
00:20 – Closing remarks
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Follow Tom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomfoxley.coach/
Tom website: tomfoxley.me
Royal Engineer searcher Bradley Knight breaks down the real job of hunting IEDs in Afghanistan, the psychological toll of search, and rebuilding identity after the Army. A raw conversation on Herrick 7, Herrick 12, and life after combat.
Bradley Knight grew up in Salford, Manchester, and joined the British Army at 16. He deployed to Afghanistan as a Royal Engineer combat engineer searcher on Herrick 7 and Herrick 12, working IED threat, road and building search, and lead searcher tasks in Nadi Ali. Since leaving the Army he has processed the trauma of search through writing, coaching, and self reflection.
In this episode Dan and Bradley cover:
Timestamps
00:00 Opening the conversation and recognising the searcher role
01:02 Salford upbringing and unusual family story
02:28 Why he joined the Army at 16
03:56 Herrick 7 and early exposure to danger
06:45 What a combat engineer searcher actually did
08:56 Selected for the searchers course
10:29 Why search was more than roadside bomb hunting
11:24 Arriving on Herrick 12 in Nadi Ali
12:16 How a ten liner callout becomes a search task
13:43 Isolation, ATO access, searching for secondaries
15:06 Becoming lead searcher and turning off emotion
17:35 Cordons, infantry frustration, the reality of search
18:56 The role of the ATO and Gareth Wood
19:53 The patrol where a mastiff hit an IED
22:49 Close contact in the compound
25:34 Finding multiple devices under pressure
27:48 Getting swapped out after a long day
30:38 Moving to BRF and a more kinetic role
33:30 Taking direct fire and fighting from a compound
36:10 Why he would still do the job again
36:41 The anniversary of getting blown up
38:28 American EOD reactions to British search methods
Watch more Atomic Rambo Podcast episodes and find out more about Atomic Rambo Coaching, Dan's veteran-led mindset and resilience coaching, at the links below.
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Follow Bradley - https://www.instagram.com/brimstone_bradk/
Youtube - Hidden in plain sight- Brimstone_42
Cam drank to cope with life from age 13. Twenty years later, a free 12-week program, therapy, and one hard decision broke the cycle - here's what worked when AA didn't.
Dan sits down with Cam for an honest, unfiltered conversation about addiction, recovery, and the long road from self-destruction to stability. Cam traces his drinking back to age 13, with weed, coke, pills, and gear following through his teens — tied to social life, coping, and eventually self-harm. A move to Australia changed his environment but not the underlying issue, and returning home around his nan's death triggered a major emotional crash that led to two more years of heavy use.
Cam and Dan both walked into AA and felt like they weren't "that bad" - and Cam explains why the identity of being powerless never suited him. What actually worked was different: a free 12-week CGL program in Crawley, weekly therapy, EMDR, PT, and a clear decision that alcohol was no longer on the table. They dig into why drinking kept him from ever knowing himself, and why the real work wasn't just quitting — it was learning to be okay with who he was without the coping mechanism.
The conversation widens into "picking your hard" - the idea that quitting is hard, but continuing gets harder later because of consequences, and the real choice is which hard you're willing to live with. Cam talks about why journaling became a tool to get thoughts out of his head and reduce shame, how writing on X built him a community, and how one conversation exposed a gap in his own readiness to coach - he had no safeguarding, ethics, or supervision in place. Both agree that lived experience alone isn't enough, and that proper training exists to protect the people being coached. They close on grief, suicide, and the importance of checking in properly - discussing a friend's death and why you have to ask twice if someone seems off. The message: listen, don't just advise, and encourage real help when it's needed. For Cam, stopping drinking didn't just remove alcohol - it gave him the space to understand himself, build compassion, and move forward.
This is a practical, grounded episode about what change really looks like when it's not clean, easy, or linear.
TIMESTAMPS
04:04 - First drinking and drug use from early teens
06:34 - First AA meeting and why it didn't fit
17:10 - The turning point at 33
19:34 - The CGL 12-week program and how he quit for real
25:39 - What CGL gave him and why the tools still matter
31:09 - Why Cam writes things down
37:17 - Realising he had no safeguarding in place
44:22 - Dan's goal-driven route out of drinking
49:55 - Would he be here if he still drank?
52:11 - Ted's story, suicide, and the need to talk
55:48 - The biggest change: stopping drinking and learning himself
"Picking your hard." — "I don't have a drink problem because I don't drink."
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Follow Cam on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/cameron_springett/
Cam Website- www.camspringett.cloud
Roman coins. Medieval mail armour. Human teeth pulled straight from the mud. On this episode of the Atomic Rambo Podcast, Dan sits down with mudlarker Frank Mnich to dig into what the River Thames has been hiding for centuries - and why searching for it might be one of the best things you can do for your mind.
Frank a tree surgeon and full-time relic hunter, spends his days scanning the Thames foreshore for objects that haven't seen daylight in hundreds - sometimes thousands - of years. In this conversation, he walks Dan through the regulations that protect London's buried history, the community of mudlarkers who trade discoveries and stories, and the surprising mental health benefits of slowing down and searching the riverbed with your own hands.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to Dan and Frank - the allure of mudlarking in London
00:40 – Historical origins of mudlarking in the Victorian era
02:10 – The extensive history of the Thames and its artifacts
05:05 – Getting permits through the Port of London Authority (PLA)
08:25 – Regulations around permitted zones and restrictions
13:42 – What happens when artifacts are found under the Treasure Act
16:08 – From Stone Age microliths to medieval objects
18:25 – A fragment of chainmail from the 1400s
30:05 – The Portable Antiquities Scheme and reporting finds
38:42 – Military relics: musket flints, bullets, and WWII remnants
54:53 – Human teeth and remains: a reminder of London's long history
61:43 – The Great Fire of London coin and its symbolic significance
69:14 – Mudlarking as a therapeutic hobby and mental wellbeing booster
73:00 – Encouragement for newcomers and respecting regulations
74:28 – Final thoughts on the significance of London's hidden history
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Connect with Frank: Instagram: @frankfinds
ARC Client journey
She survived the Manchester Arena bombing. Years later, she walked back through those doors - and rebuilt the identity she lost that night. Kyla joins the Atomic Rambo Podcast to share her raw, honest journey through PTSD, trauma-informed coaching, and the moment she chose to face her fear head-on. Kyla worked one-on-one with Dan through Atomic Rambo Coaching's positive psychology programme - this episode is the story of that work, in her own words. In this episode, Kyla and Dan cover: - Her background and the lasting impact of the Manchester Arena bombing - How PTSD symptoms developed and why they didn't show up right away - The reality of accessing therapy, and how EMDR helped her process the trauma - Losing her sense of self - and the identity work that helped her find it again - The practical planning behind returning to the arena, safely and on her terms - Self-soothing strategies for managing anxiety in high-stakes moments - How reframing and acceptance became turning points in her healing - Moving from grief to growth - and using her story to help others - The role positive psychology and trauma-informed coaching played in her recovery - Her advice for anyone struggling: seek help, do the work, and trust the process.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction: Kyla story of trauma and recovery
00:23 – The aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing and initial struggles
02:09 – Challenges faced with therapy access and processing PTSD
05:32 – The approach of trauma-informed coaching and identity work
12:09 – Planning and preparing to revisit the arena safely
14:04 – The day of the concert and managing anxiety through simplification
17:05 – The emotional breakthrough of returning and the healing power of facing fears
24:15 – Grieving and moving on: the importance of closure
26:36 – Embracing a new perspective and helping others with her story
28:02 – Advice for others experiencing trauma and the importance of self-awareness
30:18 – Accepting vulnerability and setting healthy boundaries
32:07 – Progress, accountability, and future goals in her journey of recovery
33:27 – Final reflections and encouragement for listeners
This episode is a testament to resilience - proof that recovery is possible with the right tools, the right support, and the courage to face what scares you most. Kyla's transformation was made possible through Atomic Rambo Coaching's positive psychology programme, built to help people rebuild identity and resilience after trauma.
🔗 Listen to the full episode on all podcast platforms
🔗 Work with Dan Holder -ARC: www.atomicrambo.com
Email us - [email protected]
Exploring the Winter Spine and Arctic Spine with Dan and Alex
293 miles. Sub-zero cold. No sleep for days. Dan actually did it - he finished the Arctic Spine Race. On this episode, he sits down with Alex Buckland, who volunteers as Assistant Race Director for the Arctic Spine, to unpack what it takes to get runners across one of the most brutal courses on Earth, and what it looked like from the other side of the finish line.
Alex went from a childhood of health issues to mountain biking to ultra running himself, before giving his time to the race as a volunteer, now supporting, tracking, and pulling competitors through the Spine and Arctic Spine - races where DNF (Did Not Finish) is the norm, not the exception. In this conversation, Dan and Alex get into what it's really like on both sides of the race: the mental health battles behind the miles, the community that carries runners through the darkest stretches, and what it means to know your limits when your body is screaming at you to stop.
Whether you're an ultra runner, a weekend hiker, or someone who's never run further than the bus stop - this one will make you want to go outside and test yourself. Thanks to Alex for pulling back the curtain on what it takes to run a race like the Arctic Spine.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Timestamps:
00:56 – Alex's journey from mountain biking to ultramarathons
04:58 – Overcoming childhood health issues and mental health battles
07:27 – The journey into ultra running and racing highlights
12:50 – Lessons from failed attempts and DNF experiences
18:42 – Supporting and volunteering in the Spine Race
24:17 – Long-distance Arctic expeditions and future aspirations
27:53 – What is the Arctic Spine Race? Details and challenges
31:33 – Race strategy, DNF rates, and participant stories
36:40 – Knowing your limits and preparing properly
44:04 – Training courses and community involvement
48:13 – The future of the Spine Race and upcoming initiatives
56:23 – Aspirations for Antarctica and other extreme explorations
59:17 – The allure of mountain adventures and Denali
60:31 – Family adventures and the human side of outdoor pursuits
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Resources & Links: The Spine Race: https://thespinerace.com/
Connect with Alex: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alexbuckland
Achieving every goal but still feeling empty? Will Foden — professional rugby player, ultra-endurance athlete and coach - breaks down "Double Peak Syndrome" and what it really takes to build unshakeable mental resilience. Will Foden has lived high performance from every angle: professional rugby, Ironman triathlons and Ultra marathons. In this episode he unpacks the mental models, emotional control, and hard-won philosophy that carried him through injury, identity loss, and extreme endurance racing - and what he learned about purpose, ego, and authenticity along the way.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction to Will's background & upcoming challenges
03:26 – Stress inoculation and performance environments
05:03 – Double Peak Syndrome: when achievement isn't enough
09:55 – Military experience and the transition to civilian life
13:09 – Injury, identity loss, and resilience in recovery
16:01 – Mental toughness and emotional regulation
20:29 – Overcoming hurdles in rugby & endurance racing
24:41 – Lessons from ultramarathons and mountain expeditions
29:51 – Calibrating control and flow in high-stakes environments
33:40 – Authenticity: managing ego vs. performance
39:20 – Emotional intelligence and self-awareness strategies
44:01 – Building mental capacity through hard experiences
48:55 – Purpose and meaningful pursuits
53:58 – The adventure mindset and living intentionally
58:05 – Mountaineering, exploration, and the art of failure
63:33 – Lessons from ultra-endurance disciplines
68:14 – The power of acceptance & surrender under pressure
73:22 – Past trauma and PTSD's influence on performance
78:37 – Community, connection, and shared purpose
83:09 – Final reflections on humility and lifelong growth
Keep in Touch:
Follow Dan in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/
Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/
ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.com
Take the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/
Follow Will: https://www.instagram.com/willfoden/
Company - Built for Pressure.net
Podcast Music: Transition X by Mehul Chaudhary
From the publisher's feed
The place for inspirational stories from real people and lessons we can all learn from.
Hosted by Dan Holder, a decorated former Royal Marines Commando, mountaineer, climber, endurance…
This will be a tool for Dan's clients who he works with at Atomic Rambo Coaching (ARC) to lead people to personal freedom through awareness, resilience, and commitment. Sharing these conversations publicly will allow listeners and insight into the ARC method.