You’ve fought battles most people never see. Today’s guest, Brandon Held—Air Force and Army veteran, podcaster, and life coach—opens up about career derailments, multiple divorces, corporate layoffs, and a suicide attempt…and how he rebuilt with gratitude, discipline, and a mission to help others (especially veterans) step back from the ledge.

We get real about broken systems, fatherhood, co-parenting, mental health, and why stacking small wins beats chasing motivation. If you’re in a dark season, this conversation is a lifeline and a game plan.

Guest

Brandon Held — Veteran (USAF & US Army), host of Life Is Crazy podcast, and life coach focused on preventing suicide and helping people rebuild with practical tools.
🔗 Website/Coaching/Podcast: brandonheld.com

Key Takeaways

When institutions fail you, you still have agency. Brandon’s Air Force QC incident and later corporate reviews show how unfair systems can be—your response is your power.

Depression rewires perspective; you can rewire it back. Gratitude, daily wins, and service helped Brandon shift from suicidal ideation to purpose.

Divorce & co-parenting: Don’t weaponize kids. Don’t let another parent’s narrative define you—stay steady, keep the door open, and fight to be a present parent.

Discipline  motivation. One percent better, every day. Stack the wins.

Fitness is a lever—even when you must adapt. Headaches sidelined heavy training; Brandon pivoted to a home gym and smarter routines. Adaptation keeps momentum alive.

Tell your story to save a life. Brandon built a podcast so others wouldn’t feel alone; your voice could be someone’s turning point.

Topics & Chapter Markers

00:00 Welcome + Battle Harder intro
02:05 Brandon’s path: USAF ➜ College ➜ US Army ➜ MBA
07:43 The QC incident that derailed his Air Force career
12:40 Corporate layoffs, bad reviews & HR battles
16:55 Depression hits: new marriage, new house, newborns—and then laid off
19:20 Suicide attempt, ER, and the realization that life isn’t over
23:55 Coach Rob on military discipline, unfair blame & staying the course
29:10 Gratitude as a daily reset (how to start when you feel stuck)
34:35 Divorce, co-parenting, and not poisoning kids against a parent
41:40 Reconnecting with a son after years—keeping the door open
47:30 Fitness as therapy; adapting when health limits training
52:20 Why Brandon launched Life Is Crazy + life coaching focus
56:10 Practical definition of “Turning Pain Into Progress”
58:45 Coach Rob’s final charge: discipline, tiny wins, keep fighting

Pull Quotes (for show notes or socials)

“Good men stay and suffer ‘for the kids.’ But your kids need a healthy you, not a miserable you.”

“Gratitude isn’t fluffy—it’s brain rewiring.”

“You don’t need motivation when you have discipline. Stack the wins.”

“Systems fail people. Your response is the difference.”

Resources Mentioned

Brandon’s site, coaching, and podcast: brandonheld.com

If you’re in crisis: 988 Lifeline (US). Veterans press 1. Text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

Connect with Coach Rob / BattleFitted

Coaching, gear, resources: BattleFittedBrand.com

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Title Suggestion:
STOP Learning. START Doing. | Battle Ready Ep. 1

Description:

🚨 Welcome to the very first episode of the Battle Ready Series on the Battle Harder Podcast. 🚨

Too many people are drowning in podcasts, books, YouTube videos, motivational quotes, and endless social media clips… yet they still feel stuck.

Here’s the truth: you don’t have an information problem — you have an action problem.

In this solo episode, Coach Rob breaks down why most people are addicted to consuming personal development content but never actually apply it — and gives you the tactical system to finally break free.

⚔️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The 3 traps of information overload (paralysis by analysis, dopamine hit of learning, fear of execution).

Why more knowledge ≠ more progress.

The 3-Weapon System for Action to move forward NOW.

How to cut the noise, pick your commander, and stack real wins.

This is raw, tactical, and built to help you stop spinning your wheels and finally take action. No fluff. No excuses. Just weapons you can use today.

⚡ Get Your Battle Plan Journal → https://BattleFittedBrand.com

🎙 Subscribe to The Battle Harder Podcast → Spotify | Apple | YouTube
📲 Follow Coach Rob on Instagram → @BattleFitted

No Retreat. No Surrender.
It’s time to become Battle Ready.

#BattleReady #BattleHarderPodcast #PersonalDevelopment #DisciplineOverMotivation #PainIntoProgress

Join Coach Rob on the Battle Harder podcast, where he provides **motivation** and **inspiration** for life's warriors. He dives into the crucial topic of information overload, advocating for **focus** and actionable strategies to achieve **success**. This episode encourages **self improvement** by turning adversity into opportunity.

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What happens when survival mode becomes your normal? For Amanda Bearce, growing up with a father battling addiction and mental illness meant living in constant fear and fight-or-flight. But when she became a mother, Amanda knew the cycle had to end.

In this raw and empowering episode of The Battle Harder Podcast, Amanda opens up about:

The trauma-filled childhood that shaped her outlook on life

The turning point that forced her to choose healing over survival

How small “self-love snacks” became the building blocks of lasting change

The daily habits that helped her create peace, purpose, and resilience

Her mission to help exhausted women reclaim self-trust, boundaries, and wellness

Amanda’s story is living proof that transformation is possible—one step at a time. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your past, this episode will show you that pain can become progress.

🎧 Tune in now for a conversation that will inspire healing, strength, and hope.

📲 Follow Amanda Bearce:
🌐 Simply Wellness with Amanda
📸 Instagram: @simplywellnesswithamanda
🔗 LinkedIn: Amanda Bearce

https://www.simplywellnesscoach.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandabearce/
https://www.instagram.com/simplywellnesswithamanda/
https://www.facebook.com/simplywellnesswithamanda/

In this episode, Coach Rob emphasizes using adversity as FUEL and turning PAIN into PROGRESS. He shares strategies for building MENTAL CLARITY and developing emotional RESILIENCE. This podcast aims to provide LISTENERS with the tools to overcome challenges and achieve peak performance.

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In this powerful episode of The Battle Harder Podcast, we sit down with Brian Parana—a transformative health and lifestyle coach for high performers—to unpack how adversity shaped his mission to help others rise.

From growing up without parental involvement to building two businesses while raising four kids, Brian’s story is a testament to what happens when pain becomes your catalyst.

We dig into what it really means to turn pain into progress, why discipline is the doorway to freedom, and how the smallest aligned actions can compound into massive change. Whether you’re chasing better health, better leadership, or deeper presence with your family—this conversation will inspire you to take the next step forward.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

The challenge that redefined Brian’s identity and drive

How fatherhood became his biggest turning point

The mindset shifts that helped him rise in life and business

What “Turning Pain Into Progress” truly means in high-performance health

Why discipline isn’t restriction—it’s the key to freedom

The trap of high performers masking dysfunction with success

How to start leading yourself physically and mentally—one step at a time

💡 Quote of the Episode:
"Pain can either paralyze us or propel us forward—and I help my clients choose the latter." — Brian Parana

#BattleHarderPodcast #BrianParana #FromBurnoutToBreakthrough #TurningPainIntoProgress #HighPerformanceHealth #DisciplineEqualsFreedom #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #MenOver30 #Resilience #OvercomingAdversity 

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When Dr. Ryan Gottfredson was unexpectedly fired from Gallup, it wasn’t just a career shake-up—it was a catalyst for profound personal transformation. In this powerful conversation, Coach Rob and Dr. Gottfredson unpack how adversity can become a “heat experience” that ignites growth from the inside out.

Discover the four core mindsets that silently shape your success, why leadership starts with being before doing, and how healing past trauma can unlock your next level. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or someone navigating your own crossroads, this episode delivers a roadmap for turning pain into purpose.

You’ll learn:

How Ryan’s firing became the wake-up call that transformed his leadership

The 4 mindsets driving your growth or keeping you stuck

Why performance without inner alignment leads to burnout

How to harness discomfort, failure, and trauma for vertical growth

The life-changing shift from doing more to becoming more

CONNECT WITH RYAN:
Website: www.ryangottfredson.com
Instagram: @ryangottfredson
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryangottfredson

#MindsetShift #LeadershipGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #BattleHarderPodcast #GrowthMindset #LeadershipMindset #InnerGame #SelfImprovement

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What if pain wasn’t your enemy—but your training partner?

In this powerful episode of The Battle Harder Podcast, Ironman athlete and Certified Positive Intelligence Coach Colin C. Thompson shares the mindset that transformed his 50th birthday into a full-on life reset. From endurance races in Taiwan to the mental battles we all face daily, Colin teaches us how to build mental fitness—the ability to stay grounded, resilient, and focused when life hits hard.

We discuss how pain can be reframed as a tool for growth, the danger of toxic “no pain, no gain” culture, and how to develop real inner strength that shows up when it matters most.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or unsure how to push through discomfort without self-sabotage—this one’s for you.

🔥 KEY MOMENTS:

• The birthday challenge that changed everything
• How pain during an Ironman reshaped his mindset
• What “mental fitness” means and how to train it daily
• Letting go of the need to control everything
• Tools for facing emotional pain with power, not panic

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What happens after you've lost it all—your health, your marriage, your purpose? For Dr. Chad Scott, the answer came from facing death head-on and finding meaning in the shadows. In this gripping episode of The Battle Harder Podcast, Coach Rob dives deep with the therapist-turned-pilot-turned-author who survived a liver transplant and emerged with a mission: explore the darkest places on earth to reclaim the light within.

From standing alone in Auschwitz to flying above the clouds for clarity, Dr. Scott reveals how philosophy, movement, and confronting pain can rebuild the human spirit. This is not just about surviving—it’s about rebuilding a life with purpose and power.

Whether you're in the storm or climbing out of it, this episode will remind you: the darkness doesn’t get the final word—you do.

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Mr. Whiskey’s story is not one of victimhood—it’s one of violent beginnings, raw truth, and the relentless pursuit of healing. From surviving a toxic home and joining the Navy at 17, to navigating addiction, faith, and identity, this episode of The Battle Harder Podcast digs deep into the cost of childhood trauma—and the power of discipline to transform it.

Now a veteran, speaker, comedian, and host of the Couple O’ Nukes podcast, Mr. Whiskey doesn’t hold back. This is an unfiltered look at how to use pain as fuel, why physical discipline became his salvation, and how faith and community pulled him out of the darkest places.

🎧 You’ll Hear:
The hidden weight of early trauma—and how it shaped his identity

Why he believes discipline is the highest form of self-love

His method of “intentional punishment” and how it creates freedom

The real work of healing through faith, not fluff

What it means to battle harder when no one’s coming to save you

Connect with Mr. Whiskey: https://www.coupleonukes.com/
http://www.instagram.com/coupleonukes

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Jacob Hiers is a father, husband, entrepreneur, and bodybuilder who's turned his pain into power. In this episode of The Battle Harder Podcast, Jacob opens up about unknowingly battling alcoholism while raising a family and running a business—until the birth of his second child forced a moment of truth.

We talk about the exact mindset shifts that pulled him out of the darkness, how fitness became the foundation of his transformation, and how he's now using social media to inspire others to take control of their lives. This episode is a raw, real look at what it means to evolve, lead your family, and show up with purpose—even when life hits hard.

🛡️ Topics Covered:

Fatherhood and personal accountability

How bodybuilding saved his mental health

Building discipline through pain

Alcohol recovery and self-awareness

Creating a mission-driven life after struggle

If you’ve ever felt stuck or like your past defines you, this is your wake-up call

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🔥 Guest: Sean Whalen
🦁 CEO – Lions Not Sheep
📍 Recorded Live | Salt Lake City
🎯 Theme: From Breakdown to Breakthrough — Becoming a Free Man

Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode, Coach Rob goes one-on-one with the raw, real, and relentlessly unapologetic Sean Whalen, founder of Lions Not Sheep. They dive deep into the battles men fight silently—divorce, fatherhood, building businesses while bleeding inside—and what it takes to come out the other side stronger, freer, and more focused than ever.

This isn’t surface-level talk. It’s real war stories and real wins.

🔥 In This Episode:

Burning it down to build it right: How Sean became a multimillionaire, lost it all, and rebuilt with clarity and conviction

Fatherhood after divorce: Why being present is more than just showing up—and how men can lead even when the home breaks

What it means to be a "Free Man": Ditching the mask, owning your truth, and leading without permission

Balancing empire and home: The hard-earned mindset shift that helped Sean master business and family life

No more sheep: Why Sean built a global brand around the idea of taking full responsibility for your life

The reality of modern masculinity: Pressure, perception, and punching back with purpose

💥 Who This Episode Is For:

Divorced dads trying to lead with honor

Entrepreneurs burning out behind closed doors

Men tired of playing it safe and living small

Anyone ready to Battle Harder and live on their own terms

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