In this episode of The HOTWASH podcast, host Bruno Fallon sits down with Born Primitive CEO and co-founder Bear Hanlon for a wide-ranging conversation on mission, integrity, and what it actually means to build something worth defending. Kicking off the first podcast of 2026, the two dive deep into Born Primitive’s Veterans Day debt-relief initiative, which has already erased more than $34 million in distressed medical debt for thousands of veterans with a goal to scale that impact even further.

Bear shares the emotional reality behind the numbers, from life-changing phone calls with veterans and Gold Star families to the measurable downstream effects of debt relief on credit, housing stability, and mental health. The episode also pulls back the curtain on Born Primitive’s uncompromising approach to product development and business leadership. From renting a Black Hawk helicopter to fast-rope test boots in real-world conditions, to refusing private equity money that would dilute the brand’s ethos, Baer explains why trust and reputation are the company’s only true currency. 

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