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In this episode of Tim Teaches, Tim McCoy sits down with Derek Pledger, an Army veteran turned bestselling author and Chief Information Officer. From his early work ethic to radical life changes like joining the military, Derek shares his incredible journey, including his unique deployment experience alongside his mom and his time as a contractor in Afghanistan.

Derek dives into how he transitioned to the tech world, working with the FBI and embracing AI's transformative role in modern work. They explore his latest book, Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds, and the mindset strategies it offers for overcoming challenges. Derek also reflects on his experience co-authoring a book with 50 Cent, using technology to improve veteran services, and the life-changing impact of ayahuasca on personal growth.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in resilience, personal transformation, and the intersection of technology, service, and storytelling.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
00:53 Early Life and Work Ethic
03:00 Military Service and Radical Changes
05:35 Transition to Technology and FBI Experience
07:09 Impact of AI and Technology in Modern Work
11:35 Improving Veteran Services with Technology
17:57 Journey into Writing and Publishing
22:55 Experiences in Iraq and Military Reflections
23:32 Combat Security Stories
24:42 First Experience Under Fire
25:51 Life as a Contractor in Afghanistan
26:14 A Unique Deployment with Mom
27:34 The Journey of Writing a Book
29:44 Embracing Failure and Resilience
32:01 Podcast Inspirations and Goals
37:47 Ayahuasca: A Life-Changing Experience
45:19 Daily Self-Improvement and Autopsies
48:57 Conclusion and Future Plans
 @500PoundMedia  @JockoPodcastOfficial  @ShawnRyanShow  @timferriss  @joerogan  
Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds: Change Your Mindset to Achieve Desired Outcomes : //a.co/d/dAR0J9w
CONTACT: https://500poundmedia.com/

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Derek Pledger, Army veteran stories, veteran resilience, military to tech transition, AI in modern work, technology and veterans, veteran mental health, writing with 50 Cent, ayahuasca and growth, veteran authors, mindset strategies, overcoming challenges, radical life changes, leadership and resilience, Afghanistan contractor, Iraq experiences, military reflections, improving veteran services, personal transformation, storytelling and resilience.