In Hindsight

In this week’s episode of the WarriorU Podcast Bram talks to former Special Forces Physical Training Instructor Ricky Dumigan. As well as having served in the Navy and the Army for a total of 17 years, Ricky has also played representative rugby around the world.

He is currently living in Japan where he’s the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Ricoh Black Rams Rugby Team after working for both the Brumbies and the Melbourne Rebels.

Of note, Ricky has crossed the Kokoda Track 18 times with one of those crossings being in just under 30 hours; as a fundraiser he organised himself for veterans’ charity Mates4Mates.

Bram and Ricky talk about daily schedules, workout effects for Special Forces, utility of Crossfit for Special Forces preparation, progressive overloads, tapering versus maintaining performance, how to train for the 2.4km fitness test and the 3.2km webbing run. They also discuss breathing and its correlation with mindset, Watt bikes and affirmations. Have a notebook and pen ready.

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In this week’s episode of the WarriorU Podcast, Bram Connolly talks to retired Special Air Service Regiment Major, Mark Wales. Mark is the founder and owner of KILL KAPTURE a fashion brand he founded to fill a gap that he identified, namely ’Tough Luxury Apparel’. Mark's experiences come through in his business venture, he deployed on operations 10 times in his Army Career to places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Solomon Islands and East Timor. 

Bram and Mark discuss SASR selection, mental toughness and what it takes to be resilient. They talk in depth about Mark’s recovery from PTSD and Depression. As if that’s not enough for one episode, they also talk about Mark’s experiences at Wharton business School, the ins and outs of the fashion industry and his company KILL KAPTURE which is sure to become an iconic Australian and Global brand. 

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This week on the WarriorU Podcast, Bram talks to Major David French. David had a distinguished career in the Royal Australian Infantry leading platoons and companies in both combat and support operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Timor Leste. Now David is the General Manager for BCT Solutions, a company that delivers cyber, electronic warfare, intelligence and technology outcomes for Government and the private sector. Bram and David talk about life after Army, how to search for a career, PTSD and veteran victimisation. 

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This week Bram speaks to Adam McNamee, the Co-founder and Race Director of True Grit Australia. Like Bram, Adam was also a member of 4RAR (Cdo) and a founding member of 2nd Commando Regiment. They discuss Special Forces selection, the similar experiences that they both had as Sniper Platoon Commanders, relaxed grooming in Special Forces units, Close Personal Protection of Prime Ministers, the memorial “Rock” at 2nd Commando Regiment and they talk about True Grit and adventure Racing. Adam is an inspiration, a person with drive and an entrepreneurial spirit.

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In this week's episode of the WarriorU podcast Bram recites a chapter from the book he is presently working on. The Chapter is called "Cultural Tolerance" and is a short story about a lunch meeting between Special Operations Task Group operators and the local police forces in Chora Valley. Everything was going well until Bram decided to take the goat's hoof and chew on it, apparently like a savage - the misunderstanding could have cost him and his men their lives, as well as the lives of the assembled police and government officials. But, like everything in Afghanistan, all is not what it seems.

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This week Bram talks to Geoffrey Woo, the co-founder and CEO of HVMN, a human performance research company that makes nutrition and supplements for elite performance in sport, cognition, and military. HVMN makes HVMN Ketone, the world's first ketone ester drink based on technology developed in a DARPA program to enhance soldier performance. The military applications are obvious, but what’s really surprising is that the HVMN Keytone is being thought of as the fourth MACRO nutrient food group! I’ve tried a lot of supplements and experimented on myself against my own performance profiles and this product works. You can’t get it in Australia, so I’m not saying that to help sell the product – it’s legitimate and the science behind it is really interesting.

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In this episode of the WarriorU Podcast Bram talks to his old mate Cyrus Rustom. Cyrus developed a love for fitness as a British, Royal Marine Commando. After a tour of Afghanistan he left the Royal Navy and spent a few years training as a Muay Thai fighter in Thailand. Cyrus moved to Dubai and opened Crossfit Sands, he has ran legendary fat loss camps and is the personal trainer to the Dubai Royal Family. Cyrus' passion is managing body composition, and in particular helping men to reduce their body fat to below 10% and teaching them habits to keep the fat off. 

This episode only touches the surface of Cyrus' knowledge of training and nutrition. He is highly motivated and believes that education and accountability, as well as consistency, are the secrets to successfully maintaining your body weight below 10%.

If it sounds impossible - well, he measured me again and I'm sitting on 18%. My challenge is to be under 10% by November next year. Listen to the podcast and follow my journey.

 

 

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Summary

In this week’s episode Bram talks to Andrew Macdonald who is one of the co-founders, of the authentic Australian clothing company, Ringers Western.

Ringers Western was conceived from a conversation around a camp fire on the cattle station El-Questro. Initially run from Andrew’s mother’s lounge room the brand has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the fashion industry.

Andrew and Bram discuss; starting a business, the utility of ADF personnel to an organisation, tips for a successful transition from the ADF, leadership and what good looks like and how being a good person is one of the keys to being successful. 

There are some great insights shared by Andrew. His adventurous nature and can do attitude is truly infectious. If you’re thinking of starting your own business, or if you have a passion but are not sure how to pursue it, then this episode could well be your starting point.

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In this episode of WarriorU, Bram shares the mic with Andre Obradovic;

Former Solider and Officer, Ex Corporate Executive, Global Health Coach, Triathlete, Marathoner and Speaker.

Andre has worn three suits in his lifetime:The Uniform of the Army, The Uniform of the Corporate World, and now the Uniform of the Triathlete and coach.

After his time enlisted, Andre worked in the corporate world for a few companies; eventually leading to a moment of chronic burnout significant health issues both mental and physical. Luckily he has been able to re-gain his health to a level most people would dream of let alone a 53 year old.Enjoy this episode as the two discuss training methods and optimal nutrition for performing well during triathlons.

Andre is a highly engaging personal trainer, triathlon coach, and high level performer in the 50+ ranks at 70.3 triathlon—ranked 10th in the Ironman All World Athlete rankings for Australia in 2017, the most competitive triathlon environment on the planet. Andre’s remarkable story of transitioning from a “little fatty carb burner, sucking up food like a pool sweep machine” back in 2011 to a lean, mean, fat burning beast will inspire you to trust the process and be the best you can be. Basically, Andre cut processed carbs, slowed down his training pace, threw in some mobility/flexibility and power training, and started getting healthier and faster. He went from needing an energy gel to complete a 10k run, to improve his marathon time by 17 minutes despite being 7 years older. Now he is so committed to the primal approach that he refuses to train a prospective client in his gym until they agree to transition from a SAD diet (Standard Australian to a nutritious, primal-style diet. 

https://andreobradovic.com/www.loseyourbelly.com.au  Blog: https://andreobradovic.com/time-to-get-a-divorce-finally/About the Author

Andre Obradovic is a USA Triathlon Level I Certified Coach, Triathlon Australia Development Coach, ICF Leadership and Personal Coach, Certified Low Carb Healthy Fat Coach and Certified Personal Trainer. He is a passionate triathlete and marathoner in the 50-54 age group. At the end of the 2017 Season he was ranked 10th in the 50-54 Age Group in the Ironman All World Athlete rankings for Australia in 70.3 Ironman (this is the top 5% of the Age Group). He works with his wife who a certified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, helping clients optimize their life. (Andre also served for 18 years in the Australian Army and completed the 1/89 SASR Selection Course) 

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In this episode of WarriorU, Bram talks to Kristin Shorten. She's a journalist, mum and wife – and also just happens to be the creator of an uplifting new documentary about trauma, resilience and post-traumatic growth in the medics who served with our special forces in Afghanistan.

Voodoo Medics unpacks the most defining experiences of six medics – affectionately referred to by their call sign ‘Kilo’ – who served inside Australia’s Special Operations Command over the last 15 years.

These highly experienced and decorated medics served on the frontline of the frontline, fighting some of the most traumatic and intense battles – to save their mates’ lives – in the desert and dusty field hospitals of Afghanistan.

And now this elite group of specialist medical veterans – known as Voodoo Medics – are being acknowledged for their largely unseen but life-saving contribution to the war on terror. 

In this revealing and raw documentary, these sworn healers who worked alongside Australia’s most elite fighters share their mental health battles, survivors guilt and the contradictions of their complex roles.

These Kilos were expected to patch up their mates, friendlies and even the enemy, plus fight when required.

From losing mates in the battlefield to treating horrifically injured Afghan kids in remote surgical theatres – their inspiring story is one of devastating loss and incredible triumph over trauma.

This eight-part documentary from The Daily Telegraph explores how these young men prepared for what they would face in combat, responded to it on the day and ultimately – even if not immediately – became better for it.

It also reveals the confronting reality of being the medical element on the ground “with mates dying in front of you”.

Voodoo Medics is available online now at dailytelegraph.com.au

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