MTNTOUGH Podcast w/ Dustin Diefenderfer

Kyle returns to the MTNTOUGH Podcast for a raw follow-up on alcoholism, the “compliant child” vs. performance-identity trap, and why so many high achievers chase control until a substance (or fitness, or a phone) becomes the only way to feel baseline. He traces the exact catalyst moments that finally got him into rehab—including a Western Hunt Expo booth shared with Mountain Tough, an Eric McCormack workout that collapsed him, and a first honest conversation that opened a door the darkness immediately tried to slam shut. He also shares how that timing prepared him for fatherhood, the loss of their daughter Lucy, writing the book releasing October 6th, and why he and Alyssa wouldn’t trade the life they have now.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:00 – Compliant child, attention, and the start of drinking

00:09:48 – Performance identity and the MTNTOUGH listener

00:13:32 – Addiction as emotional control and numbing

00:16:29 – Distraction vs. connection (fitness as replacement addiction)

00:21:54 – Why removing distractions changes everything

02:01:28 – The exact catalyst moments that led to rehab

02:04:01 – Eric McCormack workout that collapsed him

02:07:58 – First honest conversation and the darkness pushing back

02:12:58 – Timing, Lucy, and why they wouldn’t trade this life

02:18:37 – The book (Oct 6), Chapter 3 Stigma & More Than Capable

Jake Harriman—Naval Academy grad, Force Recon Marine, Bronze Star, founder of Nuru International and The Brickyard (formerly More Perfect Union)—joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast on a simple fear: you can live a good life and still waste it. After years off-grid fighting extremism through livelihoods, he came home and didn’t recognize the country he’d fought for. Now he’s building higher ground, not just common ground—40,000 Americans swinging hammers together, Civic Valor in schools, and five steps from his book Rescuing the Idea of America: believe, serve, connect, lead, restore. Also: loneliness, agency vs. the algorithm, and why one life changed is enough.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:00 – A good life can still be a wasted life

00:00:37 – Intro: Marine, Nuru, The Brickyard

00:03:02 – West Virginia farm, “I can’t” was not allowed

00:06:45 – Coming home after 15 years downrange

00:11:00 – From 1,000 members to 40,000

00:15:11 – Young men ready to obey, unsure what the step is

00:17:28 – Civic Valor and servant leadership

00:21:02 – Loneliness, agency, and go help somebody else

00:33:42 – Coffee and encourage challenge

00:46:54 – Believe, serve, connect, lead, restore

Get to know MTNTOUGH Coaches Dr. Nick Bechtold and Sarah Maschino as they open a new lab-side conversation: who they are, how they landed at MTNTOUGH, and how the programming actually gets built.

They cover the path from elite sheep-hunt training to on-ramp, foundations, Always Ready 50+, and what’s coming next (No Gear 10, SV20). Then they answer two of the most common support questions—how to pair MGDs with running, and what to do mid-season when on-ramp feels light but foundations feel like too much.

Drop your questions in the comments. Stay dangerous.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🐐 MTNTOUGH Hunting & Feature Films: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUyFQjco9eFTVUIBWJ3_x4n-R2mBwzYw

🧪 MTNTOUGH LAB Visits (We Take All Our Podcast Guests Out Of Their Comfort Zone): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUyFQjco9eFCubYhEQntQexFEmT7BMkl

🥵 MTNTOUGH Challenge Workouts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUyFQjco9eG2Q69GAR9st2U-4oK0Whlq

💪 Free MTNTOUGH Workouts & Protocols: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUyFQjco9eGBSuC3fHqjP8mf50CDENA1

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPE

🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "YT1MFREE" @ https://mtntough.com/

________________________________________________________

What is MTNTOUGH Fitness?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:08 – Shooting with SIG, getting ready for season

00:01:34 – Why this new coaches podcast exists

00:02:35 – Coach Nick’s path: PT, Billings, joining the lab

00:05:36 – Coach Sarah’s path: Vanderbilt soccer to MTNTOUGH

00:10:53 – What MTNTOUGH is after 10 years

00:15:32 – 50+ testimonials and hanging the boots back up

00:18:00 – Elevator pitch: who the programming is for

00:20:31 – Coming soon: No Gear 10 and SV20

00:23:41 – Q: How to combine MGTNTOUGH with running

00:27:45 – Q: On-ramp vs foundations during hunting season

Mike Sarraille—former special operations leader, Chief Talent Officer at a veteran-owned company, and the man behind Fox Nation’s Final Flight: The Men of Extortion 17—joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast on what companies still get wrong about veteran talent, why eight guys from the same platoon now work under one roof, and why a soldier dies twice: once in the field, and again when his name is spoken last. He covers the seven-continent skydive with Andy Stumpf, building brotherhood after the DD-214, the harsh cost of high performance (divorce, empty tank, no “balance”), his forthcoming book Teams, and why telling other men’s stories is the work he wants to do for a lifetime.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:00 – What companies still misunderstand about veterans

00:01:21 – Chief Talent Officer and placing hundreds of vets

00:02:20 – Final Flight: The Men of Extortion 17

00:03:01 – Rally Point Oscar and the 520th platoon

00:06:52 – A soldier dies twice

00:07:59 – Seven continents, seven jumps, six days

00:16:35 – Isolation of men after the teams

00:38:27 – The harsh realities of being mission-driven

00:42:28 – Terrell Owens: there is no balance in greatness

00:51:46 – If your legacy is telling other men’s stories

Leif Babin, former Navy SEAL officer, Task Unit Bruiser platoon commander in Ramadi, and co-author of Extreme Ownership, joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to talk leadership when the title, the body, and the plan get stripped away. He covers attitude as the one thing you still control, cover and move as real teamwork, why the best leaders stop trying to prove themselves, the cost of not explaining the “why,” and the actual fix for leadership fatigue: decentralized command instead of being the easy button. Also: family as your highest leadership job, and honoring the teammates who didn’t come home.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:00 – Humility vs. leaders trying to prove themselves

00:00:39 – Intro: Task Unit Bruiser, Extreme Ownership, Echelon Front

00:06:08 – Mental toughness when physical capability is stripped

00:08:19 – Control your attitude when you can’t control the situation

00:12:16 – Cover and move: leadership is influence, not a title

00:15:58 – “God is with you, mighty warrior” in Hell Week

00:49:31 – The cost of not explaining the why

00:53:11 – Connect the dots so the team owns the mission

00:58:14 – Leadership fatigue and burnout

01:01:15 – Decentralized command: stop being the easy button

John Wayne Walding spent seven years in 3rd Special Forces Group. On April 6, 2008 in Shok Valley, Afghanistan, a sniper shot took the lower half of his right leg. He tied it to his thigh and kept fighting. This episode is about April 7th—the hospital bed, the word “can’t,” and the battles that don’t come with a medal. John talks about being raised by his grandparents after both parents went to jail, becoming the first amputee to graduate Special Forces sniper school, choosing pain over pills, quitting drinking after Chris Kyle’s death, 15 years of sobriety, and why every man needs mat carriers who will drag him to Jesus instead of the bar.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:00 – The battle after the medal

00:01:17 – Intro: Shok Valley, Silver Star, first amputee sniper

00:06:41 – Parents in jail, raised by Sam and Grace

00:16:45 – April 7th and the word “can’t”

00:19:23 – Faith: God is real and you’re not Him

00:51:46 – Pills or pain

00:55:30 – Chris Kyle’s death and quitting drinking

00:59:35 – 15 years sober

01:03:42 – Mat carriers and the social pillar

01:11:43 – Closing: trust Him and you’ll know your way

Jim Ramos, founder of Men in the Arena and MTNTOUGH spiritual growth coach, is back to talk about his new book Guardrails: 10 Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage. He unpacks why men will talk about money, work, drinking, and porn for years—but stay silent on marriage until it’s a dumpster fire. The conversation covers the revival among Gen Z men, the difference between being mountain tough and marriage tough, practical digital and relational boundaries, building a wall around your home, and what to do when your wife seems done. Direct, biblical, and built for men who want to lead well at home.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers.

MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.Men's personal struggles often go unspoken until a crisis hits. Learn how to address these challenges before they break you.00:00:00 – Why men hide marriage until it’s SOS

00:03:54 – Is a revival waking the warrior in men?

00:09:04 – Gen Z men running toward God, not women

00:18:56 – Mountain tough vs marriage tough

00:21:10 – Shame, sex life, and why guys stay silent

00:39:12 – The digital world and the porn pipeline

00:43:08 – Non-starters: texts, trips, and compliments

00:48:27 – Guardrail 10: Build a wall (preside, protect, provide)

00:52:39 – Safe or stupid: rapid-fire marriage boundaries

00:58:08 – What if she doesn’t want to save the marriage?

Mitch Ammons, two-time U.S. Olympic marathon trials qualifier and 2:14 marathoner, shares one of the most powerful redemption stories you’ll hear. After nearly a decade of heroin and hard drug addiction, repeated rock bottoms, and multiple rehabs, he got sober in 2015 and rebuilt his entire life through running. In this conversation he opens up about the deep need for community that drove both his addiction and his recovery, the power of identity change, the parallels between “just one more” in addiction and ultrarunning, and how the fitness tribe became the healthy belonging he always craved. Today he’s a successful realtor, husband, and speaker proving no one is too far gone.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:00 – Intro: Mitch Ammons’ Remarkable Redemption Story

00:03:06 – The Common Thread: Ultrarunners Running From Something

00:07:32 – How Wanting to Fit In Led to Drugs

00:15:41 – From Recreational to Hard Drugs & Instant Addiction

00:17:23 – The Power of Identity Change

00:20:19 – The “Hot Fitness Girlfriend” Moment That Started It All

00:36:19 – What Finally Worked: Fully Committing to the 12 Steps

00:43:31 – Community as the Key to Happiness (Both Sides of the Coin)

00:50:58 – Why He’s Drawn to Ultras & Last Man Standing

00:57:45 – Closing: Gratitude for the Second Chance

Jason Schlarb, Hard Rock 100 champion, Air Force veteran, elite ultrarunner, and coach, joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast for a raw conversation on mental toughness, the dual nature of anxiety as both fuel and burden, and the 2020 rock-bottom moment that forced a healthier mindset. He unpacks nature vs. nurture, why so many endurance athletes are running from something, the modern need to manufacture adversity, and the critical role of community and relationships in true happiness. From coaching the next generation to balancing big mountain adventures with fatherhood and local roots, Jason shares hard-won wisdom on thriving for the long haul.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:00 – Intro: Jason Schlarb’s Resume & Purpose-Driven Endurance

00:04:13 – Nature vs Nurture & Growing Up Competitive

00:06:57 – Anxiety as Fuel and the Cost of Never Being Content

00:11:03 – 2020 Rock Bottom: Losing Sponsorship, Relationship & Finding Gratitude

00:18:41 – Are Elite Ultrarunners Running Away from Something?

00:27:04 – Why Humans Need to Manufacture Adversity in 2026

00:36:25 – Community, Happiness Studies & the Individualistic West

00:41:11 – Blue Zones, Costa Rica & What Really Makes People Thrive

00:52:05 – What’s Next: Coaching, Athlete Management & Family

00:55:27 – Closing: Real Talk on Purpose Behind the Miles

Jeff Ozanne, founder and CEO of Ambient Arms, joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to share his journey from mechanical design and IP leadership at Matthews Archery to launching a firearms innovation company centered on next-level suppressor technology. He discusses the crossover between archery and firearms engineering, the critical role of patents in protecting innovation and employees, the weight of founding a company, and how faith drives every decision—from aggressive IP enforcement to American manufacturing and using business as a platform for the gospel. Jeff also opens up about divine assignment, saying yes to hard callings, and staying optimistic while fighting for the future of the Second Amendment and a Christian nation.

Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph.

Presented by Sig Sauer.

V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T

🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1ms

S U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S:

💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo

__________________________________________

W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?

MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.

Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.

00:00:00 – Intro: Jeff Ozanne & Ambient Arm

00:01:48 – Archery-to-Firearms Crossover & Efficiency Principles

00:03:26 – Engineering + IP Background at Matthews

00:06:41 – Why Patents Protect People & Innovation

00:11:12 – Leaving Matthews to Launch Ambient

00:14:02 – Founder Reality: Weight, Culture & Scaling

00:16:41 – Divine Assignment, Fear of Provision & Saying Yes

00:44:59 – Mixing Faith with Aggressive Business

00:49:58 – American Manufacturing & Duty to Employees

00:55:50 – Optimism, First & Second Amendment Battles