In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with John Stephenson, a 22-year Royal Signals veteran and founder of the Forces Transition Group (FTG).

John speaks candidly about:

1. Leaving as a Regimental Sergeant Major
2. Feeling like “something” in service… and “nothing” the day after
3. Two years of identity loss and frustration
4. Toxic workplaces in civvy street
5. Why transition is broken — and how mindset is the real issue

This conversation goes beyond CV writing and job fairs. It’s about identity, ownership, responsibility and preparation.

If you are still serving, thinking about leaving, or already out — this episode will challenge how you see your future.

1. You will leave one day — whether you plan for it or not. Most people don’t prepare early enough.
2. The military manages your career for you. Civvy street doesn’t. That shift in responsibility catches many people out.
3. Rejection in the civilian world feels personal because many serving personnel have never had to face it repeatedly before.
4. Identity loss is often the real challenge — not the job, not the salary, but the loss of status and belonging.
5. Mindset is the difference. Sleepwalkers wait for something to happen. Hunters go and create opportunity.
6. Transition support at the end of service is often too late. Preparation needs to start much earlier.
7. Civilian businesses don’t need to understand the military — service leavers need to understand business.
8. Education through service is one of the most powerful ways to prepare for life after uniform.

1. “I felt like I was something in the military… and nothing the day I left.”
2. “We plan everything in the military — except leaving it.”
3. “The responsibility gets handed back to you — and most people aren’t ready.”
4. “Rejection is normal in business. It’s not normal in the military.”
5. “If you sleepwalk into your future, you’ll struggle.”
6. “Be a hunter.”
7. “It’s not the war that breaks most people — it’s not fitting into society.”
8. “The system hasn’t changed in 30 years.”
9. “You don’t know what business is — until you sit in front of it.”
10. “Education through service is the secret.”

Connect with Stephen:

Forces Transition Group

LinkedIn

#MilitaryTransition #Veterans #Leadership #Identity #GreatGunsPodcast

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James is joined by Kirk Davis, a serving soldier in the RLC and ambassador for the Defence Dyslexia Network (DDN), for one of the most honest conversations the podcast has hosted.

Kirk shares what it’s really like to serve with dyslexia — from leaving school feeling “stupid”, hiding behind humour, rank, and delegation, to finally finding a safe space where he could speak openly and receive support.

This is a powerful episode about fear, stigma, identity, leadership, parenting, and neurodiversity in the military. Kirk’s story challenges long-held assumptions about intelligence, success, and what dyslexia really looks like — and why living in silence is far more dangerous than speaking out.

1. Dyslexia is not a lack of intelligence. It’s a different way of processing — not a weakness.
2. Many people hide in plain sight. Rank, humour, and delegation can mask deep anxiety and fear.
3. Living in silence is exhausting. The effort of hiding often causes more harm than dyslexia itself.
4. You don’t always need a diagnosis to ask for help. Simple adjustments can make a massive difference.
5. Speaking out changes everything. Not just for you — but for those around you.
6. Neurodiversity is an asset, not a liability. Different thinking strengthens teams.
7. You can succeed beyond what you think is possible. Kirk went from hiding his struggles to earning a Master’s degree.
8. The most important leadership starts at home. The moment with his daughter reminds us why empathy matters.

1. “I’m not stupid — I just can’t get the words onto paper.”
2. “I spent my career hiding behind rank.”
3. “Picking up a pen felt like kryptonite.”
4. “Living in silence is far more dangerous.”
5. “Daddy, if you can’t read it, I can read it for you.”
6. “I never wanted to be a dad because I thought I was too stupid.”
7. “Don’t suffer in silence.”
8. “Being different doesn’t make you less — it makes you valuable.”
9. “Reach out. Speak out. You’re not alone.”

Connect with Kirk

LinkedIn

#Dyslexia #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #DDN #GreatGunsPodcast

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Stacey Denyer, a 19-year RAF veteran, and Invictus Games medallist, to talk honestly about identity, resilience, and what happens when the structure of military life disappears.

Stacey shares her journey through military service, competitive sport, MS, and transition — including the mental and emotional challenge of stepping away from the uniform while still chasing purpose, performance, and belonging.

This is a grounded, thoughtful conversation about discipline without structure, finding identity beyond rank, and why resilience isn’t about being unbreakable — it’s about adapting, again and again.

1. “The uniform gives you an identity — when it goes, you have to rebuild one.”
2. “Transition isn’t just about a job, it’s about who you are.”
3. “Sport gave me something to aim at when everything else felt uncertain.”
4. You don’t have to have it all figured out straight away.”
5. “Be patient with yourself — transition takes time.”
6. “Ask for help earlier than you think you need it.”

1. The uniform gives you identity — losing it can feel disorientating. Transition isn’t just logistical; it’s deeply personal.
2. Resilience isn’t about toughness — it’s about adaptability. Being able to reset, pivot, and keep moving forward matters more than grit alone.
3. Structure disappears fast in civilian life. You need to build your own routines, goals, and accountability.
4. Sport and challenge can be powerful tools — but not cures. They help, but they don’t replace reflection and support.
5. Comparison is dangerous during transition. Your journey doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s.
6. Purpose doesn’t arrive fully formed. It’s built through action, curiosity, and patience.
7. You’re still the same person — just in a different environment. The skills from service don’t disappear, they just need translating.

Connect with Stacey

LinkedIn

Blog

Female Veterans' Transformation Programme

#Veterans #MilitaryTransition #Resilience #Identity #GreatGunsPodcast

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James is joined by Tom Burgess for a frank and necessary conversation about pressure, identity, mental health, and responsibility.

Tom opens up about life under constant scrutiny, and how easily struggles can be hidden behind strength, success, and status. He speaks honestly about moments of poor decision-making, accountability, and the importance of confronting issues head-on rather than burying them.

This episode isn’t about excuses — it’s about owning your actions, understanding mental health in high-pressure environments, and learning how to ask for help before things spiral.

1. High performance doesn’t protect you from mental health struggles.
2. Success and status don’t equal stability.
3. Silence makes everything worse.
4. Bottling things up allows pressure to build until it spills over.
5. Accountability matters.
6. Owning mistakes is uncomfortable — but essential for growth.
7. Strength isn’t pretending you’re fine.
8. Real strength is admitting when you’re not.
9. Pressure compounds quietly.
10. If it’s not addressed early, it eventually finds a way out.
11. Support systems only work if you use them.
12. Help exists — but you have to reach for it.
13. You’re more than your performance.
14. Identity can’t rely solely on results, contracts, or public opinion.

1. “People see the performance — not what’s going on behind it.”
2. “You can be winning on the outside and struggling inside.”
3. “Pressure doesn’t disappear — it builds.”
4. “I didn’t talk when I should have.”
5. “Bottling it up was the worst thing I could’ve done.”
6. “Asking for help came too late — but it mattered.”
7. “Speak up earlier than you think you need to.”
8. “You don’t lose respect by being honest.”

Want to connect with Tom

Save a Warrior UK

LinkedIn

Looking to support

#MentalHealthMatters #HighPerformance #Accountability #Resilience #GreatGunsPodcast

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Matt Clayton, a US Navy veteran who’s moved into coaching, fitness, and mental resilience.

Matt shares the real story — joining the military instead of taking football scholarship offers, attempting the SEAL pipeline, life on a ship, and then landing in a riverine squadron where things got properly hands-on: fast boats, weapons, and becoming a marksman and coach for others.

From there, the conversation shifts into the grit behind the scenes: being forced out due to manpower decisions, building a life post-uniform, bodybuilding and coaching, and why motivation is temporary — resilience is what keeps you showing up.

This one’s honest, practical, and packed with lines that’ll hit home if you’re navigating transition, pressure, or that quiet struggle that doesn’t show up on Instagram.

1. Mindset beats talent when things get hard. The body can be ready — but if the mind isn’t, you’ll fold.
2. Transition can be forced. Even if it’s not your choice, you can still choose your response and your next move.
3. Motivation fades. Resilience stays. The goal is showing up even when the hype dies.
4. Resilience can be tiny wins. Sometimes “getting to the shop” is the win — and that counts.
5. Watch the warning signs. Sleep deprivation, gambling, alcohol, obsessive spirals — they don’t always look like “mental health” at first.
6. Accountability isn’t always a sledgehammer. Sometimes you need a scalpel. Sometimes you rebuild the whole structure.
7. Get your admin squared away before you leave. Medical documentation and appointments matter more than you think.

1. “Motivation is temporary.”
2. “I don’t wanna be f*ing motivated.”
3. “Resilience is… no matter what’s going on, I’m gonna show up.” Interview
4. “Even if that’s just going to the f*ing grocery store… that could be a win.”
5. “Doing whatever it takes to feel like you’ve got a W for that day — that’s resilience.”
6. “No early checkouts.”

Connect with Matt:

Instagram

Website

"Talk It, Walk It, Live It" Book

What happens when the uniform comes off… and the “comfort blanket” disappears?

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Georgina Symonds (currently serving in the Army Reserve after a long regular career) to talk about the real transition journey — the identity shift, imposter syndrome, the mental load of “there’s loads of support… but it’s a minefield”, and why routine + community are the difference between drifting and thriving.

We also get into caring responsibilities in service — and why Georgina helped build the Army Carers Network, plus the Army Carers Guide as a practical “one stop shop” for people supporting a child, partner, or parent.

1. Why transition is an identity problem as much as a career one
2. “So much support… it’s a minefield” — navigating the noise
3. Routine is medicine: PT, competitiveness, and rebuilding tribe
4. Caring in uniform: stigma, pressure, and where to find help
5. A cracking practical tip: join the Reserves before you leave (it’s harder after)

1. Transition isn’t just admin—it’s identity. Losing the uniform can feel like losing a label that defined you.
2. Support can be brilliant… and still overwhelming. The “minefield” is often the volume of info, not the lack of it.
3. Your last year needs a plan and boundaries. Treat resettlement like an operation: schedule it, protect it, execute it.
4. Imposter syndrome is normal. Even high performers can feel wobbly outside the military “comfort blanket.”
5. Build civilian connections early. Clubs, sports, gym classes, volunteering—embed before you leave.
6. Routine is medicine. PT and structure can plug the “void” that hits after a big role ends.
7. Caring responsibilities deserve daylight. Stigma and lack of understanding can make it harder—community helps.
8. Consider the Reserves as a bridge. It can keep identity and purpose while you build the next chapter.

Connect with Georgina

LinkedIn

TROOPR (Georgina is an ambassador)

Army Carers Network (closed Facebook group)

She's been called a fairy, a fluffy dice distributor, and the woman with the dog—but what Natasha Hill actually is… is a force of nature. A 26-year veteran of the UK police service, Natasha’s lived through the frontlines of child protection, anti-terrorism, personal trauma, and full-on burnout. And she came back swinging—armed with compassion, EMDR, a cocker spaniel named Murphy, and a mission to rewrite the narrative on mental health in policing.

In this episode, host James Scott dives deep with Natasha about the sh*t that breaks you, the culture that buries it, and how she’s flipping the system—one wellbeing festival and gut-punching truth at a time. If you think mental health is still a fluffy topic, this episode will slap that smugness right out of you.

This is not just for cops. It’s for anyone who's ever been crushed by their job, gaslit by the culture, or buried by their own silence.

1. Wellbeing is not woo-woo: If you think dogs, kindness, and mindfulness are “namby-pamby,” think again. Science says otherwise—and so does Natasha.
2. Burnout doesn’t announce itself: It creeps, it whispers, then it bulldozes. Learn the signs before it’s too late.
3. Trauma is cumulative: One trauma might shake you. 400+ (the average for a police officer)? That’s an internal war.
4. Culture can kill: The “suck it up” mindset still thrives—and it’s costing lives.
5. Recovery is possible, and damn it, it's powerful: From cancer to career collapse, Natasha proves healing is real—and badass.

1. “I was told to just ‘get on with it’—right after I had a breakdown.”
2. “They said I was just bringing my dog in. That I was handing out fluffy dice.”
3. “I've had officers reach out after 43 years of never talking about wellbeing—until now.”
4. “We’re trained to face bullets, but not our own brains.”
5. “It’s not selfish to put yourself first. It’s survival.”

LinkedIn

#PoliceWellbeing #MentalHealthInUniform #MurphyTheWellbeingDog #FirstResponderSupport

You can’t fight if you can’t eat. You can’t move if there’s no fuel. And you can’t win if the supplies don’t get there.

In this episode, Frank Davis takes us deep into the beating heart of military operations — logistics. Forget the Hollywood image of combat; this is the real story of the people who make sure the frontline never runs dry.

From convoy runs through Iraq to building and adapting supply chains in hostile, unforgiving terrain, Frank reveals the unseen world of WES teams — the lifeline between the fight and the fuel.

This is a masterclass in adaptability, leadership, and pure problem-solving under pressure. It’s not glamorous. It’s not easy. But it’s what keeps every soldier alive.

If you’ve ever wanted to know how wars are really won, this one’s for you.

• Logistics is the unsung hero of every battle.
• The WES teams are the quiet warriors keeping troops supplied and moving.
• Adaptability under pressure is a survival skill — not a nice-to-have.
• In combat zones, efficiency isn’t about convenience — it’s about lives.
• Every vehicle modification, every route decision, every delivery matters.
• Supporting the infantry is a sacred mission.
• Communication keeps the chain strong — break it, and the mission breaks too.
• Success in austere environments demands creativity, grit, and guts.

• “Bring the stuff to the front — that’s the mission.”
• “In austere environments, you can’t wait for perfect conditions. You make them.”
• “Every mile of road is a risk — but every delivery keeps someone alive.”

🎖️ LinkedIn: Frank Davis

📸 Website

What happens when your partner serves — and you have to serve in your own way?

In this episode, Nic Galbraith-Conlan cracks open the hidden side of military life: the partners who hold the line at home, the emotional toll of deployments, the constant recalibration of identity, and what happens when the mission ends but the mental load doesn’t.

From the loneliness of service life to the messy transitions of civilian reintegration, Nic shares her raw and unfiltered perspective as a military spouse, coach, and creator of the Recalibrate Framework — a practical system for rediscovering balance, purpose, and connection after life in uniform.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding everything together while quietly falling apart, this conversation will hit home. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about finding your way back — together.

• You’re not alone — even when it feels like you are.
• Military relationships are emotional minefields that demand brutal honesty and empathy.
• Communication isn’t optional; it’s the lifeline.
• Partners serve too — just in a different kind of warzone.
• Mental health awareness in the forces is improving, but we’re not there yet.
• Healing starts with reflection — journaling, voice notes, and saying the unsaid.
• Transitioning to civilian life is more than a career change — it’s a total identity shift.
• The Recalibrate Framework helps you find your footing after the chaos.

• “Partners of service members often feel isolated — you’re holding space for someone who’s not there.”
• “Communication isn’t about talking. It’s about truly being heard.”
• “We all break a little. Recalibration isn’t weakness — it’s evolution.”
• “You can’t pour from an empty cup, but the military never teaches you how to refill it.”

🌍 Website: Recalibrate Framework

📸 Instagram

💬 Coaching: Work with Nic

From dismantling explosives to dismantling limiting beliefs, Gabriel von Knorring joins James to unpack the explosive journey from Swedish military bomb tech to mental resilience mentor. With raw honesty and a hint of dark humour, Gabriel dives into the mental mechanics behind thriving in chaos — whether you're facing a war zone, an ultra-marathon, or your own damn inbox.

He reveals how mental toughness isn't built in the cold trenches of discomfort, but in the tiny moments when you choose courage over comfort. Plus, why “embracing the suck” might be keeping you soft.

Key Takeaways:

• Mental toughness ≠ discomfort. True growth lives in the adventure zone — where there's real fear, not just cold feet.
• Comfortable routines can make you fragile. Optimization without adaptability is a trap.
• Robust beats optimized. Build systems that work in chaos, not perfection.
• Fear is the gatekeeper. If you're not feeling fear, you're probably not growing.
• Recovery is an active task. Rest isn’t the absence of effort — it's a mission in itself.
• Feedback must be timely and specific. Vague praise or delayed criticism? Useless.
• Strong teams talk about the hard stuff. Suppressed emotion is a ticking bomb — deal with it before it explodes.

Sound Bites:

• “Just because it’s uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s making you stronger. Sometimes you’re just cold.”— Gabriel von Knorring
• “If you’re optimizing your life for peak performance but can’t function during Christmas, you’re doing it wrong.”— Gabriel von Knorring
• “Mental strength is the ability to keep the promises you make to yourself.”— Gabriel von Knorring
• “You don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your systems.”— Gabriel von Knorring
• “Standing guard in the freezing rain doesn’t make you resilient. Facing your fears does.”— Gabriel von Knorring
• “You only need one second to give up — and that’s the second most people take.”— Gabriel von Knorring

Connect with Gabriel:

🔥 Unbreakable Mind Program: unbreakablemind.co/apply

📸 Instagram: @gabriel.vknorring