In this special "all-star" episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon gathers an extraordinary group of legendary figures from U.S. special operations and combatives history — including Royce Gracie, Pat McNamara (T-Mac), Norm Hooten, retired General Scott Miller, and Chris ‘Dutch’ Moyer — for an informal, whiskey-fueled roundtable conversation. The discussion kicks off with nostalgic recollections of how Royce Gracie and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu revolutionized military combatives training in the 1990s, dramatically shifting the mindset from pure stand-up striking to ground fighting after early demonstrations quickly humbled even the biggest, most skeptical operators. The group reflects on the massive cultural and tactical changes they helped pioneer across special operations units (including the integration of outside experts like shooters, climbers, and CrossFit-style conditioning), the relentless post-9/11 operational tempo that became addictive yet ultimately unsustainable, the enduring importance of authentic brotherhood and never forgetting your roots regardless of rank or fame, and the ongoing challenges of veteran mental health, suicide prevention, and keeping the next generation physically and mentally tough in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world. The conversation celebrates hard-earned relationships forged through shared hardship while looking forward to future collaborations and continued efforts to improve human performance and support the community.

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

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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. 

Follow Bear on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/bearhandlon/?hl=en

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

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In this episode of The HOTWASH podcast, host Bruno Fallonl, sits down with his long-time friend, retired Major General Mark O'Neil, for a candid conversation focused not on war stories but on the timeless principles of leadership that shaped both their careers. Over three decades of shared service, they explore how to observe mentors like Gen. Stan McChrystal and Gen. Scott Miller taught them the power of collaboration, empowering subordinates, constant learning, and building genuine relationships across agencies and ranks. O'Neill shares his personal mantra of "lead, learn, share, adapt, and grow," emphasizes the value of team sports in developing discipline and accountability, and reflects on his most rewarding command, where he brought SOF-inspired innovations like advanced marksmanship training to a conventional Army division in Alaska. The discussion seamlessly bridges military lessons to civilian and business success, highlighting how creating trusting, family-like teams, maintaining networks through genuine check-ins, and staying calm under pressure translates directly to building a high-performance brand like Born Primitive.

Learn more about Mark at: https://www.ausa.org/people/major-general-retired-mark-oneil

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bornprimitivetactical/

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In this engaging episode of the HOTWASH Podcast by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon sits down with registered dietitian and former professional MMA fighter Tyler Minton to dive deep into nutrition, mindset, and human performance. Minton shares his remarkable journey from an overweight kid battling eating disorders to becoming a sought-after performance nutritionist who worked with UFC champions like Max Holloway, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Daniel Cormier, emphasizing how relentless self-experimentation and “failing forward” shaped his expertise. The conversation explores foundational principles like prioritizing hydration, sleep, and whole-food nutrition over fad diets, the critical balance between health, performance, and aesthetics, and the psychological barriers that sabotage progress. They also discuss Minton’s rewarding role at Virginia High Performance helping elite operators optimize recovery and longevity, while delivering tough love on personal accountability, the dangers of normalizing poor habits, and why consistency in basic habits trumps chasing biohacks or extreme trends for sustainable results.

Follow Tyler on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylermintonnutrition/?hl=en

Learn more about Ethos Nutrition at: https://ethosnutritioncoaching.com/

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

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In this powerful episode of The HOTWASH, host Bruno Fallon sits down with retired Army Major General Pete Gallagher, a 35-year signal officer who spent most of his career as the largely unsung backbone of Joint Special Operations Command communications. From walking into the unit the day after Black Hawk Down and immediately becoming Randy Shughart’s casualty assistance officer, to commanding JSOC’s elite Joint Communications Unit on 9/11, wiring the first raids into Afghanistan from the USS Kitty Hawk, surviving a catastrophic undersea cable cut that knocked out 95% of CENTCOM’s bandwidth in 2008, and later leading the Army’s network modernization for the near-peer fight, Gallagher pulls back the curtain on the invisible enablers who kept the task force connected through every surge night in Iraq and Afghanistan. The conversation is equal parts war stories, leadership lessons, and a sobering look at today’s drone-swarm and electronic-warfare threats, all delivered with the quiet humility of a two-star who still believes the real heroes were the ones kicking doors while he made sure their radios never went dark.

To learn more about Pete visit: https://www.ausa.org/people/mg-peter-gallagher

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BornPrimitiveTactical

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In this unscripted, high-energy episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon sits down with his good friend and Born Primitive Outdoor lead Aron Snyder for a no-agenda, “just dudes talking” conversation that ends up covering everything that makes these two tick. The episode kicks off with raw hunting stories (Snyder’s brutal 10-day elk beatdown, losing a close friend to suicide while in the field, and the triumphant moment guiding an out-of-shape client “Bill” to a 350-class monster bull that literally materialized out of nowhere). They dive deep into the real reasons hunters miss (poor fitness, no trigger time, bad wind calls, and not knowing your rifle inside and out), why reps and dry-fire beat talent every time, and how the same stress-shooting lessons from the Tactical Games translate directly to clutch moments on a mountain ridge. The second half shifts to Born Primitive’s explosive growth: the game-changing Headwind fleece that survived blizzards at 12,000 ft, the upcoming zero-drop mountain hunting boot Snyder has been begging the industry for, a top-secret backpack project at Western Hunt that Snyder promises will “make people remember our name,” and Bruno’s two-year obsession with the Patriot One Mid Assault Boot that just survived an 85-foot fast-rope test from an MH-60 with zero damage. Throughout it all, the conversation is laced with military stories, blunt talk on fitness (fat-shaming works if it gets you off the couch), why “Made in USA” isn’t always better, and an unapologetic commitment to building gear for operators, hunters, and anyone who refuses to quit. It’s less an interview and more two hard-charging brothers catching up, dropping truth bombs, and letting the world know Born Primitive is just getting started.

Follow Aron on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/aron_snyder/?hl=en

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

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In this gripping episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon and former Navy SEAL turned physician Dr. Kirk Parsley deliver a raw, veteran-to-veteran deep dive into “Operator Syndrome” — the brutal cascade of hormonal collapse, cognitive fog, rage, fat gain, and chronic pain that hits elite warriors after decades of unrelenting mileage and zero recovery. Parsley recounts how, in 2009 as the SEAL Teams’ doc, he discovered jacked 30-year-olds with bloodwork resembling sick 55-year-olds, traced it directly to the community’s toxic sleep culture and Ambien/alcohol cocktails that obliterated deep sleep and REM, and fixed most of it simply by getting guys off pills and onto targeted natural sleep supplements — tripling testosterone, crashing inflammation, and restoring performance overnight. The conversation expands into blast-induced brain injuries (every unsuppressed round delivering hundreds of Gs), heavy-metal toxicity, military suppression of the truth for recruiting optics, and the life-changing power of ibogaine and other plant medicines that rapidly boost neuroplasticity and silence the hyperactive amygdala in ways traditional psychiatry can’t touch. Packed with hard-earned lessons on strategic naps, peptide healing stacks, hormone optimization, hyperbaric therapy, and the non-negotiable priority of eight hours of real sleep, it’s a must-listen wake-up call for every operator, cop, firefighter, or high-performer who still believes “four hours is enough” and wonders why their body and mind are breaking at 35.

Follow Dr. Kirk on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kirkparsley/?hl=en

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

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In this gripping episode of The Hotwash by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon sits down with South Florida police officer Daniel Herrera—of 15-years, former teacher, street-crimes detective, hostage negotiator, and nine-year school resource officer (SRO) at an alternative high school—who shares his proactive mission to protect kids through his children’s book, Officer Danny Always Keeps Us SAFE! Herrera recounts his career pivot from chasing gangs to becoming an SRO to avoid missing his three children’s milestones, his frustration with reactive school boards and undertrained teachers during lockdown drills, and how social media now fuels shooters’ “blaze of glory” motives compared to the 1960s. He breaks down his simple, memorable SAFE acronym (Stay away from doors/windows, Assemble in a hidden area, Follow teacher’s instructions, Evacuate when appropriate) designed for young kids, complete with vivid illustrations and a cut-out classroom poster, while stressing the need for fit, engaged SROs rotated from SWAT for family breaks. The conversation veers into raw mental-health territory— the emotional toll of teen crises, and the power of checking in on buddies—ending with a passionate call to be proactive in safety, training, and relationships rather than waiting for tragedy.

Follow Daniel on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/officerdannysafe/

Buy the Book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1662957610?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2EA029KVK56393V8G7NW&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2EA029KVK56393V8G7NW&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2EA029KVK56393V8G7NW&bestFormat=true&csmig=1

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

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On this episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical hosted by Bruno Fallon, guest Duane Liptak, Executive Vice President of Magpul, shared insights into his diverse career and the company’s innovations. Liptak, a former Marine Corps infantryman and F-18 pilot, recounted his journey from military service, including deployments in Iraq and roles with MARSOC, to his transition into the firearms industry after a severe injury from ejecting out of a burning aircraft. His passion for firearms led him to Magpul, where he now oversees product development, emphasizing solutions that address real user needs, such as the iconic PMAG and new ventures like advanced MIM knife blades. The conversation highlighted Magpul’s rigorous testing, commitment to reliability, and upcoming products like cases and slings, while Liptak also discussed his personal interest in cowboy mounted shooting, reflecting his drive for new challenges. The episode underscored the synergy between military experience, innovative product design, and industry collaboration, with Fallon praising Magpul’s contributions to the tactical community.

Check out Magpul at: https://magpul.com/

Follow Duane on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/duaneliptak/

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bornprimitivetactical/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BornPrimitiveTactical

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On this episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical host Bruno Fallon sits down with Nick Thayer, CEO of The Tactical Games, to explore America’s fastest-growing hybrid sport that fuses CrossFit-level fitness with precision two-gun shooting under real stress. Thayer, a former Coast Guard veteran who rose from an intermediate competitor to owner in just over two years, details the event ecosystem—from entry-level Skirmishes (one-day, four-stage shakeouts) to 16 regional two-day battles averaging 240 athletes, plus the future of five international stops and a live-broadcast National Championship at Reveille Peak Ranch (Nov 14–16). He spotlights elite standouts like two-time women’s champ Jenny and dark-horse Kurt, stresses 90/10 dry-fire-to-live-fire training, consistent ammo, and red-dot proficiency out to 700 m, and credits the 25 % female field and 60+ Masters division for proving longevity beats ego. Above all, Thayer frames The Tactical Games as a mindset forge and cultural weapon: a community of military, LE, and first-responder athletes that normalize responsible gun ownership, and prove that excellence—on the podium or in life—comes from embracing failure, helping the next shooter, and running your own race.

Follow Nick on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/thayer.nick/?hl=en

Visit The Tactical Games at: https://www.thetacticalgames.com/

To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/

Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bornprimitivetactical/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BornPrimitiveTactical

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