The Hotwash by Born Primitive Tactical

By Born Primitive PodcastSociety & Culture

The Hotwash by Born Primitive Tactical episodes

April 13 “I Don’t Miss the Circus… But I Miss the Clowns” – Mike Sarraille Former SEAL Officer’s Candid Truth
In this episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon sits down with longtime friend and former Navy SEAL officer Mike Sarraille for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about leadership, high-performance culture, and life after 20 years of military service. Mike explains why he chose to retire at 20 years despite the option to continue — citing burnout from increasingly restrictive rules, staff-heavy roles over troop command, a divorce, and a deep desire to stay in the field rather than move into higher-level meetings. The two veterans discuss the intoxicating pull of the “brotherhood,” the heavy toll special operations life takes on families, and how the job often becomes the first family while flesh-and-blood families come second. They explore transitioning out, the value of constant challenge (“what’s the next ridgeline?”), and how high-motor operators risk burning out or drifting if not given new missions. Mike shares his current role as Chief Talent Officer at Overwatch Mission Critical, a veteran-heavy company in the booming data center industry supporting AI and national security, where he focuses on building culture, hiring, and developing people through daily musters and leadership training. The conversation dives into books Mike has written (The Talent War on attribute-based hiring and The Everyday Warrior on practical self-leadership), the dangers of a victim mentality among some veterans, the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and leading through high standards paired with genuine care. The episode blends candid stories from their special operations careers with practical insights on building high-performing teams in both military and civilian life, ending on an uplifting note about purpose, teams winning missions, and continuing to serve in new ways.
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
PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD
1 hr 52 min
April 06 “I Was Almost Kicked Out of Service… Then Became the Highest Enlisted Leader in the Military” (w/ “Ray” Colón-Lopez)
In this powerful episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon sits down with his first Air Force Pararescue (PJ) guest, retired Chief Master Sergeant Ramón “Ray” Colón-Lopez (CC), who served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - the highest enlisted position in the U.S. military. From his early days nearly getting kicked out of the service after an alcohol-related incident to rising through the ranks of special operations, including time with Naval Special Warfare Development Group and multiple combat deployments, Ray shares hard-earned lessons on accountability, second chances, and the importance of leaders clearing obstacles for their teams. The conversation dives deep into his new book, Carnivore Leadership: Taking Charge Instead of Taking Shit, which draws from decades of notebooks filled with leadership insights, emphasizing ownership over victimhood, unwavering standards, speaking truth to power, and staying apolitical while serving the nation. Bruno and Ray also reflect on the challenges of the Pentagon during COVID and the Afghanistan withdrawal, the critical role of enlisted leaders, the multi-hat versatility of PJs, and why America’s military remains the gold standard despite political noise. The episode is packed with raw, no-nonsense wisdom on mindset, credibility, loyalty, and the carnivore ethos of getting the mission done - making it essential listening for service members, veterans, leaders, and anyone seeking to build mental toughness and personal accountability.
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

PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD
1 hr 15 min
March 30 Extreme Ownership: Navy SEAL Officer Leif Babin on Leading from the Front
In this episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon sits down with Leif Babin, co-author of Extreme Ownership and co-founder of Echelon Front with Jocko Willink. Babin recounts his time as a SEAL platoon and task unit leader with Task Unit Bruiser during the brutal 2006 Battle of Ramadi, forging core leadership principles like Extreme Ownership - taking total responsibility for everything that affects the mission, both after failures and preemptively to prevent them - along with Cover and Move, Simple, Prioritize and Execute, and Decentralized Command. He explains how these battlefield lessons, refined through teaching junior officers and observing training, apply universally to business, first responders, and life: humble leaders own problems instead of blaming others, lead from the front on tough tasks while empowering teams to execute independently as “silent leaders,” pass wins to the team but shoulder losses themselves, and balance assertiveness with restraint. The discussion also covers physical fitness and discipline as the foundation to mental performance, the origins of their books and company, Jamie Cochran’s success story, and the value of distilling real combat experiences into accessible tools that build stronger teams and individuals anywhere. Babin reflects on the privilege and burden of command, including the loss of teammates, while both men celebrate cross-service professionalism and the need to instill ownership, humility, and drive in the next generation.
Follow Leif on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/leifbabin/
To check out Leif & Jocko’s book visit: https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057
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
1 hr 33 min
March 23 "The Admiral Stockdale Letter That Got Me to OCS" with Former Navy SEAL Mark Greene
In this episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon welcomes Mark Greene, a former Navy SEAL who enlisted after a college football injury derailed his athletic dreams, then rose from enlisted operator to officer through grit, determination, and pivotal mentorship moments during BUD/S and beyond. Greene recounts his journey starting with failing the initial SEAL screening pull-up test but secretly training to pass, surviving the brutal cold of BUD/S, deploying post-9/11 with SEAL Team 5, and later commissioning as an officer where he instructed sniper courses, led challenging platoons by earning trust and nicknames like "Bogey," and navigated unique leadership tests—including commanding a team of "dregs" that thrived under his care and building deep bonds. After retiring in 2016 amid injuries and organizational frustrations, Greene faced a turbulent transition involving divorce, psychological struggles including suicidal thoughts, and a near-crash, but found redemption through unexpected kindness, gratitude practices, saying "yes" to opportunities, earning an MBA, working at USC, and authoring his book Unsealed: A Navy SEAL's Guide to Mastering Life's Transitions—a memoir focused on resilience across life's shifts rather than combat tales. The conversation emphasizes authentic leadership, the dangers of lacking purpose post-service, incremental progress over perfection, age-appropriate mistakes during change, and the power of community support, with Greene now thriving while pursuing public speaking and a potential second book to help others navigate transitions.
Follow Mark on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/themarkgreene/
Check out Mark’s Book at: https://www.themarkgreene.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
PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD
1 hr 15 min
March 16 “Leadership Is Earned, Not Given” - Bruno Fallon's No-BS Guide
In this solo episode of The HOTWASH podcast by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon—a 40-year veteran of U.S. Special Operations—delivers an unscripted, passionate rant responding to listener-submitted topics. He defines ethos as the foundation of true leadership and character: doing the right (and hard) thing when no one's watching, avoiding shortcuts, and living authentically to earn genuine followership across military, business, parenting, or any domain. Fallon expresses cautious support for school Guardian programs (armed teachers) only with rigorous training, proper storage, and a defensive last-resort mindset, emphasizing firearm proficiency and safety. He passionately defends law enforcement, urging gratitude and recognition of their constant risks and media-distorted realities, contrasting them with celebrated military and firefighters. Transitioning to life after service, he stresses maintaining mission, fitness, passion, and energy in entrepreneurship—prioritizing quality of life, people, and purpose over paychecks while warning against oversaturated fields like apparel or booze. He highlights Born Primitive's massive veterans' medical debt relief campaigns (tens of millions erased, with ambitious 2026 goals including first responders). On leadership, Fallon hammers home being a role model through bearing, fitness, putting people first, clear vision, obstacle removal, praise in public/discipline in private, and two-way communication. He touches on human performance (realistic goals, consistency, task-specific training, holistic movements, balanced nutrition with indulgences as rewards), hormone therapy (common need post-45 in high-stress careers, after cleaning lifestyle factors and proper bloodwork), and rejects "fat shaming" excuses while tying fitness to self-discipline and leadership credibility. The episode closes with anti-woke sentiments, calls to preserve America's restored strength, and encouragement for physical activity, outdoor exploration, and color-blind judgment of people as good or bad. Overall, it's a fiery, no-holds-barred blend of mindset advice, community support, and personal convictions from a battle-tested operator now shaping tactical apparel and culture.
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
1 hr 16 min
March 09 “You Will Get So Far in Life by Surrounding Yourself with Winners” Aron Snyder, Jake Arvold and Luke Caudillo Unleash
In this high-energy episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon joins Aron Snyder, Luke Caudillo, and Jake Arvold for a raw, unfiltered conversation from day three of the Western Hunt Expo in the HUXWRX booth. The group dives into wild trade-show antics, including a full-on wrestling match that left everyone bruised and laughing, while reflecting on the evolution of toughness from old-school bar fights to today’s skilled, high-stakes confrontations. They explore the shared ethos of the tactical and outdoor worlds—surrounding yourself with winners, learning from failure through blunt-force experience, rejecting ego-driven shortcuts, and embracing hard things like backpack hunts, Patriot Games, and real-world stress testing. Amid energy drinks, beef sticks survival stories, and candid talk about cortisol, sleep, and positive influence on the next generation, the episode celebrates authentic brotherhood, relentless self-improvement, and the joy of pushing limits together in a community that values grit over glamour.
Follow Aron on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/aron_snyder/?hl=en
Follow Jake on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/jakearvold/?hl=en
Follow Luke on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/lilhulk155/?hl=en
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitivetactical.com/
Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bornprimitivetactical/
Follow Born Primitive Outdoor on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/bornprimitiveoutdoor/?hl=en

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BornPrimitiveTactical
1 hr 32 min
March 02 No Ego, No Shortcuts: How Real Hunters Actually Win w/ Aron Snyder, Dan Staton, & Kristy Titus
In this lively episode of The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, recorded live at the Western Hunt Expo in Salt Lake City inside the HUXWRX booth, host Bruno Fallon gathers the Born Primitive Outdoor team—Aron Snyder, Dan Staton, and Kristy Titus—for a candid, unfiltered conversation blending humor, camaraderie, and industry insights. The group shares wild stories of playful brawls at trade shows, deep friendships forged through shared hardships, and the gritty realities of Western big-game hunting (backpack hunts, solo efforts, stock management, and mental toughness), while contrasting the brotherhood of the tactical world with the more competitive, pay-to-play dynamics of the outdoor industry. They emphasize authenticity, hard work, and integrity over shortcuts like faking content or unethical practices (including AI-generated photos and thermal cheating), critique the rise of inauthentic influencers, and discuss evolving media from print/TV to raw social content. The episode closes with appreciation for the team's ethos, upcoming Born Primitive product teases (like puffy pants, fleece, and the Near Zero barefoot boot), and a heartfelt nod to grit, respect, and rising together in a demanding field.
Follow Aron on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/aron_snyder/?hl=en
Follow Dan on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/elkshape/
Follow Kristy on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kristytitus/?hl=en
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
1 hr 34 min
February 23 Jocko’s COO Dives into Extreme Ownership, Ego, & Life as a SEAL Spouse
In this episode of The HOTWASH podcast by Born Primitive Tactical, host Bruno Fallon interviews Jamie Cochran, Chief Operating Officer of Echelon Front, the leadership consultancy founded by former Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Jamie, who joined as the company's first employee in 2014 and rose through the ranks by applying Extreme Ownership principles, shares her journey from a young Navy SEAL wife navigating the challenges of military life (including rapid induction into BUD/S realities, frequent deployments, unpredictable schedules, home-front independence, and the emotional toll of losses like a friend's fatal helicopter crash) to a key leader at Echelon Front. She discusses how combat-born lessons from the book Extreme Ownership - such as taking full responsibility for everything impacting the mission, subordinating ego, decentralized command, and prioritizing ownership over blame - translate powerfully to business, family, and personal growth. The conversation emphasizes practical leadership application: empowering teams to solve problems, listening with earnest questions, giving credit for wins while owning failures, fostering culture fit over pure expertise when promoting from within, and avoiding ego-driven friction (illustrated by everyday examples like the "dishwasher debate"). Bruno and Jamie highlight mentorship through example, building autonomy and trust in teams, and the broader mission of Echelon Front to deliver impactful, actionable leadership training via books, events like Muster and Assembly (women-focused), online courses, and onsite workshops - ultimately stressing that ownership mindset solves problems in any high-stakes environment, from the battlefield to the boardroom to the home front.
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
1 hr 16 min
February 16 Former Navy SEAL TK Eppley on Leadership, Ego, and Building Success After Departing the Teams
In this deeply reflective episode of HOTWASH, hosted by Bruno Fallon, retired Navy SEAL TK Eppley shares a remarkable career journey that spans his time in the SEAL teams, post-military technology roles, and eventual leadership in aerospace and high-stakes business environments. Beginning with childhood influences and a pivotal decision to leave electrical engineering for the Navy, TK recounts how early SEAL experiences—particularly maritime operations and leadership lessons from mentors—shaped his relentless pursuit of competence, risk mitigation, and doing the unglamorous but essential work others avoid. He candidly discusses navigating toxic leadership, building high-performing teams by empowering people (especially young talent), defining success clearly, absorbing blame while sharing credit, and rejecting ego-driven "legend" narratives in favor of authentic growth. Throughout, TK emphasizes timeless principles: mitigate risk holistically, hire for attitude over skill, lead by listening and giving away accountability, and remain fully alive by resisting suffering through continuous self-improvement—offering powerful, no-nonsense insights for veterans transitioning to civilian leadership and anyone seeking to build effective, human-centered organizations.
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
2 hr 25 min
February 09 “We Refuse to Release Gear That Fails” - Inside Born Primitive Tactical Apparel Approach
In this episode of The HOTWASH podcast by Born Primitive Tactical, hosted by Bruno Fallon, guests Tim Terry (former SWAT/breacher), Kurt Gamache (product lead and former SOF operator), and later Sean Garrison (national law enforcement sales manager and former SWAT sergeant), pulls back the curtain on Born Primitive Tactical's rigorous, operator-driven product development process. Bruno explains the recent decision to abandon their Made-in-USA MultiCam assault uniform after a major quality failure (19 major defects) and a seven-figure loss, emphasizing that they refuse to compromise standards even when U.S. manufacturing proves far slower (10–12 months vs. 4–5) and dramatically more expensive (~$300 vs. $209 retail). Kurt details the no-fail mindset behind testing—starting with lab textile evaluation, progressing through extended real-world trials (4+ weeks minimum, often months) across extreme environments, and incorporating in-house operator feedback plus external mission-essential users—while highlighting products like the Patriot One mid assault boot (23 months, 11 versions, custom non-squeaking Vibram sole proven via extreme fast-rope testing) and the antifreeze-compound knee pad insert refined after cold/heat failures. The discussion covers cross-over items like the wind-blocking Headwind fleece (with removable hood and TPU membrane), the upcoming police patrol uniform (sleek adaptation of the assault line for everyday first-responder use), and the bushcraft hoodie (89% high-micron wool blend for superior warmth, breathability, and fire resistance). Throughout, the team stresses relentless iteration, standing behind products with no-questions-asked replacements, building trade-compliant manufacturing for government interest, and prioritizing human performance and durability over rushed releases—culminating in Tim’s rocket-ship analogy for the brand’s innovative trajectory and a teaser about a major upcoming announcement involving America’s first SWAT team switching to Born Primitive uniforms.
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
1 hr 17 min

About The Hotwash by Born Primitive Tactical

From the publisher's feed

In The HOTWASH by Born Primitive Tactical, Bruno Fallon, a 40-year veteran of U.S. Special Operations, explores what separates elite operators from the rest—mindset. With no filters, Bruno and his guests—leaders from special ops, industry, coaching, and athletics—share the philosophies, resilience, and leadership principles that push boundaries and redefine success. This podcast uncovers the experiences that transform ordinary people into legends and teaches the mindset that drives the toughest leaders.