The WarriorU Podcast

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.

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.  

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. 

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.

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.

WarriorU Podcast - Episode 32.  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.

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.    

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.

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) 

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

Summary In this episode of The WarriorU Podcast Bram talks to Pete O’Hanlon, also known as Bad Tourist. Now spending his time pursuing an acting career, he joined the Australian military in July 1997at the age of 19. Shortly after in 1999, he was sent on his first deployment as a gunner with INTERFET in East Timor. Pete was promoted several times throughout his military career before leaving the force in 2009. Pete discusses how his time in the military, and especially his departure from it, drastically changed him as a person. He felt that he no longer had anything to identify with once he was no longer in service, and the events that happened in Pete’s life after discharge made things worse. After successfully running the Dog Squad team to a championship, he was released from his position. At the same time, he was regularly arguing with his wife which lead to a divorce. This was Pete’s rock bottom. Pete shares information about the change in mindset he had that allowed him to turn his life around into what it is today. He tells us how he was able to get his first acting job and comments on the state of the entertainment industry in Australia. Pete also gives advice to anyone who is considering a  career with the military.

In this episode of WarriorU, Bram Connolly speaks to long time friend Rob Langdon. They served together in the 1st Battalion in the early 1990s and stayed in touch in the years that followed. Rob served for almost fifteen years in the Army, before becoming a security contractor working in Iraq and Afghanistan. In July 2009 Rob was protecting a convoy when he shot and killed an Afghan guard during a heated argument after the guard drew a pistol on him. Rob's claim of self-defence was dismissed by a court in Kabul that refused to hear any of his evidence or call any of his witnesses, and he was sentenced to death in a matter of minutes. Rob's death sentence was later changed to 20 years in jail, to be served in Afghanistan's most notorious prison, Pol-e-Charkhi, described as the world's worst place to be a Westerner. Rob was there for seven years, and every one of those two thousand five hundred days was an act of survival in a jail run from the inside by the Taliban and filled with some of Afghanistan's most dangerous extremists and criminals. In 2016 Rob was pardoned and released. He has recently released his tell all book The Seventh Circle detailing his extraordinary account of what it took to stay alive and sane in almost unimaginable circumstances. https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/other-books/The-Seventh-Circle-Rob-Langdon-9781760296407  

In this episode of the WarriorU Podcast, Bram shares the mic with Hugh Riminton; Veteran, Former Foreign Correspondent and Author of “Minefields: A Life in the News Game,” among many other projects. Bram and Hugh were active during the Somali Conflict in the early 1990’s, and had plenty to reminisce. Both discuss the gruesome conditions of the Somali Conflict (for Soldiers and Journalists); including the dark personal stories, and how much the ADF has matured since that conflict. The two have also flourished post-career in both of their writing careers and personal projects, and found much common ground on how they were able to transition into civilian life. “People were being confronted with scenes that you couldn’t really train for.” “I recommend this for every person involved in the military. It doesn’t matter the quality of writing either. Sit down, start writing, and don’t stop.” “One of the things I’ve realised when writing the book is that the brain is a massive sponge for this stuff. You just don’t know how much of it you’ve got. Once you start writing, it all starts to flow out of you.” “If you don’t know your enemy, you can’t win a war.”   RESOURCES​:Minefields: A Life in the News Game https://www.hachette.com.au/hugh-riminton/minefields      

In this episode of WarriorU Bram talks to the one and only Tara Pitt. Tara entered Australian Survivor (2017) for deeply personal reasons and eventually, after 55 days in the wilderness, she became the much loved runner-up on the show. She learnt much about herself in the process and in particular she used the time to reflect on the passing of her father. But, and I mean but.... don't think it was all about reflection and finding herself, she was there to play the game too and play the game she did. Her competition style was social and when it came to the crunch she was able to execute the big moves with the rest of the players. Now a public speaker, broadcaster and Master of Ceremonies - Tara talks about lots of other things going on in her life such as her passion for barrel racing and Ringers Western clothing.

In this episode Bram talks to ex Commando Sergeant Paul Cale. The wine flows and they discuss the 2010 battle of Zabat Kalay, martial arts, the Army combatives program and various other topics.