From SAS Operator to Psychologist: Harry Moffitt on the Power of Stoicism and the 'Fourth Pillar'

In this episode, we’re talking to Harry Moffitt - SAS veteran, psychologist & human performance consultant. The physical, psychological and social pillars of human performance are well known, but Harry believes that, as a society, we have forgotten the crucial fourth pillar, our philosophical self. We discuss the importance of philosophy as a tool for navigating our uncertain world. We explore how ancient wisdom, developed thousands of years ago, remains deeply relevant today. Guest, Cast & CrewHarry Moffitt retired from the Australian Defence Force after almost 30 years, most of which were spent with Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment. He completed 11 active service deployments and completed his time with the SAS as its Human Performance Manager. He’s a registered psychologist and runs a human performance consultancy, Stotan Group, working with sports teams, the military and the corporate world. He has recently released a new book called The Fourth Pillar: Modern Stoicism & the Philosophy of High Performance. Hosted by Martin Jones https://www.ophp.co.uk Produced & edited by Bess ManleyResourcesHarry’s website https://harrymoffitt.com.au/ The new book – The Fourth Pillar https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761563133/ Eleven Bats: A Story of Combat, Cricket & the SAS https://www.elevenbats.com.au/ The Externals' latest album – Back on the Cans https://open.spotify.com/album/1hsoDqmGApnKvLwyxngFB4?highlight=spotify:track:7rL6Sn7C0t9YkBdvVhYWEN  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrymoffitt/?originalSubdomain=au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrymoffitt353/?hl=en Stotan Group https://stotangroup.com.au/ The Master and His Emissary https://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-His-Emissary-Divided-Western/dp/0300188374 Percy Cerutty https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/percy-cerutty/ Thanks for tuning in. If you found this podcast valuable, please take a moment to rate, share and review.  If you have feedback, guest suggestions, or topics you'd love us to cover, do email us at [email protected] or connect with us on LinkedIn.    Chapters00:12 Guest Background & Career Overview01:24 Human Performance Program in the Military03:02 Evolution of Human Performance Programs07:07 Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life11:13 Journey into Psychology15:14 The New Book: The Fourth Pillar20:30 Exploring Stoicism & Philosophy23:56 Discovering Stoicism & Its Modern Relevance25:15 Ancient Practices in Modern Times26:11 The Philosophy of Modern Stoicism27:12 Applying Stoicism in High-Performance Environments30:41 The Role of Philosophy in Personal Development44:35 The Importance of Reading & Lifelong LearningThanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:www.ophp.co.ukConnect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/Instagram: @ophumanperformanceIf you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.