Heroin to Hero: A Green Beret’s Journey of Redemption

Today we sit down with Dan—a former addict turned elite Special Forces medic. From growing up in a broken home and battling heroin addiction to becoming a Green Beret and trauma instructor, Dan’s story is one of grit, transformation, and purpose. Dan shares the raw truth about hitting rock bottom, detoxing cold turkey, and how fatherhood and military service saved his life. He dives into the brutal realities of Special Forces selection, his unexpected path to becoming a medic, and how mindset was the key to overcoming every obstacle. Powered by Core Medical Group Join the Core Medical Group family today! For more information, visit: https://coremedicalgrp.com/ Follow the podcast : https://www.instagram.com/thesidneygordon.podcast/ Follow Core Medical Group: https://www.instagram.com/coremedhrt Follow Dan: https://www.instagram.com/18dan_simmons 00:00 – Opening Monologue: Dan’s Life-Altering Realization 01:16 – Sidney Introduces Dan (and Gets Emotional) 02:00 – Growing Up in Virginia: Chaos, Sports & Responsibility 04:17 – The Growth Spurt That Changed Everything 06:30 – Working Since Age 11 & Early Hustles 08:12 – Sidney’s Parallel Upbringing & Reflections on His Mom 10:00 – Mind Over Matter: Working Through Physical Pain 11:48 – Daily Affirmations & Entrepreneurial Pressure 13:16 – Choosing College Far from Home 14:18 – The Magic of Montana’s "Big Sky Country" 15:43 – Man Trips: Living Off the Land 18:09 – Starving in the Wilderness & the Trout That Saved Him 22:29 – Returning Home: The Wrong Crowd & Drug Spiral 23:47 – Discovering He’s Having Twins While Addicted 25:25 – Locking Himself Away to Detox Cold Turkey 28:08 – Gratitude for His Daughters & Breaking the Cycle 30:22 – Witnessing Childbirth & the Trauma of a C-Section 33:13 – Becoming a Medic: 15+ C-Sections Later 34:47 – Teaching Doctors Without a Medical Degree 35:24 – Learning Medical Terminology Like a Second Language 36:14 – Joining the Military: A Conversation with Grandpa 39:06 – Army Basic Training Before the Iraq War 40:53 – NSA Assignment, Feeling Lost & Wanting More 42:00 – Asking God for a Sign – And Getting It 44:11 – Brutal Green Beret Selection: Mind Over Everything 47:44 – The Final Mental Test That Made 30 Guys Quit 50:24 – “Welcome to the Brotherhood” – Dan Gets Selected 52:03 – Becoming a Medic Wasn’t His Choice—But Became His Purpose 54:50 – The Pressure & Perfection Required of a Combat Medic 56:10 – Trauma Rotation: Saving Lives at a Level One Center #VeteranStories #GreenBeret #AddictionRecovery #Mindset #SpecialForces #TraumaMedicine #Fatherhood #Podcast #SidneyGordon