Phil Hopper: Ex-SWAT Officer Ditches Badge for Pulpit | MTNPOD #143 episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 24, 2025 · 52 MIN

Phil Hopper: Ex-SWAT Officer Ditches Badge for Pulpit | MTNPOD #143

from MTNTOUGH Podcast w/ Dustin Diefenderfer · host Dustin Diefenderfer Founder and CEO of MTNTOUGH Fitness

Former Kansas City SWAT sergeant Phil Hopper shares his jaw-dropping story of surviving a near-fatal wreck, finding Christ, leading men to Jesus on the job, and how God hijacked his career overnight to turn him into a pastor. With a massive spiritual awakening sweeping America right now, he reveals how to know when God is truly calling you, why real faith has to feel dangerous, and how men break free from numbness to live with lion-like purpose.Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer.V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1msS U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo__________________________________________W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.0:00 - When You Know God Is Calling You (You Can’t Say No)1:02 - Free 6-Week MTNTOUGH Training (Code Inside)2:27 - Massive Spiritual Awakening Happening Right Now in America3:57 - Planned Spontaneity: Spontaneous Baptisms Every Sunday7:45 - From Hunter to LEO-Dominated Community9:41 - SWAT Officer’s Prodigal Son Crash That Changed Everything13:29 - “I Went to Bed a Cop, Woke Up a Pastor”19:34 - No Plan B: How to Know You’re Truly Called26:33 - Men Are Made to Live Dangerously (Get Out of the Boat!)38:56 - The Supernatural Man Inside You: Dunamis Power Explained41:27 - Climbed Kilimanjaro… But Never Summited (Powerful Lesson)50:49 - The Lion Emerging in Christian Men Right Now

Former Kansas City SWAT sergeant Phil Hopper shares his jaw-dropping story of surviving a near-fatal wreck, finding Christ, leading men to Jesus on the job, and how God hijacked his career overnight to turn him into a pastor. With a massive spiritual awakening sweeping America right now, he reveals how to know when God is truly calling you, why real faith has to feel dangerous, and how men break free from numbness to live with lion-like purpose.Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S. 🐏 Get Your First Month of MTNTOUGH Free Use Code "MTNPOD" @ https://mtntough.com/.) On this show, we delve into guests' purpose, mentality, and mental toughness so you can learn from the best of the best. Whether you're a seasoned backcountry hunter, an outdoorsman, or simply someone who wants to level up your mindset, this is your go-to source for inspiration, expert insights, campfire tales, entrepreneurship, and stories of perseverance and triumph. Presented by Sig Sauer.V I D E O S TO W A T C H N E X T🎙️ More MTNTOUGH Podcast Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdAelJZ1bZWr5v6K_-IPix0tq8b7xH1msS U P P O R T O U R S P O N S O R S: 💊 Get 20% off MTNTOPS Supplements, Use Code "MTNTOUGH" Here at checkout: https://mtn-ops.sjv.io/LXkPEo__________________________________________W H A T I S M T N T O U G H F I T N E S S?MTNTOUGH is The #1 Fitness App Trusted By The DedicatedOur premier functional fitness programming is conveniently packaged for hunters, first responders, military, and mountain athletes. Train at home, at the gym, or on the go.Since 2016, MTNTOUGH has been dedicated to helping individuals achieve their personal goals by creating a foundation for physical and mental toughness. The brand’s best-in-class programs are developed, tested, and proven by former Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and renowned physical trainers. MTNTOUGH+ programs are used by elite groups and operators, including special ops forces, wildland firefighters, backcountry hunters, professional mountain athletes, and more. The MTNTOUGH fitness lab is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by some of the world’s top mountain athletes.0:00 - When You Know God Is Calling You (You Can’t Say No)1:02 - Free 6-Week MTNTOUGH Training (Code Inside)2:27 - Massive Spiritual Awakening Happening Right Now in America3:57 - Planned Spontaneity: Spontaneous Baptisms Every Sunday7:45 - From Hunter to LEO-Dominated Community9:41 - SWAT Officer’s Prodigal Son Crash That Changed Everything13:29 - “I Went to Bed a Cop, Woke Up a Pastor”19:34 - No Plan B: How to Know You’re Truly Called26:33 - Men Are Made to Live Dangerously (Get Out of the Boat!)38:56 - The Supernatural Man Inside You: Dunamis Power Explained41:27 - Climbed Kilimanjaro… But Never Summited (Powerful Lesson)50:49 - The Lion Emerging in Christian Men Right Now

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Phil Hopper: Ex-SWAT Officer Ditches Badge for Pulpit | MTNPOD #143

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This episode was published on November 24, 2025.

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Former Kansas City SWAT sergeant Phil Hopper shares his jaw-dropping story of surviving a near-fatal wreck, finding Christ, leading men to Jesus on the job, and how God hijacked his career overnight to turn him into a pastor. With a massive...

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