'The Mindful Soldier' Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE on Resilience, Fatherhood & Belonging

Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE is a former British Army Colonel and officer in the Royal Gurkha Rifles. He completed eight tours of Afghanistan and spent seven years deployed in some of the world's toughest environments.He’s also a world-championship athlete, and international musician.This conversation isn't really about war, though.It's about resilience. Belonging. Fatherhood.We discuss Ash's turbulent childhood, finding belonging in teams, the realities of combat, leadership under pressure, and why resilience isn't something you're born with, but something you build.We also explore the ideas behind his new book, Mindful Soldier, including "the second arrow", getting outside your comfort zone, and practical ways to navigate life's toughest moments.A thoughtful conversation about adversity, belonging, and what it really takes to keep moving forward with an extraordinary human being.Follow Ash on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashalexcooper Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod Get The Mindful Soldier book here from the Royal British Veterans Enterprise or here from the Gurkha Welfare Trust. It doesn't matter where you buy it, each charity gets 50% of all book proceeds.=====Interviews that might just change your life. And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.This podcast is the result.Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, science and beyond.Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.=====Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.=====Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Project Possible website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.projectpossiblepod.com