The Hero's Journey

Dr. Chris Frueh is a clinical psychologist and researcher who has worked with veterans for more than 35 years. He worked as a frontline clinician in a VA PTSD clinic, treating combat veterans while simultaneously conducting clinical research. He later held academic and leadership roles at the Medical University of South Carolina, the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Menninger Clinic, where he directed research programs focused on trauma, military mental health, and long-term recovery outcomes.Through his work with hundreds of Special Operations veterans, private defense contractors, and high-risk professionals, Dr. Frueh identified a recurring pattern of brain injury exposure, hormonal suppression, sleep disruption, chronic pain, and cognitive decline that did not fit the traditional PTSD model. In 2020, he published a peer-reviewed medical paper (later released as a book) that introduced the term “Operator Syndrome,” challenging prevailing assumptions in military mental health.In this episode, Max and Dr. Frueh examine why PTSD became the default diagnosis for a generation of GWOT veterans, where modern medicine has fallen short, and why a physiology-first, peer-led coaching model may represent the next paradigm shift in healing for high-risk professionals.*This episode is educational and does not constitute medical advice.Chapters:00:03 Introducing Dr. Chris Frueh04:41 Growing Up Around Veterans & Choosing Clinical Psychology07:36 Inside the VA PTSD Clinic11:20 Why He Left the VA System11:42 Meeting Special Operators Who Didn’t Fit the PTSD Model15:44 Brain Scans, Hormones & Aging 40 Years Too Fast17:47 What PTSD Used to Mean vs. What It Means Now25:45 Defining Operator Syndrome 28:32 Allostatic Load & The Cost of 20+ Years of High Tempo33:04 Institutional Betrayal, Afghanistan & First Responders36:28 Why He Joined Sharp Performance 42:19 Firefighters Recognizing Themselves in the Framework49:16 Cultural Competence & Why Therapists Miss the Mark 1:01:25 The Problem with “Normal” Lab Ranges1:06:12 Healing, Recovery & The Virtuous Cycle1:15:11 The Stanford Study Rejection & Medical Gatekeepers1:22:24 The Future of Coaching & A Paradigm Shift[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/33jeQtAbMoS0sKZHLVSMt9?si=pJT7gr5AT6iHdlmhKZS1mw][apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-clinical-psychologist-challenging-ptsd-dr-chris-frueh/id1832731879?i=1000751995949][youtube:https://youtu.be/ViGRR7omd18?si=NVOT-EeWXigwMMFT]

Steve Milgazo spent nearly 30 years in two branches of the U.S. military. He began as an Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) and later became a Navy SEAL. He chased purpose, leadership, and combat across two elite communities, but the cumulative toll eventually followed him home.In this episode, Steven Bunting traces that journey with him: why he left one special operations pipeline to start over in another, how 9/11 reshaped his trajectory, and what it was like to seek conflict. Milgazo also talks openly about the years after service, including burnout, divorce, identity collapse, and the moment he nearly took his life.He explains how he approached recovery like a mission, rebuilding his mental and physical health from the ground up, and how that work led him to coaching. Now at Sharp Performance, he serves high-risk professionals who are still in the arena, helping them extend their impact beyond the uniform.01:10 Going from the Air Force to the Navy 05:03 Steve’s Early Life Inspiration08:40 Choosing the Air Force11:33 From Cocoa Beach to BUD/S 14:28 Starting Over at 2717:38 Going to SEAL Team 2 22:01 Waiting for War in the Wake of 9/1124:55 Learning to Manage Expectations 27:04 Burning Out and Thinking About Retirement31:28 Retiring and Going Through Divorce at the Same Time35:37 Going Back to School37:11 Hitting Rock Bottom 39:02 Going All-in on Healing41:03 Becoming a Sharp Performance Coach44:16 Healing is for Everyone45:28 It’s Never the Wrong Time to Try Coaching[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2nY27e3Bkv9D9L4QGoPz0D?si=8e36d7ec3bde45ec][apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-pararescueman-to-navy-seal-steve-milgazos-mission/id1832731879?i=1000731875041][youtube:https://youtu.be/IkvMlE_pyzs?si=GJp7D_Cq6e7auMRC]

Justin Crocker spent two decades in the U.S. Army, starting in the infantry as a paratrooper before commissioning as an officer and completing Special Forces selection. He deployed to Iraq during the surge as a platoon leader and later commanded a Special Forces detachment in Afghanistan.In this episode, he walks through the lessons learned across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. He explains what combat really teaches about leadership, trust, and the cost of constant performance. He also breaks down why the best units run on decentralized decision-making and why paying attention to your people is more important than tactics.Justin also opens up about the invisible toll of service. He talks about the strain on marriages, the disconnect of coming home, and the loss of purpose that hits when the mission ends. He lays out parallels between the military transition experience and the burnout spiral he sees in both law enforcement and the fire service.Now serving as Head of Talent at Sharp Performance, Justin is fighting a new battle. His focus is on ensuring first responders and high-stress professionals do not wait until a crisis to get support. His message is direct: purpose must be protected, and no one earns longevity by grinding themselves into the ground.00:00 Introduction03:04 Where Justin Was on 9/1106:37 Military Service as a Family Inheritance08:59 Early Lessons as a Paratrooper13:31 Leading Through the Baghdad Surge20:20 Risking It All to Join Special Forces27:38 Earning the Green Beret32:16 Loss, Family Strain, and the Cost of Service36:51 How First Responders Struggle to Switch Off at Home42:15 Why So Many Retire and Decline Quickly47:19 Choosing Purpose Again at Sharp52:45 Overtime, Burnout, and the Loss of Mission[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2H0NXRlRo2jWwOMEdNEF8O?si=ec37537e2fbb4a21][apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-green-beret-to-tech-recruiter-justin-crocker-on/id1832731879?i=1000729382494][youtube:https://youtu.be/JzhSdVldLIE?si=xO2Pwsbc2QOUrvfg]

Former Navy SEAL and firefighter paramedic Guy McDermott shares his unfiltered story of service, struggle, and redemption. Over the course of 24 years in the Navy, he experienced unbreakable brotherhood and the physical toll of training, including surviving BUD/S with pneumonia and fractured ribs.When his military career ended, Guy faced the painful loss of identity that so many warriors encounter. He became a firefighter and paramedic, stepping into homes not with a weapon but with the tools to save lives. Yet even in the fire service, silence and stigma followed him. A critical call in October 2019 caused him to freeze, and he carried that shame home.In this powerful conversation with host Max Bush, Guy reflects on losing friends to suicide, battling shame, and finding his way back through daily practices that rebuilt his sense of self. He explains how relentless coaching saved lives, why protecting your energy matters, and how warriors can bring each other home.Chapters00:00 Intro – Meet Guy McDermott01:00 24 Years in the Navy02:10 Growing Up in an Unsafe Household06:08 Choosing the Warrior Path09:43 Hell Week with Pneumonia11:55 What SEAL Brotherhood Really Means15:16 Becoming a Firefighter - Saving Lives vs Taking Lives24:22 Withholding the Truth25:12 Suffering Through the Loss of a Friend26:27 The Breaking Point32:37 Exploring the Wellness Process38:08 Relentless Coaching and Accountability40:52 Guy’s Coaching Style42:21 Preparing Police and Fire Chiefs for Retirement50:08 Advice for First Responders[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BjO71jXzG7tlr0MVJDck2?si=00270869451b4c48][apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-navy-seal-to-firefighter-paramedic-guy-mcdermott/id1832731879?i=1000727063112][youtube:https://youtu.be/bwntl0AAZG8?si=PTF1WND2O-uqH4KU]

In this episode of The Hero’s Journey, Jared Cheselske shares his path from a military household in San Diego to the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, and eventually the fire service. He recalls serving in Panama on security operations and deploying to Kuwait and Iraq during Desert Storm. After leaving the Army, he completed three different fire academies and spent nearly 30 years on the job in Salt Lake City and San Diego.Jared talks about the physical and emotional cost of those careers: chronic injuries, sleepless nights, and the loss of close friends. By 2017, the strain had compounded and taken a major toll on his family life. A call from a fellow firefighter led him to get help, and working with a coach gave him tools to restore his sleep, regulate stress, and rebuild his health.He explains how coaching gave him language to make sense of what he was experiencing, and why he started sharing those tools with others. Jared describes his work today with Sharp Performance coaching first responders. He notes that while his clients come from very different backgrounds, the patterns are strikingly similar, and the same practical tools continue to make the difference.Chapters00:00 A Lifesaving Call01:22 Growing Up in a Military Household10:43 Deciding to Join the Army14:05 Boot Camp and Joining the 101st Airborne20:20 Desert Storm31:45 Transitioning Out of the Army33:05 Finding the Fire Service36:00 Going Through Multiple Fire Academies37:05 Hitting Rock Bottom38:46 The Call That Changed Everything40:50 Finding Coaching41:41 Sharing Tools That Work42:55 Building a Support Group for Firefighters48:22 A New Chapter with Sharp Performance50:57 Using the Operator Syndrome Framework52:36 Nonprofit Work in Hawaii56:40 You’re Not Alone[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bmnyhUKNNx9gRUK5qOGyH?si=cb93669e2ae24322][apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-101st-airborne-division-to-firefighter-jared/id1832731879?i=1000724632869][youtube:https://youtu.be/qSkRP0HRnlE?si=mwRZ8sAa0V4An17g]

Max Bush grew up in small-town Illinois chasing football dreams before finding his way into the Navy SEALs. The Teams gave him purpose and belonging, but leaving that world brought isolation, injuries, and struggles he never expected.In this conversation, Max talks about the failures that pushed him toward the Navy, the lessons that carried him through BUD/S, and the dark transition that followed. He shares the turning points, including mentorship, coaching, and a meditation retreat that changed his life, and the moment he realized his story could help others.Today, as Head of Customer Engagement at Sharp Performance, Max is the one standing in front of firefighters, police, and military professionals. Through raw honesty and the sword and sheath analogy, he connects his own journey to theirs and shows what it takes to stay sharp in the face of demanding careers.Chapters:0:00 Introduction and Early Life in Illinois3:33 Football Dreams and Struggles in School4:54 A Family of Sailors and Military Influence7:00 What the SEAL Movies Get Wrong (And the One That Gets It Right)8:26 Failures, Partying, and Choosing the Navy10:43 How to Become a SEAL12:45 Lessons from BUD/S: One Meal at a Time14:43 Rising to the Level of Your Peers18:06 Misconceptions Around Mental Health20:40 The Dark Transition Out of Service22:21 From SEAL to Salesman25:31 Injuries, Stress, and Operator Syndrome28:23 The Path to Sharp29:28 Breakthrough at a Meditation Retreat33:12 Benefits of Learning Meditation from a Professional34:36 From SEAL to Storyteller36:33 The Sword and Sheath Analogy41:39 A New Sense of Purpose42:39 The Foolish Mindset45:10 Find Someone to Show Up For[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0wMZO4NNOnIXLU9H5HGwkr?si=ce17812c52cd4dd9][apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-seal-to-storyteller-max-bush-on-failure-transition/id1832731879?i=1000723594490][youtube:https://youtu.be/Xnh3tv5y7kY?si=53kGAZR0jCYYnOs9]

Steven Bunting’s life has been shaped by adversity. From growing up in an Alabama trailer park to serving as an Independent Duty Corpsman in the Navy, his story is one of grit, loss, and redemption.In this episode of The Hero’s Journey, Steven shares how a tough childhood and a pact with his little brother led him to Special Operations, deployments around the world, and years as a medic on the front lines. He talks about the steep cost of service, losing friends and family, battling alcohol, and the moment he realized he had to change.After transitioning out of the Navy, Steven became a marriage and family therapist to fill the critical gap for high-risk communities. He explains how coaching, mentorship, and the mind-body connection helped him rebuild his life and relationships.Today, he serves as Head of Coaching at Sharp Performance, helping others in demanding occupations take back control of their health, performance, and purpose.Learn more about Sharp Performance: https://hubs.la/Q03Dmtg70Chapters00:00 Introduction02:32 Childhood in a Birmingham Trailer Park07:01 Moving in with Grandparents and Watching 9/11 on TV08:56 Call Center Job, Fallujah on TV, and the Pact with His Brother10:13 Fight with Marine Recruiter, Choosing the Navy Instead13:22 Boot Camp, Becoming a Corpsman, and Special Operations Selection17:28 Deployments as a Frontline Medic22:30 Alcohol, Family Strain, and Losing Friends and His Brother to Suicide30:14 Rock Bottom After Afghanistan and Contracting30:54 First VA Session Ends with the Psychologist Asleep36:00 Discovering Coaching, Meditation, and the Mind-Body Connection41:00 Building the Coaching Program at Sharp Performance[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5indYjqNQWUiq0HYifYBFk?si=ece87e604a8541fd][apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-trailer-park-to-special-operations-how/id1832731879?i=1000722656374][youtube:https://youtu.be/BsigCm102PM?si=JGh9XRbI8Z4ddUh4]

In the first episode of The Hero’s Journey podcast, Sharp Performance co-founder Andrew Sakmar shares how 15 years in the Army, concluded by career-ending injuries, led him to build a new approach to performance coaching for demanding professions.Hosted by Navy SEAL veteran Max Bush, this episode traces Andrew’s path from childhood inspiration through the Citadel, infantry leadership, and Special Forces selection. He opens up about the injuries that forced him out of the military and the recovery process that followed. Max and Andrew explore how hard-earned lessons from the frontlines can be used to support law enforcement and first responders at home.Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:47 The Hero's Journey Framework06:43 Andrew's Call to Adventure10:11 Path to Becoming a Green Beret19:28 A Raw Moment of Clarity25:16 Continuing the Mission Beyond the Uniform26:35 Andrew’s Personal Call to Action27:54 Understanding First Responders30:14 Finding New Purpose in Helping the Next Generation33:00 Tools for Transition36:06 The Only Two Choices43:18 Storytelling as a Tool for Connection47:14 Vision for the FutureLearn more about Sharp Performance: https://hubs.la/Q03ChDnC0[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zsW6rB1w10uVbKHUhGCjH?si=331b921bb25e4a96][apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-green-beret-to-founder-andrew-sakmar-on-the/id1832731879?i=1000721670078][youtube:https://youtu.be/FsKICIxQnzU?si=tuq_5YsgYrcCWnt2]