We Fight Monsters

I sit with Matt Larsen, Seb Levoie and John Valentine to discuss Man Camps and Rites of Passage. We discuss the Modern Day Knight Project, but that is not our main focus. While I believe that camps are beneficial to men, they are not the be all end all to a man's existential issues. MDKP cannot give that to you. The solution to man's existential crisis isn't found at camps, but goes deeper, and those issues are covered by writers such as Van Gennep, Robert, Bly, Robert L Moore & Gillette, Carl Jung, and Joseph Campbell. If a man doesn't have some kind of meaning in his life he is going to have issues fitting into his culture. Sadly, traditional institutional structures have been torn down. Where do men look for guidance? You cannot strip-mine manhood, purpose and meaning; you have to be disciplined and do work everyday to improve; it's a lifetime of work. Man camps can be good; it's best that you search for some that don't posit they are going to provide you all of the skills and experience needed to handle all of life's battles; it comes from being disciplined daily and not expecting breakthroughs via these 72hr (or longer) camps. We’re not here to attack the man, but the argument and see if the argument is sound. Seb Lavoie is the CEO of Raven Strategic. He brings a wealth of experience as a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police divisional Sgt. Major, Combatives and Security Expert, and is a BJJ Blackbelt. https://www.instagram.com/slavccmdr/ Matt Larsen, a career Army Ranger and Black Belt Hall of Fame member who is best known as a hand-to-hand combat expert and the father of the U.S. Army's Modern Army Combatives Program, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the 75th Ranger Regiment during the course of a 22-year career in the military. John is a military veteran and instructor in combat skills, with a background in force protection and austere communications. https://www.instagram.com/combatives/ John is a "TOP GUN" graduate of the Rangemaster instructor program, holds a Black Belt in Combatives from Combatives University, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and a "B" Classification in the USPSA Carry Optics division. As a founding member of the Combatives Association, he organizes the Combatives Association Summit. He coordinates and teaches comprehensive training programs for civilians, police, and the military. https://www.instagram.com/johnv_actual/ Support the show

Former CANSOF and much more! Follow Shaun. Shaun Taylor is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, Pathfinder and one of the plank holders of the Tier One unit JTF-2. The Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) is a highly secretive and elite special operations unit of the Canadian Armed Forces, specializing in counter-terrorism operations, both at home and abroad. Shaun is also a -Performance Race Coach/24hr Solo MTB World Champion. Martial Artist, Author, Roaster, Podcaster, and Ass kicker Follow Shaun: https://www.instagram.com/shauntaylors1/ Follow podcast: https://www.instagram.com/the_collective_ig/ Support the show

Joe Kent, is a retired Green Beret combat veteran, 2024 WA State GOP endorsed Candidate for Congress, Gold Star Husband, and author. He also served as a CIA paramilitary officer. Joe served as a foreign policy advisor to President Trump and as a project manager for a technology company before retiring on his military pension in January of 2023 to devote himself fully to the campaign. For more information on Joe Kent visit: https://joekentforcongress.com and on social media at @joekent16jan19 and @joekentforcongress If you like the show, support us here at: https://silenciocoffeeco.com/ Find us on Instagram: We Fight Monsters: https://www.instagram.com/wefightmonsters/ WFM Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2151876/episodes Support the show

Seb Lavoie is the CEO of Raven Strategic. He brings a wealth of experience as a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police divisional Sgt. Major, Combatives and Security Expert, and is a BJJ Blackbelt. He can boast of being sixteen years immersed in the tactical realm. He is also a performance coach, and sought after speaker who specializes in leadership and resilience training. Seb is finishing a Master’s degree in International Security in global counter terrorism. So stay tuned for an engaging conversation. On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slavccmdr/ https://spotterup.com/ https://silenciocoffeeco.com/ Support the show

Matt Victoriano served as a Marine Scout/Sniper Chief Scout and Team Leader from 2000-2004. During 2003, he participated in the invasion of Iraq and returned one year later to conduct operations in Al Anbar and Babylon provinces. Since leaving the Marines, Mr. Victoriano has stayed current on national security and foreign policy issues through training, research, and consulting with various organizations and businesses. Support the show

I speak with Todd Fox on his business, life and why men must fight. Todd Fox is the founder and owner of the Close Protection Group. He is a former U.S. Marine and was assigned duties that spanned the Corps’ broad gamut, ranged from washing dishes to operating with JTF-6. His access to “B” billets offered insight into unique realms outside the military. Mr. Fox is also a former law enforcement officer. He was responsible for the creation, development and training of a regional law enforcement Special Response Team. His team participated in the protection of humans and assets during several pivotal national events. He is a graduate of multiple advanced programs at the Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Mr. Fox has been a lifelong martial artist. He holds three black belts in uniquely different arts. While in the Marine Corps, he fought in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and retired with a professional record of ten wins and two losses. Mr. Fox is a U.S. National Champion, U.S. Open Champion and Pan American Medalist in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He continues to actively train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. Mr. Fox has authored three books on protective service operations and numerous articles as a protective security subject matter expert (SME). Support the show

Brian Duff is a former member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and founder and host of the Mind4Survival podcast. As a lifelong preparedness advocate, Brian helps preparedness minded people gain the confidence and skills necessary to protect their family’s and loved ones when it matters most. Brian’s prepping experience began in high shcool and kicked into gear with his time as a paramedic in South Central Los Angeles. Following his time as a firefighter-paramedic and Army Ranger, Brian spent over a decade deployed in non-permissive environments around the globe with both Blackwater, and as a employee of the US Department of State (DOS), where he oversaw the DOS security forces in both Baghdad and Basrah, Iraq. After his time overseas, Brian returned to the Washington DC area where he oversaw a $2B government security program. With his time in DC at a close Brian went on to become the Director of Training for North American Rescue’s tactical medicine training program. Now, Brian’s focus is to make disaster preparedness mainstream with his Mind4Survival podcast and social media efforts. Brian is project management professional certified, and holds a bachelor’s degree in security management along with a master’s in business administration (MBA) Support the show

I speak with Mike Green. Mike Green served over 15 years in Special Forces, including three years as an Assaulter in a sinks In-extremis Force, focused on Direct Action & Counter Terrorism missions. He also served as an instructor for the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course where he taught Advanced Marksmanship and Close Quarters Combat training courses. Michael has been teaching tactical firearms since 1992 and holds a Master classification in I D P A and U S P S A. He has Instructor ratings from multiple organizations including the N R A, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the United States Army, SUREFIRE, Sig Sauer Academy and Tom Given's Rangemaster Instructor, Advanced Instructor, Master instructor and Shotgun instructor programs. After leaving the military, Mike spent several years on numerous overseas US Government contracts. Mike is also a member of the pro staff for Sons of Liberty Gun Works and a Modern Samurai Project endorsed Red Dot Pistol Instructor. He has consulted for numerous training facilities, developed, planned and implemented training along with providing instructor development. He has been a lead instructor, consultant, or Director of Training at over 10 different training facilities. He has trained civilians, Special Operations, military and law enforcement units in the US and throughout the world. Support the show

Nick Goldsmith, is a former Royal Marine Commando who served his country from 2007 to 2018, completing six operational deployments in some of the world’s most challenging regions. After leaving military service, Nick turned his focus towards championing mental fitness. His deep & personal understanding of nature’s role in supporting mental well-being has not only influenced our perceptions but has secured him a place as a thought leader in this field. As an international speaker and bestselling author, he connects with global audiences, offering inspiration derived from his own experiences. His company, Hidden Valley Bushcraft, has been recognized for its innovative outdoor activities that amplify positive mental fitness. Nick, alongside his wife Louise, founded the acclaimed Woodland Warrior Programme in 2017. This initiative, brought into the limelight by a 2022 BBC documentary, has harnessed nature’s therapeutic power to aid rehabilitation for Armed Forces & Emergency Service Personnel. With support from distinguished organizations such as the Invictus Games, the Veteran’s Foundation, and now the Blue Light Card Foundation, the program is now deep into its 7th year. Outside of his programs, Nick extends his influence by advising veteran-focused charities on best practices, emphasizing his commitment to champion veteran-owned charities. He also works with government and private organizations to foster professional growth and strengthen team connections. His bestselling book, ‘Rewild Your Mind’, is a testament to his advocacy for the crucial role of nature in mental health. Despite his impressive achievements, Nick’s humility shines through. His engaging presence and charismatic nature continue to drive a profound movement towards valuing nature as a key & vital resource for mental resilience. Support the show

Matt Larsen, a career Army Ranger and Black Belt Hall of Fame member who is best known as a hand-to-hand combat expert and the father of the U.S. Army's Modern Army Combatives Program He served in the U.S. Marines and the 75th Ranger Regiment during the course of a 22-year career in the military. Since retiring from the Army in 2005, Larsen has worked as a private security contractor in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa; trained US Marines in personal security detachments for deployment to Iraq; served as commandant of the US Army Combatives School which he founded; designed a Combatives systems for the Canadian Special Operations Regiment; and, consulted on the design of Combatives training systems for the US Air Force, the British Royal Marines and the British Infantry. Larsen is the author of both the 2002 and 2009 versions of Field Manuals for Combatives, as well as editing the U.S. Army Survival Handbook and the U.S. Military Pocket Survival Guide plus Evasion and Recovery. He also co-authored Sniper, US Single Shot Warriors in Iraq and Afghanistan. His latest book, Modern Army Combatives, Battle-Proven techniques and Training Methods is out. Support the show

Doug Patteson Is a former CIA case officer, certified in HUMINT collection and Counter-Terrorism with multiple overseas tours in journeyman and leadership roles. Professor Patteson holds a Master’s of Business Administration in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Texas. Doug also serves as CFO of Turbocam International, a multinational manufacturer headquartered in NH and owns Blue Wolf Advising, a security and film consultancy. He is a certified firearms and ALICE active shooter prevention instructor and writes regularly on intelligence and security topics at IngloriousAmateurs.com SpotterUp.com and other publications. Doug is President of the Board of Director of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, focused on global press freedoms and advocacy work on behalf of hostages. He is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, the Central Intelligence Retirees Association and The Explorer’s Club. Support the show

I speak with Steve about how destructive pornography is to men and marriages. Steve Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries and host of the number one nationally syndicated Christian counseling talk show, New Life Live!, heard and watched by over 2 million people each week on nearly 200 radio stations nationwide on XM and Sirius Satellite radio and on NRBTV. Steve is also the host of New Life TV, a web-based video channel dedicated to transforming lives through God’s truth. Steve is the founder of the Women of Faith conferences attended by over 5 million people. Every Young Man's Battle: Strategies for Victory in the Real World of Sexual Temptation (The Every Man Series) https://amzn.to/32Numjx Pure Desire: How One Man's Triumph Can Help Others Break Free From Sexual Temptation https://amzn.to/3FLjgKc Worthy of Her Trust: What You Need to Do to Rebuild Sexual Integrity and Win Her Back https://amzn.to/3HmOx6L Support the show

Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ryan Hendrickson is a brave, determined, and courageous soldier — a Green Beret clearing the way for his twelve-man team while conducting combat operations against the Taliban. As the “tip of the spear,” his role is to insure the route taken by U.S. and Afghan troops are free of IEDs — improvised explosive devices. Many soldiers do not survive their last step; those who do often lose at least one limb. While rescuing an Afghan soldier outside a mud-hut compound in 2010 — knowing that he was in “uncleared” territory — Ryan stepped on an IED with his right foot. The device exploded, leaving his foot dangling at the end of his leg. American soldiers losing a limb is an all-too-common occurrence. But what makes Ryan’s story different is that after undergoing two dozen surgeries and a tortuous rehabilitation, he was medically retired but fought to return to active duty. Multiple skin grafts to his lower leg and right foot successfully reattached his lower leg, and he was aided in his recovery by wearing a new prosthetic device known as an IDEO (Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis). Once he passed a series of crucial physical tests, Ryan was able to rejoin the Green Berets within a year and physically perform his duties, redeploying to Afghanistan in March 2012.In 2016, he volunteered to return to Afghanistan with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. During a firefight with the Taliban, he risked his life under heavy enemy fire to rescue three Afghan soldiers cut off from friendly forces and return the bodies of two dead Afghan soldiers under the ethos that “no one gets left behind.” For his heroic efforts on the battlefield, SFC Ryan Hendrickson was awarded a Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest award for valor. An engaging and harrowing account, Tip of the Spear tells the amazing story of one Green Beret’s indomitable spirit. Support the show

I speak with Sean Patrick Flanery. Sean Patrick Flanery (born October 11, 1965) is an American actor, author and martial artist. He is known for playing Connor MacManus in The Boondock Saints (1999) and its sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009), Greg Stillson in the USA Network television series The Dead Zone, Jeremy "Powder" Reed in Powder (1995), Indiana Jones in the ABC television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, as well as Bobby Dagen in Saw: The Final Chapter (2010). He is also known for his role as Sam Gibson on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless in 2011. He starred in Devil's Carnival, a short film which was screened on tour beginning in April, 2012. In 2016, he published his first novel, Jane Two, a coming-of-age story drawing inspiration from his own childhood and early experiences. Originally posted Dec 31, 2021 Support the show

I get to geek out over one of my favorite actors, the great Max Martini! Follow Max here: https://www.instagram.com/maxmartinila Maximilian Carlo Martini was born in New York to an Italian father and an American mother. He is a citizen of the United States, Canada, and Italy and speaks Italian fluently. His Roman father was a sculptor and Doctor of Philosophy and Phenomenology and instilled in him an appreciation for all things creative. His mother was a Texas law enforcement officer. After moving around a bit as a child, Martini made his way back to New York City and began to study acting. He started out at the Neighborhood Playhouse intensive, but did the majority of his training privately with Michael Howard in Manhattan. After launching Theater North Collaborative, New York City and staging new works from both the United States and Canada, Martini took a break from the stage to focus on his early love of fine art. He attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan where he received his B F A in painting and sculpture. Martini starred in George Clooney's feature The Tender Bar for Amazon Studios as well as the recently aired USA network television series The Purge. In 2019 he completed directing his second feature film The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre. His directorial debut; Sgt. Will Gardner he starred in along with Omari Hardwick, Lily Rabe, Robert Patrick, Dermot Mulroney, Elisabeth Röhm and Gary Sinise. Martini starred in season one of the Netflix series The Order. Additionally, he starred in Bigger, Michael Bay's 13 Hours, Del Toro's Pacific Rim and Paul Greengrass' Captain Phillips. Martini is recognized from such films as Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, David Mamet's Red Belt, David Ayer's Sabotage and the Legendary/Universal feature Spectral. Max Martini also starred in the television series The Unit which ran for four years on CBS. Max Martini has over 32 film titles and 200 segments of television. Support the show

I speak with retired Special Forces and Special Missions Operator Fred Fusco. Fred is a 20-year veteran of the Army Special Operations Command and the owner of Storm Tactical Consulting, Fred served as a Special Forces Medic for a number of years before trying out and getting selected to serve as an operator in a Special Missions Unit. Over a long career, Fred has served as an Assaulter, Breacher, Medic, Sniper, Human Intel Specialist, and finishing up as a Dog Handler. Fred’s background 20 years of service as an 18 Delta Green Beret Medic, and later as an operator in the Army’s Special Missions Unit. Support the show

Sean Matson, Co-Founder & CEO of MATBOCK, grew up in Richmond, VA, and graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Military Institute in 2005 where we he Captain of the swim team. Sean then attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) and without delay reported to Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUD/S) 6 days after OCS. BUD/s Class 258 started with 138 candidates and after a grueling 6 months, Sean and his future business partner, Zach Steinbock, were amongst the only 19 to graduate . Following BUD/s, Sean and the other officers from Class 258 attended Advance School in Coronado, CA, where they waited for the enlisted guys from Class 259 to join them. Then he joined the enlisted guys from Class 259 to start SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), which is 4 months of advance SEAL Tactics, Techniques and Procedures. On a C-130 flight to Alaska during SQT, MATBOCK was born when Sean and Zach conceptualized and sketched a better way to palletize military gear and equipment. Graduating from SQT in early 2007, Sean reported to SEAL Team FOUR (ST4) in Virginia Beach, where he helped lead two deployments to Iraq. During this time MATBOCK was nothing more than two friends trying to navigate how to start a small business with a 1/5-scale prototype. Sean began his dissociated tour in 2009, with Support Activity Team Two (SA2) and completed his third deployment to Iraq. He also officially registered MATBOCK, LLC, in the state of Virginia, with hopes to manufacture the full-scale prototype of the Constrictor Cargo Net, that he and Zach designed on the infamous flight to Alaska. Sean’s last duty station was SEAL Team EIGHT (ST8), where he became a Platoon Commander of India Platoon and subsequently, Bravo Platoon. Two deployments to Africa followed and what little free time Sean had was focused on engineering new, innovative products that rapidly put MATBOCK on the map. With a desire to dedicate more time to his children and the drive to pursue an entrepreneurial career, Sean left active duty in 2016. Sean was able to fully dedicate his discipline to now MATBOCK Origins, a holding company. MATBOCK Operations has been honored to be on the Inc. 5000 list for three years running and Kardax Solutions, Aceso Plasma and CardoMax continue to grow as key subsidiaries of MATBOCK origins, which now consists of 8 companies. Sean and his wife, Samantha, reside in Virginia Beach with their four children. Support the show

Purchase our book We Make Ghosts: https://amzn.to/3CzUv1Y Purchase our book We Fight Monsters: https://amzn.to/3EAWELM Purchase our book We Wrestle Silently: https://amzn.to/3bqcf3V We discuss Taylor's career, struggles with life post Navy separation, his journey into becoming a Navy SEAL and his transition to civilian life. Follow Taylor here: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficial/ https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com/ Support the show

https://www.instagram.com/wefightmonsters/ Purchase our book We Make Ghosts: https://amzn.to/3CzUv1Y Purchase our book We Fight Monsters: https://amzn.to/3EAWELM Purchase our book We Wrestle Silently: https://amzn.to/3bqcf3V We discuss Gordon's career, struggles with suicide ideation, and transition to civilian life. Follow Gordon on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/a.t.w.alltheway/ Follow his brand here: https://alltheway.team/ Master Corporal (Retired) Gordon Hurley is a fifteen-year Canadian Military veteran. In 2008, with little training, he was added as a late replacement to the Reconnaissance platoon. He wasn’t meant to be there. It took until an Improvised Explosive Device went off, requiring surgery at Kandahar Airfield with three weeks of recovery, to be integrated into the platoon. Returning to operations meant suppressing not only the physical but also mental injuries caused by the IED. “The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.” – Lt. Spiers. The closeness of death, not just that incident but war in general, allowed Gordon to accept death. This is an extraordinary power to have, providing 'control' over fear. He transitioned from Reconnaissance platoon to the highest full spectrum operations at CANSOFCOM as a special forces operator and joint terminal attack controller. This 'fly too close to the sun mentality' has dire side effects, including suicide. If you are already okay with dying, then what makes you stop? Support the show

Find Gregg Online: - Website: https://www.generalgreggmartin.com - Book Bipolar General: Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness (Association of the United States Army) https://amzn.to/41UGBVG I hope you get a lot out of watching this video. Such an accomplished soldier, and so insightful with his book and recommendations for handling his bi-polar disorder! Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin cut a striking figure in the Army: athletic, quick witted, devout, and studious, he was a natural leader. Thanks to his engineering and leadership knowhow, Martin was chosen to lead the thousands of combat engineers who paved the way for 100,000 Army troops to battle their way to Baghdad in 2003. Martin was astonishing to watch as he led this effort, his mind laser focused and body vibrating with energy. He made quick decisions, often anticipating and solving problems before orders came down. Only years later would he learn how the pressure of organizing dozens of simultaneous life-or-death missions each day altered the biochemistry of his brain. Since adolescence he’d had what psychiatrists call a ‘hyperthymic personality’ – an exceptionally positive, energetic, and can-do disposition. But the Iraq War triggered what military and Veterans Administration psychiatrists ultimately diagnosed as late-onset bipolar disorder, a chemical imbalance that sends sufferers whipsawing between grandiose imaginings and suicidal depressions. His increasing erratic behavior led to his forced resignation as president of the National Defense University and ended his military career. Support the show