The Mark Divine Show

Amanda is a graduate of Stanford where she took her degree in Human Biology. She is also an author of the book "Your Body is Your Brain." Somatics is the understanding that the whole body is a part of thinking. She has put her knowledge to use as a trainer of whole body learning in the service of business leadership. Learn how: The ways that you move affect the ways that you think and fe...

Retired Colonel Fred T. Krawchuk, is a well-known and respected leadership teacher. He's been a U.S. Army Special Forces officer and has led soldiers in a variety of infantry and special operations assignments in the United States, Europe and Latin America. A General MacArthur Leadership Award Winner and a graduate of West Point and Harvard University, he served as an Olmsted Scholar in Spain...

Sifu Harinder Singh is a 23rd generation Kung Fu Master, trainer and author.  He and Commander Divine talk about the importance of martial arts and how we need to move beyond the idea of them as simply grappling or hitting. An essential aspect of the martial arts is the mentality and spirituality that it brings about.  Learn about:  How you need to be like water, flexible and ready to take any for...

Commander Divine just finished a rough draft of his new book "Launch," which was originally conceived as being for young adults. He realized that it was actually useful for anyone, young or old, at the point of launching a new career, a new project or heading off in a new direction of any kind. Today, in this solo episode, he gives us a peek inside his process and his upcoming book. Find...

Kyle Russell is a prodigy, having started work with the Silicon Valley venture capital firm of Andreessen Horowitz at the age of 22. He talks with Commander Divine today about the future of AI and the importance of understanding how to correctly use technology as a tool. Hear about: How artificial intelligence is already involved in our use of online platforms like Facebook and Google The possibil...

Brad Thor is a well-known novelist who has written 18 extremely successful thrillers. His main character is a SEAL and he's immersed himself in the world of Special Operations to make sure that his books are accurate. Mark and Brad talk about the difficulties of writing, the value of Stoicism and a more optimistic approach to current politics. Hear about: Brad's rituals to keep himself m...

Sanjay Rawal is an award winning Documentary film director with "Food Chains" and "Challenging Impossibility", with his most recent called "3100: Run and Become." The film is about a 3100 mile race in Queens and the spiritual value of running. From Japan and Africa, Rawal points to various cultures that use running not simply as a form of exercise, but a way to reach...

Dr. John Sullivan is a well-known sports psychologist who currently works with NFL teams, has consulted with the NBA, Major League Soccer, and English Premier League as well as Olympians. He is also the author of the book "The Brain Always Wins: Improving Your Life Through Better Brain Management." He talks with Mark today about the importance of emotions in performance since, as he says...

Preparing for the Spartan Race at Dodger Stadium Mark had a chance to talk with Robert Hamilton Owens. Robert is known as a speaker, athlete and adventurer. At the age of 65, he took on five endurance challenges, including Kokoro camp. He has completed 12 Ironman triathlons, the most recent being last year. He also loves being an inspiration and mentor for young people, helping candidates for the...

In the final episode of his special "The Way of the SEAL" podcasts, Mark talks about the final two principles in his book, Training for the Way of the SEAL, and building an elite team. Commander Divine goes through some of the exercises and tools that he uses for training the 5 mountains. He also talks about ways to make sure that the members of your team are all on the same page with yo...

In this solo episode, Mark gives us more insights on the 5th anniversary edition of his book "The Way of the SEAL." Today he talks extensively about the importance of staying alert and making sure you maintain an offensive mindset. He's not necessarily aggressive, but he's always ready to keep moving forward. Hear about: how you can Work on the mental biases and "BOO"...

Joe De Sena has always been an entrepreneur, but he is best known as the co-founder of the Spartan Races, and the host of the Spartan Up! podcast. With the sound of another Spartan Race being built at Dodger Stadium in the background, he talks with the Commander about the past few years spent in Southeast Asia and China spreading the Spartan brand and his own, personal fitness approach. He's...

Stew Smith is a well-known fitness trainer and author. His latest book is "Tactical Fitness (40+) Foundation Rebuilding." He and Commander Divine talk about SEAL training, and the important lessons learned about fitness, breathing and mental ability gained. He goes on to describe his work with the Sheepdog community, preparing police, firefighters as well as various branches of the milit...

In this solo episode, Mark gives us more insights on the 5th anniversary edition of his book "The Way of the SEAL." Today he talks extensively about the importance of building your intuition. It is largely a process of developing your perception so that you can observe more information and details about any scene or situation. Hear how: Intuition comes largely by thinking with your gut a...

JC Glick is a former Ranger and served 11 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He's also an author, and he's provided a very down-to-earth account of how to develop leadership called "A Light in the Darkness: Leadership Development for the Unknown." He and Mark talk about leadership, the effect of PTSD on soldiers and how they might be able to counteract it. Hear how: JC has k...

James Scott is a writer who works in cyber-security, advising congress about cyber security. He is a co-founder of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology and a fellow at the Center for Cyber-Influence Operations Studies. He gives us his insights into Fake News and how political parties, special interests and nation-states use Twitter, Facebook and other kinds of social media to sprea...

In Part Two of this interview, Mark and Laird Hamilton get into more specifics about training, recovery and nutrition. They also talk about the importance of proper breathing and using imagery. How it is essential to imagine a destination before you can actually get there. Both Mark and Laird are "watermen," and air is almost everything when you're in the water, so naturally proper...

Laird Hamilton is well known in the surfing community and is the subject of the recent, award winning documentary "Take Every Wave." He was one of the inventors of Tow-in surfing, which allowed surfers to catch bigger waves than they could by paddling themselves. It has been one of the most significant advancements in surfing. In this two part interview, Mark talks to him about surfing a...

In this solo episode, Mark dives deeper into the new version of his book “The Way of the SEAL” to focus on doing today what others won’t and forging mental toughness. “Do today what others won’t so you can do tomorrow what others can’t,” is the Smoke Jumper creed. Commander Divine applies the Smoke Jumpers creed to all aspects of life. He then provides some practical insights on how to foster ment...

David Goggins ( @iamdavidgoggins ) is extremely well known both for his military career and as an extreme athlete. In 2013 he set the record for pullups completed in 24 hours at 4025.He and the Commander talk about how he managed to evolve himself from a very difficult childhood by exercising his tremendous will. Learn how mental toughness is a lifestyle and how he does everything he doesn’t want...

Matthew and Terces Engelhart have created a work environment unlike any other. This spirit of gratitude and appreciation for the abundance of life has afforded them a life beyond their expectations.  Owners of the largest vegan restaurant in the US, They also have a very unique approach to business, based on the principles of “Sacred Commerce.” They have a conversation with Commander Divine about...

Michael Gervais is a renowned expert in high-performance psychology, best known for his work with the Seattle Seahawks, the Red Bull Stratos team, and with several Olympic athletes as well. He understands the power of our minds to accomplish the extraordinary first hand. He talks to Commander Divine about the importance of mindset and especially mindfulness to creativity and high performance. Lear...

In his solocast today, the Commander talks about Front Sight Focus and Bullet-proofing your mission, more principles from the Anniversary edition of his book “The Way of the SEAL.” In a previous podcast, he focused on how to define your goals, and in this episode he gives his attention to properly focusing and breaking your vision down into separate, achievable missions. Learn about: Front sight f...

Charlie Melton is well-known as the marksman who trained Chris Kelly and Marcus Lutrell among many others. Charlie and the Commander go through his career with the SEALs as both a trainer and a soldier. Charlie was always interested in shooting, and was determined to enter the military. The SEALs seemed to be the hardest outfit for acceptance, training and service so that’s what he chose to do. He...

David Grossman is well known for teaching at West Point, as a trainer and for various law enforcement and Criminal Justice organizations, and as an extremely important author and thinker regarding the psychology of killing. He talks with Commander Divine about current violence in society and the importance of what soldiers and police do. Learn how: It is essential that we understand the difference...