Mindset: Lessons from the Field

Tanya Chavez isn’t talking theory—she’s lived it. As a USAF Jumpmaster, Tanya was responsible for training others to jump out of aircraft—where hesitation isn’t an option and pressure is constant. Some of the people she trained went on to become Pararescue Jumpers and aviators supporting Special Forces operations. Now, she brings that same high-stakes mindset into the business world—using wind tun...

What happens when you don’t get the shot you trained your whole life for? In this episode, Andrew Sridhar shares the raw truth behind failure, resilience, and what it actually takes to keep going when things don’t go your way. From being bullied as a kid to earning his place as a Navy SEAL, Andrew breaks down how setbacks, rejection, and discomfort became the foundation of his success. We dive int...

Jared “Peaches” Pietras left home at 17 with one mission: step into something bigger than himself—and never look back. From becoming an elite Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller to completing 11 deployments after 9/11, his life has been built on discipline, resilience, and showing up when it counts. In this episode, we dive into: -Why mental toughness beats physical strength every time-Wha...

Why do high performers still feel overwhelmed? In this episode of Mindset Lessons from the Field , John Mollura breaks down the real problem: it’s not a lack of motivation—it’s too many things feeling important. Drawing from his experience working alongside NASA engineers and Air Force Pararescue teams, John shares how to cut through the noise, build real confidence, and execute when it matters mo...

What actually keeps you going… when your body is done, your mind is done, and quitting would be easier? In this episode, I sit down with former Navy SEAL Cory Zillig — who spent 20 years in the SEAL teams, including serving as an assault team leader on the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. But this conversation isn’t about war. It’s about what happens after the mission ends…When there’s no clea...

Most people don’t fail under pressure because they’re weak…they fail because they don’t know how to think. Today’s guest, Trevor Fortner , is a former Navy EOD operator who spent years operating in high-stakes environments where one wrong decision could cost lives. What he learned isn’t about toughness. It’s about control. In this episode, we break down the exact frameworks elite operators use to:...

What if the thing that builds your resilience… is curiosity? In this episode, I sit down with Wells Jones — former U.S. Navy Antarctic Pararescue team member, adventurer, and storyteller — whose life has taken him from free-falling over the South Pole to trekking 1,100 miles across the Middle East. We dive into: * Why curiosity takes courage * How identity isn’t fixed — it evolves * The power of s...

In this episode, we sit down with Trenton Miguez, a former military intelligence officer who served in contested regions across the Middle East supporting counterterrorism and protection missions. He later helped design the Army’s training program for new intelligence officers and now teaches leaders how to think more clearly in complex environments through his work with EverydaySpy. This conversa...

Born under martial law in the Philippines, Leo Casiple grew up surrounded by violence, fear, and instability. After immigrating to the United States, he dropped out of high school, struggled to find where he belonged, and eventually enlisted in the U.S. Army with a GED and a green card. He failed Special Forces selection twice. Most people would have stopped there. Leo didn’t. On his third attempt...

After 29 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces Regiment, Fred Dummar understands leadership under pressure, suffering, and what truly sustains human resilience. In this episode, Fred shares powerful lessons from combat deployments, guiding a blind teammate through marathons and mountains, and leading elite teams where humility mattered more than rank. We explore:• Leading when you don’t have all t...

After answering the call following 9/11, Ryan “Birdman” Parrott served with SEAL Team 7, surviving an IED blast in Iraq that changed everything. Instead of retreating, he rebuilt — turning pain into purpose through nonprofit work, veteran advocacy, and leadership. In this powerful conversation, we dive into:• Surviving trauma and rebuilding identity• The mindset that gets you through Hell Week — a...

After 23 years in U.S. Army Special Forces and six combat deployments, Michael “Sully” Sullivan didn’t walk away from service—he redirected it. In this episode of Mindset Lessons from the Field , Sully shares what elite military leadership really teaches you about teamwork, humility, resilience, and purpose —and how those lessons carry over into life after the uniform. We dive into: * What Green B...

In this episode of Mindset Lessons from the Field, Gina Casazza sits down with Cadre Dan —retired Green Beret Sergeant Major with 28 years in Special Forces—to break down what real teamwork actually looks like. From Special Forces selection and GoRuck events to fatherhood, leadership, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit work, Cadre Dan shares why life isn’t meant to be done alone—and why shared strugg...

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After 20 years in the U.S. Army, Joe Byerly learned a powerful truth: real growth doesn’t come from rank or recognition—it comes from reflection. In this episode, Joe shares how journaling, reading, and self-awareness transformed his leadership, helped him transition out of the military, and led to the creation of From the Green Notebook . We talk identity loss after service, the discipline of wri...

Matt and Monica Spellicy share one of the most powerful stories ever told on Mindset Lessons from the Field. From Monica’s 17 years of sobriety after surviving domestic abuse… to Matt navigating brutal custody battles… to the unimaginable loss of their children in a tragic accident — this episode is about choosing strength when life shatters you. They open up about: • Healing after trauma • Why fo...

In this episode of Mindset Lessons from the Field , I sit down with former U.S. Army Green Beret Justin Litko — a Special Forces medic turned executive leader — to break down what truly separates elite performers from everyone else. Justin shares his journey from Ranger Battalion to Special Forces, his transition into corporate leadership, and the mindset shifts required to thrive outside the mili...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindsetlessonsfromthefield.substack.com

Aaron Peña spent 20 years as a Navy SEAL, team leader, and BUD/S instructor. In this conversation, he breaks down the mindset that carried him through combat, fatherhood, transition, and building a new mission after the Teams. He shares what discipline really looks like, how to prepare for big life changes, why self-image matters more than motivation, and the daily habits that keep you steady when...

In this episode, David Charbonnet returns to Mindset Lessons from the Field with a story that pushes the limits of grit, faith, and teamwork. After a parachuting accident left him paralyzed, David rebuilt his life and purpose. But when he and fellow SEAL Chad Wright set out to conquer the world’s toughest kayak race—the Yukon 1000—nature had other plans. From battling freezing waves and sleep depr...

After being medically discharged from Navy SEAL training and told he’d never return to service, Geoff Dardia refused to accept defeat. He rebuilt his body, rewired his mind, and turned pain into purpose. In this raw and powerful conversation, Geoff reveals what it really means to take ownership of your health — from overcoming toxic exposure and burnout to mastering stress, recovery, and disciplin...

What happens when the warrior mindset that once kept you alive starts tearing your life apart? In this raw, powerful conversation, Dr. Tony Dice—former Navy SEAL, firefighter, and therapist—opens up about the hidden battles behind his uniform: addiction, self-destruction, and the fight to become the father and man he was meant to be. We talk about: * Hitting rock bottom and finding purpose through...

Tegan Broadwater’s story sounds like a movie—but it’s real. A touring musician turned undercover FBI agent, Tegan spent nearly two years inside the Crips, all while raising a family just miles away. In this episode, he opens up about fear, identity, loyalty, and what it takes to keep your cool when everything’s on the line. We talk about: * Jumping out of the “plane” and figuring it out mid-fall *...

In this episode of Mindset Lessons from the Field , Gina Casazza sits down with resilience instructor, functional fitness coach, and Guinness World Record holder Kyle Shepard to break down what it really takes to train your mind like your body. Kyle shares how to build resilience as a daily practice, manage stress without burning out, and develop unshakable self-awareness as a parent, leader, or a...

Former FBI agent Eric O’Neill , the real-life spy hunter who brought down the infamous mole Robert Hanssen , joins Gina Casazza on Mindset Lessons from the Field to talk about what it truly takes to think like a spy—and live with relentless focus and discipline. Eric shares how he trained his ADHD mind for extreme concentration, the lessons learned from years undercover, and how those same mental...