Mindset: Lessons from the Field

Join host Gina Casazza in Mindset Lessons from the Field #87 as she sits down with Doug Kiesewetter , a seasoned Green Beret, entrepreneur, and Director of Brand Development. With nearly two decades in U.S. Army Special Forces and years of business leadership, Doug opens up about: * Why not quitting is the ultimate mindset strategy * The real meaning of authenticity in life and business * How to k...

Former Special Forces Medic Chad White joins me on Mindset Lessons from the Field to share powerful lessons from failure, combat, and life after the military. From going through BUD/S twice, to becoming an Army Green Beret medic, to wrestling with loss and learning how to truly heal—Chad’s story is raw, real, and inspiring. In this episode, we cover: * Overcoming rejection and rebuilding self-wort...

What is time, really? Is it fixed, or is it something we create through perception, events, and change? In this episode of Mindset Lessons from the Field , Randy Veitenheimer takes us on a deep dive into the mysteries of time, blending science, martial arts, and philosophy. From temporal markers to time dilation, from doomscrolling to serenity, Randy challenges the way we think about time and reve...

What happens when a 17-year-old small-town kid decides he’s going to be a Marine—and doesn’t stop until he makes it into one of the most elite units in history? In this episode, I sit down with John A. Dailey , Marine Force Recon veteran and author of Tough Rugged B******s . We talk about: * Failing his first recon attempt because he couldn’t swim—and why he refused to quit. * The secret weapon of...

In this episode of Mindset Lessons from the Field , retired Special Forces commander Kevin Edgerton shares the journey behind his grit. From being cut from his high school team, to breaking bones at Airborne school, to failing his first Special Forces selection, Kevin’s story is proof that setbacks can become stepping stones. Now the founder of 18A Fitness , Kevin reveals how breathwork, mobility,...

Deny Caballero’s story is raw, powerful, and proof that the human spirit can overcome anything. From surviving a childhood marked by abuse to finding belonging in the military, Deny rose to become a U.S. Army Green Beret. His journey didn’t end there—after battling trauma and suicidal thoughts, he discovered the true mission: turning pain into purpose. Today, Deny is a mental health advocate and p...

Paul Watson, retired Special Forces Warrant Officer with over 20 years in the 10th and 19th Groups, reveals the battle no one prepares you for: life after the uniform. He shares how “comfort” quietly became his biggest enemy, how it almost cost him his marriage and purpose, and the gritty steps he took to fight back. We cover: * Why comfort can be more dangerous than chaos * How Paul pulled himsel...

Jeff Boss, a 13-year Navy SEAL veteran with eight deployments, didn’t just survive the battlefield—he faced the toughest fight of all: the one within. Now a therapist and author of Navigating Chaos , Jeff helps others build resilience, overcome fear, and create a life aligned with their values. In this episode of Mindset Lessons from the Field , we cover: * The difference between a warfighter and...

What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want… is your mindset? In this power-packed episode, I sit down with Daniel Fielding , former Green Beret, martial arts champion, speaker, coach, and author of The Asset Mindset . His book changed my life long before I ever knew he’d be a guest on this show—and now he’s sharing the mindset behind it all. We dive into: * How to stop think...

From small-town Vermont to SEAL Team 3, Alex Rogers spent 12 years in the fight—on the battlefield and within himself. In this episode, he breaks down what it really takes to build mental toughness and lead yourself through chaos. We talk boot camp breakdowns, Hell Week hilarity, and why “laugh now, cry later” became his personal code. Now a coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Look for Work , Alex...

Retired Green Beret. Strategic planner. Mindset coach. Dustin Delcoure brings 20+ years of elite military experience to this episode—and he’s not here to sugarcoat it. From building resilient teams to strengthening mental toughness, Dustin breaks down his personal framework: mindfulness, purpose, context, and opportunity. Whether you're leading a team or rebuilding your own life, this episode give...

Aaron Blaine grew up fatherless, directionless, and angry. He barely graduated high school—then became a Green Beret. In this episode, he opens up about the battles before the battlefield, the pain that shaped him, and how he built himself into the man, mentor, and father he never had. From surviving combat to launching Wild Ops Box —a mission to reconnect fathers and sons—Aaron shows what it real...

Former Green Beret Johnny Glenn has been blown up five times, shot once, and cracked his frontal lobe—and still refuses to quit. In this powerful episode, he opens up about surviving combat, losing his parents, running across America with pneumonia, and what it means to live by your name. Johnny shares the brutal truth about pain, purpose, and resilience—and why his mindset is forged not just by w...

Tyler Grey was a top-tier Special Operations soldier, actor, and producer on SEAL Team… but behind the accolades was a war raging inside. After a mission went sideways, Tyler faced an identity crisis, mental battles, and years of chaos-driven self-destruction. In this episode, Tyler breaks down the truth about PTSD that nobody’s talking about, why we’re all more addicted to chaos than we realize,...

What does it take to go from standing in a welfare line… to becoming a Ranger, a Night Stalker, and a Green Beret—all before age 25? Ren Ligon’s story is grit in its rawest form. He didn’t grow up with privilege. He grew up fighting—first for survival, then for a spot in the most elite military units in the world, and now for his place in Hollywood. In this episode, Ren opens up about rejection, e...

What does it take to truly be unstoppable? Former Navy SEAL and bestselling author Alden Mills shares powerful stories—from overcoming asthma to building a $95M brand—and the mindset that got him through it all. Learn how to rewire self-doubt, lead yourself through chaos, and use his “Helpful or Hurtful” filter to stay laser-focused. Whether you're in a valley or chasing your next goal, this episo...

Enrique “Ric” Prado went from being a 10-year-old refugee placed in an orphanage to becoming one of the most elite warriors in U.S. intelligence history. In this gripping episode, Ric shares how his early trauma forged the mindset that carried him through the jungles of Central America, the aftermath of 9/11, and deep inside CIA Black Ops. We talk about:– The courage of his parents and how that sh...

You lie. I lie. We all do—even when we don’t realize it. But what if you could spot deception in real time? This week’s guest is Gavin Stone—ranked #9 in the world for body language, former covert intelligence operator, and founder of SpyQ, an elite spy training experience for leaders. In this gripping conversation, Gavin teaches us how to: * Build unshakable calm under pressure * Spot lies using...

Ryan Hendrickson stepped on an IED in Afghanistan—and lived to tell the story. A Green Beret and Silver Star recipient, Ryan opens up about the blast that nearly took his life, the moments that broke him, and the mindset that rebuilt him. This episode dives deep into: * The second chance that made him question who he really was * The brutal truth his father told him in the hospital * How entitleme...

Josh Martin is a former special operations aviation officer with the elite 160th SOAR—The Night Stalkers. A West Point grad, combat-proven pilot, and now a strategy consultant, Josh opens up about the pressure of +/–30 second mission windows, navigating career pivots, and the accident that changed his life forever. In this raw, powerful conversation, he shares what it means to lead under pressure,...

What if the courage you’re looking for is built—not born? This week, former CIA intelligence officer Michele Rigby Assad joins me to share how she survived hostile territories, faced unimaginable danger, and rescued 149 persecuted Christians from Iraq—all while constantly underestimated as “too ordinary.” In this gripping and deeply personal episode, Michele reveals: ⏺ The real meaning of “getting...

What does it take to outsmart a traitor—and stay calm when your life is on the line? In this gripping episode, former FBI agent Dell Spry reveals what it was really like going undercover, investigating Russian spies, and learning to read people so well that even their pulse gave them away. He shares how he built trust with dangerous suspects, used emotional control to stay safe overseas, and the p...

Robin Dreeke is a former Marine Corps officer, FBI counterintelligence expert, and master of human behavior. In this episode, he unpacks how to calm your inner chaos, stop living in survival mode, and build real, lasting trust through self-awareness and empathy. Whether you're leading a team, navigating toxic relationships, or rebuilding your mental fitness, Robin offers simple tools that create p...

After 25+ years in the CIA—23 spent in the field—Bob Dougherty has seen humanity at its worst and best. In this powerful episode, Bob shares real-world lessons on leadership, fear, purpose, and resilience. From counterterrorism to family dynamics, he reveals what it takes to lead with honor, assess people deeply, and create a legacy rooted in character. We dive into stoic philosophy, self-awarenes...

In this powerful episode, Randy Veitenheimer—energy healer, martial artist, and modern-day medicine man—dives deep into the battlefield most people ignore: the war within. From working with elite special forces to teaching emotional control and energetic alignment, Randy shares how internal conflict shapes our lives more than any external enemy. He breaks down how childhood programming, suppressed...