Episodes

  • EP-414 | Ian Palmer: Leading Through Crisis

    EP-414 | Ian Palmer: Leading Through Crisis
    May 18 2026
    Ian Palmer is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with more than 26 years of experience leading organizations in complex, global, and high-stakes environments. He commanded at every echelon from platoon to brigade combat team, culminating in service as Chief of Staff of the III Armored Corps, where he led the synchronization of operations and strategy for a 90,000-person organization across five Army installations. His career included combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, advisory and partnership missions across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and strategic assignments on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon, where he advised national leaders on global operations. A lifelong leader and mentor, Ian has built teams from the ground up, led organizations through crisis and transformation, and shaped leader development across every level of the Army. ________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #mentors4mil #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/
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    1 hr and 53 mins
  • EP-413 | Nick Merrick: Community - Competition - Purpose

    EP-413 | Nick Merrick: Community - Competition - Purpose
    Apr 28 2026
    Nick recounts his path from infantry recruit to Green Beret, sharing intense selection stories, combat and training experiences, and a defining leadership moment where empowering a junior soldier changed a career. He also describes his transition out of active duty and how he founded Green Beret Racing/Battle of the Branches to build community, competition, and purpose for veterans struggling with life after service. _________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #specialforces #greenberet #mentors4mil #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/
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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • EP-412 | Matt Butler - From Green Beret to Shaman: One Soldier’s Healing Journey

    EP-412 | Matt Butler - From Green Beret to Shaman: One Soldier’s Healing Journey
    Apr 14 2026
    In this episode Matt Butler recounts his 27-year military career from enlisting and becoming a Green Beret through combat deployments, leadership roles, and the professional frustrations that followed. He shares candidly about addiction, suicidal ideation, and the turning point that led him to plant medicine and shamanic practice. Butler describes his ayahuasca and psilocybin experiences, subsequent apprenticeship with shamans, and his work helping veterans heal. He also discusses his book "From Green Beret to Shamanism," resources for veterans, and how to connect with him at AwakeGreenBeret.com. _________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #jsoc #specialforces #greenberet #mentors4mil #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/
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    1 hr and 50 mins
  • EP-411 | Will Spears - From Enlisted Electrician to Submarine Commander: A Nuclear Journey

    EP-411 | Will Spears - From Enlisted Electrician to Submarine Commander: A Nuclear Journey
    Mar 31 2026
    U.S. Navy Commander Will Spears shares his path from enlisting as a nuclear electrician to becoming a submarine officer, detailing intense training, life aboard attack and ballistic submarines, and the realities of operating nuclear propulsion undersea. He discusses leadership, accountability, damage control, and how stoic philosophy shaped his approach to moral decisions and resilience, and mentions his book "Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy." His book https://a.co/d/014W9QrP His substack https://williamcspears.substack.com/ _________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #subs #nukes #submarinewarfare #mentors4mil #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/
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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • EP-410 | Omar Melendez - One Shot: Owning Failure and Leading Forward

    EP-410 | Omar Melendez - One Shot: Owning Failure and Leading Forward
    Mar 17 2026
    Omar tells his journey from Brooklyn to becoming a Ranger and First Sergeant, sharing how a mortar mistake became a key teaching moment about integrity, trust, and learning. He describes imposter syndrome, the grind of selection and Ranger life, and why humility and mentorship matter. The episode explores the Abrams Charter decision to leave the 75th Ranger Regiment for the 82nd Airborne, the challenge of living as a standard-bearer outside the Rangers, and how leaders can bring hard-earned standards and people-first leadership back to conventional units. _________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #drones #AI #artificialintelligence #mentors4mil #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/
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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • EP-409 | Matt Hill - Damn the Valley: A Paratrooper’s Helmand Story

    EP-409 | Matt Hill - Damn the Valley: A Paratrooper’s Helmand Story
    Mar 3 2026
    Matt Hill recounts his 21-year Army career, from growing up an Army brat, joining the Army after high school, early deployments in Bosnia and Kosovo, to the 2003 Iraq invasion and multiple tours in Afghanistan, including intense combat in Helmand’s Argonaut River Valley. The episode covers life at Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, serving in the 82nd Airborne and in SFAB (Security Force Assistance Brigades), leadership as a first sergeant, the challenges of long deployments, and adjusting to civilian life while supporting family and fellow veterans. This episode is packed.
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • EP-408 | Todd Ehrlich, From BUD/S to Boardroom: A SEAL's Journey into Business & Venture Capital

    EP-408 | Todd Ehrlich, From BUD/S to Boardroom: A SEAL's Journey into Business & Venture Capital
    Feb 17 2026
    Former Navy SEAL Todd Ehrlich shares his path from intense SEAL training and deployments to corporate security, entrepreneurship, and venture investing in defense tech. The episode covers BUD/S stories, transitions to civilian life, founding businesses (including Kill Cliff), supporting the Navy SEAL Foundation, and practical career advice for veterans. Todd also discusses mentorship, networking, and why combining tenacity with curiosity can lead to success in business and giving back to the military community. _________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #SEAL #NavySEAL #mentors4mil #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil Opening music, "Sad Slow Orchestra" is by Ribhav Agrawal on Pixabay Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • EP-407 | Jason Belford, U.S. Army Ranger: The War Inside Me

    EP-407 | Jason Belford, U.S. Army Ranger: The War Inside Me
    Feb 3 2026
    Jason Belford spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, and he gave nearly 17 years to the war in Afghanistan as an infantryman, sniper, platoon sergeant and Army Ranger. He went on 12 deployments to the country and to Iraq as a member of 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and the 10th Mountain Divisions. Jason has been not only a guest on this podcast multiple times, but he has also been a cohost on this show, having helped cohost shows for about a year many years ago. He and Robert have stayed in touch, but recently bumped into one another at the airport in Pittsburgh. They hugged and talked. They instantly knew that another episode was needed. While cohosting years back, Jason had openly talked about how he attempted to take his own life and had hoped that it would help others. He shared the story of how his friend Dave helped him during that time of need. Years later, in 2022, the world was crumbling around him. A number of different events created the perfect storm. Dark clouds. Robert was checking up on him and he was told that Jason was going to be out of the net for a while. He was going to get some help. Jason shares on this episode the events that led up to that moment and what he did after to receive help. He shares his spiritual journey and his story will leave you speechless. We couldn't be more happier to see Jason back in studio with us at Mentors4mil. He's been an inspiration for so many while he was in uniform and since he's left service. He continues to deal with his demons daily. He has accepted the fact that it will take daily work to fight what he calls "the war inside me". Jason's book, 'The War Inside Me' will be out soon. _________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #drones #AI #artificialintelligence #mentors4mil #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil Opening music, "Sad Slow Orchestra" is by Ribhav Agrawal on Pixabay Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/
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    1 hr and 38 mins