Shawn Ryan Show

#242 Pete Scobell - SEAL Team 6 Operator Breaks Down the Hostage Rescue of Captain Phillips

October 6, 2025

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  • Pete Scobell and Shawn Ryan share a mutual appreciation for finding 'real truth' amidst current noise, emphasizing the value of trusted sources and personal reflection, exemplified by their shared practice of reading devotional material. 
  • Scobell's intense drive and pursuit of achievement across multiple sports (skiing, swimming, wrestling) stemmed from deep childhood trauma, specifically the fear of abandonment following the death of his mother and feeling unwanted by his father. 
  • The early relationship between Scobell and his adoptive mother, Beach, was foundational, but her subsequent departure due to his father's wishes caused a profound, lasting feeling of being torn apart and utterly alone, which he has since processed through therapy and forgiveness. 
  • Scobell's entry into music (rock, punk, and later country) and sports served as crucial sanctuaries and avenues for escape from a difficult and emotionally volatile home environment. 
  • Pete Scobell attributes his survival and good decision-making in high-stakes situations to trusting an intuitive 'voice' connected to the neurons in his heart and gut, which he felt guided him away from danger like an IED in Baghdad. 
  • Scobell's early life was marked by a difficult relationship with his father, who consistently withheld affirmation and criticized his athletic pursuits, leading Scobell to view pole vaulting as an act of rebellion. 
  • A pivotal moment occurred during Scobell's rookie summer as a lifeguard when he successfully performed a complex rescue on a man with a spinal injury, realizing in that crisis that he was 'good at' performing when everything goes wrong, which solidified his path toward the Navy SEALs. 
  • The only positive affirmation Scobell ever received from his father was the phrase 'I love you' after he called to share he earned an 'A' on a calculus test, just minutes before his father passed away. 
  • Pete Scobell excelled in water-based training during BUD/S due to prior comfort with water, contrasting with his struggles in land-based endurance events, leading to a memorable incident during the 50-meter underwater swim where he was nicknamed "the fish" by an instructor. 
  • Scobell's journey to the Naval Academy was highly unconventional, involving leveraging his SEAL status, athletic achievements (state champion pole vaulter), and the support of influential figures like Admiral Smith to overcome poor high school academics. 
  • The transition to the Naval Academy was marked by intense academic pressure (NAPS being 'boot camp for academics'), the constant scrutiny of being a SEAL trident wearer, and a profound personal tragedy when his father passed away shortly after Scobell had a final, meaningful conversation with him. 
  • The education received at the Naval Academy, particularly in applied physics and political science, was invaluable for teaching the speaker how to think rather than what to think, preparing him for his role as a SEAL officer. 
  • The speaker experienced profound personal loss during his first deployment when his close friend and roommate from the Naval Academy, Brett Harmon, was killed in a non-combat incident, which deeply affected him. 
  • During his 2005 deployment to Iraq, the speaker helped pioneer ground mobility tactics for NSW units and innovated navigation methods using flight planning software while working closely with Iraqi counter-terrorist forces amidst rising sectarian conflict. 
  • The speaker vividly recounts the intense sectarian violence in Sadr City in March 2005, highlighting the brutal torture and murder of Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Force (ICTF) members by their countrymen, which spurred their comrades to fight their way into a morgue to retrieve the bodies. 
  • The speaker expresses profound disillusionment with the overall mission in Iraq, finding the only redeeming quality in the intense brotherhood displayed by the Iraqi warriors who fought to recover their fallen comrades. 
  • The latter part of the segment details the speaker's transition to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE (SDVT-1), describing the miserable, technically challenging, and often absurd realities of long-duration cold water submersible training, culminating in a near-disaster during a dive under an aircraft carrier. 
  • The speaker recounts the intense, high-stakes planning and execution of the Captain Phillips hostage rescue mission preparation, which involved mobilizing the entire Gray Squadron package, only to have the mission nearly derailed by a complete loss of communication (COM) during the flight. 
  • The initial insertion plan for the Captain Phillips rescue involved a complex, high-risk boat drop into the ocean, which surprisingly went perfectly despite initial skepticism and weight issues. 
  • The speaker details the severe cognitive and physical decline following his 2010 TBI from an explosion in Afghanistan, which ultimately led to him writing his letter of resignation. 
  • The revelation that Vice President Biden publicly identified the unit as SEAL Team 6 on television was viewed by the operators as the moment their operational security unraveled, leading to significant future complications. 
  • Pete Scobell experienced profound grief and sobriety during the memorial services for a fallen teammate, which intensified his emotional processing of the loss. 
  • Following his active duty career, Scobell dedicated himself to advocating for TBI and PTSD recovery among Naval Special Warfare personnel, facing initial institutional resistance to acknowledging the problem. 
  • Scobell's journey included significant personal and professional pivots, culminating in a profound psychedelic experience (Ibogaine) that addressed deep-seated trauma and led to his son's unexpected entry into acting, which he supported fully in contrast to his own father's lack of support. 
  • The speaker's son, Walker, had a profoundly meaningful experience acting in *The Adam Project*, especially in scenes dealing with father-son relationships, which deeply resonated with the speaker's own life struggles. 
  • The speaker experienced a series of seemingly miraculous coincidences involving his friend Sean (Walker's co-star) that led to the discovery that Sean is the long-lost half-brother of the speaker's childhood friend, Paul Smith. 
  • The ultimate lesson derived from these life events is that one's path, including struggles and perceived setbacks, is divinely orchestrated to forge the person needed for a specific purpose, leading to unshakable faith and peace of mind. 

Segments

Sponsor Reads and Welcome
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode begins with sponsor advertisements before the host, Shawn Ryan, welcomes Pete Scobell.
  • Summary: The initial segment features advertisements for Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Auto Trader’s Auto Intelligence platform. Shawn Ryan then formally welcomes Pete Scobell to the Shawn Ryan Show, noting the anticipation for the interview.
Spiritual Reflection and Book Sharing
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(00:03:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell shared a devotional reading from ‘Jesus Calling’ by Sarah Young, emphasizing themes of trust, faith steps, and focusing on the path ahead.
  • Summary: Scobell read a passage from the book ‘Jesus Calling’ dated September 25th, which focused on pouring energy and trust into God, noting that steps of faith vary in difficulty for individuals. The reading referenced Psalm 23:4, ’even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’ Scobell stated that leaning on God reduces worry and strengthens him.
Value of Simple Faith Practices
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(00:07:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Individual reading of scripture and prayer is cited as the only proven method for deepening faith, according to a study on megachurches.
  • Summary: The conversation affirmed the importance of personal spiritual practice over large institutional settings. Scobell mentioned that a simplified version of scripture helped him understand core themes like acceptance and being present. Being present in the moment is identified as one of the hardest but most crucial aspects of life.
Introduction and Gift Exchange
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(00:14:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell corrected his role in the Captain Phillips rescue to being in charge of getting everyone to the target, not leading the entire mission.
  • Summary: Shawn Ryan provided a detailed introduction of Pete Scobell, highlighting his SEAL background, role in the Captain Phillips rescue, and subsequent careers in music and acting. The two exchanged significant gifts: Scobell received a Sig Sauer P226 Legion pistol, and Ryan received the actual ripcord and call sign patch from Scobell’s mission during the Captain Phillips event.
Connection Through Mutual Friends
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(00:16:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The connection between Ryan and Scobell was solidified through mutual friends, specifically Jeremy (Ryan’s producer) and Cactus (Winona Judd’s husband).
  • Summary: Scobell revealed he was introduced to Ryan’s work through Cactus, whom he considers family. Jeremy, Scobell’s prep school roommate, felt called to work for Ryan, prompting Scobell to endorse the hire, leading to Jeremy becoming a ‘rock star’ producer for the show.
Scobell’s Early Life Trauma
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(00:34:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell’s mother died in a snowmobile accident when he was 10 months old, leading to his father’s severe depression and emotional abandonment.
  • Summary: Scobell was born to a much older father and a young mother who was a musician. After his mother’s death, his father became deeply depressed and emotionally unavailable, leading to the divorce of his father and adoptive mother, Beach, when Scobell was six. This period instilled a core fear of abandonment, driving his later need to achieve.
Finding Sanctuary in Sports and Music
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(00:50:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Sports, particularly swimming and skiing, and later punk and rock music, served as Scobell’s primary sanctuaries to escape his difficult home life.
  • Summary: Scobell found early positive mentorship from swim coach Dave Utley, who was training for an Iron Man. He was pushed into various sports by his father, but skiing provided the first sense of belonging and confidence. Music, discovered through a stepbrother’s punk tapes and Led Zeppelin, became a safe haven away from his feelings of not belonging.
Forgiveness and Loss of Beach
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(01:01:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell publicly forgave his adoptive mother, Beach, for leaving him to pursue happiness, recognizing her kindness during his early trauma.
  • Summary: Scobell revealed that Beach left to marry someone who did not want her past, including Scobell. He chose not to pursue her afterward out of respect for her happiness, but felt compelled to speak about it to offer forgiveness. He views her departure as the moment the wound of losing his biological mother and feeling unwanted by his father fully opened.
Intuition and Gut Feelings
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(01:07:12)
  • Key Takeaway: The heart and gut possess thousands of neurons, providing access to information that can contradict the brain’s directives.
  • Summary: The speaker notes the existence of 30,000 neurons in the heart and more in the gut, suggesting these areas offer intuitive input separate from the brain. He identifies as an empath, relying on this ‘access’ to read situations and avoid danger, citing an instance where he avoided a road in Baghdad that was later hit by an IED.
Early Pole Vaulting Struggles
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(01:08:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Pete Scobell initially struggled severely with pole vaulting, facing direct discouragement from his father to quit.
  • Summary: When Scobell first tried pole vaulting as a freshman, he was so bad the coach told him he was embarrassing himself. His father attended one meet and told him to quit because it was embarrassing. Despite this, Scobell resolved not to quit and continued practicing.
Adolescent Growth Spurt Impact
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(01:10:11)
  • Key Takeaway: A rapid 10-inch growth spurt in one year caused temporary uncoordination and poor performance across all of Scobell’s sports.
  • Summary: During a year where he grew from five feet to 5'10", Scobell was gangly, slow, and uncoordinated, leading to poor performance in soccer, swimming, and track. His father used this period of struggle to criticize his lack of direction and poor grades.
Breakthrough in Pole Vaulting
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(01:11:37)
  • Key Takeaway: After a natural athlete quit due to injury, Scobell experienced an immediate, inexplicable breakthrough, clearing 13 feet on his first attempt using a full-length pole.
  • Summary: Following the injury of a talented teammate, Scobell was instructed by his coach to run full speed and plant a 14-foot pole, despite only having practiced in a sandpit. He successfully cleared 13 feet that day, a height he had never approached before, indicating a sudden alignment of skill.
Father’s Continued Disapproval
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(01:13:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite achieving significant success in pole vaulting, including breaking a long-standing school record, Scobell’s father remained unsupportive and insisted he quit the sport.
  • Summary: By his junior year, Scobell broke the school pole vault record dating back to 1976, winning almost every meet he entered. However, his father continued to tell him to quit and would not attend his meets, leading Scobell to view pole vaulting as a form of rebellion.
Rookie Lifeguard Heroism Award
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(01:17:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell’s rookie summer lifeguarding culminated in saving a man who dove into the water and broke his neck, confirming his innate ability to remain calm and execute procedures under extreme pressure.
  • Summary: While working at Presque Isle State Park, Scobell immediately recognized a drowning victim had a neck injury and stabilized him using a head-chin splint, refusing to move him despite public outcry. The ER doctor later confirmed that moving him would have caused permanent paralysis or death, marking this event as the moment he realized he was ‘good at’ performing when things went to shit.
Father’s Lack of Affirmation
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(01:24:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Pete Scobell never received positive affirmation from his father to his face, even after major accomplishments like graduating BUD/S or getting into the Naval Academy.
  • Summary: When Scobell graduated BUD/S, his father asked why he wasn’t the honor man; when he got into the Naval Academy, his father called it ‘chicken shit’ experience. The only positive words Scobell ever heard from his father were ‘I love you’ during a phone call about an A on a calculus test, just before his father died.
Forgiveness and Understanding
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(01:28:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell has forgiven his father, believing his harshness stemmed from his own depression and a desire to prepare his son for hardship, rather than malice.
  • Summary: Scobell states, ‘I forgive you,’ acknowledging his father was doing the best he could with his own issues, possibly depression. He notes that his father’s constant pushing, while painful, ultimately provided the necessary friction that drove him toward elite achievement.
Path to Navy SEAL Recruitment
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(01:38:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell’s decision to join the Navy SEALs was solidified after a period of aimless wandering, culminating in his father refusing him entry back home until he produced enlistment paperwork.
  • Summary: After dropping out of Slippery Rock University and traveling the country, Scobell returned home only to be told he could not stay unless he had proof of enlistment. He went to the recruiter aiming for the SEAL pipeline, specifically requesting the ‘DiFerra’ program to become a medic (18 Delta) after his lifeguard experience.
Early SEAL Exposure and Mentors
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(02:04:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell’s initial understanding of the SEAL ethos came from two local mentors: a former SEAL musician and a retired SEAL Team One CEO who advised him not to stand out early in BUD/S.
  • Summary: He met Jake Banta, a former SEAL who played music locally, and Dave Strong, a retired SEAL Team One CEO. Strong advised Scobell that the guys who look like they will graduate are often the ones who quit, emphasizing that Scobell already possessed what he needed to succeed.
BUD/S Class Dynamics
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(02:08:06)
  • Key Takeaway: In BUD/S Class 208, Scobell was swim buddy to Adam Smith, the son of a two-star Admiral, which resulted in Scobell often being punished alongside Smith due to the instructors’ focus on the Admiral’s son.
  • Summary: Scobell noted that his class had a strong officer corps, including Mike McGath and Adam Smith. Because Smith was the son of an Admiral, instructors frequently punished them together, but Scobell found the water portions easy and stayed in the middle of the pack on land as advised.
BUD/S Water Comfort and Instructor Interaction
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(02:10:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Pete Scobell’s proficiency in water-based BUD/S events contrasted sharply with his poor performance on land, leading to a memorable encounter during the 50-meter underwater swim.
  • Summary: Scobell preferred water activities and could swim 100 yards underwater in high school, making him mentally prepared for the water portions of training. Instructors advised him to stay in the middle of the pack to avoid standing out, but he excelled during the 50-meter underwater swim. Instructor Hawes, who resembled an actor from the movie The Rock, tapped him on the shoulder underwater and later nicknamed him “the fish.”
BUD/S Hell Week Surf Torture Story
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(02:14:06)
  • Key Takeaway: During a Hell Week surf torture session amid 50-year record waves, Tom Donovan defied an instructor, resulting in severe beating but demonstrating resolute leadership.
  • Summary: On a night with historically large waves, Instructor Schmeck asked who would quit, prompting Tom Donovan to respond with defiance. Donovan, Scobell’s boat crew leader, took the ensuing beating, which Scobell witnessed with dread for his leader. The boat crew was subsequently subjected to massive waves, resulting in the boat flipping and Scobell being dragged ashore while holding onto a cross member.
Post-BUD/S Path to Naval Academy
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(02:17:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Inspired by peers like Tom Donovan and Mike McGath, Scobell decided to pursue the Naval Academy despite poor high school grades, achieving success in A-school and track to support his application.
  • Summary: Scobell identified leaders during BUD/S whose paths he wanted to emulate, leading him to apply to the Naval Academy, despite his low high school GPA and lack of SAT scores. He finished first in Quartermaster School (navigator training) to bolster his academic standing for the application. Admiral Smith, whose son Adam was Scobell’s swim buddy, personally intervened after learning Scobell was a 15-foot pole vaulter.
Naval Academy Prep School and Father’s Death
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(02:25:28)
  • Key Takeaway: After earning his Trident, Scobell was accepted to the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) but faced immense emotional turmoil after his father’s sudden death during his plebe year.
  • Summary: Scobell was accepted to NAPS to prove his academic capability, despite already having his SEAL Trident, a move Admiral Smith advised by stating one should always choose the hardest path. At NAPS, he struggled academically due to undiagnosed dyslexia/dysgraphia and clashed with upperclassmen, but he also excelled athletically, losing significant weight to return to pole vaulting. His father died suddenly in February, and the academy staff waited until after Scobell attended the required lectures to inform him, leading to a confrontation with his company officer over his subsequent behavior.
Post-9/11 Shift to Rugby and Academic Support
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(02:57:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Following the 9/11 attacks, Scobell shifted focus from pole vaulting to rugby to prepare for war, receiving crucial academic mentorship from Major Shea in Electrical Engineering.
  • Summary: After 9/11, Scobell quit the track team to walk onto the Division I Navy Rugby team, feeling the need to prepare for conflict alongside his SEAL peers. He struggled severely in Double E (Electrical Engineering), scoring 5% on one test, but Major Shea, a rugby coach and instructor, offered to personally tutor him, enabling him to pass the difficult course. Despite pressure from the SEAL officer representative to take a SWO billet first, Scobell insisted on applying directly for NSW due to the ongoing war.
Naval Academy Education Value
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(03:09:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Naval Academy taught critical thinking over rote memorization, applying physics to weapon systems and understanding geopolitical context.
  • Summary: The speaker highly valued the Naval Academy education for teaching him how to think, citing examples like applied physics in weapon systems engineering and understanding complex political dynamics. This foundational thinking prepared him to be an effective officer who could explain the ‘why’ behind tactical actions impacting strategy. He humorously noted the education was worth a high price, despite the difficulty.
Immediate Post-Graduation Deployment
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(03:11:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker immediately reported to SEAL Team One for deployment instead of taking leave, prioritizing battlefield experience over further schooling.
  • Summary: Graduating from the Academy, the speaker bypassed standard leave, immediately joining an SQT class and reporting to SEAL Team 1 to deploy first. His commander reinforced this, stating that an effective officer’s education happens on the battlefield, advising against taking a disassociated tour for a master’s degree. This commitment confirmed his purpose and desire to be downrange.
Reintegration as an Officer
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(03:12:38)
  • Key Takeaway: As a prior enlisted officer, the speaker maintained credibility with enlisted personnel due to his prior service and Good Conduct Medal.
  • Summary: Returning to the SEAL Teams as an officer was initially strange due to the East Coast/West Coast separation requirement for enlisted personnel. However, his prior enlisted status and Good Conduct Medal allowed him to bridge the gap, avoiding being dismissed by the enlisted ranks and feeling like he was finally where he belonged.
Academy Sponsor Family Connection
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(03:13:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Sponsor families at the Naval Academy provide crucial, often overlooked, familial support to midshipmen.
  • Summary: The speaker highlighted the overlooked aspect of sponsor families who take in midshipmen on weekends, offering laundry and family time. He shared a serendipitous connection with the Mick Waters family, whose husband recognized the name of a SEAL from Erie, Pennsylvania, whom he served with in Vietnam. This connection affirmed for the speaker that he was in the right place.
Spiritual Journey in Rome and Bosnia
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(03:15:28)
  • Key Takeaway: A Catholic trip to Rome and Medjugorje prompted deep skepticism about organized religion but culminated in an undeniable, unsettling personal experience.
  • Summary: Despite initial skepticism and viewing the trip as a favor to his sponsor family, the speaker engaged in intense theological debates with the chaplain, questioning the need for external religious structures when the ‘kingdom of God is inside you.’ In Medjugorje, after dismissing the visions, the speaker experienced a physical sensation of being grabbed and immobilized while looking at a visionary, an event that unnerved him but did not immediately convert him.
Rejection of Organized Religion Structure
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(03:21:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker left Catholic confirmation classes because the structure of the organized church contradicted his understanding of internal faith, leading him to revert to his prior beliefs.
  • Summary: After the unsettling experience in Bosnia, the speaker signed up for confirmation classes but walked out during the first session when confirmation candidates were excluded from communion. He felt this exclusionary structure contradicted the teaching that the kingdom of God resides within, leading him to abandon the organized path he had explored.
Tragic Loss of Roommate Brett Harmon
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(03:27:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker learned of the murder of his close Naval Academy roommate, Brett Harmon, via email while deployed in Iraq, an event that hit harder than combat losses.
  • Summary: While deployed in 2005, the speaker received news that his roommate, Brett Harmon, a Marine rifle platoon commander, was shot and killed during a civilian altercation at a football game tailgate. Brett’s best friend, Kevin McCann, was also executed while trying to disarm the shooter, an event the speaker described as the worst loss he had ever experienced, eclipsing combat losses. The speaker immediately arranged to return home to support Brett’s mother.
First Deployment to Iraq
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(2005)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker’s first deployment involved augmenting SEAL Team Six, attending JTAC school, and developing innovative ground mobility tactics in Baghdad.
  • Summary: Following his return from the funeral, the speaker immediately began workups, attended JTAC school with a close friend, and then augmented SEAL Team Six in Iraq in 2005. He was tasked with developing ground mobility doctrine, innovating navigation by layering GPS data onto flight planning software to counter IED threats. He also managed the Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Force (SIF), using scavenged resources to equip and train them.
Innovating Mobility and Training Iraqis
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(04:01:41)
  • Key Takeaway: NSW’s ground mobility efforts in Iraq were nascent, forcing the speaker to write the book on vehicle operations while simultaneously training Iraqi forces who lacked discipline.
  • Summary: NSW traditionally avoided wheeled vehicles, but the speaker was tasked with leading ground mobility operations, essentially creating the doctrine on the fly. He noted the Iraqi forces, despite being touted as elite, were undisciplined, showing up late even after he threatened them with a flashbang grenade. The team innovated by scavenging vehicles and equipment, using illicit means to fund better gear for the Iraqis while trying to build capability.
Sadr City Uprising and Iraqi Loyalty
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(04:14:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Force (ICTF) members fought violently to retrieve the tortured and murdered bodies of their comrades from a morgue during the Sadr City uprising.
  • Summary: The Sadr City uprising in March 2005 saw Iraqi forces’ loyalties fracture along sectarian lines, with some turning on coalition partners. Six ICTF members were captured, tortured (including genital mutilation and skinning), and killed by other Iraqis. The remaining ICTF members launched a direct assault on the morgue, using heavy machine guns to retrieve the bodies of their fallen brothers.
Disillusionment and Brotherhood in Iraq
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(04:18:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker found the only positive aspect of the Iraq deployment was the intense brotherhood displayed by the warriors who fought to recover their dead, despite questioning the overall strategic purpose of the war.
  • Summary: The speaker expressed deep confusion regarding the rationale for being in Iraq, contrasting the violence with the return to normalcy in places like Aspen, Colorado. The act of personally nailing the coffin shut for a fallen comrade, Saad, who had given him a gift, was a deeply personal and difficult moment. The speaker concluded that the only good found in the conflict was the unwavering brotherhood among the warriors.
Transition to SDV School
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(04:20:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The rapid transition from extreme combat violence to domestic life, such as dining in Aspen, Colorado, immediately after a rotation caused significant cognitive dissonance.
  • Summary: After the rotation, the speaker immediately flew to Colorado to meet his wife, Heather, before heading to Hawaii for his next assignment. The jarring contrast between the violence witnessed and the luxury of an Aspen restaurant highlighted the disconnect between the war zone and home life. This period immediately preceded the conception of his daughter, Delena.
Chaotic Iraq Operations and IED Threat
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(04:24:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The end of the deployment was marked by chaotic kinetic operations, including flipping a Humvee off a bridge during an Iraqi police engagement and the increasing threat from sophisticated Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs).
  • Summary: The speaker described an incident where an Iraqi police vehicle flipped a Humvee carrying ICTF members, leading to an ambush where body parts had to be collected. The threat level escalated with the introduction of Iranian-supplied EFPs, which were designed to breach the passenger side of vehicles. Operations became frequent, often involving small teams working with Iraqi forces in an unpredictable environment.
SDV Training Misery and Technical Failures
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(04:32:22)
  • Key Takeaway: SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) training involved enduring extreme physical misery, such as 8-10 hour dives in 42-degree water while packed tightly in the wet submersible, often dealing with unreliable, outdated technology.
  • Summary: SDV school involved constant immersion in cold water, requiring crude methods to manage bodily functions over long dives. The navigation systems were compared to Windows 95, frequently rebooting during operations. A critical failure occurred during a dive under an aircraft carrier when the boat’s valves erupted due to overpressure, forcing the crew to manually manage the situation while mentally breaking down from the ordeal.
Matt Leathers: A Talented Operator
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(04:40:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Matt Leathers, a teammate from SDVT-1, was described as the most talented human being the speaker ever encountered, capable of mastering complex skills like piloting the SDV and qualifying for the U.S. Open in golf.
  • Summary: Leathers, who was part of the platoon that suffered losses in Afghanistan, was an exceptional pilot who could perform difficult dives flawlessly. He was also an artist who drew cartoons documenting platoon mishaps. His natural talent extended to golf, where he won a qualifier despite not having his own driver.
Wife’s Difficult Birth and Deployment
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(04:46:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker’s wife endured a grueling 54-hour labor, culminating in an emergency forceps delivery, immediately before the speaker was scheduled to deploy again.
  • Summary: After moving to Hawaii, the speaker’s wife, Heather, experienced an extremely difficult labor that lasted 54 hours, causing significant distress among the medical staff. The speaker felt helpless, contrasting this with his combat experience, but his mother-in-law, a nurse, provided crucial support. Immediately following the birth of their daughter, Delena, the speaker had to prepare for a deployment.
Highlight of NSW Career: Submarine Operation
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(04:51:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The highlight of the speaker’s Naval Special Warfare career was an SDV mission involving pulling a monkey fist line while in the slipstream of a nuclear submarine in a restricted area.
  • Summary: After screening for a command position, the speaker participated in a mission that he considered the pinnacle of his career. This involved operating undetected near a nuclear submarine, an experience he described as the coolest thing he had ever done. This mission occurred just before he received orders to transition to SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU).
Green Team DUI Incident After Deployment
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(04:54:46)
  • Key Takeaway: A weekend river float during Green Team training resulted in a junior Petty Officer being arrested for DUI, leading to a severe reprimand for the supervising officers, Jonas Kalsaw and the speaker.
  • Summary: During Green Team training, several members, including the speaker and Jonas Kalsaw, drank while others drove, but the designated driver was subsequently arrested at a DUI checkpoint. The speaker took full responsibility as the officer, stating, ‘You can delegate authority, you can’t delegate responsibility.’ Both officers received non-punitive letters of reprimand but survived the intense dressing-down from command leadership.
Nick Check’s Gratitude Posthumously
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(05:00:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Petty Officer Nick Check, who was arrested during the DUI incident, thanked the speaker before deployment, and later, Nick’s girlfriend relayed that Nick had specifically listed the speaker as someone to thank in his final wishes.
  • Summary: Nick Check expressed sincere gratitude to the speaker for taking responsibility during the DUI incident, stating he loved his job because of the speaker’s actions. Years later, Nick’s girlfriend informed the speaker that Nick had included him on a list of people to thank before his death in the hostage rescue operation for which Ed Byers received the Medal of Honor.
GPS Coordinates and Drop Zone Selection
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(05:16:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The initial grid coordinate provided by the Air Force placed the target dead center of Africa on the basic E-Trex GPS, forcing the team to manually select a drop zone location.
  • Summary: The team used a basic E-Trex GPS which initially showed the target location incorrectly, leading them to manually select a drop zone. They successfully negotiated a refueling route over the Red Sea instead of Saudi Arabia to enable a last-light drop, avoiding a dangerous night drop with non-operator qualified personnel.
Weight Overload and Gear Stripping
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(05:18:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The boats were loaded approximately 3,000 pounds over weight per unit, necessitating immediate ditching of non-essential gear, including an administrative printer.
  • Summary: The load master informed the speaker that each boat was significantly overweight, risking the loss of the boats upon deployment. The team began stripping gear, including an unnecessary printer brought by an admin member, to meet weight requirements. They also had to tandem rig an unqualified communications guy who was not jump quality.
Successful Boat Drop Execution
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(05:20:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite high expectations for failure, the complex boat drop operation, involving four boats and 80 assaulters, executed flawlessly, surprising the operators.
  • Summary: The speaker noted his personal anxiety about forgetting to take out the trash just before the mission, but the boat drop went perfectly, which was unexpected as these operations usually result in burned boats or failures. All four boats successfully deployed, started, and motored toward the Boxer, followed by the successful freefall of 80 assaulters.
Assault Planning and Pirate Negotiation
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(05:24:12)
  • Key Takeaway: The initial assault plan involved ramming the dinghy with one boat to disarm the pirates, followed immediately by a sniper boarding from a second boat.
  • Summary: Once on the Boxer, the team began planning the assault on the dinghy, which was flat-topped by the Navy ship’s capabilities. The plan was to crash a boat into the dinghy to disarm the pirates, knowing Captain Phillips was taped to the center pole, followed by a sniper boarding. The situation shifted when the lead pirate requested medical care for a festering knife wound sustained earlier.
Sniper Engagement and Aftermath
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(05:29:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Three Navy SEAL snipers simultaneously engaged the remaining three pirates, followed by a SEAL fireman’s crawling down the tow cable to secure Captain Phillips.
  • Summary: After the lead pirate was taken for medical care, three snipers engaged the remaining three pirates, resulting in multiple rounds fired. The most badass moment for the speaker was watching a SEAL fireman’s crawl down the greasy Navy tow cable to secure Captain Phillips. The entire operation concluded quickly, leading the team to want to leave immediately, as it was Easter.
Post-Mission Fallout and Biden’s Comment
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(05:32:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The team’s sense of accomplishment was immediately undercut when Vice President Biden publicly identified the unit as SEAL Team 6, which the speaker felt unraveled their operational security.
  • Summary: After the successful rescue, the team watched CNN on the Boxer, where Vice President Biden publicly credited SEAL Team 6. This public acknowledgment was seen by the speaker as the moment their operational security was compromised, leading to future issues. Following this, the speaker was immediately tasked with standing up a new task force for the Horn of Africa.
TBI Onset and Boat Drop Concussion
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(05:36:48)
  • Key Takeaway: A severe boat handling incident in 10-foot seas, where the boat stuffed into a wave, resulted in the speaker sustaining three herniated discs in his neck and the onset of significant cognitive deficits.
  • Summary: The speaker described the extreme G-forces experienced while driving boats in heavy seas, noting one incident where the boat stuffed, knocking him unconscious and shearing off his night vision goggles. This event caused three herniated discs and initiated severe cognitive deficits, including vertigo and vomiting, which were initially dismissed by command as needing to ‘Charlie Mike’ (continue mission).
Afghanistan Ground Mobility Success
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(05:39:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker successfully trained and led a new ground mobility component using Panders with SWCC personnel in Afghanistan, achieving significant operational success with Rangers.
  • Summary: The speaker deployed to Jalalabad as an Assistant Strike Force Commander, integrating SWCC ground mobility teams with Rangers. They had great success hitting targets, utilizing armored Panders equipped with RWS systems, which proved highly effective against enemy positions at long ranges. The Rangers were praised as young, hard-working ‘rock stars’ willing to do the difficult ground work.
Christmas Eve Ambush and Political Release
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(05:42:07)
  • Key Takeaway: On Christmas Eve, the speaker’s Pander vehicle was hit by an IED or RPG, and later, after a successful engagement where 18 enemy fighters were killed, the captured Taliban sub-commander was released for political leverage.
  • Summary: During a mission to seize fertilizer and IED parts, the speaker’s vehicle was hit by an explosive device, causing him to lose consciousness but resulting only in a shredded tire. After successfully engaging and killing 18 enemy fighters, command insisted on a battle space handoff at a Forward Operating Base before they could leave the dangerous area. Upon capturing a high-value target, the speaker was dismayed to learn the target was released for political leverage, which he felt devalued the risk taken by his men.
TBI Diagnosis and NYNIC Treatment
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(05:57:56)
  • Key Takeaway: After realizing his severe cognitive decline, the speaker was diagnosed with TBI and began intensive, multi-disciplinary treatment at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NYNIC), which provided a structured path to recovery.
  • Summary: Following his final deployment, the speaker’s TBI symptoms worsened, leading him to drink heavily to manage pain and disorientation, and he even wrote a letter of resignation. A friend urged him to seek help at NYNIC, where doctors explained his brain injury using an earthquake analogy, detailing how damaged white matter forces information to take detours. The treatment protocol focused on breaking the pain and stress cycles to restore sleep, leading to an immediate positive response after acupuncture.
Team Guy Humor and Memorial
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(06:16:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Team guys processed intense combat loss with dark, shared humor immediately following an RPG hit.
  • Summary: An anecdote described the immediate, profane reaction of Rangers upon realizing the severity of an RPG hit, followed by the solemn scene at a teammate’s memorial. At the memorial, the deceased teammate’s dog, Hawkeye, laid down by the casket, and all three of his girlfriends were present, prompting team humor about the situation.
Singing at Teammate’s Memorial
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(06:18:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Singing publicly in front of SEAL teammates felt comparable to being a vulnerable target.
  • Summary: Scobell felt immense pressure singing ‘Hell for the Company’ at the memorial, comparing the experience to being a ‘wounded zebra walking in front of a pride of lions.’ He performed the song sober, noting that experiencing the event without alcohol made the pain more acute and immediate.
Arlington Ceremony Obligation
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(06:19:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell was compelled to sing again at the official Arlington ceremony despite feeling like a failure for leaving active duty.
  • Summary: The chaplain called Scobell to perform at the Arlington ceremony, which included a change of command and remarks by Pete Manhooser and Wyman Howard. Scobell initially resisted, feeling like a ‘quitter’ and a ‘failure’ for leaving the operational path, but ultimately performed.
Developing TBI Advocacy Brief
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(06:21:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell found a new purpose by building and presenting a brief detailing the symptoms and comorbidities of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
  • Summary: After leaving the immediate operational environment, Scobell developed a brief on TBI and its link to PTSD, which resonated immediately with operators who recognized their own symptoms. This led to many guys seeking help at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (Nyko), turning it into a ‘revolving door’ for the command.
Institutional Resistance to TBI Acknowledgment
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(06:22:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Naval Special Warfare leadership resisted acknowledging the TBI problem, viewing it as a ‘dev group problem’ or dismissing symptoms as laziness.
  • Summary: Scobell hit a wall at WARCOM and Group One where leadership denied the existence of a TBI problem, forcing him to realize that solutions would have to come from support mechanisms outside the command structure. He concluded that the Navy does not prioritize individual welfare over mission requirements, which is why acknowledging TBI would necessitate changing operational protocols.
Resignation and Denali Summit
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(06:25:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell formally ended his active duty service by climbing Denali and leaving his memorial bracelet at the summit as a symbolic act of concluding his grief.
  • Summary: After submitting his resignation, Scobell and four others climbed and summited Denali, where he tied his memorial bracelet to the summit plaque, declaring he was done grieving. He left the Navy with no immediate plan, prioritizing his family after being told he would have to deploy again to stay on track.
Early Post-Service Advocacy Efforts
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(06:27:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell immediately engaged in external advocacy, raising millions to open new TBI satellite centers before being called back to active duty.
  • Summary: Despite leaving active duty, Scobell worked with nonprofits and ran a campaign with Napa that raised millions to open ten new Nyko satellite centers. He was nearly recalled to active duty but refused, prioritizing his family after his wife insisted he focus on them.
Media Misrepresentation and Brain Institute
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(06:28:28)
  • Key Takeaway: An article intended to highlight TBI healing was hijacked by media to focus solely on the Captain Phillips mission, leading to backlash.
  • Summary: Scobell partnered with a journalist to promote the healing protocols of the Marcus Brain Institute, but the resulting article focused on the Captain Phillips mission instead of TBI recovery, drawing negative attention. This setback was overcome when Bernie Marcus, Home Depot founder, provided $38 million to open the Marcus Brain Institute in Aurora, Colorado.
Concussion and Career Tumult
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(06:30:28)
  • Key Takeaway: A severe skiing accident resulting in another concussion preceded a period of career instability and personal decline.
  • Summary: After the success of the Brain Institute opening, Scobell suffered another major concussion while big mountain skiing, leading him to tumble through various jobs, including a role at the healthcare tech company Rally. He left Rally when its focus shifted away from his proposed TBI predictive modeling using wearable devices.
Music Career and Industry Realities
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(06:33:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell rejected a standard country music record deal because the five-year commitment required him to be perpetually poor while promoting the label’s interests over his own songwriting.
  • Summary: He began recording music after being approached by Cactus, but realized the music business model required him to fly to 273 radio stations and tour constantly for five years, leaving him poor but famous, while sacrificing control over his own songs. He instead pursued sponsorships, achieving a minor chart position with ‘Walking a Wire.’
PTSD Onset and Suicidal Crisis
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(06:39:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The stress following the success of his song ‘Hearts I Leave Behind’ triggered a severe onset of PTSD, leading to a suicidal crisis.
  • Summary: After his song ‘Hearts I Leave Behind’ hit number one on iTunes following a promotion with Glenn Beck, Scobell experienced a massive PTSD crash, realizing it affected him despite his focus on TBI. This culminated in him going to a creek with a .357 with the intent to end his life, feeling he had become his own abusive father.
Ibogaine Journey and Demon Confrontation
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(06:41:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Scobell underwent an Ibogaine treatment where he confronted a persistent, toxic ego entity he named ‘Dart,’ which claimed to have been with him since the Academy.
  • Summary: After being convinced by friends to try Ibogaine, Scobell experienced intense memory recall and purged the toxic entity ‘Dart,’ who manifested with Danny DeVito’s voice and explained that demons attach to those who ‘play hard and party hard.’ The experience concluded with the realization that Dart could only leave if Scobell offered forgiveness, which he achieved during a subsequent ‘five’ ceremony.
Post-Psychedelic Integration and Son’s Acting
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(07:02:49)
  • Key Takeaway: The combination of Ibogaine and 40 days at Heroes and Horses fundamentally changed Scobell, leading to profound empathy and enabling him to fully support his son’s acting aspirations.
  • Summary: Following the psychedelic experience, Scobell felt waves of forgiveness and returned home a ‘different person,’ capable of feeling the trauma in others. He then took his son, Walker, to Hollywood, where Walker secured a role opposite Ryan Reynolds in a major film, a path Scobell supported by saying ‘yes’ to opportunities, unlike his own father.
Walker’s Film Experience
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(07:19:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Walker Scobell’s performance in The Adam Project was marked by natural improvisation and deep emotional connection, particularly in scenes involving his on-screen father.
  • Summary: Walker improvised lines on set, impressing director ‘Sean’ who maintained a disciplined yet free set environment. Walker shot more days than Ryan Reynolds during filming, and the actors were quarantined together for four months. Stunt coordinator Jim Churchman trained Walker to perform his own stunts, leading to a magical filmmaking experience for the young actor.
Emotional Scene Revelation
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(07:21:32)
  • Key Takeaway: A pivotal, emotional scene in The Adam Project where Mark Ruffalo’s character affirms Ryan Reynolds’ character as an amazing father caused genuine, unprompted tears from the actors.
  • Summary: The movie’s storyline involved time travel and confronting one’s father, hitting home for many crew members dealing with their own paternal issues. Mark Ruffalo delivered the unscripted line, “You’re not your dad. You’re an amazing father,” which broke the actors down emotionally. The speaker cried intensely when watching the playback of this scene later in the father’s office set.
Manifesting Percy Jackson Role
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(07:25:17)
  • Key Takeaway: After filming The Adam Project, Walker immediately manifested his next major role as Percy Jackson, despite the casting process not yet being underway.
  • Summary: Walker declared his intention to be Percy Jackson, prompting the speaker to contact the agent, who initially stated casting wasn’t happening. Walker subsequently starred in Secret Headquarters with Owen Wilson while waiting for news on Percy Jackson. The speaker also took a consulting role on the film Plane with Gerard Butler during this period.
Percy Jackson Casting Confirmation
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(07:27:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Walker was officially cast as Percy Jackson via a surprise Zoom call with author Rick Riordan, fulfilling his manifestation.
  • Summary: Following the completion of Plane, Walker received a call to join a Zoom meeting where Rick Riordan announced he was Percy Jackson. The speaker notes the thematic parallels between Percy Jackson’s demigod powers involving water and healing and the spiritual themes discussed later.
Profound Family Coincidence
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(07:29:02)
  • Key Takeaway: A moment of spiritual seeking by the speaker led directly to the discovery that his friend Sean is the long-lost half-brother of the speaker’s childhood friend, Paul Smith.
  • Summary: Struggling professionally, the speaker prayed for a sign, and the next day, Sean asked him to deliver a letter to his estranged mother in Erie. The recipient’s name matched the last name of Paul Smith, a childhood friend who later revealed his sister, Patricia, was forced to give up a baby for adoption, which turned out to be Sean.
Spiritual Epiphany and Purpose
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(07:36:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker realized that his difficult upbringing, including the trauma of adoption, was necessary to forge the man required for his specific mission, reinforcing faith in divine timing.
  • Summary: The speaker told Sean that if he had been born into his biological family’s circumstances, he would not have become the combat leader or the man he is today. This realization brought the speaker immense peace, confirming that God moves individuals to where they need to be before healing them. The ultimate pursuit in life is seeking God, which leads to where one needs to be, even amidst future global craziness.
Defining Life Roles and Peace
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(07:53:22)
  • Key Takeaway: True fulfillment comes from identifying and focusing on non-monetary roles (like being a father or husband) rather than just jobs or pursuits, leading to peace of mind.
  • Summary: The speaker distinguishes between jobs, pursuits (like music and skiing), and roles; roles are what matter outside of financial gain. Peace of mind is the real winner, as it reduces the need for material possessions. The ultimate purpose is to love God, and staying present allows one to access the calm that makes death and struggle less frightening.