Building the Elite Podcast

Hosted by Building the Elite

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Episodes

130

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The Building the Elite (BTE) podcast discusses all facets of human performance - from physical training to the mental and emotional factors of resilience. Each episode looks at principles drawn from the world of special operations. These concepts help people succeed in the toughest military training courses in the world and can help anyone thrive in chaotic and challenging environments.

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60 recent

July 16, 2026Episode 1301 hr 16 min

Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon: Processing Grief and Loss - Ep. 130

Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon is a trained counselor specializing in the psychology of behavior change, with certifications including motivational interviewing, solution-focused, DBT, CBT, and trauma counseling.She’s the author of numerous books and accredited nutrition, sleep, stress, and recovery courses. She is our go-to performance psych and works one-on-one with many of our clients seeking to sharpen the mental and emotional skills needed to handle some of the toughest training courses in the world.She’s an invaluable resource for our clients and has played a critical role in the careers of many special operators. In this episode, we’re talking to KSD about the grieving process. Typically, we think of grief as the emotional state following a loss like the death of a friend or loved one, but the process is surprisingly similar to other forms of loss, such as the emotional impact of losing out on a major career aspiration, washing out of a selection course, or getting divorced. Additional Resources: What to Know About Grief and LossMore about KSD:Website - kristascottdixon.comCoaching for SOF personnel - https://www.buildingtheelite.com/performance-psych-coaching/KSD’s latest book, Applied Nutrition Coaching and Counseling - https://amzn.to/4xXhp0tTimestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Dr. Krista Scott Dixon00:01:24 Processing Grief in Death/Grief in Setbacks00:11:47 Dealing with the Nature of Death00:18:54 The Brain's Ability to Adjust to Loss00:23:14 Clichés are Infuriating During Grieving00:28:22 Excepting a New Reality 00:31:50 Exposure to Grief in the Military00:36:04 Unhealthy and Problematic Ways of Coping with Loss00:41:57 Chemical Avoidance and Numbing in Grief00:45:19 Communicating Death to Children00:51:37 Advice on Helping with Others' Grief00:58:20 Guidelines for Dealing with Grief from Selection01:04:00 Curling into a Ball or Crawling into a Hole01:06:01 The "What If"s and "If Only"s of Loss01:08:02 Survivor's Guilt01:13:43 Face, Accept, Float, Let Time Pass01:16:21 OutroSend us a message

July 9, 2026Episode 12948 min

Dr. Robyn Nadolny: Tick-Borne Diseases, Ep. 129

Dr. Robyn Nadolny is a Biologist and the Chief of the Vector-Borne Disease Branch at the Defense Centers for Public Health at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (DCPH-A). The flagship program of the Vector-Borne Disease Branch is MilTICK, a free, rapid tick-testing program for military beneficiaries. The results provide a tool in the diagnostic toolbox for military beneficiaries, and Dr. Nadolny uses the passive surveillance data generated to better understand changing tick-borne disease dynamics and mitigate risks to US Service Members and their communities. She is also working on tick-borne disease surveillance projects worldwide to support military communities. Dr. Nadolny came to DCPH-A in 2016 after completing her PhD in Ecological Sciences from Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, VA. She also holds a M.S. in Biology from ODU, and a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavioral Biology from Beloit College in Beloit, WI. Her research focuses on the prevention of tick-borne disease through understanding and breaking tick-host-pathogen-environment cycles. Dr. Nadolny has co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and is interested in the intersection of ecology and public health.In this episode, we discuss the types of diseases that can be transmitted to military personnel (and anyone else) through ticks, how those diseases work, where and when the risk is greatest, and what you can do to protect yourself. To visit the MilTICK site, which you can use to understand the risk of tick-borne disease at your military installation and submit ticks for testing, go here:https://ph.health.mil/topics/entomology/kits/Pages/HumanTickTestKitProgram.aspxThere are also many civilian labs where you can submit a tick for testing at a low cost. For example:Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab: https://www.ticklab.org/Old Dominion University, Virginia: https://sites.wp.odu.edu/tick-team/what-we-do/tick-testing/sending-us-your-ticks/Ticknology: https://www.ticknology.org/order-testTimestamps:00:23 Introduction to Dr. Robyn Nadolny01:48 What are the Most Common Diseases Spread by Ticks?03:24 Lesser Known Tick-Spread Diseases07:19 Alpha Gal: It's Not Just Beef Off the Table 09:27 The Implications of Lyme Disease14:16 How Does the Body React After Multiple Tick Bites?16:06 Rates of These Diseases 18:21 What Terrain Do Ticks Prefer? 21:31 What Time of Year are Ticks the Worst?23:13 Tick Life Cycles 27:56 Soldiers Protecting Themselves from Ticks in the Field33:19 Dealing with a Tick Bite in the Field37:41 Prevalence of Diseases in Ticks42:34 Vaccines for Tick-Borne Diseases for Pets and People45:45 Treated Clothing and Repellents48:21 OutroSend us a message

July 1, 2026Episode 12857 min

Dr. Alia Bojilova: Curiosity and Kidnappings - Ep. 128

Dr. Alia Bojilova is a registered psychologist with a focus on resilience. She grew up in Eastern Europe during some of the most tumultuous times in recent history before immigrating to New Zealand at age 17. During her service with the New Zealand Defense Force, she worked as the Lead Psychologist and an Officer with the SAS. While serving as a UN military observer in Syria, Alia and her team were taken hostage, and she negotiated the release of herself and her team. She holds a PhD from the University of Waikato and studied the link between curiosity and resilience in special operations forces. Since leaving the military, Alia has served as coach and advisor to leaders and teams around the world, and across a wide range of sectors, including government, venture capital, elite-level sports, corporate services, and creative industries.She’s the author of The Resilience Toolkit, available on Amazon.More about Alia:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrina-alia-bojilova/Resilience Toolkit - https://amzn.to/4fa9DZHTimestamps:00:22 Introduction to Alia Bojilova01:21 Lead Psychologist for New Zealand SAS05:35 The Link Between Curiosity and Resilience07:51 Resilience in Special Operators12:38 Time of Service and Involvement in SAS14:51 What Does "Military Observer" Mean?17:04 Assessing for Curiosity in Training19:22 Curiosity's Distinction from Openness31:40 Common Signifiers of a Resilient, Curious Mindset35:40 Olympic Athletes and Special Operators37:13 The Phenomenal Gift of Being Taken Captive in Syria54:01 One or Two Books Everyone Should Read55:18 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received56:31 OutroSend us a message

June 17, 2026Episode 12744 min

James Jensen: "What's Important Now?" - Aussie SAS Leadership Lessons, Ep. 127

James Jensen is a former SAS Patrol Commander with a unique blend of scientific leadership theory and real-world, high-stakes leadership experience.James served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for two decades, with fourteen years in the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), where he held leadership roles during multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor, and the Philippines. Throughout his career, he worked in some of the world’s most challenging and high-pressure environments.With over 20 years of experience leading and working within teams in dynamic, complex settings, James has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of great leadership. He has seen exceptional leaders elevate teams and positively impact individuals' lives, and he's also observed the devastating effects of poor leadership on both people and organizations.James’s evolution from a junior leader in East Timor to leading some of Australia’s most elite teams reshaped his understanding of what true leadership means. Today, as a sought-after consultant, James works with organizations across many industries, helping leaders unlock their full potential and inspire greatness in their teams. His leadership expertise is still highly valued by the SAS, where he continues to train and mentor the next generation of SAS leaders.LEARN MORE ABOUT JAMES: K6 Consulting - https://k6consulting.com.au/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-jensen-a56440172/TIMESTAMPS:00:21 Introduction to James Jensen01:49 What Did James Do in The Army?06:30 From Officer to Enlistment - How Did that Process Affect James?09:53 Being Concerned with Being Liked in Leadership11:23 W.I.N. - What's Important Now15:07 Develop and Maintain the Role of Calmness19:32 Can Calmness Be Developed or is it Innate?22:43 Timing a Joke with a Crew24:02 Better Decision Making as a Leader32:48 Routine with Feedback = Behavioral Change33:49 Leadership is a Profession36:33 Individuals Functioning as a Unit41:35 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received42:51 James' Book Recommendations 44:18 OutroSend us a message

June 3, 2026Episode 1261 hr 9 min

Aaron Love - Ones Ready, Ep. 126

Aaron is an active duty Pararescueman currently stationed at a Special Tactics Squadron as a Troop Chief. He is a Team Leader, Evaluator, Special Operations Combatives Program (SOCP) Lvl 2 instructor, and an Onnit Certified Trainer, with a focus on Tactical Durability.Pararescuemen, or PJs, are the only DoD asset specifically trained, equipped, and employed to perform Personnel Recovery. They are Technical Rescue Specialists who provide gold-standard combat trauma medical care and evacuation in every environment and situation on the planet. They are trained in all methods of advanced employment and can employ from any vehicle, standard or non-standard, in the DoD and multinational partner inventory.Aaron enlisted in the Air Force in September 2001 and entered the Pararescue training pipeline as a cross trainee, previously an Aerospace Physiology Technician. He has served in Special Tactics and Rescue Squadrons, both overseas and stateside. He has also served in Air Education and Training Command, where he was integral in the complete rewrite of the Pararescue/Combat Rescue Apprentice Courses and has intimate knowledge of the Assessment and Selection process and pipeline management. He has seen multiple combat deployments to Iraq, Africa, and Afghanistan in positions from team member to Senior Enlisted Leader. He takes great pride in the training and mentorship aspect of being a Troop Chief. Aaron is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu player in his off time.You can learn more about Ones Ready and their Operator Training Summit at onesready.comSend us a message

March 18, 2026Episode 1251 hr 6 min

Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon - Mental Skills: Defining "Good Enough," Ep. 125

February 25, 2026Episode 1241 hr 25 min

Steve House - Training Mountain Athletes and Special Operators, Ep. 124

Steve House serves as the managing director, coach, and official mascot of Uphill Athlete, which he co-founded in 2016. He lives in a remote and mountainous corner of Austria with his wife and two sons.Steve’s biggest coaching challenge was coaching himself. Which was successful enough for him to be called “The greatest climber of his generation” by none other than Reinhold Messner. He was inspired to write down what he learned and originally recruited two other coaches to help him write Training for the New Alpinism while recovering from a near-life-ending fall in 2010. He then co-authored Training for the Uphill Athlete (2018) to fulfill his personal mission to “Teach conventional endurance training theory and practice to mountain athletes.” He retired from professional climbing at the end of 2020 to dedicate himself to family and work full-time on Uphill Athlete.Steve’s most famous ascent is the 4,500-meter-high Rupal Face, the world's biggest mountain wall, which culminates at the summit of the world's deadliest and 9th-highest mountain: Nanga Parbat. In this episode, we talk with Steve about his career, Uphill Athlete’s approach to coaching, and the overlap between mountain athletes and special operators. More about Steve and Uphill Athlete:You can learn more about Uphill Athlete at their website, uphillathlete.com. And you can follow them on social media here:Uphill Athlete Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uphill_athlete/Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevehouse10/Timestamps:00:00:22 Introduction to Steve House 00:01:47 What is Significant about Nanga Parbat, "The Naked Mountain"00:06:51 Grading the Technical Difficulty of Climbing00:11:18 The "American Certified International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations" Guide 00:15:23 Overlap Between Climbing and Special Operations Communities00:18:00 Similarities and Differences Between the Communities00:30:32 Uphill Athlete Training Mistake 00:40:37 Base Building Meaning and Development00:42:44 Aerobic Threshold to Regulate Training00:51:00 Building Aerobic Volume00:58:59 What to Prioritize During Training01:02:09 Misunderstanding V02 Max in Training01:09:13 Ventilatory Threshold Breakpoint01:15:10 Ten Athletes, Ten Results01:18:03 What's Next for Uphill Athlete?01:21:23 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received01:23:44 Book Recommendations01:24:59 OutroSend us a message

February 11, 2026Episode 1231 hr 27 min

Dr. David Walton: SFAS Guidance for 2026 - Ep. 123

Dr. David “Wally” Walton is a retired Army Special Forces officer with 25 years of experience in the SF community. His career spans service with the 7th Special Forces Group, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and the Special Warfare Center and School.Dr. Walton’s extensive operational experience includes deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and across Latin America. Since retiring in 2013, he has transitioned into academia, teaching National Security Studies and Executive Leadership. His research portfolio covers Security Strategy, Organizational Culture and Dynamics, and Human Performance. He has a deep understanding of security studies, encompassing everything from tactical operations to strategic policy discussions.Currently an instructor at JSOC, Dr. Walton is a Subject Matter Expert in Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He specializes in Land Navigation, runs a prep program designed for SFAS candidates, and is the author of multiple books about preparing for SFAS. More about Dr. Walton:Website: https://tfvoodoo.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tf_voo_doo/Timestamps:00:00:23 Introduction to Dr. David Walton00:01:42 Changes within SFSS and Coaching00:20:22 Being Trained in Land Navigation00:30:43 Better Prepared Candidates00:53:34 The Sandman Event00:59:29 Selection Rates and Working Through the Stages01:05:23 No Dependencies in the SFSS Course01:09:47 The "Awaiting Training" Phase 01:11:33 What has Dr. David Walton Changed in Coaching?01:17:08 How Many Books has Dr. Walton Written?01:21:52 Books Everyone Should Read01:26:32 OutroSend us a message

January 26, 2026Episode 12243 min

Brad Stulberg: The Way of Excellence - Ep. 122

Brad Stulberg is a bestselling author of the new book The Way of Excellence, a performance coach, faculty member at the University of Michigan, and a husband and father.The Way of Excellence comes out tomorrow, and you can pick up a copy at any major bookseller like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Audible.com, or Bookshop.org. You can learn more about Brad and follow his work at his website, (https://www.bradstulberg.com/) and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradstulberg/Send us a message

November 27, 2025Episode 1211 hr 19 min

Nick Caldwell: The Mill Gym - Preparing the Next Generation of Special Operators

Nick has over 12 years of military experience, including 4 years as an Australian Commando and 6 years as an SAS operator. His operational service included deployments throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including Iraq and East Timor.Since leaving the Army, Nick has established two companies as a founding Director, The Mill Gym and Omni GeoX; as well as a new fitness competition, the Tier 1 Games.Nick has provided risk management, leadership, and elite-level performance consulting in austere environments worldwide, including with professional sports teams, multinational corporations, government, and non-governmental organisations.Nick's charter is to build real-world resilience within individuals and foster a no-compromise culture of excellence. He’s driven by a deep passion for building elite-level soldiers and athletes through an uncompromising culture, mindset, and mental toughness. His philosophy is simple: hard work beats talent, and resilience is the decisive advantage in high-pressure environments. By drawing from years of operational experience and an 18-year coaching career, Nick develops training systems that forge discipline, sharpen decision-making under stress, and cultivate the mental edge required to excel when it matters most.Learn more about Nick and The Mill Gym:Email: nick@themillgym.comInstagram: @themillgymLinkedIn: @nickcaldwellWebsite: themillgym.comTimestamps:0:00:22 Introduction to Nick Caldwell0:01:45 Career in the Aussie Special Air Service 0:05:32 Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu0:07:10 Gaining the Confidence to Enlist0:14:49 Nick's Goals that Pushed His Career Forward0:17:50 Recovering from Burnout0:21:23 Helping Someone Understand Their Recovery and Readiness0:26:48 Training with HRP and Other Monitoring Devices0:38:28 What Camps Does Nick Caldwell Run?0:44:43 Not a 36 Hour Exercise Competition0:49:55 Standard Pre-Screening0:57:50 Woman in Courses of Self-Defense1:02:11 "Keeping Yourself Safe in a Parking Garage" Scenario 1:10:04 Books that Nick Believes Everyone Should Read1:18:37 OutroSend us a message

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