Dive deep into the world of valor, vulnerability, and veteran support with "Shawn Ryan Show," featuring the insightful conversation between host Shawn Ryan and guest Jonathan Wilson, former Navy SEAL operator. As they shed light on the complexities of military life and personal growth, this episode paints a portrait of a warrior shaped by his childhood quest for his father's approval and the intense experiences of SEAL training and combat.
Jonathan Wilson's raw and honest discussion moves beyond the battlefield into the territory of post-service struggles with PTSD and mental health. Hear about his transformative journey with plant medicine, which led to a newfound understanding of family and self-healing. His proactive approach extends into his work with the SEAL Future Foundation and his latest endeavor, Envy Mind Health, aiming to combat the veteran suicide crisis and foster community support. Open up to a world where resilience meets innovation, where a SEAL's dedication to country evolves into a mission to uplift fellow servicemen and women.
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Jonathan Wilson opens up about his early life with a military father, describing a tension-filled household. Episodes of aggression between his parents left a strong imprint, with one violent occurrence leading to his father's arrest. Wilson explains his quest for paternal approval, which was partly fueled by the complex dynamics of their relationship. He aimed to earn his father's pride, particularly influenced by a universal desire to impress one's parents. He was often blind to any approval that may have been shown due to his focus on the negative aspects.
Wilson shares his journey as a Navy SEAL, from the tribulations of SEAL training to real combat scenarios in Iraq. He recalls the challenges he overcame during Hell Week and the escalated pace of preparation for deployment. His first experiences in combat emphasized the practical applications of his training and the psychological toll of such operations. Wilson also discusses his struggles with anger and personal relationships, acknowledging how his military service impacted his life outside of the SEALs. Despite these personal challenges, he maintains pride in his achievements and the elite community of the SEALs.
Wilson and Shawn Ryan discuss the prevalence of mental health issues such as PTSD, alcohol abuse, and depression among veterans, highlighting the need for effective support and treatments. Wilson opens up about his own low points, including suicidal thoughts and failed attempts at traditional treatment. His story underscores the urgent need for new treatment methods, as evidenced by his own experiences and the ongoing suicide epidemic among veterans. A sense of purpose, Wilson suggests, can be regained by veterans through initiatives that support one another in their post-service life.
Wilson describes life-altering aspects of his plant medicine experiences, which have contributed to significant improvements in his mental health, family relationships, and parenting. He reports ceasing alcohol use and better engagement with his family. His spiritual encounters during these sessions helped him gain new perspectives on life, including understanding his father's trauma. Wilson and Ryan advocate for the growth and potential changes facilitated by plant medicine, as they have personally transformed their lives and mindsets following such experiences.
Wilson recounts his involvement in the SEAL Future Foundation, which he co-founded with Brian Martelli. The foundation focuses on assisting SEALs with their transition to civilian life by providing scholarships, career mentorship, and job placement. Recognizing the prevalence of mental health issues, the foundation has widened its support to include the overall wellness of veterans. Wilson considers the scalability of the foundation's strategies to aid a broader veteran community and emphasizes the delicate balance needed between providing support and fostering resilience.
Wilson transitions his adaptability from the military to his new venture, Envy Mind Health, targeting the veteran suicide crisis. The startup aims to leverage biometrics for mental health monitoring, with applications extending to first responders and civilians. Despite the early stages, and actively seeking investor funding, the hope is to offer mental health interventions by identifying behavioral changes. With the app's swim buddy feature and the ambition for financial accessibility, Wilson aims to destigmatize mental health issues and promote community support.
1-Page Summary
Jonathan Wilson opens up about his childhood experiences with a military father and the complex relationship that motivated his desire for parental approval.
Jonathan recalls living in Fort Hood, Texas, where his life was shaped by his father’s role as a Military Police officer in the Army. These early years set the stage for a tension-filled household.
Jonathan speaks candidly about the challenges in his parents' relationship, particularly the traumatic incidents of yelling and screaming that occurred between them and deeply affected him. One particularly violent episode led to his father being thrown against the wall and resulted in Jonathan calling the police. This incident is starkly memorable; Jonathan watched as his father was arrested, a scene not typical for most families but treated as ordinary at the time. This wasn’t until later that Jonathan realized the extent of the confrontations as his sister reminded him of their frequent nature, indicating that he had blocked out many of these distressing events.
While Jonathan doesn’t provide specific anecdotes regarding his quest for his father's approval, the conversation with Shawn Ryan points to a universal theme of children seeking to impress their parents. Jonathan acknowledges this motivation in his own life, hinting that his actions were influenced by the complex nature of his relationship with his father. Despite the t ...
Childhood Experiences and Seeking Parental Approval
Jonathan Wilson shares his experiences as a Navy SEAL, revealing the evolution of warfare tactics and technology, as well as the personal sacrifices and challenges faced during his service.
Wilson discusses various aspects of his time as a Navy SEAL, from his early days in training to the intense reality of combat missions in the Middle East.
Wilson recalls the memorable breakout of Hell Week with machine gun fire, yelling, and chaos, noting his readiness and determination to face this grueling challenge after almost jeopardizing his chances due to a prior incident. Despite thinking about quitting during the Third Phase of training, his determination prevailed. Wilson also mentions a condensed workup cycle, cutting the usual 18 months of preparation down to nine before deployment.
Upon joining SEAL Team Four, Wilson was deployed to Baghdad within nine months. He recounts his first mission as a SEAL on a helicopter operation where they took fire and had to breach a building, reverting to their rigorous training in a moment of intense pressure. He speaks of his actual first engagement with the enemy in Sadr City, which became a nightly occurrence, highlighting a significant moment during combat -- the killing of an enemy responsible for many Marines' deaths. Recollecting the surprising emotions of witnessing the enemy's life fade, Wilson also recounts the haunting memory of an operation that accidentally harmed a civilian woman.
In his role as a recce team leader, Wilson adapted strategies to the enemy's tactics, such as securing rooftops during raids and entering buildings from unconventional points like the roof. He humorously reflects on the less glamorous realities of operations, including the mundane and accidental mishaps that occurred.
As Wilson candidly shares, his military service took a toll on his personal life. He struggled with anger, disconnection in his marriage, and being emotionally absent from his children. The trauma of his experiences contributed to his behavioral issues, and he grappled with adapting to family life outside of his SEAL duties. He admits to not understanding how to maintain a relationship or be a father, engaging in toxic behaviors such as excessive ...
Military Career
Jonathan Wilson and Shawn Ryan address the pervasive issue of mental health struggles among veterans, often manifesting as PTSD, alcohol abuse, and depression, and they emphasize the importance of finding healing and purpose post-service.
The dialogue reveals the intense challenges that veterans face after service, including PTSD, alcohol abuse, depression, and an ongoing suicide epidemic within the community. Jonathan Wilson acknowledges the suffering and the struggles that both he and others have endured, underlining the need for effective treatment and support.
Wilson shares his personal battle with mental health, including a time when he considered suicide and felt his life was in disarray. He recounts how ineffective treatment attempts through the VA due to logistical issues and unsuccessful talk therapy led him to a critical juncture. At this point, feeling that plant medicine might be his last resort, he hints at the gravity of his mental state and the pressing need for alternative treatments to address such crises.
The discussion also mentions Mike Day's suicide after surviving severe combat injuries, further highlighting the dire need for support and effective treatment for veterans grappling with the aftermath of service.
While not explicitly discussed in the provided information, implied within Wilson's narrative is the idea that veterans can rediscover their purpose through self-initia ...
Mental Health Challenges
Shawn Ryan and Jonathan Wilson share profound changes in their lives attributed to experiences with plant medicine, suggesting that there is much public and scientific interest in its potential for improving mental health and personal growth.
Wilson recounts a significant life-changing event during his experience with plant medicine. He mentions a vision where he encountered a man he had killed, suggesting a transformative aspect of his experience. Wilson describes having profound conversations and visions during these experiences, which have made a real change in himself, even hinting at instances where he felt like he was in another dimension.
Both discuss the ability of plant medicine to give them new perspectives and an increased understanding. Wilson, in particular, shares that his use of plant medicine has stopped him from drinking for several years, significantly improved his relationships and changed how he parents. He talks about how the plant medicine led to tremendous healing for his wife and resulted in a clearer slate for their marriage. They’ve been able to quickly acknowledge wrongs and express love more openly within their family. Wilson's 18-year-old son, JD, now openly expresses love, which Wilson points to as an example of the changes within his family dynamics.
Wilson likens near-death experiences and encounters with past-life recognition to the effects some people experience from plant medicine. He references the book "Many Lives, Many Masters" to draw parallels between his dreams and visions of fighting in past generations, suggesting that plant medicine might allow access to such deep-seated memories.
Shawn Ryan shares that while he doesn't relive events during his journeys with plant medicine, he goes through profound communication that is like quick downloads of information or understanding. Similarly, Wilson shares that after using plant medicine, he had the idea for a tech initiative come to him suddenly as a fully-formed concept.
Wilson credits plant medicine with giving him perspectives and understanding of the traumas his father experienced, aiding in his mental health and helping improve his personal relationships and paren ...
Plant Medicine for Healing and Growth
Jonathan Wilson takes an active role in fostering the reintegration and well-being of fellow veterans through his nonprofit organization.
When Jonathan Wilson realized the challenges faced by SEALs transitioning to civilian life, he co-founded the SEAL Future Foundation with Brian Martelli. The foundation emerged around 2012 or early 2013 as a response to the limited focus on veteran transitioning at that time. Wilson recounts the foundation's first event, which raised $4,000, leading up to events that have since raised over a million dollars. Initially providing scholarships, the organization expanded its scope to include job placement and mentorship, connecting transitioning SEALs with like-minded companies.
The SEAL Future Foundation, established as a 501(c)(3) organization, exists to simplify the post-service path for Navy SEALs. Wilson talks about the organization's efforts, which include providing mentors to veterans to ask questions, facilitating relationships with potential employers, and helping them understand different roles before making commitments. The foundation aims to help SEALs find their next purpose beyond the military, focusing on their passions and interests rather than only pursuing traditionally high-performing fields such as Wall Street or consulting.
The foundation's focus broadened to a "wellness pillar" after recognizing the effects of suicides among team members, underlining the need for a sound physical and mental state prior to job provision. Jonathan Wilson notes he benefited from plant medicine in stepping away from the non-profit he helped bui ...
Helping Fellow Veterans
Jonathan Wilson applies his battlefield skills of rapid adaptation to his startup, Envy Mind Health, which aims to address the suicide epidemic among veterans and extend support to first responders and civilians.
Wilson is determined to make a difference in the lives of veterans through his startup. In light of the tragic news of Mike's suicide, Wilson's resolve is only strengthened. He equates his high performance in the SEALs to thriving in high-risk sectors and sees his startup as a continuation of this drive. Envy Mind Health aims to utilize biometrics to proactively monitor mental health.
The startup is in the process of raising funds, having secured a significant portion of their $3 million goal for R&D. Investors include individuals personally connected to mental health issues. Wilson shares they have a budget of $3 million for the startup and are on a journey of development, inviting feedback for improvement.
Shawn Ryan and Wilson highlight that the technology's applications extend beyond veterans to first responders and civilians. The telehealth algorithm could help parents detect their children's depression due to bullying, for example. The goal is direct mental health intervention by monitoring behavioral changes.
The technology supports doctors in prioritizing patients by offering biometric data and influences how medication is prescribed. In an effort to elevate mental health care, Wilson insists on the importan ...
Launching Envy Mind Health Startup
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