Breaking Barriers: Veteran Mental Health and Fitness with Dave Morrow

The Mission After

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Our guest today is David Morrow, a former infantry officer with the Canadian Armed Forces who served as a civil affairs officer in Afghanistan. Dave grew up in the Army, learning the valuable lessons of hard work, the importance of a solid team, and how to motivate people during the worst situations. After returning from Afghanistan injured and without a clear sense of direction, Dave launched into a teaching career he hated, neglecting his back injury and suffering from PTSD. His life was spinning out of control until he made a change.

Dave's new mission is to help 100,000 veterans lose 2 million pounds. He believes that twenty years of war fighting weren’t for nothing and that we need to leverage our collective experiences for the betterment of humanity. Dave provides a remote-based training platform delivered weekly based on his BE.A.S.T. Body Blueprint Method. His members are part of the H2K Facebook group, where they receive encouragement, camaraderie, and Q&As, supported by world-class guests on his H2K Podcast, the H2K Blog, and his book, 'The Nimble Warrior.' Dave's company is Canada’s first to provide online personal training services fully subsidized by the VA with their A.T.H.E.N.A. Program. In 2021, he was recognized as Canada’s 'Most Motivational Personal Fitness Trainer.'

Dave loves a good challenge and is deeply committed to getting folks healthy and strong. If you’re able to help in completing his mission, he welcomes you to join his network and work together on this massive challenge

Summary

In this conversation, Mike Bledsoe and Dave Morrow discuss the importance of addressing hard topics and the impact of censorship on news consumption. They also delve into the challenges faced by veterans in terms of mental health, physical fitness, and transitioning to civilian life. Dave shares his personal journey from the military to becoming an entrepreneur in the health and fitness space, specifically focusing on veterans.

They touch on the cultural barriers to investing in oneself and the value of education versus training. The conversation highlights the need for veterans to prioritize their health and well-being in order to thrive in all areas of life. In this part of the conversation, Mike and Dave discuss the importance of making new choices and starting a new path before reaching a point of desperation.

They also talk about the need for reflection and self-work during the transition from military to civilian life. Dave shares his personal journey of leaving his teaching job and becoming an entrepreneur, highlighting the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. They also discuss the School community, a platform for veterans to learn and connect with each other, and the Military Influencer Conference as a valuable event for veteran entrepreneurs.

In this final part of the conversation, Dave Morrow discusses the importance of taking care of oneself in order to run a successful business. He shares his experience of being overwhelmed and burnt out while working in the education system and how becoming an entrepreneur allowed him the freedom to prioritize his well-being.

Dave also talks about his ongoing struggle with chronic back pain and the various methods he uses to manage it. The conversation then shifts to the topic of self-help and personal growth, with Dave emphasizing the need to address deeper emotional wounds and motivations in order to truly improve oneself.

Mike Bledsoe shares his own journey of self-reflection and the importance of knowing oneself in order to break patterns and make new choices. They discuss the role of psychedelics and alternative therapies in healing both physical and emotional pain. The conversation concludes with Dave encouraging veterans to prioritize their health and well-being and to use their resilience and experiences to make a positive impact in their communities.

Takeaways

Addressing hard topics is important for personal growth and societal progress.
Censorship of news on social media platforms limits access to information and can lead to misinformation.
Veterans face unique challenges in terms of mental health, physical fitness, and transitioning to civilian life.
Investing in oneself is crucial for personal and professional development.
Education provides a broad set of knowledge, while training focuses on specific skills.
Prioritizing health and well-being is essential for veterans to thrive in all areas of life. Don't wait until you have no other options to make a new choice and start a new path.
Reflection and self-work are important during the transition from military to civilian life.
Entrepreneurship can be a challenging but rewarding journey.
The School community is a valuable platform for veterans to learn and connect with each other.
The Military Influencer Conference is a great event for veteran entrepreneurs to make connections and learn from others. Taking care of oneself is crucial for running a successful business.
Entrepreneurship provides the freedom to prioritize well-being and have a more flexible schedule.
Chronic pain can be managed through various methods, including alternative therapies.
Self-help should involve addressing deeper emotional wounds and motivations.
Psychedelics and alternative therapies can play a role in healing both physical and emotional pain.
Veterans have the potential to make a positive impact in their communities by prioritizing their health and well-being.

Chapters

00:00 Addressing Hard Topics and the Impact of Censorship
14:48 From the Military to Entrepreneurship: Dave's Journey
23:34 The Cultural Barriers to Investing in Oneself
28:56 Education vs Training: Understanding the Difference
32:20 The Importance of Prioritizing Health and Well-being for Veterans
34:18 Making New Choices and Starting a New Path
35:12 Reflection and Self-Work During the Transition
39:05 The Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
44:54 The School Community for Veterans
51:30 The Military Influencer Conference for Veteran Entrepreneurs
01:07:42 The Importance of Self-Care in Business
01:09:02 Managing Chronic Pain as an Entrepreneur
01:12:02 Going Beyond Self-Help: Addressing Emotional Wounds
01:15:45 The Role of Psychedelics in Healing
01:27:16 Harnessing Resilience: Veterans Making a Positive Impact