Old Ranger New Dad

Green Beret: Men Mocking Weakness is Killing the BEST in SPEC OPS

** Watch Full Video on YT in 4K ** MEN ARE DYING IN SILENCE, IN THIS EPISODE NICK SHARES THE STIGMA(S) KILLING THEM!  In this episode of Old Ranger New Dad, Seth Ryan sits down with Nick O’Kelly—former Special Forces, Army aviator, and 160th SOAR (“Night Stalkers”)—for a conversation every man needs to hear. Nick breaks down a brutal truth most people avoid: The danger isn’t only what men are carrying internally… it’s how other men respond when someone finally admits they’re struggling. The jokes. The mockery. The “man up” culture. The silent stigma that convinces strong men to stay quiet until it’s too late. Nick shares his personal battle with anxiety, panic, depression, intrusive thoughts, and the “high performer mask”—how you can be excelling on the outside while internally falling apart. He also honors the brotherhood he came up with, including Bryan Gray, a man who embodied strength and grit… and still lost his life. This episode is raw, honest, and practical—especially for: Veterans, law enforcement, and first responders High-performing men who don’t feel “allowed” to struggle Wives/families trying to support a man who’s shutting down Anyone who wants to be the kind of friend who actually helps In this episode, we cover: How stigma starts early (even in training) and follows men for life Why “performance” becomes camouflage for pain The real difference between toughness and silence What to say (and what not to say) when a man opens up Marriage under pressure—and what helped Nick and his wife endure Tools that helped: honesty, therapy, accountability, and rebuilding purpose How to check on your people without making it weird IF YOU ARE A MAN WHO FEELS TRAPPED BEHIND YOUR OWN IMAGE? This Episode is for you! And if a man in your life says he's “fine”… but you’re pretty sure he really isn't fine — watch this episode carefully!         - Time Stamps -  0:00 Intro / Meet Nick O’Kelly 3:50 Nick’s background: Special Forces → Army Aviation → Special Operations 160th SOAR "Night Stalkers" 8:20 “High performance” as a mask for mental health 11:40 Why Nick got out + the hidden cost of pushing nonstop 14:00 The culture of stigma: men mocking weakness 16:10 Bryan Gray—brotherhood, loss, and why the book exists 21:00 Why asking for help feels terrifying 27:20 The ripple effect: what happens after suicide 33:00 Insomnia, chronic stress, panic, and the mental trap 45:50 Timeline: when it started and how long it lasted 53:20 Marriage under pressure + what actually helped 59:20 Tools that helped: therapy, meds, awareness, and rebuilding 1:13:15 “I was a good man in a storm…” — breaking it down 1:25:00 Where stigma starts (the “shoelaces” lesson) 1:44:00 Final message: pick up the phone  #OldRangerNewDad #NickOKelly #MensMentalHealth #VeteranPodcast #SpecialForces #160thSOAR #NightStalkers #SuicidePrevention #Brotherhood #PTSD #Leadership #Marriage #Fatherhood  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448670/support] Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

#12 Military Trauma Expert / Bestselling Author's New Book: "Fall Out"

This week I recorded a fantastic podcast with 'Doc' Shauna Springer, Ph.D. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/docshaunaspringer/] **(She doesn't go by 'Doc' because she has a Ph.D.)**  She earned that title over the years of earning respect from veterans leading the charge in Veteran Mental Health! Anyone who served in SOF or combat-arms the team-medic, referred to as 'Doc', is always one of the most beloved members of any team. He's the one that will plug your holes and keep you breathing, will continue doing so as long as they have breath in their body. She's a:  -Licensed psychologist,  -Bestselling author, and  -One of the MOST TRUSTED Voices working to demystify psychological trauma, Difficulty During military transition, moral injury, veteran/law enforcement suicide prevention, and the relationships that hold warriors together when life's storms are raging. 'Doc Springer' also currently serves as Chief Psychologist at Stella Mental Health, and she’s known in the veteran and first responder world because She Doesn’t Talk AT People — she’s spent years EARNING TRUST in The Rooms where outsiders Never Get Invited! You may know her from her groundbreaking book WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us, where she pulls the curtain back on what many civilians don’t understand — Trust, Stigma, Connection, and what it actually looks like when an Unbreakable-Juggernaut starts imploding on the inside.  she then took it even further with RELENTLESS COURAGE: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma, co-authored with Michael Sugrue — a book aimed straight at the realities first responders (especially Law Enforcement Officers) carry, and how that weight affects the mind, the home, and the mission. But TODAY WE'RE HERE for her Newest book: "FALL OUT: Ten Common Beliefs that Kill Our Bravest and the Truths that Can Save Them" — and yes, it’s available on Amazon right now. This isn’t a “feel-good wellness talk.” FALL OUT takes aim at the false beliefs and check-the-box approaches that sound good on paper, but Do Not Work within our warrior cultures — in many cases it's making things worse. In a growing number of tragic cases, it is a Factor in costing the lives of some of the best and bravest men and women walking on the face of the earth. 'Doc' Springer's new book: "Fall Out" (Two words, multiple-meanings, All of them Powerful & Insightful) *****Link below***** file:///D:/Old%20Ranger%20New%20Dad%20Podcast/ORND%20Episodes%2016x9%20(YT%20&%20Spotify)/Ep%20Shauna%20'DOC'%20Springer/Fall%20Out%20link.htm [https://lnkd.in/evRJZZ3D]  PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ON AMAZON! and SHARE if find 'Fall Out' to be insightful! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448670/support] Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

#11 Switching Navy SEALs into EOD (BOMB Tech) contract, led to a lifetime of fulfillment!

What happens when an 11-year-old watches 9/11 unfold…and feels powerless to help? For Jay Ly, that moment became fuel. Jay grew up in a rough neighborhood in Syracuse, NY—raised by a tough single mom who Made Sure FAITH stayed at the center even when life was chaotic.  Years later, that same Faith + Grit carried him (Not into the Navy SEALs as he planned) into the Navy EOD community (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)—Where he deployed into combat with army Rangers and other elite operators in Special Forces destroying evil men. He did get to work with the SEALs & "Team 6" (aka DevGru) where he worked a totally different mission set keeping peace and build relationships with our 'allies' in Afghanistan.  After leaving military life, he now focuses on his New Mission:  Helping high performers build Legacy, Purpose, and Financial Freedom grounded in faith and character! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448670/support] Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

#10 Robert Wall on losing 'Lizzy', Loss/Grief, and Learning to Breathe Again

Old Ranger New Dad — Episode: Robert Wall on Lizzie, Loss, and Learning to Breathe Again In this deeply personal episode of Old Ranger New Dad, Seth Ryan sits down with fellow veteran and entrepreneur Robert Wall for a conversation that isn’t “content”—it’s real life. Robert shares the story of his daughter Elizabeth “Lizzie” Wall, who lived 2 1/2 years with a rare genetic disorder (rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata) and how that journey reshaped everything: his faith, his marriage, his identity as a father, and his understanding of what grief really is.  This episode also opens in a raw place—Seth records shortly after losing his son and walking through a medical emergency that nearly took his wife. Together, Seth and Robert talk about the kind of grief that doesn’t fit neatly into “stages,” the pressure men feel to stay tough, and why silence can sometimes speak louder than the right words.  You’ll hear hard-earned truths about: * Why grief has no timeline (and why that’s not failure)  * The weight of losing a child—and the purpose that can grow from the pain  * Faith in the storm: surrender, resilience, and staying anchored as a couple  * PTSD beyond the battlefield—and how trauma can show up years later  * Hope without clichés: what it looks like to keep moving forward with a broken heart  If you’ve experienced miscarriage, child loss, infertility, the loss of a loved one—or you’re the friend who wants to help but doesn’t know what to say—this episode will meet you where you are. Listen now, and share this with someone who needs permission to grieve—and the courage to keep going.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448670/support] Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

#9 Sept 11th 2001 - 1st Responder, 19 years of PTSD GONE & Dan shares Exactly How he does it!

What if the memory stays… but the panic response doesn’t? In this episode of Old Ranger New Dad, I sit down with Dan Jarvis, who breaks down a powerful approach to trauma healing that’s helping veterans and first responders reclaim their lives. We talk about a 9/11 first responder who lived with Severe PTSD for 19 years—until meeting Dan and learning how the brain can process and “re-file” traumatic memories so they no longer trigger a fight-or-flight reaction. This isn’t hype. It isn’t mystical. It’s a practical conversation about how the brain (much of which science still can't quite explain) stores trauma,  why the body keeps sounding the alarm,  and what it can look like to move from constant triggers to real peace.  In this episode: * Why trauma can feel “present” even decades later * How memory reprocessing works (in plain English) * What “invisible wounds” can look like in real life * Why hope is not naïve — it’s necessary * Who this approach may help (and what realistic expectations look like) If you’re carrying unseen burdens—or love someone who is—this one is worth your time. Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. If you’re in crisis or considering self-harm, call/text 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448670/support] Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad