#332 Alex West - SEAL Team 6 Operator on Crashing a Black Hawk Into Bin Laden's Backyard
Summary
Retired Navy SEAL Alex West, who led the Osama bin Laden raid, discusses his transition to becoming a mental health therapist for veterans and first responders. He shares his childhood in Africa, the impact of his father’s Vietnam-era PTSD, and his work with One More Wave, a nonprofit using surf therapy to help wounded warriors heal from trauma.
Topics discussed
Introduction and Chime banking sponsor
Guest introduction and early life in Africa
Childhood in Lesotho and moving to the US
Father's Vietnam trauma and family struggles
Joining the Navy and BUDS training
SEAL Team 3 and pre-9/11 operations
Gulf War deployment and oil field missions
Dev Group selection and mentorship
Afghanistan deployment and breaching tactics
Loss of teammates and PTSD onset
Kunduz outpost and military dog Spike
Planning the Bin Laden raid mission
Execution of the Bin Laden raid
Aftermath, guilt, and mental health crisis
Founding One More Wave nonprofit
Glacier DNS sponsor and gear stories
Becoming a therapist and Ibogaine healing
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