So you think you perform well under pressure? Well, you probably do. But understanding the nature of stress and how our thoughts and attitudes impact performance under stress can boost your skill utilization even more. In this episode, we explore the nature of stress and ways you can optimize your performance under pressure before, during, and even after the stressful event itself. It's a long one, but good stuff! Thanks for listening! Until next time, -Doc McKay

In this episode, we go back to the body and Nate spends time talking about cryotherapy and its roles and risks in physical recovery from injury. Hope you guys find this episode helpful and informative! Until next time... -Doc McKay

Since March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, I thought I would spend this episode focusing on concussions and mild TBI, something our operators are all too familiar with (but reluctant to talk about). We explore what a concussion is, how it happens, what signs and symptoms to look for, and exercises you can engage in for rehabilitation purposes. Hit me up with any comments, questions, or concerns! I hope you find this episode helpful, and thanks for listening. Until next time... -Doc.  GeEdXeMovXT8PdFSAh0M

In today's episode, I interview Dr. Barb Thompson, Operational Psychologist for the 724th Special Tactics Group. She spends the episode talking to all of you about the importance of consistency of effort, and not always chasing the exciting tasks... always Chasing the Dragon, as we often refer to it. The benefits of consistency on the daily tasks of life have benefits for you, your brain, and your support system, and is something you need to remember as you go through your career in Special Tactics.... and after. I hope you find this episode helpful, and thanks for listening. Until next time... -Doc

Thought we'd bring a different perspective today, so Nate Borget, 17 STS Certified Athletic Trainer, runs the show exploring medical imaging, the misconceptions, and the things you should consider about imaging as you are assessing and rehabilitating from injury. If you have any topics or questions you would like explored and answered on an upcoming episode, don't hesitate to contact Doc McKay and we'll get started on getting those answers for you! I hope you find this episode helpful, and thanks for listening. -Doc

Let's face it. 2020 has been kind of a dumpster fire. We all have a tendency to focus on the negatives around us, especially with the news constantly throwing the negative in our faces. But what happens if you focus instead on the positives - things in yourself and your life that you have to be grateful for? In this episode, we explore the concept of gratitude, the neurological basis of gratitude, the huge benefits in your life of taking on a grateful perspective in life, and how you can start practicing an "Attitude of Gratitude". Trust me on this. You want to listen to this episode. Perfect timing for the holidays as well. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I will see you in the new year with new episodes, new ideas, and new guests! Until next time, Doc 

The holidays are stressful enough as it is. Add the flaming chaos of 2020 to it. Now mix in separation due to deployment. Too. Much. Stress. Today's episode is just a quick shot where we talk about the stress of the holidays, especially during deployment, and some things you can do both downrange and back at home to make the separation a little easier to manage for both the operator and the family back home.  I hope you all find ways to make this holiday season a little less stressful and a lot more joyful! Thanks for listening, and we'll see you again soon for the next episode!

So in the last episode, we introduced the concept of trauma as residue and explored the life of an operator and how it can present obstacles to processing and cleaning off this residue that trauma leaves behind. Today we spend time exploring a series of questions designed to get you to think about things you can do to strengthen both internal and external protective factors - things that can better prepare you for managing trauma and processing all that residue.  All of the information explored in these last two episodes have been based on data from the Mission Critical Team Institute's April 20, 2020 report on this topic (Dr. Preston B. Cline, Principal Investigator). I would like to thank Dr. Cline and the MCTI's insightful work in this area. Thanks for listening. I hope you all find this episode helpful and educational! Until next time, -Doc

If you exist in military life - as an active duty member, a spouse, a family member, or a veteran - you have heard about, discussed, considered, and explored trauma. Operators don't like to talk about trauma because of the dreaded 'D' word that is often associated with it - Disorder. In this first of a two-part series, we begin to take a look at trauma from a different perspective, an "un-disordered" perspective if you will. Trauma can be conceptualized as residue - the stuff that remains after an experience. It is neither good nor bad. It is the way we examine and address this residue that determines healthy or unhealthy outcomes. But what is it about the nature of the operator and the life they live that encourages them to stuff the residue instead of clean it off? That is the "stuff" of this episode. I hope this episode helps operators  "put a name to the ghosts that walk with them," and helps loved ones understand them more and have more compassion for them. Thanks for listening. I hope you all find this episode helpful and educational!  Until next time, -Doc

Grief is universal. We all experience it. Whether is it grief over the loss of a loved one, an injury, the end of a relationship, changing locations/schools/lives through a PCS, or going from an operational to non-operational position, grieving over loss is part of the human condition. Grief is unique - it is very personal and doesn't follow a linear progression. Still, though not everyone experiences grief in the same way, there are some commonalities in our experience - stages that we progress through as we cope with loss or trauma. In today's episode, we talk about the Seven Stages of Grief, a general framework of the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions we have from loss to acceptance and growth.  Thanks for listening. I hope you all find this episode helpful and educational!  Until next time, -Doc