S4E3 – Dean Fechner: Sharing hard-won lessons on resilience from The Unforgiving60

The Unforgiving60

Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis

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S4E3 – Dean Fechner: Sharing hard-won lessons on resilience

1 hour 9 minutes Posted Mar 25, 2022 at 4:27 am.

Dean’s background – joining the military, training as a sparky and then – becoming a Physical Training Instructor!

Secrets of the ADF Physical Training Instructor course – is it more than just learning how to shave your legs?!

Working as a PTI at the Australian Defence Force Academy

Leaving the Air Force and becoming one of the pioneers in the personal training industry

…and into the police force – a lifelong ambition

What are the differences between police and Defence Force training?

Balancing the competing requirements of policing – the ‘three block war’ concept

Transitioning into security roles within Courts and Parliament

Into Southern Iraq and a training role in their National Police Academy

What did a normal day in Iraq look like?

Did Dean feel he was making a difference in Iraq?

Dealing with the stressors of life in a combat zone

Over and above the meaning of the work, how important was the money?

Work after Iraq

Unexplained health issues, culminating in the identification of a massive heart blockage

‘The Widowmaker’ – a medical diagnosis you don’t want to receive

Bouncing back – physically and mentally

How did Dean keep going through it all? Mental and physical strategies

But then things started to plateau – and the headaches began…

…which were then diagnosed as a brain tumour

The importance of hope

Breathing, meditation – and studying psychology

Breathing techniques, including from Brian MacKenzie and Andrew Huberman

The value of Stoicism

Where to from here?

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Show notes

Dean Fechner is a tough human. From a first career as an Air Force Physical Training Instructor, through subsequent work in law enforcement in places ranging from the Australian Parliament House to the battlefields of Southern Iraq, he has demonstrated an incredible amount of character and resilience. But his toughest challenge came not in uniform, but on the operating table. In this episode, Dean chats with Ben and Tim about how he built his resilience and how it was tested through the medical challenges that he has faced – and how he is now using the lessons that he has learnt through his life to help other people.

58:00 Breathing techniques, including from Brian MacKenzie and Andrew Huberman

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External Links

Dean’s current work includes his role with Front and Centre, who provide bespoke solutions and support in the areas Sales Training, Leadership Training, Client Experience, Presentation Skills and more.

Music

The Externals – available on Spotify

Ben Frichot - available on Spotify

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