My Unconventional Journey To Becoming a SEAL | Ep. 263 | Pt. 1

Mike Drop

Mike Ritland

Society & Culture, Personal Journals, Documentary, Politics, News

4.9 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 28 October 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From a troubled youth in Vermont, where a brush with the dangerous world of drug dealing nearly derailed his life, Alex found redemption through the grueling trials of SEAL training and a 12-year career with SEAL Team Three. His journey from chaos to discipline, marked by raw honesty and resilience, sets the stage for a candid conversation about overcoming adversity and finding purpose. Alex opens up about a pivotal moment that changed his trajectory: a terrifying robbery attempt that left him confronting his choices and their impact on his family. This wake-up call propelled him toward the military, where he embraced the challenges of BUD/S and emerged as a SEAL. Alongside his military insights, Alex shares his passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), his current pursuit as a competitor, and his entrepreneurial venture with LFW Clothing Company. His story is a testament to the power of grit and self-discovery. Join Mike and Alex as they dive into the highs and lows of a life shaped by intense experiences, from the streets of Vermont to the battlefields of Iraq. With humor, vulnerability, and hard-earned wisdom, Alex reflects on his SEAL career, personal growth, and the mental health struggles that continue to challenge him. This episode is a raw, inspiring exploration of what it means to keep moving forward, no matter the odds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I want to be like Scarface. That was like Michael.
0:03.0	I've turned into like just a not a good person,
0:06.0	just super greedy, sketchy.
0:09.0	So that's how I made money for a while.
0:11.0	That lasted a couple months.
0:13.0	Somebody tried to rob me, put a gun to my head.
0:16.0	It was like this big ass revolver.
0:20.0	Give me all your drugs. I was just like, no one does this to me. You're not getting away with this. I'm gonna fucking kill these motherfuckers right now. And I was like dead serious. And then they got out and they ran away. The lady at the gas station runs out. I was like, what's going on? I'm like, these motherfuckers just try to rob me. me and she's like, there's cameras here. Like, what are's going on I'm like these motherfuckers just try to rob me and she's like there's cameras here like what are you doing I'm like shit
0:42.8	you know the cops are coming so I go call my brother and like hey like something
0:47.8	happened and then my mom's just like we gotta go let's go home and I'm just like we can't
0:51.9	go home it's not safe and she just starts crying is when it really when it really hit me, I was like, I can't do this.
0:57.0	All I want to do is just go in the military.
0:59.0	When hunting isn't about hunting at all, Team Dog features comprehensive and customizable meal plans with dry and raw food options to meet your dog's unique nutritional needs,
1:18.6	including digestive sensitivities, allergies, or selective eating.
1:23.6	Did you know combining 75% dry food with 25% raw food delivers robust, nutrient dense meals
1:32.7	for your dog? Be your dog's hero with Team Dog.
1:42.7	Ladies and gentlemen, as always, it's both an honor and a pleasure to welcome my next guest to the podcast.
1:47.9	He spent 12 years in the SEAL team, several deployments with the alma mater seal team three.
1:53.9	Finished this career at Trade Ed in Virginia Beach.
1:56.0	He's the founder of LFW Clothing Company and he's a current active BJJ competitor.
2:01.6	Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the stage, Alex, Mr. Rogers.
2:05.6	Thank you for having me.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Mike Ritland, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Mike Ritland and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.