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Today we hear the Combat Story of Dean Stott, a former operator with the UK Special Boat Service (SBS) who saw combat with both SBS and the Commandos. 

Dean would eventually injury his leg in a HAHO (high altitude high opening) accident getting ready for another deployment that would end his military career but would not end his thrill seeking sense of adventure.

In fact, only two days after leaving the military, Dean was providing security for people in remote and dangerous parts of the world, eventually standing up his own security company. 

Dean, like many former operators, tried a more predictable existence in an office but quickly found himself searching for the adrenaline highs he'd left behind. As a result, he found his way to biking and set two world records.

Dean's book "Relentless" will be available on November 28th in the US that details some of the topics we discuss in this interview and more, including his close friendship to Prince Harry, who listeners will know I appreciate given his background flying Apaches.

Dean's got more adventures ahead including another record breaking task in Africa. I hope you enjoy this discussion of what can only be called a full life lived to the edge as much as I did (and if you're like me, you'll also be a little jealous!).

Find Dean Online: 

• - Dean's Website https://www.deanstott.com/
• - Dean's Linktree https://linktr.ee/Deanstott 
• - Instagram @deanstott  https://www.instagram.com/deanstott/ 

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• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:40 - Guest Introduction (Dean Stott)
• 1:53 - Interview Begins 
• 2:11 - Bike ride on the world's longest road, The Pan-American Highway
• 8:14 - Connection to Prince Harry 
• 13:00 - Growing up with a military family and competitive drive 
• 16:34 - Events that led to joining 
• 21:03 - Path from Commandos to UK Special Boat Service (SBS) 
• 24:58 - SAS and SBS selection and the differences and similarities  between them  
• 29:35 - First time outside the wire in Kosovo and a funny story about why he always asks about wildlife 
• 34:42 - First contact post 9/11 in SBSand a HAHO jump 
• 36:55 - HALO vs HAHO - the training, the dangers, and the mindset for operational jumps 
• 44:45 - Would you have done anything different in your career? 
• 46:23 - The injury that ended his military career 
• 40:41 - Identity crisis after leaving the military and finding a role in crisis management and private security 
• 58:41-  Purchasing weapons on the black market and finding a niche in the private sector  
• 1:05:57 - Are there any jobs you've had to turn down? 
• 1:07:55 - Becoming the first man in history to cycle 14,000 miles in under a hundred days and still making it to Harry and Meghan's wedding 
• 1:14:22 - The inspiration, process, and content of the book "Relentless"   
• 1:18:59 - What did you carry into combat? 
• 1:20:08 - Would you do it all again?
• 1:22:02 - Philanthropy work 
• 1:24:07 -  Listener comments and shout outs