From SAS Operator to Psychologist: Harry Moffitt on the Power of Stoicism and the 'Fourth Pillar'

In this episode, we’re talking to Harry Moffitt - SAS veteran, psychologist & human performance consultant. The physical, psychological and social pillars of human performance are well known, but Harry believes that, as a society, we have forgotten the crucial fourth pillar, our philosophical self. We discuss the importance of philosophy as a tool for navigating our uncertain world. We explore how ancient wisdom, developed thousands of years ago, remains deeply relevant today. 

Guest, Cast & Crew

Harry Moffitt retired from the Australian Defence Force after almost 30 years, most of which were spent with Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment. He completed 11 active service deployments and completed his time with the SAS as its Human Performance Manager. He’s a registered psychologist and runs a human performance consultancy, Stotan Group, working with sports teams, the military and the corporate world. He has recently released a new book called The Fourth Pillar: Modern Stoicism & the Philosophy of High Performance. 

Hosted by Martin Jones https://www.ophp.co.uk 

Produced & edited by Bess Manley

Resources

Harry’s website https://harrymoffitt.com.au/ 

The new book – The Fourth Pillar https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761563133/ 

Eleven Bats: A Story of Combat, Cricket & the SAS https://www.elevenbats.com.au/ 

The Externals' latest album – Back on the Cans https://open.spotify.com/album/1hsoDqmGApnKvLwyxngFB4?highlight=spotify:track:7rL6Sn7C0t9YkBdvVhYWEN  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrymoffitt/?originalSubdomain=au 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrymoffitt353/?hl=en 

Stotan Group https://stotangroup.com.au/ 

The Master and His Emissary https://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-His-Emissary-Divided-Western/dp/0300188374 

Percy Cerutty https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/percy-cerutty/ 

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Chapters

00:12 Guest Background & Career Overview

01:24 Human Performance Program in the Military

03:02 Evolution of Human Performance Programs

07:07 Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life

11:13 Journey into Psychology

15:14 The New Book: The Fourth Pillar

20:30 Exploring Stoicism & Philosophy

23:56 Discovering Stoicism & Its Modern Relevance

25:15 Ancient Practices in Modern Times

26:11 The Philosophy of Modern Stoicism

27:12 Applying Stoicism in High-Performance Environments

30:41 The Role of Philosophy in Personal Development

44:35 The Importance of Reading & Lifelong Learning

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