The Morning Formation Podcast

KP
  • 4.9 (26)
  • PHILOSOPHY
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Hosted by KP Phillips—a U.S. Army combat veteran, former law enforcement officer, and seasoned instructor in tactics, firearms, and combatives—The Formation Podcast is built on the core pillars of Survivability, Situational Awareness, and the mindset to Adapt & Overcome. Drawing from over two decades of real-world experience in combat zones and high-risk environments, KP leads authentic conversations with warriors, protectors, and everyday individuals who’ve faced adversity head-on. This podcast is more than content—it's a movement for those who understand that the fight begins before the event. Through storytelling, lived experience, and expert insight, The Formation Podcast equips its listeners with the mindset, tools, and awareness to remain vigilant and prepared—whether on the battlefield, in the streets, or in everyday life.

  1. APR 28

    Hidden Cost of Being "Always On" | Recon Marine Mike Keevil (Part 2)

    Shoot me a message! We pick up with Mike Keevil after Afghanistan and follow the long, messy timeline of coming home, staying wired, and finally learning what it takes to heal. The thread running through combat, competitive shooting, jujitsu, and Warhammer 40K is decision-making under pressure and the courage to be a beginner again.  • the delayed crash after deployment and why it often hits in your 30s  • learning to spot high-strung behavior and stop calling it “fine”  • meeting an elite shooter and letting ego die in real time  • USPSA as a controlled adrenaline lab for performance and self-awareness  • handloading ammo as discipline and a barrier against drinking  • failing chrono and turning loss into process and preparation  • retirement realities and the cost of being away from family  • workups, overtraining, and using intensity as a coping tool  • marriage strain, divorce, and not knowing how to be home  • nonprofit veteran support, crisis fatigue, and resentment you do not expect  • building a life with mentors, peers, and younger men you mentor  • chasing approval, reservist stigma, and the drive to prove worth  • Warhammer 40K as community, identity repair, and leaving the bubble  • delayed consequences as a life framework and the backbone of a new book  • faith, forgiveness, and learning to be present  • therapy, trauma as trauma, and what “grounded” actually looks like  • Dunning-Kruger, fear of failure, and putting ego in check  • a father’s message to his sons: say yes and take risks  If you've got value from this episode, make sure you share it with someone who needs to hear it. Make sure you follow Mike on Instagram and also I'll slam the links for the Instagram and the YouTube down in the show notes.  Follow Mike on IG: https://youtube.com/@40kdirtbags?si=1tI6DVHZRXORe0CT YouTube: https://youtube.com/@40kdirtbags?si=1tI6DVHZRXORe0CT Support the show Check out our website Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off  with code: TMF https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf Episode Powered By Act Now Education

    2h 27m

  2. APR 15

    "Thought I’d Be a Chef. I Ended Up a Marine at War in Mortuary Affairs." with Mike Keevil (Part 1)

    Shoot me a message! A lot of military stories get polished into highlight reels. We wanted the version that still has grit under the fingernails. I’m joined by Mike Keevil, a retired Recon Marine who served through multiple wars and carried those lessons into training, instruction, and the long process of figuring out who you are when the mission changes. We dig into identity and the facades we build in different environments: peer versus coach, instructor versus friend, leader versus the person who quietly doubts himself. Mike tells the early moments where leadership found him anyway, including being pulled forward in Marine Corps boot camp, and how a drive for standards can push people to grow while also boxing them in. Then the story takes a hard turn. Mike explains how he signed up as a cook while chasing a chef dream, realized he wanted something different, and volunteered for Iraq through mortuary affairs. He describes body recovery, processing personal effects, and why photos and keepsakes can hit harder than gore. Those experiences became the catalyst for a brutal, methodical reinvention: Olympic pool training in gear, retaking the ASVAB to meet recon requirements, and grinding through reconnaissance indoctrination where the fear of falling behind never goes away. We close with combat decision making as it really feels: not always fast, often slow, confusing, and unforgiving, including immediate action drills like the Australian peel and a firefight where a simple grenade mistake changes everything. This is part one of a two-part series, with part two picking up on decision making, strategy, and what comes next. Subscribe for part two, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review if the conversation hits home. Follow Mike on IG: https://youtube.com/@40kdirtbags?si=1tI6DVHZRXORe0CT YouTube: https://youtube.com/@40kdirtbags?si=1tI6DVHZRXORe0CT Support the show Check out our website Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off  with code: TMF https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf Episode Powered By Act Now Education

    1h 20m

  3. MAR 31

    The Most Dangerous Mistake Men Make With Their Health with guest Phil Nozaki

    Shoot me a message! We talk with Phil Nozaki about growing up in a faith-centered home, serving his community, and facing a hereditary kidney cancer diagnosis that turns daily life into a long fight. He shares what it’s like to navigate surgery, monitoring, an NIH clinical trial, and the question of legacy while still showing up as a dad. • Getting Phil’s last name right and why names carry stories  • Phil’s Japanese American family background and World War II internment  • Parents’ work ethic and church as the moral bedrock  • School years, early adulthood, and taking the long road through college  • Learning skilled trades through church connections and mentors  • Volunteering on a CCTV security camera install for a Christian school  • The first warning sign of kidney cancer and the near-canceled ultrasound  • Second opinions and why genetic testing matters with family history  • HLRCC hereditary kidney cancer and what “clear margins” really means  • Recurrence risk, ongoing CT scans, and later growth in the lungs  • Joining an NIH clinical trial and the realities of a 21-day treatment cycle  • Immunotherapy basics and how it is explained to patients  • Support systems through prayer, friends, and faith in Christ  • Parenting through uncertainty and the message he wants his kids to carry  • Choosing forgiveness, avoiding grudges, and valuing time over stuff  • Why talking openly about illness can be therapeutic and rally real support  I hope that anyone else listening to this out there help us out with the prayers. Support the show Check out our website Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off  with code: TMF https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf Episode Powered By Act Now Education

    58 min

  4. MAR 18

    Why "Strong" Men & Women Break (The Silent Killer of Vets & Cops) with Becky DiStefano

    Shoot me a message! We talk with therapist Becky DeStefano about mental survivability and why mental readiness is tactical readiness for police, first responders, and military veterans. We break down stigma, trauma, proactive wellness checks, and how real strength looks like honesty and vulnerability under the uniform.  • Becky’s path from civilian supporter to emergency responder and military psychology clinician  • Blue Love and the value of visible community support  • The morale hit of public judgment and how it compounds stress  • What “holding space” means in practical counseling terms  • How trust is earned with first responders and veterans  • Common therapy misconceptions including fear of judgment and labels  • Barriers to treatment including stigma and men’s mental health pressure  • Why PTSD and police suicide research still feels new  • What proactive police wellness checks look like day to day  • Why suicide risk is not always obvious and why check-ins matter  • The neurobiology of trauma including adrenaline, hypervigilance, and recovery  • Dark humor as a coping mechanism and when suppression becomes risky  • Why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and fitness build resilience and connection  • The collateral damage of untreated trauma across sleep, health, and relationships  • Strength as vulnerability and finding the right therapist fit  If something in this conversation resonates with you, take the first step, reach out, have the conversation.  Connect with Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holdingspaceforheroes/ Connect with Becky on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueloveRI Support the show Check out our website Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off  with code: TMF https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf Episode Powered By Act Now Education

    1h 8m

  5. MAR 3

    LA Director Michael Matteo Rossi Turned Pandemic Fears Into A Sci-Fi Uprising! I'm in this movie!

    Shoot me a message! We sit down with filmmaker Michael Mateo Rossi to unpack the creative spine of Censor Addiction, a near-future sci-fi thriller shaped by pandemic-era pressures, mental health fallout, and the pull between obedience and autonomy. From set culture to distribution, we trace his two-decade journey, core influences, and why he champions physical media alongside streaming. • LA roots, early theater, shift to writing and directing • first features, self-financing, painful lessons that shaped his team • directing as the most fulfilling role, trust and set culture • pandemic influence on Censor Addiction’s themes and timeline • villains inspired by 80s action-sci-fi dynamics • collaboration with recurring DP, composer, and cast • pacing choices, critic praise, and sequel potential • authenticity over box-ticking trends in filmmaking • mentors, legacy, and steady leadership on set • release details: VOD and DVD, Walmart and libraries Check out Censor Addiction on March 3 on VOD and DVD. Follow Michael IG: https://www.instagram.com/michaelmatteorossi/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelmatteorossi “Stay tuned, stay focused, and stay motivated. Warriors fall out” Support the show Check out our website Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off  with code: TMF https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf Episode Powered By Act Now Education

    1 hr

  6. FEB 23

    Behind The Lens, Beyond The Hustle with Master Photographer Jeremy Filmsmore

    Shoot me a message! We sit down with filmmaker Jeremy “Films More” to trace his arc from Monterey Park art kid to world-traveling storyteller, a harrowing night in Rio’s favelas, and the stroke at 33 that forced sobriety, focus, and a new path into tattooing. We talk craft, business, AI pressure, and why freedom and health now define success. • art-driven upbringing and early graffiti roots • finding direction after dead-end jobs • mentors, networking and first big travel gigs • near-miss in Rio’s favelas and street rules • culture shocks and filming risks in Dubai • deposits, cancellations and valuing your time • burnout signs and pivot toward tattooing • stroke, sobriety and rebuilding habits • redefining success as health and freedom • documentary goals and tattoo storytelling If this episode resonated with you, make sure you follow Jeremy on Instagram, on TikTok, on YouTube as well TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremy.filmsmore Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremy.filmsmore/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeremyfilmsmore4947 Support the show Check out our website Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off  with code: TMF https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf Episode Powered By Act Now Education

    1h 19m

  7. FEB 9

    From Toy Drives To Scholarships: How Ella’s Angels Mobilizes Youth To Serve The Community!

    Shoot me a message! A 16-year-old founder walks us through the rise of Ella’s Angels, from beach cleanups to feeding 237 families and launching scholarships. We explore youth leadership, time management, and a new veterans initiative shaped by her family’s service. • origin of Ella’s Angels and youth-led mission • early projects from cleanups to toy drives • the Thanksgiving pivot to 237 families served • building partnerships with local churches and donors • scholarships for trade school and college pathways • recruiting and empowering teen volunteers • overcoming age bias and learning to ask for help • balancing school, sports, and nonprofit work • veterans support and family service legacy • published books on teen finance and rights • goals for 1,000 Thanksgiving meals • ways to volunteer and get involved “Check out her work online and consider how you can be a part of the movement as well.” Check out Ella's Main Website: https://ellasangels.org/ Support the show Check out our website Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off  with code: TMF https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf Episode Powered By Act Now Education

    29 min

  8. JAN 22

    How A Former Federal Agent Rebuilt His Life, Income, And Brotherhood After Burnout with George T. Gammon

    Shoot me a message! We trace a path from Federal Air Marshal to entrepreneur, exploring faith, brotherhood and the hard work of rebuilding identity and income after burnout. We talk about men’s mental health, multiple streams of income, and why mentorship and family are the real wealth. • early lessons from being bullied, football captaincy and work ethic • air marshal service as purpose, training and community • corporate shock, backstabbing cultures and remote burnout • faith-driven surrender and finding tribe beyond the badge • Caveman Combine as team grit, vulnerability and prayer • why residual income matters more than a title • mentorship as strategy, network and service • reframing self-worth, failure and daily discipline • veterans, stigma, the VA and real intervention • legacy as raising strong, compassionate daughters Stay tuned, stay focused, and stay motivated. Warriors, fall out Support the show Check out our website Please Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningform USA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off  with code: TMF https://www.solediersocks.com/tmf Episode Powered By Act Now Education

    1h 17m
See All (138)

4.9
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Hosted by KP Phillips—a U.S. Army combat veteran, former law enforcement officer, and seasoned instructor in tactics, firearms, and combatives—The Formation Podcast is built on the core pillars of Survivability, Situational Awareness, and the mindset to Adapt & Overcome. Drawing from over two decades of real-world experience in combat zones and high-risk environments, KP leads authentic conversations with warriors, protectors, and everyday individuals who’ve faced adversity head-on. This podcast is more than content—it's a movement for those who understand that the fight begins before the event. Through storytelling, lived experience, and expert insight, The Formation Podcast equips its listeners with the mindset, tools, and awareness to remain vigilant and prepared—whether on the battlefield, in the streets, or in everyday life.

Information

  • Creator
    KP
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    138
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Morning Formation Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Morning Formation Podcast