Building the Elite Podcast

Building the Elite

The Building the Elite (BTE) podcast discusses all facets of human performance - from physical training to the mental and emotional factors of resilience. Each episode looks at principles drawn from the world of special operations. These concepts help people succeed in the toughest military training courses in the world and can help anyone thrive in chaotic and challenging environments. 

  1. 22H AGO

    Steve House - Training Mountain Athletes and Special Operators, Ep. 124

    Steve House serves as the managing director, coach, and official mascot of Uphill Athlete, which he co-founded in 2016. He lives in a remote and mountainous corner of Austria with his wife and two sons. Steve’s biggest coaching challenge was coaching himself. Which was successful enough for him to be called “The greatest climber of his generation” by none other than Reinhold Messner. He was inspired to write down what he learned and originally recruited two other coaches to help him write Training for the New Alpinism while recovering from a near-life-ending fall in 2010.  He then co-authored  Training for the Uphill Athlete (2018) to fulfill his personal mission to “Teach conventional endurance training theory and practice to mountain athletes.” He retired from professional climbing at the end of 2020 to dedicate himself to family and work full-time on Uphill Athlete. Steve’s most famous ascent is the 4,500-meter-high Rupal Face, the world's biggest mountain wall, which culminates at the summit of the world's deadliest and 9th-highest mountain: Nanga Parbat.  In this episode, we talk with Steve about his career, Uphill Athlete’s approach to coaching, and the overlap between mountain athletes and special operators.  More about Steve and Uphill Athlete: You can learn more about Uphill Athlete at their website, uphillathlete.com.  And you can follow them on social media here: Uphill Athlete Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uphill_athlete/ Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevehouse10/ Timestamps: 00:00:22 Introduction to Steve House  00:01:47 What is Significant about Nanga Parbat, "The Naked Mountain" 00:06:51 Grading the Technical Difficulty of Climbing 00:11:18 The "American Certified International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations" Guide  00:15:23 Overlap Between Climbing and Special Operations Communities 00:18:00 Similarities and Differences Between the Communities 00:30:32 Uphill Athlete Training Mistake  00:40:37 Base Building Meaning and Development 00:42:44 Aerobic Threshold to Regulate Training 00:51:00 Building Aerobic Volume 00:58:59 What to Prioritize During Training 01:02:09 Misunderstanding V02 Max in Training 01:09:13 Ventilatory Threshold Breakpoint 01:15:10 Ten Athletes, Ten Results 01:18:03 What's Next for Uphill Athlete? 01:21:23 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 01:23:44 Book Recommendations 01:24:59 Outro

    1h 26m
  2. Dr. David Walton: SFAS Guidance for 2026 - Ep. 123

    FEB 11

    Dr. David Walton: SFAS Guidance for 2026 - Ep. 123

    Dr. David “Wally” Walton is a retired Army Special Forces officer with 25 years of experience in the SF community. His career spans service with the 7th Special Forces Group, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and the Special Warfare Center and School. Dr. Walton’s extensive operational experience includes deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and across Latin America. Since retiring in 2013, he has transitioned into academia, teaching National Security Studies and Executive Leadership. His research portfolio covers Security Strategy, Organizational Culture and Dynamics, and Human Performance. He has a deep understanding of security studies, encompassing everything from tactical operations to strategic policy discussions. Currently an instructor at JSOC, Dr. Walton is a Subject Matter Expert in Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He specializes in Land Navigation, runs a prep program designed for SFAS candidates, and is the author of multiple books about preparing for SFAS.  More about Dr. Walton: Website: https://tfvoodoo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tf_voo_doo/ Timestamps: 00:00:23 Introduction to Dr. David Walton 00:01:42 Changes within SFSS and Coaching 00:20:22 Being Trained in Land Navigation 00:30:43 Better Prepared Candidates 00:53:34 The Sandman Event 00:59:29 Selection Rates and Working Through the Stages 01:05:23 No Dependencies in the SFSS Course 01:09:47 The "Awaiting Training" Phase  01:11:33 What has Dr. David Walton Changed in Coaching? 01:17:08 How Many Books has Dr. Walton Written? 01:21:52 Books Everyone Should Read 01:26:32 Outro

    1h 27m
  3. Brad Stulberg: The Way of Excellence - Ep. 122

    JAN 26

    Brad Stulberg: The Way of Excellence - Ep. 122

    Brad Stulberg is a bestselling author of the new book The Way of Excellence, a performance coach, faculty member at the University of Michigan, and a husband and father. The Way of Excellence comes out tomorrow, and you can pick up a copy at any major bookseller like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Audible.com, or Bookshop.org.  You can learn more about Brad and follow his work at his website, (https://www.bradstulberg.com/) and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradstulberg/

    43 min
  4. Nick Caldwell: The Mill Gym - Preparing the Next Generation of Special Operators

    11/27/2025

    Nick Caldwell: The Mill Gym - Preparing the Next Generation of Special Operators

    Nick has over 12 years of military experience, including 4 years as an Australian Commando and 6 years as an SAS operator. His operational service included deployments throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including Iraq and East Timor. Since leaving the Army, Nick has established two companies as a founding Director, The Mill Gym and Omni GeoX; as well as a new fitness competition, the Tier 1 Games. Nick has provided risk management, leadership, and elite-level performance consulting in austere environments worldwide, including with professional sports teams, multinational corporations, government, and non-governmental organisations. Nick's charter is to build real-world resilience within individuals and foster a no-compromise culture of excellence. He’s driven by a deep passion for building elite-level soldiers and athletes through an uncompromising culture, mindset, and mental toughness. His philosophy is simple: hard work beats talent, and resilience is the decisive advantage in high-pressure environments.  By drawing from years of operational experience and an 18-year coaching career, Nick develops training systems that forge discipline, sharpen decision-making under stress, and cultivate the mental edge required to excel when it matters most. Learn more about Nick and The Mill Gym: Email: nick@themillgym.com Instagram: @themillgym LinkedIn: @nickcaldwell Website: themillgym.com Timestamps: 0:00:22 Introduction to Nick Caldwell 0:01:45 Career in the Aussie Special Air Service  0:05:32 Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 0:07:10 Gaining the Confidence to Enlist 0:14:49 Nick's Goals that Pushed His Career Forward 0:17:50 Recovering from Burnout 0:21:23 Helping Someone Understand Their Recovery and Readiness 0:26:48 Training with HRP and Other Monitoring Devices 0:38:28 What Camps Does Nick Caldwell Run? 0:44:43 Not a 36 Hour Exercise Competition 0:49:55 Standard Pre-Screening 0:57:50 Woman in Courses of Self-Defense 1:02:11 "Keeping Yourself Safe in a Parking Garage" Scenario  1:10:04 Books that Nick Believes Everyone Should Read 1:18:37 Outro

    1h 20m
  5. Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon: Mental and Emotional Prep for SOF Selection - Ep. 120

    10/22/2025

    Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon: Mental and Emotional Prep for SOF Selection - Ep. 120

    Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon is a trained counselor specializing in the psychology of behavior change, with certifications in motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, DBT, CBT, and trauma counseling. She’s the author of numerous books and accredited nutrition, sleep, stress, and recovery courses. She is our go-to performance psych, working one-on-one with many of our clients to sharpen the mental and emotional skills needed to handle some of the toughest training courses in the world. In this episode, we’re talking to KSD about the coaching work she does with active and aspiring operators, focusing on the central themes and patterns she often uses to help people excel in their careers and become more capable and resilient.  Learn more about working with KSD: https://www.buildingtheelite.com/performance-psych-coaching/ Follow KSD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumptuous Timestamps: 00:23 Introduction to Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon 01:12 Common Themes in Special Operations Selection 03:42 Getting Distracted by Misconceptions 08:11 Paradox of High Standards While Facing Setbacks 13:36 The Vulnerability of Overthinking 18:53 The Concept of Self-Compassion 25:11 The Value of Coaching Yourself Positively 30:25 The Concept of Fun - Do it Seriously, Don't Take it Seriously 38:09 Weaving Fun into Intense Training 43:07 Appreciation of Nature and Disasters    47:03 Training That's Too Strict Can Steal Joy from Life  49:58 The Concept of Competition 54:43 What Does Neurodivergence Mean? 1:00:46 Distinguishing Between Self-Deficits or Neurological Differences 1:06:22 Behavioral Red Flags within Military Tactical Populations 1:12:36 Strategies for Those that Fall into a Neurodivergent Category 1:16:16 What is Stimming and What Does It Do? 1:18:53 The Impact of Time Spent Alone Doing Something Meaningless 1:24:44 Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon's Book Recommendations 1:26:23 Outro

    1h 27m
  6. Feeding the Rat - Ep. 119

    09/24/2025

    Feeding the Rat - Ep. 119

    SOF selection is a proving ground, where your physical, mental, and emotional raw material will be laid bare, with nothing to hide behind. It's a place where you voluntarily walk into a brutal challenge to find out if who you think you are matches who you are.  It's a way of answering a question that few people are willing to ask.  Mo Anthoine, a British mountaineer, referred to this as "feeding the rat."  Think of the "rat" as that gnawing part of you that needs challenge, risk, and uncertainty. You feel better when it's been fed.  As Anthoine put it, "I think it's because there is always a question mark about how you would perform. You have an idea of yourself and it can be quite a shock when you don't come up to your own expectations. If you just tootle along you can think you're a pretty slick bloke until things go wrong and you find you're nothing like you imagined yourself to be. But if you deliberately put yourself in difficult situations, then you get a pretty good idea of how you're going. That's why I like feeding the rat." Everyone has a rat to feed.  You only choose how you feed it.

    22 min
  7. Dr. Daniel Cooper: The Psychology of High Performance - Ep. 118

    09/03/2025

    Dr. Daniel Cooper: The Psychology of High Performance - Ep. 118

    Dr. Daniel Cooper is a human performance and behaviour specialist who focuses on improving individual and team performance in high-pressure, high-consequence environments.  He provides a unique perspective that sits at the intersection of real-world experience, academic research, and high-performance development.  His experience encompasses over 18 years of service within the Australian Special Operations community, as well as academic studies in physiology, PhD research on performing under pressure, and current studies in neuroscience.  In addition to high-performance coaching in professional sports and personal pursuits in extreme ultra-endurance events, Daniel has also worked within law enforcement as a frontline skills trainer, assisting in the development and delivery of strategic command programs. Follow Dr. Cooper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-cooper-phd-3725194a/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancooper_phd/ Timestamps: 00:21 Introduction to Dr. Daniel Cooper 01:35 Where in Antarctica is Dr. Daniel Cooper Going? 02:54 What Distance Record is Dr. Cooper Going for? 03:42 What are the Logistics for a Trip to Antarctica? 04:58 What Does the Food Look Like? 07:09 Starting Weight for a Sled 08:22 Getting Out of the Special Air Service 08:49 Dr. Cooper's Area of Research 09:39 Under Pressure You Fall to the Level of Your Instructor 12:24 What Operators Do Wrong When They Become Instructors 14:32 What's Dr. Cooper's Take on the Post-Engagement Scan? 18:47 The "Rule of Pretending" in Training Exercises  23:17 "Procedure Monkey" Meaning 24:06 Letting Situations Go Wrong in Training 27:35 Balancing Adaptability, Productivity and Challenges 31:44 The Impact of Shame in Training Practices 34:58 Mental Toughness is Misunderstood 40:58 How a Unit Should View Their Team and the World Around Them 46:05 Difference Between Character and Capability 49:38 More Effective Evaluating in the Special Air Service 53:40 Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence, PCDE's 01:03:03 Linear vs Non-Linear Motor Skill Development 01:12:54 Desirable Difficulties to Train Recall Skills 01:13:53 Dr. Coopers Book Recommendation 01:14:53 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received  01:16:26 Outro

    1h 17m
  8. Elias Kfoury: From Hunter to Protector, Ep. 117

    08/20/2025

    Elias Kfoury: From Hunter to Protector, Ep. 117

    Elias Kfoury was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and immigrated to the United States at an early age in search of a brighter, safer future. After college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving 21½ years before his medical retirement. Beginning as a Hospital Corpsman supporting the U.S. Marine Corps, he soon entered the Special Operations community as a Deep Sea Diving Medical Technician and completed advanced medical training to support Naval Special Warfare units. Following his service in Little Creek, Virginia, he successfully screened for Naval Special Warfare Development Group, where he spent the majority of his career as a Squadron Medic in multiple roles. After retiring, Elias transitioned into the business world, but soon recognized the deeper need to heal himself and his family. Today, he dedicates his life to supporting others on their own journeys while cherishing time with his family. Eli's Book Recommendations for special operations candidates (aside from Building the Elite): Breath – James Nestor The Way of the SEAL – Mark Divine Peak Performance – Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness The Talent Code – Daniel Coyle The Obstacle Is the Way – Ryan Holiday With Winning in Mind – Lanny Bassham Deep Survival – Laurence Gonzales Call Sign Chaos – Jim Mattis & Bing West Legacy – James Kerr Timestamps: 00:00:21 Introduction to Eli Khoury 00:00:52 Where Did Eli Khoury Grow Up? 00:01:36 Experience of Growing Up in a War Zone 00:05:54 How "Real Mortal Danger" Shapes Your Mental Health 00:08:59 How Many Children Currently Don't Have Physical "Third Spaces" 00:12:05 Formative Moments That Clarified "Who Eli Is" 00:18:20 Eli's Educational Background 00:24:43 The Goal of Coaching 00:27:48 Common Things People Struggle to Let Go of 00:29:43 Improving the Coaching Process for the Future 00:32:04 Coaching Families 00:34:04 Utilizing Tools like Psychedelics 00:36:18 Teaching How to Give Up Control While Using Psychedelics 00:40:40 Teaching How to Let Go Without Psychedelics 00:48:20 The Skill of "Sitting With Stillness" 00:52:48 What Military Skills Transfer to the Rest of the World? 00:58:04 Teaching Resilience to People Early in Their Career 01:13:45 Advice for Someone Trying to Enter BUDS 01:14:49 Advice for Someone in a Special Operations Medical Path 01:16:33 Advice for Someone Who Wants to Screen for a Tier 1 Unit 01:18:20 One Book that Everyone Should Read 01:18:37 Sponsor Note - Our Book, "Building the Elite" 01:19:05 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received  01:21:48 Outro

    1h 22m
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About

The Building the Elite (BTE) podcast discusses all facets of human performance - from physical training to the mental and emotional factors of resilience. Each episode looks at principles drawn from the world of special operations. These concepts help people succeed in the toughest military training courses in the world and can help anyone thrive in chaotic and challenging environments. 

Information

  • Creator
    Building the Elite
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Building the Elite Podcast
  • Show Website
    Building the Elite Podcast

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