Old Ranger New Dad

Seth Ryan
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement

Most young men are Not Incapable.  They’re drifting. Old Ranger New Dad is for the young man who knows he is capable of more but feels stuck, distracted, undisciplined, or without direction. Hosted by former Army Ranger Seth Ryan, this podcast is built to help young men take control of their time, strengthen their discipline, build real purpose, and become the man their future family is counting on! This is not feel-good motivation. This is not empty self-help. This is Personal Standard Development. Through hard-earned lessons from combat, fatherhood, law enforcement, leadership, faith, discipline, and life experience, Seth speaks directly to the young man who is ready to stop drifting and start building a life that actually means something. Most men won’t choose this path. But the ones who do will build something different. Your future is being shaped by how you use your time. Use it wisely!

  1. Jul 31

    SEASON 2! Mark Grdovic (Retired Green Beret) Psyops & turning Iraq against Saddam!

    Spring 2003. While the world watched tanks roll toward Baghdad, about forty Americans were already inside northern Iraq — dressed like Kurds, sitting on promises of money, weapons, and air support that never arrived, and expected to open a second front alongside Peshmerga fighters the United States had already abandoned three times in twenty years. LTC (Ret.) Mark Grdovic was the battalion operations officer who planned that campaign and lived it. Twenty-three years in the Army, nineteen as a Special Forces officer with 10th Group, twice an instructor in the Special Forces Qualification Course. His book, THOSE WHO FACE DEATH: The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance, isn't a memoir. It's the full account of a campaign almost nobody has heard of, from one of the only two men who saw the whole thing from planning through execution. This one runs long because it earns it: Why our surrender leaflets failed — "polite" Arabic that read as an insult, and the one wrong word that made Iraqi units bury their jetsLoudspeakers playing tank noises on a hilltop, and the fill-in-the-blank "telemarketer letter" sent to Iraqi generalsThe single order that turned thousands of professional Iraqi officers into the insurgency we spent the next eight years fightingA Green Beret captain who stopped a Peshmerga commander from shooting prisoners — without threatening him onceThree SF weapons sergeants in a straight-up duel with an Iraqi mortar crew, and what winning it bought themWhy a twelve-man team can live inside a hostile city and survive, and it has nothing to do with walls or dronesTaking Kirkuk with almost nobody, then using the press to convince a city of 600,000 that five thousand paratroopers had shown upTwo very different careers in the same war. Mark is a Green Beret officer. Ryno was a Ranger forward observer with 1st Batt. They don't always land in the same place, and the conversation is better for it. If you're a young man looking for direction and you're not sure the military is it — this one is for you. That's why we're both here. GET THE BOOK: Those Who Face Death — hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook narrated by Mark. More at markgrdovic.com CHAPTERS  00:00 Cold open  01:30 Meet LTC (Ret.) Mark Grdovic  05:00 Ryno's road: Marines, 9/11, and a contract he didn't understand  07:51 A book at fifteen that pointed Mark toward Special Forces  14:18 The Kurdish word that turned Green Berets into eighth graders  17:35 Rangers, SEALs, Special Forces: what each is actually for  24:55 Discipline when nobody is standing on your left or right  26:54 Robin Sage for real: prisoners shot at the front line  34:47 El Salvador and the case for staying engaged  38:26 An American flag pressed against a car window  45:29 Kirkuk: liberation, parade flags, and lying to the press  51:56 PSYOP done badly — the surrender message nobody accepted  57:46 Tank noises, telemarketer letters, "your officers have left"  1:04:30 Broken-down tanks and the general's missing helmet  1:13:03 Building the ICTF and the Iraqi commandos from scratch  1:16:55 The Baghdad church hostage rescue they ran without us  1:26:26 AKs, negligent discharges, and a body rolled in a rug  1:33:25 The loaded Saddam pistol pointed at everyone in the room  1:44:57 Katyusha rockets and the skill nobody should have to learn  1:51:33 Three NCOs versus an enemy mortar crew  1:58:52 "The next time we meet, it will not be as friends"  2:03:14 How we built the insurgency that fought us  2:10:03 The secret sauce: why the neighborhood decides if you live  2:14:33 Con men in brand-new BDUs and the "Free Iraqi Forces"  2:29:40 Walking off the field in the fourth quarter  2:35:40 Turning the power back on Old Ranger, New Dad — hosted by Ryno. Former Marine infantry, then 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st Ranger Battalion, 4 combat tours.  Now a dad trying to hand the next generation the map nobody gave me. New episodes on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Support the show Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

    SEASON 2! Mark Grdovic (Retired Green Beret) Psyops & turning Iraq against Saddam!

  2. Jul 30

    SEASON 2! Mark Grdovic (Retired Green Beret) working with Psyops

    His book "Those Who Face Death" available on audible will kick off Season 2! Friday at 1500 hrs (3pm) EST! Support the show Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

    SEASON 2! Mark Grdovic (Retired Green Beret) working with Psyops

  3. Jul 3

    In 2018 her Doctor Gave Her ONE Year Left to Live

    What do you do when a doctor tells you to prepare for the end of your life? Most people would understand if you gave up. Jen Hardy didn't. In this conversation, Jen shares the incredible story of being diagnosed with both muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis, being told she likely had about a year left to live, and then doing something almost nobody expected—continuing to build, create, and inspire.  Years later, she's still speaking around the country, building businesses, growing a YouTube audience of nearly 200,000 subscribers after spending almost eight years creating with virtually no growth, and proving that success is often anything but "overnight."  But this episode isn't really about YouTube. It's about purpose. It's about resilience. It's about choosing how you'll spend the time you've been given. Along the way we dive into: • The life-changing diagnosis that forced Jen to rethink everything  • Why she refused to let fear become the final chapter of her story  • The mindset that carried her through eight years of almost no visible success  • The surprising breakthrough that transformed her YouTube channel almost overnight  • Why authenticity always outperforms trying to fit in  • The importance of trusting your own instincts—even when experts disagree  • Lessons on marriage, loyalty, and becoming the kind of person others can depend on  • Building a legacy that will outlive you We also share personal stories about living with chronic injuries, learning to adapt when life doesn't go according to plan, and why some of the greatest victories happen long after most people would have quit.  One of my favorite moments in this conversation is when Jen says that when life gives you two choices—give in or fight—choosing to fight doesn't guarantee you'll change the outcome... But it absolutely changes how you live the time you have. Whether you're struggling through a difficult season, trying to build something meaningful, or simply wondering if your efforts are making any difference, I think you'll find encouragement in Jen's story. Your future isn't determined by one diagnosis, one failure, or one setback. Sometimes the greatest chapters of your life begin after everyone else thinks the story is over. If this episode encouraged you, please: 👍 Like the video  💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments  📲 Share this episode with someone who needs hope today  🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about resilience, leadership, faith, fatherhood, and building a life that matters. Follow Jen Hardy: Website - (https://jenhardy.net/fabulous-over-50/)  Apple - (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fabulous-over-50-the-jen-hardy-podcast/id1353195153)  YouTube - ( https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmaSCqWWHYpcVGWj3dO9xvaoerHSGoAgb )  Spotify - (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Uavc0l2QmG031ldVM1nKK) Subscribe to Old Ranger New Dad If you're ready to stop drifting and start building the man your future family is counting on, you're in the right place. Your sand is always running... and you don't get it back! Support the show Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

    In 2018 her Doctor Gave Her ONE Year Left to Live

  4. May 28

    Rich Brown - Reconnecting Men With Their Purpose/Tribe Through "The Guidon Foundation"

    In this episode of Old Ranger New Dad, Seth Ryan sits down with former United States Marine Corps veteran Rich Brown — founder of: The Guido Foundation, co-owner of 'Honor Bound Fit,' and leader of an executive protection team serving high-level corporate clients. But this conversation goes far deeper than resumes and titles. Rich shares his mission to confront the growing crisis facing veterans, first responders, and young men who feel disconnected, directionless, or spiritually empty. Together, Seth and Rich dive into leadership, responsibility, service, brotherhood, masculinity, faith, discipline, and the dangerous cultural drift pulling many young men away from purpose. This is not a surface-level “motivation” podcast. It is a direct conversation about becoming dependable when pressure hits, leading your family well, serving your community, and refusing to check out of life when things get hard. The episode also explores: - The Guidon Foundation’s mission to combat veteran and first responder suicide by connecting men with their purpose and their tribe.  -Why many men feel lost after leaving military service   -The importance of brotherhood and accountability   -Building dangerous men with strong moral foundations   -Leadership outside the military   -Faith, service, and responsibility in modern America   -Helping young men develop purpose before crisis hits  **If you are a young man searching for direction… a father trying to lead your family well… or a veteran struggling to find meaning after service… this conversation was made for you. #OldRangerNewDad #Veterans #Leadership #Masculinity #Faith #Fatherhood #MarineCorps #ArmyRanger #MensMentalHealth #SelfDiscipline #Brotherhood #Purpose #MilitaryTransition #ChristianMen #TheGuidonFoundation Support the show Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

    Rich Brown - Reconnecting Men With Their Purpose/Tribe Through "The Guidon Foundation"

  5. May 12

    Green Beret: Men Mocking Weakness is Killing the BEST in SPEC OPS

    ** Watch Full Video on YT in 4K ** MEN ARE DYING IN SILENCE, IN THIS EPISODE NICK SHARES THE STIGMA(S) KILLING THEM!  In this episode of Old Ranger New Dad, Seth Ryan sits down with Nick O’Kelly—former Special Forces, Army aviator, and 160th SOAR (“Night Stalkers”)—for a conversation every man needs to hear. Nick breaks down a brutal truth most people avoid: The danger isn’t only what men are carrying internally… it’s how other men respond when someone finally admits they’re struggling. The jokes. The mockery. The “man up” culture. The silent stigma that convinces strong men to stay quiet until it’s too late. Nick shares his personal battle with anxiety, panic, depression, intrusive thoughts, and the “high performer mask”—how you can be excelling on the outside while internally falling apart. He also honors the brotherhood he came up with, including Bryan Gray, a man who embodied strength and grit… and still lost his life. This episode is raw, honest, and practical—especially for: Veterans, law enforcement, and first responders High-performing men who don’t feel “allowed” to struggle Wives/families trying to support a man who’s shutting down Anyone who wants to be the kind of friend who actually helps In this episode, we cover: How stigma starts early (even in training) and follows men for life Why “performance” becomes camouflage for pain The real difference between toughness and silence What to say (and what not to say) when a man opens up Marriage under pressure—and what helped Nick and his wife endure Tools that helped: honesty, therapy, accountability, and rebuilding purpose How to check on your people without making it weird IF YOU ARE A MAN WHO FEELS TRAPPED BEHIND YOUR OWN IMAGE? This Episode is for you! And if a man in your life says he's “fine”… but you’re pretty sure he really isn't fine — watch this episode carefully!         - Time Stamps -  0:00 Intro / Meet Nick O’Kelly 3:50 Nick’s background: Special Forces → Army Aviation → Special Operations 160th SOAR "Night Stalkers" 8:20 “High performance” as a mask for mental health 11:40 Why Nick got out + the hidden cost of pushing nonstop 14:00 The culture of stigma: men mocking weakness 16:10 Bryan Gray—brotherhood, loss, and why the book exists 21:00 Why asking for help feels terrifying 27:20 The ripple effect: what happens after suicide 33:00 Insomnia, chronic stress, panic, and the mental trap 45:50 Timeline: when it started and how long it lasted 53:20 Marriage under pressure + what actually helped 59:20 Tools that helped: therapy, meds, awareness, and rebuilding 1:13:15 “I was a good man in a storm…” — breaking it down 1:25:00 Where stigma starts (the “shoelaces” lesson) 1:44:00 Final message: pick up the phone  #OldRangerNewDad #NickOKelly #MensMentalHealth #VeteranPodcast #SpecialForces #160thSOAR #NightStalkers #SuicidePrevention #Brotherhood #PTSD #Leadership #Marriage #Fatherhood  Support the show Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

    Green Beret: Men Mocking Weakness is Killing the BEST in SPEC OPS

  6. Mar 12

    #12 Military Trauma Expert / Bestselling Author's New Book: "Fall Out"

    This week I recorded a fantastic podcast with 'Doc' Shauna Springer, Ph.D. **(She doesn't go by 'Doc' because she has a Ph.D.)**  She earned that title over the years of earning respect from veterans leading the charge in Veteran Mental Health! Anyone who served in SOF or combat-arms the team-medic, referred to as 'Doc', is always one of the most beloved members of any team. He's the one that will plug your holes and keep you breathing, will continue doing so as long as they have breath in their body. She's a:  -Licensed psychologist,  -Bestselling author, and  -One of the MOST TRUSTED Voices working to demystify psychological trauma, Difficulty During military transition, moral injury, veteran/law enforcement suicide prevention, and the relationships that hold warriors together when life's storms are raging. 'Doc Springer' also currently serves as Chief Psychologist at Stella Mental Health, and she’s known in the veteran and first responder world because She Doesn’t Talk AT People — she’s spent years EARNING TRUST in The Rooms where outsiders Never Get Invited! You may know her from her groundbreaking book WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us, where she pulls the curtain back on what many civilians don’t understand — Trust, Stigma, Connection, and what it actually looks like when an Unbreakable-Juggernaut starts imploding on the inside.  she then took it even further with RELENTLESS COURAGE: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma, co-authored with Michael Sugrue — a book aimed straight at the realities first responders (especially Law Enforcement Officers) carry, and how that weight affects the mind, the home, and the mission. But TODAY WE'RE HERE for her Newest book: "FALL OUT: Ten Common Beliefs that Kill Our Bravest and the Truths that Can Save Them" — and yes, it’s available on Amazon right now. This isn’t a “feel-good wellness talk.” FALL OUT takes aim at the false beliefs and check-the-box approaches that sound good on paper, but Do Not Work within our warrior cultures — in many cases it's making things worse. In a growing number of tragic cases, it is a Factor in costing the lives of some of the best and bravest men and women walking on the face of the earth. 'Doc' Springer's new book: "Fall Out" (Two words, multiple-meanings, All of them Powerful & Insightful) *****Link below***** file:///D:/Old%20Ranger%20New%20Dad%20Podcast/ORND%20Episodes%2016x9%20(YT%20&%20Spotify)/Ep%20Shauna%20'DOC'%20Springer/Fall%20Out%20link.htm  PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ON AMAZON! and SHARE if find 'Fall Out' to be insightful! Support the show Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

    #12 Military Trauma Expert / Bestselling Author's New Book: "Fall Out"

  7. Mar 4

    #11 Switching Navy SEALs into EOD (BOMB Tech) contract, led to a lifetime of fulfillment!

    What happens when an 11-year-old watches 9/11 unfold…and feels powerless to help? For Jay Ly, that moment became fuel. Jay grew up in a rough neighborhood in Syracuse, NY—raised by a tough single mom who Made Sure FAITH stayed at the center even when life was chaotic.  Years later, that same Faith + Grit carried him (Not into the Navy SEALs as he planned) into the Navy EOD community (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)—Where he deployed into combat with army Rangers and other elite operators in Special Forces destroying evil men. He did get to work with the SEALs & "Team 6" (aka DevGru) where he worked a totally different mission set keeping peace and build relationships with our 'allies' in Afghanistan.  After leaving military life, he now focuses on his New Mission:  Helping high performers build Legacy, Purpose, and Financial Freedom grounded in faith and character! Support the show Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

    #11 Switching Navy SEALs into EOD (BOMB Tech) contract, led to a lifetime of fulfillment!

  8. Feb 9

    #10 Robert Wall on losing 'Lizzy', Loss/Grief, and Learning to Breathe Again

    Old Ranger New Dad — Episode: Robert Wall on Lizzie, Loss, and Learning to Breathe Again In this deeply personal episode of Old Ranger New Dad, Seth Ryan sits down with fellow veteran and entrepreneur Robert Wall for a conversation that isn’t “content”—it’s real life. Robert shares the story of his daughter Elizabeth “Lizzie” Wall, who lived 2 1/2 years with a rare genetic disorder (rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata) and how that journey reshaped everything: his faith, his marriage, his identity as a father, and his understanding of what grief really is.  This episode also opens in a raw place—Seth records shortly after losing his son and walking through a medical emergency that nearly took his wife. Together, Seth and Robert talk about the kind of grief that doesn’t fit neatly into “stages,” the pressure men feel to stay tough, and why silence can sometimes speak louder than the right words.  You’ll hear hard-earned truths about: Why grief has no timeline (and why that’s not failure)  The weight of losing a child—and the purpose that can grow from the pain  Faith in the storm: surrender, resilience, and staying anchored as a couple  PTSD beyond the battlefield—and how trauma can show up years later  Hope without clichés: what it looks like to keep moving forward with a broken heart  If you’ve experienced miscarriage, child loss, infertility, the loss of a loved one—or you’re the friend who wants to help but doesn’t know what to say—this episode will meet you where you are. Listen now, and share this with someone who needs permission to grieve—and the courage to keep going.  Support the show Please LIKE, Share and Subscribe for more content like this!! @OldRangerNewDad

    #10 Robert Wall on losing 'Lizzy', Loss/Grief, and Learning to Breathe Again
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About

Most young men are Not Incapable.  They’re drifting. Old Ranger New Dad is for the young man who knows he is capable of more but feels stuck, distracted, undisciplined, or without direction. Hosted by former Army Ranger Seth Ryan, this podcast is built to help young men take control of their time, strengthen their discipline, build real purpose, and become the man their future family is counting on! This is not feel-good motivation. This is not empty self-help. This is Personal Standard Development. Through hard-earned lessons from combat, fatherhood, law enforcement, leadership, faith, discipline, and life experience, Seth speaks directly to the young man who is ready to stop drifting and start building a life that actually means something. Most men won’t choose this path. But the ones who do will build something different. Your future is being shaped by how you use your time. Use it wisely!

Information

  • Creator
    Seth Ryan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Old Ranger New Dad
  • Show Website
    Old Ranger New Dad