The David Burnell Podcast

Life, leadership, and truth forged in real experience.
  • 5.0 (4)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
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Reflections on service, leadership, faith, and the lessons forged through a life spent in war zones, rescue missions, and humanitarian work. davidburnell.substack.com

  1. (Audiobook) The Climb

    1D AGO

    (Audiobook) The Climb

    There are moments in life that change everything. Not because they are loud or dramatic…But because they quietly alter how you walk forward from that point on. The Climb is David Burnell’s personal experience ascending the Middle Teton—a climb undertaken just months after a devastating gunshot wound that permanently changed how he moved, how he endured, and how he understood himself. At first, the mountain is simply a challenge. But step by step, as the trail steepens and the group begins to separate, something deeper unfolds. The strong move ahead. The slower ones begin to fall behind. And the climb becomes something else entirely. As pain sets in and his pace slows, David finds himself walking beside those who are struggling—young men who are questioning whether they can continue at all. What begins as a limitation becomes a placement. What feels like weakness becomes purpose. And what seemed like a climb to the summit becomes a journey into something far more meaningful. Through real moments of exhaustion, stillness, and quiet decision, The Climb reveals powerful truths about life: * Progress is not measured by speed * Strength is found in what can be sustained * The most important ground is not ahead of you—but beside you * And no one is meant to walk their hardest moments alone This is not just a story about a mountain. It is a personal account of pain, purpose, faith, and perspective, drawn directly from David Burnell’s lived experience. It is about valleys that shape us.Vistas that remind us.And the quiet, sacred work of staying with others when it would be easier to move ahead. Written in a calm, reflective voice, The Climb offers a deeply personal and authentic perspective on struggle, endurance, and the kind of strength that is rarely seen—but always felt. It is for those who feel like they’ve fallen behind. For those who are still climbing, even when no one sees it. And for those who choose to stay beside them. One step. One choice. One purpose.Until we reach Him. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 37m
  2. Sun Tzu Made Simple

    5D AGO

    Sun Tzu Made Simple

    War has never been limited to the battlefield. It exists anywhere decisions are made under pressure, where uncertainty shapes outcomes, and where clarity—or the lack of it—determines what happens next. Most people don’t recognize it. They react to problems after they appear. They focus on action instead of understanding. And by the time conflict becomes visible, much of the outcome has already been decided. This book changes that. Sun Tzu Made Simple is not a history lesson. It is a modern interpretation of The Art of War—translated into real-world application for leadership, business, decision-making, and life under pressure. Drawing from decades of military service, rescue operations, and high-stakes environments, David Burnell breaks down Sun Tzu’s principles into something practical, clear, and immediately usable. No theory.No academic language.No wasted pages. Just the reality of how conflict actually works. Inside this book, you’ll learn: * Why most people lose before the fight even begins * How to recognize conflict while it’s still forming * The difference between reacting and controlling the situation * How positioning determines outcomes before action * Why clarity—not force—is the real advantage * How to make decisions under pressure without losing direction * What it means to win without fighting This is for you if you: * Lead people or make decisions that carry weight * Operate in high-pressure environments * Want to think more clearly and act more deliberately * Are tired of surface-level strategy and want something real Sun Tzu wrote about war. David Burnell shows you how it applies to everything. Because the battlefield didn’t disappear. It just changed shape. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

    2h 15m
  3. Defense for Women: Trust the Signal

    APR 16

    Defense for Women: Trust the Signal

    There is a moment most people ignore. A feeling. A hesitation. Something that doesn’t sit right. And then almost immediately, it gets explained away. In this episode of Defense for Women, David Burnell breaks down one of the most important—and most overlooked—tools you have: your intuition. This is not emotion.This is not overreaction.This is a signal. You’ll learn why that feeling matters, how your brain detects danger before you can explain it, and why hesitation and rationalization are exactly what predators rely on. Because the truth is simple: You don’t need proof to act.You don’t need permission to leave.And you don’t need to wait until it’s obvious. If it feels off… it is off. This episode will change the way you trust yourself—and how early you’re willing to act. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

    4 min
  4. David Burnell: Sorab and Rustum - The Son He Never Knew

    APR 10

    David Burnell: Sorab and Rustum - The Son He Never Knew

    Some stories aren’t just told…they’re felt. This is the legendary story of Sohrab and Rustum—an ancient tale of a father and son who meet on the battlefield… without knowing who each other truly are. It’s a story of pride.Of missed moments.Of love discovered too late. And it’s a reminder— Don’t wait to say what matters. If this episode moves you, share it with someone you love. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min
  5. Defense for Women: The Color Code of Awareness

    APR 8

    Defense for Women: The Color Code of Awareness

    Most people move through life unaware of what’s happening around them. Until something forces them to pay attention. In this episode of Defense for Women, David Burnell breaks down the Color Code of Awareness—a simple, powerful system for staying ahead of danger before it develops. You’ll learn how awareness levels shift, how people become vulnerable without realizing it, and how to stay in control of your environment at all times. Because awareness is not complicated—but it must be intentional. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

    4 min
  6. Defense for Women: The Interview Phase

    APR 8

    Defense for Women: The Interview Phase

    Most dangerous situations don’t start with force. They start with a test. In this episode of Defense for Women, David Burnell explains the “interview phase”—the subtle, often unnoticed moment when someone is evaluating you as a potential target. This is where boundaries are tested, hesitation is measured, and decisions are made. You’ll learn how to recognize these early interactions, how attackers use conversation and behavior to assess you, and how to shut them down before they escalate. Because if you understand the interview… You can end the situation before it ever begins. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

    3 min
  7. Audiobook: The Weight We Carry

    APR 6

    Audiobook: The Weight We Carry

    A True Story About Holding On, Letting Go, and Learning to Rise He was never supposed to go that deep. At over 100 feet beneath the surface of a crystal-clear glacier lake, the mission was already dangerous—cold water, high altitude, and a downed aircraft resting on the bottom with two men still inside. But when the wreckage shifted and a body came free, everything changed. In an instant, what began as a controlled recovery became a fight for survival. Pulled downward by the full weight of the man he was trying to bring home, David Burnell found himself descending—despite doing everything he had been trained to do. Air added. Buoyancy maxed. Every movement pushing upward. Still going down. In that moment, he faced a decision with no easy answer: Let go—and live.Or hold on—and risk everything. The Weight We Carry is a powerful true story of survival, responsibility, and faith under pressure. But it is also something more. Because what happened beneath that water reflects something we all face in life. We all carry weight. Some of it is necessary—responsibility, commitment, the people who depend on us. But some of it is not. Regret. Anger. Guilt. Things we hold onto long after they begin to pull us under. Through a real-world mission where the margin for error disappeared in seconds, David Burnell reveals a deeper truth: There are moments when holding on matters. And there are moments when holding on is exactly what will take you down. Learning the difference is not just physical. It is spiritual. Grounded in real experience and anchored in Christian and Latter-day Saint principles, this book explores: * The unseen weight we carry in life * The difference between strength and surrender * How to recognize when to hold on—and when to let go * The role of faith, grace, and the Savior in lifting burdens we cannot carry alone This is not just a story about a dive. It is a story about decision. About responsibility. About the moments that define who we become. And about the truth that when we reach the limit of what we can carry… we are not meant to carry it alone. Perfect for readers of faith-based true stories, leadership under pressure, and real-world lessons drawn from military, rescue, and high-risk environments. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

    57 min
  8. Audiobook: Tiger Stripe

    APR 5

    Audiobook: Tiger Stripe

    In the dense jungles of Vietnam, survival depended on more than courage—it depended on concealment. Tiger stripe camouflage was not just a pattern. It was a weapon. Forged in the chaos of unconventional warfare, tiger stripe became the signature of elite units, reconnaissance teams, and warriors operating deep behind enemy lines. It broke the human silhouette, disrupted recognition, and gave those who wore it a critical edge in one of the most unforgiving environments on earth. But the story of tiger stripe is more than fabric and color. It is a story of adaptation under fire.Of innovation born from necessity.Of men who operated in the shadows—and the tools that helped keep them alive. In Tiger Stripe: A Camouflage History, David Burnell takes you beyond surface-level descriptions and into the real-world evolution of one of the most iconic camouflage patterns ever created. Drawing from historical research, field application, and a lifetime of operational experience, this book explores: * The origins and early development of tiger stripe patterns * The variations used by U.S. Special Forces, MACV-SOG, and allied units * The practical function of camouflage in jungle warfare * How pattern, scale, and contrast impact real-world concealment * The legacy of tiger stripe in modern military and civilian use This is not a catalog.This is not theory. This is the reality of camouflage as it was used—under pressure, in combat, where getting it wrong had consequences. Whether you are a student of military history, a camouflage enthusiast, or someone who understands that details matter when lives are on the line, this book delivers a clear and grounded look at one of the most respected patterns ever worn in war. Some patterns are designed.Tiger stripe was earned. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 27m
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About

Reflections on service, leadership, faith, and the lessons forged through a life spent in war zones, rescue missions, and humanitarian work. davidburnell.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Life, leadership, and truth forged in real experience.
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © David Burnell
  • Show Website
    The David Burnell Podcast