Retired Navy SEAL sniper and bestselling author Mark Greene has lived through combat deployments, career transitions, divorce, and rebuilding his...
Retired Navy SEAL sniper and bestselling author Mark Greene has lived through combat deployments, career transitions, divorce, and rebuilding his life from the ground up. In Part 1 of this conversation, Mark sits down with Cole Rodgers to talk about identity, shame, fatherhood, and what it really takes to start over when the image everyone sees no longer matches the man you are inside. If you look strong on paper but feel the cracks in private, this is the one you watch all the way through. ⸻ IN THIS EPISODE (PART 1) • Mark’s path from sports and college to the SEAL Teams • What it actually means to serve as a Navy SEAL sniper • The hidden cost of high performance and living at full tilt • How his marriage and inner world began to come apart • Why shame keeps men isolated and silent • The moment he finally asked for help and told the truth • How faith, fatherhood, and real accountability became the foundation for rebuilding ⸻ CHAPTERS (PART 1 – MARK GREENE) 00:00:00 Welcome, how Cole and Mark connected, and why Mark is different 00:20:01 Growing up military: Philippines, Ohio, Japan, and Dad’s mysterious job 00:30:01 Losing Dad and the village that raised Mark 00:40:37 Grandfather, Negro Leagues, and falling in love with football 00:50:11 College ball, NCAA realities, and the business of players 01:00:00 Knee injury, loyalty to teammates, and leaving the NFL dream 01:10:16 Discovering the SEAL Teams and a new mission 01:23:30 Boot camp, BUD/S contract, and passing the screening test 01:30:26 First look at BUD/S: the “toughest training” in a tiny compound 01:40:23 Arriving early to BUD/S and learning to ask for help 01:50:02 Hydration punishment, cold water, and the mental games of instructors 02:00:13 Pool comp, the whammy knot, and thinking under pressure 02:10:16 SEAL Qualification Training, Team Five, and being coachable 02:20:00 Officer path, finishing his degree, and the lead-up to a life-changing jump ⸻ ABOUT MARK GREENE Mark Greene is a retired Navy SEAL who served on both East and West Coast SEAL Teams, including time as a sniper and instructor, before transitioning into life after the military. He is the bestselling author of UnSEALed: A Navy SEAL’s Guide to Mastering Life’s Transitions, a book that walks readers through the key transition points in life and how to navigate them with resilience, honesty, and courage. Connect with Mark: Website: https://www.themarkgreene.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarkgreene/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkgreene Get the book UnSEALed: Amazon (all formats): https://www.amazon.com/Unsealed-Seals-Guide-Mastering-Transitions/dp/B0CN53CS6L ⸻ ABOUT THE RESILIENCE PLAYBOOK The Resilience Playbook is a long-form conversation series hosted by Cole Rodgers. Every episode brings you face-to-face with leaders, executives, and high-performers who’ve been tested — and came out the other side with something worth sharing. No highlight reels without the hard parts. Just honest conversations about resilience, faith, leadership, marriage, fatherhood, mental health, and the moments that shape who we become. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a conversation. ⸻ CONNECT WITH THE SHOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresilienceplaybook/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/TheResiliencePB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-resilience-playbook/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theresilienceplaybook Listen on audio: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ShZgzjhsPCKzCLzfoWApI Support the show and get deeper resources: https://theresilienceplaybook.com/
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