Explore every episode of the podcast Teamcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| S4 Ep5 - Perspectives on Tactical Emergency Medical Support | 10 May 2024 | 01:08:05 | |
Join Harry Moffitt and Simon as they talk about his journey into tactical medicine and TEMS, his military experience, and leadership, teamwork, and navigating uncertainty inside trauma and emergency medicine. They also venture into the mind and trauma voyeurism. Simon is the Deputy Director of the Trauma Services at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where he practices clinically as an anaesthesiologist and a trauma consultant. His many areas of interest include trauma and health systems, trauma-team-work, austere medical support, prehospital care, and effective leadership in trauma care. He recently completed a study into tactical care in high-threat and complex environments, via a Churchill Fellowship looking at Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) and global tactical policing. You can read it here https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/simon-hendel-vic-2022/ Simon Hendel - Churchill Trust To assess Police Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) in comparable overseas jurisdictions - Health and Medicine — Training of health and medical workers He is also a LT COL in the Army Reserve and has worked in and around Special Forces teams overseas and here in Australia, most notably deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. | |||
| S4 Ep4 Leading Uphill with Mountaineer Chris Warner | 19 Dec 2023 | 01:02:14 | |
Chris Warner, Mountaineer, Second American to Summit every 8,000 meter peak Join Preston Cline as he and Chris Warner talk about his experiences in Mountaineering, in business, and in experiential education. Chris was one of Preston’s first instructors as a wilderness guide in 1989 and their lives have been intertwined ever since. | |||
| S3 Ep3 The Neuroscience of Operator Development with Dr. Michael Platt | 06 Dec 2022 | 00:49:30 | |
In this episode, Dr. Preston Cline and Dr. Micheal Platt talk about the role emotion plays in giving and receiving feedback. The implications of having a social brain and the way in which Synchrony is a precursor to the flow experience. Dr. Michael Platt. Who is the James S. Riepe University Professor, Professor of Neuroscience, Professor of Psychology, and Professor of Marketing. With appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Arts & Sciences, and the Wharton School, Platt works at the intersection of economics and psychology. He is the author of the “Leaders Brain”
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| S3 Ep2 Dr. Preston B. Cline conversation with Harry Moffit on Navigating Change | 14 Nov 2022 | 01:18:53 | |
With the Melbourne MCTI Summit only weeks away, in this episode, Dr. Preston Cline and MCTI’s Director of down-under, Harry Moffitt, prime the audience for some of the subject matter that will be covered at the summit – themed this year around Navigating Change.
The MCT community is home to the oldest institutions on earth – military, medical, fire and emergency, police – and in the modern age, all are grappling with the issue of change. How to prepare for change, how to manage it, and how to make it an ongoing practice. During the summit, the audience will be discussing and sharing how change management has been done well in MCTs and share some of the challenges of attempting to enact change in our institutions who are often hampered by longstanding, and sometimes dated, traditions, standards, and stories.
In this relaxed, informal chat between Preston and Harry, they discuss
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| S3 Ep1 The Psychological Profile of an Operator with Dr. Art Finch | 24 Oct 2022 | 01:08:25 | |
In this episode, Dr. Preston Cline and Dr. Art Finch talk about the types of people who choose the hard path. Where do they excel, where do they struggle, and why don’t they quite fit in with “normal” People. We focus on different learning and motivation profiles as well as the transitions between the routine and critical worlds.
COL(R) Art Finch, Ph.D., spent over 23 years providing psychological insight to the leading Special Operations and Tactical Law Enforcement organizations in the world. He is a graduate of U.S. Army Airborne, SERE, and Ranger Schools with more than 20 combat deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq. He retired at the rank of colonel. created personality profiles for more than 10,000 candidates in support of assessment and selection events. Art continues to be licensed to practice psychology in North Carolina and in addition to serving as the Director of the newly formed Mission Critical Psychology Division at MCTI, he also serves as a Research Scientist with IHMC and The Gauge Group, a psychological consulting and executive coaching firm and is the founder and president of The Gauge Group has led leadership consultation and executive coaching for Fortune 100 tech companies; led assessment and selection support for Major League Baseball and National League Football; conducted high-stakes, high-performance psychological support for elite athletes; and assessment and selection psychological support for FBI, HRT and New York State Police SWAT team.
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| S2 Ep8 Stories in Transition | 04 Apr 2022 | 01:14:12 | |
Join Dr. Preston Cline, Clare Murphy and Dr. Angus Fletcher as they discuss the role of story in navigating transitions. Dr. Angus Fletcher is an English professor and faculty within “Project Narrative” at Ohio State. Clare Murphy, the Director of Story at MCTI is a professional storyteller who tells myths, folklore and history throughout the world. Angus Fletcher's new book Wonderworks is available now. | |||
| S2 Ep7 The Cognitive Coach | 22 Oct 2021 | 01:16:47 | |
Please enjoy Harry's conversation with cognitive coach, Paddy Steinfort. Paddy is rare in that he is a psychologist who has lived the high performance life. A former elite Australian Rules Footballer for the Richmond Football Club in Melbourne, Paddy has worked with the Philadelphia Eagles, Blue Jays, 76ers, Red Socks, UPenn, Texas Tech and is now Director of Performance at Football Australia. Over his journey he has worked with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Ben Simmons, and Toronto phenom Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Harry and Paddy have a broad ranging discussion about the complexity and challenges of applied cognitive coaching and psychology. Below are some of the resources and links to concepts mentioned in the episode, meant only for introductory purposes. Allostatic load – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allostatic_load Superstitions in performance – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326330 GRIT by Angela Duckworth – https://angeladuckworth.com/ Acceptance-Commitment Theory – https://positivepsychology.com/act-acceptance-and-commitment-therapy/ Peer Support - https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/general-psychiatry/exploring-the-value-of-peer-support-for-mental-health/ Navigating human complexity - https://hbr.org/2007/11/a-leaders-framework-for-decision-making The benefits of psycho-education - https://healthengine.com.au/info/psychoeducation Paddy Steinfort; Spots Illustrated - https://www.si.com/edge/2020/10/02/paddy-steinfort-mental-performance-coach-daily-cover
Kind regards, Harry | |||
| S2 Ep6 The Day One Project | 26 Jul 2021 | 01:05:34 | |
Please enjoy Preston's conversation with Jay Hennessey, focused on his perspective of developing both SEALs and Professional Baseball players, as well as the lessons he has learned along the way. Jay is currently the Vice-President of Learning and Development at the Cleveland Indians (soon to be the Cleveland Guardians). Prior to joining the Guardians, Jay spent 25 years in Naval Special Warfare (The Navy SEALS). During the latter part of his career, he was the Commanding Officer, Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command. Related Articles Green Paper with survey link inside, please do not repeat survey | |||
| S2 Ep5 The Emergency Mind | 19 Jul 2021 | 01:28:39 | |
Please enjoy Preston's conversation with Dan Dworkis on "lessons from the ER and beyond on developing the tools it takes to succeed during emergencies and apply knowledge under pressure". Dan Dworkis, MD PhD, is a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, a board-certified emergency medicine physician at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, and a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He trained at Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency. Dr. Dworkis built The Emergency Mind platform and podcast to help individuals and teams perform better under pressure in and out of the emergency Department. The Emergency Mind - Amazon | |||
| S2 Ep4 FBI Hostage Rescue Team Child Kidnapping Rescue | 05 Jul 2021 | 00:57:39 | |
In 2013, Jimmy Lee Dykes walked out of his house in Alabama, boarded a school bus, and abducted an autistic child. He then retreated into a bunker and contacted law enforcement with a list of demands. This Teamcast is about how the Federal Bureau of Investigations Hostage Rescue Team rescued that child. The recording does not name any of the agents involved and was done with the permission and support of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the intent to show one aspect of the pressures and burdens that come with Modern Law Enforcement in America. | |||
| S2 Ep3 Creativity within Mission Critical Teams | 21 Jun 2021 | 01:35:09 | |
Please enjoy Harry's conversation with Professor Kate Stevens and Ben Pronk. Kate is a cognitive scientist and Professor in Psychology who’s work investigates humans interacting with each other, their environment, and with technology. Ben is a veteran and former Commanding Officer of Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment and is now the managing partner of Mettle Global. They have a broad ranging discussion on whether or not creativity is more prevalent or necessary in the MCTI community, or is it merely Harry’s recency/confirmation bias. Below are some of the resources mentioned in the episode.
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| S2 Ep2 Evolution of Wildland Fire | 08 Jun 2021 | 01:12:32 | |
Please enjoy Preston's conversation with Rowdy Muir on the evolution of Wildland Fire. Rowdy Muir came up through the ranks in the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and was a District Ranger on the Ashley National Forest in Utah and was an Area Commander on one of three existing Area Command Teams. | |||
| S4 Ep3 Leading When It's Hard - Chief Brian Fennessy | 18 Oct 2023 | 01:07:23 | |
Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County Fire Authority joins us to talk about leading and innovating in the face of history, tradition and bureaucracy. Brian began his career in 1978 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, working as a hotshot crewmember, hotshot/helishot/helitack captain and, ultimately, crew superintendent. In 1990, Fennessy joined the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) and, ultimately, became chief of the department in 2015. While he was with the SDFD, he developed and established a fire/rescue/EMS helicopter program. He became fire chief of the Orange County, CA, Fire Authority in 2018. Under his visionary guidance, OCFA’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF) — a groundbreaking public-private partnership with Southern California Edison — has revolutionized wildfire response. The QRF fleet, including CH-47 helitankers and intelligence helicopters, made over 2,200 drops, preventing new wildfires from exceeding 10 acres, 95 percent of the time. As fire chief Fennessy oversees 78 stations serving nearly 2 million residents in 23 municipalities and unincorporated area. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) awarded Chief Fennessy the 2023 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year, noting that “Chief Fennessy’s remarkable contributions to the fire service have earned him the IAFC Chief of the Year recognition, a testament to his enduring commitment and dedication to making a lasting impact on the fire service community.” | |||
| S2 Ep1 Evolution of Special Operations Forces | 24 May 2021 | 01:13:51 | |
Please enjoy Preston's conversation with Command Chief Master Sergeant Greg Smith on the evolution of Special Operations Forces. Command Chief Master Sergeant Gregory A. Smith is the tenth command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Florida. He assumed the position on July 11, 2019. Chief Smith entered the U.S. Air Force in 1990 as an aircraft armament systems specialist. His initial assignment was with the 3246th Test Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In 1993, Chief Smith was reassigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska where he served as a weapons load crew member on A/OA-10 aircraft. He completed multiple deployments to the pacific theater. Chief Smith was selected for special duty as an AC-130H/U aerial gunner in 1996. He served as lead, instructor and evaluator gunner with the 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida. He also served as the superintendent of Wing Strategic Plans with the 16th Special Operations Wing. In September 2001, Chief Smith was part of the first team to deploy following the terror attacks on 9/11. He established the first forward operating base and then deployed to Pakistan where he established a joint interagency forward operating location. In 2009, Chief Smith became the first course director and chief of academics for the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy. In June 2012, Chief Smith was selected for command chief master sergeant for the 58th Special Operations Wing where he oversaw the training and readiness for special operations and combat rescue personnel. In 2013, Chief Smith was selected as the command senior enlisted leader for Special Operations Command Europe where he led special operations forces through multiple contingencies in Ukraine, Turkey, and Syria. Chief Smith became the command senior enlisted leader for NATO Special Operations Headquarters in 2015. In this role, he synchronized Allied special operations forces for employment in support of NATO missions across the globe. Chief Smith’s last assignment was the command chief master sergeant, Air Force Special Operations Command. | |||
| #22 The DR5 Model | 10 May 2021 | 01:22:38 | |
The DR5 model In this episode, Dr. Zab Johnson, Dr. Al’ai Alvarez, and Dr Preston Cline will break down the DR5 model using a Trauma Resuscitation scenario. The DR5 represents the latest version of the original MCTI Learning Diagnostic Tool (The LERP and then the DR4) that was developed through a collaborative inquiry process between the Mission Critical Team Institute, Naval Special Warfare, and the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative (UPENN), to improve the training for hostage rescue teams. This version was specifically developed for use in medical resuscitation. As always, it is designed as a tool to help Instructor Cadre improve performance within immersion events and is currently being utilized by teams worldwide. Initially created to move past the all too common “You Suck! Suck Less!” instructor/student interaction by providing instructors a more precise language to overcome the Tacit Knowledge Transfer Problem [1]. This is the problem that experts face when trying to explain or articulate their expertise (e.g., Having the skill to ride a bike versus explaining that skill to another). Using research from Psychology, Education, and Neuroscience, the DR5 model breaks down the immersion event into 5 distinct areas of Detection, Recognition, Reaction, Response, Reset, and Reflection. While neurologically, these stages do not behave sequentially [2], the model provides Instructor Cadres a mechanism for specificity [3] to diagnose better and mediate learning within and after immersion events. Guests: Dr. Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson Executive Director, Wharton Neuroscience Initiative Senior Fellow, Wharton Neuroscience Initiative Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson is the executive director and senior fellow of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative. Her research focuses on vision and visual behavior. Her work spans physiological approaches in the retina and early visual cortex to using eye tracking to investigate how human observers look and navigate through the world, how these processes unfold over time and with experience, and the role of social cognition and decision making in these processes. She is an expert on color vision. She received her PhD in Neural Science at New York University.
Al'ai Alvarez, MD, FACEP, FAAEM (@alvarezzzy) Assistant Residency Program Director, Emergency Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor - Co-Chair, WellMD Physician Wellness Forum Stanford University School of Medicine Al'ai is a clinical assistant professor of Emergency Medicine (EM) and an associate residency program director (APD) at the Stanford Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He is the APD for Residency Process Improvement (Quality and Clinical Operations), Recruitment (Diversity), and Well-being (Inclusion). Dr. Alvarez focuses on the intersectionality and interdependence of wellbeing with performance improvement on patient experience, quality and patient safety, diversity, equity and inclusion, and medical education. Additional Articles | |||
| #21 The Story of Wildland Fire and 9/11 | 26 Apr 2021 | 01:21:27 | |
Preston converses with ret. Chief Bob Maynes of FDNY and Chief Dan Oltrogge of Wildland Fire on the Southwest Incident Management Team at 9/11. | |||
| #20 The Power of Narrative Medicine | 12 Apr 2021 | 00:57:33 | |
Clare Murphy talks with Dr. Martin and Nurse Griffiths about the world of medicine, how the medical community operates under pressure, how the training shapes the doctor, life on deployment, strategies for coping in crisis, and the power of narrative medicine. As well as how the telling of doctors stories supports doctors to stay in the profession. Reading List: Atul Gawande, Being Mortal Henry Marsh, Do No Harm Christie Watson, The Language of Kindness Rita Charon, Narrative Medicine Kathryn Montgomery Hunter, Doctors Stories, Arthur W Frank, At the Will of the Body Related Articles Preventing a Parallel Pandemic Medical Students Learn to Tell Stories about Their Patients and Themselves | |||
| #19 NASA Chief Flight Director Holly Ridings talks with Dr. Preston Cline | 29 Mar 2021 | 01:06:32 | |
NASA Chief Flight Director Holly Ridings' talk with Dr. Preston Cline Holly Ridings was selected by NASA in 2018 as the first female chief flight director. Holly hails from Amarillo, Texas, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. She joined NASA in 1998 as a flight controller in the thermal operations group. She was first selected as a flight director in 2005. Since then, she has served as the lead flight director for several missions including International Space Station mission Expedition 16 in 2007-2008. | |||
| #18 Harry speaks with Dr Deane-Peter Baker | 15 Mar 2021 | 01:42:38 | |
Please enjoy Harry's conversation with Dr Deane-Peter Baker, Associate Professor and Co-Convener (w Prof David Kilcullen) of the Future Operations Research Group in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales, Canberra (Australian Defence Force Academy). They have a broad ranging discussion on the morality and ethics related to being in MCTs, including new insights into the ground of moral injury and moral literacy. Below are some of the resources mentioned in the episode.
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| #17 NASA Astronauts Chris Cassidy and Drew Morgan | 15 Feb 2021 | 01:11:00 | |
Please enjoy Preston and Coleman's conversation with NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Drew Morgan. | |||
| #16 Harry Moffitt speaks with Peter Ward | 02 Feb 2021 | 01:05:37 | |
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| #15 Harry hosts Danny Cooper: PhD, SOF vet, ultra marathoner, and stay-at-home dad | 04 Jan 2021 | 01:11:04 | |
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| #14 Harry Moffitt, Director of MCTI_Australia & New Zealand Takes the Mic | 02 Nov 2020 | 01:08:45 | |
Enjoy my conversation with legend and teammate, Harry Moffitt, our MCTI Director, Australia & New Zealand, Psychologist, and Veteran of the Australian Army's most elite unit. Thanks, Harry!
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| S4 Ep2 The Power of Staff Rides: South Canyon Fire Eric Hipke and Jim Cook | 25 Jul 2023 | 01:29:00 | |
Preston converses with Eric Hipke and Jim Cook on the power of staff rides in the South Canyon Fire. Documentary 1994 South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain Highly recommended report to anyone interested in the fire behavior and firefighter movement on the fire. Fire Behavior Associated with the South Canyon Fire (1998)
https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs/rmrs_rp009.pdf
Staff Ride Library: https://www.nwcg.gov/wfldp/toolbox/staff-ride/library
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| #13 Mission BBQ CoFounders & Teammates, Bill Kraus and "Newt" | 23 Oct 2020 | 00:56:56 | |
Pleas enjoy my conversation with my buddies, patriots, teammates, and great humans, Bill Kraus and Steve "Newt" Newton! | |||
| #12 Solo Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker and Combat Veteran, Trey Free on: "Making decisions and suppressing demons." | 06 Oct 2020 | 01:13:32 | |
This is my conversation with combat veteran and Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker, Trey Free. Among many other things, Trey reminds us in this conversation that "Quitting is a mindset, not a decision!" *A reminder that anything Trey says here are his thoughts, and his thoughts alone. He is not representing his former or current organization.* Trey is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, then Air Force special operations Combat Controller, a guy I consider an expert in selection, assessment, and training. Trey's a huge part of the MCTI community. He's a dad, a husband, an Appalachian Trail through-hiker, and great American. In this conversation, we discuss selecting and training chess players rather than those who play checkers. - building the race car we need today, rather than fighting the last fight - when Trey realized he needed to change his thinking around professional development, and how to select and train Tier 1 operators effectively - we discuss how challenging it is when as instructors and trainers we try to push/progress training when the only experience we have (the only experience anyone has) is our own. - we talk about moving away from selecting only on tactics and skills, but selecting and training to "Characteristics" such as: - Problem Solving - Interpersonal Effectiveness - Communication - Drive - Stress Tolerance (cognitive overload) We also discuss why training is for certainty and education is for uncertainty - we discuss mental toughness and Trey tells us his 15 categories of what he believes you can control, and need to keep front-sight-focused upon - we talk about peak performance and getting over perceived failures - as it pertains to quitting hard things, Trey talks about "quitting" as a mindset, not a decision. - we talk about residue and transition from the military You can find Trey on YouTube at EarlyRiser71, and see his book release promo at It's Time to Choose. | |||
| #11 After Action Reviews w/ Coleman Ruiz and Dr. Preston Cline | 10 Sep 2020 | 01:09:54 | |
| #10 Cleveland Brown's Director of High Performance, Shaun Huls | 24 Aug 2020 | 01:16:38 | |
Today, I speak with Shaun Huls, Director of High Performance at NFL Football team, the Cleveland Browns. Shaun has worked for 30 years in college sport, military special operations, and professional football in America. In the conversation, we discuss: - sports science and human performance, - we talk about the myths of physical and mental performance, - skill acquisition and skill transition, - staying a white belt everyday, - the origin of one of the NCAA's first strength and conditioning programs in the country, - taking care of the primary "human weapon system," as Shaun describes it to me, - on how you don't have to "get ready" if you "stay ready" - willing oneself to be a great player off of one thing: a routine - removing the word "potential" from your name - growing beyond your mentor - how your primary responsibility on any high performing team is acquiring skills and knowledge, and executing that skill: slow, then at speed, then at speed when fatigued, then at speed when fatigued, and under pressure, and doing so consistently. Please enjoy my conversation with the Cleveland Browns' Director of High Performance, my friend, Shaun Huls. | |||
| #9 Coach Justin Langer on "walking excellence" and living "the reality" (not just "the dream") | 16 Jul 2020 | 01:23:32 | |
This is my conversation with Justin Langer, head coach of the Australian Men's National Cricket team, the #1 ranked cricket team in the world, in a sport that is the #2 most watched sport in the world. From my view, this was a master-class in building and maintaining elite team culture. Justin takes me to school on what it takes to stay grounded while leading one of the most elite athletic teams in the world. Yet, the team's world #1 ranking pales in comparison to Justin's energy and love for cricket that started when he was a child. Finally, straight from J.L.'s epic quote room in Perth, Australia, he reminds me of a few quips that he keeps top of mind everyday:
Watch the documentary here: The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team | |||
| #8 Communicating Through Story w/ Clare Murphy | 30 Jun 2020 | 01:35:33 | |
From main-stage theaters to medieval round-towers Clare has been a professional storyteller for 14 years now. She has performed in more than 20 countries, telling stories for all kinds of audiences. Her performances include shows such as “The King of Lies,” political folkloric shows set, and playful pieces which explore where quantum physics, philosophy and mythology meet. From storytelling for the President of Ireland to performing at the Writers room of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Clare also performs at festivals, art centers, universities, public and private events, and she teaches for us at the MCTI. But what Clare actually teaches is basic COMMUNICATION skills!!! Our careers have an arc, our training events have an arc, our more acute missions have an arc, briefings have an arc, the books, and the films we love are based on a well structured story arc, and all of our communications are in pursuit of as much common understanding as possible, or else are we really a high-performing team? We, of course, talk about Clare's background, but we also discuss:
Clare Murphy, Irish-born Storyteller Stay in touch via our Newsletter here. | |||
| #7 Emotional Athletics, Culture, and "Teaming" as a Sport w/ Daniel Coyle | 16 Jun 2020 | 01:28:56 | |
Today, I speak with author Dan Coyle. We discuss LOTS of stuff like emotional athletes, the marshmallow experiment, treating "teaming" like a sport, his book The Culture Code, and the central question of the book, which is "Why do some teams add up to be greater than the sum of their parts while others add up to be less?" Dan reveals what he saw while researching eight teams, teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Pixar, and the Union Square Cafe, by going on site and not looking for traits or descriptors but literally watching what he saw physically, what did people actually do when they were doing whatever it is they do. | |||
| #6 Ten (10) Principles of Navigating Uncertainty w/ Dr. Preston Cline | 02 Jun 2020 | 01:06:08 | |
My conversation today is again with Dr. Preston Cline. We discuss the difference between "safety" and "security," and why it matters. We talk about judgment and decision making, risk-to-force versus risk-to-mission and what it costs you to balance both. We discuss team fluidity, team cohesion, and "user guides." Enjoy the conversation. The Ten (10) Principles of Navigating Uncertainty And stay tuned for my interview next week with author of The Culture Code: the Secrets of Highly Successful Groups, Daniel Coyle. As always, contact us at info@missioncti.com | |||
| #5 Touching the Dragon w/ Jimmy Hatch | 20 May 2020 | 02:12:17 | |
My conversation with Jimmy Hatch, combat veteran, founder of SpikesK9Fund, author of Touching the Dragon, and one of the most insightful, humble, and honest conversations you'll EVER hear on the broad range of human experience. | |||
| #4 Residue & the Hard Path w/ Dr. Preston Cline | 07 May 2020 | 01:04:55 | |
| S4 Ep 1 Commander Reid Wiseman: Transitioning from Training to Action | 24 May 2023 | 01:04:50 | |
Commander Reid Wiseman is an American astronaut, engineer, and naval aviator. He served as Chief of the Astronaut Office until November 14, 2022. He was a member of the crew of Expedition 40/41, which launched to the International Space Station on May 28, 2014, and returned on November 10, 2014. Before joining NASA, Wiseman was a naval aviator and test pilot. Wiseman was the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office from June 2017, working under Chief Astronaut Patrick Forrester. On December 18, 2020, he was promoted to Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA. Reid has been selected as commander of the crew for the Artemis 2 flight, which is planned to make a flyby of the Moon in 2024. He is the first commander of a lunar mission since Gene Cernan on Apollo 17 in 1972 | |||
| #3 The Physiology of Long Duration Effort w/ Dr. Andrew Huberman | 24 Apr 2020 | 02:08:31 | |
This is a conversation with Dr. Andrew Huberman, Assoc. Professor of Neurobiology at Stanford University and Director of the Huberman Lab, and a discussion I’ve been wanting to have for a long time! We discuss the physiology of long duration efforts in rapidly emergent complex environments. Don’t miss this one!!! What it is ACTUALLY like on deployment, Coleman Ruiz And the survey link here for collaborative input Thank you.
Email us at info@missioncti.com Thanks for listening!!! You can download the Associated Research Article PDF by clicking here. | |||
| #2 Swarms, X-Teams, and Routine vs. Critical Communications | 13 Apr 2020 | 00:49:07 | |
| #1 The Mission Critical Team Institute w/ Dr. Preston Cline | 04 Apr 2020 | 01:15:33 | |
Show notes upon request at info@missioncti.com | |||
| S3 Ep 8 Dr. Anna Simons: The Anthropology of Mission Critical Teams | 08 May 2023 | 01:20:57 | |
Dr. Anna Simons: The Anthropology of Mission Critical Teams Dr. Anna Simons recently retired as a Professor of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from Harvard University and an A.B. from Harvard College. She is the author of Networks of Dissolution: Somalia Undone and The Company They Keep: Life Inside the U.S. Army Special Forces. Most recently she is the co-author of The Sovereignty Solution: A Commonsense Approach to Global Security. Simons' focus has been on conflict, intervention, and the military from an anthropological perspective. Her work examines ties that bind members of groups together as well as divides which drive groups apart. | |||
| S3 Ep7 Eldership with Chief Chuck Downey | 14 Mar 2023 | 01:25:02 | |
Eldership with Chief Chuck Downey Chief Chuck Downey joined the FDNY in 1990 and is entering his 33rd year with the department. He is currently serving as the Chief of the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island, otherwise known as “The Rock,” Where he oversees all selection and training for the over 17,000 members of the FDNY. His brother Joe Downey is a 37-year veteran and the battalion commander of the FDNY Rescue Battalion, and together, they are the sons of legendary FDNY Chief Ray Downey, who had a 39½-year career and was the Chief in Charge of Special Operations Command when he made the Supreme Sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September 11. We talk about the role that the community must play, especially the elders in the community, to develop people to do hard things. | |||
| S3 Ep6 NASA Astronaut Selection with Duane Ross | 28 Feb 2023 | 01:08:53 | |
NASA Astronaut Selection with Duane Ross Mr. Duane Ross has been a key member of the Astronaut Selection Program at NASA since 1978. Duane Ross, has also been involved with or managed the Astronaut Candidate Program at NASA since 1978. He has worked at the Johnson Space Center, in Houston Texas, since 1967, and sat in Mission Control during the moon landing. He spent five decades as the Manager of the Astronaut Selection Program, which means that he has helped select almost every American astronaut in history. In partnership with Dr. Colonel, astronaut Drew Morgan we talk with Duane about some of the changes he has seen over the last 5 decades of Astronaut Selection and where he thinks we might be moving in the future.
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| S3 Ep5 Communities of Practice with Dr. Sharon Ravitch | 31 Jan 2023 | 01:07:52 | |
Dr. Sharon M. Ravitch is a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Fulbright Fellow, 2022–2023. In an internationally recognized researcher and educator joins us to talk about Communities of Practice, Reflection, Use of Emotion as an Instructor, Creation of New Knowledge through collaboration, effective use of risk in training and education. One of the greatest living minds in on the practice of training and education. https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/faculty-directory/ravitch | |||
| S3 Ep4 Freedom and Tribe with Sebastian Junger | 10 Jan 2023 | 00:57:47 | |
In this episode, Dr. Preston Cline and Sebastian Junger talk about what it is to transition between the critical and routine world. They discuss ideas of Freedom and the obligation and benefits of being part of a tribe. Sebastian Junger is an American journalist, author, and filmmaker, he is the author of multiple books including The Perfect Storm, Tribe, and Freedom. He has also produced and directed the documentary, Restrepo | |||
| S4 Ep6 The Ethics of Special Ops: Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels | 07 Oct 2024 | 01:16:38 | |
Join Harry Moffitt as he talks with Dr’s Deane-Peter Baker, Roger Herbert, and David Whetham about their new book The Ethics of Special Ops: Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels. At the end of the Afghan campaign a number of Special Operations units were subject to investigations of alleged war crimes. In response, these three distinguished scholars have written a compelling book, looking at how we might learn the lessons of this time. In this broad ranging discussion, Harry, Deane, Roger, and David cover many related topics, including the ethics of war fighting and why it matters, how to prepare soldiers for the moral challenges of the battlefield, and some of the techniques they use in training and development, including The King’s College London Centre for Military Ethics Playing Cards, found at http://www.militaryethics.uk/en/playing-cards .
The Ethics of Special Ops: Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels (Cambridge University Press 2023).
Dr Deane-Peter Baker is an Associate Professor of Ethics in the School of Humanities and Social Science at UNSW Canberra, and Director of the Military Ethics Research Lab and Innovation Network (MERLIN). He is also a Senior Visiting Research Fellow in the Kings College London Centre for Military Ethics. Dr. Herbert is the Robert T. Herres Distinguished Military Professor of Ethics at the U.S. Naval Academy. Previously, he served for 26 years as a Naval Special Warfare officer, including commanding SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2, Naval Special Warfare Unit 3, and the Naval Special Warfare Center. Dr David Whetham is Professor of Ethics and the Military Profession at the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London, based at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at the UK Defence Academy where he coordinates or delivers the military ethics component of courses for between two and three thousand British and international officers a year. | |||
| S5 Ep1 Women in Special Operations Teams | 11 Feb 2025 | 01:05:36 | |
Have you heard of the White Mouse? Given the codename by the Gestpao in WW2, for her ability to evade capture and wreak havoc behind enemy lines, Nancy Wake was a larger-than-life character, and highly decorated Special Operations Operator. At one time, she topped the Nazi’s most wanted list. She was one of dozens of women who served in the Special Operations Executive during WW2, with distinction.
Why were we so open about women in Special Operations nearly 100 years ago, but now we are so closed minded, at least it would seem?
To answer this question, Harry Moffitt is joined by Frank Steder, the Principle Scientist at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and one of the researchers who was originally involved in Norwegian Jergertroppen, or Hunter Troop: an all-female special operations unit.
Frank himself served with the Norwegian Armed Forces and since that time has been enlisted back to work in its science and technology branch and as a visiting scientist to the Norwegian Naval Postgraduate School.
Today we talk about women in the special forces, conscription, and big institutional change. | |||
| S5 Ep2 Leading the Legacy: Chief John Esposito on the Evolution of FDNY | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:49:23 | |
In this exciting episode, we sit down with Chief John Esposito, the Chief of Department for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). With a remarkable career that began in 1991, Chief Esposito shares his unique insights into leading a storied organization that has been serving New Yorkers for over 160 years. Join us as we explore the challenges and triumphs of managing an organization with 17,000 employees and a budget exceeding $2 billion, all while navigating the lasting impact of 9/11 two decades later. Chief Esposito delves into the evolution of the FDNY, discussing how the role and character of the FDNY probie have changed—and yet, in many ways, remain steadfast. Tune in for a compelling conversation that highlights the resilience, dedication, and pride of those who serve in an iconic fire department. | |||
| S5 Ep3 Eric Karp: From NSW to Axiom Space and the Evolution of DR5 | 05 May 2025 | 01:15:47 | |
In this episode, we sit down with Eric Karp, former Naval Special Warfare operator and a pivotal contributor to the evolution of MCTI Research. Eric played a central role in the development and refinement of the DR5 model, a framework for thriving under pressure and uncertainty. Now with Axiom Space, Eric shares his insights on cultivating human potential and preparing individuals to navigate complexity and change. | |||
| S5 Ep4 Rehumanizing Human Performance with Gloria Park | 19 May 2025 | 00:54:15 | |
In this week's episode, MCTI's Chief Medical Officer, Dan Dworkis, interviews Gloria Park. Gloria is a specialist in sports performance and positive psychology. She shares her unique path from competitive figure skating to optimizing human performance, highlighting the critical roles of emotions, stress management, and social dynamics. She also explores the specific challenges and approaches for improving performance in demanding environments, such as the military. Listen in for practical advice on merging well-being with achievement for a more fulfilling life, both at work and beyond. | |||
| S5 Ep5 Dr. Angus Fletcher and the Extraordinary World | 02 Jun 2025 | 01:10:46 | |
In this episode of The Teamcast, Dr. Angus Fletcher joins Preston Cline to discuss the crucial role of "productive discomfort" and honesty in personal and professional growth. They explore how embracing emotional challenges, rather than shielding individuals from them, is vital for true learning and resilience. Angus describes his concept of "story thinking," emphasizing the brain's natural inclination to process experiences through narrative and emotion. The conversation touches on the shortcomings of modern education in fostering emotional robustness and concludes with practical advice for leaders on cultivating independent thinking by recognizing and congratulating actions that differ from their own. Dr. Angus Fletcher is a professor and practitioner of Story Science at Project Narrative at The Ohio State University. He holds degrees in neuroscience and literature. His research, which employs a mix of laboratory experiments, literary history, and rhetorical theory, explores how literature, art, and stories can cultivate emotional resilience, creativity, and common sense. He is the author of Wonderworks (2021), Storythinking (2023), and Primal Intelligence (2025), among other books. His work explores why children are more creative than computer AI and aims to understand how narrative can be leveraged to enhance innovation, resilience, and joy. His academic publications can be found in journals like Narrative, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, and Harvard Business Review. Check out Angus's work here: https://www.angusfletcher.co/ | |||
| S5 Ep6 Strength, Conditioning, and The Philosophy Booth with Will Greenberg | 16 Jun 2025 | 01:08:30 | |
This Teamcast episode is brought to you by Harry Moffitt, MCTI Director for Australia and New Zealand. During the last NFL season, Harry had the opportunity to speak with Will Greenberg, the Buffalo Bills' Head of Performance and Strength and Conditioning (S&C). Will is a wonderful human being and a great friend of the MCTI community. He describes his journey through baseball, his passion for S&C, and the positions he held prior to the Bills, from West Point to Utah State. Will has a human-centered approach to human performance. This refreshing perspective is emerging across the field and counters the approach that can overweight outcomes and treat humans as resources to be deployed for wins, profit, and utilization. Listen to Harry & Will discuss programming now and how it might be decentralized, more multidisciplinary, and less wedded to the scientists in the future. They also cover how science and scientists, though critical to the operator, should always aid a good program, never control it, and the importance of ‘struggle’ in the gym, and the concept of flow, although not as something we must conjure up, but rather as something we are always in and must fight to return to consistently. They explore the role (and reemergence) of philosophical conditioning in humans and its implications for performance as Will shares a fantastic story of "The Philosophy Booth". In a tough industry – to insiders, NFL stands for Not For Long – Will provides a uniquely relaxed perspective, with many implications for MCTs. | |||