U.S. Army Ranger, Byron Beplay, shares his raw journey from childhood dyslexia and intense military service through commercial diving, homelessness, and a near-fatal suicide attempt.

He explains how perseverance, therapy, and a service dog helped him rebuild his life, leading to founding BTS K9 and growing a successful canine training business.

The episode also covers his appearance on MrBeast, lessons learned about ownership and resilience, and his mission to help others by sharing hard-earned truths.

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Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
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Mentors4mil Links:
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Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil 

Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission.
Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

EP-394 | Byron Beplay: One Man’s Fight Back from Rock Bottom

"Op een bepaald punt leert het leven wat je te leren hebt"

Hoe ga je om met tegenslagen, druk en verandering en wat kunnen we leren van mensen die jarenlang onder extreme omstandigheden moesten presteren? In deze aflevering van Doing Good gaat Marc van Hal in gesprek met iemand die precies weet hoe je mentaal weerbaar blijft en je leiderschap versterkt.

Sander Aarts diende zestien jaar bij de special forces van het Korps Mariniers en vervulde daar meerdere leidinggevende functies in de meest uitdagende situaties. Na zijn eervol ontslag in 2017 richtte hij de Unbreakable Academy op, waar hij trainingen geeft in mentale kracht, persoonlijke ontwikkeling en leiderschap. Ook kennen velen hem als instructeur uit de Videoland-serie Special Forces VIPS.

In de studio vertelde Sander hoe je ook buiten het leger een ‘special forces’-mentaliteit kunt ontwikkelen. Hoe zorg je ervoor dat je je eigen grenzen verlegt zonder jezelf te verliezen? Hoe ontwikkel je veerkracht in tijden van druk en verandering én wat maakt iemand een goede leider?

Doing Good

Marc van Hal presenteert elke laatste maandag van de maand tussen 16:00 en 17:00 uur het programma 'Doing Good'.

Goed voor jezelf, goed voor een ander. Over klein en groot geluk. Hoe haal je het beste uit jezelf en wat kun je voor een ander betekenen? Met dit programma word je uitgedaagd met inspirerende gasten en voorbeelden.

'Doing Good' is iedere laatste maandag van de maand tussen 16:00 en 17:00 te beluisteren op GoodLIFE Radio en naderhand terug te luisteren als podcast via je favoriete podcastplatform.

Doing Good #52 - Sander Aarts

Kevin Key is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who served with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment before going through special forces selection and assessment (SFAS) and becoming a Special Forces Officer (18A) with 7th Special Forces Group. He started his military career in the Army National Guard while attending college under the simultaneous membership program (SMP). He served at Special Operations Command - South (SOCSOUTH) and has commanded a unit within the 82nd Airborne Division. 

At one point in this episode, Kevin recounts Operation Willing Spirit (Colombia version is Operation Jacque) — the effort to locate and verify hostages taken after a 2003 FARC plane was shotdown in Colombia, and how U.S. and Colombian forces used covert tactics (including a fake humanitarian operation) to free captives years later.

The episode also traces Key’s path post‑military shift into real estate, restaurant/event property ownership (Cosmic Tiki), cattle ranching and writing about carnivore nutrition in his book.

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Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
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Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission.
Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

EP-395 | Kevin Key: Operation Willing Spirit — The Hunt for FARC Hostages

In this episode we dive back in time to an older episode with Mike, Kat, and Robert where they explore the difference between structure and routines and how small changes—like waking up earlier or blocking personal time—can reclaim hours in your day.

Guests discuss task management versus time management, goal setting, journaling, and flexible routines that support productivity, mental health, and reintegration after military service.

Practical tips include keeping a single synced schedule, scheduling thinking time, planning for interruptions, and trying a one-week routine change to see measurable benefits.

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Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
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Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission.
Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

EP-396 | Win Your Day: Simple Routines to Reclaim Time

Part One of a 3-Part Series for 2025 as we approach the anniversary of Operation Gothic Serpent - "Black Hawk Down"

In this episode, Tara Harris, daughter of First Sergeant Glenn Harris, talks about her father and all of the men who served with him as part of Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu, that became known as The Battle of Black Hawk Down based on the movie.

Today, Tara gathers photos, interviews, and archives to preserve the stories of her father, but also of all of B Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion before and after Operation Gothic Serpent, Somalia — including the Somalia deployment, the training and daily lives of Rangers of that period, and life then and now at the B Company 3/75 day room. She digitizes records and connects veterans and families so the Rangers’ experiences and legacies from Task Force Ranger are remembered and shared.

If you or someone you know has 75th Ranger Regiment photos, especially those from Mogadishu, email Tara at tharris75thrgrhistory@gmail.com 


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#taskforceranger #operationgothicserpent #armyrangers #mentors4mil 
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Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission.
Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

EP-397 | Daughter of Black Hawk Down Ranger First Sergeant: Preserving 1SG Glenn Harris’s Legacy

“BROTHERHOOD UNKNOWN” is a trap-rap military anthem that fuses pounding 808s with real Special Forces cadence. Dark C-minor brass stabs meet helicopter-chop FX as baritone vocals ignite a workout-ready war cry. Inspired by U.S. Special Forces—the silent warriors who train in shadows—this 3:30 track channels grit, unity, and unstoppable drive. Perfect for gym playlists, game-day hype, or cinematic sports reels, it delivers anthemic energy that resonates with fans of Meek Mill, Travis Scott, and military-style chant rap.

BROTHERHOOD UNKNOWN

Gerry Izzo recounts his journey from a Long Island upbringing to becoming a 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) Night Stalker pilot, describing training, combat missions in Grenada and Panama, and the harrowing Operation Gothic Serpent and Task Force Ranger, the Black Hawk Down operation in Mogadishu that is known for the movie by the same name.

Listen as Gerry describes the battle in Mogadishu from his perspective as never heard before. 

The episode explores leadership, fear, survivor guilt, and the bonds forged in combat, offering firsthand lessons on courage, professionalism, and resilience.

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Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
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Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission.
Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

EP-398 | Gerry Izzo, Night Stalkers: Inside Black Hawk Down - A Pilots Perspective (Super 65)

A Ranger recounts the sudden shift from training to chaos after the “boom” — helicopters struck, smoke and gunfire, and a race through Mogadishu to extract teammates. They focused on the Ranger Creed.

The episode traces Colonel Larry Perino's (then Lieutenant) path from West Point and Ranger training to Task Force Ranger in Somalia, describing fast‑rope assaults, ambushes, downed aircraft, and the desperate vehicle and foot exfil under heavy fire.

He reflects on the losses, survivor’s guilt, the duty to remember fallen comrades, and how the experience shaped leadership and care for soldiers afterward.

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Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
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#taskforceranger #160thsoar #operationgothicserpent #armyrangers #mentors4mil 
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Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission.
Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

EP-399 | Larry Perino, Never Leave a Fallen Comrade: A Ranger’s Account of Mogadishu

Episode 400 celebrates the podcast’s origin and impact: founders and early guests recount how honest, living-room conversations grew into a show focused on transition, purpose, PTSD, and real solutions. The episode revisits pivotal stories, treatments like stellate ganglion blocks, and the raw, organic approach that built an engaged community. Hosts invite listener topics and preview upcoming episodes while thanking supporters for helping the show reach this milestone.

A huge thank you to everyone who has listened and who follows us.

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Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
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Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission.
Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

EP-400: Reflecting on Our Roots and the Impact - Celebrating Our Journey and Community

In this episode, Zahraa shares her harrowing journey growing up in a strict village in Iraq, her decision to flee at 19, and a violent attack that led to an unexpected rescue by American soldiers at Baghdad International Airport.

She explains how faith and chance carried her through, her arrival in the United States, learning English, pursuing engineering studies, and ultimately joining the U.S. Army where she rose through the ranks as an enlisted cavalry scout and now as an officer in flight school who found purpose serving others.

Zahraa reflects on gratitude, the people who helped her, the losses that motivate her, and her commitment to inspire and protect other women and girls facing similar dangers. She is a proud American and also shares how fortunate Americans are to live in this country.

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Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783
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#taskforceranger #160thsoar #operationgothicserpent #armyrangers #mentors4mil 
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Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission.
Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

EP-401 | Zahraa’s Escape from Iraq to Freedom and the U.S. Army

Imagine a bunch of veterans sitting around a living room with their favorite adult beverage and someone brings up a topic that takes the conversation down a rabbit hole. That's our show. Grab a chair and your favorite beverage and join in on an awesome topic. Our hosts are military veterans and our guests are real people with a message to share. Real Talk. Real People. (aka Mentors4Mil)

All of my latest music is on..
https://unitedmasters.com/a/mbaileyz

Immersive soundscapes that blend trap, hip-hop, electronic, and experimental genres. Fuses cultural commentary with unforgettable rhythm.

mBaileyz

New tracks tagged #Special Forces