Shows
Objective Arete#11. Atomic Athlete - Faster, Stronger, Harder to Kill with Jake SaenzAtomic Athlete dives into high‐performance fitness, mental toughness, and the wilderness mindset. In this episode, former Ranger‑inspired trainer Jake Saenz (founder of Austin’s Atomic Athlete gyms) reveals where true toughness originates, how quitting ranges on a spectrum—not just all or nothing—and how bow hunting elk rewires resilience and gratitude. You’ll uncover the 3 H’s framework (Hug, Hear, Help) for stronger relationships, smarter training routines, and why mindset matters more than muscle. Perfect for athletes, veterans, and anyone pursuing purposeful strength and longevity. Tune in to sharpen body, mind, and character—no fluff, all force.Atomi...
2025-07-2135 minObjective Arete#10. No MBA, No Ego, No Excuses - The Leadership of Terry PetersObjective Arete Podcast | Episode Title: No MBA, No Ego, No Excuses – The Leadership Legacy of Terry PetersTerry Peters is more than a retired Green Beret—he’s the embodiment of authentic leadership. As a legendary Senior Enlisted Leader in the U.S. Army Special Forces, Terry wasn’t a man who just spoke about values—he lived them. He led from the front, always placing character before comfort and people before personal gain.After an elite military career, Terry traded camouflage for strategy, founding Leader Solutions and Decision Support (LSDS)—a company that’s quietly domina...
2025-05-061h 18Objective Arete#9. You Can't See Whats Under Your Bed Lurking - Overcoming Yourself (Rob Richards)A powerful and deeply personal episode. Special Forces Command Sergeant Major Rob Richards opens up about a hidden battle he didn’t even know he was fighting—emotional numbness after a decade of high-stakes deployments. He and Chuck dive into what self-efficacy means, how experiential learning shapes elite operators, and why ignoring what’s “under your bed” can quietly erode your joy, leadership, and life.Rob shares how therapy, medication, and innovative treatments like the stellate ganglion block helped him reconnect with his emotions, his family, and his purpose. They also tackle leadership across generations, the evolving demands of...
2025-04-221h 00Objective Arete#8. (Ceci Craft) Finding Equilibrium - Thoughts on Mental Performance and LifeWant to level up—like, truly level up?Most people hit the gym but ignore the one muscle that drives everything: the mind. Mental performance isn’t just for elite athletes—it’s the foundation for showing up strong in every part of life. But what is mental performance, really?In this episode, we dive deep with Ceci Craft, Director of Mental Performance, Life Skills, and Education for the Philadelphia Phillies, and founder of Edge Mentality. Ceci breaks down what it means to train your brain, how to build real resilience, and why sharpening your mental edge can...
2025-04-0838 minObjective Arete#7. Dominate Your Fitness: Master Your Body, Master Your Life | Bonus Episode – Objective AreteDominate your fitness levels. Work around injuries, train for longevity, and accomplish your goals in life. Mike Leraio sits down with Chuck Ritter and Greg Walker in the famous Falcon Snail Pub to discuss how to program your fitness programs intelligently and with purpose. We talk about important references everyone should have on their bookshelves and how to train past severe injuries. Our first bonus episode and episode with video! Check it out on YouTube here.Books From Episode:Power Speed EnduranceSupple Leopard Training for the New Alpinism...
2025-04-0140 minObjective Arete#6. (Ayman Kafel) The Resolute Path - Overcome Your Inner Demons and Reclaim ControlEpisode #6: Combat Veteran Ayman Kafel on Mental Health, Stoicism, and Breaking the Stigma for Veterans and First RespondersIn this powerhouse of an episode, Mike (Who has fabulous hair) sits down with Ayman Kafel (Who has an intimidating shaved head)—a U.S. combat veteran, seasoned law enforcement officer, and editor-in-chief of Objective Arete—to discuss the mental health crisis facing veterans and first responders. A respected writer for the Havoc Journal and co-founder of Project Sapient, Ayman shares powerful insights into PTSD, suicidal ideation, and the internal battles many in uniform face long after the mission ends...
2025-03-2533 minObjective Arete#5. Be Brilliant, Be Brief - Be a Master CommunicatorUnlock the power of clear and concise communication. Learn how to communicate effectively, minimize noise and distractions, and engage in "Deep Work." In this discussion, Mike Lerario speaks with Joe McCormack, the author of the books "Brief," "Noise," and "Quiet Work." Joe also leads the Brief Lab in Southern Pines, NC, where he teaches U.S. Special Operations forces how to become the most effective communicators bin the world.Check out the Brief Lab Here.Check out Joe's books Here."Make a bigger impact by saying less."Please support our show...
2025-03-1135 minObjective Arete#4. Live With Purpose - Chuck RitterUse failure as a stepping stone to achieve greatness. Understand that failure and defeat are not synonymous. Embrace challenges, be open to failure, and distinguish between acceptable risks and mere attempts to avoid risk. Winning often requires taking informed risks.Chuck Ritter, Deputy Director/COO of Objective Arete and a retiring Special Forces Sergeant Major, emphasizes the importance of using failure as a path to becoming legendary. He discusses the necessity of making the best possible decisions, even when they are not ideal, and highlights that success involves identifying acceptable risks.Guest Bio...
2025-02-2540 minObjective Arete#3. I Never Lose, I Win or I Learn - Greg Walker"I never lose, I win or I learn" - Nelson MandelaFrom being a Special Forces Officer to starting a successful brewing company to being the CEO of Objective Arete, Greg has learned many of life's lessons through failure. When one views failure as a mechanism to become legendary, they can become legendary. Greg Walker is the CEO of Objective Arete, the owner of Hatchet Brewing Company, a former Special Forces Officer and a Graduate of West Point. He hold a degree in Engineering and an MBA.Full Guest Bio:Greg Walker is t...
2025-02-1143 minObjective Arete#2. Be the Fulcrum - Balance Your LifeThe key to a successful, fulfilled life is finding balance in all things. This requires you to know yourself, and constantly adjust to the situation. Mike takes us through his proven model on how to do that. A fulcrum is a balance point. A successful, fulfilled life requires finding balance in almost every aspect. To do that, you must know yourself, others, and the situation and become the fulcrum, moving to provide balance in any situation.Mike Lerario, host of the Objective Arete Podcast, is also a practitioner and teacher of leadership, management, and life b...
2025-01-2843 min
Objective Arete#1. Objective Arete - Embrace Adversity Be more in life. Become legendary. Join on a journey of become more!Mike Lerario, Greg Walker, and Chuck Ritter introduce the concept of Objective Arete. We discuss the idea and the philosophical roots of 'Arete' in classical Western philosophy and how we can use it for modern personal growth. Objective Arete aims to create a community and provide a mindset and toolsets that help individuals in various domains of life, including mental, physical, social, and professional development. The founders share their backgrounds, reflecting on their journeys from military service to forming this self-development platform, emphasizing the i...
2025-01-2834 min
Objective Arete#0. Intro - Why Should You listen to Objective Arete?There are countless podcasts available, but there's one you definitely shouldn't miss! Take just three minutes to learn how the Objective Arete Podcast can improve your chances of fulfillment and success. Join us on our journey to tackle life and become better individuals.In this podcast, Greg Walker and Chuck Ritter briefly explain what the Objective Arete Podcast is all about, why you should tune in, and what you can gain from the experience. It's concise, engaging, and straight to the point.New episodes release every two weeksVisit us at www.objectivearete.com and...
2025-01-2602 min