Dan Cooper is no stranger to challenge. From years in the Australian Special Forces to pushing physical and psychological limits in the name of research, Dan has built a life around discomfort—and learning from it.
In this episode, we dig into the mindset behind high performance, mental toughness, and why most people fear the very things that lead to growth. Dan also shares the hard lessons he’s learned around identity, transition, and finding purpose outside the uniform.
We cover:
What Special Forces selection really reveals about people
The role of discipline, detachment, and self-reflection
Why resilience isn’t built in comfort
Lessons from his research into elite performance and self-regulation
This one’s for anyone interested in the space between discomfort and discovery—and how to keep moving when the work gets hard.
You can find more about Dan here:
https://www.instagram.com/dancooper_phd/
Music thanks to:
These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD
Thanks to our sponsor:
SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap
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