Podcast Summary: Cleared Hot – Episode 421

Guest: Chadd Wright
Host: Andy Stumpf
Date: December 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, host Andy Stumpf welcomes Chadd Wright—former Navy SEAL, ultra-endurance athlete, founder of the 3 of 7 Project, and committed Christian—for an honest exploration of faith, suffering, growth, and life after military service. With trademark authenticity, humor, and occasional irreverence, Andy and Chadd reflect on the tools of resilience, the challenges of belief, personal transformation, and how grief and adversity shape meaning and character.

Throughout, listeners encounter raw stories from their military experiences, heartfelt admissions of past failings, and deep dives on controversial topics—from faith and politics to social media and masculinity—always grounded in the mutual respect and curiosity that make Cleared Hot a standout.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Resilience, Purpose, and Breaking Down Big Challenges

[04:38–17:26]

• Chadd credits Andy’s approach to breaking large tasks into manageable pieces as transformative—drawing from Navy SEAL training where “just making it to the next meal” sustained candidates in Hell Week.
• Andy notes, “Knowing the path and walking the path are not the same thing, man.” [13:50]
• Discussion about their mutual desire to pass these hard-earned lessons on to others. Chadd describes his 3 of 7 Project’s 24-hour endurance events, designed to teach participants real-time resilience when tasks become overwhelming—even to the point where, as Chadd says, “they just go full animalistic.” [11:09]

2. Teaching, Leadership, and the Human Side of Military Selection

[17:03–25:28]

• Andy reflects on his time as a BUDS instructor and the power of psychological tactics (“weaponizing the overwhelming big picture”) to either break or forge SEAL candidates:
  • “My number one tool as a BUDS instructor to get people to quit would be to get them to think about how far they were from their goals.” [16:50]
• Both men acknowledge the value in failing, owning mistakes, and the importance of deep self-knowledge.
• Chadd describes his pride and insecurity in “winning” pre-BUDS awards, and their limited meaning compared to the broader journey of self-improvement.

3. Transition, Grief, and Growth

[31:44–55:01]

• Both men delve into wrestling with loss: the death of loved ones (Chadd’s mentor and unborn child, Andy’s mother), and how these shaped their sense of self and calling.
• Chadd: “It has made me unafraid to run toward grief. …There's so much growth in the midst of that grief, especially when you have people around you who are grieving with you. And it's changed my life, man.” [48:08]
• Andy, reflecting on missing his mother's final days: “I wasn’t capable of being that person in that moment.” [46:15]
• The theme of running into adversity, not away, recurs as a crucible for empathy and transformation.

4. Faith, Doubt, and Honest Inquiry

[81:33–134:34 (multiple threads throughout)]

• Chadd shares the centrality of his Christian faith: “My love for the Almighty God and for his people... That’s the biggest thing. This thing we call faith has become dang near everything to me." [82:40]
• Andy is candid about identifying as agnostic, yet open and envious of the depth of meaning faith provides to others: “I wish I could say that I felt that way... but it hasn’t landed with me... Maybe it just hasn’t been my time yet.” [86:01]
• Chadd and Andy dig deep into the paradox of morality, the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice, and whether goodness can exist without an objective standard:
  • Chadd: “Where do you have any basis for morality unless there is an objective standard given by a creator?” [103:59]
  • Andy: “I believe that I don’t know. …Net positive just in general, whether people believe or not.” [84:03]
• The exchange is philosophical, open-hearted, and peppered with humor about Bibles, beards, and “hyperlinks” in old scripture.

5. Contemporary Controversies, Politics, and Speaking Truth

[65:52–80:47]

• Chadd discusses his (later declined) opportunity to run for Congress, and the dismaying realities of campaign finance and political compromise (“I could not go and do that without becoming the person I hated…” [67:59]).
• He explains his approach to social media, being “unhinged” and willing to lose followers for honesty:
  • “I get. I start itching when people start to like me too much… then I say something to piss everybody off again.” [71:02]
• Both men critique performative controversies in the veteran podcast and influencer community (“Weaponizing controversy for clicks… man, it’d be hard to sleep at night.” [80:47])

6. Parenthood, Fear, and the Next Generation

[30:09–66:46, 167:38–169:19]

• Chadd opens up about impending fatherhood, the fears and hopes it evokes, and grieving a previous miscarriage.
• Discussion on the challenge of shifting focus from self-driven pursuits to shared responsibility.
• On choosing baby names, Chadd: “I would really like to name our son Jubal.” [167:41]
• Andy jokes about conservative names and the hazard of schoolyard teasing. [168:11]

7. Technology, Social Media, and Modern Life

[155:22–179:36]

• A reflective (and funny) discussion on screen time, productivity, and the addictive nature of modern phones.
• Challenge: Chadd and Andy commit to a “one hour per day” social media challenge for January, encouraging transparency and inviting listeners to join them.
  • “I think it’ll be far easier to walk out of the studio and run 100 miles than go down to one hour a day on my phone.” – Chadd [180:01]

8. Human Nature, History, and the End of the Age

[138:56–140:15]

• Both reflect on historical cycles, the limits of human wisdom, and Chadd’s belief that “humanity is being swept along according to the plan of the Almighty God,” speculating on what the end times might look like according to Revelation.
• The segment is skeptical, playful, and occasionally irreverent (“What do you think that would look like if he were to return? … What does he wear for footwear?” [140:30])

9. Hunting, Reading, and Life Beyond the Teams

[164:38–170:31]

• Chadd describes hunting his first elk, the camaraderie of the outdoors, and daily joys like squirrel hunting.
• Both men extol the value of reading (“I read fiction every day. I read scripture every day. …Opens my mind up to this whole world”). [169:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Resilience:
  “Knowing the path and walking the path are not the same thing, man.” – Andy [13:50]
• On Grief:
  “There's so much growth in the midst of that grief, especially when you have people around you who are grieving with you. And it's changed my life, man.” – Chadd [48:08]
• On Teaching Others:
  “Our job now is to try to teach people…so it can have the broadest impact in their life.” – Andy [10:15]
• On Faith and Doubt:
  “I wish I could say that I felt that way... it hasn’t landed with me... Maybe it just hasn’t been my time yet.” – Andy [86:01]
• On Political Realities:
  “I could not go and do that without becoming the person I hated, even at the very first step to compromise…me being me.” – Chadd [67:59]
• On Parenting:
  “The fear is 100% rooted in selfishness.” – Chadd [63:48]
• On Social Media:
  “It’s a time vampire...this is the sneaky discipline one.” – Andy [170:31]
• On Personal Change:
  “I was so stupid and I was so wicked, man. I was so wicked. I don’t know why I was so wicked, but I was.” – Chadd [83:05]
• On Humility:
  “I wish I could say that I am of the 100% belief I’ve never had a unique idea in my entire life.” – Andy [07:44]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 04:38 – Discovering resilience: breaking large problems into small steps
• 13:50 – “Knowing the path and walking the path...”
• 31:44 – Grief, fatherhood, and losing loved ones
• 81:33 – Chadd on deepening faith, personal change
• 86:01 – Andy on being agnostic but open to faith
• 103:59 – Can goodness and morality exist without God?
• 155:22 – The impact and addiction of social media; introducing the 1-hour challenge
• 164:38 – Hunting and finding new meaning after the military

Tone & Language

The episode blends gritty authenticity, humor, and humility. Both men are direct and unsparing about their limitations and mistakes, often poking fun at themselves and each other. Their willingness to openly explore difficult topics—faith, grief, politics, regret—makes the podcast feel like a deep conversation between friends, but full of wisdom for listeners.

Final Thoughts

Chadd:
“All jokes aside, I want to thank you for having me out for a second time. It means something to me…that you would think enough of me to invite me here and share this time.” [185:43]

Andy:
“Today's is gonna be easy because it's just sitting down with a friend and figuring out what the hell is going on in life.” [186:34]

Listener Takeaways

• The tools that get you through Navy SEAL training—breaking down big problems, refusing to quit, controlling your focus—are the same tools that can help with business, grief, parenting, or faith.
• Grief, suffering, and adversity, while deeply painful, are fertile ground for personal growth.
• Living with authenticity and integrity requires sacrifice—and often, a willingness to be misunderstood or disliked.
• Deep, honest conversations about faith, morality, and meaning are valuable—even in the absence of full agreement.

For listeners, this episode is a masterclass in honest living—challenging, comforting, and deeply human.