The Shawn Ryan Show – Episode #263
Guest: Steve Bunting
Title: Inside the World of MARSOC Medics and Real-World Combat Medicine
Date: December 18, 2025
Overview
In this gripping, emotionally charged episode, Shawn Ryan welcomes Steve Bunting—Navy Chief Petty Officer, former Special Operations MARSOC medic, CIA contractor, therapist, and now head of coaching at Sharp Performance. This episode dives into Steve’s harrowing life journey, from enduring childhood trauma, poverty, and abuse, to high-octane combat medicine in Afghanistan, through post-service struggles and finally purpose-driven work healing others. Key themes are trauma, resilience, mental health, psychedelic therapy, and innovative coaching for first responders.
Main Topics & Key Insights
1. Introduction to Steve Bunting & Sharp Performance
- Sharp Performance: For-profit mental health & resilience coaching for first responders, military, & high-stress professionals.
- Why For-Profit?: Bunting and Ryan discuss how nonprofits for veterans often get derailed by fundraising and greed, while for-profit Sharp can focus on mission and not survival ([04:16]).
Quote:
Ryan [03:41]: “What I think is really unique about Sharp is you guys are for profit. And so many nonprofits—greed gets in the way and it goes away…[at Sharp] They don’t have to fucking worry about fundraising…”
- Coaching Model: Sharp provides coaches (sometimes licensed providers, but primarily trained coaches, not therapists), enabling a more open, relatable dynamic with clients ([04:34]).
- Mission: Integrate with fire, police, military—anyone dealing with trauma, high stress, or operational “downward spirals.”
2. Steve’s Life Story: Trauma, Poverty & Early Resilience
Early Life & Family Breakdown
- Born to loving parents; family split due to father’s infidelity.
- Mother's flight to Alabama with Steve and his brother for a “better life”—it was anything but ([11:30]).
- Quote:
Bunting [15:44]: “Her boyfriend…sexually abused me and my brother. Putting cigarettes out on our genitalia and things like that. Real evil shit, man.”
Foster Care, Instability & Abuse
- After revealing sexual abuse, Steve and his brother spent time in foster care ([19:06]).
- Continued years of poverty, abusive stepfathers, routine instability, and violence:
- “Not knowing where the next meal is coming from…when mom’s going to come home and tell you we gotta shove all our stuff in a trash bag and get out” ([20:35]).
Death, Loss and Early Coping
- Close friend Brandon dies in an accident ([32:16]).
- “That’s where things changed for me…started building a wall around my heart that was not going to be penetrable for a long time.” ([32:19])
- Steve developed disassociation and numbness, mechanisms that later became assets in special operations training.
Advice to Kids Going Through Trauma
Bunting [36:20]:
“One thing is there’s zero tolerance for that. No one’s allowed to touch you…And the second thing—it’s not your fault. You’re a victim. These adults, they’re predators… I thought I was going to hell because of what happened to me [but] it’s not your fault at all.”
3. Path to the Military: Finding Purpose
- Grew up in trailer parks—surrounded by generational trauma, drugs, & violence ([44:01]).
- Early exposure to marijuana as coping after losing an abusive stepfather ([44:08]).
- Decided to join the military influenced by 9/11 and little brother’s interest in becoming a Marine ([45:51]).
- Intended to join the Marines but, after a hostile experience with recruiter, joined the Navy to become a Corpsman ([48:46]).
4. Special Operations Journey: MARSOC & Recon Medic Training
Selection, Training, and Challenges
- Rigorous medical pipelines: Corpsman school, BRC (Basic Reconnaissance Course), 18 Delta (Special Forces medical training), dive school, and more ([59:22]).
- Discusses difference between recon pipeline and SEALs/BUDS routes, choosing a path that gave more prep time and a better shot at success ([58:29]).
- Adapting Academically: Steve compares the human body to a car to make sense of medical training ([52:20]).
Quote:
Bunting [67:52]: “It was home. Something about that chaos I loved…everyone else was breaking—it empowered me… I haven’t even gotten to my safe space yet.”
Recon-Medic Military Culture
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Initial hazing within recon units—treated as any “roper” until proven\ ([65:07]).
-
BRC: described as brutal—with a particularly grueling “patrol phase” (sleep deprivation, chemical exposure) ([71:27]).
-
Used his childhood ability to tolerate hardship and go “numb” to excel during selection.
-
Landmark Moment: Invited estranged father to graduation—who didn’t show. Later attempted reconnection ended in father’s suicide ([74:17], [81:22]).
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Quote ([83:49]): “I just wanted him to be proud of me. ...I would have loved to meet him, and it sucked, dude. It ended that way. ...Of course.”
5. Combat Medicine in Afghanistan & Real-World Trauma
Deployments & Team Dynamics
-
First real-world combat ops in Helmand Province, Afghanistan:
- Initial frustration over “missing the war,” then immense relief to finally be on deployment ([99:43]).
- Embedded with an element responsible for “village stability operations” and training Afghan forces ([101:47]).
- Major difficulties with unreliable or dangerous partner forces—eventually had to have Afghan commandos removed from camp after dangerous incidents ([109:10]).
-
Kinetic operations: Mortar attacks, RPG fire, and high-consequence trauma calls—with Bunting often as one of two medics for the team ([105:54]).
-
Experiences with both US and Afghan casualties, including performing cricothyroidotomies, patching grievous injuries, and confronting the harsh realities of civilian casualties ([121:07]).
Memorable Quote:
Bunting [124:34]: “It was hard for me to not acknowledge that I was participating in something that was hurting a lot of people. No matter how good we tried to spin it, there’s a lot of people that suffered because of it.”
Impact of Combat Medicine
- Trauma from not just combat but especially the aftermath and moral injury (e.g., treating child victims of war, feeling compassion toward civilian suffering) ([123:41], [124:34]).
- The stress and cumulative burnout became more visible on return, manifesting as insomnia, “warrior dreams,” drinking, and withdrawal ([118:32], [134:11]).
6. The Aftermath: Battle with Trauma, Mental Health, and Transition
Family Struggle
- Increasing alienation from wife and son—numb, angry, and unable to connect post-deployment ([134:46], [135:07]).
- Deep insecurity about being a father due to the absence of positive role models ([135:56]).
- Wife (also a Navy vet) struggles with her own trauma and the burdens of being a spouse to a Special Operator ([137:39]).
- Recurrent and escalating drinking and emotional volatility:
“At least six beers…to drink six in a night was nothing, that was an easy day.” ([145:26])
Leaving the Military & Agency
- Failed selection for the CIA’s direct support role due to psychological screening, leading to relief and decision to exit ([148:54]).
- Pursuit of medical degree derailed by realization of mental health issues and severe panic attacks ([151:34]).
- Relapse into contracting (GRS/CIA), then finally resigning after a moral injury witnessing civilians in Afghanistan scavenging for food outside US bases ([164:36]).
Quote:
Bunting [165:35]: “I called the company…made up an excuse…but that ain’t gonna work out for me no more…It killed the warrior in me. I couldn’t justify that behavior anymore.”
7. Addiction, Suicide, and Search for Healing
- Lost his brother (blown up in Iraq, TBI, then suicide in 2017) and best friend Dan (TBI, then suicide) ([23:08], [202:41]).
- Steeped in guilt, sadness and “survivor’s mission” to never ignore the warning signs again.
- Increasing calls to “save” others—uncorking his own trauma.
8. Psychedelic Therapy and Transformation
Initial Skepticism & Breakthrough
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Encountered research & testimonials about ibogaine and 5-MeO DMT.
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Underwent his own intensive psychedelic therapy:
“Compassion is going to be your way. It’s going to be your compass.” ([178:42]) -
Profound Healing: Re-lived and reprocessed childhood trauma—not with anger, but compassion.
“I told him: I forgive you. Like, you didn’t mean to do this… Something happened…that allowed to heal by seeing his face…and giving him that compassion.” ([182:58]) -
Session dismantled the urge to self-medicate: changed relationship to alcohol and coping ([191:37]).
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Emphasized integration as essential; plant medicine is a catalyst, but real healing is daily work.
Cautions:
- Both hosts warn of the risk of overuse, the need for careful integration, and the Western tendency to try to shortcut healing through drugs alone ([193:03], [195:41]).
- Importance of spiritual grounding—unwise to “chase” unearned wisdom ([197:41]).
9. Building Sharp Performance: Purpose and Service
Genesis
- Guided to purpose by wife; “You have a gift—when you talk, people listen; if you go be a PA, you’re selling yourself short…” ([208:05]).
- Pivoted from pursuing physician assistant to therapy and coaching.
- Gained experience in psychedelic integration, coaching, and veteran mental health research, including outreach to Native American veterans ([213:54]).
Program Structure
- For-profit model employs a marketplace of peer coaches (all military/first responder backgrounds) ([224:48]).
- Coaches are available for unlimited, confidential sessions—no diagnosis, no reporting to command; only anonymized utilization stats ([227:54]).
- Service is now in ~10 states, working with 75+ departments, hiring rapidly due to high demand ([229:41]).
Operator Syndrome & Chris Frueh
- Framework underpinning the program: “Operator Syndrome” (developed by Dr. Chris Frueh), which highlights physiological and psychological issues not addressed by standard PTSD care ([231:51]).
- Key insight: Most mental health support treats only psychological aspects, ignoring sleep, hormones, lifestyle—this is why so many don’t get better.
Expansion and Need
- Demand is surging—first responders, medical personnel, air traffic controllers, and others are under chronic, extreme stress; future goal is to serve all “high allostatic load” professions ([236:10]).
Quote:
Bunting [238:42]: “…people like us don’t get to stop serving. We’re servants… It’s time for us warriors to show up for each other… This is how it was always supposed to be.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
[15:44] Bunting (childhood abuse):
“Real evil shit, man. Real evil stuff… had to go to the hospital due to the injuries I sustained.” -
[67:52] Bunting (endurance through selection):
“I got a spot that no one can touch me…” -
[97:52] Bunting (on his time at war):
“Home. Something about that chaos I loved. When everyone else was breaking, it empowered me…” -
[124:34] Bunting (civilian casualties):
“It was hard for me to not acknowledge that I was participating in something that was hurting a lot of people…a lot of people suffered because of it.” -
[135:56] Bunting (fatherhood):
“My greatest insecurity: how am I going to be a dad? How am I going to show up for this little boy…knowing I had a skeleton of closets falling out by the day?” -
[178:42] Bunting (ibogaine revelation):
“Compassion is going to be your way; it’s going to be your compass… I forgive you [abuser]… Something about spending time with that little Steve… allowed to heal by seeing his face.” -
[208:05] Bunting (wife’s advice):
“She said, you have a gift. When you talk to people, they listen…if you go be a PA, you’re selling yourself short.” -
[238:42] Bunting (mission):
“It’s time for us warriors to show up for each other… We can’t keep yelling at the academics or the politicians to save us…”
Important Timestamps
- Mental health/VA shortcomings: [07:49]-[09:55]
- Heavy childhood trauma & abuse: [15:44]-[19:42], [23:08]-[24:51]
- Becoming a medic/military path: [48:46]-[59:16]
- Selection/BRC & trauma coping: [67:52]-[71:19]
- Combat medicine experience: [120:03]-[128:39]
- Battle with post-service trauma: [134:11]-[146:57]
- Leaving the Agency–moral injury: [165:35]
- Psychedelic therapy & healing: [170:11]-[184:34]
- Building Sharp Performance: [219:24]-[231:39]
- Operator Syndrome framework: [231:51]-[235:25]
Episode Tone
Candid, raw, and intensely vulnerable. Both men’s backgrounds in special operations enable deep candor layered with dark humor and gritty realism (“the worst of the worst,” “it’s not your fault,” “I got a spot that no one can touch me”). Both unflinching about pain and trauma—personal and collective—while deeply committed to practical recovery, service, and hope.
Summary for New Listeners
Steve Bunting’s journey is, in Ryan’s words, something like the “perfect profile” for this new era of peer-based healing. The episode moves from harrowing trauma to unorthodox recovery, to actionable new modalities for others still struggling. It’s essential listening for anyone in high-stress jobs, for those whose childhoods haunt them, and for those yearning for purpose and healing after darkness. The story is not just about trauma, but what it means to break the cycle—personally and for the next generation.
For resources or to learn more about Sharp Performance: