THE ED MYLETT SHOW — “When Life Ambushes You” feat. Jason Redman
Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Ed Mylett
Guest: Jason Redman (Retired Navy SEAL, author, speaker)
EPISODE OVERVIEW
This episode features an inspirational and deeply human conversation between Ed Mylett and retired Navy SEAL Jason Redman. Redman shares hard-earned lessons from his 21-year military career, including his experience with near-fatal injury, personal failures, overcoming trauma, and ultimately redefining life’s hardest setbacks—what he calls “life ambushes”—as pathways for personal growth. Together, they explore topics of leadership, resilience, managing fear, rebuilding relationships, and the nuanced role of faith through adversity.
KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS
1. Rethinking “Bad Days” — True Trauma and “Life Ambushes”
[02:21] Jason Redman:
- Redman challenges the casual use of “bad day.” True bad days are those that leave permanent physical, mental, emotional, or financial scars; most daily frustrations are merely “scheduled disruptions.”
- Quoting his own slogan:
“There are no bad days. If you woke up this morning, it's still a good day, because that means you have the ability to deal with whatever problem or challenge you're facing.” — Jason Redman [02:41]
- Everyone faces about six truly bad days in their lifetime. If you survive and navigate them, you build your “overcome muscles,” preparing for more.
2. The Rock Bottom Moment: Confidence, Humility, and Leadership
[08:02–11:41] Ed Mylett & Jason Redman:
- Redman describes how arrogance as a young SEAL leader became his downfall, culminating in a suicide attempt. After seeking help, he learned that “the end” is also a new beginning.
- A defining leadership trait is balancing confidence with humility.
“No one is ever as great as we think we are. And not only that, it can all be gone in a second.” — Jason Redman [09:40]
- True leaders are confident in their abilities but humble enough to stay open to learning, change, and setbacks.
3. The “Overcome Mindset” — Framework for Resilience
[12:02] Jason Redman:
- Bad things happen regardless of planning. The SEAL training culture is built around preparing for worst-case scenarios:
“An overcome mindset is an idea that bad things are going to happen. Bad things happen to good people. I don't care how well you plan.” — Jason Redman [12:02]
- Three Principles:
- Awareness: Always know things can go wrong; don’t live in denial.
- Preparation: Physically, mentally, or financially ready yourself for when—not if—things go sideways.
- Action: When ambushed by trauma (literal or metaphorical), don’t freeze—act, lead, rely on muscle memory and frameworks built from preparation.
4. Turning Fear and Trauma into Growth (“Living Greatly”)
[19:15–24:00]
- Many let trauma make them risk-averse (“I’ll never try again”), but that limits life’s possibilities.
- Powerful analogy: Redman’s nonprofit took wounded warriors/Gold Star families skydiving to confront fear. Those who didn’t jump universally said later, “I wish I had.”
“So often we stand on the ramp of life and we have these hopes and goals and dreams and we're afraid. ... Jump. Because it is that action, that step off the end of the ramp, that enables greatness.” — Jason Redman [22:47]
- If you don’t act, you risk a life of regret.
- Living greatly means honoring those lost (friends, family) by striving to be the best version of yourself.
5. SIGN ON THE DOOR — Creating a Culture of Positivity in Recovery
[26:08–29:30]
- Early in his recovery, hearing demoralizing comments about wounded veterans, Redman resolved to refuse pity or victimhood.
- He wrote a sign for his hospital door:
“Attention to all who enter here. If you're coming in this room with sadness or sorrow, don't bother. ... I will make a full recovery. What is full, that's the absolute utmost. Physically, I have the ability to recover, and I'm gonna push that about 20% further through sheer mental tenacity. ... This room you're about to enter is a room of fun, optimism, and intense, rapid regrowth. If you are not prepared for that, go elsewhere.” — Jason Redman [28:31]
- The “Sign on the Door” is about mindset, environment, and demanding positivity from yourself and others.
6. Redefining Recovery: Don’t Chase the Old You
[30:02–33:21]
- Trauma permanently changes you; “recovery” isn’t “going back”—it’s becoming your new 100%.
“You will never be back to the same as you were, because you have been forever altered. But what you can be is the new 100%.” — Jason Redman [30:35]
- In some areas, you become better: deeper communication, more compassion, new strengths.
7. Suffering Productively — Building Your Resilience Muscles
[34:04–36:20]
- “You cannot build an overcome mindset or overcome muscles by doing easy things and by constantly embracing comfort.”
- Suffering, challenge, and discomfort are what strengthen your resilience—embrace them rather than avoid them.
“If you don't do hard things... when you are finally hit with something traumatic and very hard, there isn't some magic switch that you turn on and do it. You have to have done hard things before.” — Jason Redman [35:27]
8. The Power of Shrinking Timeframes
[38:00–41:58]
- When overwhelmed, focus on surviving “one more day,” then another.
“Just don't quit for one more day. See how you feel tomorrow.” — Ed Mylett, quoting his father [38:00]
- SEALs often break down suffering by the hour or the meal; granular focus keeps you moving when the big picture feels insurmountable.
- Even after failure or quitting (e.g., Redman leaving Ranger School), it’s never too late to rebuild.
9. Invincible Marriage: Frameworks for Relationship Resilience
[43:01–49:42]
- Redman’s newest book “Mission Invincible Marriage” (written with his wife Erica) distills their hard-won lessons:
- Military marriages face unique strain: “SEALs are at about a 90% divorce rate.” [44:12]
- Framework for a strong relationship:
- Solid Foundation: Shared mission, values, and clearly communicated life plans.
- Continuous Training: Ongoing communication, adjusting as each person grows and evolves.
- Rules of Engagement: No ultimatums, no name-calling, don’t bring up the past; guideposts for fair fighting and resolving conflict.
“If you do not get help, we are not communicating, we are not following the rules and the framework we laid out in our marriage. If you cannot do this, we are moving down a path to the beginning of the end.” — Erica Redman (as retold by Jason) [48:52]
- Under Fire: Adversity will come; prepare and have frameworks to handle it together.
- Vulnerability and willingness to seek help are signs of true strength.
10. Faith Amid Hardships
[50:14–53:07]
- Redman considers himself “a walking miracle” (surviving massive blood loss and injuries).
- Faith is a journey; doubts are natural.
“Faith is a hard thing. There are times where I'm like, ‘God, where are you?’ ... But where I have solace is the fact that Jesus' own disciples who walked with him... all those dudes doubted.” — Jason Redman [51:30]
- Leaning on faith—and admitting when it falters—makes the journey authentic and strengthens resilience.
MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS
-
On Mindset after Trauma:
“Your past life ambushes, your past bad days prepare you for the future. And that enabled me to take action because I said, hey man, you've been through this before.” — Jason Redman [17:02]
-
On Facing Fear:
“Jump. Because that action, that step off the end of the ramp, enables greatness.” — Jason Redman [22:56]
-
On Being the Best Version of Yourself for Others:
“Honor them by being the best version of yourself. So that when they look down, they're like, oh, my gosh, I’m so proud of them despite this pain and loss. Look at who they are.” — Jason Redman [24:38]
-
On Suffering:
“Suffering productively means the greatest desire in, in a human being is to reduce pain and suffering that they're going through and discomfort... It’s what builds this overcome mindset.” — Jason Redman [35:03]
-
On Leadership Redemption:
“People will follow if you give them a reason to. That’s all leadership is.” — Jason Redman [41:08] (as relayed from a mentor)
-
On Faith and Doubt:
“I still have doubts. It doesn’t make me a bad Christian. I just pray the Lord, I pray that prayer a lot: Lord, help me with my heart…” — Jason Redman [52:11]
TIMESTAMPED SEGMENT GUIDE
| Time | Segment Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:45 | Introduction, Jason Redman’s story overview | | 02:21 | Redefining bad days/life ambushes | | 08:02 | Arrogance, rock bottom, humility, new beginnings | | 12:02 | Overcome mindset: Awareness, Preparation, Action | | 19:15 | Conquering trauma, living greatly, facing fear | | 26:08 | “Sign on the door”/Positivity framework | | 30:02 | Redefining “full recovery,” making new you | | 34:04 | Suffering productively, resilience building | | 38:00 | Shrinking timeframes, one day at a time | | 43:01 | Marriage: frameworks, communication, adversity | | 50:14 | Faith, miracles, facing doubt and uncertainty |
CONCLUSION / FINAL TAKEAWAY
This episode is more than a tale of military heroism; it’s an actionable masterclass in applying grit, humility, frameworks, and faith to every aspect of life—leadership, relationships, and personal transformation. Redman and Mylett’s conversation offers both strategic and soulful guidance for when, not if, life ambushes you.
Book recommendation:
Mission Invincible Marriage by Jason & Erica Redman — for lessons on resilience in relationships, not just on the battlefield, but at home.
End-note:
If you haven't listened yet, this summary delivers the episode’s most actionable—and heart-provoking—moments. To truly experience Redman’s impact, listen to the full conversation for raw emotion, tactical wisdom, and the contagious energy that drives great lives forward.