On the X
IRONCLAD
The Official Podcast of the Navy SEAL Foundation and an IRONCLAD Original. Hosted by Chris Irwin, a retired SEAL and the Foundation’s Communications Director, On the X explores the latest expertise in mental health, physical fitness, nutrition, sleep, relationships, education, business, and more. Every week, Chris speaks with a thought leader at the forefront of their respective field, including renowned scientists, world-class practitioners, bestselling authors, and elite athletes. This is first-hand knowledge at the very center of topics that can change your life. This is On the X.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 24, 2026 • 60min
Permission to Feel: Moving Past the "Suck it Up" Mentality (w/ Dr. Marc Brackett)
On today's episode, Chris sits down with Dr. Marc Brackett, psychologist, professor at Yale University, and founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.
Dr. Brackett breaks down why we are historically so bad at dealing with our emotions and provides actionable frameworks to change that. They dive into the critical difference between IQ and EQ, why mislabeling your feelings (like confusing envy with stress) ruins your ability to manage them, and how to properly support others without trying to "fix" their problems.
About Dr. Brackett:
Books: Permission to Feel and Dealing with Feeling
App: How We Feel (A free emotional tracking app created with the co-founder of Pinterest)
Website: marcbrackett.com
Podcast: Dealing with Feeling
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-x/id1759222083
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3itWUNECnae8hkJKG7NMvV?si=0cfb5d256c1144cc
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2026 • 1h 4min
The Science of Emotional Control: Tools to Stop Overthinking & Take Back Your Mind (w/ Ethan Kross)
On today’s episode, Chris sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Ethan Kross to talk about the science of emotions and “mental fitness.”
They break down why we struggle to control our emotions, the difference between reacting and regulating, and how your inner voice can either help or hurt you.
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-x/id1759222083
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3itWUNECnae8hkJKG7NMvV?si=0cfb5d256c1144cc
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2026 • 1h 15min
A Different Way to Think About Health and Longevity (with Brigham Buhler)
On today’s episode, Chris sits down with Brigham Buhler, founder and CEO of Ways2Well, a company focused on preventative health and personalized care. Brigham shares his journey from working in pharmaceutical and medical device sales to building a company aimed at helping people take control of their health. They discuss metabolic health, lifestyle choices, and the tools and strategies that can help prevent chronic disease and improve long-term wellness.
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 3, 2026 • 29min
Best of On the X: Lessons from Extreme Stress and Life-Threatening Challenges
Today’s episode is a compilation exploring how the brain responds under extreme pressure. Guests include Laird Hamilton, who has faced some of the largest waves on the planet; Tommy Caldwell, a professional rock climber who survived being held captive in Kyrgyzstan; and Dr. Nicholas Wright, a neuroscientist studying stress, fear, and resilience. Together, they share firsthand experiences of life-or-death situations, strategies for managing fear, and insights into how trauma and extreme stress affect decision-making.
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2026 • 1h 15min
Your Best Brain Years Aren’t Behind You: How to Improve Cognition at Any Age
On today's episode, Chris sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Sandi Chapman and former Navy SEAL Kevin Gatley to discuss brain health, neuroplasticity, and cognitive performance, including how the brain can adapt throughout life and strategies to improve focus, decision-making, and resilience.
Dr. Sandi Chapman is a neuroscientist and the founder of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas, specializing in brain performance and resilience.
Kevin Gatley is the Operations Officer for the Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters program at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas.
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-x/id1759222083
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3itWUNECnae8hkJKG7NMvV?si=0cfb5d256c1144cc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2026 • 1h 15min
Can Brain Retraining Reverse Chronic Illness? Inside the Gupta Method for Nervous System Reset
On today's episode, Chris sits down with Ashok Gupta, founder of the Gupta Program, to discuss neuroplasticity and the role of the brain and nervous system in chronic illness. Ashok shares his experience with chronic fatigue syndrome and how it led to the development of his brain retraining program.
The conversation explores conditions such as fibromyalgia and long COVID, the science behind nervous system dysregulation, and techniques including visualization, meditation, and behavioral training. They also discuss clinical research, accessibility of treatment approaches, and how mind-body interventions could impact broader healthcare outcomes.
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/ONTHEX and use code ONTHEX for an extra 15% off sitewide.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2026 • 36min
Best of On the X: Trauma, Resilience, and the Work of Moving Forward
This compilation episode of On the X focuses on trauma, PTSD, and resilience, featuring conversations with VA counselor Jeff Wiedenhofer, psychiatrist Dr. Paul Conti, and Taya Kyle, widow of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.
The episode covers clinical definitions of trauma and PTSD, how trauma affects the brain, and how individuals experience and carry trauma across different contexts, including military service, public loss, and civilian life.
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/ONTHEX and use code ONTHEX for an extra 15% off sitewide.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-x/id1759222083
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3itWUNECnae8hkJKG7NMvV?si=0cfb5d256c Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3, 2026 • 1h 9min
The Neuroscience of War: How the Brain Shapes Strategy (w/ Dr. Nicholas Wright)
On today's episode, Chris sits down with Dr. Nicholas Wright, a neuroscientist and strategist, to explore how our biology drives the future of conflict. The author of Warhead: The Neuroscience of Conflict and Strategy, Dr. Wright, draws on his background advising the Pentagon and White House to explain how the brain’s architecture shapes decision-making in war and how the chaos of battle physically alters neural development.
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original.
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/ONTHEX and use code ONTHEX for an extra 15% off sitewide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2026 • 1h 29min
Exploring Flow: Strategies for Focus, Peak Performance, and Cognitive Growth (with Steven Kotler)
On today's episode, Chris sits down with Steven Kotler, New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and expert on human performance. Steven is the co-founder of the Flow Research Collective and author of books including The Rise of Superman, Stealing Fire, The Art of Impossible, and Bold. In this conversation, they discuss the science and application of flow states, their impact on mental and physical performance, and potential therapeutic uses for conditions like PTSD and depression.
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/ONTHEX and use code ONTHEX for an extra 15% off sitewide.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 20, 2026 • 1h 2min
Improving Care for America’s Veterans: Secretary Doug Collins on Veteran Services, Community Care, and Healthcare Reform
On today's episode, Chris Irwin speaks with The Honorable Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, about the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to enhance healthcare and services for U.S. veterans. They discuss reducing disability claim backlogs, improving wait times, expanding community care, supporting mental health, and VA research initiatives.
On the X is an IRONCLAD Original
More about The Navy SEAL Foundation:
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Text ONTHEX to 60104 to sign up to receive updates from the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). By participating, you agree to our Mobile Terms and Conditions (60104-info.com) for recurring autodialed donation messages from NSF to the phone number you provide. Text STOP to end. Msg & data rates may apply.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/navysealfoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/thisisironclad
Sponsors:
GHOSTBED:
Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/OntheX and use code ONTHEX for an extra 15% off sitewide.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
