002 Nick “The Reaper” Irving

About this video

Ritland interviews Nick Irving, former 3rd Ranger Battalion sniper and author, discussing Irving’s military background, combat deployments, and transition to civilian life. Irving shares stories from his childhood on Fort Meade (including paranormal experiences), his path from wanting to be a Navy SEAL to joining the Army Rangers after failing a colorblindness test, and his post-service struggles including severe depression. The conversation also covers training philosophy, personal routines, and Irving’s current work as an author and consultant.

Key takeaways

• Irving recounts being disqualified from becoming a Navy SEAL due to colorblindness discovered during recruitment testing, leading him to join the Army Rangers instead
• According to Irving, his father’s rigorous early training—including a simulated Hell Week at age 15-16—prepared him mentally and physically for special operations
• Irving describes his post-military transition as extremely difficult, including homelessness, repossession of his vehicle, contemplating suicide, and drinking heavily while writing what became his first book

Episode details: published March 9, 2018 · 258.4K views · 3:21:45 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Stories told by Mike Ritland’s podcast guests are the guests’ own accounts, attributed to them — not independently verified. Commentary is Ritland’s, presented as his analysis.

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