The Hardest Mission a Navy SEAL Ever Faced: A Conversation with William Branum

What happens when the mission, the team, and the purpose you’ve given your entire adult life to… disappears overnight?

That’s exactly what happened to William Branum.

William is a highly decorated Navy SEAL veteran who served in the United States military for 26 years. Over the course of his career, he honed his leadership skills, cultivated a warrior mindset, and gained invaluable experience in high-pressure situations—whether as a sniper instructor, leading missions in Baghdad and Afghanistan, or carrying out undersea operations so sensitive they required presidential approval.

But when William retired, he faced the hardest mission of his life: learning how to live without the uniform, without his team, and without a clear purpose.

He was suddenly confronted with what so many veterans and high performers experience—invisible wounds. Migraines, anxiety, depression, sleepless nights, chronic pain, and the toll all of that takes on relationships at home. Like many, he turned to alcohol just to get through.

That’s where William’s story takes a powerful turn. He discovered the healing benefits of CBD, founded Naked Warrior Recovery, and began teaching others how to “Get Naked”—a mindset about stripping off the armor, ego, and defenses we all hide behind so real healing and connection can happen.

Today, William is a global speaker, author, host of the Navy SEAL Mindset podcast, and leadership advisor whose expertise is sought after by organizations ranging from small universities to Fortune 500 companies. He also gives back through causes like the Navy SEAL Foundation, Centurion Military Alliance, and 22Zero.

And in our conversation on Love & Trauma: The Real Deal, he shared wisdom that goes way beyond the battlefield—it’s about relationships, healing, and what it takes to connect again after trauma.

The Real Deal: My 3 Biggest Takeaways

Here are the lessons I want you to take with you from this episode—and start practicing today:

1️⃣ Drop the armor.
We all put up walls—defensiveness, ego, the need to protect ourselves. But real connection starts when we’re willing to strip that back and be vulnerable. Notice the next time you feel yourself gearing up for battle with your partner. What would it look like to lower the shield instead?

2️⃣ Ask for help.
Even Navy SEALs need backup. Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s courage. Whether it’s reaching out to your partner, a trusted friend, or a therapist, practice saying, “Can you help me?” and notice how it opens the door to connection.

3️⃣ Train when it’s calm.
Don’t wait for the blowups to work on your relationship. Practice better communication, self-awareness, and connection when things are good. And here’s the key—it’s okay to mess up. Don’t give up. Keep trying until it feels more natural. That’s how change sticks.

This conversation with William reminded me that no matter what battles we’ve fought—on the battlefield or in our own homes—healing is possible, connection is worth the effort, and love really is the greatest mission of all.

🎧 Watch the full episode HERE on YouTube

Listen on:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1830888391

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VxyJh2rXnBnpeV8d7Adqi?si=a44c1066ed534810