In this episode of Exploring Reality, Maybe, we sit down with Mark McGrath—Marine veteran, former asset management professional, and an unlikely guide to thriving in chaos. Mark’s work lives at the intersection of discipline and humility, how to stay effective in complex environments without getting trapped by certainty, labels, or outdated mental models.

Mark shares how a rebellious turn in high school led him into the Marine Corps, and how Jesuit education and military doctrine shaped the “cognitive operating system” he still uses today. We unpack John Boyd’s ideas—especially Destruction and Creation and the misunderstood OODA loop—and why Mark believes it’s not a “war of speed,” but a “war of orientation”, the ability to revise your relationship with reality again and again.

We also explore how contemplative traditions connect with Boyd’s framework, learning, unlearning, and rebuilding perception, along with Mark’s perspective on psychedelic therapy as a tool for reorientation and healing, particularly for veterans and trauma survivors. And for those not using psychedelics, he shares practical alternatives that support adaptability.

Finally, we go deep on ego, why Mark sees it as the enemy of coordination, love, and growth, and why the real discipline is learning to “kill it” daily so you can stay open, curious, and free.

A conversation about resilience, consciousness, and the rare courage it takes to admit that we might be totally wrong about what we think we know.