From the battlefield to rock bottom—and back again.

In Episode 12 of Beyond the Battlefield, I sit down with Dan Fielding, a former Royal Marine Commando who shares his raw, honest story of mental health collapse, addiction, and recovery after leaving the military.

Like many veterans, Dan was hit hard by the silence that follows discharge. He lost his identity, turned to alcohol and drugs, and used addiction to mask the mental pain and trauma he didn’t yet understand. He was suffering in silence—like so many others—told to just “Crack on, Royal.”

But eventually, the cracks became too deep to ignore.

Dan’s turning point came the day he walked into Turn to Starboard, a sailing-based veterans' charity based in Falmouth, Cornwall. From the moment he stepped through the door, Dan said it felt like coming home to family. Sailing gave him not just purpose, but peace.

Today, Dan is the Chief Operating Officer of Turn to Starboard and is helping others who are struggling the way he once did. His mission is clear: no veteran gets left behind.

This episode is an emotional deep dive into the real cost of service, the damage of suppressing pain, and the importance of community, support, and speaking out. If you’ve ever worn the uniform, known someone who has, or struggled with identity after service—this one will hit hard.

Topics Covered:

Royal Marines identity loss

Addiction and mental health in veterans

Alcohol and drug use post-discharge

PTSD and emotional suppression

The "Crack on Royal" mindset

Veteran rehabilitation through sailing

Turn to Starboard charity

Finding purpose after the military

Leadership through lived experience

Building a new life beyond the battlefield

Pain. Perseverance. Amputation. And the power of choice.

In this episode of Beyond the Battlefield, I sit down with Ray Lowrie, a former Royal Marine Commando, world-record-holding athlete, and above all—an unbreakable force of resilience. Ray’s story is one of freak misfortune, brutal pain, and ultimately, incredible triumph.

What began as a slip on ice spiralled into a life-changing injury. Ray endured years of pain, 20 invasive surgeries, and full-time rehab at Hasler Unit, the Royal Marines’ specialist rehabilitation centre in Plymouth. But the most painful part? No one would listen when he said, “Just take the leg.”

After battling for over 5 years—physically, mentally, and emotionally—Ray finally had his leg amputated. He describes the day his leg was removed as “being born again.” It marked the end of suffering and the beginning of a new life. But the trauma ran deep. As a husband and father of young children, the burden on his family was immense. Ray speaks openly about coping with pain through alcohol, the toll it took on his mental health, and how he finally took back control of his life.

What followed is nothing short of extraordinary.

Ray didn’t just recover—he rewrote the rules. He became a world-record-holding adaptive athlete, smashing records on the Concept2 rowing machine and SkiErg. He became a role model for the health and fitness community, proving that amputation didn’t define him—it freed him.

This episode is a raw, emotional, and deeply inspiring story of what it means to suffer, survive, and choose strength anyway.

Topics Covered:

Life-changing injury and amputation

Royal Marines rehabilitation and Hasler Unit

Chronic pain, trauma, and mental health

Alcohol as a coping mechanism

The decision to amputate

World records and adaptive sports

Resilience, mindset, and family

Health, fitness, and the power of choice

Combat. Chaos. Survival. What does a decade of war really do to the mind and body?

In this jaw-dropping episode of Beyond the Battlefield, I sit down with Adz Lison, former Royal Marine Commando and Physical Training Instructor, to uncover the brutal, unfiltered truth behind life on the front lines of one of the longest and bloodiest campaigns in modern military history: Afghanistan.

Adz didn’t just pass through the Royal Marines - he stood out. Completing the elite Physical Training Instructors (PTI) Course, one of the most physically demanding qualifications in the entire British military, Adz went on to train Royal Marines recruits to reach levels of fitness matched only by Olympic athletes and world-class operators.

But it’s his frontline experience that will leave you speechless.

With four operational combat deployments in Afghanistan, Adz endured the kind of relentless violence and trauma that few can comprehend. He fought in daily firefights lasting up to 8 hours, came under constant threat of IEDs, and was blown up more than 20 times during a single tour - and survived. These weren’t rare moments. This was his daily life. The brutality of war, the chaos of combat, and the constant proximity to death shaped a decade of his life.

In one story that captures the insanity of it all, Adz recounts how just 72 hours after surviving a ferocious gun battle and another explosion, he found himself sat in his living room back in the UK - physically home, but mentally still at war.

We explore the critical question: Are we doing enough for the mental health of our servicemen and women - during and after their time in uniform?

This episode is a raw and powerful insight into combat trauma, survival, leadership under fire, resilience, and the psychological toll of war. Adz speaks openly about the mental health battle that follows years of intense service and the struggles and coping mechanisms that continue long after the battlefield has fallen silent.

Topics Covered:

Royal Marines life and elite military training.
The Physical Training Instructor (PTI) Course.
Afghanistan combat experience.
IEDs, firefights, and close calls.
Trauma and survival.
Post-combat mental health.
Veteran support and the transition home.
Leadership in war.
Resilience and recovery.
Physical and psychological strength.

In the 90s, Sy Tuk (Simon Hemingway) was on the verge of a promising acting career in London. But behind the scenes, a much darker story was unfolding. The allure of addiction pulled him into a relentless downward spiral—one that cost him everything. His career. His relationships. His dignity. Almost his life.

This episode isn’t just a story—it’s a raw, unfiltered look into the harrowing reality of drug addiction. The depths of despair, the chaos, the violence, and the destruction of self that comes with it. The underworld of addiction is ruthless, a world of manipulation, desperation, and survival at any cost. Sy lived it. And somehow, he found his way out.

But recovery isn’t just about quitting—it’s about rebuilding. A battle of self-discovery, acceptance, and relentless resilience. Sy didn’t just fight addiction; he fought himself, his past, and the demons that still whisper in the shadows. Every day is a battle, but he’s winning. Now clean, strong, and thriving, his story is one of defying the odds and clawing his way back from the abyss.

⚠️ This episode is hard to listen to. It’s uncomfortable. It’s dark. But it’s real. And it’s happening every day on the streets around us.

🔥 If you want an unfiltered, gut-punching insight into the brutal war of addiction and recovery, don’t miss this episode of Beyond the Battlefield.

🎙️ Listen now. Because stories like Sy’s need to be heard.

In this episode, I’m joined by someone who embodies what it means to fight beyond the obvious battlegrounds—IFBB Pro Karly Pearce. At 44 years old, Karly has carved out an incredible career in professional bodybuilding, but now she’s stepping away from the stage to focus on a new mission: inspiring and empowering others through health, fitness, and personal growth.

We talk about her journey as a pro athlete, her decision to retire, and the passion that drives her to help people transform their lives. Karly opens up about the challenges of leaving behind a career that’s defined her for so long, and how she’s navigating the need for new focus, direction, and goals. It’s something we all face at different points in life—because without purpose, it’s easy to lose our way. Whether it’s in health, happiness, or personal success, having that sense of mission is key.

Karly’s not just a role model for women in fitness—she’s an example for anyone battling the everyday struggles of health, wellness, and staying true to themselves. She’s faced her fair share of adversity, but her positivity, determination, and authenticity shine through in everything she does.

If you’re looking for real talk about resilience, purpose, and what it means to redefine strength, you don’t want to miss this conversation.

Episode 5: Nutrition, Longevity, and Busting Myths with Hazel Davies

In this eye-opening episode of Beyond the Battlefield, I’m joined by Hazel Davies, Warrior Wellness Movement’s expert nutritionist and specialist in women’s health. Hazel brings a wealth of knowledge to the table as we dive deep into the fundamentals of nutrition, gut health, the menopause and how to live a long, healthy life without sacrificing the joy of food.

We break down the new societal norms around eating, exposing the damaging misinformation flooding social media and how it’s leading so many astray. Hazel sheds light on why poor choices and lack of education are taking a devastating toll on lives, and the high cost of waiting too long to prioritise health.

From practical tips to avoid common pitfalls to understanding the balance between indulgence and health, this episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to cut through the noise and reclaim control of their wellbeing. It’s more than just food - it’s about fuelling a life of strength, resilience, and longevity.

Episode 4: From the Front Line to the Healing Line with Nick

In this gripping episode of Beyond the Battlefield, I’m joined by Nick, a former Royal Marines Commando and Afghanistan veteran, who shares his raw and unfiltered journey through the devastating impact of PTSD. Nick takes us into the relentless realities of operating on the front line during war—a crucible of intensity that ultimately cost him his health and tested every fibre of his being.

But this is not just a story of hardship; it’s a testament to the incredible power of the human body and mind to overcome. Nick’s transformation is nothing short of extraordinary. By confronting trauma, mastering communication, and harnessing the healing forces of wilderness and nature, he has rebuilt his life from the ground up. Now, he thrives by guiding others to unlock their own strength and resilience.

This episode is a powerful reminder that even in the face of profound adversity, the body and mind are capable of achieving incredible things. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and left in awe of what’s possible when we embrace the will to heal and grow. This is not just a conversation—it’s a call to action for anyone ready to discover the untapped potential within themselves.