JRE 1445 · March 21, 2020

Andy Stumpf

militarysportspsychologyphilosophytechnology

Who is Andy Stumpf?

Andy Stumpf is a retired Navy SEAL and was also a two-time wingsuit world record holder. He hosts his own podcast called “Cleared Hot” that can be found on Apple Podcasts & Stitcher.

Topics and Timestamps

01Andy Stumpf discusses his transition from Navy SEAL operations to wingsuit BASE jumping and world record attempts
02The conversation covers the mindset required for high-risk activities and how SEALs approach danger differently than civilians
03Andy explains what it takes to become a Navy SEAL and the selection process that weeds out most candidates
04Discussion of wingsuit flying physics, the risks involved, and how he approached breaking world records
05Andy talks about his podcast Cleared Hot and what it means to him to share stories from his military background
06The episode explores the psychology of fear, calculated risk-taking, and performing under extreme pressure
▶Andy discusses his Navy SEAL selection experience and what it takes to make it through training0:05:30
▶Explanation of wingsuit physics and how Andy approaches the world record attempts0:18:45
▶Andy talks about fear management and the psychological component of extreme sports0:32:15
▶Discussion of his podcast Cleared Hot and why he started it0:47:20
▶Andy explains the difference between calculated risk-taking and recklessness in high-danger activities1:02:10

The Show

Joe brings on Andy Stumpf, a retired Navy SEAL with an absolutely insane resume that includes being a two-time wingsuit world record holder. This is one of those conversations where you've got a guy who has legitimately done things most humans will never even comprehend doing, and he's just casually talking about it like it's normal.

The core of the conversation revolves around Andy's journey through the Navy SEALs and then into the world of wingsuit BASE jumping. What's interesting is how Andy approaches risk. He's not some adrenaline junkie just throwing himself off cliffs with a parachute. There's a calculated methodology to everything he does. The SEAL training instilled in him this ability to compartmentalize fear and make rational decisions in situations where most people would just shut down completely.

Andy gets into the details of what Navy SEAL selection actually entails, and it's brutal. The psychological component is almost more important than the physical one. They're not just looking for the strongest guys. They're looking for people who won't quit when every fiber of their being is telling them to stop. That mentality carries over into everything Andy does, whether it's planning a wingsuit flight or running his podcast.

The wingsuit stuff is where it gets really wild. Andy describes the physics of wingsuit flying and how you're essentially trying to fall slower than gravity wants you to fall. When he was chasing world records, every flight had variables that could kill him instantly. Weather, equipment failure, miscalculation. But instead of that being paralyzing, Andy treats it like a problem to be solved. That's the SEAL mindset applied to BASE jumping.

One of the more interesting threads is how Andy talks about his podcast Cleared Hot. He's not doing it for clout or money. It's a platform for him to tell stories and share the experiences he had. There's a respect for the community and the people he served with that comes through in how he talks about the show.

Throughout the episode, Joe keeps pushing Andy to get more into the psychological stuff. How do you not die when you're doing something with such a high fatality rate? Andy's answer is basically that you have to be honest with yourself about what you're capable of and respect the environment you're operating in. You can't ego your way through wingsuit flying or Navy SEAL training. The moment you do, you're done.