20 Years Air Force To TEDx Speaker: Sean Douglas On Identity And Purpose After Service

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Today, I sit down with Sean Douglas — a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and vice president of the nonprofit One Life Fully Lived. With 20 years and four days of service under his belt, Mr. Douglas takes us on a raw, powerful, and at times hilarious journey through his military career, personal collapse, and post-service transformation. We cover everything from rowdy deployment nights and IED dangers to leadership breakdowns and mental resilience.

We start by talking about military identity — how taking off the uniform often means losing a sense of self. Mr. Douglas shares his struggle to rediscover purpose after 20 years of wearing the Air Force blues. He unpacks his darkest deployment, a drinking problem that derailed his life, and how becoming a drill instructor helped him find his voice again. That experience would eventually lead him to professional speaking, podcasting, and coaching others on how to rebuild after rock bottom.

This episode is a blend of laughter and leadership, from wild stories of running into all-girls college parties in the UK to serious conversations on trauma recovery and military mental health. We even get a behind-the-scenes look at the drill instructor life — yes, including the awkward shower incidents and mattress wrestling matches.

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