Shawn Ryan served as a Navy SEAL for almost six years. He endured one of the most intense training programs known in the military world, Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, or BUD/S. After seeing combat in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Haiti, Ryan left the Navy and worked as a contractor for the CIA.
Ryan speaks with Business Insider about his time with SEAL Teams 2 and 8, the weapons they trained on — including M4s, rocket launchers, and miniguns — surviving his toughest mission outside Baghdad, and the reasons he chose to leave the special-operations unit.
After leaving the military, Ryan began abusing drugs, chasing the adrenaline highs he’d experienced as a SEAL. He says psychedelic therapy has helped with his addiction recovery and other mental-health challenges. Today, he runs a YouTube channel and a podcast, “The Shawn Ryan Show.”
If you’re a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to connect. To reach responders, dial 988 then press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
