Michael Sullivan is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel with 30 years of service, including 23 years as a Green Beret and the Executive Director at Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB).
A 1994 graduate of Claremont McKenna College, he led some of the military’s most elite special operations units and served in key command roles across Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Africa. Sully completed six combat tours in Afghanistan and commanded organizations including 3rd Special Forces Group, Special Operations Command Forward–Lebanon, and 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade.
He is also a founding member of Team RWB’s Fayetteville Chapter and comes from a four-generation family legacy of military service.
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Quick Episode Summary:
Exploring purpose, connection, legacy, and resilience in veterans’ post-service lives.
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🔥 Torch Takeaways:
- Leadership and Legacy
- Mission vs. Purpose
- Combating Isolation and Fostering Connection
- The Power of Ritual and Remembrance
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Guest Resources:
◼ Website: https://teamrwb.org/
◼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-985a8a2b/
◼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sully_rwb/
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Subscribe and Listen to Passing The Torch Podcast
🎙️ Podcast: https://www.passingthetorchpod.com/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC04suOPTX3ny_M0aDxmBAXQ
🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/passing-the-torch/id1338122884
ᯤSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/47ZwWTJWETz5SwEfcuPQwF?si=055366dec7154b3c
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📖 Chapters 📖
00:00 Intro
04:16 Why Life is Great Right Now
05:17 Mission vs. Purpose in Military Life
08:51 Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life
09:15 Why Veterans Struggle to Ask for Connection
12:45 The Origins of Team RWB
13:12 Using Fitness to Build Community
14:55 Helping Veterans Flourish Beyond Service
19:32 The Impact of Sacrifice and Ritual Remembrance
24:38 Honoring Family Legacy in Military Service
32:48 The Significance of the Military Oath
38:57 Looking to the Future of Veteran Support
41:15 Fun Questions: Seahawks and Quotes
45:13 Billboard Message and Final Thoughts
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Full Audio episode with Chapters:
◼https://www.buzzsprout.com/1946508/episodes/19441524
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Quotes to open episode:
“Obstacles don’t block the path they ARE the path.”
“We are walking permission slips for our children.”
“Addiction does not discriminate.”
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