What does it take to forge an elite warrior — and what does neuroscience reveal about that transformation?

U.S. Army Special Forces CPT Benjamin Harrow joins Robert Asencio and Dr. Pamela Seraphine for a conversation that goes beyond the battlefield. Dr. Pamela Seraphine decodes the neuroscience behind CPT Harrow's evolution of excellence — from the mental crucible of Special Forces selection to the leadership wiring built under pressure.This is more than a veteran's story. It's a master class in resilience, identity, and the science of what the human brain does under extraordinary stress.

🧠 In This Episode

- How Special Forces training rewires the brain for sustained high performance

- The neuroscience of identity: Why CPT Harrow's evolution mirrors what Dr. - Seraphine calls "the warrior transformation arc"

- What sacrifice, dedication, and service actually look like at the cellular level

- The leadership lessons that don't show up in a military manual

⏱ Chapters:

00:00 From Hockey to Heroism

02:48 The Journey of a Green Beret

06:06 Overcoming Adversity and Identity

08:52 The Evolution of Excellence

11:51 The Power of Mindset and Resilience

14:47 Building a New Life After Injury

18:04 The Importance of Support Systems

21:00 Patient Zero: A Journey of Recovery

23:55 The Role of Spirituality in Healing

27:00 Teaching the Next Generation

30:10 The Impact of Love and Family

32:49 Conclusion and Reflections

About Ben’s military service:

How The US Special Forces Actually Work | Authorized Account | Insider

https://youtu.be/UNbuDKQTgRg?si=JRW19cFci2lm6BEH

CPT Ben Harrow Final Cut #1million

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYBAorEedlU&t=11s

👥 About Your Hosts:

Robert Asencio — Retired Police Captain, Army Veteran, Former Florida State Representative

Dr. Pamela Seraphine — Neuroscientist & Science Officer, decoding the "why" behind the story

Follow us on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, IHEART @VetsAndBadges

Real Heroes. Real Science.#specialforces

#GreenBeret #VeteranPodcast #CPTBenHarrow #MilitaryMindset #Neuroscience #VetsAndBadges #ArmyVeteran #EliteSoldier #ResilienceUnderFire

🔥 Core: special forces, green beret, army special forces, veteran podcast, military mindset

🎯 Growth: special forces mindset, neuroscience of leadership, elite soldier, military leadership, army veteran story📈 Long-tail: CPT Ben Harrow, evolution of excellence, special forces training, veteran resilience, Dr Pamela Seraphine, Vets and Badges, combat veteran interview, PTSD neuroscience, warrior transformation

Vets and Badges Podcast is an initiative of HEALING - a non-profit created to support veterans, first responder and community stakeholders.

For more visit:

https://www.kbcf.org/programs/healing-corp/

Info@VetsAndBadges.com

www.VetsAndBadges.com

VAB - 2026

Walk for Mental Health Awareness. Fun for all at LoanDepot Park, Miami. Join us May 16, 2026, in the fight break the stigma and help others.

Susan Holton, CEO of NAMI Miami, discusses the event's details, community involvement, and the importance of donations to support mental health initiatives. The dialogue emphasizes the collective effort needed to address mental health challenges and recognizes the unsung heroes in the community who contribute to this cause.

About Vets And Badges Host:

Robert Asencio is a retired police Captain, former Florida State Representative, US Army Veteran who served as a member of the Special Operations community with over 34 years of public service experience.

Vets and Badges Podcast is an initiative of HEALING - a non-profit created to support veterans, first responder and community stakeholders.

For more visit:

https://www.kbcf.org/programs/healing-corp/

Info@VetsAndBadges.com

www.VetsAndBadges.com

VAB - 2026

When a Dog Becomes a Lifeline: A Gulf War Veteran's Incredible Recovery — this is the true story of Allen Parton, a Royal Naval Officer who suffered a catastrophic traumatic brain injury during the 1991 Gulf War that left him unable to walk, speak, or even recognize his own wife and children — and how an unlikely Labrador named Endal gave him back his life, his love, and his reason to live.

In this deeply personal conversation, Allen shares how the TBI stripped him of all four core human emotions — love, hate, happiness, and sadness — and pushed him to the edge of survival twice. Then a dog that was failing his own assistance training walked across a room and placed something in Alan’s lap. What happened next is one of the most remarkable stories of healing, devotion, and the bond between human and animal you will ever hear.

Endal didn’t just assist Allen — he saved him from a hit-and-run accident, became his best man at his remarriage (with special permission from the Queen of England), and over 13 years, taught a man who had lost the ability to feel, how to love again.

Allen Parton is now the founder of Hounds for Heroes, a UK charity providing assistance dogs to injured veterans and frontline responders — turning his personal miracle into a movement.

🐾 If you've ever witnessed or experienced the healing power of an animal, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Hosted by Robert Asencio — retired Police Captain, former Florida State Representative, US Army Veteran.

👩‍🔬 Co-hosted by Laura Spearium, Founder of Connecting Minds Miami.

🎖️ Guest: Allen Parton — Gulf War Veteran, TBI survivor, founder of Hounds for Heroes.

📌 Topics covered: veteran mental health • PTSD recovery • traumatic brain injury • service dog stories • military documentary • disability awareness • trauma recovery • Hounds for Heroes

🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

🔗 Learn more about Hounds for Heroes:

https://www.houndsforheroes.com/about-us/our-history

Chapters:

00:00 The Story That Changed Everything

01:20 Welcome: Hosts & Guest Introduction

02:15 27 Years in the Royal Navy — Then the Gulf War

03:17 The Injury: Losing Memory, Family & All Emotion

04:00 Rock Bottom: Two Suicide Attempts & Why He Survived04:49 The Chance Encounter: Meeting Endal

07:11 The Moment Alan Smiled for the First Time

07:23 Living with TBI: Groundhog Day, Every Day

09:23 How a Dog Taught a Man to Speak Again

11:07 "I Don't Know When Alan Ended and Endal Started"

12:07 Dogs on the Tarmac: Marines Crying Into a Dog's Neck

13:30 Endal Saves Allen’s Life: The Hit-and-Run Incident

14:03 The Victoria Cross: World's Most Decorated Dog

15:57 Remarried — With the Queen's Permission, Endal as Best Man

17:44 Endal Jr. & Endal III: The Legacy Continues

18:23 Hounds for Heroes: Turning His Miracle Into a Movement

20:19 The Power of Empathy Over Sympathy

21:19 Allen’s Message to Every Veteran Watching

22:10 Closing & Where to Find Vets and Badges

Resources:

About Allen Parton's story:

"The Secret Life of Dogs" Clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8UfB02Uudg

The Dog That Saved Our Marriage - Part 1 Of 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ8Anc5LRcc

Part 2 of 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYyyr2G2H4o&t=1s

Part 3 of 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZD5fpX9k94&t=1s

Part 4 of 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SmfED0bp0c&t=2s

Vets and Badges Podcast is an initiative of HEALING - a non-profit created to support veterans, first responder and community stakeholders.

For more visit:

https://www.kbcf.org/programs/healing-corp/

Info@VetsAndBadges.com

https://www.VetsAndBadges.com

VAB - 2026