Ep. 40 | From Bin Laden to Ibogaine: Elite Warfare and Integrated Healing | DEVGRU Operator Alex West

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Ep. 40 | From Bin Laden to Ibogaine: Elite Warfare and Integrated Healing | DEVGRU Operator Alex West

S4 E40 • May 25, 2026 • 95 mins

Alex West spent twenty years as a United States Navy SEAL, completed fifteen combat deployments, and served over a decade at DEVGRU — including the night they took out Bin Laden. He carried all of it home. In this episode, Alex opens up about the real cost of that life, his reckoning with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, and the integrated healing journey that led him through EMDR, ibogaine, and plant medicine — and eventually to founding One More Wave, a San Diego nonprofit using adaptive surfing to bring veterans back from the edge. A raw, honest conversation about war, healing, and what it looks like to rebuild yourself from the inside out.

Key Points

Trauma from high-stress military operations often manifests as a complex interplay of physical, psychological, and spiritual wounds, requiring a multifaceted approach to healing.
Alex West's experience with psychedelic-assisted therapies like Ibogaine highlights their potential effectiveness in treating PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders, emphasizing the importance of integrating ancient wisdom with modern science.
The evolving culture within the military and veteran communities is slowly shifting towards more holistic and supportive mental health practices, but sustained personal effort and community support remain crucial for long-term well-being.

Speakers

Jordan Ryan

Host • 22%

Alex West

Guest • 78%

Chapters

0:00	Introduction and overview of Alex West
2:44	Sponsor: One NC Coffee
3:32	Motivation to join the SEAL teams
5:18	Early military career and BUDS training
6:37	Deployment experiences and impact of 9/11
9:19	Early operations in Afghanistan
11:06	Changing American attitudes toward war
14:15	Transition to DevGroup and first impressions
18:52	DevGroup training and selection
25:54	Transition to Red Squadron
26:34	First Red Squadron deployment
28:00	Introduction to Omega teams and mission
30:11	Challenges working with Omega teams
31:48	The grind of continuous deployments
33:18	Balancing ops tempo with R&D
36:20	Transition to less glamorous military roles
36:45	Reflections and preparation for UBL mission
39:18	Theories on UBL's evasion and intelligence
41:29	Detailed account of the UBL mission
58:08	Transition to post-mission life and mental health
1:01:03	Founding of One More Wave
1:04:17	Impact of adaptive surfing
1:05:18	TBIs, PTSD, depression, and moral injury
1:08:10	Culture of drinking in the military
1:09:02	Importance of seeking help and community
1:10:00	Changes in military culture
1:11:30	EMDR and trauma therapy
1:14:02	Combining modern and ancient healing practices
1:15:47	EMDR for depression and addiction
1:17:02	Somatic therapy and trauma
1:19:08	Ibogaine treatment and personal experience
1:22:24	Political advocacy for Ibogaine
1:29:26	Future plans and personal well-being
1:30:53	Lifelong pursuit of wellness
1:33:37	Thanking Alex West

Transcript

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