Four Fs Podcast

About Four Fs Podcast

Raw, unfiltered conversations with Special Forces operators, billion-dollar founders, fighter pilots turned coaches, and career changers who burned it all down to build something real. Hosted by Jeff Cluff. Long-form interviews built around military service, entrepreneurship, startup failure, leadership under pressure, trauma, resilience, AI, and hard-won wisdom you won't hear anywhere else. No scripts. No polish. Just real people, real stories. Built for founders, veterans, and anyone hungry for authentic transformation. New episodes weekly.

Publisher

Jeff Cluff

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jun 2025

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

58 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   The Counterintuitive Shift That Rescues Transitioning Military Leaders

   You spent 24 years building an identity—what happens the day the mission completely disappears? Most veterans crash when entering the civilian workforce; Seth Smith discovered the subtle operational shift that prevents it..Seth Smith is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) with 24 years of active-duty service, specializing in tactical communications, satellite networks (SATCOM), and complex technical integration across global deployments. Growing up roaming 550 acres at a retreat center in Middle Georgia, Seth developed an early bias toward rugged outdoor adventure and selfless service. After enlisting at 17, advancing through the enlisted ranks, and transitioning into the warrant officer technical track, Seth faced the hardest crucible of his career: stepping into corporate civilian IT. Today, as co-founder of Mind Overland—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to veteran wellness through vehicle-based overland expeditions—Seth unpacks the raw psychology of military transition, ego detachment, tactical patience, and how rebuilding a sense of "tribe" in the backcountry saves lives. Key Takeaways -How to Master the Shift from Mission to Profit: Learn why military operational command fails in the civilian sector, and how to realign your leadership around value propositions and relational trust rather than rank. -The Truth About Post-Service Identity Loss: Discover why reaching the top rank doesn't shield you from the transition void—and why you must define who you are before hanging up the uniform. -How to Practice 'Detachment' Under Extreme Conflict: How stepping back three paces during heated workplace friction allows you to assess the 360-degree board rather than reacting impulsively. -The Truth About Healing Veteran Isolation: Why short, repeatable "micro-dosed" outdoor expeditions create deeper neurological resets and lasting community than one-off survival trips. -How Mastering the Small Details Protects the Macro Mission: The proven compound power of discipline—taking care of the mundane foundational tasks so high-stakes systems never collapse under pressure. Timestamps 00:00 - Running Wild on 550 Acres: The Roots of Adventure 03:32 - Enlisting at 17: Choosing Hard Paths Over Safe Comfort 07:45 - The Panama Crucible: Why Details Dictate Survival 13:52 - Small Habits, Huge Outcomes: The Compound Power of Discipline 20:48 - An Unconventional Proposal: 30 Years and 4 Kids Later 22:39 - The Isolated Tour: Why Hard Assignments Force Rapid Growth 30:08 - From Enlisted to CW4: Inside the Warrant Officer Technical Track 36:00 - Chief Go Fix: Solving High-Stakes Tactical Comms Problems 44:50 - The Civilian Culture Shock: When Mission-First Meets Profit-Driven 47:15 - The VP Showdown: How Ego Blindspots Threaten Corporate Survival 53:40 - Learning How to Human: Empathy as an Executive Superpower 55:38 - The Power of Detachment: Stepping Back to See the Full Board 66:45 - The Missing 1%: Rebuilding Lost Veteran Tribe 72:00 - Founding Mind Overland: Nature as a Healing Catalyst 78:15 - The Micro-Dosing Strategy: Sustainable Growth vs. Burnout 85:00 - Brand-Agnostic Culture: Why Community Must Trump Gear 89:50 - The Anatomy of an Expedition: Disconnect to Reconnect 100:15 - The Best Leadership Advice: Don’t Cook Bacon Naked Seth emphasized that whether in tactical operations or corporate boardrooms, true leadership starts by mastering the principle to "take care of the small things, and the big things take care of themselves." What is one overlooked "small thing" in your routine or workflow that completely derails your focus when neglected? Drop your answer in the comments below! Enjoyed this deep dive into resilience, leadership, and finding purpose after the uniform? Subscribe to the Four Fs Podcast and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

2. 

   8 Oct 2026

   How Emotional Intelligence Turns Childhood Pain into Purpose | Prosper David

   What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your circumstances, but the emotional pain and limiting beliefs you've carried for years? In this episode, Jeff sits down with Prosper David — clarity coach, speaker, and entrepreneur known as The Clarity Guy — to explore emotional intelligence, childhood trauma, forgiveness, self-awareness, and personal growth.David shares his journey from a difficult childhood to finding his purpose in leadership, coaching, and entrepreneurship. He opens up about losing his mother, forgiving his father, overcoming self-doubt, and building BeRoot AI.They also discuss emotional equity, limiting beliefs, mindset shifts, emotional resilience, and why people feel stuck in life, sharing practical insights on healing from the past, gaining clarity, making better decisions, and creating meaningful personal transformation. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | Trailer: Childhood Trauma, Emotional Healing, and Forgiveness 03:24 | Growing Up in Fort Lauderdale and Developing a Hustle Mindset 08:19 | Moving to Wisconsin and Learning Independence and Resilience 12:05 | Milwaukee Bucks, Sales Psychology, Hard Work, and Emotional Equity1 9:01 | How Limiting Beliefs, Personal Stories, and Questions Shape Decisions 22:50 | Losing His Mother, Discovering Purpose, and Transforming Education 31:18 | Moving to Utah, Wellness, Overcoming Fear, and Choosing Stress 39:55 | Why People Feel Stuck and How to Find Emotional Clarity 47:02 | Faith, Perfectionism, Personal Growth, and Trusting the Process 52:54 | Finding Your Identity, Life Purpose, and Building BeRoot AI 01:08:45 | The Power of Mentorship, Life Coaching, and Better Questions 01:12:33 | Healing Childhood Trauma, Forgiving His Father, and Finding Freedom 01:19:10| Life Advice, Choosing Better Friends, and Building Relationships 01:20:38 | Why Following Your Passion Can Be Bad Career Advice ABOUT Prosper DavidProsper David, also known as The Clarity Guy, is a speaker, entrepreneur, and clarity coach who helps people overcome confusion, challenge limiting beliefs, and develop greater self-awareness.His professional journey includes working with the Milwaukee Bucks, leading educational initiatives, founding a micro school, and working in the wellness industry.Through his coaching work and BeRoot AI, David focuses on helping individuals gain clarity, strengthen their mindset, ask better questions, and move from feeling stuck toward purposeful action. ABOUT JEFFREY CLUFF Jeffrey Cluff hosts conversations with entrepreneurs, leaders, creators, and professionals, exploring the experiences, decisions, challenges, and lessons that shaped their careers and lives. CONNECT WITH HOST Website → fourfspodcast.com Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fourfspod CONNECT WITH Prosper DavidLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarityguy Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/theclarityguy_ If you enjoyed this conversation about emotional healing, overcoming childhood trauma, finding clarity, and discovering your purpose, subscribe, like, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #ChildhoodTrauma #EmotionalHealing #DavidProsper #TheClarityGuy #SelfImprovement #MentalHealth #Forgiveness #OvercomingTrauma #FindingPurpose #MindsetShift #SelfAwareness #LeadershipDevelopment #LifeCoaching #EmotionalResilience #LimitingBeliefs #PersonalDevelopment #HealingJourney #BeRootAI

3. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Why Your Biggest Weakness May Be Your Leadership Advantage | Michael Dowling

   What if the qualities you hide could actually make you a better leader? In this episode of the Four Fs Podcast, Jeffrey Cluff sits down with Michael Dowling — author, entrepreneur, leadership advisor, and former Hollywood talent agent — to explore introversion, confidence vs. competence, authenticity, emotional intelligence, self‑perception, and redefining success. Michael shares lessons from Hollywood, business, entrepreneurship, burnout, and becoming a CEO, while explaining why introverts, reflective thinkers, and unconventional leaders are often underestimated. Together, they dig into how social media shapes identity, how mindset shifts unlock growth, and why authenticity is a leadership advantage. 00:00 | Trailer & Introduction02:02 | Introversion, Success Stereotypes & Self‑Awareness04:45 | The Weapon of Mass Deception06:47 | Growing Up in Westport09:26 | Natural Strengths & Leadership Lessons14:37 | Authenticity, Masking & Fitting In18:03 | Generational Trauma & Leadership Potential24:57 | Reframing Mindset & Changing Your Story32:32 | College, Wealth & the K‑Shaped Economy36:10 | Money, Family & Redefining Success43:09 | Burnout & Leaving Los Angeles46:14 | Younger Generations, Social Media & AI53:01 | A New Measure of Success01:01:31 | Confidence vs. Competence01:09:46 | Writing The Unlikely Leader 01:17:24 | Unlikely Leaders & Hidden Strengths01:23:51 | Better Decisions & Unlocking Potential01:27:50 | Who the Book Is Written For01:30:54 | Struggle & The Grapevine Theory01:34:39 | Diverse Perspectives & Closing Thoughts Michael Dowling is an author, entrepreneur, leadership advisor, former Hollywood talent agent, and former CEO. His book The Unlikely Leader explores how traditional leadership stereotypes cause capable people to be overlooked — and how perceived weaknesses can become leadership strengths. Jeffrey Cluff hosts conversations with entrepreneurs, leaders, creators, and professionals, exploring the experiences, decisions, challenges, and lessons that shaped their careers and lives. Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/michaeldowling440LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dowlingmichael Website → fourfspodcast.comInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/fourfspod (https://www.instagram.com/fourfspod?utm_source=copilot.com) If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, like, and share it with someone who may be underestimating their own leadership potential. #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #AuthenticLeadership #MichaelDowling #TheUnlikelyLeader #LeadershipDevelopment #Mindset #SelfAwareness #EmotionalIntelligence #IntrovertLeadership #SuccessMindset #Confidence #Entrepreneurship If you want, I can also create a shorter version optimized for Spotify’s character limits or a punchier “algorithm‑friendly” version.

Who has been a guest on Four Fs Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Morley Baker
• Caitlin Hansen
• Dr Bryan Hughes
• Dr Joe Allen
• David Porter

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

54

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Four Fs Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.