Steven Bunting’s life has been shaped by adversity. From growing up in an Alabama trailer park to serving as an Independent Duty Corpsman in the Navy, his story is one of grit, loss, and redemption.

In this episode of The Hero’s Journey, Steven shares how a tough childhood and a pact with his little brother led him to Special Operations, deployments around the world, and years as a medic on the front lines. He talks about the steep cost of service, losing friends and family, battling alcohol, and the moment he realized he had to change.

After transitioning out of the Navy, Steven became a marriage and family therapist to fill the critical gap for high-risk communities. He explains how coaching, mentorship, and the mind-body connection helped him rebuild his life and relationships.

Today, he serves as Head of Coaching at Sharp Performance, helping others in demanding occupations take back control of their health, performance, and purpose.

Learn more about Sharp Performance: https://hubs.la/Q03Dmtg70

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:32 Childhood in a Birmingham Trailer Park

07:01 Moving in with Grandparents and Watching 9/11 on TV

08:56 Call Center Job, Fallujah on TV, and the Pact with His Brother

10:13 Fight with Marine Recruiter, Choosing the Navy Instead

13:22 Boot Camp, Becoming a Corpsman, and Special Operations Selection

17:28 Deployments as a Frontline Medic

22:30 Alcohol, Family Strain, and Losing Friends and His Brother to Suicide

30:14 Rock Bottom After Afghanistan and Contracting

30:54 First VA Session Ends with the Psychologist Asleep

36:00 Discovering Coaching, Meditation, and the Mind-Body Connection

41:00 Building the Coaching Program at Sharp Performance

[spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5indYjqNQWUiq0HYifYBFk?si=ece87e604a8541fd]

[apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-trailer-park-to-special-operations-how/id1832731879?i=1000722656374]

[youtube:https://youtu.be/BsigCm102PM?si=JGh9XRbI8Z4ddUh4]