Bryan Hood grew up in Springfield, served in the Army, and spent years as a Blackwater contractor operating overseas. He owned a CrossFit gym in Nixa, and nearly lost his life to his own darkness in 2016. Now he's written his second book — and he's got something to say about what's killing men, what saves them, and what it really means to live.
In this conversation, Bryan talks about using AI to write his book, the spine of his message — the power of the pause — and why dying is easy but living takes real courage. He opens up about veteran suicide, the identity crisis men face when they leave their tribe, and why being seen, heard, and valued matters more than most men will admit. Bryan is rooted in Springfield and south of Nixa, and his story is woven into the hills, history, and people of this region.
This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series — long-form conversations focused on the people behind the work shaping the Ozarks.