• Shawn Ryan left the Navy SEALs primarily due to a desire for more consistent combat and concerns about the long-term impact of the career on personal well-being and family life.
• After leaving the SEALs and the CIA, Ryan struggled with addiction before launching 'The Shawn Ryan Show,' a podcast focused on sharing uncensored stories from veterans and others in high-stakes careers.
• Ryan emphasizes the importance of veterans sharing their stories to help others facing similar challenges, highlighting the sense of community and support fostered by his podcast.

Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor, shares his personal journey and the factors that led him to leave the Navy SEALs after nearly six years. Dissatisfied with the amount of actual combat and concerned about the long-term consequences of a SEAL career, including physical and mental health issues, as well as high divorce rates among his peers, Ryan sought a different path. His experiences after leaving the SEALs included working for the CIA, battling addiction, and ultimately creating 'The Shawn Ryan Show,' a platform for veterans to share their stories and connect with others.

• What: Shawn Ryan recounts his decision to leave the Navy SEALs due to insufficient combat opportunities and concerns about the career's impact on health and family. He shares his struggles with addiction after leaving the CIA and his eventual success in creating a podcast for veterans.
• Who: Shawn Ryan, former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor; Navy SEALs; US military; veterans; law enforcement officers.
• When: Ryan served nearly six years as a Navy SEAL, including deployments in 2004 to Haiti and later to Afghanistan and Iraq. He launched 'The Shawn Ryan Show' in 2019.
• Where: Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, United States.

Shawn Ryan's narrative provides a candid perspective on the challenges and sacrifices associated with a career in special operations. His decision to leave the Navy SEALs highlights the tension between the desire for intense combat experiences and the long-term personal costs. His post-military struggles with addiction underscore the difficulties veterans face in transitioning to civilian life. The success of 'The Shawn Ryan Show' suggests a significant need for platforms where veterans can share their stories and find community.

One of the reasons I left the Navy SEALs after nearly six years was that I didn't get enough action.

I wanted to document history from veterans' perspectives. I was tired of the mainstream media telling military stories wrong.

A lot of us have the same injuries and the same symptoms, like back and knee issues, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries. Plus, pretty much everybody I knew was divorced, had been divorced, or was getting a divorce. A lot of them didn't know their kids very well​. Your platoon, your teammates, is your primary family. The families are secondary. I knew that if I stayed at the rate I was going, I would be a very lonely person come retirement​.

Shawn Ryan's story offers valuable insights into the realities of military service, the challenges of transitioning to civilian life, and the importance of community and shared experiences for veterans. His decision to leave the Navy SEALs, though driven by personal desires for more action and concerns about long-term well-being, ultimately led him to create a platform where other veterans can find their voices and support.