Calm in the Chaos Podcast
New episodes are released every other Wednesday morning PST.
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2025 PODCAST NEWS!
CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST
229,401 streams and downloads in the first year
Top 10% global ranking on Listen Notes
More popular than 96% of new podcasts on Spotify
Rapid expansion across YouTube, Apple, and Spotify as we enter the 2026 season
The Calm in the Chaos Podcast is more than a series of interviews—it’s a mission to honor those who risk everything so others may live. Hosted by bestselling author, Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, and Everest soloist Brian Dickinson, this platform gives voice to the untold stories of America’s elite.
Each episode dives deep into the real-life experiences of current and former U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers—individuals who’ve stared down chaos, confronted the impossible, and emerged with powerful lessons in leadership, faith, and resilience. These aren’t just rescue missions; they are moments that shaped lives.
Whether you’re military, first responder, or simply drawn to stories of grit and purpose, this is your place to reconnect with the warrior mindset and the calm that rises in the storm.
Hosted by Brian Dickinson
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About the Calm in the Chaos Podcast
The Calm in the Chaos podcast goes beyond survival stories. Each episode draws on real world experience from elite military operators, first responders, athletes, and leaders who have performed under pressure when it mattered most. Host Brian Dickinson brings the same mindset that carried him through a blind solo descent of Mount Everest — calm, focused, and faith-driven — to every conversation.
What You Will Hear
Every episode explores the mental frameworks, physical preparation, and spiritual foundations that allow extraordinary people to function at their best when circumstances are at their worst. Topics include leadership under pressure, crisis decision making, resilience after failure, and the lessons that only come from facing genuine adversity.
Whether you are facing a professional challenge, a personal setback, or simply looking for perspective from people who have been tested at the highest levels, the Calm in the Chaos podcast meets you where you are. Brian Dickinson and his guests don’t just tell remarkable stories — they translate those experiences into actionable wisdom that listeners can apply immediately. Join the community of listeners worldwide who have found clarity, courage, and calm through every episode.
Listen on Your Favorite Platform
The Calm in the Chaos podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. New episodes release every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that could change how you think about pressure, performance, and purpose.
229,401 streams and downloads in the first year. Top 10% globally on Listen Notes. More popular than 96% of new podcasts on Spotify.
Brian Dickinson brings over two decades of real-world experience to every Calm in the Chaos podcast episode — from Navy rescue swimmer deployments to the summit of the world’s highest peaks. Each conversation is designed to give listeners practical tools for navigating uncertainty, building resilience, and finding calm when life demands it most. Subscribe today on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Calm in the Chaos shares real rescue stories from the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Rescue Swimmers. Hosted by Brian Dickinson—bestselling author, former Navy Rescue Swimmer, and Everest solo summiteer. Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts worldwide, the show digs into the grit, mindset, and faith it takes to run toward the chaos so others may live.
Support the mission at briandickinson.net.
Not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or DoD.
A Navy SEAL missed the deck during a night fast-rope insertion, and it fell to Shane Hallesy to go in after him—one small piece of a career that spans Navy rescue swimmer, Army Blackhawk pilot, and federal law enforcement aviator.
In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Shane Hallesy shares 5 years as a Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer followed by 30-plus years in the Army National Guard—flying Blackhawk medevac missions over western Iraq embedded with the Marines, changing tactics mid-deployment to keep from getting shot down, and later flying maritime interdiction for Customs and Border Protection in Puerto Rico.
In this episode:
- Hoisting down at night to rescue a Navy SEAL who missed the deck during a fast-rope insertion
- Transitioning from Navy rescue swimmer to Army Blackhawk pilot
- Flying dust-off medevac missions over western Iraq with the Marines
- Flying into a sandstorm during his first days in-country
- A mass casualty response in Fallujah and learning to vary his approach to avoid getting shot at
- Struggling to assimilate after deployment—and finding a second calling flying law enforcement missions for CBP and the Department of Transportation
From the flight deck to the desert to the border, Shane Hallesy never stopped being the guy who goes in after people.
👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories.
CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 63
So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸
Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast
📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net
📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: [email protected]
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Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers
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Want to be a guest on the Calm in the Chaos Podcast?
Are you a current or former U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer? Please fill out the form below to be considered as a guest on the #1 Rescue Swimmer Podcast.
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