S4E3 – Dean Fechner: Sharing hard-won lessons on resilience - a podcast by Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis
from 2022-03-25T12:27:48
Dean Fechner is a tough human. From a first career as an Air Force Physical Training Instructor, through subsequent work in law enforcement in places ranging from the Australian Parliament House to the battlefields of Southern Iraq, he has demonstrated an incredible amount of character and resilience. But his toughest challenge came not in uniform, but on the operating table. In this episode, Dean chats with Ben and Tim about how he built his resilience and how it was tested through the medical challenges that he has faced – and how he is now using the lessons that he has learnt through his life to help other people.
04:22 Dean’s background – joining the military, training as a sparky and then – becoming a Physical Training Instructor!
06:42 Secrets of the ADF Physical Training Instructor course – is it more than just learning how to shave your legs?!
10:00 Working as a PTI at the Australian Defence Force Academy
11:40 Leaving the Air Force and becoming one of the pioneers in the personal training industry
12:00 …and into the police force – a lifelong ambition
13:45 What are the differences between police and Defence Force training?
15:00 Balancing the competing requirements of policing – the ‘three block war’ concept
17:53 Transitioning into security roles within Courts and Parliament
19:45 Into Southern Iraq and a training role in their National Police Academy
23:50 What did a normal day in Iraq look like?
25:45 Did Dean feel he was making a difference in Iraq?
28:40 Dealing with the stressors of life in a combat zone
31:00 Over and above the meaning of the work, how important was the money?
33:00 Work after Iraq
36:00 Unexplained health issues, culminating in the identification of a massive heart blockage
38:00 ‘The Widowmaker’ – a medical diagnosis you don’t want to receive
40:10 Bouncing back – physically and mentally
43:20 How did Dean keep going through it all? Mental and physical strategies
46:25 But then things started to plateau – and the headaches began…
47:40 …which were then diagnosed as a brain tumour
50:10 The importance of hope
51:00 Breathing, meditation – and studying psychology
58:00 Breathing techniques, including from Brian MacKenzie and Andrew Huberman
1:01:30 The value of Stoicism
1:03:25 Where to from here?
Email us at debrief@unforgiving60.com
Instagram, Twitter: @Unforgiving60
External Links
Dean’s current work includes his role with Front and Centre, who provide bespoke solutions and support in the areas Sales Training, Leadership Training, Client Experience, Presentation Skills and more.
Music
The Externals – available on Spotify
Ben Frichot - available on Spotify
Further episodes of The Unforgiving60
Further podcasts by Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis
Website of Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis