All Episodes 147: Dr. Tony Dice | Success Is Addictive: A Former Navy SEAL’s Raw Truth
147: Dr. Tony Dice | Success Is Addictive: A Former Navy SEAL’s Raw Truth
Dr. Tony Dice, once a decorated Navy SEAL, faced his toughest mission after his service—an addiction to meth that pushed him to the brink. He emerged not just sober, but transformed, earning a PhD in counseling and now leading Bishop & Dice Defense, where he helps first responders, veterans, and law enforcement heal from trauma and addiction. In this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, Chris takes a hard look at how success and high performance can mask deep-rooted pain—and how turning your life into a guidepost rather than a whipping post becomes the real victory. Listen in for grit, authenticity, and a Masterclass in living with purpose.
From Navy SEAL to Healer: Dr. Tony Dice on Winning, Addiction, and True Mastery
On this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Tony Dice — a man whose story is as powerful as it is humbling. Tony is a former Navy SEAL, chiropractor, and performance specialist who has experienced the full spectrum of human potential — from extreme discipline and achievement to the dark reality of addiction and self-destruction.
What makes Tony’s journey so compelling is not just where he’s been, but how he’s transformed. He’s lived the myth of relentless success — pushing his mind and body to the limits — and he’s lived the pain that comes when achievement becomes obsession. Today, his mission is to help others understand that mastery isn’t about control; it’s about healing.
This episode was one of those conversations that sticks with you. It’s about identity, resilience, and what it really means to win — not out there in the world, but within yourself.
The High of Achievement and the Addiction to Winning
Tony’s story begins like many high achievers — driven, competitive, and hungry to prove himself. Growing up, he learned early that performance brought validation. Each victory — whether in sports, academics, or training — became another hit of dopamine, another reason to keep pushing harder.
“Winning gave me something nothing else could — it made me feel like I mattered.”
That hunger eventually took him into one of the most elite brotherhoods in the world — the U.S. Navy SEALs. Inside that environment, pushing beyond limits wasn’t just encouraged; it was required. But what most people don’t see is how that relentless drive can warp into something darker.
In the military, Tony described how the line between dedication and destruction becomes razor thin. The same mindset that makes you elite — pushing past pain, fear, and doubt — can make it nearly impossible to stop when you should.
“The SEALs taught me to win at all costs. What I didn’t realize was that eventually, the cost was me.”
The Culture of Performance and the Burden of Perfection
We talked about how performance culture — in the military, in business, even in everyday life — rewards results but rarely nurtures balance. The problem isn’t ambition; it’s when ambition becomes identity.
Tony said something that really hit me:
“When your worth is tied to what you do, failure feels like death.”
That’s the trap so many high performers fall into. We build our identity on external success, but the moment that success wobbles, so does our sense of self. For Tony, that fragile foundation cracked under the pressure of constant competition and the emotional toll of combat and training.
The same intensity that had once made him unstoppable now left him unable to slow down.
The Downward Spiral: When Winning Becomes Losing
Tony opened up about the years following his time in the SEALs — years defined by restlessness and addiction. When the adrenaline of combat and elite performance faded, he found himself chasing that same intensity in other ways. Alcohol, painkillers, stimulants — anything to fill the void.
“I thought I was chasing excellence, but really, I was running from silence.”
That quote might be one of the most profound lines of the episode. Silence — the stillness we avoid because it forces us to confront ourselves — can be more terrifying than any battlefield.
Tony described how the cycle deepened: addiction, self-doubt, shame, and isolation. Outwardly, he looked successful — running businesses, staying fit, helping others. But inside, he was collapsing.
The Moment of Surrender
At his lowest point, Tony realized something that would change everything: he couldn’t save himself. For a man whose entire life had been about control, discipline, and willpower, that realization was devastating.
He recounted the moment that finally broke through the walls he had built around himself. Sitting across from a therapist, broken and exhausted, the therapist simply handed him a cup of coffee — a small act of humanity that cut through all the armor.
“That moment reminded me I was still human. I didn’t need to earn love — I just needed to receive it.”
It was the beginning of a long and painful process of healing — not just from addiction, but from a lifetime of self-judgment.
Healing as a New Form of Mastery
As Tony shared his story, one theme kept coming up: the idea of mastery through surrender.
In the SEALs, mastery meant control — mastering your body, your mind, your environment. But in recovery, he discovered that true mastery is about letting go.
“Mastery isn’t domination — it’s alignment. It’s learning to move with life, not against it.”
That shift — from control to connection — changed everything. Today, Tony works with others who are caught in that same high-performance trap. He helps them rebuild from the inside out, teaching them how to integrate discipline with compassion, ambition with awareness.
What We Can Learn from Tony’s Journey
There were so many takeaways from this conversation, but a few stood out most powerfully:
Performance without purpose leads to burnout. You can only push for so long before the “why” behind your work needs to change.
Addiction isn’t always about substances — it’s about avoidance. Whether it’s work, exercise, or perfectionism, anything can become an escape.
You can’t heal through control. The same drive that helps you win can keep you stuck if you don’t learn when to let go.
Recovery requires grace. Healing isn’t linear, and it isn’t earned — it’s allowed.
Real strength is vulnerability. The moment you stop pretending to have it all together is the moment real transformation begins.
The Cost of Being a Hero
Tony’s story also exposes the myth of the hero — the idea that strength means never breaking, never asking for help.
In reality, the strongest people are often the ones who have faced their deepest pain and chosen to keep going.
“My whole life, I trained to be a hero. But in the end, I had to be saved from myself.”
That quote is the essence of his journey. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s universal. Whether you’re a veteran, an athlete, an entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to live up to impossible expectations, Tony’s story reminds us that healing doesn’t make you weak — it makes you whole.
Redefining Winning
Toward the end of our conversation, Tony shared what “winning” means to him now. It’s no longer about medals, records, or recognition. It’s about peace.
“Winning used to mean beating everyone else. Now it means showing up for myself every day.”
That’s the transformation we all crave, whether we admit it or not — to move from proving to becoming.
Tony’s life today is built around helping others do exactly that: redefining success, embracing recovery, and creating a life that’s built on connection rather than competition.
Closing Thoughts
My conversation with Dr. Tony Dice was one of the most powerful and human interviews I’ve ever recorded. His story is proof that no matter how far we fall, there’s always a path back — not to who we were, but to who we were meant to become.
Tony’s journey from Navy SEAL to healer isn’t about abandoning discipline or drive — it’s about transforming them. He shows that the same focus that fuels excellence can also fuel healing when it’s rooted in self-awareness and compassion.
If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own ambition or defined by your achievements, this episode is a must-listen. It’s a reminder that true mastery doesn’t come from control — it comes from courage, honesty, and the willingness to start again.
Join us weekly for deep, unfiltered conversations about personal development, leadership, productivity, and excellence. Each episode is crafted to help you take initiative and unlock your full potential — both personally and professionally
In this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, host Chris Beane sits down with remote work strategist and founder of Remote Work Prep, Marissa Goldberg, to challenge traditional ideas about work, rest, and productivity. Marissa has made it her mission to help individuals and organizations thrive remotely—without sacrificing their well-being. From her viral article How to Make 2023 Your Year of No Burnout to her pioneering take that “rest isn’t the opposite of work,” this conversation is filled with eye-opening perspectives and actionable tools for any high-achiever looking to win sustainably. If you're ready to stop burning out and start thriving in your remote or hybrid career, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.
Artificial intelligence is transforming industries faster than ever before — but what does this mean for the future of work, careers, and human potential? In this forward-looking episode of The Prestigious Initiative, Chris Beane sits down once again with Mustafa Ammar, career coach, entrepreneur, and founder of The Passion MBA. Known for helping people design careers they love, Mustafa now turns his focus to how AI is reshaping the very foundations of how we work.
Together, they explore the skills that will be most valuable in an AI-driven economy, strategies for staying adaptable, and how to remain human in an increasingly automated world. From job evolution to lifelong learning, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for anyone who wants to thrive in the next era of work.
On this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, I’m joined by Bill McLean — a creator and systems thinker who specializes in turning everyday tools into powerful productivity frameworks. Bill is known for breaking down simple apps like habit trackers and Apple Notes into workflow systems that help people focus, create, and thrive without burning out.
We dive into:
• How to build habit-forming systems that actually stick
• Practical tech habits that save time and reduce stress
• Workflow optimization strategies for high achievers
• Why small, consistent routines outperform massive overhauls
• How to blend technology and lifestyle design for balance
If you’ve ever struggled to stay consistent with your habits or felt overwhelmed by the chaos of digital tools, this episode will give you the clarity and systems you need to make productivity simple — and sustainable.
Made with Bullet