225. From Struggle to Strength | A Green Beret’s Recovery with Scott Mann

2025-03-25

"Storytelling heals the brain." "No struggle, no story." "Life happens in moments." Episode summary | In this episode of Return on Generosity, host Shannon Cassidy speaks with Scott Mann, a former Green Beret and founder of Rooftop Leadership. They discuss the importance of generosity in leadership, the power of storytelling, and how to build trust in low-trust environments. Scott shares his journey from military service to becoming a playwright and advocate for veterans, emphasizing the healing power of personal stories. The ...

"Storytelling heals the brain."

"No struggle, no story."

"Life happens in moments."

Episode summary |

In this episode of Return on Generosity, host Shannon Cassidy speaks with Scott Mann, a former Green Beret and founder of Rooftop Leadership. They discuss the importance of generosity in leadership, the power of storytelling, and how to build trust in low-trust environments. Scott shares his journey from military service to becoming a playwright and advocate for veterans, emphasizing the healing power of personal stories. The conversation also touches on the creation of his play 'Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret' and the work of his nonprofit, Task Force Pineapple, which focuses on supporting veterans and their families.

R.O.G. Takeaway Tips |

Generosity is key to personal and professional growth.
Building trust requires understanding both yourself and others.
Storytelling is a powerful tool for healing and connection.
Leaders must manage emotional temperatures in conversations.
Personal stories can resonate universally and foster connection.
Advocacy for veterans is crucial in the current political climate.
Preparing for future threats requires awareness and action.
Engaging in storytelling can help individuals process their experiences.

Chapters |

00:00 Introduction to Scott Mann and His Journey

03:31 The Role of Green Berets in Building Trust

06:23 Navigating Low Trust Environments

09:26 Practical Steps for Building Trust

12:31 The Power of Storytelling in Healing

15:29 The Journey of Creating 'Last Out'

18:32 Impact of Storytelling on Audiences

21:25 The Generosity of Scars and Vulnerability

29:47 The Power of Personal Storytelling

33:37 The Hero's Journey and Its Impact

40:02 Task Force Pineapple: A New Mission

42:27 Engaging with the Community

47:19 Living a Life of Long Breaths

50:00 Introduction to Generosity and Growth

50:10 The Impact of Giving on Personal Development

Guest Bio |

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Scott Mann is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with combat tours all over the world including Colombia, Iraq, and multiple tours in Afghanistan. He is a warrior storyteller and the President and founder of Rooftop Leadership, a leadership consulting and training company in Tampa, Florida where he shares the rapport-building skills he learned in Special Forces to help today’s leaders make better human connections when stakes are high and trust is low. Scott helps organizations gain a better understanding of their internal culture while exposing the potential for conflict that exists when trust has deteriorated. In the same way he empowered local tribes in Iraq and Afghanistan to make transformative decisions using very few resources, Scott teaches corporate leaders and their teams the relationship-building techniques that drove so many of his successful combat operations.

Scott is the NYT Best-selling Author of Operation Pineapple Express and #1 International Best-Selling Author of Game Changers, Going Local to Defeat Violent Extremists. He has spoken on three TEDx stages and is also a playwright and actor in his recent play brought to film about the Afghan War and the unforeseen cost of war on our Veterans called “Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret,” which is available on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, AppleTV, and VUDU.

Scott is the founder of Task Force Pineapple and the 501c3 Operation Pineapple Express Relief where he actively advocates in Congress and on national media outlets for the safe passage and resettlement of our abandoned Afghan Allies.

He is also the founder of the 501c3, The Heroes Journey, where he is dedicated to helping veterans and military families find their voice and tell their story as they transition out of military service in order to bridge the civilian-military divide.

Scott has appeared on numerous TV, Radio, and Podcast media platforms to include CNN, Fox, all the major networks and syndicated radio and has been published by the Epoch Times and Daily Wire.

Scott’s greatest accomplishments are his 26-year marriage and his three grown sons .

Resources: