Episode 2
Weaponizing Wellness: A Navy SEAL's Mission to End the Military's Sleep Crisis
Guests: Rob Sweetman
Air Date: 12/08/2025 8 am ET
On this episode of Forces of Change, Dr. Mikah Sellers and Annie Graziani host former Navy SEAL and sleep scientist Rob Sweetman (founder of Sleep Genius and 62 Romeo) to discuss the most pressing issues facing the military and veteran communities.
Rob shares his journey from enduring the trauma of service and a difficult transition—marked by a loss of identity and difficulty integrating into a civilian society that "doesn't understand life and death" —to dedicating his life to solving the crisis of poor sleep.
The discussion reveals that sleep is at the core of the military's mental health crisis, leading to an over-reliance on stimulants and sedatives. They decode how widespread fatigue costs the military billions annually in "avoidable mishaps," including ship collisions and dropped jets, underscoring the necessity of treating sleep as a readiness issue.
Rob presents his solution: the need to "Weaponize Wellness for the Warfighter". Learn about policy solutions like structuring consistent circadian watch cycles , measuring physiological recovery , and the grassroots efforts needed to ensure service members are at an optimal baseline for mission effectiveness. The conversation also touches on the future of warfare, including the human impact of managing autonomous robots, and three factors eroding societal wellness: nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and insurance regulation.
