In this episode of Change Agents, Andy Stumpf tours Jesse James’ Austin workshop, where the master builder showcases his evolution from a TV personality to a dedicated craftsman focused on bespoke motorcycles, muscle cars, and high-end firearms. James highlights incredible feats of labor, such as a motorcycle frame that required two years of hand-engraving and a custom 1961 Oldsmobile built to modern performance standards.
Beyond the machinery, James reveals he is currently building a custom firearm for Elon Musk and reflects on his turbulent past, including a jail sentence that ended his football aspirations and his time working security for stars like Madonna and Rick Rubin. Ultimately, the video focuses on James’ philosophy of finding self-worth through manual labor, a theme central to his new book, The Art of the Craftsman.
Life After the SEAL Teams: Reinventing Himself in the Civilian World
After serving in the United States Navy, the example of Andy Stumpf demonstrates how one can utilize the experiences gained from military service for something good in the civilian world. Andy Stumpf was born on October 10, 1979, in California, and he had always wanted to be a Navy SEAL since he was young. Andy joined the United States Navy while still in high school, and he has served for 17 years, during which he was part of SEAL Team Five and the special unit SEAL Team Six, also known as DEVGRU.
During his time in the military, Andy Stumpf has participated in hundreds of combat missions. He has been awarded several awards, including the Purple Heart and several Bronze Star Medals, four of which were for exceptional bravery. He was also injured during a mission when he was shot with an AK-47. He later became an instructor, where he taught new SEALs at BUD/S, and he became the first Limited Duty Officer to be commissioned from the enlisted ranks in Naval Special Warfare history.
But a life of combat does not always serve as adequate preparation for the psychological and professional demands of the civilian world. Stumpf’s transition from the military was more than a simple career change – it was a transformation of purpose. Andy has leveraged his experience in a variety of ways: public speaking, consulting, and training business leaders on resilience and high performance.
His consulting company is continuing the work of leveraging combat experience to inform leadership and teamwork in the business world, ensuring that the lessons learned during his time as a SEAL are not abandoned once he takes off the uniform. Stumpf is today recognized not only for his work while wearing the uniform, but for the ways in which he has been able to distill his experience into a set of tools that can be used by individuals and organizations to overcome adversity and succeed.
Whether Andy Stumpf is speaking in front of an audience, working with brands, or leading business leaders through strategic thinking, his post-military life is a testament to his dedication to helping others find meaning and purpose outside of the traditional constructs of service.
Marriage, Family, and Fatherhood: The Private Life He Keeps Off-Camera
One of the most interesting — and not always talked about — parts of Andy Stumpf's life is his role as a husband and father. Even though he's a decorated veteran and a well-known public figure, he has kept much of his family life private. He only shares parts of his family story when it helps explain bigger ideas about personal growth, who he is, or how he handles challenges.
Andy is married to his long-time partner, Amanda, who is sometimes referred to as Leah in public sources. Together, they have three children. They've been together for more than ten years, and their relationship seems to be built on strong support and shared beliefs. Although Andy doesn't often talk about his family in detail, he has openly shared how being a father changed his view on risk, what's important to him, and what he values most in life.
In interviews and podcast episodes, Andy Stumpf often says his children are the main reason he feels purposeful. They often give him the motivation he needs when dealing with big challenges in his career or when making tough personal choices. In his private life, Andy's approach to being a father is different from the high-risk lifestyle he's known for.
When Andy Stumpf talks about raising kids, he focuses on being there for them, providing a stable environment, and being emotionally available. This shows he sees family as a key part of his life — not just something that happens after his other activities, but as a strong base that helps shape his decisions and priorities. Being a father is said to have helped him feel more grounded, especially after spending many years away from home during his military service.
Even though details about his wife's identity and the names of his children aren't widely shared, the big picture is clear: family is a central part of Andy Stumpf's life. Whether he talks about parenting in interviews or acknowledges the sacrifices his wife has made with him, this private side of his life adds a deeply human story of love, commitment, and responsibility to his public image.
The Cleared Hot Podcast: Unfiltered Talks on Life, Risk, and Reality
After Andy Stumpf left active duty, he didn’t avoid the spotlight. Instead, he created a strong platform to reach people in a real and sometimes bold way. His most important work is the Cleared Hot Podcast. It started as a place to talk about mindset, risk, purpose, and what it means to be human.
What makes Cleared Hot special is that it has honest and open conversations that go beyond typical motivational content. The podcast features interviews with ex-military members, business owners, thinkers, and famous people. They share deep insights on subjects that matter to them and their audiences, like growing from trauma, understanding identity, taking responsibility, and changing social standards.
Andy's podcast is driven by curiosity, not by a need for attention. While some listeners enjoy the stories of combat and high-adrenaline experiences, many stay for the thoughtful reflection and hard-earned lessons. The podcast is more than just tales of war and extreme adventures. It’s a space for people to explore how they deal with challenges, rebuild their lives, and understand the world in a confusing time.
In different episodes, Andy talks about mental health, culture, what risk really means, and how past experiences shape today’s choices. His background as a Navy SEAL, a father, and a public figure gives his conversations real authenticity. This appeals to people who want more than shallow conversation. Cleared Hot also serves as a community for both veterans and civilians.
Each episode connects the military and civilian worlds, helping listeners understand the psychological aspects of extreme jobs and lives. The podcast has become a reliable place for deep and meaningful discussions. Because of this, Andy Stumpf has become a major figure in today’s podcasting world, even though his work is closely tied to the military.
Chasing Adrenaline: Wingsuit Flying, BASE Jumping, and Extreme Records
Whereas many public figures find themselves leaving high-risk careers for more stable and predictable lives, Andy Stumpf has chosen a different route, one that continues to involve risk, adventure, and the seeking of extreme challenges. Among the most well-known of his post-military activities is his association with wingsuit flying and BASE jumping.
In 2015, he accomplished one of the most incredible feats in the sport by setting a world record for the longest wingsuit distance, flying an incredible 18 miles after leaping from approximately 36,500 feet in an effort to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation.
This record-breaking feat was more than simply a publicity stunt – it was a deliberate combination of athleticism, accuracy, and philanthropy. Stumpf has explained that the jump was less about his own personal achievement and more about bringing attention to veteran-related issues and giving back to the SEAL community that helped to shape him.
Today, Andy Stumpf is a sponsored skydiver and BASE jumper who travels the world to execute jumps and extreme aerial stunts, document them, and explore new avenues of sponsorship and media partnership. What is particularly interesting about this period of his life is the way he thinks about risk—not as a reckless pursuit of adrenaline, but as a means of self-improvement and narrative.
In his interviews, he frequently highlights the importance of preparation, hard work, and an awareness of one’s own limitations, even as he seeks to exceed them. Such an attitude is the result of his many years of intense training and combat experience, applied to an area where physical prowess and mental fortitude intersect.
His engagement with extreme sports has also helped him reach a wider audience than just his military and podcasting circles, placing him in the position of a figure who is known for his passionate engagement with the edges of life. Whether he is soaring through the air or talking about the psychology of fear and achievement, Stumpf is a man who seeks excellence in all things.
Business, Branding, and Speaking: Turning Experience into Enterprise
Aside from his podcast and his accomplishments in extreme sports, Andy Stumpf has also proven himself to be a well-rounded entrepreneur and leader. He has used his military heritage and personal identity to create successful collaborations, consulting, and speaking engagements that appeal to a wide range of industries.
The entrepreneurial pursuits of Stumpf are quite varied. He has collaborated with large tactical and lifestyle brands such as Blackhawk as a brand ambassador, pairing his own reputation with companies that appeal to his own values and interests.
In the business world, he has advised Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and leadership teams, leveraging his war experience to share insights on leadership, resilience, teamwork, and strategic decision-making. This is a testament to his capacity to break down complex concepts into simpler, more understandable terms, whether in a conference room or on a podium.
Moreover, Andy’s speaking engagements as a public speaker combine storytelling and frameworks. He talks about a wide range of subjects, from overcoming adversity and success redefinition to stress management and building a culture of excellence. His voice matters not only because of his achievements but also because he has lived through the most difficult battles of life and has come out with insights that can help others face their own battles.
Injury, Recovery, and Resilience: Rebuilding After Combat Wounds
One of the most defining chapters of Andy Stumpf’s life was not only his time in combat but also his recovery from the effects of a serious wound and the psychological process of rebuilding his sense of self. In 2002, while deployed with SEAL Team Six, he was shot in the leg by an insurgent, a wound that many thought would not only limit his service but also make it difficult for him to walk at all.
However, Stumpf’s toughness and character soon became apparent as he fought through his recovery and went on to instruct at BUD/S and take on other leadership roles. It is this experience of injury and recovery that shapes much of his perspective on risk, adversity, and the inevitable setbacks of life. Instead of letting this wound define him in a negative way, he has chosen to see it as the spark that ignited a new path in his life.
His experience is relatable to so many people because it embodies a truth that applies to everyone: sometimes the disruptions of life are simply out of our control, but the way we respond to them can change the course of our lives in profound ways. Through his interviews and podcasting, he has been open about his experiences with setbacks—not as something to be ashamed of, but as something to build strength, empathy, and purpose from. This has made his message attractive to people far beyond the military community.