Retired Navy SEAL Commander Jon Macaskill's Mindfulness Journey

Alana introduced her guest, Jon Macaskill, a retired Navy SEAL commander who now focuses on mindfulness and meditation. Jon's career path took a turn towards spirituality after serving in various conflict zones, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. He now runs a mindfulness consulting company and does speaking engagements on leadership, grit, and resilience. Jon's wife, also a Navy veteran, is now an orthopedic physician assistant. The couple has three children and is on an RV adventure.

Alana and retired Navy SEAL commander Jon Macaskill discussed the transformative power of mindfulness and meditation in overcoming trauma and stress, with Jon sharing his own experiences of healing through these practices. They also highlighted the importance of nature in therapy, the need for non-judgmental self-awareness in practicing these techniques, and the role of gratitude and mindfulness in finding fulfillment and joy in life. Lastly, they touched on the benefits of integrating mindfulness and movement in promoting healing, as exemplified by Jon's company, Frogman Mindfulness.

Jon Macaskill (muh-KAS-kill) is a retired Navy SEAL Commander turned mindfulness and meditation teacher. He was born in South Africa and moved with his parents and 4 siblings to the US when he was 7. He grew up in Ruston, Louisiana where he was an avid track and cross-country runner.

After graduating high school, he served briefly as an enlisted sailor in the Navy before receiving an appointment to the US Naval Academy. He has his BS in Mathematics and MS in Operations Research.

Jon has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, off the coast of Somalia, and in Panama. After retiring, he served as the Deputy Executive Director and podcast host and producer for Veteran’s PATH, a nonprofit organization that works to introduce meditation and mindfulness to veterans to bring them a sense of Peace, Acceptance, Transformation and Honor.

He now does keynote speaking engagements on developing leadership, grit, and resilience at the individual and organizational levels. He also owns his own mindfulness consulting company, Macaskill Consulting, LLC, bringing mindfulness and meditation to high performing teams to aid in dealing with stress, anxiety and depression all while increasing focus, creativity, and productivity.

He is married with 3 lovely children. They enjoy traveling cross country USA in their family RV.