Fireworks took his hand — but not his purpose.
In this episode, Josh Kosnick sits down with Ben Shortreed, a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, father, and 2025 Superhuman Man of the Year. What began as a backyard party ended with Ben losing his left hand in a freak fireworks accident. What followed was even more brutal: unbearable phantom pain, opioid dependency, an identity crisis, and a battle with suicide.
But this story isn’t about suffering — it’s about the blueprint for mental toughness that Ben forged in the fire.
Inside this raw and transparent conversation:
• The night that changed everything
• Facing down phantom pain and addiction
• How fitness helped him reclaim his identity
• Fatherhood, faith, and finding purpose through adversity
• Why he joined the Bridge Builder Mastermind
• What “no excuses” actually looks like
🔥 Want to transform your body and mind?
Mention Ben Shortreed’s name and get $500 off the Supra Human program: https://suprahuman.com
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Ben’s mindset after the accident
01:03 – Fireworks, addiction & phantom pain
07:10 – Rebuilding post-trauma
13:41 – Phantom pain: the silent battle
16:27 – Business, identity & purpose
23:49 – Finding Supra Human
28:24 – Real transformation begins
31:09 – Fitness as identity
40:33 – Escaping painkillers
42:49 – Goals, growth & fatherhood
48:18 – Mastermind power & competition
51:56 – Action as the cure for anxiety
56:30 – Faith, regret & God’s plan
01:02:14 – Family, legacy & mental health
01:03:44 – Veterans, hormones & mission
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Connect with Josh Kosnick: https://linktr.ee/joshkosnick
#SpartanLeadership #Leadership #BusinessSuccess #Mindset #Entrepreneurship #SelfImprovement #Podcast #JoshKosnick #SpartanMindset

Spartan Valor Foundation is dedicated to empowering veterans, military families, and survivors of child trafficking. Through strategic partnerships, we provide critical resources, advocacy, and hope for those who have sacrificed so much. Join us in making a difference—because no hero should stand alone.

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