Podcast Episode Details

Two Star General with Bipolar Disorder Who Engineered the Push into Baghdad | Major General (Ret) Gregg Martin, PhD

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This is a unique Combat Story with a Gregg Martin, a retired Two Star Army General who has two Combat Stories: one about fighting in uniform that included engineering the US military’s push into Iraq in 2003 and another that involved battling bipolar disorder for years.

Gregg was one of the highest achievers you can imagine as he road a wave of hyperthymia (a near continual state of mild-mania with abnormally high levels of energy, enthusiasm, and positivity that helped him graduate West Point, complete Ranger School, get a Masters and PhD from MIT, successfully command at multiple levels in the Army, while being an active leader in his community. 

Eventually, during the euphoria of leading combined operations in Iraq in 2003, Gregg had what he describes as the onset of his bipolar disorder that manifested as times of mania followed by bouts of depression until, after attained the rank of two star general, he was relieved of command.

Gregg’s book has just come out and is aptly titled “Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness” that goes into detail about his military experience and career alongside the mental health challenges he faced.

I hope you enjoy this insightful interview with a retired General who has successfully managed bipolar disorder for several years as much as I did.

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- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find Ryan Rogers Online:
- Website: https://www.generalgreggmartin.com

- Book Bipolar General: https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-General-Forever-Illness-Association/dp/1682473805 

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Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro 
00:49 - Guest Introduction (Gregg Martin)
02:03 - Interview begins
02:35 - Traits of a General
05:37 - Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder
18:04 - PTSD to Bipolar Disorder
21:02 - Family Military history
25:30 - Engineer Corps. 
27:02 - 5 year mark commitment
28:10 - Time at MIT
33:15 - Pre 9/11 Military experience
39:23 - Signs of Mania during enlistment
43:01 - DeleteMe Ad
44:06 - Time at Army War College
45:30 - Bipolar Disorder and Genetics
56:40 - Time in Germany during war time
49:24 - Mission set for Engineer Corps.
58:23 - Bridges to Baghdad 
01:06:26 - Average day in Iraq
01:16:10 - Onset of Bipolar disorder during Ops.
01:20:46 - Challenging moments
01:26:13 - Differences in character coming home
01:29:18 - Being Relieved
01:53:14 - Life with medication
01:54:29 - Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness
01:54:50 - Sentimental items
01:55:32 - Would you do it all again?
01:56:37 - Closing thoughts
01:57:33 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Published on 1 year, 3 months ago