#178 -Bryan Antonelli: "Seize, Clear, Build, Hold" - Transforming America's Most Violent Prisons

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Episode 178

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Built Not Born Podcast - Bryan Antonelli: "Seize, Clear, Build Hold" - Transforming America's Most Violent Prisons

Former Federal Bureau of Prisons Senior Deputy Regional Director Bryan Antonelli shares 25 years of leadership lessons from transforming America's most dangerous prisons. From Hazelton (where Whitey Bulger was murdered) to Coleman (largest prison complex in America), Bryan reveals how he used military counterinsurgency tactics to turn chaos into order and his new book "Seize, Clear, Build and Hold."

What You'll Learn:

• Why every prison reform starts with fixing the lockup first

• How to get staff buy-in when taking over a chaotic facility

• The counterinsurgency tactics that work inside maximum security prisons

• Why leadership training matters more than security technology

• How drones and cell phones are destroying prison security

• The parallel between Jiu-Jitsu training and leadership under pressure

Key Quote:

"There's always one more thing you can do to increase your odds of success. Your jail's gonna go as your lockup goes - if your lockup's a crowded, undisciplined mess, your jail's gonna be a disaster." - Bryan Antonelli

Timestamps:

🔒 00:00 - From Air Force to 25 years transforming violent prisons

🔒 12:30 - Taking over Hazelton after Whitey Bulger's murder

🔒 18:45 - Why staff culture beats security technology every time

🔒 25:20 - The shower plan that changed everything in 48 hours

🔒 32:15 - How contraband (drones, cell phones, soaked mail) fuels prison violence

🔒 39:40 - "The storm before the calm" - expect resistance before reform

🔒 46:25 - Counterinsurgency tactics: Treating gangs like insurgent groups

🔒 52:30 - Always start with the lockup - your foundation for order

🔒 58:15 - The Sony Walkman descrambler: How smart inmates really are

🔒 64:40 - Incentivizing prisoners: Honor dorms vs restrictive housing

🔒 71:20 - First week takeover plan: Observe, listen, don't rush

🔒 77:50 - Building systems that outlast the leader

🔒 83:30 - The shocking lack of defensive tactics training in corrections

🔒 90:15 - Why Jiu-Jitsu makes better leaders and decision makers

🔒 96:40 - From elite athlete to "fat slob" and back: Brian's transformation

🔒 103:25 - Training at Max's Mixed Martial Arts with the Migliarese brothers

🔒 109:30 - Leave your ego at the door or it'll get choked out

🔒 115:45 - Extreme Ownership: The leadership bible that changed everything

🔒 121:20 - Final lesson: Make time for yourself and family first

Featured Book: "Seize, Clear, Build and Hold" by Brian Antonelli

Brian Antonelli's Background:

• 25-year career with Federal Bureau of Prisons

• Senior Deputy Regional Director, Northeast Regional Office (Philadelphia)

• Transformed Hazelton (WV) after Whitey Bulger murder - 7 murders/year to ZERO

• Chief of Emergency Preparedness for entire BOP

• Coleman (FL) - Largest federal prison complex in America

• 15 prison locations nationwide

• 4 years Air Force (1993-1997)

• 28 years training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (black belt)

• 1996 Olympic Training Center - Greco-Roman wrestling

Connect with Brian Antonelli:

• LinkedIn: Brian Antonelli (13,000+ followers)

• Company: Forged By Freedom Fit (strength & nutrition coaching)

Published on 23 hours ago