Description

Do you want to know how it feels to face two little girls ready to blow themselves up ?

I am greatly honored to have Ephraim Mattos  on the podcast. Honored and lucky since he is receives a lot of requests for interviews and podcasts and is very selective.

The one thing that convinced him to accept my invitation was our common interest for Seneca. Amazing to realize that a philosopher that lived 2000 years ago can bring a former Navy Seal to accept discussing with a French podcaster.

Ephraim Mattos is indeed a former Navy Seal , the very famous and unique unit from the American Navy. The elite of the elite.

Ephraim shares with us his childhood and how his parent’s education, rooted in aiding the community and in resilience, shaped his personality and brought him to make very unique choices for his life.

Indeed, after living through a horrendous experience in Afghanistan, where he faced to little girls who were ready to blow themselves up but finally renounced, Ephraim decided to dedicate his life in helping civilians in war zones.

After retiring from the Navy, he buys a ticket on a commercial plane to Iraq and joins a group of volunteers (former soldiers) to provide aid care to the wounded and help children, women and the elderly to escape. Ephraim and his comrades where the last line of defense between ISIS monsters and innocent civilians. Using his exceptional skills, he helped save dozens of them in particular during the horrible battle of Mosul.

Following this first experience, Ephraim founded a non-profit organization named “Stronghold rescue and relief ”, whose mission is to help civilian populations in war zones by teaching them basic medical skills, how to us communication tools and how to defend themselves.

Stronghold is particularly involved in Burma besides the Karen population who is persecuted by the military junta which is aiming at an ethnic cleansing of the minority. 

I have never met once in my life a person like Ephraim. Without any political agenda, with no motivation other that his deeply rooted humanity, Ephraim sacrifices his life, uses his unique skillset, to helping the weak and oppressed. 

Some people talk about oppression, some people protest, some people tweet…Ephraim actually risks his life enabling people to defend themselves.

Such a mission is not risk-free. Suffering from PTSD, Ephraim is in constant tension as he saw and lived so many horrific events. But he found meaning, through his actions but also in philosophy. He reads Seneca every day to help him grow and heal.

These are all the reasons why Ephraim is such a unique guest. I hope you will enjoy this episode and please, don’t hesitate to go on Stronghold and rescue’s web site to help the organization.

Références: 

City of death : humanitarian warriors in the battle of Mosul  (E. Mattos - Center Street)

Stronghold rescue and relief  : https://strongholdrescue.org 

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.