58. Andy McNab on being tortured, facing an execution squad and the upside of being a psychopath

“I’ve got the ability to kill people and not sort of worry about it too much.”
In this episode, I’m joined by the former SAS soldier, hugely successful writer, campaigner and clinically diagnosed psychopath Andy McNab. Andy’s life began in crisis .. abandoned after birth on the steps of a London hospital, he was later adopted and raised in Peckham. After several run-ins with the law as a teenager, Andy’s life was transformed when he was given a choice – prison or the army. He went on to become one of the most decorated soldiers of his generation.
In 1991 Andy commanded an eight-man SAS squad designated Bravo Two Zero, who were dropped behind enemy lines in Iraq on a mission to destroy Saddam’s lines of communications. His best-selling book about those events has sold over six million copies and has never been out of print.
It told the incredible story of how, after seeing three members of his squad killed, he was captured and tortured. Andy was only released after enduring an horrific mock execution.
Months after experiences that would break even the toughest of individuals, Andy was back to work in covert operations. How he coped, he tells me, is in large part due to his mental make-up. Years after leaving the army Andy was clinically diagnosed with psychopathy. “But I’m a good type of psychopath,” he says whilst admitting that his lack of empathy means that he is capable of killing for money, if his circumstances demanded it.
Thankfully with a further 52 books now under his belt, that is unlikely to happen. Andy’s latest book, Shadow State, the first in a new series focused on the murky world of cybercrime, is out now.
Essentially a psychopath’s guide to resilience, this is an episode you will not want to miss.
Andy’s face has been obscured in the video recording of this episode. He explains exactly why at the start of our conversation.

Full episdoe transcript available at: https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/andy-mcnab-on-being-tortured-facing-an-execution-squad-and-the-upside-of-being-a-psychopath/


Topics covered:
– Abandonment
– Psychopathy
– SAS selection
– Withstanding torture
– Bereavement
– Stoicism and the power of perspective
– Money and morality

Andy’s Crisis Cures:
1. Don’t start flapping. Just accept what’s going on. There is a crisis. It’s here. It’s happening.
2. Take action. Once you’ve accepted the truth, you’ve got to get on. You’ve got to rectify it slowly to get out of the crisis. Take responsibility for it.
3. Accept that the world isn’t that perfect. You may not come out of that crisis completely clean. You’ve just got to get on with it and try and get some resolution. Because the next one is coming down the road, and you don’t want them to all compound on top of each other.

Links:
Shadow State – https://amzn.to/3Xzhcxe
Down to the Wire – https://amzn.to/3I9ixVC
Bravo Two Zero – https://amzn.to/3KdihHP
Twitter – @The_Real_McNab – https://twitter.com/The_Real_McNab?s=20

Stream/Buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bmSome Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682

Host – Andy Coulson
CWC production team: Louise Difford, Ed Isaacs and Jane Sankey
With special thanks to Global