164: The Fitness & Firearms Competition Taking Over The World w/ CEO Nick Thayer

Nick Thayer, CEO of Tactical Games, reveals how a fusion of CrossFit-style fitness and precision firearms training has evolved from a niche backyard hobby into a global sport that’s reshaping how people engage with physical challenge, mental resilience, and community. What began as a personal quest for adversity and purpose—sparked by a rough childhood and a transformative stint in the Coast Guard—has become a movement that attracts not just military and law enforcement professionals, but teachers, lawyers, and even judges. The sport’s secret weapon? It forces competitors to master the delicate balance between physical exertion and fine motor control, teaching them to shoot under fatigue—a skill that’s as relevant in high-stakes real-world scenarios as it is in competition. Thayer argues that modern society’s avoidance of adversity has led to a crisis of meaning, and that structured, challenging pursuits like Tactical Games are essential antidotes. He also shares a deeply personal journey of rediscovering faith not through dogma, but through stewardship, service, and the shared values across religions: to be good, to love, and to act with integrity. As the sport expands into Europe and Central Asia, Thayer sees it as a vehicle for cultural exchange, proving that the desire to push limits transcends borders and ideologies. The episode’s most powerful insight is that adversity isn’t a burden—it’s a necessity.