What if your worst professional failure became your greatest clinical asset?

In this episode, Matt Cumbee—former Navy SEAL and Arena Labs performance coach—joins us to unpack how “catastrophic” failures forge the grit and capacity every healthcare worker needs. Drawing on his time as a SEAL and years spent helping physicians, nurses, and surgeons translate elite tactics into everyday care, Matt reveals why embracing missteps is the fastest path to true mastery in high-stakes environments.

He breaks down the fail–reflect–master cycle, explains why the hardest lessons often come wrapped in sleepless nights, and shares the go-to strategies he delivers when clinicians need them most.

Whether you’re leading the OR or simply aiming to turn your next mistake into your greatest lesson, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to fail faster, learn deeper, and ultimately raise the bar on patient care.

Got thoughts, questions, or big ideas? Reach out to the team at Arena Labs.