America’s veterans and first responders are battling a mental health crisis
41 Veterans and First Responders die by suicide every day
1 in 3 First responders will develop post-traumatic stress disorder
Warriorside exists to confront these crises head-on
These men and women aren’t dying from what happened on the battlefield or the streets—they’re dying from disconnection. Disconnection from themselves. Disconnection from community.
TRAINING
The Art of Empowered Storytelling
Through Warriorside’s 4-week coaching program, participants reconnect with themselves through conscious awareness and transform their life experiences into strength, purpose, and healing. They learn to craft their story with clarity and presence and share it live, creating genuine connection with community. For those called to go further, the Warriorside Speakers Bureau offers a path to become professional speakers and storytellers who turn hard-earned wisdom into messages that inspire healing, unity, and human resilience
Diego Ugalde
Coaching Warriors on the Path to Healing
Looking back through the dusty, war cloud of my career as a civilian paramedic and Navy SEAL, I feel deep gratitude for the last 50+ years of my life’s journey. My path has been shaped by setbacks, failures, broken bones, abandonment, loss, rejection, hard lessons, growth, healing, and transcendence. Through these experiences, I have learned to access a profound peace even in the midst of life’s chaos.
Since retiring from the military in 2018, I have been a public speaker, published author, and leadership and integration coach, guiding leaders, executives, athletes, mental health clinicians, and veterans as they navigate their own life paths, uncover resilience, and embrace the power of their story.
As Executive Director of Warriorside, I lead a program that transforms the lives of Veterans and First Responders by helping them reconnect to self and community through their strength, courage, and humanity.
Diego Ugalde
From the Battlefield to Building Better Teams
Looking back through the dusty, chaotic cloud of my Navy SEAL career, I feel deeply honored to have served among a small group of extraordinary warriors — America’s true superheroes. The journey left its share of scars, but also a lasting sense of pride.
Over 20 years, my path was forged in the fire of setbacks, failures, hard lessons, growth, and ultimately, success. That journey shaped the very roots of who I am today. It gave me deep humility and immense gratitude for the mentors and teammates who sharpened and guided me along the way.
Because of them, I discovered my true identity and purpose. Now, it is my honor to share the lessons I’ve learned — not as war stories, but as tools to help others build elite organizations grounded in unity, trust, and inspiration. My mission today is to help you create teams where people thrive, support one another, and achieve greatness together.
John K Bates
Coaching Leaders to Speak, Inspire, and Lead with Impact
John Bates helps leaders become more effective communicators and inspiring leaders by sharpening their high-level messaging, refining their delivery, and aligning their approach so that what they mean to say is exactly what their audience hears. When leaders go through his coaching, the results are dramatic. When entire teams participate, the results multiply exponentially.
John has worked with top-tier leaders from organizations such as Intuit, Google, NASA, U.S. Navy Special Operations, Boston Scientific, the U.S. Air Force, and many other global enterprises. His training blends principles from neuroscience and evolutionary biology, giving leaders not only proven communication techniques, but also the science behind why they work.
Respected by many of his clients as one of the world’s best executive speaking and presentation coaches, John’s mission is to help leaders speak with clarity, lead with authenticity, and inspire action — all while staying true to their own unique style.
SPEAKERS BUREAU
Speaker Bureau
The Warriorside Speakers Bureau connects audiences with extraordinary voices—veterans, first responders, and frontline professionals whose lived experiences redefine courage, resilience, and connection. Each Warriorside graduate has undergone intensive storytelling training that transforms personal hardship into powerful, purposeful communication. Whether addressing corporate leadership retreats, wellness and mental health conferences, universities, or psychedelic science summits, these speakers bring authenticity and emotional intelligence that can’t be taught in classrooms. Their stories don’t just inspire; they bridge worlds—between service and civilian life, between trauma and transformation, between isolation and belonging. The Warriorside Speakers Bureau exists to amplify these voices globally, reminding audiences everywhere that your story, the medicine.
At Warriorside, we know that it is our story that forges us into the powerful resilient humans that we are.
We Need Your Support!
Let’s talk over fire.
