Olivia: What happens when you invite a human tornado, dressed only in shorts during a New York blizzard, to live in your fancy apartment? Welcome back to When It Happened, I’m Olivia, and today’s story is hilariously intense. Olivia: We’re diving into Jesse Itzler’s memoir, "Living with a SEAL." Jesse’s a successful entrepreneur, marathon runner, living the high life, but feeling stuck. So, he hires an anonymous, incredibly intense former Navy SEAL – known only as SEAL – to move in for a month and obliterate his routine. Jesse wants a shake-up, and SEAL promises extreme training, mentally and physically. The entire wild experiment pivots on the moment that force of nature first arrived at Jesse’s door. Olivia: Picture this: December 2010, New York City buried under twenty inches of snow. Jesse’s nervously waiting. A knock. Standing there isn’t some bundled-up trainer, but SEAL – imposing, focused, wearing only shorts and a t-shirt in the freezing cold. His first words? Not "Hello," but an abrupt, "You ready?" Jesse’s attempts at small talk are instantly shut down. "I operate in actions," SEAL declares. And just like that, before Jesse can process it, they’re heading out into the blizzard for their first workout. Olivia: That arrival scene is the book in miniature. It’s the collision of Jesse’s comfortable world with SEAL’s zero-compromise reality. SEAL’s appearance and bluntness immediately signal this isn't about gentle encouragement; it's about radical disruption. This moment sets the relentless, often comical, tone for the entire month. It foreshadows every grueling run in the cold, every impossible challenge like the infamous 1,000 push-ups, perfectly encapsulating the core idea: true growth lies miles outside your comfort zone, often introduced by a guy in shorts during a snowstorm. Olivia: So, what’s the takeaway? First, sometimes breaking a rut requires a truly radical shake-up. Second, actively seek discomfort – pushing past your usual limits is where you discover what you’re really capable of. Maybe just skip inviting a SEAL to live with you! That’s all for this week’s When It Happened. Join me next time for another defining moment. I’m Olivia, thanks for listening.