Jan 19, 2026
On this week’s podcast, I speak with Robert Kilsby, a former
Australian Special
Forces Special Air Services Regiment Vietnam combat veteran. Born
on Boxing Day
in 1951 in the small coal-mining town of Leigh Creek, South
Australia, Robert’s early
years were steeped in the spirit of adventure—bushland escapades,
go-kart races,
and the kind of rugged independence that would come to define his
life.
By age 14, Robert had already experienced one of life’s hardest
lessons—his
parents’ separation. But instead of falling, he rose. He understood
something rare at
that age: that people, even parents, are human. That insight marked
the beginning of
a lifelong journey of resilience, purpose, and service.
In 1969, just one day after Neil Armstrong walked on the moon,
Robert began his
military career. He joined the Australian Regular Army with a
determination to be a
part of the Vietnam War before it ended. Not long after, at just 18
and a half years
old, he became one of the youngest soldiers to be badged as an SAS
Trooper—an
elite path marked by grit, humour, and unstoppable drive.
From high-risk operations, including those with SEAL Team 1 in
Vietnam, to
developing unconventional warfare tactics back home, Robert helped
shape the
future of Australia’s Special Forces. His career spanned infantry,
intelligence,
Mandarin Chinese language training, and leadership roles in SASR
counterterrorism
operations. His post-military life has been just as extraordinary.
From
founding Veterans In Motorsport – Australia, to paddling 2,450
kilometres down the
Murray River at age 70 to raise funds for homeless veterans. Even
after facing
down stage 4 cancer in 2022 and open-heart surgery in 2024,
Robert’s next mission
is already underway: becoming a keynote speaker and author. His
message? ‘Ultimate Freedom – How to Be in Charge of Yourself’ from
his 2026 book
Ultimate Freedom – The Five Fundamental Principles to Being In
Charge of Yourself.
A philosophy forged in fire, lived on two battlefields—one in
combat, the other in life.
You’re about to hear from a man who’s never stopped pushing
limits—who
embodies courage, service, and reinvention.
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Robert Kilsby
Editor: Kyle Watkins