You remember the guy with the tactical pants and the "failure is not an option" stare? Joe Teti basically became a household name for anyone who spent their Tuesday nights watching the Discovery Channel. He was the high-speed, low-drag counterpart to the barefoot, primitive-living Cody Lundin on Dual Survival. But then, things got messy. Like, really messy. Lawsuits, "stolen valor" accusations, and a very public exit from the show left a lot of fans wondering where he went.
So, what is Joe Teti doing now? Honestly, he’s still very much in the game, just not in the way you might expect. He hasn't retired to a bunker in the woods. Instead, he’s leaned hard into his background as a special operations veteran, turning his combat and survival experience into a full-blown corporate and tactical training brand.
Back to the Basics: Spartan Americana
These days, Joe Teti spends a lot of his time in North Carolina. He founded a company called Spartan Americana. It isn't just some backyard survival school for weekend warriors. It’s a serious tactical firearms and survival training company. He works with everyone from responsible citizens who want to protect their families to law enforcement and corporate teams.
Imagine having a guy who served as a Force Recon Marine, an Army Green Beret, and a CIA Ground Branch operator teaching you how to handle a pistol. That's his pitch. He markets himself as a "perpetual student," which is kinda funny considering he's usually the one at the front of the room. He focuses heavily on what he calls "Attention to Detail Training" (ADT) and the OODA Loop—basically teaching people how to make life-or-death decisions under extreme pressure.
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The Speaker Circuit and Leadership Coaching
Beyond the shooting range, Teti has found a niche on the keynote speaker circuit. If you’ve got a business that needs a kick in the pants regarding leadership or crisis management, he’s your guy—if you can afford the $20,000 to $30,000 fee.
He talks a lot about the 10 Key Characteristics of a Great Leader and situational awareness. He isn't just telling stories about eating bugs; he’s trying to translate military "Special Mission Unit" tactics into "how to keep your business from failing during a recession." He’s also the co-founder of Tier 1 Performance Coaching. It’s a pivot from the "survival" brand to the "performance" brand, which seems to be the natural evolution for a lot of former Tier 1 operators.
Dealing with the "Stolen Valor" Fallout
You can't talk about what Joe Teti is doing now without mentioning the shadow that followed him off the Discovery Channel. For years, he was dogged by claims that he exaggerated his military record. The Special Forces Association even revoked his membership back in 2014, which was a huge blow to his credibility at the time.
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However, Teti has been very vocal recently about clearing his name. In late 2025, he appeared on the Julian Dorey Podcast to "break his silence." He maintains that the confusion came from the secrecy of his work with the CIA’s Special Activities Division (now called the Special Operations Group).
- He admits he didn't see combat while in a military uniform.
- He claims his combat experience happened as a civilian contractor and "Ground Branch" operative.
- He recently settled defamation lawsuits against some of his biggest accusers, including Mykel Hawke.
It's a complicated legacy. To some, he's a hero who was unfairly targeted by professional jealousy. To others, he’s a guy who blurred the lines of his resume for TV fame. Regardless of where you land, the courts have largely settled the legal disputes, and he’s moved on.
The Reality of Reality TV
Many people still ask why he left Dual Survival in the first place. The rumors were wild: everything from him threatening Cody Lundin with an ice axe to him supposedly harming a dog on set during a final scene.
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Teti has largely dismissed the drama as "just TV." He points out that he shot more episodes than any other host on that show. He recently shared that he has no ill will toward his former co-hosts, though the lawsuits filed by Cody Lundin suggest that "friendship" might be a stretch. He basically treats his time on Discovery like a high-intensity deployment—he did the job, it was stressful, and now he’s on to "bigger and better things."
What's Next for Joe?
At the start of 2026, Teti is still writing. He’s a published author, focusing on books that combine survival tips with "mental toughness" advice. He’s very active on social media, often posting from the range or sharing motivational clips. He’s also still involved in high-end personal security work, occasionally consulting for private clients in high-risk areas like Dubai.
He hasn't returned to a major network series yet, but he seems to prefer the control he has over his own brand. No producers telling him where to stand or "scripting" his survival choices.
Next Steps to Follow Joe Teti:
If you’re looking to keep tabs on his latest training sessions or want to see his side of the military record debate, your best bet is his official website, JoeTeti.com, or his Spartan Americana portal. He also posts fairly regularly on his YouTube channel and Instagram, where he’s been sharing more "behind the scenes" details of his CIA days now that some of the legal dust has settled. If you're in the North Carolina area, you can actually book a training session with him, provided you're ready for some pretty intense "Special Ops" style instruction.