SOFREP Radio

Imagine setting out on a five day adventure trip to Costa Rica, engulfing yourself in a regimen of yoga, meditation, fitness training, and hiking with a former Marine Scout Sniper turned Special Missions Unit Assault Commander. It certainly sounds like quite a departure from the usual tactical training that's prevalent among guys retired from the special operations community, but it's exactly what Todd Opalski sets out to embark on with the Pathfinder Course. It's a part of his project, Zen Commando. We had Todd on with us four months back on Episode 365 to discuss this, and he's in studio again to tell us how the project is fleshing out. Quite honestly, it sounds incredible, and you may be itching to get a spot when Camp Zen Commando opens shop after hearing more. Also on Episode 404, we answer your emails sent to [email protected]. We love getting them as well as your voice memos, keep 'em coming. Plus, how could we not give our reaction to Lieutenant Commander, Navy SEAL, and now Congressman-elect Dan Crenshaw making an appearance on Saturday Night Live? He delivered a swift verbal throat punch as well as a heartfelt message with comic Pete Davidson in a rare moment of Americans coming together. Enjoy our show? Then we ask you to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @SOFREPRadio, and please leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Wright is an A-List actor who's starred in films and shows like "The Hunger Games," "Boardwalk Empire," "Casino Royale," and "Westworld." He's won Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe awards for his masterful performances, but how did he get hooked up with a collective of veterans creating poetry to deal with issues like post-traumatic stress from combat and sexual assault in the military? You'll hear all about it on this episode where he joins us in studio, along with a 26-year veteran of the Army featured in "We Are Not Done Yet," April Harris. It premieres tonight on HBO @ 8 PM EST, so be sure to tune in right after you check this out. If you're hearing this after, check HBO for future showtimes. As you'll hear, Brandon Webb hosted this episode with me, and we dive into a lot of other major issues and controversies. We also give an update on some great things happening with Crate Club, and if you're not already a subscriber, now is the time to become one! If you're a new listener, be sure to subscribe to the podcast. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter @SOFREPRadio, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Wilkow is the host of "The Wilkow Majority" on Sirius XM Patriot, "Wilkow" on CRTV, and a long time good friend of ours at the podcast. It's now become tradition that every year at Emmett O'Lunney's in Times Square, New York City, he hosts a Veteran's Day event benefiting different grassroots charities in the community. This year, the money is going to Operation Chillout, Wishes for Warriors, Stop Soldier Suicide, Horses for Heroes, and American Warrior Initiative. You'll hear all about what each of them do on this episode. The way it works is that there is going to be a vet ride of bikers from Harley Davidson in Hope, NJ to the bar for the event. If you want to ride, you just need to give a $30 minimum donation which also gets you a shirt, and you can sign up right now for that through Eventbrite. For you non-bikers, be at the bar for the Voices of Veterans broadcast from 1-4 PM EST on November 11th, and long-sleeve shirts will be available there for a minimum $25 donation (that is if any are left by than!) Now, for those of you outside of the area, you can still donate and get a limited shirt through Andrew's webstore. Of course, we also get into some other talk while Andrew joins us in studio. We talk about the midterm elections, and the problems we see in today's mainstream media. We touch on a recent Newsrep article of some disturbing war crime allegations against the Navy SEALs by writer Stavros Atlamazoglou. Also, Andrew tells a great bar fight story about CJ Ramone from Chiller Theatre in New Jersey that you won't want to miss. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here at SOFREP Radio we really pride ourselves on having on a diverse group of guys that are a part of the spec ops community from around the globe featured, and Jeff Depatie is the first guest of ours who served as a sniper/assaulter from Joint Task Force 2. That's right, the name may ring a bell as you might remember a member of the unit beating the record of longest sniper kill at a mind blowing 3,540 meters. You'll hear the info from him, from the selection process to the characteristics of the Canadian operators he served alongside. An interesting tidbit he gets into is the secrecy around Canada's spec ops community, and how it differs from the now more high profile Navy SEALs for example. Currently, Jeff is running The Special Forces Experience as the Chief Course Architect. What they are is a group of seasoned operators giving the ultimate experience of what it means to serve in high stress combat situations for those guys out there who are dying to get a taste of what it's really like. There's an excellent video on Vimeo giving a sample of what it is that they do. The men from Canada have been some of the toughest and most crucial in the War on Terror, and it's an honor to learn about that story first hand. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when you bring together long time friends and veterans of the Special Forces community, Dale Comstock and Jim West, to share some mind blowing fighting stories? Well, let me just say that Episode 400 does not disappoint. Jim West trained Dale in American Extension Fighting, and not only does Dale have a great respect for Jim's craft, he fesses up to having some fear of the guy early on. Can you blame him? Some of you may have seen an excerpt being circulated on Youtube from a much longer DVD of "Smokey" training Comstock in some lethal techniques. The guys bring you back in time to that era, and some of the real life brawls that inspired these deadly skills. These men are the real deal, and you'll hear why if you don't already know. It has truly been an honor working on this show on behalf of everyone involved for 400 episodes. It is incredible to us that we get to do this, and we owe it all to you, the listeners. We reflect on the past five years and what this show means to us. We also answer your emails sent to [email protected]. Have a Happy Halloween, and here's to 400 more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media's impact on issues ranging from the democratic process to terrorist recruitment is a subject we've covered in great detail on SOFREP Radio. That's why we were excited to bring on P.W. Singer, co-author of "LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media" written with Emerson T. Brooking, a best-selling book that goes in-depth on this very subject. Singer is also a strategist and senior fellow at New America. We get into Russia's hand in the election of Donald Trump through propaganda spread on Facebook, as well as the de-platforming of vocal figures in conspiracy theory movement. Much scarier than these issues however, is the future of technology that you'll hear us get into, where videos of fake events will become the norm much like the Photoshopping of images. There are no easy answers in this world of "fake news," which is why you'll hear some difference of opinion on the subject from us. If this is a topic you're interested in, we hope you pick up "Likewar." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benedetta Argentieri, who many of you know better by now as "Benni," is excited to discuss her new documentary as she joins us in studio. The film is called "I Am The Revolution" and it follows three females in the Middle East fighting for gender equality in very different ways. One of these women is a politician, one a commander in the Syrian Democratic Army, and another who runs shelters for abused women. This leads to a greater discussion on feminism at large, and what true progress in a society is defined by. The film premieres November 15th at Cinepolis Chelsea, and is a part of the Doc NYC film festival. We hope that you join us, as we'll all be in attendance along with nearly everyone involved in making the film. I'm excited to see the finished product! Benni also had the honor of giving a Ted Talk in Milan regarding the film, and she discusses the anxiety of speaking in front of such a large audience. We also read a reaction to the Dale Comstock episode which is getting a great response, and you can send any emails you'd like us to check out to [email protected]. We also get into the recent news out of Saudi Arabia and Turkey's response, as well as some news on military policy and Jack's perspective on it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this week we reported on highly controversial private combat ops ran in Yemen which were leaked to Buzzfeed by a former SEAL who was one of the men there. What went on was described in detail in the Aram Roston piece, "A Middle East Monarchy Hired American Ex-Soldiers To Kill Its Political Enemies. This Could Be The Future Of War." Contained in that article was a photo of four men in front of a United Arab Emirates Air Force plane, and one of them, even with his face blurred, was identified by many to be former Delta Force operator Dale Comstock. Dale had no reservations about coming forward and verifying that this is in fact him. Because of our friendship with the "American Badass" author, he wanted to come on with us exclusively and discuss what really went on in detail. Including his disgust with former Navy SEAL Isaac Gilmore talking to the press about this for what Comstock describes as Gilmore's own monetary gain. This is an explosive interview that you do not want to miss. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuart Steinberg is the author of "This Is What Hell Looks Like: Life as a Bomb Disposal Specialist During the Vietnam War." Not only was Stu an EOD, but following that he got his law degree, and became an attorney. Not just any attorney but he specialized in capital murder investigations. As if this wasn't enough, in 2009 Stu went to Afghanistan and served with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime as an adviser to the Afghan Police. There he trained personnel in counter-narcotics operations along the border with Iran. What drives someone to take on such dangerous positions? Stuart blames it on the adrenaline rush. You'll hear him go in-depth on all of this, which is detailed much further in his memoir, and we suggest that you pick it up. From there we get into a huge piece of news being circulated. BuzzFeed News Reporter Aram Roston released a piece yesterday morning titled "A Middle East Monarchy Hired American Ex-Soldiers To Kill Its Political Enemies. This Could Be The Future Of War." The piece discusses in detail former special operations veterans being hired in Yemen to take out political targets. One of the men shown in the piece has a blurred out face, but former Delta operator Dale Comstock has now publicly acknowledged that this is him. Dale is a friend to the show, and as many of you know, a student of Jim West. Because of this connection, we're excited to say that Dale will be on with us next episode, and you will not want to miss it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When legendary thriller author Vince Flynn passed away in 2013, Kyle Mills was hand-chosen with the nearly impossible task of carrying on the Mitch Rapp series. Not only did Mills deliver with his first book in the series "The Survivor," but three years later and with three additional Rapp books under his belt, Mills has put out another #1 New York Times best-seller with 'Red War." Prior to carrying on where Flynn left off, Mills wrote some excellent novels, and with his father's background as an FBI Agent, it's no surprise that Mills continues coming up with scenarios for his counter-terrorism operative protagonist. In this interview you'll hear Mills discuss the writing process along with what inspires him. "Red War" is heavily influenced by our current situation with Russia. The fictional Russian President in the book (heavily based around Vladimir Putin) is dying but grasping to power. The U.S. uses Mitch Rapp's expertise to exploit the situation in their favor. We hope that you pick it up, and be sure to visit Kyle online at KyleMills.com. You can also follow Kyle @KyleMillsAuthor. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're joined this episode by Joseph LaFave. Joseph is a journalist for TheNewsrep.com with a focus on how conflict impacts the global marketplace. Joseph has a background as an EMT in Florida and also worked as an engineer for Lockheed Martin. On this episode we hit on several different topics LaFave's writing on which led to some interesting discussion. He has an upcoming multi-piece series in the works regarding a National Guard unit training for JRTC, the Army's premier combat training center. It's an interesting topic because I often get emails sent to [email protected] regarding National Guard, and it's admittedly not something we focus on heavily. So it's great to get up to date on some of this awesome work. We then talk about some of Joseph's recent pieces including "Ebola continues to spread, threatens economies of the DRC and Uganda," and "Why are oil prices up? Several factors." The latter piece heavily focusing on how Iran sanctions have made a noticeable impact. Glad to be back on Youtube this episode for your viewing pleasure as well! Along with the new website SOFREPRadio.com, we are also now on Spotify, and have an app that will be out in the coming days. Follow Joseph on Twitter @LafaveJoseph, and look out for more great work from him on Newsrep. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our recent Best of Army Special Operations episode got a tremendous response, and because of that, I got a lot of you asking for a Best of Navy SEALs episode. Well here it is! In the history of this show we've had Navy SEALs of many different eras join us and tell us their story, so here are just a few favorites of mine from the past couple of years. Compiled for Episode 393 we have Brent Gleeson, Jack Carr, and Ryan Zinke making in studio appearances. Ryan Zinke's interview was especially cool because he was out with his co-author Scott McEwen promoting his memoir "American Commander." Just a couple of months following that book tour, Zinke became U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Also on this episode is a short clip of Frumentarius giving his take on the difficulty of BUDS VS the difficulty of actually serving as a SEAL. A lot of different perspectives on this one from several guys who wore the Trident. Be sure to check out our new website at http://SOFREPRadio.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest this episode is Justin Carroll, a former MARSOC operator with an impressive background in privacy and security operations with USSOCOM. In the modern age, cybersecurity and evaporating privacy are of huge concern for virtually everyone, and Justin gives us some expert analysis on what all people should be aware of, and what's coming down the pike. We talk about smartphones, social media, and even the future consequences of modern technology in the hands of a tyrannical government. Justin has written a great deal about these subjects, and his latest co-authored book titled "ComSec" is a must read. Justin also hosted on The Complete Privacy and Security Podcast, but tells us he's currently more focused on his latest venture, the Across the Peak Podcast. Beyond these pressing topics, you'll also get a look into Justin's time with MARSOC, and it's rare we get a guest on from the newest branch of special operations. We also respond to an email regarding China sent to [email protected], give our analysis on President Trump's recent comments of "falling in love" with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and why we found them to be very disturbing. We also talk about the latest Medal of Honor Recipient Ron Shurer being in the fight for his life battling lung cancer. Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe to help pay these costs for the Green Beret war hero, and we encourage you to give back. With that, we have just added a Facebook page for the podcast at facebook.com/sofrepradio. Be on the lookout for a new website devoted to the show as well as a new app. GoFundMe for Ron @ https://www.gofundme.com/help-ron-keep-up-the-fight Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are honored to be joined this episode by Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Mike Lampe, a man whom Jack Murphy describes as the grandfather of Air Force Special Operations. Mike’s military career began in the Army in 1968 during Vietnam, but not long after, he transferred to the Air Force where he spent the rest of his 30-years of decorated service. Mike has many accolades, awards, and served in many different capacities including his time as a Special Tactics Team Leader On this episode, we get into the first half of Mike’s military career, but we plan on extending an invitation to do a second part because there was too much history to cover in one episode. In the second half of Mike’s military career he crossed paths with another legend in the community and favorite of the podcast, Sergeant Major Mike Vining. We look forward to hearing all about that eventually. Mike is currently involved in helping with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. In addition to our featured interview, Jack Murphy reacts to a recent clip of Defense Secretary James Mattis giving a concise response regarding the concept of women in combat roles. Don’t miss this one! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you come to this podcast for war stories about operations that have never been heard before, you're in for an action packed listen on this one. Mark Giaconia is a former Green Beret with 20 years of service to his country. He has a new book out titled "One Green Beret" which focuses on his service from 1996-2011 in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq, serving alongside members of the Peshmerga as well as the Russian Spetsnaz. A focal point of the book is Mark serving in Operation Viking Hammer, an unconventional warfare operation with the mission of taking out Sunni Muslim insurgents known as the terrorist group Ansar al-Islam. He also speaks of the gruesome details of being exposed to suspected chemical weapons, having to take hair samples of dead terrorists, and gives a philosophical take on war from his own perspective. Mark has since made the transition from warfare to making a living in technology as the Senior Director of Radiant Solutions. He discusses how he started to make this transition while serving in the military. After you listen to this, be sure to pick up "One Green Beret" available now on Amazon. Also, follow Mark on Twitter and let him know what you thought of his appearance @GiaconiaMark. In addition to that, Jack Murphy discusses his latest article "Mattis: US Troops can remain in Syria to ensure stability." It is Jack's belief that Mattis is being pushed out for the more neo-conservative John Bolton. Listen to find out why Jack has made that inference. It's an episode with a lot of excitement and also reflection that you do not want to miss. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Crosby served as a Navy Commander, but his current fight is one of making veterans aware of prostate cancer. As a prostate cancer survivor, he saw some of the issues at the VA not taking the necessary steps in preventing this killer that is currently the #1 diagnosed cancer in the VA healthcare system. Veterans are in the high risk category for prostate cancer, and between screening, early detection, and alternatives to traditional surgery, there are a lot of components to fighting this cancer. Mike discusses with us the Veterans Choice Program and why it is something that veterans should absolutely be taking advantage of and enrolling in now. Mike currently is the founder & CEO of Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness. Check out their website to learn more. Also on this episode we answer a listener email sent to [email protected] regarding Indian special operations, and cover some of the latest news on Newsrep including an update on Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 (this was the flight hit by a missile, not to be confused with Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, the disappearance that took place four months prior.) Jack also talks about a fake account that went by "Bagram Babe" on Twitter exposed to not be living in Bagram at all. Hear the full story on this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We always enjoy bringing Alex Hollings on the show, and we constantly enter interesting territory. On this episode we get into some recent articles from the Marine Corps writer on Russian weapons technologies, the future of space exploration, and from there, we even get into some alien discussion. We also talk about the recent controversy of Elon Musk enjoying a marijuana laced blunt with Joe Rogan on The Joe Rogan Experience, and the repercussions for this action. This leads to some talk on the recent bill to legalize marijuana in the state of New Jersey which could positively impact veterans, find out why. We of course also make sure to discuss Alex's book out now, "The Perception Wars," go pick it up. Also, we get a new voice memo courtesy of our friend Gene Farnsworth. He gives us his take on the recent episode with Sean Parnell. Jack and I get serious as well as we discuss the epidemic of combat veteran suicides. A lot to digest on Episode 388, and we hope it hits the spot for you. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of you may know Sean Parnell from his first best-selling book, "Outlaw Platoon." That book details Sean's time in Afghanistan commanding the Army's 10th Mountain Division, and we get into some excellent stories about the brave men he served with as Sean joins us in studio for this hour. We talk about the disconnect between some of the leadership of the Army that is stationed in Bagram Air Base not seeing the level of combat as the boots on the ground experiencing the fight first hand. Sean has a new book out though, and it's actually a military thriller. It's called "Man of War," and it just hit shelves this week. We discuss the transition from fiction to nonfiction, and the inspiration behind the book's protagonist Eric Steele. "Man of War" has received high praise from the likes of Lee Child and more, we hope that you pick it up. Sean has also given back to the community with his charity American Warrior Initiative helping men and women who serve in combat with important transition tools like finding housing once they come back home. We enjoyed having him on, and only hit the surface, so hopefully there will be a return appearance in the near future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for this very special episode of SOFREP Radio as we pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives on 9/11, as well as those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the years that have followed, fighting terror. Brandon Webb and I join New York City firefighter Tim Brown, who was present during the 9/11 attacks, as we tour the 9/11 Memorial Museum. This is a day of reflection for many of a day that impacted us all 17 years ago. I remember where I was on that day here in New York, and I’m sure that many of our listeners have stories as well. Hear the unique perspectives of a man who saw it all on that day and a man sent to war immediately after. You’ll hear about firefighters that Tim served with and what artifacts are on display. Additionally, you’ll hear reflections from family members of those who died on 9/11, which served as the inspiration for Brandon Webb’s “Among Heroes” audio book. One of those reflections you’ll hear is from a family friend of mine, the wife of Christopher Quackenbush, as she talks about how Chris would bring children out to Mets games. We hope this episode serves as a worthy dedication to these great folks. We urge you all to take a trip out and see the museum for yourselves. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Murphy is back in studio! He's been greatly missed by you guys in the audience, as well as myself. It got a little lonely without him, not gonna lie, but the Army Ranger, Green Beret, and editor in chief at Newsrep is back in the States. We get into the changes with the site, and we also get a recap of Jack's epic honeymoon and summer vacation. He visited Nepal with his wife and kid, followed by Italy, where Benni is still stuck in, you'll hear the story of why that is. He went hiking, and got to experience some new destinations that were on his bucket list for many years now. We discuss some hot topics including Colin Kaepernick being signed to Nike, as well as the New York Times op ed that some are calling treasonous, titled "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration." Our guest for this show is Jackie Gray. Jackie Gray is a former Army Medic who has more recently become the new Executive Director for Red Circle Foundation. We've discussed RCF on the show before, but it's been a while. So he fills us in on the great work that they are doing to help out members of the special operations community. Some of these guys have been severely injured in combat, and RCF is helping in a way that in some cases TRICARE can not. Be sure to donate to them, and help out these families. These guys Jackie talks about have sacrificed a lot for our country, and they are now in their time of need. Enjoy this episode guys, and with Jack back, feel free to shoot over your usual special operations related questions to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hard to believe that we're already in September of this year, but as a I reflect on 2018 thus far, we've had some incredible guests on this podcast. When it comes to spec ops guys in the Army, we've had a wide array. So on this episode, I spotlight several of those guys from previous episodes in 2018. We start off with Nate Boyer. Nate's name is back in the news heavily with the recent signing of Colin Kaepernick to Nike, so we revisit Nate's open letter to Colin, followed by an in-person meeting which led to the now infamous kneeling during the National Anthem. Next is Todd Opalski, as he reflects on serving in both Marine Force Reconnaissance as well as Army Special Forces. That's followed by Special Missions Unit operator Rob Trivino on joining the Army and his time as an Army Ranger. Then is an excerpt from Delta Force operator Pat McNamara's first appearance on the show, with a great HALO jump story. We wrap up this special with our very own George Hand, another former Delta operator, getting into his origin story with us. Let me know how you liked this episode on Twitter or Instagram @SOFREPRadio or by email at [email protected], and maybe next special will be Navy SEALs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Always a wide array of topics when former Marine and writer Alex Hollings joins the show, and you won't be disappointed by Episode 383. On here we discuss information operations, into how propaganda and urban legend can become cited as fact. We get into Europe, Asia, and The U.S. at length, as well as conflict in the Middle East. We hit on Russia's involvement in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, and their larger objective to create distrust among people in the U.S. with their own government. We then ask the question, in this day and age, can the average American truly one day become the President? Alex is in the process of releasing a book that dives into information operations more in-depth, it will be out September 10th, is self-published, and is titled "The Perception Wars." Alex also now has his own website with all of his work and everywhere else you can find him at AlexHollings.com. Be sure to check it out, and if you've been enjoying our shows, leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. It take less than a minute, helps our ranking, and keeps us going strong. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Ryan is back on SOFREP Radio, and earlier this month he released a new science fiction book titled, "The First Marauder." It will be the first in a trilogy from the former Army Ranger. If you're a fan of shows like "The Walking Dead," or books and movies like "World War Z," it fits in with that same end of the world genre, but with Luke's personal take drawing from his own real life experiences that you'll hear him discuss on here. Luke has a love for creating new fictional universes and characters within that universe, and he hopes that you give "The First Marauder" a read. On this episode we discuss much more though, including our reflections on the death of Senator John McCain. We get an update on the war in Afghanistan from Luke. Also, Luke goes in-depth with what is now happening in Myanmar/Burma, and the most recent condemnations from the U.N. I read an email sent to [email protected], and also give you a quick update on the future home of SOFREP Radio. Don't miss this one! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kurt Troter served as a Marine, and later went on to volunteer fighting with the Peshmerga in Kurdistan. He's a favorite of the show, and today I get him on to discuss two of his most recent articles. "The Crumbling Skeleton of the Islamic State rattles on for now" gets into the dwindling cash flow of ISIS after losing oil fields they controlled, and losing significant numbers particularly in Afghanistan and Libya. There are however still 20-30 thousand members in Iraq and Syria, along with reserves estimated in the low hundreds of millions in cash, so the fight is not over. "Turkish State run media leaks classified information on US military bases in Syria" discusses continued strained relations between the U.S. and Turkey, and Turkey's attempts to sabotage U.S. forces. As usual with Kurt Troter, we do get into some other fun topics as well. We also read a great and complimentary email sent to [email protected], keep the questions and comments there coming. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three-Hundred and Eighty episodes deep? It's hard to believe myself! As always, I greatly appreciate you guys, the listeners, loyally checking out what we're up to week after week. Well, this is a good one, as promised, both Jim West and Ernie Emerson join me for an epic discussion. Both of these gentlemen, Ernest Emerson (the founder and CEO of Emerson Knives) and Army Green Beret and favorite of the show, Jim West, have an extensive background in martial arts dating back to the 1960's. They're also one year apart in age, so as you'll hear, there's a lot of overlap in their backgrounds. We dig into their introductions to fighting, through publications like Black Belt Magazine, and studying the greats like Bruce Lee and Joe Lewis. From there we also discuss knife fighting. Both guys are very candid and call out some of the bullshit in the industry. You don't want to miss this one. Emerson is currently doing his own podcast which we you hope you check out, simply titled The Ernest Emerson Podcast. Emerson Knives always has some excellent product, some of which has been featured in our premium tier Crate Club, and you can check them out at EmersonKnives.com. Jim's personal site is AmericanExtensionFighting.com. Enjoy, and we ask that you follow us to keep up with the latest through our feeds on Instagram and Twitter @SOFREPRadio. Ian is on Twitter @IanScotto. Also, be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every job in the military has it's negatives, but even with the high risk involved, many civilians look back on their lives wishing they'd served their country in some capacity. They often glamorize titles like Sniper or Medic, but I don't think anyone would envy the title of Mortuary Affairs Marine. However, that is the job that was given to L. Christian Bussler, and many of the horrors serving in that position followed him after his military career, leading him to drink, and desiring a permanent end to his life. Needing a therapeutic outlet, at the advice of an older combat veteran, Chris started writing, eventually leading to his self-published memoir last year, "No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor." The book documents Chris being raised in a military household, pursuing a career in the Marines, and the unexpected turn of events when the country went to war during his service. A lot of tragedy endures as you could imagine, but as you hear him speak about in this interview, through the honor he had for the job, he finds a way to pay tribute to fellow service members that has continued to live on. A portion of the proceeds for the book and audio book go to benefit great charities like EOD Warrior Foundation, Semper Fi Fund, and WWIA. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It would be a fair statement that there is no name more synonymous with mixed martial arts than Royce Gracie, and no family with the impact on the sport than the Gracie family. The Gracie family created Brazilian jiu-jitsu, were integral in starting the competition among different forms of self-defense now known as mixed martial arts, and Royce fought in all of the early major UFC events. The Gracie's continues to introduce fighters to the sport, now including a 4th generation member of the family, Neiman Gracie who is fighting in Bellator. Well, who better to conduct this interview with me than fan favorite Jim West? We get into Royce's thoughts on watching the sport evolve, and it's deep history including a challenge to Royce from kickboxer Benny "The Jet" Urquidez that never went down. We also hear about Royce's attendance at SHOT Show in recent years with the company Pack'n Heat Products. Gracie currently does a lot of events which you can keep up to date with at RoyceGracie.com. In addition to that we discuss the re-brand of SOFREP over to NEWSREP. Jim is working on a new book, and also still selling his signature weapons over at his website American Extension Fighting. These weapons include The Talon, and on that note, we have a great video up on Instagram of Jim demonstrating what it can do. We hope that you enjoy, and as always please leave a review at Apple Podcasts. We want to continue to raise our visibility and bring on A-list guests like Royce Gracie along with our kick ass staff of writers at NEWSREP. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO of Hurricane Group Brandon Webb has been long overdue for an appearance on the show. Now that's he's wrapped up The Power of Thought podcast, and is out promoting "Mastering Fear: A Navy SEAL's Guide," his latest book which came out this week, I was able to get some time out of him for us. We start off the show addressing a recent controversy with Navy SEAL Andy Stumpf, and why Webb declined an invitation on his podcast. We then talk the oncoming name change of SOFREP.com to NEWSREP, the reasoning behind it, and how it will impact SOFREP Radio. From there, we get into "Mastering Fear." You'll even hear a great excerpt from the book. "Mastering Fear" includes some excellent stories from interviews Brandon's conducted and stories of colleagues. Included in these stories are Kamal Ravikant, C.J. Ramone, James Powell, and Captain Jerry Yellin. If you are looking to conquer a challenge in your life and crush new goals, you need to pick up this latest work. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CJ Woodruff is best known as a fitness content creator, and he has some impressive credentials at that. Between creating The Fitness Trainer Academy, being a personal trainer himself, competing as a bodybuilder, and most recently becoming a spokesman for supplement company Primeval Labs, he knows the industry well. Prior to that however, he served as a Marine in combat, and it was there that he discovered fitness as an outlet which kept him in a positive mind frame. He discusses all of this with me, as well as topics like which muscle building supplements are effective, and some more personal issues like his divorce and custody battle, and how this is rampant in the veteran community. Beyond fitness content however, he has a veteran podcast that is putting out some killer work. CJ along with G (G, best known for creating the popular veteran run apparel brand Zero Foxtrot,) host Zero Bunker. The guys have had some stellar guests on including our own John Stryker Meyer. Be sure to subscribe to CJ's own Youtube channel, and you can find all of his social media on his website, CJWoodruff.me. I also give an update on SOFREP's transition over to NEWSREP, and how it will effect the podcast, so don't miss it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last time Pat McNamara was on the show, he gave the most passionate review of his experience seeing Judas Priest play NYCB Live/Nassau Coliseum. Ever since than, I knew we had to get the former Army operator and current shooting instructor back on to talk metal a little more in-depth. Well, who better to bring on for that discussion than my friend Shawn the Butcher? Shawn's the voice of Ozzy's Boneyard, and a host on Liquid Metal, both on Sirius XM Radio. I got him to walk over from their studios to Hurricane Group's headquarters, and have a really fun discussion that we hope you'll be entertained by. We get into topics like the recent death of legendary Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, our favorite concerts, and some of the reasons why Metallica continues to reign supreme after over 35 years in the music business. So, this is a break from our usual special operations and foreign policy discussion, but if you're a metalhead, you'll dig it! I know a lot of operators can attest to metal being the soundtrack for war. Be sure to listen to Shawn over at Sirius XM, follow him on all platforms @ShawnTheButcher, and check out his site, Hails From the Crypt. As for Pat, he's always staying busy. You can visit him over at TMacsInc.com, and sign up for shooting instruction from the best in the business. Pat's also very active on Instagram @TMacsInc. So crank it up, and rock out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you heard the last episode with Sam Faddis, than you know we've started rolling out the Intelligence field edition of Inside the Team Room on The Spec Ops Channel. Sam's featured on that along with several other of our other authors who have worked in intel. Well, just because I'm such a nice guy, I'm going to give you all a preview of some of that great audio. This is just a few minutes of the hours of footage that members can see. Some truly great discussions you won't get anywhere else with these veterans of the field. On this preview you'll hear about the obstacles of living a compartmentalized lifestyle, and habits from working in intelligence that become hard to break. After you check this out, take advantage of a limited time offer to join The Spec Ops Channel for only $4.99 a month. Along with these great Inside the Team Rooms such as our Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and Special Forces series, you'll also get content you won't find anywhere else like our premiere show Training Cell. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles "Sam" Faddis is a former CIA operations officer and national security commentator with extensive experience on the ground in the Near East and South Asia. He's also one of the guys you'll see on the intelligence edition of Inside the Team Room which we're currently rolling out in segments on The Spec Ops Channel. Since Sam has written for the site, but hasn't been on the podcast, I figured no better time than now to have him on. On this episode we get into some of the recent diplomatic relations happening with the U.S. and hostile nations. Sam's analysis of President Trump's strategies in dealing with Russia and North Korea are very insightful. It's also interesting hearing Sam discuss these topics with the background he has, and how he certainly doesn't echo a lot of the talking heads and so-called "experts" you'll see on TV. Sam is also starting work on a book about where the U.S. stands in a post-9/11 world in preventing homeland terrorism. We get into that topic, and you'll hear why he's very cynical about our current homeland security strategies. Sam has both authored and co-authored several books including "Beyond Repair: The Decline and Fall of the CIA," and his next book which is finished and will be out soon deals with the invasion of Iraq. Visit him at SamFaddis.com and follow him on Twitter @RealSamFaddis, let him know how you liked his interview. In addition, we hope you check him out along with some other great SOFREP personalities on the Inside the Team Room available on The Spec Ops Channel. If you're not already a member, we encourage you to become one. It's up now, and if you're enjoying the series, let us know. I also check your emails being sent to [email protected] on this episode; and as always, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @SOFREPRadio. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in March of 2014, Sean Spoonts wrote an excellent article for SOFREP that gained a great deal of traction titled, "Alright, Goodnight - Does Malaysia Want to Know What Happened to Flight MH-370?" As some of you may remember, a great deal of conspiracy theory immediately surrounded what happened to that infamous flight, and it has not gone away due to the lack of any sufficient evidence that we can draw much of a conclusion from. For example, Fox News contributor and former Air Force Lieutenant General Thomas McInerney, who has a history of making outrageous claims, spoke of the plane likely landing in Pakistan with nothing to back up that assertion. The great mystery of where this plane was, sparked the idea for Sean to get together with two experts and refute some of the speculation out there using facts. To this day, the piece holds up. Fast forward to now, the Malaysian government plans to release a new report on the flight this coming Monday. With good reason, Sean is skeptical. So, since Sean was in town to work on some upcoming promotion for Brandon Webb's next book "Mastering Fear," I got him in studio to lay out all of the facts. For those unfamiliar, Sean's been a friend of the site since it's very inception, and his military background is with the Navy as an anti-submarine warfare operator and search and rescue Aircrewman. Sean and I also talk some current events, which includes the disgraceful destruction of a memorial to fallen Navy SEAL Michael Murphy on Long Island, New York. SOFREP is holding a raffle to benefit the Lt Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation due to this. We hope that you partake, and in the process possibly win some kick ass gear from Crate Club. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this current age of political correctness, there are not a lot of novels out there for young adults with pro-American and pro-military values. As a patriot, Scott McEwen decided to fill this niche in releasing his latest book "Camp Valor" with Hof Williams. McEwen, best known for co-writing the best-selling memoir turned Hollywood blockbuster "American Sniper," has been releasing a lot of work as of late. This includes the "Sniper Elite" books and co-authoring Ryan Zinke's memoir "American Commander," which he last joined us on Episode 226 to discuss with Zinke, shortly prior to Zinke becoming Secretary of the Interior. Scott joins us in studio again, and we talk about the shift in American values and political correctness, as well as his close relationship to Ryan Zinke, and his memories with Chris Kyle. In addition to that, we continue with what we are now calling out "Woketard of the Week" segment. Also, Jack Murphy is taking a long vacation to Europe, so we say bye for now. I'll be here though, and we plan on bringing you plenty of great guests until Murph is back in September. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We always keep a versatile list of spec ops guests, but we actually haven't had a Navy SEAL on the program in quite a few months. So it was a treat to have Jack Carr join us in studio. We actually shot this full episode for Youtube as well, in the new studio, and hope to do this on a regular basis. So please subscribe to the SOFREP channel on there for much more content to come. While there are quite a few Navy SEALs out there authoring memoirs (many of whom are friends of the show,) Carr is taking a different path. "The Terminal List" is his first thriller novel and it's received the praise of everyone from Brad Thor to Chuck Norris. We discuss the inspiration behind the book, and fulfilling a childhood dream to write. Carr also has an incredible resume serving 20 years in the Navy on multiple SEAL Teams, as well as serving in Special Boat Team Twelve near the end of his military career. We get some great BUD/S stories out of Jack in this episode. So crank it up and enjoy! Be sure to pick up the book, and visit the website at OfficialJackCarr.com. That links to all of his social media, so hit him up and let him know how you liked the episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nate Boyer is a combat veteran and a patriot who bravely served with 1st Special Forces Group, 10th Special Forces Group, and 3rd Special Forces Group in Iraq and Afghanistan. Beyond that though, he's also a man of great compassion, and you'll hear that emphasized throughout this in-depth discussion. These traits of patriotism, bravery, and compassion, along with a short stint in the NFL, are why it made sense for him to meet with former NFL star Colin Kaepernick in the midst of a great deal of anger throughout the country. After penning an open letter for Army Times to the quarterback who made it a point to sit during the National Anthem, Kaepernick asked to meet with Boyer, and you may be surprised at some of the understanding that took place among these two men of very different backgrounds and core principles. Kaepernick kneeling from there on as opposed to sitting was actually the result of that face to face discussion. This was a very intriguing conversation about how we view the world through very different lenses based on our own origin. We also discussed Nate's military background of course. Nate now does a lot of charity work with the organization he co-founded, MVP (Merging Vets & Players.) Let him know what you thought of the show, his website is NateBoyer.com, and he's on Twitter & Instagram @NateBoyer37. We went over two hours for this one, and really appreciate him taking the time. If you liked it, also be sure to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SOFREP writer and editor Luke Ryan makes his second appearance on the podcast as we dive into some very important topics. Luke's been speaking with former employee of Veterans Affairs and a veteran himself, Dan Martin, who's been strong-armed to stop talking after working to expose VA corruption. Luke has been writing about this, and we discuss getting to the bottom of the many issues veterans have experienced with their care. Is it the fault of the leadership at the top, or a culture of corruption at the VA as a whole? We get Luke's take. Next we discuss the future of the war in Afghanistan. Luke has seen a lot of articles asking the same question of why we're still there, but very few solutions. So we go more in-depth of what we can infer may happen in the coming years. I also Throat Punch a CNN contributor, and check our emails being sent to [email protected]. If you've been enjoying recent podcasts, please, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. We read them all, we love the feedback, and we work hard to get more listeners every show with the versatile guests we bring on. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SOFREP writer Kurt Troter is truly an all-around great dude, and we had a lot of fun recording this episode. For the uninitiated, Kurt's a former Marine who spent some time in Kurdistan volunteering with the Peshmerga. This show, we hear what Kurt's been covering on the site, and talk Turkey (no pun intended) and Iraq. We discuss the Philippines, and their president Rodrigo Duterte in particular, as well. Topics we get into from there include networking as a fighter or a journalist in foreign countries versus the U.S. We then get into some domestic stuff like our government's out of touch understanding of current technology, and the vocal minority of veterans opposed to shooting off fireworks on the 4th of July. We wrap up the show with Jack's daughter, giving us a review of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," and introduce a new listener suggested segment that may or may not become a mainstay called "#SoWoke." Enjoy, and as always leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Email the show at [email protected] with any comments or questions, and keep them concise! Last, may I shamelessly plug that I penned my first ever full-length article for the site? It's titled "The mind-muscle connection (unplugging and escaping through exercise)." It's getting some great feedback thus far which excites me, and I hope you give it a read. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is no disputing that the top dog of the military thriller genre today is Brad Thor, and it's an honor to have him back on the show. Brad comes by to not only celebrate American independence with us, but also the amazing feat of releasing his 18th book, and the latest of the Scot Harvath series, "Spymaster." We ask how he's manages to keep readers entertained pumping out a new book every single year that always lands at the top of the New York Times bestseller list. As Thor puts it, his boss is not the publisher, but the readers themselves, and he takes their feedback very seriously with each new release. "Spymaster" is heavily influenced by the current extreme tension between the U.S. and Russia, and Russia's invasion of Crimea. As we discuss this, we dive into some other hot topics such as the attempted democratization of other nations by the U.S., mainstream media fear-mongering, entitlement benefits in the U.S. versus European countries, and of course Thor's open criticism of President Donald Trump from a conservative standpoint. I ask Thor about his supposed campaign to unseat Trump in 2020, and if he was for real when he announced it...find out what he says. We also get into the origin of the hilarious photo of Governor Chris Christie reading Thor's last book "Use of Force" on the beach with his family when he shut the state's beaches down to the mere peasants of New Jersey. If you're listening to July 4th, as Brad Thor states, being the son of a Marine, he understands the sacrifice of our military, and this day is very special to him. We hope you are enjoying it as well wherever you are, as you check out this in-depth interview with one of the greats. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doing this show, we meet some guys with incredibly interesting backgrounds. Todd Opalski's history is particularly unique though, making the transition from serving in the Marine Corps as an Officer, a Marine Scout Sniper, and a part of Force Reconnaissance, to then going into the Army and being an Assault Commander in the Special Missions Unit. Prior to that, Todd was also a natural bodybuilder. After leaving the military, Todd transitioned to the tech world in Silicon Valley. So, you may wonder, where does one go from there? Todd has a pretty awesome plan for 2019 to open Camp Zen Commando in Costa Rica. Zen Commando plans on instructing people in a wide array of skills from self-defense to yoga. Todd's even looking for some people to help him on this journey which he gets into with us. Enjoy this great in-studio interview, and be sure to leave a review on Apple Podcasts when you're done with it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While doing intelligence work for the Marine Corps in Afghanistan during 2010, Craig Grossi came across a dog that changed his life. They sparked an immediate connection when Craig fed the dog and the dog wagged his tail in response. Deciding to keep him while he continued his service, and eventually giving him a new home in America, it's safe to say Craig also changed that dog's life. The story is the catalyst for the critically acclaimed book "Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other." Craig joins me this episode to go into detail on rescuing Fred, and the philosophy of "stubborn positivity" as Grossi puts it, that Fred taught him. We also get into the subjects of Guantanamo Bay (where Craig spent his first four years in the Corps working as a prison guard), and why veterans should be encouraged to write and share what they've gone through, good or bad. Grossi has such a feel good story in a world where there's a lot of bad news out there, and I'm happy to have him on to tell our audience all about it. If you're a dog lover, you'll be moved. If you have a child in your life that loves dogs and the military, there's also a young readers' edition available. Tell us what you think on our Instagram and Twitter @SOFREPRadio, or shoot us an email at [email protected]. You can follow Craig & Fred as well @FredTheAfghan. Be sure to also leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SOFREP Radio is normally a spotlight interview show highlighting some amazing things happening with individuals in the veteran community, and telling their stories. This show however, is not that. There's been a surge of left wing activists in the veteran populace, many of whom attended Jack's alma mater Columbia University, and many of which also write for Task & Purpose. These #WokeVets or social justice warriors as we'll refer to them as, have attacked Jack Murphy and SOFREP in the past, and Jack decided to give a well researched exposé response in the form of this podcast. Some of the major issues tackled here are Task & Purpose CEO Zach Iscol's ties to the Clinton family, which explains their glowing coverage of Hillary. We also get into comments made in a leaked private chat log by Alexander McCoy and other writers from Task & Purpose. As Jack puts it this episode, he is by no means the PC police, nor is he politically correct, but if you're going to posture as being such, you'd better be consistent. Strap in for this one! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Trivino has had a highly decorated military career from serving in the Special Missions Unit under the Army's Special Operations Command, serving in the Army's 18th Airborne Corps, as well as the 75th Ranger Regiment. We're honored to have him join us, and hear him open up about his history including being there at the inception of the war in Afghanistan. We also get into Rob's experience with General Stanley McChrystal while serving, who he could not speak more highly of. He details all of this in his book "A Warrior's Path: Lessons in Leadership." It's a great read, we suggest you pick it up. Currently, Rob is the founder and head instructor of Evergreen Mountain, LLC. Evergreen Mountain offers tactical classes of many varieties which you can see on their website at EverGreenMountainUSA.com. If you are in the New Mexico or Colorado Springs area and want to learn from one of the best, check them out. Also on Episode 362 we check our email, keep those coming to [email protected]. Plus, we react to the announcement of an upcoming Space Force. Not much is known yet, but the response has been interesting. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Hollings's "Old Man Fitness" column here on SOFREP has truly gained a sizable following, and we often get asked when he'll be back on with us to discuss, and so we delivered. We talk personal fitness goals, but as usual with Alex, we dive into a whole lot more. We talk about a breaking controversial story of Australian SASR soldiers flying a Swastika flag. That gets us into another recent story of a National Guard officer stealing an armored personnel carrier, driving it off base, and leading police on a two-hour chase. We talk about disaster preparedness, and in particular how urban environments would respond VS rural areas. We react to Trump saluting a North Korean general (a huge topic of conversation as this week ends.) Plus, we also get into some social justice warrior talk. Needless to say, a lot is covered, and we had a lot of fun on this two-hour hang. We hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watching The President of the United States shake the hand of North Korea's dictator early this week was truly a sight to see. I believe it is something that will be remembered for decades to come regardless of where things progress from here. For over three decades serving in the CIA, Jack Devine held the prestigious positions of both Acting Director and Associate Director of operations outside the U.S. He's been on with us twice before, is a wealth of knowledge, and I really couldn't think of anyone better to react to this major world event. Devine also wrote further on the subject which you can read in his Spring/Summer Intelligence Report for his LLC, The Arkin Group. Also joining us is Dr. Leonard Wong. You may remember "Lenny" from Episode 327 on with us discussing a culture of lying in the military due in part to a great deal of monotonous paperwork and courses required for soldiers. Well, in some positive news, the military has taken steps to reduce this, and we feel it is in great part due to the study he co-authored, "Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession." We follow up with him to discuss. Last, you'll hear about some new material we shot over the weekend for the latest "Inside the Team Room" series. That will be up on The Spec Ops Channel, which you can subscribe to now for only $4.99 a month if you're not already a Team Room member. Some really awesome content is on the horizon! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Grant served as a Royal Marine for the U.K., something that he had always dreamed of. The dream however became a nightmare when he received a life changing injury at the hands of The Taliban in Afghanistan to his right leg that he electively amputated because of it's severity. This is his story which he documents in his new book release "You'll Never Walk." The title may seem obvious, but it's actually a reference to his "You'll Never Walk Alone" tattoo (paying homage to the song that became the battle cry of The Liverpool Football Club) ironically losing the last word of the phrase during his amputation surgery. As you'll hear, he laughs about it now, but it took a great deal of willpower to carry on and inspire others the way that he has. Running became therapeutic for him with the ultimate goal of becoming a record holder. He now is, holding the record for the fastest 10K with one leg. We hope that you pick up the book, and you can follow Andy on Twitter and Instagram @AndyGBootneck. Let him know what you thought of the interview! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Betley served ten years in the Marine Corps as an officer, and is now fulfilling his dream and what he describes as his life's purpose as a military thriller writer. He's now three books into the Logan West series, the latest of which is "Field of Valor." He hopes to see the Logan West series receive similar critical acclaim to Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series as he keeps putting out quality books each year. You'll hear how the character of West is inspired by some of Betley's own life, and what inspired Betley to pick up a pen in the first place. Matthew also talks about his own personal battle with alcohol addiction, and the joy of now living life sober and as a family man. Matthew will also be on the road the rest of this month signing books and meeting readers, so check out those dates at MatthewBetley.com. Get the latest book autographed, and be sure to tell Matthew what you thought of the interview! Also on the episode we have an in-depth discussion on the Satmar sect of Hasidic Jews protesting Israel this past weekend in New York City, which leads to a talk about religious cults. We later have a conversation about the size and scope of government, and political ideology. To top it off, we answer your emails sent to [email protected], and give a Throat Punch for the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2017-2018 thus far has marked some excellent in-studio appearances on SOFREP Radio by some of America's best known military thriller writers. So we figured we'd spotlight some of these on this special episode. Clips on here include: - Brad Thor telling us the inspiration behind Scot Harvath, the protagonist of his novels. Also, his origin story and what drove him to become a writer - A.J. Tata getting into the creation of Jake Mahegan, the protagonist of his own series. - Anderson Harp on North Korean leadership from Kim Jong-il to Kim Jong-un, and a tragic story from 9/11 All of these episodes are available in their entirety at SOFREP.com/radio - we hope you enjoy these highlights. As always, send us your emails to [email protected], and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @SOFREPRadio. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1964, journalist and Army veteran Daniel Ford embedded himself with the Green Berets in Vietnam, and in the process met some remarkable men. One of the men who stood out was military interpreter Philippe Drouin, best known as “Cowboy,” who was the inspiration for Daniel’s latest book. We discuss Ford’s experience with Cowboy, the story of Cowboy’s life, the influence of John Wayne to his persona, and his untimely death. “Cowboy: The Interpreter Who Became a Solider, a Warlord, and One More Casualty of Our War in Vietnam” came out last month and is available now. Daniel has written dozens of other great books documenting conflicts all over the globe, and you can check out all of his work at DanFordBooks.com. Also on this episode: we get a listener reaction from Israel sent to [email protected] in regards to our show with Dan Gordon. We react to top North Korean official Kim Yong-chol coming to New York, which was going on right as we recorded. Of course, we also recap Memorial Day and the first ever Verses and Curses tour stop here in New York City at the unofficial flagship bar of ours, Emmett O’Lunney’s. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a lot of laughs to be had this episode, and that's likely because we're joined by the often times hilarious Leo Jenkins. From serving as an Army Ranger medic, participating and sometimes competing in a wide array of athletics, and travelling around the country and even internationally in a van, to say Leo Jenkins stays active would be a massive understatement. His latest undertaking though is the Verses and Curses Tour where he'll be joined by two other combat vets, touring the country and reading poetry. This all starts Memorial Day at Emmett O'Lunney's in Midtown Manhattan and continues throughout the East Coast, and you can see those stops over at VersesAndCursesTour.com. Leo's latest book is in fact his own works of poetry called "With a Pen" which you'll hear all about. Leo also gets into earning his "blood wings" in Airborne School, and his new life as a father. On this episode you'll also hear about Lt. Gen. Austin "Scott" Miller being named the next commander for our forces in Afghanistan, as well as the news of President Trump pulling out of meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Once again, if you're on the East Coast, go out an support the boys on the Verses And Curses Tour. I'll be at the New York stop hanging with the guys including Jack Murphy and Jim West who plan to read. We hope to see you there! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.