Explore every episode of the podcast Combat Story
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| "We Thought We Were Going to Die Every Night" | Ramadi Veteran Story With Marin Raider Joshua Shores | 11 May 2026 | 02:06:29 | |
Today on Combat Story, we hear the story of Joshua "Josh" Shores — Marine infantry combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, former Marine Raider, retired firefighter, entrepreneur, and author of Counting on Death: A Marine Infantryman's Journey from the Front Lines of Combat to the Fight for Peace. Josh served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines during some of the hardest fighting in Ramadi before later deploying to Afghanistan with Marine Special Operations. In this conversation, he takes us through the reality of combat as a 19-year-old Marine, the burden of surviving when others did not, and the long fight to make peace with the memories that followed him home. Although AJ and Josh never served together, this episode becomes a deeply relatable conversation between two Marines who carried similar experiences through different units, deployments, and years of war. There are moments where the interview gives way to recognition, where both men are able to sit inside the same memories, ask harder questions, and give language to parts of combat that are rarely spoken about clearly. This episode goes far beyond firefights and deployments. Josh speaks candidly about the culture inside the infantry during the height of the Iraq War, the emotional toll of losing friends to IEDs, the confusion of counterinsurgency warfare, survivor's guilt, shame, identity, suicide, and the struggle many veterans face trying to reconnect with life after combat. This is a conversation about consequence.
🎙️ Guest — Joshua "Josh" Shores 🔗 Find Joshua Online: 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CountingOnDeath/
🎙️ Host AJ Pasciuti AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat. 🔗 Find AJ Online: 📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.ajpasciuti.com/book 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/
🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon) - Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle) - Killing the Enemy's Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU
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| He Was in Vietnam Before the War Began | Reconnaissance Man Ep. 1 | 27 Apr 2026 | 00:36:25 | |
Before Vietnam became the war America remembers, James Lyle Steele was already in it. In Episode 1 of Reconnaissance Man, "Good Morning, Vietnam," Steele takes us into the earliest days of America's involvement in the war, when the mission was still forming, the battlefield was still being understood, and the cost was already very real. A retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and one of the original generation of Marine reconnaissance men, Steele describes a brutal and fast-changing fight shaped by booby traps, poisoned bamboo, hidden tunnels, ambushes, helicopter assaults, and constant adaptation. This is not a distant retelling. It is a firsthand account from a man who was there before most Americans even understood the war had begun. Created by investigative journalist Ashly McGlone in collaboration with the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation, and brought to life by Combat Story, Reconnaissance Man is a nine-part limited series following Steele's extraordinary 30-year military career through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond.
🎙️ Guest — James Lyle Steele Ashly McGlone is an investigative journalist and the creator of Reconnaissance Man. As Steele's granddaughter, she pairs reporting, narration, and historical context with family connection to bring his extraordinary story to life with depth and care. 🔗 Find Reconnaissance Man and Ashly McGlone Online:
🎙️ Host — AJ Pasciuti 🔗 Find AJ Online: 🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ 👉 Combat Story Podcast — Part 2 (Sniper vs. Sniper Battle)
Chapters: 00:00 Reconnaissance Man Intro | |||
| From the Streets, to Service, to Stand-Up: Michael D'Angelo's Military Comedy Mission | 03 Jan 2026 | 01:43:55 | |
In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Michael D'Angelo — a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who turned a turbulent childhood, military service, and hard-earned life lessons into a career built on laughter and connection. Raised in a rough environment where stability was never guaranteed, Michael found in the Marine Corps something he didn't have growing up: structure, purpose, and a way out. Serving as a Marine machine gunner, the Corps gave him direction — and later, perspective — on both pain and resilience. After leaving the military, Michael found a new mission through comedy, using humor as a tool for healing, truth-telling, and connection. He went on to found the Rapid Fire Comedy Tour, bringing stand-up comedy directly to troops, veterans, and first responders across the country — meeting people where they are and reminding them they're not alone. On this episode, we explore how the Marine Corps reshaped a young man searching for escape, how comedy became a second form of service, and why laughter might be one of the most underrated survival skills in the veteran community. While this episode doesn't focus on combat experiences, it stays true to our core mission of uplifting veteran voices and exploring the many paths of service after the uniform comes off. And fair warning — this one is absolutely hilarious. You won't want to miss it. 🎙️
Guest Information — Michael D'Angelo | Rapid Fire Comedy Tour Michael D'Angelo is a veteran comedian and creator behind the Rapid Fire Comedy Tour, a mission-driven comedy experience supporting military morale, connection, and veteran communities through humor. 🔗 Find Michael D'Angelo Online: 🎤 Rapid Fire Comedy Tour: https://www.rapidfirecomedytour.org 📸 Instagram (Tour): @rapidfirecomedytour 🎭 Character Monologues / Skits: @skitmos 👤 Personal Instagram: @michaeltheangelo
🎙️ Host Information — AJ Pasciuti | Combat Story AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat. 🔗 Find AJ Online: 📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.amazon.com/Darkhorse-Harnessing-Hidden-Potential-Life/dp/1400254973 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/ 🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon) - Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle) - Killing the Enemy's Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU 📺 Additional Features & Media 👉 Urban Valor Podcast Feature: https://urbanvalor.com/episode/marine-snipers-eliminate-enemy-sniper-reclaim-stolen-us-sniper-rifle/ 👉 DVIDS – Infantry Marine Course Feature: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Comptroller/Innovation/?dvpTag=imc&videoid=790758
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| Flying Special Operations MH-53 in Combat | CV-22 Osprey, Apache, and Cobra Aviator | Sean Borland | 26 Aug 2023 | 02:15:26 | |
Go to www.HelloFresh.com/50combatstory and use code 50combatstory for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Notably, Sean was in the first set of aircraft to go into Afghanistan immediately after 9/11 as part of Air Force Special Operations flying the MH-53 in both combat search and rescue and multi-purpose infil and exfil operations for special ops units of varying flavors from white SOF to OGA. I hope you enjoy this wide ranging discussion and insight into the rotary wing side of operations as much as I did.
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| MC-130 Special Operations Aircrew and Navigator | 8th Special Operations Squadron | Mike LaFeve (Round 2) | 19 Aug 2023 | 02:00:49 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we go for our second Combat Story with a member of the Air Force's aerial special operations community: Mike LaFeve, an MC-130 Navigator in the Air Force's 8th Special Operations Squadron (8th SOS). Mike was deployed consistently from 2001 to 2006 with the 8th SOS as the most deployed Air Force special operations squadron at the time. This included trips to both Afghanistan and Iraq as both the aircraft technology improved and bases in theater become more fortified. In the MC-130, Mike was responsible for a variety of mission sets supporting, primarily, the special operations community, including DEVGRU as we hear in this episode. The MC-130 is designed to support the special operations community with airdrops, delivery and extraction of special operators, refueling, combat search and rescue and so much more. In this episode, we pick up where we left off as Mike goes from the first deployment post-9/11 into the next and more established operational tempo going from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan to Kuwait to Iraq and back again and I hope you enjoy this set of combat stories in the versatile MC-130 as much as I did. Find Ryan Online: Show Notes: | |||
| Marine Special Operator (MARSOC) Commander | Mozart Group Founder Andy Milburn | 12 Aug 2023 | 02:12:31 | |
This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!
Andy has a knack for getting close to the action that started long before he became a Marine. Growing up in the UK, Andy found himself detained momentarily in Iran before meeting a group of Marine Security Guards in Pakistan that changed his career path from lawyer to Marine. He was part of operations in Somalia, Iraq (from the invasion to counter-ISIS operations), Afghanistan, and Libya. He commanded at multiple levels, including the first ever O-6 level Special Operations Task Force while battling ISIS in Iraq. He's battled some of the darkest moments of the trauma and grief that come from combat and loss but continues to give back, to include the time he spent in Ukraine with the Mozart Group. Andy's written a book about his time in service, When The Tempest Gathers, that helps clearly explain how he might end up in Ukraine after retiring and has been published in multiple journals, including The Atlantic and Task and Purpose. He and his Mozart Group have been featured in the New York Times and countless other news outlets. We need to say a special thanks to our brothers at the Team House for making this interview happen and I hope you enjoy this story of sacrifice and selflessness from a lifelong Marine as much as I did.
Find Ryan Online: | |||
| F-16 Fighter Pilot | Evaded Multiple Surface-to-Air Missiles | Gulf War Desert Storm F-16 Combat Aviator | Fighter Weapons School Top Gun | Jet Jernigan | 05 Aug 2023 | 02:09:07 | |
Go to www.HelloFresh.com/combatstory50 and use code combatstory50 for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years! This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place. This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we have an amazing Combat Story from a 28 year F-16 fighter pilot, Jet Jernigan. Jet's story is remarkable from how he stumbled into aviation to eventually lead the first 20 F-16s into Kuwait in the Gulf War to take out 10 Surface-to-Air (SAM) Missile sites and clear the way for Air Force bombers. Jet and his 19 wingmen evaded over 40 SAM launches in just a 9 minute period in what can only be described as organized chaos. He would go head-to-head with SA-2s, SA-6s, and SA-9s in a span of just a few months. As a member of the South Carolina Air National Guard, it seems unlikely that Jet's unit was chosen ahead of other Active Duty Air Force squadrons to be the first F-16s into Kuwait. Fortunately, Jet and his team had just won Gunsmoke, the Air Force's preeminent international aviation air-to-ground combat training exercise despite flying older F-16s against the Active Duty Air Force's modernized variants, proving they were equally capable aviators. Jet had many firsts in his career, including being the first Air National Guard pilot to attend the Air Force's elite Fighter Weapons School where, with his high school degree and Air National Guard pedigree, finished as the honor graduate or Top Gun. Jet is an incredibly humble, accomplished, and god fearing veteran who continues to live out a Hollywood-like story. Stay tuned to the end of this episode to hear Colin Powell's very own description of when Jet was interviewed by a reporter just after landing from his first mission in the Gulf War…it says it all. #f16 #fighterpilot #airforce #veteran ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Jet Jernigan Online: - Instagram @Jetf16 https://www.instagram.com/jetf16/ ======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Guest Introduction (Jet Jernigan) 02:40 - Interview begins 22:14 - What's an A-7D aircraft? 28:45 - What's it like flying the F-16? 33:53 - What's it like to hit a bird (bird strike) at 450mph? 39:11 - What is Fighter Weapons School? 50:40 - What is Gunsmoke? 52:11 - Greatest answer to a media question in history…what's it like to fly an F-16? 01:01:53 - Why did we have Desert Storm? 01:15:16 - Preparing for the Gulf War 01:23:43 - Taking off for the first F-16 flight of the Gulf War 01:39:31 - How to evade a Surface to Air Missile (the science behind it from a fighter pilot) 01:41:08 - An intense mission in Basra meeting an SA-9 and sinking a ship! 01:46:59 - Sinking a Navy ship with an F-16 01:56:04 - When Colin Powell talks about Jet Jernigan after the Gulf War 02:00:15 - What Jet carried on combat missions 02:03:19 - Sentimental Items 02:04:19 - Would you do it again? 02:07:30 - Listener comments and shout outs | |||
| Special Ops Chaplain and Army Green Beret, 270 Jumps and 400+ Flight Hours, Strategic Advisor to 8 Four Star Generals - George Youstra | 29 Jul 2023 | 01:49:14 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we have a unique and very interesting Combat Story with former Green Beret and later Command Chaplain at Special Operations Command, George Youstra. Do not be fooled by the Chaplain title, George's stories are powerful and show a side of the military very few who have not served will ever see. George accumulated over 400 flight hours, primarily in the F-16, at the urging of his boss at the time, General Breedlove, so he could better connect with and serve the pilots and airmen he was assigned to. After building his reputation as a Chaplain within the Air Force fighter community, he was given a call sign, "Saul," which is perfectly suited given his role and stature. In his career, George was a personal advisor to eight Four Star Generals and helped drive religious efforts at both tactical and strategic levels in multiple combat theaters, particularly within the Special Operations community. I had no idea how critical the Chaplain's role would be for combatant commands at the strategic level, which is something we dive into in this episode, in addition to the tactical experience just being present for soldiers and airmen about to go into harm's way, on the verge of taking their own lives, supporting brothers-in-arms who just lost a best friend, and wrestling with their spirituality in the heat of combat. At SOCOM, George served as the principal and personal staff advisor to the Commander, Directors, and headquarters staff in areas related to morale, ethics and spirituality, to include advising on the role and impact of religion in the strategic environment. With that, I hope you enjoy this incredibly insightful and moving conversation with one of the few Chaplains to have seen combat himself as a Special Forces officer, as much as I did. ======= | |||
| DEVGRU | SEAL Teams One and Two | Contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan | Tier One Tactical | Chris White | 22 Jul 2023 | 02:29:26 | |
This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Chris hasn't shared his story previously and did so, in part, to set the record straight on the experience of contractors in the post-9/11 era who had often been painted in a particularly negative way by the media. Chris now operates Tier One Tactical where he delivers expert training to people, particularly those in law enforcement, in shooting and tactical engagements. I hope you enjoy this wide ranging and insightful look at Chris' experiences in both the elite levels of the Navy's Special Operations community and his experience as a contractor in some incredibly challenging fighting, as much as I did.
Find Ryan Online: ======= | |||
| Ryan Flies With The Patriots Jet Team and Scott "Intake" Kartvedt | 15 Jul 2023 | 00:20:02 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Will a former Army Aviator and CIA officer pass out or throw-up for his first flight in a jet?! This episode is best viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/RbyWbRWXky4 because it's all flying and exploring the L-39 jet and Patriots Jet Team hangar. Strap in for a high-octane adventure with the Patriots Jet Team, the ONLY civilian-owned aerobatic jet team in the United States! Ryan is taking Combat Story on a thrilling journey in an L-39 Soviet Jet with the legendary pilot, Scott "Intake" Kartvedt. They're gearing up and rehearsing for a heart-pounding performance at the Sonoma NASCAR race, and you've got a front-row seat (well...it's a the backseat of the L-39 actually)! Before we take off, we get some insider tips from Ryan "Stinger" Fishel, Active Duty F-15 fighter pilot and former guest on the podcast (https://youtu.be/4jP3U2nHFUw - 400K views), on how to handle the intense G-forces during the flight and what to eat before getting in the cockpit. Will Ryan keep his cool (and his lunch) as they pull 7-8 G's for 45 minutes? Fasten your seatbelts and find out! We also hear from Kevin "K2" LaRosa Jr, a sought after Hollywood aerial coordinator and stunt pilot who was handpicked by Tom Cruise to choreograph Top Gun:Maverick (he was also behind the scenes and/or in the cockpit for Avengers, Iron Man, and over 100 other movies and TV shows)! Next, we whisk you away on an exclusive tour of the Patriots Jet Team Hangar, a veritable Aladdin's cave of aviation wonders and also the world's greatest man cave! From sleek jets to Hollywood stunt aircraft, this hangar is a treasure trove. And the pièce de résistance? A bar made from a Russian Mig Wing or the "Help Me" sign used by Tom Cruise and James Corden when they go flying in Randy's aircraft (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1iZtBM23bY)?! Enter Randy "Howler" Howell, the owner of the Patriots Jet Team. With decades of flying experience, Randy is more than a pilot; he's an aviation legend who taught his son to fly solo at the tender age of eight! When Tom Cruise need a stunt pilot for Top Gun:Maverick, he chose Randy Howell. Safety is paramount when you're flying with the Patriots Jet Team! We go through an awesome emergency procedure for a heart-stopping ejection process (I call it the turn and dump). Then, it's time to take to the skies. Experience the adrenaline rush of formation flying, high-speed maneuvers, and the thrill of going inverted (many times!). Ryan even gets a chance to take the controls which is not unlike his days flying the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter! Despite a bout of nausea (an occupational hazard!), Ryan revels in the exhilarating experience of getting back in the cockpit again. As we touch down from this wild ride, we invite you to become part of the Patriots Jet Team legacy through sponsorship opportunities. Plus, don't miss out on Combat Story's previous interviews with these legends (Randy, Kevin, Intake, and Stinger). So, are you ready to defy gravity with us? Tune in, hold tight, and enjoy the ride! Special thanks to Joey Amtman for incredible editing and Four Winds Creative (filming). Find Ryan Online:
Find Scott "Intake" Kartvedt Online:
Find Randy Howell Online:
Find Kevin LaRosa Online:
Patriots Jet Team Instagram: @rhowlerhowell, @scottKartvedt, @deanwright15, @epic_flying, @patriotsjetuprt, @lovell.cory, @mtemby, @rings_patriotsjet, @mamainiero, @aviatrixemmy, @minijetmojoh2o, @stellantsystems, @dragonfly.films, @flygoodyear, @concordebatterycorp, @pjt_foundation Timeline:
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| Origin of the CIA and Military Armed Drone Program | CIA War Zone Chief of Base | Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselves Author | Alec Bierbauer | 08 Jul 2023 | 02:05:56 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear a Combat Story detailing the almost start-up like creation and expansion of the CIA and military's drone program that would go on to help find, fix, and finish high value targets across the globe with Army veteran and CIA officer, Alec Bierbauer. Alec was an Army intelligence soldier and Warrant Officer before being hand picked to join DIA and then being hand picked again, this time by CIA legend Cofer Black, to join the CIA. Prior to 9/11, Alec was detailed from DIA to CIA's virtual station, coincidentally named Alec Station, tracking Al-Qaida and Bin Laden. He would later have the opportunity to fire some of the first shots of the war against AQ through the predator program. He went on to be a CIA Chief of Base in the early years of the Global War on Terror to track down targets in Afghanistan and continued serving in austere environments, including several stints more recently in an expeditionary capacity in locations he can't name while in more senior roles at the Agency. Alec and Mark Cooter wrote the book "Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselves: The Inside Story of How a Team of Renegades Broke Rules, Shattered Barriers, and Launched a Drone Warfare Revolution" which details never before seen experiences of how the drone program was stood up and leveraged post-9/11. This interview was a blast and I hope you enjoy this detailed look at such a critical program to national security during such a pivotal time, as much as I did.
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| Teaching Tom Cruise to Fly | The Making of Top Gun:Maverick | Revolutionizing Aviation Film Making and Stunt Flying | Combined 40K Flight Hours | Patriot Jet Team | Scott Intake Kartvedt, Randy Howell, Kevin LaRosa Jr | 01 Jul 2023 | 01:30:28 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear an aviation-focused Combat Story with three pioneers in the civilian, military, and filmmaking aviation communities who were the driving force behind the aerial scenes from Top Gun: Maverick. Many will recall our interview with Scott 'Intake' Kartvedt as the Accountant turned Naval Aviator who went on to fly F/A-18s, command an F-35 Squadron, fly with the Blue Angels, and now flies the Number 5 airplane in the civilian aerobatic formation flight Patriots Jet Team. Scott's fantastic book "Full Throttle: From the Blue Angels to Hollywood Stunt Pilot" chronicles his experiences in- and outside the cockpit. Our second guest is the owner of The Patriots Jet Team, Randy Howell, who flies the Number 6 aircraft, and who taught Tom Cruise to fly the L-39 jet for Maverick. To give you an idea of how long Randy has been flying, he has 7K more flight hours than expert aviator Sully Sullenberger, who famously landed his commercial airliner in the Hudson River after an inflight emergency. Randy and Intake made up the pair of stunt pilots for Maverick, including the intense flying in the last eight minutes of the movie, for which they were awarded the Screen Actors Guild award for action. Our third guest is Kevin 'K2' LaRosa who grew up in Hollywood as an aviation stunt man, pilot, and aerial coordinator. You've seen him in the air in over 100 films and TV shows, including Iron Man, Avengers, Transformers, Devotion, and Maverick. He is the VP of Aerial Production for Helinet Aviation. This is a rare glimpse into flying with three experts and pioneers in the field. We dig into so much in this episode about flying on the edge and I hope you enjoy these stories of pushing the limits of aerial cinematography with both aircraft and cameras, teaching Tom Cruise to fly jets, and the close calls and near misses that inevitably come with aviation, as much as I did. We have a special edition of Combat Story coming up where I go flying with Intake and Randy in the L-39 in formation with the Patriots Jet Team and try not to pass out or throw up! Stay tuned! Find Ryan Online:
Find Scott Kartvedt Online:
Find Randy Howell Online:
Find Kevin LaRosa Online:
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| CIA Covert Action Program Against Russia in Afghanistan | Drone Program | Green Beret and CIA Officer - Mike Vickers | 17 Jun 2023 | 01:36:10 | |
This episode is brought to you by the OSS Society. Use the link below to register for the Tuesday, June 13 · 6 - 7pm EDT 'Oh So Social' Conversation between General Jim Mattis and Dr. Michael Vickers. They'll discuss Vickers upcoming book In By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operation and Strategy and his remarkable career.
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! He then transitioned to one of the most impactful jobs in Cold War history as the Program Officer overseeing the covert action program to fight and ultimately defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan. His first assignments in the Agency before going to training were in stark contrast to my own as Mike went directly to a war zone (a story we begin the podcast with because it's so unique) with nothing but his polo, linen pants, loafers, operational cash and a firearm! Mike would go on to very senior levels in the government, including the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, Low Intensity Conflicts, and Interdependent Capabilities where he played an instrumental role in so many facets of our national security policy, to include pioneering drone capabilities to target Al-Qaida around the world and helping get the necessary support for the raid to kill Bin Laden. I found this to be a fascinating piece of history and one that Mike details in his book, By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations and Strategy. I found Mike thanks to Frank Gargon, who - along with MIke- is helping to raise funds to support the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society in building a museum in honor of intelligence and special operations professionals. With that, please enjoy this front row seat to so many historical events over the past 40 years.
Find Ryan Online:
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| "A Shadow Dance": A Marine Officer's Story of Fallujah, War, and Understanding the Enemy | 27 Dec 2025 | 00:23:17 | |
In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Elliot Ackerman—former Marine infantry officer, CIA paramilitary operations officer, journalist, and bestselling author. Elliot takes us inside some of the most intense moments of modern warfare, from the brutal urban combat of Fallujah in 2004 to special operations deployments in Afghanistan and later transitioning into the CIA. He walks us through a harrowing platoon-level fight where his unit was surrounded, badly wounded, and forced to blow their way out under fire—starting the day with 46 Marines and ending with just 21 combat effective. But this conversation goes deeper than tactics and timelines. Elliot reflects on leadership under pressure, the mental toll of combat, and how war shapes identity long after the fighting ends. He also shares a remarkable story of sitting down years later with a former al-Qaeda in Iraq fighter—two men who once hunted each other, now trying to understand the same war from opposite sides. This is a powerful discussion about brotherhood, memory, storytelling, and why veterans become the custodians of history when wars end. If you're interested in Marine infantry combat, Fallujah 2004, special operations, the CIA, or the deeper human meaning of war—this is an episode you won't want to miss. | |||
| Special Forces Green Beret (18E) | 3rd Special Forces Group | Eric Neal | 10 Jun 2023 | 02:13:00 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Also be sure to visit our Combat Story website where you can keep up to date with the latest Combat Story episodes, connect with us, or purchase Combat Story merch at; https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Even Eric's very first combat operation (which jump into in the first two minutes of this episode) was as chaotic as they get with multiple aircraft supporting his ODA going winchester (running out of ammo) trying to suppress the enemy. He would be involved in operations we've heard of previously - in one case carrying the bodies of the soldiers we lost in Extortion 17 - and many events we have not heard of, to include one of the largest VBIEDs in the post-9/11 era on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, that wounded over 70 soldiers and local nationals. Eric experienced so much of this combat and loss in his mid-20s and, as he mentions, some of these moments are still with him today. It's hard to imagine one person could experience this much combat in one lifetime, let alone in just four years and I hope you enjoy this gauntlet of trial by fire, literally, and the combat operations and insights he shares, as much as I did.
Find Ryan Online:
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| MC-130 Special Operations Aircrew and Navigator | 8th Special Operations Squadron | Mike LaFeve (Round 1) | 03 Jun 2023 | 01:59:45 | |
This episode is brought to you by the OSS Society. Use the link below to register for the Tuesday, June 13 · 6 - 7pm EDT 'Oh So Social' Conversation between General Jim Mattis and Dr. Michael Vickers. They'll discuss Vickers upcoming book In By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operation and Strategy and his remarkable career.
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= The MC-130 is an incredible airframe and we dig into it's configuration, aircrews, and mission sets in this episode. The platform is specifically designed to support the special operations community with airdrops, delivery and extraction of special operators, refueling, combat search and rescue and so much more, including something called the Fulton Recovery which is straight out of a James Bond movie. In this episode we go through Mike's first deployment immediately following 9/11 in what can only be described as the Wild West of Afghanistan. We'll do a second round interview in which we delve into several more deployments and the varied mission set as the battlefield becomes more established. I hope you enjoy this detailed behind the scenes look at a very cool airframe from someone inside the cockpit as much as I did.
Find Ryan Online:
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| Green Beret | 10th Special Forces Group | 18D Special Operations Combat Medic | Ryan Neel | 27 May 2023 | 02:36:18 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! We spend a lot of time on Ryan's combat experiences in this episode, starting right away with the story of how Ryan nearly died on his first Iraq deployment. I found Ryan through Darrell Utt (who many will recall from our interview #74 at https://youtu.be/Qzv6lISLnwA), who was a former Green Beret alongside Ryan. Oddly enough, both Darrell and Ryan share the same "Alive Day" as they both nearly died on the same day in April 2005. Darrell described the event in the following way: "Ryan was 15 meters away when a tanker truck rammed through the gate and detonated 500 gallons of diesel fuel, 20 x 155mm HE Artillery shells, and ¼ metric tons of TNT…despite having multiple types of injuries and being trapped in his room while it was on fire for 2 minutes, his teammates kicked the door down and after a quick self-assessment – he proceeded to provide medical treatment to four SF brothers, two interpreters, three Peshmerga guards, reset security, and directed Iraqi & US reinforcements…And, yes, he has the actual terrorist video footage of the attack!" Ryan provides a very real and honest perspective of what 15 years of combat does to a person and family and I am sure so many people will connect with his feelings and perspective. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!
Find Ryan Online:
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| 82nd Airborne Medic in Iraq | Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) | Playwright 'Bent Compass' | Colin Sesek | 20 May 2023 | 01:54:46 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! While downrange, Colin participated in infantry operations and raids while also wearing his medic hat managing mass casualty events, significant trauma incidents, and even treated insurgents who were wounded on the battlefield. After leaving Iraq, Colin went on to write a play titled Bent Compass that is touring in the US and Canada about a soldier changing as a result of the war and conflict he's experienced that I got a sneak peek of and I know our listeners will really appreciate. This was a really fun episode and I hope you enjoy Colin's perspective from the conventional and SOF sides of the house as much as I did.
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| Ryan Rogers Interviews Ryan Fugit | Choices Not Chances Podcast | 13 May 2023 | 01:47:53 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Ryan Rogers returned the favor and hosted Ryan Fugit on his program and we dive into some new ground that hasn't been explored previously. I wanted to give a shout out to Ryan Rogers and his program and felt this was a great way to do it.
Find Ryan Online:
Show Notes: | |||
| Terminal List Author | Navy SEAL | Sniper | Enlisted and Officer SEAL | Jack Carr | 06 May 2023 | 01:13:31 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Jack is one of the most well-read people we've ever interviewed and has had tremendous success as a creator, SEAL, husband, father, and outdoorsman. I gravitated to Terminal List on Amazon because it so authentically depicts the emotions of a combat veteran and because it features a secondary character from Zimbabwe that elicits an amazing background that is so familiar to me from my upbringing in that part of the world (and that Jack and I speak about as we kick off the show). Jack is releasing his sixth book "Only the Dead" on May 16th and, if it's anything like the first five, is sure to be great.
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| Army EOD Blinded in Explosion | Inspirational Story of Overcoming Incredible Odds | Navy Chef | Company Founder | Aaron Hale | 29 Apr 2023 | 02:07:54 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======== Today we hear one of our most inspirational Combat Stories from Aaron Hale, an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal tech who was blinded during an IED blast. Aaron later contracted meningitis and lost his hearing as well. You'll want to feel sorry for him and, if you're like me, yourself as well, but he truly has one of the most infectious and inspiring outlooks you'll ever hear. Aaron started his military journey doing exactly what he always wanted to by learning to cook as a Navy chef in Italy. After 9/11, however, he felt he wasn't doing enough to contribute to the combat going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. He made a deliberate choice to become an EOD tech and it quite literally changed the entire course of his life. There was a point in time where his wife had to spell out every single letter of every word she wanted to say to him in the palm of his hand to communicate because he was, as he put it, trapped without the ability to see or hear. This episode took me through a range of emotions and tears. Aaron's story about the last time he got to physically see his son and his family before the blast reminded me of just how great so many of us have it in life and not to take it for granted. I hope this episode takes you through your own range of emotions and helps put some of your own problems - that might not be so significant after all - into perspective the way it did for me.
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| Former CEO ARMA Global & ARCTOS | Ranger | Armor Officer | James Fugit | 22 Apr 2023 | 01:23:38 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! For this first Combat Story: Business Edition of, we hear from James Fugit, my brother and a very successful businessman who sold two companies in the defense space providing aviation, intelligence, IT, training, and equipment (in many cases delivering Soviet era helicopter parts and ammunition to various countries while supporting our efforts in Afghanistan). This took him all over the world with many meetings and partners in Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and more. It's like a real life and legitimate Dogs of War if you've seen the movie. James co-founded ARMA Global Corporation, which provided information technology, engineering, and technical support to defense and government customers, and helped build it from a handful of employees in 2008 to over 800 employees in 2014 when it was sold to General Dynamics Information Technology. He also co-founded and served as CEO of ARMA Aviation Corporation, which provided logistics, supply chain management, maintenance-repair- overhaul (MRO), and training and mentoring to the US government and its allies, which merged with another company called ARCTOS in 2019. In the military, James was an Army Armor officer and we delve into how his time in the Army helped shape his business acumen and leadership skills, including going through Ranger school at the same time eight trainees died of hypothermia. As you can imagine, this was a special interview for me given that James is my older brother and someone I've looked up to my whole life so getting to dig into some of the bigger decisions and challenges he overcame meant a lot to me personally and I hope you enjoy this first ever business edition of Combat Story as much as I did.
Find Ryan Online: Show Notes: | |||
| TOPGUN Instructor and Graduate | F-16, F-18, F-22, F-35 Aviator | Combat Aviator | Combat Ground FAC | Echelon Front Instructor - Davide Berke | 15 Apr 2023 | 01:56:13 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! David has a remarkable story of multiple deployments, including dropping rounds in Afghanistan just weeks after 9/11. Beyond his distinguished and almost Hollywood-like time in the cockpit, David also volunteered to serve as a Ground Forward Air Controller where he was assigned to lead Marines in Iraq alongside the Army and Navy SEAL teams, including that of Jocko Willink's in the middle of the fighting in Ramadi in 2006. Despite all the aviation accolades, David's experience on the ground provided a unique experience that he never could have anticipated. Jocko and Leif Babin reconnected with David and brought him onboard to help lead training and leadership development at Echelon Front, which trains leaders at all levels at companies in every conceivable industry. David effectively hung up his uniform as an instructor in the aviation domain (to include serving as the head trainer at TOPGUN) to instructing the next set of business leaders with Echelon Front. This interview is an insightful, humble, and very real perspective of what it's like to lead from the air and the ground while support soldiers, Marines, and SEALs. This was a really special episode from such an accomplished veteran and I hope you enjoy this whirlwind discussion as much as I did. Find Ryan Online: Find David Online:
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| Purple Heart in the Korean War from 7th Infantry Division Infantryman Joseph Mills Wise | 08 Apr 2023 | 01:35:48 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! When Joe was medevaced out of the combat zone he also had frostbite in both feet. He was able to recover only to be sent back to Korea. While this fighting took place 70 years ago, it's amazing how so many parts of the veteran experience don't change from getting letters from your wife, to sneaking off base in the trunk of a car, to freezing outside in the cold, to humping a massive radio and weapon, and so much more. Joe is part of the silent generation of warriors who, for the majority of his life, did not share these moments of horror with his family and, instead, kept the bottled inside. At 94 years old, he agreed to sit down and share these with us. His wife, Joice, was in the room for our interview and experienced Joe's war through letters and telegrams and then, like many military spouses, was the one who supported Joe through the years of nightmares and pain that come with seeing combat firsthand. This was an honor for me and reminder of this war that came so close on the heels of WWII but with a very different experience for those who fought in it (the war was not even recognized as a war for years).
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| Azad "Mike" - Special Operations Interpreter to United States Marine | 13 Dec 2025 | 03:14:56 | |
In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Azad, known overseas as "Mike," whose life represents one of the most extraordinary and unlikely journeys to come out of the post-9/11 wars. Born Kurdish in Baghdad, Azad was still a child when the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq began. His first exposure to Americans didn't come from movies, television, or Western culture — it came from U.S. soldiers operating in his hometown, at a time when alliances were fragile and the cost of being seen as a collaborator could be fatal. Driven by curiosity, survival, and a desire to understand the forces shaping his country, Azad taught himself English one word at a time. That determination led him to become a U.S. military interpreter, where he served shoulder-to-shoulder with some of America's most elite combat units, including the 101st Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division, Marine Special Operations, and multiple Navy SEAL teams — often in the most dangerous and remote areas of Iraq. His service earned him a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), a rare pathway granted to foreign nationals who risked their lives in support of U.S. forces. But Azad's journey didn't stop there. After arriving in the United States, Azad did something almost unheard of: he raised his right hand again, this time to enlist as a U.S. Marine, transitioning from interpreter to infantryman and formally joining the ranks to continue to defend the country he had already sacrificed so much for. Today, Azad continues to serve beyond the battlefield. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, is currently pursuing a master's degree in cybersecurity at the University of San Diego, and works with the nonprofit No One Left Behind, advocating for interpreters and wartime allies who stood with U.S. forces and now seek safety, recognition, and support. This conversation explores war, loyalty, identity, immigration, service, and sacrifice, and asks a deeper question: What does it mean to belong to a nation you were willing to die for long before you were allowed to call it home?
To learn more about No One Left Behind visit https://www.nooneleft.org/
Live Better Longer with BUBS Naturals. For A limited time get 20% Off your entire order with code COMBAT at Bubsnaturals.com | |||
| Signal Interceptor in Combat | Special Forces Linguist | 82nd Airborne | 7th Special Forces | Clay Jensen | 01 Apr 2023 | 01:46:41 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Clay was in a Blackhawk when it was shot out of the sky while trying to identify the location of Al-Qai'da's then #2 leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan. Clay was also forward deployed in 2007 to identify the location of Bin Laden during what became a failed raid to capture AQ's leader at the time (listeners will recall that our former guest Mike Rutledge was also on that operation). Clay supported clandestine and Top Secret operations working alongside NSA and other three letter agencies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Latin America as part of both the 82nd Airborne and 7th Special Forces Group in a Special Operations Team - Alpha (or SOT-A). I hope you enjoy this first ever Combat Story from a signal interceptor who we, as Apache pilots, relied on regularly to triangulate targets, as much as I did.
Find Clay Jensen Online: | |||
| Navy SEAL & 160th Aviator (MH-47 Pilot) | 17 Combat Deployments | Mike Rutledge | 25 Mar 2023 | 02:43:09 | |
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/COMBAT and get on your way to being your best self and HELP the show. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ========= Today we hear the Combat Story of Mike Rutledge, a Navy SEAL turned to 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) aviator who completed 17 combat deployments over a 30 year career. This is a special episode for me personally because I went to flight school with Mike (as we discuss in the episode) and I still remember being in awe when I saw this other flight school candidate wearing a trident on his uniform. Mike had a very unconventional route to becoming a special operator in two branches, and flew along some of the greatest pilots of our time, including Al Mack, who you'll recall from a previous episode of Combat Story. Among the multitude of mission during his 17 deployments, Mike found himself on a mission in 2007 when we thought we were going to capture Bin Laden. That was, of course, a dry hole but generated lessons learned that were used in 2011 in the final raid. I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging and humble perspective into the world of someone who went from being a SEAL to a 160th aviator as much as I did.
Find Ryan Online: Show Notes: | |||
| CIA Legend | Former Director of the Directorate of Operations | Case Officer | Jose Rodriguez | 18 Mar 2023 | 02:01:43 | |
This episode is also brought to you by CrayonEater Coffee. We're proud to support CrayonEater coffee coming to you from, you guessed it, some former Marines (and current law enforcement officers!) You can order yours now at CrayonEaterCoffee.com
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ========== Jose was a case officer and Chief of Station in several Latin American countries and would eventually lead Latin America Division at the CIA before transitioning over to CTC right after 9/11 where he served as the Division's Chief Operating Officer (a title he made up in true Agency fashion) and then was tapped to lead CTC just months after the invasion of Afghanistan. Jose has a fantastic book titled "Hard Measures: How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9/11 Saved American Lives" which recounts not only some of the innovative HUMINT ops he ran as a CO (like his ability to use horses to gain access), but also some of the incredibly challenging decisions he made at the highest levels of the CIA, including the creation of the Enhanced Interrogation program. This was a really special episode for me given Jose's role and history at the Agency and hope you enjoy a glimpse behind the curtain of one of the most secretive organizations from someone who went from the bottom to the very top as much as I did. Find Ryan Online: Find Jose Rodriguez Online: Show Notes: | |||
| Navy SEAL | SEAL Delivery Vehicle Unit | Entrepreneur | Comedian | Jonathan Cleck | 11 Mar 2023 | 01:59:57 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. This episode is also brought to you by CrayonEater Coffee. We're proud to support CrayonEater coffee coming to you from, you guessed it, some former Marines (and current law enforcement officers!) You can order yours now at CrayonEaterCoffee.com Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Jonathan, like many SEALs in the Teams, lost several friends and brothers-in-arms to training and combat. He served in a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) unit and deployed to Africa and South America, in addition to Middle East. After leaving the service, Jonathan has worn many hats, including founding a start-up technology company with his wife, and is stand-up comedian. In fact, we found ourselves talking about the similarities between jumping out of a plane and telling jokes on a stage. You'll want to stay tuned for a special segment towards the end where I ask John, given his comedic background, to tell me what someone from each branch of service would drink and he did not disappoint (it brought me back to some of the fantastic shenanigans we shared while in the service). Jonathan is equal parts humble, impressive, and hilarious and I hope you enjoy this Combat Story (and leave with a smile on your face), just like I did. Find Ryan Online: Find Jonathan Online: Show Notes: | |||
| Fighter Pilot with Air to Air Drone Shootdown | Homeless to the Cockpit | Distinguished Flying Cross | Ryan "Stinger" Fishel | 04 Mar 2023 | 02:18:55 | |
This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! == Today we hear a fascinating Combat Story from an active duty and currently serving F-15 Eagle fighter pilot, Ryan "Stinger" Fishel whose been involved in some of the most recent combat operations we've talked about on the show, including Syria and Iraq in Operation Inherent Resolve fighting ISIS. Ryan has an absolutely remarkable story of how he found his way to the Air Force that included a Forest Gump-like path of hustling and fighting for any flight time he could get in the civilian world, to include incredibly risky and sketchy flights shuttling aircraft from the US to various countries in the Caribbean. At one point, Ryan was living out of his car and working in a grocery store deli before a moment on a beach changed his perspective on life. I would ask you to please listen through Ryan's story to get to the cockpit because it makes what follows (his exploits inside the aircraft) so much more special, to include an air to air shootdown in hostile skies of a drone, a stand-off and near international incident with a Russian fighter, and dropping danger close ordinance literally in neighboring buildings as friendlies were fighting ISIS. I am so excited for you to hear one of our best combat stories with insight into the fighter pilot community I'd never heard of before from a long time Combat Story listener and active duty pilot and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Find Ryan Online: Find Ryan Fishel Online: | |||
| Special Operations Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan | Ranger Movie on Amazon Prime | Operation Red Wings | David Waterhouse | 25 Feb 2023 | 02:07:17 | |
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/COMBAT and get on your way to being your best self and HELP the show. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! This episode is also sponsored by 4Patriots. Create your own stockpile of the best-selling 4Patriots Survival Food Kits handpacked in the US. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off your first purchase on anything in the store. This episode is also sponsored by Ten Thousand, a clothing brand for tough, durable gear for the outdoors, working out, and a more active lifestyle. I just took mine to Alaska and they held up like a champ. They also use former Special Operators to test and improve their clothing! Check out https://tenthousand.cc/combatstory and get 15% off and help Combat Story continue to grow! I got their long sleeve t-shirt and it was awesome. David and his friend Sean Spencer cataloged David's combat experience in a documentary now streaming on Amazon Prime aptly titled "Ranger" in which David recalls his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The description notes that this is seen through the eyes of a Special Operations soldier and a first hand account that documents the brutality of combat, and the raw nature of killing and death. It's a journey of innocence lost and the scars of war etched into the minds of service members. As David and I discuss in this episode, the documentary, like so many Combat Story episodes, tell the story of David but, at the same time, tell a story so familiar to so many veterans and family members. David and I get pretty deep on the concept of the brotherhood that exists between veterans and some of the scars this experience can leave behind and I hope you enjoy this Combat Story as much as I did. Find David Waterhouse Online: | |||
| Top Gun Maverick Stunt Pilot to F/A-18 Combat Aviator to Blue Angel to F-35 Squadron Commander | Scott "Intake" Kartvedt | 18 Feb 2023 | 01:29:53 | |
This episode was brought to you by 4Patriots. Create your own stockpile of the best-selling 4Patriots Survival Food Kits. It's not ordinary food. We're talking good-for-25-years super survival food. Handpacked right in a family-owned facility in the U.S.A. and giving jobs to over 200 Americans. The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily.Just go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off. That's the number four Patriots.com, use code COMBAT. Start building your own stockpile today. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! When you use these, you help yourself and your family and Combat Story so it's a win-win-win. Thank you for your support! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! When the Navy needed to select its very first pilot to lead the first stealth fighter squadron of F-35s, they chose Intake. Before commanding in combat, Intake was a member of the storied Blue Angels where he flew Opposing Solo which put him less than 10 feet from his wingman in air shows at at a combined closing speed of over 1,000 mph (see more about Opposing Solo maneuvers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCnYTPAo550). Intake had the misfortune of investigating the fatal accidents of his friends and fellow pilots and survived several near death experiences, including a straight dive that he pulled out of at 27 feet above the ground. He serves on the board of the Blue Angel Foundation where they're trying to prevent veteran suicide. You can donate at https://www.blueangelsfoundation.org/ (I donated as well) to help the cause. Intake is a special combat veteran who is infuriatingly humble and open about the expectations and challenges of a life in the most elite community of aviators and I know you'll enjoy this discussion as much as I did. Accountant to jet pilot | F/A-18 Combat Aviator Find Ryan Online: Find Scott Online:
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| AH-64 Apache & Air Force Combat Search and Rescue Pilot Cleared Hot Author | Trauma to Triumph Brian Slade | 11 Feb 2023 | 01:42:55 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Brian Slade, a former AH-64 Apache pilot and serving Air Force Search and Rescue pilot with multiple combat deployments both taking and saving lives. Brian moved out of his house at the age of 15 and learned to make it on his own and carries the same conviction and passion in almost everything he does. He's written a book called "Cleared Hot: Lessons Learned about Life, Love, and Leadership While Flying the Apache Gunship in Afghanistan and Why I Believe a Prepared Mind Can Help Minimize PTSD" that goes into greater detail about his combat experiences. Brian showed me the gun tape from inside his cockpit after his front seater was shot in the leg, he lost an engine, and lost flight controls and it was amazing, bringing back the feel of the aircraft and the borderline chaos of radios during a gunfight. We spend time in this episode on how to remove the weight and burden of what Brian aptly calls the 'insidious backpack' that many of us carry from experiences down range or just at home, which is part of a larger effort he's supporting called Trauma to Triumph to help others deal with this burden. Brian and I definitely geek out on aviation lingo, aircraft, flight profiles, and emergency procedures and I hope you enjoy this discussion of chaos in the air and overcoming the associated burdens on the ground as much as I did. Find Ryan Online: Show Notes: | |||
| Navy SEAL | Seal Team Four | Co-Founder of ZeroEyes | Rob Huberty | 04 Feb 2023 | 01:49:13 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Rob Huberty, a long time Navy SEAL who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan in some incredibly challenging battles. Rob lost over 30 people close to him from his time in the Teams from either combat deaths, accidents, or suicide, including the loss of his closest friend during a battle in which they were talking to each other when his friend, Kevin Ebbert, was killed. After service, and despite the pain and loss Rob endured, he fought back from depressive episodes, found psychedelics and plant-based medicines, attended one of the premiere business schools in the country, and founded a company alongside his 'brothers' who he went to school with. The company they founded is called ZeroEyes and uses AI to proactively help mitigate mass shootings and gun-related violence. They are, effectively developing the technologies that will prevent another Columbine or Sandy Hook (where, not coincidentally, Rob went to school). As you'll see in this interview, Rob is eager to bring other veterans aboard this ride with him at ZeroEyes to build new skills and help save lives. And I know you'll appreciate Rob's perspective on loss, sacrifice, and overcoming the odds as much as I did. Find Ryan Online: Find Rob Online: Show Notes: | |||
| Top Gun Pilot and Combat Aviator | Founder of Top Gun Foundation and Top Gun Options | Matthew "Whiz" Buckley | 28 Jan 2023 | 02:01:35 | |
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/COMBAT and get on your way to being your best self and HELP the show. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Whiz found himself flying 44 combat sorties over Iraq and was scrambled just days after 9/11 to intercept a potential threat over the US where he was authorized to go supersonic at just 1,000 feet with a full weapons load (unheard of in the US)! As with all aviators, we dig into the Call Sign and Whiz is a great one! Despite the highs of flying jets across the world and graduating from Top Gun, Whiz also lost 16 fellow fighter pilots to accidents and suicide, after losing a sister at a very young age that stuck with him for decades. As a result, he created the Top Gun Foundation to help keep veterans alive and found his way to plant based medicines and psychedelics with other veterans like Marcus Luttrell (aka "Lone Survivor"), which we spend some time on during this episode. Whiz has had tremendous success in his post-military career in the options trading world and continues to train everyday people how to make a living doing the same with Top Gun Options. In fact, his success is what made his foundation possible. This was a special episode for me personally where we really dig into the experience inside the cockpit and nerd out on all things aviation (like landing on a carrier at night) and the learnings Whiz was fortunate to take from Top Gun and how we can all apply those. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! Find Ryan Online: Find Matthew Online:
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| Dauntless Courage: Inside Fallujah II and the Hardest Fought Battle of the War | 09 Nov 2025 | 01:22:16 | |
The Second Battle of Fallujah — also known as Operation Phantom Fury — was one of the most intense urban combat engagements fought by U.S. forces since Vietnam. In this gripping documentary, real Marines, soldiers, and corpsmen recount the chaos, courage, and sacrifice that defined Fallujah, Iraq, in November 2004. This is not a scripted Hollywood war story. These are the firsthand voices of men who fought house to house, clearing buildings block by block in what became a defining moment of the Iraq War. Through raw interviews and authentic battlefield audio, this film captures the human side of modern warfare — the camaraderie, the fear, the humor, and the heartbreak that only those who lived it can truly describe. At its core, Battle of Fallujah II is a story of brotherhood under fire. The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (India Company) and their brothers from 1/8 and other units share what it was like to face an enemy that called Fallujah home — an insurgent stronghold fortified by foreign fighters, Al-Qaeda extremists, and jihadists determined to die there. From the first breach through the city's northern berm to the final house cleared along the Euphrates River, the battle tested every ounce of discipline, endurance, and faith these men had. You'll hear the personal accounts of hospital corpsmen risking everything to save wounded Marines, snipers like Tony Scardino and Chris Kyle trading shots in the same building, and infantrymen recounting split-second decisions that meant life or death. The film also revisits the leadership and sacrifice of officers and NCOs who never came home — men like Maj. Sean Sims, Capt. Ed Iwan, and Sgt. Maj. Cavaiani, whose courage inspired those still fighting. Each memory in this documentary is seared with authenticity: The claustrophobic streets filled with traps and ambushes. The roar of tanks and AAVs breaching into the city. The eerie quiet before dawn as Marines wrote what they called "death letters" to their families. The moment when a platoon found itself isolated and surrounded, fighting for survival until air support could reach them. Battle of Fallujah II goes beyond tactics and timelines. It's about what happens after — how these veterans carried the memories of their fallen brothers, how they grappled with loss, and how they continue to honor those who never made it home. This film also examines the broader historical context: the political timing after the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the symbolism of reclaiming Fallujah from Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and the strategic shift toward large-scale urban warfare. For many who served, Fallujah became their generation's Normandy — a defining battle that shaped the course of their lives and the legacy of the Marine Corps. Throughout the documentary, voices like Elliot Ackerman, Travis Greenwood, and Justin Oliver bring depth to the narrative — reflecting on leadership, moral complexity, and what it means to serve in a fight where the lines between survival and sacrifice blur. The film does not glorify war. It reveals it. From the grit of medevac missions and sniper overwatch to the quiet moments of remembrance years later, this is the raw, unfiltered story of those who stood shoulder to shoulder in one of the fiercest battles of the modern era. 🎖️ Featuring: Elliot Ackerman | Travis Greenwood | Tony Scardino | Scott Prill | Justin Oliver | Chris Kyle | Doc Pell | and the Marines of 3/5 India Company 📅 Timeline: November 2004 – Operation Phantom Fury 📍 Location: Fallujah, Al Anbar Province, Iraq 💬 Themes: Urban warfare and military brotherhood Sacrifice and survival in modern combat PTSD, resilience, and life after war Firsthand veteran testimony and oral history The human cost of the Iraq War Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/ COMBAT and use promo code COMBAT at checkout. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – Preparing for Battle 03:00 – The Enemy's Stronghold 05:00 – The Invasion Plan and Forces Assembled 07:00 – Into the City: Breaching the Berm 09:00 – Snipers and Scouts: Eyes of the Battle 12:00 – Letters Before Combat: Facing Mortality 13:00 – The First Casualties 15:00 – Chaos and Courage in the Streets 17:00 – Mechanized Assault on the Government Center 20:00 – Snipers and SEALs: Chris Kyle's Overwatch 23:00 – Corpsmen in the Crossfire 27:00 – House-to-House Combat 30:00 – The Cost of Brotherhood 36:00 – "Be Advised, There's a War On" 41:00 – Holding the Line 45:00 – Breaking Through: The Candy Store Stronghold 50:00 – Urban Hell: Five Hours, 400 Meters 55:00 – Acts of Valor and Survival 1:00:00 – The Medal of Honor Fight 1:05:00 – Aftermath: A City in Ruins 1:10:00 – Reflections and Legacy 1:15:00 – The Human Cost of War 1:18:00 – Why We Fought 1:20:00 – Closing Thoughts: Remembering the Warriors
#BattleOfFallujah #Fallujah2004 #IraqWar #USMarines
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| Marines in The Battle of Marjah | USMC NCO | Author | Choices Not Chances Podcast | Ryan Rogers | 21 Jan 2023 | 02:08:55 | |
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/COMBAT and get on your way to being your best self and HELP the show. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Ryan Rogers, a Marine Corps NCO who led Marines during the Battle of Marjah aka Operation Moshtarak which was a huge and intense International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) offensive in Helmand Province, Afghanistan involving 15,000 Afghan, American, British, Canadian, Danish, and Estonian troops, and the largest joint operation of the War in Afghanistan up to that point in 2010. The purpose of the operation was to remove the Taliban from Marja, thus eliminating the last Taliban stronghold in central Helmand Province. This was Ryan's first experience of intense combat and we spend significant time on the fighting which began literally after stepping off the Chinook on the LZ.
After his intense combat experience, Ryan turned to drinking but then found his path and purpose, writing the book "The Lions of Marjah" about his experiences during this battle and co-hosting the Choices Not Chances podcast. This is a great one ya'll. I don't usually tear up during an interview but this one had me and Ryan in tears at one point talking about the relationships created down range. I know ya'll are going to enjoy this one. Find Ryan Online: Find Ryan Rogers Online: Show Notes: | |||
| Combat With USASOC Operator Rick Hogg | K-9 Handler | 7th SFG | 82nd Airborne | War Hogg Tactical | On the Range Podcast | 14 Jan 2023 | 01:40:05 | |
USASOC Operator & K-9 Handler | 7th SFG | 82nd Airborne | War Hogg Tactical | On the Range Podcast | Rick Hogg This episode is brought to you by Wondery's new podcast AGAINST THE ODDS: UNCHARTED: TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S AMAZON EXPEDITION (link) Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of 29 year Army Special Operations veteran Rick Hogg, who spent time with the 82nd, 7th Special Forces Group and US Army Special Operations Command. His time ranged from Desert Storm deep into the post-9/11 era. Rick spent years as a K-9 handler in the Special Ops community, forging a very strong bond with his dog "Duco" in particular. Rick managed through years of deployments and overcame the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with a very concerted focus on his own health and transition from the military that many can learn from. After leaving the service, Rick now owns War Hogg Tactical offers mobile firearms, tactical and K9 training to civilians, military and law enforcement agencies that was borne out of his experience training Special Forces. He's written the book "The Firearms Training Notebook: 1% Better Everyday", co-hosts the On The Range Podcast, and founded the "In Honor of Duco" charity. I hope you enjoy this wide ranging and emotional discussion with a USASOC operator as much as I did. Find Ryan Online:
Rick Hogg is the owner of War HOGG Tactical, Inc. and is a 29 year US Army Special Operation Combat Veteran including being a Special Operations K9 handler. He has taken his 13 combat deployment, to both Iraq along with Afghanistan, as well as his teaching experience as a Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat instructor and harnessed them into a proven training methodology service company, War HOGG Tactical, Inc. War HOGG Tactical, Inc. offers professional comprehensive mobile firearms, tactical and K9 training to law abiding civilians, military and law enforcement agencies through combat proven techniques and experience to improve students skill ability. War HOGG also conducts product development and product field testing along with a verity of consulting services in the defense and firearms industry. War HOGG Tactical, Inc was born in 2002 when my Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat students returned from Afghanistan and said "That stuff you taught me saved my life!" Rick and his retired Special Operations Forces K9 Duco have been featured on Trigger Time TV covering an entire season on training a military working dog. Rick has also has instructional videos with Panteao Productions. Our program's main goal is to provide you with a skill set to defend yourself or your family members using a building block methodology of instruction Show Notes: | |||
| Green Beret | Operation Pineapple Express | Evacuated Afghan Allies from Kabul | Last Man Out Writer | Scott Mann | 07 Jan 2023 | 01:36:41 | |
EXCLUSIVE - This episode was sponsored by Ten Thousand, a clothing brand for tough, durable gear for the outdoors, working out, and a more active lifestyle. I just took mine to Alaska and they held up like a champ. They also use former Special Operators to test and improve their clothing, which you know we love on Combat Story! Check out https://tenthousand.cc/combatstory and get 15% off and help Combat Story continue to grow! I got their long sleeve t-shirt and it was awesome. Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Scott Mann, a long time Green Beret in the pre- and post-9/11 era. Ten years after his army service, he gained notoriety for his role leading what is now known as Operation Pineapple Express in August 2021 when he and a large group of veterans and active duty service members helped evacuate 1,000 Afghans as the Taliban returned to power and what was sure to be brutal retribution. Scott served in the jungle and mountainous terrain of South America and spent years in Afghanistan executing a combination of direct action and village stability operations. Like any Green Beret we've interviewed, Scott's desire to work with, by, and through local forces shines through. He's gone on to write several books in addition to Operation Pineapple Express, a play called Last Out that the Gary Sinese Foundation is helping to turn into a larger production, and a leadership company called Rooftop Leadership, all of which leverage the experiences he had in combat. I hope you enjoy this very real and raw Combat Story with someone who never gave up helping others as much as I did. Find Ryan Online:
Find Scott Online:
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| Combat Controller in Black Hawk Down | Air Force Special Ops | World Record | Author | Dan Schilling | 31 Dec 2022 | 01:37:50 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Dan Schilling, who spent over 30 years in the military, primarily as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer in the Air Force's Special Operations community. He was on the ground calling in air strikes during Operation Gothic Serpent (better known as Black Hawk Down). He holds the Guinness World Record for most BASE jumps in 24 hours (201), and is a professional-rated demonstration skydiver, mountain speedwing pilot and volunteer ski instructor with Wasatch Adaptive Sports. He's a best selling author, helping produce a movie, and recently wrote a song with his band: Spent Brass. After years of combat, Dan found his way to Buddhism and shares some readings and learnings that you can apply if you are dealing with trauma and challenges in your life. I hope you enjoy this hair on fire account of living life to its extremes - both in and out of uniform - as much as I did. Find Ryan Online:
Find Dan Online:
Dan's Reading List:
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| Green Beret Silver Star Destroying Enemy Tanks with a Javelin | 3rd Special Forces Group | Changing Hearts and Minds Podcast | Jeff Adamec | 24 Dec 2022 | 01:57:56 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Jeff Adamec, a longtime Green Beret with six combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as an 18B and a K9 handler. Jeff earned the Silver Star during the Battle of Debeka Pass in Iraq in 2003 during his first deployment. In his final deployment, Jeff was knocked unconscious by an RPG during a gunfight in Afghanistan while based out of FOB Cobra. He broke his back in four places and was medically retired for those injuries and the TBI sustained as a result. He went on to find success in the corporate sector in network engineering and logistics and hosts the Changing Hearts and Minds podcast that focuses on military history of all eras prior to 1995. Jeff's understanding of military history and weaponry absolutely shines through in this episode and will, I hope, attract some more listeners to his podcast. I hope you enjoy this fast paced and wide ranging interview with Jeff as much as I did. Find Jeff Online:
Find Ryan Online:
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| Aircraft Crash on Robert's Ridge | 160th Night Stalker | MH-47 Chinook Combat Aviator | Alan Mack | 17 Dec 2022 | 02:15:41 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of a long time aviator and CH-47 and MH-47 pilot who spent years with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Alan Mack. Alan served over 35 years in the Army and retired with 6700 flight hours, including 3200 hours in NVGs. Alan survived an aircraft shootdown and multiple near death experiences in his time in uniform. He was a part of iconic operations including Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operations Anaconda and Redwings, and many others he can't discuss because they remain classified. He has two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars, a Legion of Merit, and 10 Air Medals, including one with Valor. His nickname was The 'Stache which is almost a requirement for an aviator but sadly that mustache is now gone but I have confirmed with my old flight school roommate who served with Alan that the nickname was indeed, The Stache! Alan's book "Razor 03: A Night Stalker's Wars" chronicles so much more of his experiences in the elite special operations community for those who are left wanting more, to include some of the more personal and challenging family dynamics he experienced with years in combat. I hope you enjoy this perspective from the inside the cockpit where we dive deep into some of the aviation psychology, personalities, and Chinook configurations, as much as I did. Find Alan Online:
Find Ryan Online:
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| UK SBS (Special Boat Service) | World Record Holder | Security Expert "Relentless" | Prince Harry Close Friend | Dean Stott | 10 Dec 2022 | 01:27:47 | |
EXCLUSIVE - This episode is brought to you by Uncommon Goods. Go to https://www.uncommongoods.com/combat for 15% off your order and find some killer holiday gifts (and you'll be helping keep Combat Story going!) Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Dean Stott, a former operator with the UK Special Boat Service (SBS) who saw combat with both SBS and the Commandos. Dean would eventually injury his leg in a HAHO (high altitude high opening) accident getting ready for another deployment that would end his military career but would not end his thrill seeking sense of adventure. In fact, only two days after leaving the military, Dean was providing security for people in remote and dangerous parts of the world, eventually standing up his own security company. Dean, like many former operators, tried a more predictable existence in an office but quickly found himself searching for the adrenaline highs he'd left behind. As a result, he found his way to biking and set two world records. Dean's book "Relentless" will be available on November 28th in the US that details some of the topics we discuss in this interview and more, including his close friendship to Prince Harry, who listeners will know I appreciate given his background flying Apaches. Dean's got more adventures ahead including another record breaking task in Africa. I hope you enjoy this discussion of what can only be called a full life lived to the edge as much as I did (and if you're like me, you'll also be a little jealous!). Find Dean Online:
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| Four Star General George Casey | Army Chief of Staff | Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq | 03 Dec 2022 | 01:35:30 | |
EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! I use NordVPN myself so you're in good company (and I know security). If you sign up, it will also help the show so thank you in advance! This episode is also brought to you by Uncommon Goods. Go to https://www.uncommongoods.com/combat for 15% off your order (and you'll be helping keep Combat Story going!) Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear a rare Combat Story from the highest echelons of the military from the eyes of retired General George Casey, who was the Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq, from 2004 to 2007, and Chief of Staff of the Army from 2007 to 2011. General Casey's decisions resulted in many of the combat stories we've heard on this show as Delta operators, snipers, soldiers, and Marines carried out tactical operations that he and his staff decided at the strategic levels. I have a very short but personally important moment in which my life intersected with the General's: he commissioned me into the Army. I was a student and ROTC cadet at Georgetown University where I played football and was on campus during the aftermath of 9/11. Similarly, General Casey was a student at Georgetown, also played football, and was on campus during the Vietnam War when it was not popular to wear the uniform. Mine was the first full class to commission into the post-9/11 era and I found it fitting that General Casey was the man who made that possible. He's got some amazing stories, including being asked to attend the second-ever selection course for Delta Force to create the conditions for the first-ever elections in post-Saddam Iraq decades later. This was a special interview for me personally and I hope you enjoy the experience, highs, lows, and mindset of one of the very few to ever have the opportunity to wear four stars. Show Notes
Book Supporting Veterans After 50 Years of the All-Volunteer Force and 20 Years of War: Ideas Moving Forward https://www.amazon.com/Supporting-Veterans-After-Years-All-Volunteer/dp/B0B4WRPRKS/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1665942969&refinements=p_27%3AGeorge+W.+Casey&s=books&sr=1-1 Support the USO, where General (ret) Casey is Chairman of the Board https://secure.uso.org/OM_BRD/?sc=WF18SRCH07&gclid=Cj0KCQjw166aBhDEARIsAMEyZh79aLOZpIzkttNII41Q54cFGx88TxQHoXEIq5I1XOTn3VMK6ilNsCkaAmmREALw_wcB This video covers the following subjects: - Four Star General George Casey - Army Chief of Staff - Commanding General - Multi-National Force-Iraq General George W. Casey, Jr., enjoyed a 41-year career in the US Army following his graduation from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in 1970. As the Army Chief of Staff, he led one of the nation's largest and most complex organizations during one of the most extraordinary periods in our history. He is widely credited with restoring balance to a war-weary Army and leading the transformation to keep it relevant in the 21st Century. Prior to this, from July 2004 to February 2007, he commanded the Multi-National Force – Iraq, a coalition of more than 30 countries where he guided the Iraq mission through its toughest days. If you would like to learn more about Four Star General George Casey, look here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Four Star General George Casey? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Four Star General George Casey. | |||
| 160th Night Stalker | AH-6 & MH-6 Pilot | DFC | Silver Star | CW5 Steve Lapping | 26 Nov 2022 | 02:01:04 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of a long-time Night Stalker from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Steve Lapping. Steve participated in multiple high-profile operations that many of us have heard of like the Jessica Lynch rescue and the Saddam Hussein capture, and many operations we have not like Objectives REINDEER and LEADVILLE. This was a special interview for me as you can imagine given Steve's storied background as an elite pilot, spending over two decades in 160th. We also touch on some of the heartbreak that comes with years in the cockpit with accidents, shootdowns, and crashes, including the feeling in SOAR following Operation GOTHIC SERPENT (aka Blackhawk Down). Steve is one of the most humble individuals you're going to encounter. In fact, I had to dig to figure out that Steve was a CW5, which is a very difficult rank to reach and to learn about his awards and decorations in combat. I hope you enjoy this Combat Story from inside one of the most lethal cockpits from such a humble warrior as much as I did. Find Ryan Online:
Show Notes:
This video covers the following subjects:
- 160th SOAR Night Stalker - AH-6 & MH-6 Pilot - DFC -160th SOAR - Silver Star - CW5 Steve Lapping
The President of the United States of America, authorized by an Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Chief Warrant Officer Five Steven A. Lapping, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force while serving as Pilot of an AH-6 Helicopter with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), while operating against an entrenched enemy force during a daylight raid in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
If you would like to learn more about 160th SOAR Night Stalker, Steve Lapping I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about 160th SOAR Night Stalker, Steve Lapping? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on 160th SOAR Night Stalker, Steve Lapping. | |||
| Medal of Honor | Only Living Iraq MOH | Infantry Squad Ldr | 2-2 Infantry | Author | David Bellavia | 12 Nov 2022 | 01:46:28 | |
EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! I use NordVPN myself so you're in good company (and I know security). If you sign up, it will also help the show so thank you in advance! We did so well with this last time around that NordVPN reupped with us and that support is going straight into some new content we're producing at Combat Story! Thank you! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear our first ever Combat Story from a Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia. David was a squad leader in Task Force 2-2 with the storied 1st Infantry Division during the brutal second battle of Fallujah. At one point, his fellow soldiers were pinned down and David cleared a building in a way that, in his words, 9 times out of 10, would have ended up very differently and with him losing his life and included hand to hand combat with an insurgent.. David shares so much insight into how the military transformed him and gave him some of the most real love he'd ever experienced with his brothers in arms. His second book, Remember the Ramrods: An Army Brotherhood in War and Peace just came out and speaks directly to the bonds that can truly only be forged in combat. I highly recommend you listen all the way through to hear not just the event for which David would eventually receive the Medal of Honor, but also his response to the question if he would do it all again. It was something I never could have imagined. With that, I hope you enjoy this very, very rare glimpse into someone who truly risked everything for a handful of others. #veteran #medalofhonor #army #combat Find David Online:
Find Ryan Online:
Show Notes
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| Invite to the Battle of Fallujah II Dauntless Courage Premiere on Combat Story with Ryan and AJ | 08 Nov 2025 | 00:03:16 | |
This is an invite to watch the Premiere of a Combat Story special episode titled Dauntless Courage focused entirely on combat stories taking place during the Battle of Fallujah II. To join the premiere later today, go to YouTube at https://youtu.be/iO0-BJXWWJE and click notify me. The Premiere starts on Nov 8 at 8pm EST / 5pm PST. Ryan and AJ will be in the chat watching the video live with everyone, including other Marines who fought in Fallujah! | |||
| Marine Corps Silver Star Recipient | Operation Utah | Vietnam Veteran | Community Activist | Danny Hernandez | 05 Nov 2022 | 01:35:54 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Danny Hernandez, a Vietnam Veteran who served as a Marine rifleman in Operation Utah in March 1966. Danny would later be awarded the Silver Star and there is currently a push to have that upgraded to a Medal of Honor. Danny came from the rough streets of East LA and after Vietnam would return to be a committed community activist and mentor for many of the kids who were not as fortunate as he was. The Silver Star was certainly earned as Danny was shot twice while providing medical aid to a stranded and wounded Marine on the battlefield; refusing to be evacuated, and killing several enemy soldiers as they flanked the casualty collection point that Danny had just been sitting in. Danny's work on mentoring and building the community in his hometown is inspiring and you can't help but laugh as you hear some of the stories of the Marine Corps back in the Vietnam era. His story is documented in his book, titled "Silver Star: An American Story" in much greater detail for those who are left wanting more. Find Danny Online: -Book: Silver Star: An American Story https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Star-American-Danny-Hernandez-ebook/dp/B07CJYYLLS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Find Ryan Online:
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| Prisoner of War | Ukraine Marines | Tortured in Captivity by Russia | Aiden Aslin (Round 2) | 29 Oct 2022 | 02:08:33 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! This is the true and frightening Combat Story of Aiden Aslin, a British citizen fighting for the Ukrainian military who was taken as a POW in February 2022 and then beaten and stabbed by his Russian captors for over five months. Listeners will recall our first interview with Aiden from Feb 5th, 2022 (https://youtu.be/IbHSQ1xzpRc), just weeks before the Russian invasion where he predicted what would come after two deployments to the frontlines in Ukraine and significant fighting in Syria. Aiden was fighting on the front lines in the Donbas region of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, when Russia, completely unprovoked, invaded Ukraine. His unit fell back to the steel factory Mariupol where it was surrounded by Russian and Donetsk People's Republic (or DPR, which is Russia's foot soldiers and lackeys in Donetsk). Out of food and ammunition, Aiden's unit would eventually surrender to the Russian military which promptly handed Aiden over to the DPR for regular beatings and violations of the Geneva Convention which surprised nobody. In our interview, Aiden recounts the harrowing experience of being on the frontlines when Russia invaded and how he survived captivity, without any of the advanced training that people like myself received regularly while in service to survive and escape these situations to return with dignity. I'm sure you will be amazed at Aiden's spirit and strength that pulled him through this difficult time and it will be a stark reminder for each of us that our day-to-day problems are not as hard as we might think when compared with what he endured. As you can imagine, I was elated to hear of Aiden's release in September and was nearly brought to tears after seeing his face again as we started this interview. Please enjoy this rare glimpse of hope and optimism from someone who survived a history-altering invasion and months in captivity as a modern-day POW as much as I did. Definitions: You'll hear a reference to "GRADS" which is a mobile artillery vehicle used by the Russians that fire 122mm rounds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-21_Grad). You'll hear DPR, which is the Donetsk People's Republic. Find Aiden Online: - Conflict Dispatch https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y-SiuIRHPpnUpcWgZRLgw - Instagram @CossackGundi https://www.instagram.com/cossackgundi/?hl=en Find Ryan Online:
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| Marine Special Operator | CIA Global Response Staff | Savage Actual | Jason Lilley (Round 2) | 22 Oct 2022 | 01:53:32 | |
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the second round of our Combat Story with Jason Lilley, a former Marine, MARSOC operator, Global Response Staff (GRS) with the CIA, and co-host of Savage Actual with co-host Patrick Moltrup having been a guest on our show on Episode 26 (https://youtu.be/YmOkCKtpvGk). You can find Savage Actual at https://www.youtube.com/c/savageactual. We left off our first interview (which you can find at https://youtu.be/jYzw5zGR5SE) hearing about Jason's first deployments with Marine Recon in OIF I going into Iraq, in which his unit was featured in the HBO show Generation Kill, and a subsequent deployment when Jason earned a Silver Star. At that point, Jason got out of the service, seemingly to find another path, got a lip ring as he said, and started surfing. He still had years of service ahead of him, and that's exactly what we touch on in this episode. We get into some interesting aspects of combat this time around but we also dive pretty deep into the psychological aspects of war and the insight that time and age bring. Listeners really connected with Jason the first time around, noting how genuine and down to earth he is, with one person saying that he comes across as both deadly and chill at the same time, which is absolutely the case. There were so many calls for us to do round two from our listeners and it was worth waiting for. As you all know, you can catch Jason on Savage Actual with his co-host Patrick Moltrup, both of whom I consider great people, Americans, and friends. With that, please enjoy this insightful, selfless, and yet somehow equally hilarious discussion with Jason Lilley. Find Jason Online:
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