CS#64: Interrogating Terrorists | HUMINT | Best Selling Author | Veteran Mentor | James Rosone

Today we hear the Combat Story of James Rosone, best known as a bestselling author but who also interrogated terrorists in Iraq on the frontlines before picking up the pen.
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James was "inside the booth" conducting tactical interrogations down range and feeding intel on dangerous routes, IED makers, and High Value Targets to coalition forces (up to Tier 1) on a daily basis. Like so many vets, he dealt with the deep regret of feeling like he didn't do enough and, for years, accepting the blame when an American lost an arm breaching a target he developed or worse, losing a life on the objective.
After leaving the service, James found his calling as an author, in part as a way to handle his PTSD. We talk about his experiences with psychedelics and other treatment options he used to keep his demons at bay. He's gone on to write 26 books ranging from a memoir titled Interview with a Terrorist to his well known military and espionage thrillers like the Monroe Doctrine. He's now sharing his writing experience with other vets to help them become successful authors.
I hope you enjoy this deep dive into the world of an interrogator at the height of the surge to becoming a wildly successful author as much as I did.
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Books by James Rosone
Facebook Rosone and Watson

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Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes

0:00 - Intro
1:18 - Guest introduction (James Rosone)
2:30 - Interview begins
11:20 - Early experience in the Guard and the moment after 9/11 he knew he would go active duty
23:57 - The interrogation opportunity comes and training experience
39:09 - Traits that make a really good interrogator
41:46 - What happens after an interrogation
48:59 - What an interrogator does to prep
54:50 - First interrogation experience
1:02:55 - The responsibility felt to people outside the wire
1:17:19 - The dynamic on the FOB
1:22:23 - The biggest case he ever had and false flag interrogation
1:30:23 - His toughest case interrogating a 15 year old kid
1:44:43 - Facing demons and PTSD after coming home
1:51:43 – His first book and how pouring himself into writing helped
2:02:21 - Trying alternative treatments like psychedelics for PTSD
2:17:02 - What James is working on now
2:22:51- What did you carry into combat/interrogations?
2:25:00 - Would you do it all again?
2:34:23 - Listener comments and shout outs