SOFREP Radio

On this week’s podcast, Steve Balestrieri interviews Toby Harnden who served in the Royal Navy and retired as a Lieutenant. Though he served in the Navy for almost a decade, Steve is famously known as a journalist and author of 3 books including Bandit Country: The IRA & South Armagh and Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Defining Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan.Toby talks about how he entered into journalism which seemed like a natural progression from his time in the Navy. While serving, he got to witness the action in Ireland with the IRA. These events led up to his first book which unraveled the murders of senior RUC officers with Garda (Irish police) collusion in 1989.His next book Dead Men Risen reached number 4 on The Sunday Times bestseller list and earned him the Orwell Prize for books in 2012. Toby details in today's show the background of this book that started with the events of 9/11 and the heroic men he interviewed to create the story.In Toby's latest book First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA's Secret Mission to Avenge 9/11, he looks back on the 8 men of Team Alpha who led the charge behind enemy lines on October 17, 2001, especially the heroism of David Tyson and martyrdom of Mike Spann.Toby discusses gritty details that set the stage for the tragedy in the Fort of War and the great cooperation between CIA, Green Berets, SPS, Navy SEALs which, during the early stages of the war, were unheard of. Toby also shares radical details about the operation taken from firsthand sources, including a hilarious account of psychological warfare where a lady Navy pilot's singing was used to intimidate the notoriously misogynistic Taliban, an on-the-fly idea of their bloodthirsty warlord companion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 Feb 20221h 12min

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Dr. Bob Adams who served fourteen years in the Navy and eighteen years in the Army. He is the author of 3 books, including Six Days of Impossible which details his experiences during SEAL training class and the 11 of 70 men who achieved the impossible.After his time as a Commander in the Navy, he changed services to attend medical school where he applied his analytical skills to look back at the men that he shivered and struggled with through Hell Week together. As a Colonel in the US Army Medical Corps, Bob managed 5 large full-service family practice clinics, was a command surgeon with the US Army Delta Force, was a department chief for the Department of Deployment Health, and was a recipient of the Lifetime Medical Achievement Award (Order of Military Medical Merit).Today, Dr. Bob gives his very timely opinion on the recent deaths during Hell Week and how it is very unlikely that Hell Week itself is to blame for it. He zeroes in on one common denominator between the two deaths and that is the mandatory COVID shots that these men got.He also shares some of the most memorable moments during his time with the Airborne, including the three occasions that his main chute failed and he had to pull his reserve parachute during freefall and a particularly heroic middle-of-the-night ambulance transfer in enemy territory.Dr. Bob answers some viewer questions, including his tips on combat shooting, running more because endurance is everything on the field, improvising tools to save people's lives, and flyfishing to keep his mental health on point.   You can get your copy of Six Days of Impossible: Navy SEAL Hell Week - A Doctor Looks Back on Amazon by clicking this link. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 Feb 202247min

On this week’s podcast, Rad welcomes back Jake Zweig on the show. Jake is a former US Navy SEAL, football coach, host of reality survival show Dude, You're Screwed, and currently, a leadership development coach working with C-suite executives. Jake is a life-long athlete and team leader. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995 as a commissioned officer and served as a surface warfare officer for two years onboard the U.S.S. Merrimack. He then entered Navy SEAL training at Basic Underwater Demolition School where he excelled. In addition to that, Jake mentored his fellow trainees and was named SEAL class leader. After his training, Jake served with SEAL Team 8 in Little Creek, VA where he attained the rank of Lieutenant.Jake shares how he got on TV, how rigged everything really is, and interesting stories of calling out others for their BS while filming. He also talks about leadership in business and recognizing talent for what it is without bias to race, gender, and appearance.Rad then asks Jake questions from the audience which he answers with wild anecdotes. Jake shares stories of never losing a fight since 7th grade, choking out opponents in Fight Club, and never being truly prepared for some situations where your leadership is called forth. Jake also talks about Troops Direct, a nonprofit which helps source out top-of-the-line gear for soldiers that the military won't provide them.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Feb 20221h 13min

On this week’s podcast, SOFREP editor-in-chief Sean Spoonts interviews Ryan Zinke at SHOT Show 2022 in Las Vegas.Ryan Zinke served as a Navy SEAL in command positions in SEAL Team One and SEAL Team Six. He served with Naval Special Warfare Unit Two and the Naval Special Warfare Center, and at one time was the acting command of the Special Operations Forces in Iraq. Ryan served as a senator in Montana from 2009 to 2013 then won a seat in the House in 2014. He served as Secretary of the Interior from 2017 to 2019. He is running again for Montana's 1st congressional district in November.They talk about the energy use and production in Montana and Ryan's stance that the US must never be held hostage for its energy. Ryan explores the different environmental impacts of various methods of energy production and how important it is to implement sustainable practices. Ryan comments on the distrust with the government in Washington and the need to protect free speech. On the issue of Ukraine, Ryan is hopeful that war can be avoided but stresses the need for the US to have a united front with its allies, an important element because if Russia enters Ukraine, it will likely not go in alone. Russia is likely looking at how far China will go with Taiwan and, if China moves, Russia may move in concert too. Finally, Ryan also shares his thoughts on vaccines, the objections of Navy SEALS in taking the vaccine, and fighting for what is right in the House.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Jan 202233min

In this week's podcast episode, SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri talks with Dr. David Eagleman a neuroscientist and serial entrepreneur who tries to help people suffering from tinnitus.It is estimated that one billion people around the world suffer from tinnitus. The condition is especially widespread in the military and veteran community. As Steve says, be it from a gunshot or an artillery barrage tinnitus is a reality in the military. The condition can be excruciating for some and even lead to suicide.Dr. Eagleman wants to combat this, so he created Neosensory with technology that he spun out of his lab.Neosensory addresses tinnitus and hearing loss with the help of a bracelet. The bracelet stimulates your sound and touch in order to retrain your brain to listen to the damaged and lost sound frequencies. You wear the bracelet for a period of two months. The results it provides are long-lasting and it reduces tinnitus by 30 percent.Dr. Eagleman says that what made him undertake his research was the question of whether information can be fed into our brains via unusual channels, i.e. sensory substitution. After all, as Dr. Eagleman explains tinnitus is ultimately a condition of the brain, not the ear.You can find more about the technology at Neosensory.com.Neosensory has kindly provided a one-week-long discount for veterans on its Neosensory Duo for Tinnitus. You can claim it just by applying the coupon code "HONOR."Join us for another SOFREP Radio episode in which we discuss a very important issue for the military community. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Nov 202130min

On this week's podcast SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri interviews Mike Durant.Mike was famously in Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu. During the operation, his Black Hawk helicopter was shot down by Somali militias. The event was featured in the Black Hawk Down book and movie.Mike spent 22 years in the military, the majority of them as a Night Stalker of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. He is now running for the U.S. Senate in Alabama.Mike Durant talks about what led him to join the military, and his first experience flying in a helicopter. After going to flight school, Mike managed to get the only Black Hawk slot. At first, flying the new and iconic bird with all its gadgets and gizmos was as if flying a space shuttle.Mike also talks about Somalia and recounts the events of that fateful day and the heroic actions of Delta Force members Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart. Yet, he highlights that Operation Gothic Serpent was a tactical success but a political failure.Steve and Mike then switch to politics. Mike tells us why he decided to run for office: and from Afghanistan to vaccine mandates and career politicians who have no real-life experience there are plenty of reasons to do so.As Mike says, the only way to know if you can make a difference is by getting in the fight.You can find out more about Mike Duran's candidacy at https://mikedurant.com/.Join us for another episode of SOFREP Radio with Steve Balestrieri! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Nov 202146min

In this week's podcast SOFREP Editor-in-Chief Sean Spoonts talks with Taylor Grieten a former Navy Search and Rescue (SAR) swimmer and creator of Hell or High Seas. Hell or High Seas is a documentary that depicts the journey of Taylor Grieten and writer Stephen O'Shea as they sail around Cape Horn, which, as Sean points out, is the most perilous sea route in the world. But at the same time, Hell or High Seas is also a journey of recovery and healing from PTSD.Sean was also a Navy SAR swimmer, so he and Taylor recount stories from SAR selection and the hardships candidates have to endure to graduate.The SAR community is a very small one. Whenever a SAR swimmer is lost his loss affects the whole community. This isn't easy as Sean and Taylor highlight.PTSD is a plague. Taylor, through Hell or High Seas, shows that PTSD can be beaten.But the journey, literally and figuratively, was a hard one. Taylor and Stephen endured a multitude of dangers from pirates to storms. Yet, their perseverance and courage allowed them to overcome. Now, Taylor wants to inspire other veterans and military members to do so.Taylor also serves the veteran community through his American Odysseus Sailing Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit organization that provides relief to veterans through sailing training and expeditions.You can find out more about the documentary as well as rent or buy it at https://www.hellorhighseas.com/.Tune in for another memorable and touching SOFREP Radio episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Okt 202155min

In this week's episode SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri talks with John Pomfret and Fred Hart about how Polish spies saved Operation Desert Storm.John is an award-winning journalist and author. Among other publications, he has worked for the Associated Press and Washington Post eventually becoming the editor of the Post's weekend opinion section. He has written and worked extensively on China. His latest book is the upcoming From Warsaw with Love: Polish Spies, the CIA, and the Forging of an Unlikely Alliance. The book tells the unlikely story of how Poland saved Operation Desert Storm and the first Gulf War. As the U.S. was planning Operation Desert Storm, six American officers became trapped in Iraq. If the intelligence they carried were captured by the Iraqis the upcoming operation could be doomed. To rescue the officers the CIA turned to Poland, famous for its excellent spies.Fred Hart was one of the six trapped U.S. officers and he recounts to Steve the exciting events that led to their escape. Join us for a gripping episode of SOFREP Radio with John Pomfret and Fred Hart and discover the unknown story that determined Operation Desert Storm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Okt 20211h 1min