SOFREP Radio

We start off the podcast with editor-in-chief Jack Murphy discussing both some of the criticism and praise we've received over SOFREP.com posting footage of the killing of Green Berets in Niger by ISIS. This controversy is by no means something that we take lightly, and Jack wanted to be frank with the audience of why this decision was made. More can be read on this in Jack's post "Why we published the Niger video." Our special guest this show is none other than All That Remains frontman Phil Labonte. ATR is celebrating their 20th year as a band, and many of you loved their video for the song "Madness" featuring Kris Paronto which raised awareness for post-traumatic stress related issues in combat veterans as well as soldier suicide. Phil shares some great stories of coming up touring with bands like Five Finger Death Punch (who he's filled in for on vocals) and Motograter (a name you may remember if you were into the nu-metal scene about 15 years back.) Not only is Phil an accomplished musician though, he's also a former Marine and a gun store owner. He was even at SHOT Show which we discuss, and he recently got some attention for the video on his Youtube channel talking the issue of gun control after the Florida school shooting. After wrapping with Phil we pay our respects to WWII fighter pilot Jerry Yellin, who flew the last combat mission over Japan. We just recently found out of his passing at 93. Brandon Webb however did have the fortune of interviewing Jerry just recently on The Power of Thought (Episode 13) which is very worth checking out. Then, we give out a Throat Punch of the Week for the first time in a while. We appreciate all the well thought out feedback in these past few days, and those that are having a respectful discussion about some very serious issues, we encourage that. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 Mar 20181h 5min

Ten shows back on Episode 321, our friend Steve Balestrieri who's the head writer and editor at SpecialOperations.com told us about his work interviewing combat veterans from some of the older wars.  I wanted to bring him on for an update on that.  I've always loved getting older vets on tell their stories whether it's Jerry Yellin who joined Brandon on The Power of Thought podcast, or Jim Downing who recently left us.  They're all unfortunately leaving us as the years go by, so getting them to open up with their heroic stories on film is something that Steve and the rest of us at Hurricane Group greatly appreciate. SpecialOperations.com for those that don't know is Hurricane Group's site covering the history of our operators.  Steve has been writing some excellent pieces over there that we hope you check out.  These include "Operation Halyard, one of the great rescue stories of WWII," "On this day in 2016, Navy SEAL Edward Byers Awarded Medal of Honor," and "Operation Anaconda, began on this date, March 2-10, 2002 in Afghanistan."  So, head over to that site, and learn your roots! I'd also urge you to head over to The Power of Thought podcast hosted by Brandon Webb to get your audio fix.  We just posted a killer interview with none other than Robert O'Neill, the UBL shooter from DEVGRU/SEAL Team 6. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Mar 201834min

Joining us for Episode 330 is the author of "Foxtrot in Kandahar," Duane Evans.  This book is great because not much has been written from a perspective like this on the Southern region of Afghanistan.  Not to mention, Duane has a damn impressive resume serving as a Special Forces Officer, and going on to serve in the CIA with tours of duty in four continents.  One of those of course being the Middle East region of Asia, specifically, Afghanistan, during the inception of the war.  He's got a unique first hand view and shares some in-depth info with us. Jack Murphy also talks about his latest investigative piece "TigerSwan: Former Delta Operator sought to incite violence at the Dakota Access Pipeline."  It's getting plenty of attention, and a lot of scrutiny put onto the private security contractor about dubious happenings during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.  We also respond to an e-mail reacting to our previous episode talking gun control with Kurt Troter.  Anything you want us to hear, shoot it over to sofrep.radio@sofrep.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Feb 20181h 25min

SOFREP writer Kurt Troter is a man who knows his firearms, and he had a few things he wanted to say about the ongoing debate centered on gun control.  He gives a few solutions, and I even bring up Navy SEAL Mike Ritland's take that maybe K9s in the classroom could be the most sensible approach that very few are talking about.  Kurt is also working on a memoir that is sure to be action-packed from the former Marine turned volunteer with the Peshmerga. If you're still hungry for more content after this episode, I'd highly recommend the latest Power of Thought podcast.  Brandon Webb had an outstanding interview with performance coach Jairek Robbins.  He's the son of the great Tony Robbins, but you'll see he brings his own unique perspective on achieving your goals.  As always, leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts if you haven't already, and be sure to check out the latest with SOFREP TV, and stay prepared with Crate Club. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Feb 201842min

Navy SEAL Brent Gleeson joins us in studio for the podcast, which we livestreamed.  He has a new book out next week, it's called "TakingPoint: A Navy SEAL's 10 Fail-Safe Principles for Leading Through Change."  Be sure to pre-order it.  The book gets into some of the takeaways Brent was able to deliver to the business world, and we hear all about it.  You might remember seeing Gleeson on NBC's "Stars Earn Stripes" as a veteran cast member alongside Dale Comstock and the legend Chris Kyle.  Brent also writes a regular column for both Forbes and Inc. that we hope you check out.  We of course also get into Brent's combat deployment history, getting into the SEALs pre-9/11, and the chaos the ensued.   I also feel it's important to mention that recent guest of the podcast, Lt. Jim Downing, has passed away.  At the time when we interviewed him, Downing was the second oldest living Pearl Harbor survivor.  Feel free to re-live Jim's story from Episode 246.  What a true hero and a patriot.  I know that he will be revered by both myself and this audience. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Feb 201854min

Most importantly, we start off this show with the events that occurred this past week in Parkland, Florida.  We hope that we spoke on this respectably, and wanted to articulate our condolences.  Of course, as we all know, this shooting has led to another national discussion on gun control which we tackle as well.  We don't have all the answers, but we're all about an open dialogue on a very complex and troubling problem in America. Our special guest this show is Dr. Leonard Wong, a research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College.  Wong is a retired Army Officer who has taught at West Point and served as an analyst for the Chief of Staff of the Army.  Wong co-authored a study titled "Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession."  It takes a hard look at what's become accepted in the Army in terms of lying on documents.  Is the problem that of bureaucracy?  Dr. Wong and Jack Murphy give their take based on what they've seen. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Feb 20181h 1min

Jack Devine's first appearance on SOFREP Radio was full of amazing insight from the former Acting Director and Associate Director of the CIA's operations outside the U.S.  For that, we had to meet him in person, and it was an honor to do so for Episode 326.  Jack did not disappoint.  We get into government intervention (particularly in Afghanistan,) and the concept of nation building at large.  Jack is a proponent of intervention and defends the U.S. going into Afghanistan, but takes issue with the occupation that followed.   Jack's three decades at the CIA also included the fight against international communism, which he reveals will be included in his next book.  We also talk about Russia's interfering with the 2018 U.S. Presidential election and he seems to have a different take than previous guests on the podcast.  Jack's book out now is "Good Hunting: An American Spymaster's Story" and people including our own Jack Murphy are very impressed by the content of it, so be sure to pick it up.  Jack Devine is currently the President of The Arkin Group, and you can follow him on Twitter @JackDevine_TAG.  Be sure to let him know what you thought of his appearance here on SOFREP Radio. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 Feb 201857min

We had to start off Episode 325 with our Marine Corps veteran writer Nick Coffman after hearing the news on the MARSOC 7.  For the past couple of years, Nick's been working hard to get out the truth behind the story of alleged war crimes at the hands of MARSOC in Afghanistan that we now know never happened.  Nick interviewed the guys that were there, and on this podcast, we even interviewed Maj Fred Galvin and LtCol Steve Morgan.  Well, Nick is excited to say that these men are now exonerated thanks to the work of Congressman Walter Jones and some other key players, but more work needs to be done which Nick outlines with us.  Be sure to check out his work on SOFREP as well as The Loadout Room. Our featured guest we follow that with is Shannon Miller.  A friend of SOFREP writer James Powell, Shannon has over ten years of experience in the security and intelligence industries as a government contractor, diplomat, trainer, and analyst.  Shannon now works as the CEO of her own security company, Lock Down Your Life.  She's very astute on the happenings in Korea, and with the current Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, it made for a perfect time to hear Shannon's analysis on the region at large.  We talk Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump, the threat of nuclear war, and yes folks, I couldn't help myself but to talk some Dennis Rodman as I often do when we get on this subject.  We hope you enjoy, and if you do, we ask that you leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts, we read them all and love hearing your feedback.  It's very simple to do right on the app. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Feb 20181h 31min