Ep. 462 - Ben Blum, Author "Ranger Games"

Jim Shockey is a Canadian wilderness outfitter, worldwide adventurer, television producer and host, and outdoor writer. He is the author of Call Me Hunter, a fast-paced thriller that also talks about fully experiencing the one life you have. Shockey then discusses the Hand of Man Museum and his aspiration for it to remain open and accessible to the public through donations.   He also speaks about harboring a deep and spiritual respect for animals. This might seem ironic coming from a hunter, but he believes that finding a balance in nature is our duty as members of the natural world. Shockey talks about tolerance and how it is the number one thing the world needs today, as well as staying focused on the goals you want to achieve.    Follow Jim and the Hand of Man Museum on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimshockeyofficial/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JimShockey_ Hand of Man Museum: http://handofmanmuseum.com/   Get your copy of Call Me Hunter here: https://amzn.to/45aIopX   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Sep 20231h 4min

Kyle Buckett is a 20-year Navy SEAL veteran and author of the book Leadership Is Overrated. He advises younger people not to lie to themselves about wanting to join the SEALs because if they are unwilling to do what it takes to succeed, they will simply become another statistic.    He shares his experience as a trainer for Hell Week, the brutally difficult defining event of BUD/S training, and his realizations of changing team culture on his first deployment to Afghanistan. Kyle learned that leadership is about empowering others and trusting them to go out and crush their goals.    Follow Kyle on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckett/ Website: http://leadershipisoverrated.com/   Get your copy of Leadership Is Overrated here: https://amzn.to/44NgVua   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Sep 202352min

Dean Stott is a former special forces soldier with the Special Boat Service where he served for 16 years. He shares how he transitioned to private security after a parachuting accident ended his military career and tells the story of how he singlehandedly evacuated the Canadian embassy in Benghazi.   Realizing that he was chasing the adrenaline of his SOF days, Dean decided to take care of himself while still keeping his mind and body engaged. He settled on breaking the world record for the fastest person to cycle the 14,000-mile Pan-American Highway, smashing the previous record by a whopping 17 days.   Follow Dean on social media and get his book Relentless: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanstott/ Website: https://www.deanstott.com/ Get a copy of Relentless: https://amzn.to/45R7z1q Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Sep 202353min

Damian Porter is a former New Zealand SAS Commando in D Squadron. Also known as the How Not to Die Guy, he pulls from his vast knowledge and experience in the field and pays it forward to help others keep safe. He talks about upgrading and downgrading responses depending on the situation and how this boils down to proper training.    Since bad guys don't play by the rules, Damian stresses the need to either walk away from a fight or protect yourself immediately and eliminate the threat. The key is situational awareness and it is this skill that he passes on to others. He shares more practical advice like how to lose weight through movement and how it all begins with a choice.   Follow Damian on social media: Straight Talk - Mind and Muscle Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDI0IBtcYblCWpiIOalL7w Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hownottodieguy/ Website: https://www.hownottodieguy.com/   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 Aug 202356min

Robert Spangle is a Marine-turned-fashion-photographer who joined the Corps at 17 years old and, after training, joined the 2nd Force Recon Co. He shares the importance of camouflage during his deployments and how observing local style opened him up to his future career as a photographer and bespoke tailor.   He sees style as a cultural aspect of conflict. There is an emotional story behind uniforms like Robert's chance encounter with a gentleman who recognized his Rhodesian camo, reminding him of his time in the bush 40 years ago, and the Ukrainians fielding their DPM shorts today as they liberate their country.    Follow Robert and get his book Afghan Style: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thousandyardstyle/ Book: https://www.observercollection.com/collection/afghan-style/ Website: https://www.thousandyardstyle.com/   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 Aug 20231h 28min

Peter Feaver is the former special advisor for strategic planning and institutional reform on the National Security Council and the author of Thanks for Your Service. He observes dropping public confidence in the military, resulting in a decline in recruitment.    Peter sees significant challenges, especially how civilians drag down the military in partisan culture wars. He discusses the role of Hollywood in public perception and using the military for functions it is not designed for, further reducing public perception.    He recommends that former generals depoliticize themselves and refrain from endorsing their candidates for president unless they are running themselves, and for military leaders to refuse to carry out immoral, unethical, and unwise orders to maintain their integrity.   Get your copy of Thanks for Your Service: https://amzn.to/47r713R   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Aug 202348min

Israel Wright is a former Green Beret and Cameron Fath is a former US Army Ranger. They are the hosts of the Pop Culture Field Manual Podcast. Israel shares his bad jumps and close calls with death, while Cameron goes over his choice for the best Army Ranger unit—his very own 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.    Israel and Cameron then talk about pop culture and how this unites people regardless of their differing viewpoints on politics, religion, or anything else. They started the Pop Culture Field Manual Podcast to engage listeners based on this principle. Today, out of uniform, they continue to take the spirit of their experiences and celebrate them with their growing community.       Check out the Pop Culture Field Manual Podcast:  Website: https://pcfm.buzzsprout.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PopCultureFieldManual Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcfmpodcast/?hl=en   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club         See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29 Juli 202359min

Brad Thor's latest book Dead Fall follows Rising Tiger, the next in the Scot Harvath series, as it covers a Russian unit in Ukraine gone rogue. Brad talks about how history echoes itself with how the now-infamous Wagner group's recruitment of prisoners reminds him of some of the worst Nazi SS battalions in WW2.   Brad also comments on the larger war happening today in Ukraine and how Ukraine is likely a central part of Putin's legacy plan, both in a symbolic and practical sense. He talks about how action-packed Dead Fall is, the exhaustive writing process for each new book he writes, and the prospects of a TV show soon.    Get your copy of Dead Fall: https://amzn.to/43DD9OH Website: https://bradthor.com/ Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club         See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 Juli 202349min