Global Recon

We hear the story of Nick Jones, a retired Marine Raider and recipient of the Navy Cross, for his bravery. Jones shares his experience serving in Afghanistan in the infantry and later in Iraq as part of the Marine Special Operations, where he engaged in direct combat against ISIS. He also discusses the toll that special operations can take on family life and the importance of supporting veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder...

The Prime Minister in exile of East Turkestan, Salih Hudayar, is joining me for this week's podcast. East Turkestan is the homeland of the Uyghur Muslims. Hudayar shares his personal story of growing up in East Turkestan and his family's experience with political persecution...

My friend Dave Nielsen, a former Army Ranger and Delta Force Operator is back on the podcast. Dave co-hosts a brand new show called the Christology Podcast. After leaving the Army, he got a theology and biblical studies degree. We discussed the difficulty of Delta's selection and how his experience in dealing with adversity growing up in Detroit helped him make it through...

Former Marine Major Fred Galvin discusses the exoneration of the MARSOC Seven, who was falsely accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan. He sheds light on the flaws in the military justice system and the need for accountability among the Major Generals. He also discusses the ongoing legal battle of the MARSOC Three. Galvin expresses concern about the state of the military and the potential conflict with China over Taiwan, highlighting the need for strong leadership...

Army veteran and founder of Geo Owl, Nick Smith, discusses the growing importance of geospatial intelligence across various industries, including healthcare, farming, and elite intelligence operations. However, using geospatial intelligence also raises national security concerns, particularly regarding China's capacity, capability, and reach for stealing technology...

Former Combat Controller and author Dan Schilling shares stories of the bravery and dedication of America's Special Operations forces, highlighting the relatively unknown community of Airforce Combat Controllers. These individuals are among the most versatile in Special Ops and have a unique dual role as both lethal individuals on the battlefield and humanitarian responders in times of crisis...

I sat down with Rick Hogg, a Special Operations combat veteran who served 29 years in the US Army and operates a training company called "War Hogg Tactical." Rick spent time in the infantry before assessing and being selected for Army Special Forces. Rick would deploy into combat 13 times working in various roles, including handling K-9s. His final deployments were to counter ISIS terrorists in Iraq...

We hear from a former CIA officer, Douglas London, who spent over 30 years working for the organization. London's growing up in the Bronx, gave him the street smarts necessary for specific roles in the government. We learn about the rigorous training pipeline for case officers and how the agency shifted focus after 9/11...

GRP 176-It is better to be on the move than being still: A Conversation with Sandra Eira A Sami Native At War In Ukraine 

Sandra Eira, a Norweigan Sami native and volunteer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is my guest for this week's podcast. She worked as a fisherman in the Barents Sea for ten years which is among the most dangerous professions in the world, before serving on the Sami Parliament in northern Norway...

GRP 175-Inside the War Against ISIS: A Soldiers Journey From The Italian Military To A Kurdish Special Unit

We hear from Alex Pineschi, a veteran of the Italian Mountain Troop who served a Kurdish Special Unit and spent five years fighting ISIS in Iraq. Pineschi worked counter-piracy operations in Africa as a security contractor before traveling to Iraq to help train troops in their fight against ISIS...